The challenge was to "describe a colour using any and all senses, except sight". Not easy, let me tell you! Huge thanks to my excellent beta, sarajm, whose suggestions and corrections made this so much better than it was!
A Spring Morning
Merlin had spent the better part of that spring morning wandering about the woods gathering herbs for Gaius. Now, with his satchel full and no one in Camelot expecting him for another hour or so, the young warlock decided to take advantage of the unexpected boon and enjoy some quiet time amongst the trees.
Back in Ealdor, though life was often challenging and always busy, Merlin could usually grab a few moments at the end of the day to sit on the bank of the river that flowed near the village and appreciate the calm. Those late afternoons were his favourite part of the day, when he could simply relax and breathe in the complex fragrances of the nature that surrounded him.
In Camelot, though, things were very different; between waiting on Arthur from morning to night and then using whatever spare moments he had to learn the healing arts from Gaius or study his magic, Merlin never seemed to have any time to just sit and relax.
Sitting with his back against a broad and ancient oak, Merlin closed his eyes and lifted his head towards the sky. The sun's rays, growing warmer by the day now that winter was behind them, shone softly on his face as they filtered through the budding branches, and the songs of the returning birds fell gently on the ear. The nearby creek was singing a song of its own as, swollen by the early spring rains, it danced over the rocks. As he relaxed against the tree, the feeling of the rough bark against his back brought a sense of peace to the young man.
Merlin was so still and silent, his chest rising and falling gently with each breath, that the birds began to chirp again and he could hear the faint rusting noises caused by a mouse.
As he breathed in and out, centering himself, a wide array of scents began to overpower the lad. First, there was the sharp tang of the grass as the first shoots pushed their way through the earth and the soft breeze brought the scent of unfurling oak leaves. The bag of herbs that now lay at his side brought its own aromas; here was the pine-like smell of rosemary, then the spicy hint of rue. The perfume of lavender was next, followed by the cabbage-like fragrance of the yarrow that was also in the bag.
As Merlin reclined in the dappled sunlight, he felt his lips curve into the beginnings of a smile. Sitting there, in the quiet calm of the forest, he felt completely connected to the awakening earth … something he'd not felt since he'd left Ealdor. He imagined that it was much like what the druids experienced; it just felt … green.