I don't own Merlin.

/

"I would really, really like to know what exactly fueled this grand scheme."

Gwaine and Merlin are staring absently into the corner of their shared room from where they've flopped onto the couch. Arthur is the one who's spoken, but there clearly hasn't been much in the way of understanding. The duo are rather blank faced, eyes wide with innocence.

"I mean, it's not like you don't have plenty of other things to do," Arthur continues rather blandly, clearly trying not to laugh as he looks at them from where he's standing in front of them. "There's patrol, and laundry, and…"

"Awkward conversations," Merlin says just as blandly, "Involving the maids and possibly the local apothecaries and curious dissertations on their personal favorite times with their friends."

"Oh really now."

"Yes. Really." Arthur looks unimpressed, and Merlin shrugs. "No one ever said that it all had to make sense, right?"

Gwaine nods impassively, lips trembling ever so slightly as he tries not to laugh as well."

Arthur shakes his head. "So you put together a plan involving a frog, a skirt, bright blue flowers, and a fake unicorn."

"And oil. Can't forget oil," Gwaine adds helpfully, eyes sparkling. Merlin elbows him forcefully, trying not to smile like an idiot along side him. Arthur snorts, trying very hard to avoid laughing as well, swallowing down his smile as well.

"Yes, we certainly can't forget oil. Or you know, the glaringly obvious fact that you put a horse in a dress and tied a frog to its head and rode it through town. Definitely can't forget that one. Oh, and did I mention that that horse was the property of Mercia's favorite ambassador?"

The three stare at each other for a long minute, then all burst into uproarious laughter.

"Did you see his face? Did you see it? It was so hilarious I think I must have had almost had heart failure."

"I thought he was going to have a heart attack!"

"I could not stop laughing, just couldn't!"

The trio collapse to the ground, giggling like a group of idiots.

Gwen knocks on the door a little while later, and grins when she has to open it herself, revealing a tangle of laughing people on the floor. Raising an eyebrow, she asks wryly, "Did you three have a good serious talk, then?"

The group looks at each other and just laughs.