The warning bells woke the two lovers from their position on the bench. They had been up late again, talking as they did every night, and this time had fallen asleep on the bench outside Gwen and Estrela's house. On a different day, they would have woken to the soft light of sunrise and groggily made their way about the morning.

This day was different.

It was still dark outside and the warning bell was a clear indication that something was not right. The two sprang into action, Estrela following Merlin to Arthur's chambers. They ran into the round table knights (that being Sirs Gwaine, Elyan, Lancelot, Percival, and Leon) in a hallway and stopped them.

"What happened?"

"Morgana escaped."

Estrela gasped and Merlin's eyes narrowed. Morgana had been held prisoner for three excruciating weeks as the council tried to decide her fate after her betrayal of Camelot. Morgause had escaped in a flurry of fire, but Merlin prevented Morgana from escaping by using his magic to trap her in magic-resistant chains. The one good thing that came out of this dilemma was that the dragon sited aiding Camelot was long since accepted as a benevolent dragon that banded with the round table and then went back to its home. Arthur's dumb excuse was accepted by the even-dumber council.

"Morgause," Estrela growled, her eyes wide at the realization. "Only she would be able to break the bonds entrapping Morgana. We must be careful in our hunt for two powerful sorceresses."

And now that she knows my secret, Merlin said in her mind.

"We don't have a moment to lose."

The group joined the search party Arthur was creating outside of Camelot's border. As Arthur's servant, Merlin would accompany Arthur through the forest, alongside his five most trusted knights. A few other groups of knights would also patrol the forest, but many were stationed around Camelot to protect it.

Estrela approached Arthur from behind once the plans were made. "Arthur."

He turned to face her.

"I will stay and defend Camelot if need be," she stated.

His eyebrows pinched together. "No, your secret-"

"-Is not as important as Camelot's safety," she interjected.

His gaze was heavy, but he saw the determination in her eyes. He sighed and ceded, warning her to not shift unless she absolutely must. After a swift nod, she turned around and marched to a spot behind the guards at the entrance to Camelot.

It would be a long night.

After two weeks of searching, the search parties came back empty-handed, with Camelot safe and sound. However, something was missing. When Merlin arrived at Gaius's chambers, he realized that Estrela had not been there to greet him.

"Gaius, where is Estrela?" His voice held concern.

Gaius gave him a grave look. "She told me only that her family was in danger and she must protect the dragonkind from the likes of Morgause and Morgana."

Merlin's eyebrows pinched together. "I didn't know she had family."

"That's the curious thing: she doesn't. She was created by Nimueh and Balinor using a dying dragon's body, but as far as biological ancestors, all I know of are dead dragons related to the one that she was created from. Children, however..."

Merlin's eyes widened. "Her children," he whispered, his mind racing with possible ways Morgause and Morgana could threaten three dragon eggs.

Gaius nodded somberly. "You must not delay. She will need your protection and help, I am sure of it."

Merlin nodded and turned around, anxious to get to her. When he explained to Arthur the situation, he was given however much time he needed to help Estrela in defending the few dragons left on the earth. With a haste goodbye to his knight friends, Merlin set off to her last known location.