Author's Note: This is a Merlin Advent Calendar. It's made up by 25 short ficlets all built around a song. Today's song is Chrismikkah by The Friday Night Boys.

It was getting dark when Gwen came home from the castle. It was snowing, too - winter was clearly on its way. She turned to look at the snowflakes gently floating down from the sky before she opened the door and entered her home.

A sudden movement in the shadows made her flinch. She dropped the bundle of old clothes that she had been carrying and backed towards the door before the recognized the figure in front of her.

"Lancelot!" she exclaimed, surprised.

"Guinivere! I didn't mean to startle you..."

She took a few steps towards him, still shocked.

"What on earth are you doing here?"

"I came to see you."

Gwen grew worried.

"Is something wrong? Are you in some kind of trouble?"

"No, no, nothing like that. I just wanted to see you, before midwinter."

She blushed as he smiled at her.

"You must be more careful. The king would not be happy were he to find out that you have returned to Camelot."

"I know," Lancelot replied. "I will leave again shortly. But in the mean time... Are you not at all happy to see me again?"

Gwen stepped closer.

"Of course I am! But you didn't even say goodbye when you left the last time."

Lancelot looked down at his boots.

"I'm sorry about that. It's just - I came to realize something."

His eyes met Gwen's and he answered her question before she could ask it.

"Gwen, we can never be together. Just think about it - what sort of a life would that be? Always moving, always fighting. You deserve better."

"But I don't want better! I want you!"

Gwen's eyes filled with tears and she covered her mouth with her hands.

"And I want you. But it can never be."

She dried her tears and took a deep breath.

"So that is why you came? To tell me this?"

Lancelot turned around and started rummaging in a backpack.

"Actually, I came to give you this." He gave her something wrapped in cloth. "I had it made for you in one of the great cities of the south."

She unwrapped the object and found it to be a mirror with a heavy wooden frame in the shape of a heart. She looked up at Lancelot who gave her a sad smile.

"Someone as beautiful as you should be able to see their beauty."

She carefully put the mirror on the table and then surprised Lancelot by kissing him. After a moment he pulled away. They looked into each other's eyes.

"I shall remember you always," Gwen whispered, welling up again. Lancelot held her gaze and then took up his backpack. By the door he stopped and turned back to look at her.

"Think of me during midwinter."Then he disappeared into the darkness of the night.

The next morning Merlin collided with Gwen in the hallways of the castle as he was taking some clean shirts to the prince. As they both bent down to pick up the laundry, he noticed something.

"Gwen, are you allright? Your eyes look red."

She looked around to make sure no one was nearby and then leaned in and whispered to him:

"Lancelot came to see me last night."

Merlin cocked his head and looked perplexed.

"Really? Why didn't he come and see me as well, then?"

"Oh, he didn't stay long. I expect he wanted to be sure that he wasn't seen. Anyway, I should be going."

Merlin was left standing alone in the hallway.

"Weird," he told the air. Then he shrugged and headed for Arthur's chambers.