Merlin: Just Lie Back and Think of Camelot snippet

[whynot]

A missing scene from Just Lie Back and Think of Camelot (Merlin, Arthur/Merlin, R-ish).

223 words, rated PG.


"Did Gaius get his mugwort?" asks Arthur.

Merlin looks up from dressing him. "What?"

"Gaius," repeats Arthur. "Did he get his mugwort?"

"Mugwort?" Then something snaps into place. "Oh! The-- yes." Merlin grins brightly. "Bundles of it."

Arthur nods. "What does mugwort do anyway?"

"It, er. Balances the humors of the body, and also induces abortions."

He raises an eyebrow. "Abortions?"

"The cook sometimes uses mugwort to season the goose," Merlin adds hopefully.

"So which is it?" asks Arthur. "Is Gaius inducing an abortion or are we having goose for lunch today?"

Merlin's mouth opens and doesn't close, and emits this sound: "Ahh..."

"Where does it grow?" Arthur demands.

"In the fields just beyond Camelot."

"What does it look like?" he asks, quickfire.

"Pointy leaves with sort of whitish blooms," Merlin blurts out, just as fast.

"And," says Arthur, "did he get his yarrow?"

"Oh yes," Merlin replies, nodding. "Of course."

"A-ha!" Arthur crows. "Got you!"

Merlin's eyes widen. "What? Me?"

"It was hyssop, not yarrow! You said hyssop last night!"

"I did?" Merlin squeaks, then clears his throat. "Of course I did. That's what i meant to say."

Arthur jabs Merlin's chest with his finger. "You liar."

"I'm not lying," Merlin protests. "Why would I lie?"

"To get out of doing this." And takes Merlin's face in his hands, and kisses him.