"Anise, borage, chamomile and musk mallow. Anise, borage, chamomile and musk mallow. Why didn't I write this down! Anise, borage, chamomile and musk mallow. Musk mallow - not mugwort. Musk mallow for skin treatment and mugwort is for foot ointment...which seems the same thing to me. They're…" the young man hesitated in his ramblings as he extricated his sleeve from a clinging thorn bush, ".. both about skin. Easy to get the two mixed up. Both start with m and have ridiculous names. Musk mallow, mugwort. Anise, borage, chamomile and mugwort. Anise, borage, chamomile and mugwort."
"Musk mallow, you mean," interjected a soft voice.
Merlin whipped around searching for the owner of the voice.
"Hello?"
A small gasp.
"Come out. I won't hurt you."
"I know."
A slender hand emerged from behind a tree trunk. Soon two bright eyes followed. A willowy young woman in a spring green dress with gently curling brown locks hesitantly revealed herself.
"Hello. Are you lost? It's not safe for a lady all alone in the woods," Merlin said, curious about the maiden.
She smiled.
"I'm not alone. You're here."
He smiled.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, my lady, but I'm not known for my fighting prowess. I don't wield a sword to much effect and don't happen to have one with me."
"Among your fellows you may not be known as the great protector you are, Emrys, but I know."
Suspicion born of terrible experience raised its ugly head. Merlin's eyes narrowed.
"What do you want? Are you a sorceress?" he asked.
"No," she replied softly, quickly hiding behind the tree again.
Perplexed, Merlin reached out with his magic and encountered...life. A vibrant green, springing well of life and innocence. It was intoxicatingly sweet magic. He found himself apologizing.
"I'm sorry to cause offense," he offered. The only response was the sound of slightly shifting feet. "Please come back out. I'm afraid I overreacted. Generally speaking, the people who call me by that name either want to kill me or worship me and I'm not too fond of either option."
The girl giggled softly as she gradually edged out from around the back of the tree's thick trunk again.
"Let's try again." He cleared his throat.
"Hello. My given and much preferred name is Merlin."
"Oh! After a bird! Oh, I like that very much. I shall call you Merlin then, if you prefer it."
"Thank you, yes. Merlin is the name my mother gave me and is much less likely to get me killed," he said, then tacked on "..unless I don't bring the Prince's breakfast on time in the mornings."
She giggled again, her cheerful smile, hazel eyes and flowing light brown tresses creating an enchanting picture.
"What is your name, my Lady?"
"I am Chryseis."
"Golden Daughter," he translated.
"Yes," she smiled, "How did you know?"
"I'm the ward and apprentice of Camelot's Court Physician. He has me studying Latin because" -he adopted a stuffy tone- "that is the language of men of science."
She giggled some more and Merlin was gratified to see her step nearer and upon closer inspection he noticed astonishing depths of gold and green in her eyes.
"May I ask who you are?"
"I am Chryseis," she answered again.
"I mean to ask, without offending you I hope, what are you?"
"I am a dryad. My tree is nearby."
Merlin rocked back in astonishment. A Dryad! A tree nymph! He couldn't believe his luck!
"Wonderful! I've always wanted to meet a nature spirit!"
"And I've always wanted to meet you!"
They shared excited grins. She stepped within arm's reach and tilted her head up regarding him with deep interest.
"I felt you pass my tree one day. It was so ..enlivening," she gushed. "I followed you as far as I was able through forest and meadow and watched as you gathered herbs." The Dryad's shyness disappeared in her excitement. She placed a hand on his arm.
Merlin smiled and shifted back a bit. "You-you followed me, huh," he chuckled.
"Oh yes!" She shifted closer. "I have often followed you when you were gathering herbs, and once while you were with the hunting men. This is the only time I dared speak up. I always wanted to. I can help you, you know. I know where all the best herb patches are. Oh please, let me come with you and help you!" She reached up to touch his dark curls in fascination.
Merlin grimaced to himself. Kill you or worship you, eh, Emrys? Well, at least this is a different kind of worship. It was a worship that Merlin felt completely unprepared to deal with. He reached up and pulled her hand gently from his hair. Her eyes were so vibrant.
"I, uh, um.."
She seemed to suddenly come to herself.
"Oh."
She cast her eyes down, once again sweetly shy, and withdrew her fingers from his light grasp.
He smiled kindly, attempting to ease her embarrassment.
"If you'd really like to help.." he began.
"Anise, borage, chamomile and musk mallow," she repeated softly.
Merlin sighed. Why not? The sun was shining, a beautiful magical being wanted to share companionship, and there was no one else around. Why not enjoy the day? He offered his arm.
"Thank you, Chryseis. Tell me about your tree?"
She gently linked her arm with his. The two moved off at a leisurely pace enjoying the sunshine.
Even a crumpled parchment ball to the head later that evening couldn't dampen the warlock's spirit much. The memory of friendship, magic and warm sunshine was unassailable. He continued hanging clean clothing in the wardrobe, although he did it silently now.
"Interesting," observed the prince in a mocking tone. "The humming stopped but not your daydreaming. Perhaps something heavier is called for?"
He curled his fingers around the stem of his goblet. Merlin knew him too well to ignore the threat and pulled himself from the memory of his lovely day to focus on the man before him.
"Make up your mind, Sire. I can't give your prat face my undivided attention and do my chores."
"Ha! Attention. You were daydreaming, Merlin. Your head was definitely in the clouds. So come on. Spill it. What are you daydreaming about? And don't say nothing!"
Merlin shrugged, trying to play it down. "I made a new friend today, that's all."
"Is she beautiful?"
Merlin choked, "What!"
"Ah! So it is a girl!"
"It's not what you're thinking, Sire. I just made a new friend while out gathering herbs for Gaius. I met her in the forest. She knew the area and volunteered to help."
"Sure she did."
"She did! There's nothing more to it. It's called making friends. You should give it a try sometime."
"I don't need more friends, Merlin. Crowds of people fall over themselves vying for my friendship."
Merlin affected an overly sympathetic expression and sidled toward the door. "Right, Sire. Just remember: you've still got me."
The heavy goblet bashed a new dent in the wooden door, missing the escaping manservant by a hair.