A/N TruffleHead - one crackish magic reveal coming up :)
Merlin looked up as Leon appeared in the doorway.
"Merlin, Arthur wants to speak with you," the knight said. Merlin was slightly concerned by the grave tone of voice before he remembered that Leon always spoke like that - even at celebrations, much to everyone's annoyance.
"Fine," Merlin groaned, "I'm coming, I'm coming." Inwardly he wondered what the prince could possibly want this time. They'd only just come back from a hunting trip, for crying out loud. Literally. The poor unfortunate boar probably hadn't finished dripping blood over Gwaine's even more unfortunate horse yet.
Leon nodded and disappeared to do Leonish things, probably involving obedience and disapproval. Merlin wondered if he was being a bit harsh on the knight, but dismissed the thought as quickly as it came, since it was probably treason.
Merlin found Arthur sitting in his chambers staring intently at a goblet on his table, with the look of of concentration on his face that was normally reserved for constipation (Yes, there was a specific look). He seemed not to notice Merlin's arrival.
"Um." Merlin said matter-of-factly.
Arthur glanced up at him. "Oh, it's you."
"You sent Leon to get me, remember?" Merlin prompted as the prince went back to staring at the cup. When no response came, he sighed loudly.
"Ssshh, Merlin. I'm concentrating," Arthur snapped.
"What? I know everyone says you can do impossible feats, but isn't that a bit extreme?"
Still no response. Merlin was getting worried now.
"What are you expecting to happen? It's not going to topple over or anything like that, if that's what you were hoping for. Even you can't stare that indignantly. Although you've had plenty of practice..."
Arthur looked at his manservant. "Merlin, when we were out hunting this morning, did you notice anything odd?"
Merlin frowned. "Sorry, what? Should I have?"
Arthur took a deep breath. "Merlin, I think I have magic."
Merlin stared at him blankly. "What?"
"It all makes sense! This morning, when those bandits attacked, one of them shot an arrow at me. It stopped right -"
"Wait, wait, slow down. You think you have magic?" Merlin said incredulously. Sure, he knew Arthur was a bit thick, but surely even he wasn't that thick?
Arthur glared at him. "You heard me. And keep your voice down. Anyway, the arrow stopped right here," he pointed to a spot about a foot away from his face, "and fell to the floor."
Merlin started laughing uncontrollably.
"And all those times before! When the odds were stacked against me, and suddenly a branch fell on the nearest attackers, or when I fought Queen Annis' champion and his sword got stuck in the ground. Or that other time when -"
Merlin was overcome by another tide of laughter. Arthur rose from his seat and hit his manservant around the head.
"I only told you because I thought you'd be sympathetic! I thought you were a friend! What am I going to tell my father?"
Merlin stopped giggling inanely and looked up at his friend from the floor. It was about time, he figured, to put his friend out of his misery.
"Arthur," he said seriously. "It was me. I stopped them killing you, all those times."
Arthur's eyes widened, and then his face was filled with rage.
"If I wanted jokes made, I would have told Gwaine! Why can't you take this seriously? Get out! I don't want to see you back here again! GET OUT!"
Merlin gave up protesting and ran for the door, hands over his head and still chortling.
A/N So I was writing this chapter and it spawned a multi-chapter fic in my imagination. It's going to be crackish angst, which should be interesting, centering around Arthur thinking he's got magic. If anyone has any ideas for a title, please drop me a line, as I am the world's worst fic namer (see this fic's title). Actually, speaking of which, if anyone has a better idea for this fic's title, please let me know ;)
Thanks to all my wonderful reviewers - without you I would have given up on this chapters ago. Virtual cookies to you all :)