Ren the Ghost

I present a Merlin fic! :D

Merlin hears a noise much like a gurgling river, and then a great swath of fire is rushing up and out of the floor grate that, through a lot of winding tunnels and suspicious twists and turns, eventually connects to the great dragon's dungeon. It's followed by a sound not unlike a constipated burp as the fire dissipates, and Merlin winces, shoulders drawing up.

"What," Arthur clearly enunciates, "was that?"

"A natural disaster?" Merlin tries, stepping in front of the smoking grate and spreading out as if he can somehow prevent Arthur from seeing it, and Arthur merely levels him with a decidedly unamused look, crossing his arms and raising his eyebrows. They start twitching after a moment, when Merlin doesn't do whatever a good servant would do in this situation, but Merlin is a little bit too worried that the dragon might have just blown his cover to worry about Arthur's opinion of skills right now. "Move, Merlin," Arthur finally snaps, and attempts to shoulder past him, because he's always shouldering somewhere.

Merlin draws himself up tight and says, "I'll have you know spontaneous fires often occur around here. It's nothing to be concerned about!"

"Do they now?" Arthur's eye twitches. A servant behind him attempts to cover a laugh in a cough, and Merlin chooses to think they're laughing at Arthur.

Nodding, Merlin decides to go all in. "You're just always missing it, out and about on your hunts and whatnot."

"You mean my duty to the realm?"

"That, yes. Keeps you very busy, sire. And we all forgive you."

"Forgive-" Arthur pinches the bridge of his nose. He waves a hand. A servant rushes forth with a bucket of water and tosses it at the grate. And Merlin. Because Merlin didn't move. This is what real magicians do, he reminds him, freezing and sputtering and brushing water out of his eyes while Arthur doesn't even pretend he's not laughing.

They stand in the way of stray princes (who really aren't usually all the way down here) finding dragons with colds.