The cold wind brushed against against my skin, lifting my hair causing it spiral around me. Leaves floated in the air around me, the small objects slowly spiralling down into the floor. I felt content with the winter air flowing around me, the sky darkening with the loss of time. I wrapped my cloak tighter around my shoulders, the cool breeze reaching my skin.
"Y/n?"
I turned to see Merlin walking over, his hands deep in his pockets his breath leaving imprints in the air. His cheeks were flushed as the cool wind hit his skin and his lips slightly chapped.
"What are you doing out here?" Merlin came and sat down next to me, his arm brushing against mine as he did so.
"I like the solitude of being outside in the winter." I replied softly, smiling as my eyes ran over the scene in front of me.
Frost was gracing across the landscape, children skidding across small patches of ice, mothers watching nervously from the sidelines. A toddler, the boy being maybe slightly older than three, fell to the floor scraping his knee on the way down. He started to cry, the sound echoing across the courtyard.
"Lovely." I could feel Merlin smirking from beside me and I laughed, the gesture filling up my chest.
"I am serious Merlin," I chuckled gently nudging my shoulder against his. "I love it out here. The quiet, the cool air, the way no one is asking me to do anything or relying on me to fix their problems."
He was silent for a moment, his eyes wandering across the scenery obviously taking in what I was saying.
"I can see it now." He grinned turning his head to face me. I rolled my eyes, pursing my lips to hide my smile. "Do not laugh! I can!"
"Oh really?" I raised my eyebrows biting my lip to stop a small burst of giggles from erupting. Merlin smiled widely, before wrapping his arm around my waist.
"There's no Arthur shouting orders at me, no Gauis telling me to clean up," Merlin brushed his nose up against my neck so he could press his lips against my earlobe gently whispering into it. "It is just you and me."
I smiled as he pressed a gentle kiss to my skin, turning in his hold so I could wind my arms around his neck.
"It just so happens to be my favourite place."