Hey everybody! This drabble is incredibly short, but hopefully kind of funny. :) I read another fic that inspired this little drabble, but can't remember what it was called… :/

IMPORTANT! From now on I'm going to include a little "Quick Info" before the drabble. That'll let you know when the drabble takes place, if Arthur knows or not, etc. Also, please remember that (for the most part) these drabbles aren't related. In one, Arthur could know, and in the next one, maybe he doesn't, etc. Thanks, guys!

Disclaimer: BBC owns all.

Quick Info: No specific time, although Uther is still King and Arthur is still prince. Arthur knows Merlin has magic, but Merlin doesn't know that Arthur knows. Also, the scene opens up at breakfast time. Merlin's just saved Arthur's life from some nameless threat and is now trying (unsuccessfully) to cover up.

Drabble 4- Terrible Excuses

It was clear: Merlin really couldn't keep his secret to save his life. Arthur groaned as he watched Merlin's eyes flash a not-so-subtle gold and the wine that the servant had just spilled on his freshly washed white tunic disappeared.

The servant looked up at Arthur's groan, and Arthur quickly spun around so Merlin wouldn't know he'd seen him.

"Something wrong?"

"Yes!" Arthur fumed. It wasn't a lie- something was wrong. And that something, Arthur thought in frustration, is that you can't learn to be more careful! What if my father sees you one day? Aloud, however, he only said, "I can't find my white tunic anywhere! I thought I specifically told you to have it washed!"

"If you'd stop and wait a minute," Merlin retorted, "You'd see I've got your tunic right here."

"Why wasn't it in my dresser?" Arthur asked, pretending to be confused.

"Oh! Uh…"

"Merlin-"

"There was a beetle on it! I was getting it off!" Merlin said quickly, looking relieved.

"A beetle," Arthur repeated, letting his doubt show in his voice.

"Yep."

"Right," the prince sighed, walking over to Merlin and snatching the tunic. Once he'd slipped it on, he walked over to the table to "get some wine." In reality, he didn't feel much like a drink, but Merlin didn't know that.

"Merlin?"

"Yes?"

"Care to explain why my empty goblet is doing on the floor? Hey! Is that my- Merlin, why is my breakfast spilled everywhere?!" Arthur asked, standing next to the spill. The flustered look returned to the manservant's face, and Arthur mentally groaned again. How have you kept your secret for so long? You can't even come up with an excuse for spilled wine!

"Uh… it was… the beetle," Merlin stammered lamely.

"Again?"

"…Yes."

"And how exactly did a beetle make you spill my food everywhere?" Arthur prompted, crossing his arms over his chest. This should be good.

"Uh…" Merlin said intelligently, stumped. "Well…"

"Yes?"

"I was trying to kill it."

"By dropping my food on it?"

"…Yes," Merlin said, although it came out more like a question.

"You really are an idiot sometimes, aren't you, Merlin?" Before Merlin could respond to Arthur's insult, the prince's eye caught sight of something else.

"What on earth is the dagger from?"

"What dagger?" Merlin asked, the picture of wide-eyed innocence.

"That dagger," Arthur said, pointing to the long knife by the bent breakfast tray with a roll of his eyes.

"Oh, that dagger. Um… I was delivering it to you as a gift from Gaius," Merlin winced as the words left his mouth, obviously regretting his choice of excuse.

"Gaius is giving me a dagger?" Arthur asked, looking at Merlin incredulously.

"He's a wise old man, don't question him," Merlin chided as he cleaned up the mess.

"Whatever you say, Merlin," Arthur said with a sigh that clearly said I've got better things to do.

"Oh, and Merlin?"

"Yes?"

"Where's the beetle?"

"What beetle?" Merlin asked blankly.

"The beetle that you smashed with my breakfast!" Arthur cried.

"Oh! Uh…"

Yeah, pathetically short, I know :( Hopefully still kinda funny, though. What do you guys want to see next? Another reveal fic? Maybe some whump? Please let me know! (Remember I don't do slash, though. Sorry!) Until next time!