WAIT. Before you hunt me down, I am sorry for the lateness (again). I know, bad habit. In my defense, I kept trying to write, but my year was celebrating our last week at school ever, and I had to join in on the antics (which involved filling our principal's office with 300 balloons and having a gender bender wedding, in case you're interested). That plus a monologue I had to perform and work, and I just couldn't find the time. Sorry :/

HUGE thanks to you guys. The support I've been getting is overwhelming, and all the reviews from last chapter were so entertaining to read xD You're all awesome.

WARNINGS: As mentioned before, this chapter is very dark, the next one probably more so. I would even go so far as to say these two chapters could be triggery. They involve brief non-consensual elements, but I promise right now the bad guy doesn't get what he wants. If that helps. I don't blame you if it doesn't. If you wish to skip this chapter, please feel free to PM me and I'll explain to you what happened.

Merlin backed away from Oswald with jerky movements, his body almost locking up in fear. This was all too familiar, this wasn't supposed to be happening, it couldn't be happening, not again!

Merlin felt himself being dragged into a memory, still as fresh as the dark night it had happened. A memory of fear and blood and betrayal, and oh god, where was Arthur?

Oswald was still looking perfectly calm and content. "It's been a while, hasn't it Merlin? Since last time we were… truly alone."

Alone, with not enough space between them, and Merlin had been so confused, so surprised, because why would he be doing this?

"I've been thinking about you. About how we left things."

With pain and hatred and Arthur had come, Arthur had saved him but where was he now?

"It was all left a bit… unfinished for my liking."

Merlin desperately tried to glare at him but his legs were shaking and his heart was beating so fast. Oswald's grin grew in a grotesque sort of a way on his face.

"What do you say we talk?"

A small huff escaped Merlin. "You never wanted to talk."

Oswald expressed mock-hurt. "Now that's not true. I enjoyed our conversations, the time we spent together." His eyes narrowed slightly, the smile remaining in place. "All of our time together."

Merlin backed up a few more steps. If he made a break for it and ran in the opposite direction to Oswald, he could round the corner of the hall and get back to the main entrance. Slip back into the crowd. Find Arthur, find Gwaine, if it came to that - though he hated to bring them back into this whole mess, and cursed himself for being weak. For having to run in the first place. "Stay away from me," he managed, and only wished he could sound stronger, more confident than he was. He wished he could sound like his brother.

Oswald obviously heard the same wavering of his voice as Merlin did, and simply laughed. He walked forward, matching Merlin for each step he had taken. "I have been. I've been a good boy, just like your thick-headed brother wanted." The humour fell from his face like a curtain to the floor. "I've been patient, but I've waited long enough. You owe me something, Merlin."

Merlin shook his head, remembering what Arthur had said to him, what he'd drilled into him for months. He repeated his brother's words now; "I owe you nothing."

A rattling drew their attention back to the now closed door. It shook violently for a moment, before going still. Suddenly, banging noises came from the other side.

"Merlin!" a familiar voice called. "Merlin, are you there?"

Oswald turned back to the boy in question with a scowl. "That damn new kid won't leave well enough alone, will he?" But the scowl was quickly replaced with his usual confident grin. "Ah well. Made sure we wouldn't be interrupted this time around." Merlin glanced back to the door, which was again rattling, and saw the thick stick - possibly a small branch that had fallen from one of the nearby trees - wedged in between the door and the jam.

Merlin was alone on this. There was no help coming for him this time. Oswald had made sure of it.

The older boy sneered. "Now where were we?"

Merlin turned and ran. His skinny legs propelled him forward, the blood pounding in his ears, but he hadn't even made the corner before Oswald tackled him to the ground.

Oswald had always been too aggressive a person. He used to play hockey, with Arthur and the others, but ended up having to sit out of most games from losing his temper or getting 'too enthusiastic'.

Now was no different. Merlin slammed into the ground and was winded before a yell could even escape, all the air harshly forced out of his lungs. He struggled to crawl away but Oswald remained on top of him, one knee digging into his back. Merlin desperately sucked in a deep breath but still didn't manage to slip out from Oswald's hold. Absolute fear was washing over him like ice, and Oswald snickered from where he now kneeled on top. "Not this time, Merlin."

"Go to hell," Merlin hissed in response, his back beginning to ache from the pressure there.

Oswald took his knee away only to quickly grab Merlin's shoulders and force him onto his back. Moving back on top of the flailing boy, Oswald brought Merlin's hands up above his head and held them there, leaning down so his face was only centimetres from Merlin's.

"Only if you come with me."

The next few moments were filled with chaotic confusion. A strong, deep voice yelled "Oswald Stulorne!" while another, younger, more desperate one shouted "Merlin!" Suddenly Oswald was falling off of Merlin and to the ground beside him with a pained cry. Strong hands quickly pulled Merlin to his feet and dragged him, a mess of shaking limbs, back away. His mind quickly registered that it was Percival who held him, that it was Lancelot who now fought Oswald, that Principal Uther was attempting to step between them with absolute anger in his eyes. He quickly stepped out of Percival's relenting grasp, needing space, and looked on worriedly. Oswald had a quickly blossoming black eye from Lancelot's immediate attack and had a steadily bleeding lip. He quickly retaliated with a solid punch to Lancelot's stomach who doubled over for a mere moment before turning and kicking Oswald on the side where his right kidney would be. It was his judo training taking over, fuelled by the obvious rage shown on his face. Despite the disadvantage of size, it looked as if Lancelot could easily win this fight. And still Merlin worried, because Oswald was full of surprises and was good at overpowering others.

