Oh god, I'm sorry. Way too late, I know. Computer troubles, I'm afraid, but I finally got a new school laptop, and so have finally been able to make progress on the story! Woo! (and also it was exciting to be tapping away at a brand new keyboard - yes, I'm one of those people) I'm so glad there are people enjoying this story, I hope you continue to do so, and thanks for all the reviews/favourites/follows so far! I even got a good idea from one of the last reviewers which I'm thinking of integrating into the story later on. No spoilers from me though ;)

Okay. Now. The dance. This is where things finally pick up; questions are answered and action is taken. Not as much in this chapter, but certainly the next one, and that brings me to a warning. It gets dark. I feel like I may have been misleading everyone slightly, as this story hasn't gotten too heavy so far, but trust me. Bad things ahead. I'll put proper warnings in the next chapter, but I just thought I'd give a heads up now. Wow, I'm getting good at this 'being vague' thing, huh?

Arthur stood outside the school hall and looked up at it doubtfully. Yes, he'd promised to come, yes Leon promised it would be good, but really; he just wasn't sure he could be enthusiastic about being on school grounds after hours.

Merlin, as usual, had a more optimistic view on things. Walking right ahead and through the main double-door entrance he called "Come on, Arthur! Where's your enthusiasm?"

"At home. In bed," Arthur replied simply. It had been a long day and Principal Uther had approached him after first period about the upcoming hockey season. He wasn't above admitting he could do with an early night. But still, he followed his little brother through into the hall, immediately spotting his friends and noting they were of the last to arrive.

They had all agreed to come early and help the Student Representative Council set up. Everything still appeared to be in fairly early stages; Elyan and Percival appeared to be figuring out the logistics of streamers in a fairly bare hall with nothing to hang them from. A cluster of younger students were setting up tables and chairs around the outskirts and Leon was setting out platters of food on a long table at the far end. Gwaine and Lancelot were nowhere to be seen. By Arthur's guess, the former had probably snuck off and fallen asleep somewhere. Merlin immediately headed over to help with the tables, no doubt recognising some of his friends. He may tend to stick with hanging out with Freya, and Will when he wasn't on some trip overseas or whatever the kid was up to, but he was generally quite a popular kid. One of the first things Arthur had ever learnt about the boy, was he was difficult to dislike. Even if it had taken Arthur longer than most to warm up to him.

Leon looked up from where he had just carefully placed a bowl of punch (and Arthur just knew some thickhead was going to try and spike it again) and grinned to see his friend arrived. Arthur walked across the room with a wave.

"All going well, Leon?"

Leon shrugged. "As well as can be expected, I suppose." He looked unhappily to the front of the hall where a small stage had been set up. "The band hasn't arrived yet."

"They will," Arthur reassured. "Lancelot won't let you down."

Leon smiled wanly at him. "You two are getting along fine, then."

Arthur's lips set in a thin line. "I know, I know. I overreacted."

"Maybe a little."

Arthur threw his hands up defensively. "What can I say, it wasn't a good time to be asking questions."

Leon looked at him carefully, whatever feng shui he'd been working with the refreshments forgotten. "Will it ever be a good time to ask?"

"You know what happened," Arthur said tiredly.

Leon shook his head. "I know Oswald and Merlin didn't end well. I know it was Oswald's fault. I know we don't speak to him anymore. Other than that… It's all a bit of a mystery to everyone but them, you and Gwaine." Arthur didn't answer straight away, more surprised than he really should have been. Sometimes he forgot not everyone had been there. His friends had all just been so supportive, and had trusted so easily when Arthur and Gwaine had made it clear Oswald was no longer one of them.

"That's all you need to know," he said in the end with a note of finality. Leon was one of his closest friends; out of the group, they'd known each other the longest. They had been friends in primary school and were lucky to end up in the same high school together where they met the rest of their friends. But really, this just wasn't something to talk about with other people. He could barely stand reliving it in his own head, let alone out loud for others to hear. It wasn't even really his to tell.

