'Now remember Merlin, my niece is going to arrive either today or tomorrow, depending on how her journey goes. So I want you on your best behaviour and no funny business, got it?' Gaius lectured Merlin just as Merlin was about to walk out of the door.
'No funny business, got it,' Merlin smirked and Gaius couldn't help but to return a smile.
Both Merlin and Gaius went about their daily work with Gaius keeping an eye out for your arrival.
Merlin was just about to go to bed and Gaius had long since claimed that you must be arriving the next day when there was a gentle knock on the door.
'Gaius?' a soft voice called.
He opened the door quickly to revealing your shivering form. You were drenched and seemed to have gotten in a fight as your knuckles were bloody and you had a split lip.
'You poor thing, come inside quickly before you catch your death,' Gaius said as he hurried you inside. Merlin stood by his door, unable to take his eyes off you. Your hair was stuck to your face and your clothes hung strangely, affected by the rain, but you had to be the most beautiful girl Merlin had ever seen.
You looked up at him and smiled.
'I'm (y/n), you must be Merlin,' you said with chattering teeth.
'Merlin, don't just stand there, do something useful. Show her where her bed is or something,' Gaius said while he sorted about searching for the right things to clean your knuckles with.
'Right yes, just through here,' Merlin gestured behind him and you followed him into his room.
There was one bed, Merlin's bed and a pile of cloth and a pillow on the floor.
'Do you want me to take the floor, considering this is your room?' you asked him, placing your bag on the floor.
'No, no. I couldn't possibly allow you to do that, someone as beautiful as you shouldn't have to sleep on the floor,' he smiled, taking your bag and putting on the bed.
You smiled at his words, 'are you sure you're okay with this?'
'I've slept in much worse conditions,' he said.
The two of you stood there for a moment watching each other, but it wasn't creepy, it was almost relaxing. In your opinion Merlin was adorable, he looked young but there was something in his eyes that made you believe he was wiser than he looked.
'I'll let you get changed into something warmer,' Merlin said with a smile.
You smiled at Merlin one more time before he left you alone. When you emerged Gaius and Merlin were both sat at the table waiting for you.
'I'm sorry I'm such trouble Gaius,' you said with a sad smile as you sat down and offered him your bleeding knuckles.
'I'm glad to have you, you liven the place up,' he said with a little grin. 'How on earth did you end up in a fight?' he asked, starting to clean up one hand.
'Some thief tried to rob me when he thought I was sleeping, he was a weak little thing, didn't even have a weapon. I think he thought I was some feeble woman,' you hissed quietly at the end due to Gaius' cleaning.
'Well he got that wrong,' Merlin mumbled quietly. You gave him and grin whilst Gaius shot him a look.
Gaius quickly finished cleaning you up and declared that he believed it was time to sleep. As you walked into the little room you could feel Merlin's eyes on your back.
Merlin lay down on the floor as you climbed into the bed, feeling completely exhausted and still shivering from the cold.
'Goodnight Merlin,' you whispered, your teeth stopping chattering for just a moment.
'Night (y/n),' he said.
It had felt like hours had passed and you couldn't get to sleep because you were just so cold. You were trying so hard to stop your teeth from chattering and waking Merlin, but he was already awake.
He stood next to the bed and you looked up at him as he rubbed his eyes tiredly.
'If you'd like, I can share the bed and you'll get warmer that way?' he asked, sheepishly. You blushed and shifted over onto your side so that he could slip in the sheet. The two of you were barely touching and there wasn't enough room to not touch.
Merlin slowly started to put his arm around you and you curled into him, your head on his chest. His other arm wrapped around you.
'Thank you Merlin,' you said. You could feel the heat come from Merlin and for the first time in years you felt safe.
In reply he kissed your head, but you weren't entirely sure it happened and Merlin smirked, happy to have got away with it.
After listening to Merlin's heartbeat for a while, he spoke,' I know you're Gaius' niece, but what brought you to Camelot?'
You were quiet for a long time and Merlin began to think you were asleep when you finally answered.
'I lost my family in a huge fire about a year ago and I decided to travel around a bit, I guess I was just sort of wondering, looking for a purpose or something. Then when I didn't find anything, I tried to get in touch with anyone I could, Gaius was the most pleased to hear from me. He's all I have left now,' you explained quietly.
Merlin's arms tightened around you.
'You have me too,' he said quietly.
You turned your head so that your chin was on his chest and you could see his face.
Merlin stared into your eyes for so long he felt like he was getting dizzy. He brought a hand up to your cheek and you leaned into the comforting touch.
He leaned down and you reached up to meet his lips half way; the kiss was soft and gentle. He pulled away after a moment and kissed your forehead. You settled back onto Merlin's chest, happy for the first time in a while.
'You're never going to be alone again (y/n), I promise,' Merlin said.
That night you fell asleep with a smile to the sound of Merlin's heartbeat and you were, in fact, never alone again.
Author:http://missdarlingdead.deviantart.com/art/Cold-Merlin-x-Reader-One-Shot-425004188