But it wasn't long before more teachers were appearing on the scene, curious students among them, and Mr Monmouth was pulling Lancelot away, giving Uther the room to get to Oswald and soon the two boys were separated, left to fume and glare. Mr Gaius appeared by Merlin's side, startling him slightly.

"Are you alright, Merlin?" The anger on the teacher's face did not match the concern in his voice. Merlin had always liked Mr Gaius; he was a kind and interesting man, and always willing to listen. Merlin nodded, aware of Percival still standing close to his other side, and tried not fidget. It had suddenly become way too crowded.

"Move! Get out of my way!" Merlin turned to Arthur's voice, who was shoving his way through the quickly-formed crowd, Gwaine and Gwen just behind him. Merlin desperately hoped it wasn't obvious how relieved he was to see his brother. As soon as Arthur reached him he put his hands on Merlin's shoulders and looked him over carefully. "Where are you hurt? What did he do?"

Merlin didn't like that cold tone to Arthur's voice. "I'm okay, Arthur, really. He - " Merlin paused, because really, what had Oswald done? "Nothing happened."

Gwaine scoffed humourlessly and glared daggers in Oswald's direction, only to realise the principal was dragging him away, in the direction of his office. Probably safer for the jerk, judging by how badly Gwaine wanted to punch his face into the ground. It was a shame Lancelot was having to follow, though.

Obviously Arthur was just as disbelieving. "Nothing?! Are you kidding me? Merlin - "

"Arthur," a new voice interjected and suddenly Gwen was laying a calming hand on his arm. "Not here."

Arthur glanced from the large crowd of students to his brother who appeared to be trying to shrink himself under the numerous gazes. Huffing, he turned to the other students with one hand still on Merlin's shoulder. "Shows over," he said shortly.

Arthur had always been known as a leader; he had a certain charisma about him that basically had anyone doing whatever he wanted. This was the kind of time when that quality came in handy, he felt, as the crowd slowly began to disperse, students still muttering and whispering excitedly about what must have happened. Arthur just knew the rumours would be hell to deal with.

"Merlin," Mr Gaius said softly, "we need to have you checked over, make sure you're not hurt. And I'm afraid Principal Uther will want your account of what happened."

Merlin cringed under Arthur's comforting grip and Gwaine scowled. "Does he have to do it now?"

"The sooner the better, I'm afraid," replied Mr Gaius. "Best to have this dealt with."

Merlin looked up from the battered old Snoopy comic he had in his hands at a knock on his door. Hunith stood there, smiling sympathetically. He didn't like that smile. He'd been receiving it way too much for the last two days. "You have a visitor, Merlin."

Merlin tensed. "Who is it?"

Lancelot appeared from behind Hunith with a small wave. "Hey Merlin."

"Oh," was all he said, the tension not leaving his body.

Hunith hesitated. "Merlin, are you right to…" she trailed off, but he knew the question. Was he alright to be left alone with his friend? He nodded after only a brief second of hesitation and Hunith nodded, saying she would bring up some snacks later, if they wanted. Then she was gone and it was just him and Lancelot, who stepped cautiously into the room.

After a moment of rather awkward silence, the older boy spoke. "I'm sorry, I hope you don't mind me stopping by."

Merlin shook his head. "It's no problem. But… shouldn't you be at school?" Merlin had been given the rest of the week off, and while he had argued that it wasn't needed, he was secretly glad for the time alone.

"Suspended," Lancelot said with a grin, though he looked slightly green at the idea. This was most likely his first time in real trouble. And it was Merlin's fault.

"I'm sorry," he said, and realised something else. "I… didn't get a chance to thank you."

"No need," said Lancelot, suddenly sounding fierce. "If anyone ever… you don't deserve that kind of treatment, from anyone. I was only doing what was right." Merlin looked back down from where he sat on the bed, and Lancelot stepped further into the room. "So… are you okay?"

Merlin nodded without looking up. He didn't mean to be this awkward about it, he really didn't, but Oswald just made him so uncomfortable, and now Lancelot had seen. The silence stretched on, and finally Merlin couldn't take it anymore. He had to know. "Why are you here?"

Lancelot hesitated. "I want to know… what happened."

"You were there," said Merlin shortly.

"No, I mean, before. What started all of this." Lancelot looked almost apologetic for asking. "I want to know what he did to you. Please."

Merlin shook his head. "It's not important."

Lancelot came and sat on the bed next to Merlin. "I'm sorry but we both know that's a lie." Merlin didn't respond. It was a pretty big lie. "Look, if you really don't want to tell me, that's fine," said Lancelot. "But I'm your friend, and you know you can trust me. I just want to know what happened."

Merlin stared at his comic, unseeing. Lancelot was a friend, and he could be trusted - that much had been proved two nights ago. That wasn't the problem. "It's… embarrassing," he admitted.

Lancelot half-smiled. "We all have our embarrassing stories, Merlin."

Merlin gave a small smile back. "I'm sure." He took a deep breath and there was a short pause. "Alright," he finally said, "I'll tell you." And if it scares you away, then… I'll have to live with that, he added silently.

Next chapter, all is revealed...

Sorry if this one didn't flow very well. It's not my best work.