Luckily, what with having been Arthur's friend for so long, Leon understood, and only nodded in acceptance. Grateful, Arthur moved the conversation along into more light-hearted territory. "I hear Principal Uther is actually making an appearance tonight." Okay. So maybe not that much more light-hearted.

Leon didn't seem to think so either, and grimaced. "Yeah. I was kind of hoping that wouldn't get out. I can see how it would make people a little more reluctant to come."

Well, Uther did have a habit of bringing down the mood. He was obviously one of those who had quite happily forgotten what it was like to be young. "We can only hope he doesn't push the band off halfway through to give his famous lecture on responsibility."

Leon groaned. "He wouldn't, would he?"

Arthur shrugged with a mischievous grin. It was so easy to get Leon worked up. "Anything's possible."

Leon certainly looked more worried, but before he could say anything in return, another voice caught their attention.

"Leon!" They looked back to the main entrance where Lancelot was standing, five unfamiliars behind him carrying more equipment than Arthur thought could have possibly been necessary. "Where do you want them to set up?"

With a sigh of relief Leon pointed to the stage and went to meet them halfway, introducing himself. Arthur held back, taking in 'The Druids'. They seemed normal enough. They looked friendly and smiled at Leon, though they didn't appear to be saying saying much. Hopefully their charisma would kick in once a couple hundred expectant students showed up.

Merlin worked to keep his smile to a low voltage when he saw Freya arrive. The hall had slowly filled with students and Lancelot's band was already a few songs in (they were quite good, despite his brother's doubts). But he had waited by the doors for her, and seeing her in a casual green dress with her hair done up in curls and a shy smile on her face, he knew it had definitely been worth it. As soon as Freya spotted him, she headed in his direction.

"My lady," Merlin said with a small bow and a cheeky grin, "care for a dance?"

Freya giggled, and he could see her blush slightly in the darkness of the hall. "You're such a dork, Merlin." But still she took his hand and followed him to the centre of the floor where they joined the throng of dancing teenagers. Smoke drifted around their feet from a couple of hidden fog machines and multi-coloured lights bounced off the walls. Really, Leon and the SRC had outdone themselves.

Teachers turned chaperones were milling about the edges of the hall, sweeping wary eyes across the room for unwanted behaviour or drama that, to them and their years of experience, was bound to show up sooner or later. No sign of Principal Uther, but the night was young.

One song finished and another began, and with a start Merlin realised it was 'Hey There Delilah'. Which, you know, would be fine. Except it was a slow song. And he was still dancing. With Freya. And now they were expected to… what? Slow dance? Oh god. He didn't know how to slow dance. Hell, he didn't know what he was doing in the faster songs.

Just as he was beginning to feel his face heat up Freya said unexpectedly "I need a drink," and began making her way to the table laden with food and punch. Merlin followed with a sigh of relief and hoped she hadn't noticed.

Gwaine was leaning on the wall near where they stopped to fill up their plastic cups, chatting to a very attractive girl of the same year. Spotting them, Gwaine paused in his conversation to wink at Merlin, who rolled his eyes good-naturedly in return. Freya took a sip of her drink and winced.

"Oh god, that's sweet."

"Look on the bright side," Merlin said mock-seriously, "at least no one's spiked it yet."

"That's the bright side?" asked Freya mischievously, and Merlin laughed, knowing perfectly well Freya had never touched or enjoyed the thought of alcohol. They stood in companionable silence as the singer continued to dream of his and Delilah's new life together, and Merlin tried unsuccessfully to stop stealing glances at his friend. God, she was beautiful. And that smile on her face was so serene… Like nothing could touch it. Merlin loved that about her. Considering what he knew about her, how they'd met, it always continued to impress him how carefree she could appear.

Suddenly Gwaine sidled up beside them to effectively ruin the mood. "Having fun?" he asked with an innocent smile, and Merlin just knew he was up to no good.

Freya nodded, automatically turning shy as she often did around the older guys. "I love this song," she admitted happily in a quiet voice.

Gwaine turned to Merlin and waggled his eyebrows while Freya watched the band. "Then why aren't you two dancing?"

Yup. Up to no good, as expected. Merlin fought the blush that was reappearing. "We just did."

