A/N: Hey hey hey! Look who's back! Wow, thanks for sticking around guys. It means a lot, I really hope you like this next chapter! My goal is to update every Friday so, while the length of the chapters may suffer, you'll actually get new stuff to read!

I love you all and enjoy!

The campfire crackled cheerily, warming the area and causing the four pseudo knights to relax after a hard days work. Henry had been thrilled that they had managed to destroy the griffin and had been surprised, but grateful, when they had refused payment. His wife had given them some food for the road and, once warmed up over their fire, it was delicious.

Arthur pulled out the mysterious map and spread it out. The others gathered around to get a closer look at it.

"Here's where the temple supposedly is and here's where we are. It's only a few kilometers it looks like," Arthur said.

"Through steep and treacherous territory though," Morgana pointed out. "We certainly wouldn't want to try it until after it's light."

"Agreed. If we want to attempt it at all." They all looked at Merlin, who was staring at the fire deep in thought.

"Kilgarrah was supposedly the last dragon. The fact that there's another, a viable egg, that's… unheard of."

It was quiet for a moment as the four of them mulled over what it would mean to have another dragon roaming the land. Merlin looked especially troubled, but finally sighed.

"I'm too tired to really consider this tonight. I'm going to bed."

"Sounds good," Arthur agreed. "We can decide in the morning."

The dawn seemed to arrive earlier than usual for the four vigilantes. Though to be completely honest, Merlin hadn't gotten the best night's sleep. He kept waking, swearing he could have heard Kilgarrah calling him, but he never was. Abandoning sleep, Merlin had gotten up early and prepared breakfast for the rest of their motley crew.

"We need to go get that dragon egg," he told them.

"Why the sudden change of enthusiasm?" Arthur asked. Merlin told them about thinking he heard Kilgarrah.

"But the more I think about it, the more I believe it's the other dragon."

"Trying to talk to you?" Gwen asked, somewhat incredulously. Merlin nodded.

"It deserves a chance at life like anyone else. I say we go for it."

They all turned to look at Arthur who looked deep in thought while chewing a biscuit. He swallowed, glanced at all of them, and then looked Merlin in the eye.

"And if it decides to go on a murderous rampage?" Morgana answered before Merlin could.

"Oh for gods' sake, it's a baby Arthur. It probably couldn't hurt a fly."

Arthur opened his mouth to reply, but unfortunately saw the mischievous look in Merlin's eye that let him know he had a new idea.

"Oh no, what are you thinking of now?"

Merlin giggled.

"Think about it. We get to raise a baby dragon."

After several close calls, including one in which the ancient temple crumbled around them, the troop of exhausted, dirty heroes clambered back down the mountain and started for home, now with the addition of a dragon egg.

It was about the size of a sack of flour and about the color of flour as well. Merlin was carrying it and cooing to it softly every now and then.

"Is it a boy or a girl?" Gwen asked. "Can you tell?"

"A boy I think."

"So, when will it hatch?" Arthur asked. Merlin's brow furrowed.

"I'm not quite sure. But I think when I ask it to." Arthur looked tired and dubious.

"You can control when that creature hatches?"

"We can hear each other, it would make sense. And it just… feels right."

Arthur declined to respond and instead glanced up to check the position of the sun through the trees. His father was expecting him and Morgana for supper. They were making good time.

Morgana was the next one to speak.

"So when do we want it to hatch?"

That gave them pause. The four of them stopped in the middle of the forest road and considered the egg. It shimmered slightly and, although only two of them were magic users, each of them could sense the powerful life within.

"Where are we going to keep it?" Arthur asked, sounding for all the world like an exhausted father.

And suddenly, the moment was broken and the other three burst into laughter. What had they gotten themselves into? Even Arthur joined in after a moment at the sheer ludicrously of it all.

"I have an idea," Merlin said. "I don't want to try to smuggle a dragon egg into the castle, but there's an abandoned shack not too far into the forest. I'll stay there with the egg until you guys can sneak out again and we'll try hatching it. After that, Morgana and I can put up some shields and wards so it can stay there."

