Thank you for the reviews.

And we jump around again. So this is set a few years after the first chapter (Ade is now about 7).

I promise you that all will be explained next chapter.

Chapter 4

Love

She had heard many conflicting stories about the city she had just entered. She had been told that the white castle had turned black because of the smoke of the pyres. She had been told that the courtyard was red due to the blood of the people executed for something they couldn't help. Her father would always come in about then and tell them off for telling her lies.

Her father and mother spoke about Camelot like it was the most amazing place in the world. She would smile as they spoke about the time when they lived in the castle. The sad looks they would give each other when she would ask why aren't they there now lead her to the conclusion that they wanted to be back there.

She only wanted to see what the big fuss was about. Her druid camp had stopped just outside the city to regain supplies and take a stock of what they had. They weren't going to stay there long. This could be the only chance that she could get to look at the city she had heard so much about.

If anything, she didn't imagine it to be so busy. There were just so many people everywhere that she just found it easy to walk into the castle without anyone giving her a second look.

There were a few people that her parents spoke fondly of, and she wanted to meet the people that filled most of their stories, especially this Arthur.

She walked backwards down the halls, amazed by the carvings in the walls, unknowingly walking into the very man she wanted to see.

"And who might you be?" He said as she turned around to look up at him.

"My parents named me Adeliade but everyone calls me Ade."

"That is a very pretty name."

"And you are?"

"My name is Arthur."

Ade smiled widely at him. "Arthur, the … king of Camelot."

"The very." He stood up a little taller. "I have not see you around here before. Where are your parents? They must be worried about you."

"Well, I hope to make it back before they realise where I have gone. See I am from a druid camp and we have just stopped outside the gates and I had heard so much about Camelot and you and Gwen and the knights, especially Lancelot and Gwaine, that I just had to come even thought I know that may parents will kill me if they ever knew I came."

"Why did you come then?"

"They talk about their time in Camelot like it was the best time of their lives. I sometimes pretend to be asleep and then go a listen to them talking. Sometimes mother will mention something to father and then they will talk and say that maybe they need to go back to Camelot. I never know what they are going on about but every time they talk about Camelot and you and Gwen and everyone else, they always look sad."

In that moment, Arthur realised who she was. She was the little girl Merlin held the last time he saw them.

"Ade!" Merlin shouted before cursing under his breath.

Morgana had told him to keep an eye on her but being seven and having a similar personality to him, he knew that Ade would go out exploring, coming back covered head to toe in mud. Just the only problem was, she might not be covered in mud.

He sighed as he looked up at the white castle. It had been a while since he had lived in there. It had been a while since he had walked down the halls. It had been a while since he last spoke to the king and his friend.

He knew he would have to rejoin the camp soon but he had a funny feeling where she was. He turned away from the castle to find his wife.

There was always going to be a time when they thought that they might have to return to Camelot and maybe this was the time. He knew what Morgana was going to say. He could take her shouting. He knew that she would tell him that she told him to keep an eye on her.

"Where is Ade?" Morgana said when she saw him.

"Not that I know exactly but I think she might be in Camelot."

She sighed heavily. "Well, I am sure Arthur and Gwen will look after her well enough." She turned away from him and made her way through the camp.

Merlin didn't know whether he was meant to smile or not. "Come on, it can't be that bad. He may have finally grown up." He said, following her.

"Arthur, grow up. He will never grow up."

"She is our daughter."

"And his niece. Maybe she will teach him more than we ever did. I mean she is more stubborn than both of us and I am sure she could come up with an answer for everything."

"Morgana, we could go home."

That made her stop. Merlin stood in front of her and took her hands in hers.

"We've talked about this. She had the part of her life not living in fear. We need to make sure that everyone who is born after her, can live in a world that she has been in."

She sighed before she turned around. "Come on then. We better save my poor brother from our daughter. He wouldn't last five minutes with her."

Arthur couldn't understand the girl sitting at his table, sharing a meal with him and Gwen. He knew that Ade was his niece. The way she acted reminded him of Morgana and some of the things she said reminded him of Merlin. But the girl was educated way before her years. He was sure that she was trying to tell him how to rule his kingdom.

He opened his mouth of argue a point when the door to his chambers burst open.

"Adeliade." Morgana said when she saw the girl. "How many times do I have to tell you not to wonder off?"

"Oops." Ade said, trying to sink into her seat.

Arthur could only feel for the poor girl.

"See told you that they would look after her." Morgana said, turning back to Merlin.

"I never said that they wouldn't. And we both agreed that Arthur wouldn't last five minutes with her."

"Actually, I have been with him for the best part of the afternoon. I can see why you call him a clotpole." Ade pipped up.

Gwen tried to stop herself from laughing but failed. The look on Arthur's face along with what was just said just took her over the edge.

"Oh I have missed you two." She said as she started to regain her composure.

No one in the room really knew how to respond to that. The fact was, except for Ade, they all felt the same. They missed what they had.

"I was wrong to not allow you to explain properly. You will always have a place in Camelot if you want it." Arthur said.

"Can we? Mother? Father?"

Both Merlin and Morgana looked at each other. It is what they wanted. It is where they wanted to be.

"Why don't you go and find the physician's chambers and say hello to Gaius?" Merlin said. "I think we have a lot to chat about. Don't wear him out though." He added when his daughter ran passed them and out of the door.