Diego de la Vega uses his skills as Zorro to infiltrate the prison sewers where Mercedes is held.

The Romani tribe never stopped believing their queen was alive, eventually revealing to Esmeralda that she was a "princess" and that her mother was still out there. The Search and Rescue

Despite her suffering, Mercedes’ only motivation to survive was the hope of one day reuniting with Esmeralda.

In a cruel attempt to erase her identity, Fernando forced her to wear an iron mask so that no one, including her daughter, would recognize her.