Murtagh sat alone in his cell. He didn't know how long he had been there; only that it was an incredibly long time. Galbatorix had not been pleased to hear that he had let Eragon go free during the Burning Plains, and after a severe punishment that involved inflicting pain on his mind and body, he was placed in the dungeon beneath the castle.

He shivered in the cold, his clothes no match for the bitterly cold in the dungeon. He couldn't walk, due to chains being attached to his wrists, yet even without them he would not have had the strength to stand. Galbatorix had punished him brutally, leaving him bruised and his mind's walls broken. He had tried to contact his dragon, but it was useless in his state. He thought of Eragon, his brother, and the battle. Murtagh had never wanted to fight him; he had come to care for Eragon as a brother during their travels. He only wished he could change Eragon's mind about thinking him a traitor and to fight alongside him once more. He wondered if Eragon, or anyone for that matter, missed him at all. He bowed his head and cried himself to sleep.

"Murtagh…" a voice called. Murtagh stirred, but did not want to wake. The pain in his body was almost too much.

"Come now, brother." Murtagh jolted awake, wide eyed, to find Eragon staring at him. He tried to speak, but Eragon quickly hushed him.

"It's alright, Murtagh, Thorn told me everything. He called for me to come. I have to say, he was very concerned for you. What do you say we get out of here?" Eragon whispered.

"I…" and then Murtagh slumped forward, the pain being too much to sustain.

Eragon caught him and held him up. "There you go, easy brother. He beat you up pretty badly, huh?"

This was too much for him to handle. How could Eragon even think about coming to save him, when he had turned traitor? Why was he doing this? Was it a trick, one of Galbatorix's mind games?

Murtagh bowed his head, his hair falling in his face, making it impossible for Eragon to read him. Eragon paused, until he saw how Murtagh was shaking, then pulled him into a hug. "It's alright, Murtagh, you're okay. I've got you." Murtagh turned against Eragon and cried, not really knowing why. After a few moments, Eragon pulled him back, pushing his hair out of his face and smiling. "There you are."

"W-why," Murtagh asked, sniffing, and trying to control his emotions once more.

"I should think that would be obvious, my brother." Eragon replied, squeezing his shoulder.

"H-how," he asked.

"Alright, enough questions now. I'll tell you, but let's get your out of here."

Eragon broke Murtagh's chains with a quiet Jierda, and carefully helped him up.

Murtagh quickly collapsed and Eragon caught him. Murtagh turned away, seeming humiliated to be in this state.

"Hey, it's alright. Here, lean this way," and Eragon hoisted him up into his arms, despite his weak protests and began walking. "You know, someone may here you, and then what will we do?" Eragon told him, and then he was silent. He led him to a window in the hall once they were out of the cell, and quickly climbed up and out, to see Thorn hovering just outside. They slid onto his back and were off.

Murtagh was still leaning against Eragon for support, and Eragon looked in front of him to see him yawning.

"Sleep, Murtagh. I've got you. Murtagh was too tired to protest, and was soon asleep.