Greetings Readers!

Well...been a while, hasn't it? I'm sorry for the intense delay - I was finishing with grad school and am now working. I have resolved however, to get back to posting some stories! This here is a little Freylin tidbit I wrote as a Christmas present! I hope you enjoy!

Warning: I do not own Merlin or any of its characters.

It was a nearly silent night.

The trees around the lake were so thick around the lake that only muted strains of holiday revelry and music could be heard by the water. The faint glow of the moon was the only light that touched the area that seemed somehow apart from the world.

Until the figure with the lantern came, brushing past the thick trees, sending the sounds of crunching snow and slightly drunken caroling into the stillness of the lake.

The figure, bundled up heavily against the cold, stumbled a little on its way towards the water, though from holiday merriment or simple clumsiness it was difficult to tell. He gave a slight hiccup as he stopped at the muddy bank and set the lantern down beside him. The figure stretched his neck and straightened his coat, as though he were waiting for someone.

Cupping his hands around his mouth, he called out into the darkness. "Freya?"

The name had echoed into oblivion when there was a ripple in the middle of the calm lake. Smoothly, the water parted to let a woman rise from its depths. The water beading on her hair and crimson dress shone like diamonds in the glow of the moon as she smiled towards the man on the shore. "Hello, Merlin."

"You're here," Merlin said, grinning, "good."

Freya laughed. "Well, where else would you expect me to be?"

Merlin's grin grew wider, but he didn't reply. Instead, he pulled a long sheet of paper out of his pocket and knelt on the ground. His fingers deftly folded the paper into a boat before placing it in the water. He looked towards his love and winked as he snapped his fingers, causing a small object to form in his palm. Merlin tucked the object into the boat and, with a flash of gold, sent it adrift towards her. "Happy Christmas, Freya."

Freya's fingers grazed the paper as the boat came towards her, smiling as she could feel the warmth of Merlin's touch in the folds. "Oh, Merlin," she smiled, pulling the perfect rosebud from the boat and sniffed it delicately, "it's beautiful."

"Wait," Merlin waded out into the water, ignoring how his pant legs became sodden and icy as he came closer. He pulled the rose from her fingers, and tucked it behind her ear, tilting his head to admire the affect. "Beautiful. Red goes good with black."

Freya flushed as she pulled closer to him, wrapping her arms around him and relishing the feel of his arms as they tightened around her. "Thank you for my gift." She rested her head against his shoulder. "I just wish I had something for you."

"You're all I need," he said fervently, stepping backwards from her embrace in order to lift up her chin and look into her eyes. Her eyes welled with tears of joy and longing, and he wiped them tenderly away before taking both her hands in his.

"What are you doing?" Freya asked as he began to step backwards, pulling her along with him.

He grinned. "You'll see."

The two figures, silhouetted by moonlight, drew closer and closer to the water's edge. Freya could feel the almost petulant tug of the lake pulling at her ankles as the water became more shallow, but she pulled away to follow her love. His trainers, dry with a glance and a whisper, stepped onto the cold, muddy shore and he looked down at her, smiling. "Come on up, then."

"Merlin!" Freya stared up at him, scandalized, "You know I can't leave the lake – we've tried!"

"Not everything," he replied, and then he whispered some words beneath his breath, rich with age and newness.

Freya gasped as she felt the pull about her, the pull that had lasted for centuries, fall away in an instant. Her eyes welled with tears as she looked up into Merlin's eyes, which were also unabashedly wet. "Come on, Freya."

Her foot trembled as she pulled it free from the water, and she took her first step onto solid ground. "Cold…"she murmured in wonder, "it's –"

She pulled her other foot out and nearly collapsed as both her legs took on the weight on the world once again. Merlin held her close and helped her steady herself as she began trembling furiously. "Freya?" He asked worriedly, "What is it?"

"Cold…" She looked up at him, smiling despite her intense shivering, "I'm cold. I haven't felt –"

Her knees buckled again, and Merlin held her with one arm while working off his jacket with the other. "I should have brought you something warmer," he murmured, wrapping her up in the jacket and picking her up in both arms.

She snuggled close. "You're all I need."

He sent an aura of warmth around her as he began the way back to the house where his friends waited. "Merry Christmas, Freya."

She held his face in both hands and brought his lips to hers, setting them both aglow with heat and light and love. "Merry Christmas, Merlin."

Thanks for reading, y'all! Here's to more regular posting!

Please review, they make me happy! :D