Disclaimer I do not own Merlin. BBC TV owns it. No copyright infringement intended.

Dark Before Dawn.

Gaius looked out across the courtyard as the daylight began to wain. He frowned as he saw some of the children playing. He knew they would soon be running for home. No one stayed out after dark anymore. It was too dangerous. Since Morguse and Morgana had attacked the Kingdom most people made sure they were home safe and well before the darkness fell.

"Moira!" He called across the yard as the dark haired six year old turned to him and smiled. "Come here! Does Gwen know where you are?"

Moira nodded as she ran towards him.

"Hello Gaius." She brushed her dark hair away from her face. "She does. Oh!"

"Yes, Oh." He smiled. "Look, Gwen worries about you as much as she worried about Arthur. Don't give her any reason to worry anymore than she does."

"But I am ok! And I did all my chores and I did my learning for today. Leon taught me how to follow a trail." She smiled.

"Very useful should someone want to be a Knight." He smiled as he took her hand. The other children had already run off leaving her alone in the courtyard apart from the elderly court physician. "Let's get you back to the Castle."

"But then you'll be out after dark and Merlin will worry. He says you are like his father but not his father. The same way Gwen looks after me when she isn't really my mum. I think she's nicer than my mum was. She doesn't make me cry." Moira walked alongside him as he fell silent. He had no idea Merlin had talked to the little girl about him but she was right, Merlin was the son he had never had. He ushered her into the Castle as she talked.

"Oh don't worry about me. I'll stay here if it's too dark. Now come along." He ushered her towards the maid's chambers as Arthur ran towards them.

"Arthur!" Moira yelled as he reached them.

"Oh Thank God!"

"What is it?" Gaius stared at the blonde prince. "Whatever has happened?"

"Gwen. Have you seen Gwen?"

"No, we were just headed to her chambers. Moira was playing out late." He suddenly realised why the maid hadn't been looking for her charge when he had found her in the courtyard.

"What happened?" Moira stared at Arthur with tears in her eye as he knelt in front of her.

"Moira, listen to me. I need you to look after Gaius for me. Can you do that? And stay in the Castle. Keep an eye on my father too. Merlin and the others are coming with me."

"I'm coming with you." Moira was deadly serious. "Gwen has gone."

"Yes sweetheart she has." Arthur brushed her hair back from her eyes as they filled with tears.

"Bring her home. You'll do that."

"I promise you. I'll find Gwen. I'll bring her home." He watched as she nodded. "But I need you to stay here. I need to be able to tell her that her little girl is safe."

Moira nodded as he kissed her hair before running off through the castle door.

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A/N please review.