All Work and No Play -Merlin, Arthur-

[Merlin Emrys]

Merlin watched as the Prince inspected the porridge with a half smile, polishing the boots without really paying attention to what he was doing. It was a daily task, and one that he could now perform without much concentration. Putting his hand inside the sweaty boot to hold in on the table, he then scrubbed the heel, the side, the tip and the other side with a stiff bristle brush, cleaning away the dirt and dust of the training ground. He set the clean boots in front of him with a satisfied smile and wiped his dirty hands on his trousers.

"Anyway Merlin are those boots done yet?

In reply Merlin gripped the inside of both boots with a hand and offered them to Arthur, glancing at Lilith who had fallen uncharacteristically quiet after her comment about the porridge. He wondered if anything was the matter.

"I don't know about your armour needed a clean Arthur, ugh, I think you do! All that sweat and dirt in the training ground." he held his nose and choked dramatically, hoping to make Lilith laugh and rile up Arthur...

[Lilith Blackmore]

Lilith continued her work, trying to concentrate as best she could. As she worked, she began to hum a little, something she did more often when she was working alone. It was a simple tune that she was told her mother used to hum. The humming relaxed her and soon she was feeling more comfortable in the situation. She moved from the cupboard, back to the table, and around the room, gathering ingredients and mixing them together. And then she passed by Arthur and glanced up briefly at him pale eyes. Her heart skipped a beat and she quickly walked back to the table.

By that point, Lilith smiled slightly, looking at Merlin, who was cleaning Arthur's boots. She had nothing to say. What would she say to the prince? He did not seem to notice her presence much. That was when Lilith could really see how her simple girl crush on him was silly. But she could not help it. Suddenly her attention turned to Merlin who made a funny comment and gesture. Lilith started to giggle her infectious laugh and her nose wrinkled a little as it did when she smiled. Lilith continued to look at Merlin, trying to make eye contact as she grinned.

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

At first Merlin's comment offended Arthur, especially because they were in the presence of Lilith, but when she began to giggle at the comment, Arthur could not help but smile. Besides, his boots smelt revolting as Merlin held them out.

"Hmmm," He mused, "I suppose I have been training hard all morning." He spoke with an air of arrogance, showing off in front of Gaius' new assistant. "Perhaps I will get home to find my faithful, if somewhat foolish, servant has prepared me a bath?" He glared at Merlin expectantly. BUt for all his faults he knew Merlin was a good servant and friend, and as usual his commanding tone was more of an act.

Lilth was humming in the background and Arthur smiled, enjoying the soothing tune.
"Do you sing?" He asked her.

[Merlin Emrys]

Merlin couldn't help but smile to himself when Lilith began laughing, she had the habit of wrinkling up her nose that he loved to see; it showed geniune laughter. He quickly forced himself to look away from her face, before it became too obvious that he was staring at her nose and accidentally appeared rude.

Arthur didn't reply to his jibe angrily, but with a commanding tone that he often employed when showing off his authority in front of his fellow nobles, or soldiers... or when he wanted to impress the ladies of the Court.

Still grinning, Merlin replied, "Of course sire, I'll have the kitchen bring hot water up to your chambers, just as soon as I'm finished with my chores here." He didn't want to leave Lilith before he had to, especially not alone with Arthur. Merlin was a little shocked when the Prince followed by directing a question to Lilith, but remained silent, watching her and wondering how she would reply. He continued to ground the herbs before him with an odd expression on his face.

[Lilith Blackmore]

Lilith looked up at Arthur, a little surprised at his addressing her. "Oh, a little, but not well," Lilith replied, being modest. She looked from Merlin to Arthur, not knowing what to do. "Would you like me to sing your highness?" Lilith asked, assuming his asking her if she sang was then to ask her to entertain him as he waited for Merlin. Lilith was not good at singing in front of other people. Humming was different as it was quite and reserved. If necessary, she could hum low enough that Arthur and Merlin would not be able to hear her. As it were, she had gotten so lost in her head, that she had forgotten about them.

Lilith was pleased that Merlin had been so insistent on finishing his chores first. She did not know if she wanted to be left alone with Arthur, or was it she did not want to lose Merlin's comforting and sweet presence? Lilith did not know what she was feeling now and that made her confused. It made her so confused that she accidentally pricked her finger on one of the small instruments on the desk. "Ow!" Lilith exclaimed, though under her breath. She brought her finger to her mouth and gently sucked, before closing her eyes and whispering iatros. Of course it was nothing that was in dire need of healing, but Lilith was eager to practice her magic, even if she felt faint afterward. Lilith drooped a little and suddenly became embarrassed. She quickly righted herself and went back to her work.

