Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Merlin or anything affiliated with it.
"Merlin!" Gwaine called from his horse in the back of the group. "Merlin!"
The warlock in question directed his horse out from the front and cantered to the knight, "What is it?"
"Oh, nothing in particular," Gwaine shrugged as best he could with his armor, "I was talking to Lancelot but I must have bored him because he moved over to Elyan, and then I grew bored."
Merlin looked ahead at Lancelot to see him riding silently next to an equally silent Elyan. "Are you sure you just didn't irritate him?"
Gwaine looked genuinely baffled. "How do you mean?"
"Er, well-" Merlin looked down at his saddle horn, "I don't know if you've noticed this before or if you've just been oblivious but sometimes- well, most of the time actually, I should know because Arthur hasn't stopped complaining since we left- but it seems as if every time we go riding to save another village or go out to destroy another source of evil magic-" he looked up to see Gwaine's head tilted sideways in confusion. Merlin let out a puff of air in exasperation and continued, "What I mean to say is that most of us-"
"-All of us," Arthur interrupted flatly from the front.
"-are irritated that you-"
"That I what, Merlin?" Gwaine grinned, "That I'm better at sword fighting than they are? Sorry men!" He called with laughter in is voice, "I'll let you take the glory next round!"
It was Merlin's turn to look baffled, "You really don't know, do you?" Gwaine looked back at his friend quizzically, urging Merlin to burst: "You talk too much!"
Everyone was silent and tense, waiting for Gwaine's reaction. The horses felt the mood shift and they pranced and shook their heads before the knights could regain control.
Gwaine raised his eyebrows in surprise and a corner of his mouth twitched. Merlin rushed to apologize, "I'm sorry I just blurted that out, but I didn't know how else to tell you! I mean, you're a great knight and an even greater friend but-"
Gwaine roared with laughter, so much so that he spooked his horse and nearly fell. "Merlin!" He eventually choked out. Through his tears of mirth he saw his friends' eyes were open wide and his mouth even wider. "Oh! Merlin, my friend, you are too funny! It's you that's been talking this whole time, not me!"