Something woke me.

A name whispered to me.

It was Merlin's name... Spoken by a voice of ancient tongue.

I looked to my chamber doors to see the light of a torch passing by.

'How odd...' I thought. It was too late for guards to be wondering around this part of the castle...

I rose from my pillow and threw over the sheets.

I stood up, allowing my white, silk night gown to pool on the floor at my feet before picking up the candle from the bed side table.

I tiptoed to the door and opened it as quietly as I could, which turned out to be not so quiet as the door creaked open, wide enough for me to slip through.

I followed the light through various corridors before getting a glimpse of the one holding it.

Merlin...

~~~~

We walked and walked throughout the castle, I could barely remember my way back to my chambers.

I stopped at a corner as I heard Merlin had stopped. He opened a rather large barred door and continued walking.

I followed him passed the door, to a flight of huge stairs. I skipped down them as quiet as I could.

When I got to the bottom of them, I turned a left and there I was, stood in the biggest cave I had ever seen.

"Merlin?" I called out.

The first thing I saw was certainly not Merlin.

It was the biggest, most monstrous creature I had ever laid eyes upon.

I let out a gasp, as that was all that would come to me.

"Iraina?" Merlin's voice almost shrieked.

"Is... Is that a dragon?" I whispered, pointing to the majestic creature.

"Not just any dragon." Merlin grinned, panting from his journey as I was. "This is the last of the dragons."

I looked at Merlin, completely flabbergasted.

Then I turned to the dragon.

"What is your name? I simply can't keep calling you dragon." I chuckled.

The dragon let out a breathy chuckle.

"Merlin seems to manage just fine. But since you asked so pleasantly, my Lady Iraina, my name is Kilgharra." The dragon bowed his head to me and sort of smiled.

"How do you know my name, Kilgharra?" I asked, confused.

"I know a great, many things. Even things our mystical Warlock has yet to discover." He replied, motioning with his snout to Merlin.

I looked at the serving boy who looked like he didn't really know what to do.

"You must be a great deal more powerful than you let on, Merlin." I smiled.

"So he keeps telling me." He chuckled, pointing to the dragon.

"And your power, Iraina. You keep it so well hidden, better than even Merlin." Kilgharra sighed, knowing how reckless Merlin could be.

"What do you mean?" Merlin asked.

Kilgharra laughed. "I am surprised at you, young warlock! I would have thought you would be able to tell that the lady Iraina had magic as soon as you saw her!" 

I froze where I stood.

I'd kept my secret from everyone.

My father knew, of course, but he told me to keep it hidden so that the alliance with Camelot could withstand. Maldue also knew, but he'd been my friend since childhood so he had to.

"You have magic?" Merlin asked, looking purely astonished.

I looked down, ashamed. "Yes."