[Prince Arthur Pendragon]

Arthur couldn't help but smile as he watched Lilith. He saw her prick her finger as she idly went about her work, and of course he assumed it was because she was so enchanted by his presence. Her embarrasment as she realised she was still in the room with him pleased him and when she had regained some composure he replied to her earlier question.
"Perhaps later. Now I suppose I must be off to get some work done before father notices I have been missing all morning." He smiled, "You should come to court one evening, I am sure Morgana would be more than happy to lend you a gown should you not have one andI think it would be most interesting to get to know you Lilith Blackmore."

With a smirk on his lips, Arthur pulled on his boots and nodded to Merlin with a look that said "hurry up!". After closing the door a little more gently that when he had entered, he headed off to the castle to find a pair of boots that smelt a little better!

[Merlin Emrys]

Without realising it, Merlin scowled as Arthur spoke to Lilith, his brow furrowing even deeper when he invited her to Court. The Prince seemed perfectly willing to overlook class difference when it involved a pretty girl. Merlin looked up, raising his eyebrows to a more innocent expression when Arthur looked his way. The Prince nodded his head emphatically before he left, indicating he wanted Merlin to finish up helping Lilith quickly.

Merlin resumed grounding the already ground herbs with increased vigor. He looked up to Lilith after a bit, tipping the powder into a jar.
"I think Arthur likes you." he said, attempting to sound offhand, "Inviting you to court... and he was certainly in a better mood when he left." He gave a small fake laugh, the looked down at the jar, swirling his finger through the pale powder and trying to keep the redness out of his face. He didn't want to be talking about Arthur, but he did want to gage Lilith's response...

[Lilith Blackmore]

"Thank you your highness," Lilith responded with a bow, turning to grin at Merlin, though she noticed his scowl. How peculiar that Merlin would be scowling. Was he not happy for her? Or was he jealous? Lilith could not figure it out so she waited for Arthur to leave before turning to say something to her companion, but he spoke first. Lilith smiled and nodded at his comment. It was true that Arthur surprisingly paid her some attention, though Lilith had not expected it. It was not the first time they had been in the same room together and she had appeared invisible.

"I suppose so, though I am sure the prospect of you preparing him a bath and cleaning his armor has lightened his mood even more," Lilith replied tactfully. She did not know why she was afraid to gush over the attention Arthur had paid her. In fact, she had been torn the whole time between the dashing Arthur and quirky Merlin. She suddenly was very aware of Merlin across from her and remembered the scowl.

"Are you alright Merlin?" Lilith asked, looking earnestly at him.

[Merlin Emrys]

"I suppose so, though I am sure the prospect of you preparing him a bath and cleaning his armor has lightened his mood even more,"

Merlin muttered "mhm" in reply, then stacked up the jars before him, scooping them into his arms and carrying them over to the already laden shelves, before sliding them into their correct place with the other powdered herbs.

"Are you alright Merlin?" At her concerned words, he turned around, facing Lilith with a smile, a proper one this time that he hoped would hide his nervousness.
"I'm fine, I'm just... I've got a lot to do today." He walked back towards the bench where Lilith was working, and touched her hand lightly before heading to the door. "Not that I don't want to be here!" he hurriedly added, turning back to her and holding the door open with his other hand. Merlin awkwardly cleared his throat, unsure how to proceed... If Arthur could do it then he could too, and this thought spurred him on.
"If you're free after work today... maybe we could, go somewhere? If you like? Outside of the castle?" The tips of his ears had turned bright red now as he hovered by the door waiting for Lilith's reply.

[Lilith Blackmore]

Lilith nodded at Merlin's response. She did not know what had happened, but now she was feeling a little guilty. Lilith could never imagine Merlin liking her, the same way she had not imagined that Arthur would ever pay attention to her. Her self esteem was rather low and she did not view herself as either pretty or interesting. Yet here was Merlin sulking. She did not know what to make of it at all.

Suddenly Lilith felt his hand lightly touch hers and butterflies began to fly around in her stomach. This alone shocked her and once he would leave, she would spend time wondering what it all meant. What did her butterflies mean? Did she actually like him without knowing it? But in the present Lilith smiled warmly and she said her good byes. As she turned back to her work, she was suddenly made aware that Merlin had not left. She looked up as he awkwardly cleared his throat.

"I would like that," Lilith said with a smile that brightened her face. She did yearn to be outside and Merlin's company was always nice. There were times when she wished that he did not have to leave to help Arthur. She did not see him often enough.