Allllllrighty then, I hope this works. This is my first attempt at fanfic, and hopefully – if you people love me ;) – there'll be more.

I OWN BBC MERLIN... *shrug* one can wish ;D This is merely for fun. Know in advance that any 'magic' words used are on majority just gibberish – with symbols to make them look cooler. A few are in Latin, because there are no decent Olde English translaters anywhere. I've also changed/added some characters.

So, tell me what you think. Enjoy Frostbitten!

~1~ Not One for Winter

He awoke to the feeling of having slept on an iceberg. His nose was stuffed, his throat raw, and his mouth sticky. And there was snow on his bed sheets.

Merlin sat up abruptly, scattering the snow and exposing his bare chest to an icy breeze, bellowing in from the open window. More flakes blustered inside, coating his clothes and books like dandruff. A snowstorm raged outside – a snowstorm, in the middle of July!

"Gaius!" The young warlock crashed from his cot, tangled in his sheets. "Gaius, wake up!" Wrapping the blanket around himself, he threw on a pair of boots for warmth and burst through the door from his quarters, down the stairs and into the main room, where he found the aged physician lying where he always slept: on the bed before the fireplace.

Fetching a pile of wood from the corner, he hastily heaped them in the hearth, but could not find the fire-starter. Spreading an open palm over the stacked tinder, he hissed, "Brækĩuş!" The magic roiled within him like a living thing, stretching warm wings in his chest. A flame flared from his hand and ignited the wood instantly, flickering playfully.

Gaius, who was shivering in his sleep, woke just as Merlin finished slamming all of the windows shut against the persistent wind.

"Something's not right," said Merlin, pulling on a second coat. Their winter wear was, of course, locked away for the summer.

"Really? You think so? Sometimes I wonder at your intelligence, lad. Look at this mess! Snow everywhere!"

"I must see Arthur."

"What for?" Gaius shuffled close to the fire, rubbing his stiffened hands together.

"The prince will be wondering why he hasn't got a fire yet. He's not really one for winter."

"But it isn't winter!"

"Exactly! That's why something's not right!" And he was gone. Gaius shook his head and grabbed the broom.

Ψ

His teeth were practically chattering out of his jaw by the time he reached the prince's chambers. Being Arthur's manservant, he would first be getting his master's royal breakfast from the kitchens, but priorities had to be sorted.

Just as he suspected, Arthur was quite miffed by the cold, yet was still half asleep when Merlin arrived.

"How could you have let the fire go out, Merlin?" he snapped grumpily before the warlock could open his mouth. "Are you getting so lazy that even that is a burden?" Merlin said nothing, instead stood at the door, hands clasped behind his back. "And you left the window open," Arthur growled, pulling on a robe. "How stupid could you be to leave a window open in the middle of July—" Arthur froze, much like the icicles forming on his curtains, then strode to the window, aghast, staring at the unnatural snow.

"And a good morning to you, too, sire."

"What the hell is this?"

"I believe it is referred to as snow, mi'lord," replied Merlin before he could stop himself. Arthur shot him a venomous look. Truth be told, if any servant but Merlin had said such a thing to him, he would have been booted from his duties in the castle. Not before a time in the stocks, of course.

Their relationship was peculiar, one that was started when Merlin first saved Arthur Pendragon's life from an avenging witch. King Uther saw it fit to grant Merlin, who had just come to Camelot, the honour of being the prince's manservant as a reward. Since then, they had thrown their necks out for each other.

The problem? Merlin was a warlock, and magic of any kind was forbidden in the kingdom of Camelot, under pain of death, no matter what the magician's intentions. None but a few knew of his power, which came to him as naturally as breathing, one being Gaius the physician. Merlin wasn't sure if he could trust Arthur with his secret, for, after all, the prince's first priority was to the king. Even if he knew that it was magic that saved him on multiple occasions, it was impossible for Merlin to predict his reaction. At least for now.

"I must tell my father," said Arthur, disappearing behind the ornate dressing screen in the corner.

"I'm pretty sure he knows by now, sire. Even in his condition."

"Well, what do you suggest, then, Merlin?" asked Arthur in exasperation. The warlock shrugged.

"Start shovelling?"