Fic 10: link

Crackers

Prompt: Christmas cracker

If you don’t know what these are (from Wikipedia):
Christmas crackers, Christmas poppers or bon-bons are part of Christmas celebrations in the UK and Commonwealth countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa, as well as the USA to a lesser degree. They are also popular in Ireland. A cracker consists of a cardboard tube wrapped in a brightly decorated twist of paper, making it resemble an oversized sweet-wrapper. The cracker is pulled by two people, and, much in the manner of a wishbone, the cracker splits unevenly. The split is accompanied by a small bang or snapping sound. …Typically [the] contents are a colored paper hat or crown; a small toy, small plastic model or other trinket and a motto, a joke, a riddle or piece of trivia on a small strip of paper.

“Crackers, Arthur, really? Are we twelve?” Gwen asks when he appears with a box of the Christmas favors, striding into the living room of his spacious penthouse.

He circulates around the room, holding the box down for everyone to choose one.

“Not that one,” he says quietly when Merlin reaches for a bright red one with gold ribbons.

“Why not?” Merlin asks. “I want that one.”

“No. You. Don’t.”

“God, you are such a child,” Merlin huffs, choosing a different one.

Arthur goes to Gwen next, and there are only two crackers left in the box. He takes them both out and hands her the red one.

“I wanted that one,” Gwen says, pointing to the one in Arthur’s hand.

“Too late,” he shrugs. Why is everyone being so difficult?

Merlin holds his out and Freya tugs the other side, and it opens with a pop and a piece of candy falls out.

Freya returns the favor, holding hers for Merlin, and she gets a small top. She spins it on the coffee table, where it twirls, eventually spinning off the edge and landing on the floor.

Morgana and Gwaine share theirs between them. Elyan holds his out for Mithian and she, him. Leon and Percival, the lone bachelors, shrug and assist one another.

“Arthur, what are you waiting for?” Gwen asks, holding her cracker out for him.

“Oh, sorry, was just watching the others,” he says, reaching up to grasp the other side.

They pull, and it breaks open with a pop. A small item falls into Gwen’s lap, wrapped in a slip of paper.

“What is this?” Gwen picks it up. It’s heavy. She unfolds the paper, and gasps when she finds a ring inside. On the slip of paper are two words: Will you?

Her free hand, trembling slightly, flies to her mouth as she stares.

“Guinevere?” Arthur asks softly, his heart in his throat. Every eye in the room is on Gwen. No one breathes.

“Yes, Arthur, of course I will,” she whispers, flying into his arms, knocking him backwards against the arm of the sofa.

Arthur laughs delightedly, holding her, kissing her while her joyful tears wet his cheeks.

They finally pull away from each other to see their friends standing and making to leave.

“It’s early, why are you all leaving?” Arthur asks, holding Gwen in his lap now.

“We’re leaving so the two of you can be alone,” Gwaine answers, holding Morgana’s coat for her as she slides her arms into the sleeves.

“You don’t have—”

“We know that,” Freya says quietly. “But nevertheless, we are. Come on, Love,” she says to Merlin, taking his hand.

“You’re right, I definitely did not want that one,” Merlin says to Arthur, slapping his shoulder. “Well done, mate.”

“Thanks. Now get out,” Arthur laughs.

Congratulations are offered, goodbyes are said, and soon they are alone. Arthur walks over to Gwen, kisses her softly on the lips, and takes the ring out of her hand. He kneels down in front of her and looks up into her sweet face.

“Guinevere, will you make me the happiest man in the world and be my wife?”

“Yes, Arthur,” she whispers, still not trusting her voice to work properly. Arthur takes her left hand, kisses the third finger, and slides the ring onto it.

“It fits,” she breathes, holding it up for inspection. “It’s perfect Arthur, I love it. I love you.” She pulls him to his feet.

“I love you, Guinevere,” he answers, enfolding her in his arms and dropping his head, kissing her again. She winds her arms around his neck, on tiptoe, kissing him back with equal urgency.

“We’ll clean this up in the morning,” he murmurs against her lips. Without warning, he bends and sweeps her into his arms.

“Arthur!” she squeals. “You never opened your cracker, you know,” she says as he carries her back to the bedroom.

“At the moment there’s a present I’m much more interested in unwrapping,” he grins at her, kicking the bedroom door behind them.

Fic 12: link