"But Merlin," Gwaine said with exaggerated patience, as if explaining to a small child, "Freya loves this song."

Freya looked back at them at that so Merlin didn't even have a chance to glare at the older boy. Suddenly feeling very flustered, he stammered out "I, umm, I need to go, um, get some… some fresh air." Freya frowned lightly in confusion and Gwaine's eyes twinkled with amused understanding. Not waiting for a reason to be stopped, Merlin quickly stepped away and dodged along the edges of the dance floor until he turned off and walked through the tables and chairs to one of the side doors. With a quick glance around for watching teachers, he decided he was safe and slipped through.

It was mercifully cool outside, a light breeze ruffling through his hair. The sun had gone down a while ago and the stars were out in full force tonight, shining brightly. Still, looking up at them, all he could think of was Freya, and if maybe he'd been a bit hasty in avoiding getting to dance more seriously with her after all.

So caught up in his thoughts was he that he didn't notice when someone joined him outside. For one quiet moment they stood back, by the door, remaining half-hidden in the shadows. But Merlin looked back down, the figure stepped forward, and the moment was broken.

"Merlin," the younger boy jumped and his head swivelled quickly in direction of the deep voice to see Oswald standing there, an unfriendly and all too familiar leer on his face. "Finally alone, are you?" The blood drained from Merlin's face and to his legs as his instincts screamed at him to run. Never get caught alone with Oswald, never, never again, he knew that, and here he was, trapped, and Oswald was between him and the many witnesses inside. Oswald appeared only too pleased with the conditions. "Finally."

Lancelot flashed a thumbs up to the drummer, Tommy, who flashed a smile back even as he began a new beat, this time the rhythm to a modified version of 'Don't Fear the Reaper'. The band had been a big success, as Lancelot knew they would be. Turning, he looked for his friends, and found Gwen sitting alone at one of the tables. He quickly made his way over and sat down with a ready smile. She smiled warmly back.

Gesturing to the two half-full cups of punch on the table, he asked "where's Arthur?"

"I think he went off to talk Gwaine out of something stupid, but you can never be sure," Gwen answered, and there was a fondness in her voice. "He's always leaving too quick to get a straight answer out of him." She nodded to the band. "I hear you saved the day with them. Well done."

Lancelot smiled. "It was no big deal. Glad I could be of some help." He laughed and added "besides, it's not like I'm the one up there performing."

Gwen's face broke into a beautiful smile. "Oh, I'd like to see that."

Lancelot shook his head. "No, trust me, you really wouldn't."

"That bad?"

"Worse, I'm afraid."

Gwen chuckled. "Don't worry, I think I'd be just as bad."

Thinking of the way he often heard her humming when walking down the school corridors, or the occasional soft singing of a tune under her breath, Lancelot couldn't help but say ponderously "I doubt it."

Suddenly his attention was diverted to the corner of his eye, and Lancelot turned to see Merlin hurriedly navigating his way through the tables and chairs. Before he could even call out his friend's name, Merlin had reached one of the doors and snuck outside.

Gwen followed his gaze. "Do you think he's okay?"

Lancelot nodded slowly. "I'm sure he's just getting some fresh air or…" he trailed off. Someone else was headed in the same direction, and as the strobe lights flew about the room they very briefly landed on the other's face. "Oh no," he muttered, standing up quickly, just as Percival appeared by his shoulder.

"What is it?" asked Gwen, not having seen what he had.

"Find Arthur," was his only answer before rushing off after Merlin and Oswald. Percival was quickly on his heel.

"Lancelot," said Percival, trying to keep up as Lancelot broke into a run, "what did you see?"

"Trouble," Lancelot replied, and reached the door, not slowing even as he went to push it open.

Which made his halt very abrupt when the door refused to give way.

Really hoping you all don't come after me with pitchforks and torches now. Sorry. Cliffhangers are a bit of a habit of mine :)

And I will admit, I spent way too much time deciding on what song the band was playing when things took a turn for the worse. 'Don't Fear The Reaper' is a bit of an obvious choice, I know, but it was that or 'Every Breath You Take'.