The others looked thoughtful. It wasn't a bad idea. They turned to Arthur for the final say.

"Alright. We'll do it tonight."

Merlin had fallen asleep while guarding the egg and dreamt of flying. Something prodded his shoulder and he groaned, but then it prodded harder and he finally opened his eyes.

"Rise and shine," Arthur grinned down at him. Merlin groaned and rolled over. This could not be happening.

"Let's have you lazy daisy," he laughed, nudging him in the ribs. Gwen and Morgana were stifling laughs of their own as they filed in the shack.

"You are enjoying this far too much," Merlin pointed out, finally sitting up and cradling the egg in his lap.

"Oh yeah," Arthur agreed. "Here's the spellbook you needed."

Merlin gratefully took the book. He and Morgana would need it to put up the defenses.

"Let's go outside." Merlin stood and the others followed into the clear night. A brisk breeze shook the leaves and sent them rustling, as if the forest itself were whispering, excited to see what was about to happen. A few lone clouds scudded across the sky, dappling the fields outside of Camelot. It was barely a half moon, giving them enough light to see by, though on a night like tonight, the stars added quite a bit of illumination. Almost instinctively, the four of them took a moment to appreciate the night sky. Gwen gave a deep, contented sigh and Arthur glanced over at her. She was beautiful in the moonlight.

His thoughts were interrupted as Merlin approached Morgana.

"Would you hold it while I call it?" Her eyes widened.

"Me? Are you sure?"

"Positive." Merlin smiled, a little something more than a smile, and handed it to her. Her precise hands took it and marveled at the fact that there was a living dragon in there.

"I wonder what it'll look like," Gwen said.

"One way to find out," Merlin replied. "Ai-"

"JUST WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING."

The grass in the field rippled violently as Kilgarrah landed less than a stone throw away from the four psuedo-knights.

"Do you realize what that is?" he snarled.

"A dragon egg," Merlin replied steadily. Kilgarrah huffed and shuffled his feet, looking quite distressed before taking a breath and settling down.

"Do you have any idea what a dragon hatching means?" When he received no response, he sighed. "Very well. No dragon hatching is without meaning, young warlock. Each indicates the dawn of a new era. All I can say is that, I hope, what with your sudden endeavors," he said, peering at the others, "that it will usher in one of... peace." He didn't say anymore after that and appeared to turn the matter back over to Merlin. The young warlock glanced at his friends.

"Are we ready?" They nodded. He took a deep breath and with a powerful and confident voice said, "Aithusa, rachsha manitolg!"

They watched, the magic palpable in the air, as, after a moment, the egg began to crack. A white talon emerged and began picking off the rest of the shell, until a small snout could stick through, and then a head, and then finally, burst through the top of the egg all together. It and Morgana stared at each other, absolutely enchanted with one another.

"It's beautiful," Gwen breathed. It tried to hiss, but ended up sneezing. It turned to Merlin and let out a little trill.

"Well done, Merlin," Kilgarrah breathed. "A white dragon is a rare and beautiful thing. And fitting the name you chose for it. Aithusa means, light of the sun. It bodes well for Albion, for you and for Arthur, for the kingdom you will build together." He bowed once to Merlin, once to Arthur, and then, surprisingly, to the girls as well. And with a mighty pump of his wings, he was gone.

Merlin watched him go, and when he turned back, Gwen and Morgana were cooing over the hatchling while Arthur approached it more cautiously.

"Oh come on Arthur," Morgana teased. "He won't bite."

Arthur rolled his eyes, but gently extended his fingers towards the newborn dragon, who sniffed them curiously, before trying to nip them. Merlin couldn't help but laugh.

Light of the sun, he thought. Perhaps a new day is dawning.

A/N: Tada! Thank you so much for reading! Please pardon any inconsistencies and remember, reviews make the world go round!