He took the midnight train going anywhere

Chapter 4

Arthur grinned when he spotted Merlin, he was at his locker talking with Lancelot and Freya. Arthur was about to go and talk to them when someone suddenly grabbed Arthur and spun him around it was Gwaine.

"Gwaine! You almost gave me a heart attack!"

"Sorry Princess", Gwaine said happily.

Arthur rolled his eyes, "I wish you would stop calling me that".

"Call you what?" Gwaine said his eyes alight with mischief.

"You know what Gwaine".

"No actually I bumped my head this morning I keep forgetting things".

Arthur sighed, "Why must you be so juvenile?"

"I honestly have no idea what you're talking about Princess".

Arthur shook his head fondly, Gwaine may be very annoying but Arthur considered Gwaine to be one of his best friends. Though everyone in his group (including himself) constantly complained about Gwaine's childish behaviour, they all secretly loved him for it.

"Anyway, wanna help me prank Leon?" Gwaine asked excitedly.

Arthur laughed there was currently a prank war going on between them, and while Leon usually avoided pranks at all costs he wasn't one to back away from a challenge and he knew it would upset Gwaine if he didn't join in the war.

"What did Leon do this time?"

"Nothing yet, I just love pranking him".

"I would love to but I actually need to talk to Merlin", Arthur inwardly cursed, he didn't mean to say his name he didn't want his friends to know that he was friends with Merlin, but the damage was done.

Gwaine's eyes widened, "What? But he's a nerd, why on earth are you friends with him?"

Arthur sighed, "Because I happen to like that nerd".

"Look I'm just worried about you Arthur, being friends with Merlin is going to affect your status and reputation in a bad way", Gwaine said uncharacteristically serious.

"I know, but I don't care his friendship is worth it".

Gwaine narrowed his eyes, "There's something you're not telling me".

"No there isn't".

"Tell me or I'll tell everyone you're buddies with a nerd".

Arthur sighed, "Fine, something is going on with Merlin and I think it's really bad Gwaine".

"What makes you say that?" Gwaine asked in concern.

Arthur looked over his shoulder at Merlin, he looked excited and was talking animatedly about something. Merlin smiled at Arthur when he saw him staring, Arthur blushed and smiled back. He didn't know how Merlin could be so sweet and kind when he was going through something so terrible, Merlin's terrified face flashed in his mind and Arthur's hands curled into fists. He would make whoever was hurting Merlin pay.

"Earth to Arthur!"

Arthur snapped back to Gwaine, he was so angry about Merlin's pain that he didn't even notice that Gwaine had called him Arthur. Gwaine only ever called him Arthur when he was seriously worried about him, and Gwaine hadn't been this worried in a long time.

Arthur sighed and when he had calmed himself down, he told Gwaine about the phone calls and messages that caused so much fear for Merlin.

"We need to find out who is doing this to Merlin", Gwaine said with determination.