Summary: Trouble is brewing in Camelot. When Arthur almost discovers Merlin's magic, his friends cover for him...in the most chaotic way possible.

The three of them-Merlin, Gwaine, and Lancelot-had sworn after the "Goose Incident" to never again let things get so wildly out of control.

That lasted precisely two days.

Arthur had sent them to check on reports of a creature lurking near the western woods. "Scout only," he said, glaring specifically at Gwaine. "Do not get into trouble."

Naturally, trouble was the first thing they found.

A wyvern.

A small one, thankfully, but still large enough to be a problem.

"It's fine," Merlin whispered as the creature slithered through the undergrowth. "We'll just scare it off."

"Scare it off? Or set it on fire?" Gwaine asked, grinning.

"Don't encourage him," Lancelot sighed.

Merlin lifted a hand, muttering under his breath. A flicker of golden light sparked-and right at that moment Arthur crashed through the trees behind them.

"What's going on here?"

Merlin froze, hand still glowing faintly. The wyvern hissed, about to pounce.

Thinking fast, Gwaine flung himself dramatically in front of Arthur. "Arthur! Good news! Merlin's-uh-Merlin's teaching me interpretive dance!"

Arthur blinked. "...what?"

"See?" Gwaine began flailing his arms in wild circles. "Very advanced form. Ancient technique. Helps to scare off lizards."

Lancelot, desperate to sell the act, immediately joined in, waving his sword in oddly graceful arcs. "It's true, sire. Quite... intimidating."

Merlin had no choice but to whirl his hands in what looked vaguely like a mystical twirl, muttering the actual spell under his breath.

The wyvern shrieked, blinded by a sudden flash of light, and fled into the trees.

Arthur stared.

"So..." he said slowly, "the three of you fought off a wyvern... by dancing at it?"

"Yes!" Gwaine beamed. "Worked like a charm."

Arthur rubbed his temples. "You are all complete idiots."

He turned and stalked back toward Camelot, muttering under his breath.

The moment he was gone, Gwaine doubled over laughing. Lancelot buried his face in his hands. Merlin groaned.

"Interpretive dance?" he hissed.

"Worked, didn't it?" Gwaine winked.