The warlock looked out over the lake in a sad tone and watched as the watter rippled on the rocks that lay as the shore. He huddled into his jacket and his breath miggled in the cold air like a thick fog. Today was chirstmas. He had stolen out of the throne room as the Pendragon family opend gifs and laughed, he passed Gwen on the way but she was too busy sharing in the season with her brother, and like in the throne room, merlin felt like he was inttruding.

"Merlin," came a voice from the stepper part of the hill, " what are you doing out here?"

Merlin looked over his shoulders and saw Arthur, in all his fur coat and glory, coming down to stand by him. The prince glanced at Merlin with that silly smile at him that he always did when he couldn't find the words he wanted to say.

" I was looking at the lake. It's beautiful during the fresh snow fall," said Merlin as he looked back at it.

It was too. It gave of a glow like none other, and pooled onto the grass like magic. Merlin looked at it longinly as he thought of Freya. Arthur, seeing his friend's sad look, put an arm around him.

"Why don't we go back inside? Morgana is going to kill us if we miss her display of her presents. I swear father spoils her more each year."

" No, you go on. i feel like i'm intruding by being in there. Christmas is a family thing, Arthur."

The prince rolled his eyes, grabbed merlin by his wrist, and dragged him back to the castle, and he didn't let go untill they were in the throne room. Merlin glanced at Arthur as if he could kill him on the spot. Arthur pulled the dor open and they walked in, the Pendragon family looked up and smiled as they saw Merlin.

Merlin smiled back hesitendly and joined them as they passed out presents. Uther gave merlin one too, and the young boy saw it was from the king himself! He stammerd a thank you and opend it, it was a fur trimmed cloak. He wrapped it around himself and smiled as he saw Arthur got the same thing.

"See, merlin, your family too," Arthur whisperd to merlin as he gave him a one arm hug as the presents, both Pendragons ans Merlin's were put aside. Merlin pushed back tears and smiled.

Family too, huh? he couldn't have picked better. he thought looking at moraga as she threw a roll at Arthur and Uther rolled his eyes, no not at all.

Whoo, i got a new laptop so i thought i break it in! hope you have a happy Holidays and reviews make good christmas presents!