Disclaimer: nope, im not the actual author of this series, i could only hope...

Summary: What if Murtagh had loved someone? Before he went to the Varden? What if she was the most powerful magician alive? What if she had still loved him even though he was the traitors' son? What if she began to die when he was taken by Galabatorix? And what if she was there when Eragon realized that Murtagh was now the enemy? And what if she had the power to free him…?

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And then, Slain stepped out of the shadows from behind Saphira.

"What have you done Murtagh?" She whispered; her eyes wide in horror.

"Slain." Murtagh mouthed in astonishment. "I didn't have a choice in this!" He exclaimed. "One of the eggs hatched for me and then Galabatorix himself made us swear oaths of loyalty in the ancient language to him!"

Slain swayed where she stood, she put out a hand to Sahpira's foreleg to steady herself. She closed her eyes and shook her head slowly.

"What if I could free you?" she asked, once again upright. "Would you be willing to pay the price that comes with it?"

"Anything." He said. "But, only if you can free both Thorn and me?"

"Of course." Eragon looked on as Slain put down her bow and removed a dark cloak. Leaning heavily on a carved stick, Slain limped over to where Murtagh was frozen. She stood right in front of him, looking up into his gray eyes, before she closed her own eyes and began to speak in the ancient language.

Many of the words Slain used were unfamiliar to Murtagh and Eragon, but they caught the odd word. Slain stopped her spell and Murtagh felt as though a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Slain started to sway in front of him, he could only imagine the effort it took to cast such a powerful spell. Murtagh put his arms around Slain's waist and held her to him.

"You did it!" He whispered. He kissed her gently on the forehead.

Slain buckled in his arms and she fell to the ground. Murtagh looked at Eragon, he looked concerned. Murtagh looked back down at Slain, he dropped to his knees and cradled her in his arms, she opened her eyes and raised her hand, pushing his hair out of his eyes.

"No." He whispered. "You said I would pay the price!" He yelled.

"And so you will. The price is – me. I have always loved you." She said simply. "My spell has ensured that you can never be put under oath except by your own consent, both of you. Goodbye, and see you on the other side"

Her arm dropped. Her breathing slowed. Her eyes closed. Her heart stopped.

She died.

Murtagh felt a little of himself die with her.

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I just thought that Murtagh deserved a chick willing to die for him, even though hes made a lot of mistakes... well look at the time I'm rambeling again, the moral of this A/N is that you need to reveiw this story, it was my first story on this site and I'd really lik to know what you think, even flames are ok... pretty much...

i hav had one "i wish u would write a prequel"... does anyone else feel that way? if so im sure i could talk to Murtagh and Slain about it... not sure Eragon would agree... but i could always cut him out...

Moony out!