Unexpected - Merlin One Shot

Wormwood was a particularly tricky plant. One Opal often confused with chervil. It was a good thing she had had the morning off or else she would never have found the peace of mind and time to study. Strolling through bright courtyards of the palace Opal had her head brazed to the page illustrating with full detail wormwood plants and their functioning. She held a piece of the greenery beside the plant's depiction for comparison.

Sauntering expertly past a pillar, Opal hummed silently to herself. The open, unclouded sun and the pleasing, comforting shade of the veranda she was walking beneath had given her a warm and enticing mood. Her hums were that of a merry tune as the mid morning rays of the sun sent her into a state of felicity. Mid morning and high noon were her favorite parts of the day.

In the midst of her cheeriness a tapping feeling came down on her shoulder. She twisted her neck to look over the shoulder only to be met by the sight of the open, sun lit corridor behind her. Turning her head back to her journal of plants Opal nearly jumped out of her skin to see Merlin's grinning face on the other side of her.

"Merlin! Don't do that!" She held a hand to her heart.

"Did I frighten you, my Lady?" Merlin chuckled. It was an inside joke between the two that Merlin addressed Opal as his Lady even though she was just a foreign commoner.

"Yes!"

"Sorry about that." His grinning did not cease. The two were under partial shade but the sun's light managed to fall upon her face in such a way that made her dark amber eyes glow golden. His grin widened at the sight of it, hopefully she wouldn't be able to pick up on any of his trepidation. "Allow me to make it up to you…"

"And how do you intend to do that?" She smiled playfully.

"With these," Merlin pulled his arm from behind him to reveal long stem, crudely cut carnations. They were white ones with pinks edges. Opal's perfectionist, florist mother would have been appalled at the sorry sight of the… bouquet. Opal on the other hand smiled bashfully and accepted them without hindrance.

"What are these for?" Opal did not expect such a thoughtful answer.

"Come off it. How could I not remember the day you were born?" Merlin glanced down to the flowers and his grin faltered for a moment. "I know they're not your favorites but I thought they would do…"

"They're lovely." She intercepted graciously.

"I'm glad you think so my Lady!" He gave a deep sweeping bow. Opal blushed at the humorous display he was overtly portraying for all to see. "I was also hoping that you would stay in the castle long enough and join me for dinner before returning home tonight. Gaius is making your favorite."

"I would be delighted." She sniffed the flowers gracefully, Merlin noticed. "I'll put these in water at once."

"At once? You're beginning to sound like Arthur. Speaking of Arthur I was supposed to assist him in training the knights today. He'll have me muck out the stables if I'm late again."

"Perhaps you should best be on your way then?" She mused.

"Your right I should, until tonight my Lady?" He asked before leaving.

"Hm, yes until tonight." She reassured, smiling. After watching Merlin turn the corner and vanish from sight Opal brought the carnations to her nose to absorb their scent once more. She walked through the castle with Merlin's flowers against her face and mindlessly twiddled them until she reached Gaius' chambers to continue her studies.