Disclaimer: I am not Christopher Paolini, nor do I claim to be. No, he is in fact a boy and I am pretty sure that I am not. I do not claim these characters as my own, though I do in fact change them to make them more 'my own'-so to speak.

This piece is told from Murtagh's point of view. The scene takes place at the end of Eldest and does not entirely follow the book. Let me know your thoughts on it once you're done reading. (Especially if it sucks!)

"You will follow my army at a distance, Edoc'sil." I nodded, frowning as he spoke my true name. The fact that he knew it meant that I had absolutely no choice. I kept my eyes lowered, I didn't want to look at the man. He was waiting for a real answer, so I forced myself to look up and meet his cruel stare.

"Yes, my King." Galbatorix's eyes narrowed, but he didn't press the issue further, instead he spoke again.

"You have but one job Murtagh, and I think you know what that is." I nodded again, I knew. I knew all too well what he wanted me to do. It was the one job that only I could do, the job he had been training me for.

"Kill the rider," I answered and I saw a wicked smirk form across the vile man's lips.

"And you understand the punishments if you let him get away?" He watched me cringe and his smirk grew. I understood...too well for my liking. Galbatorix didn't wait for an answer this time, he continued,

"You're going to be a great asset to me Murtagh, just like your father." I kept my face hard but my body filled with anger and disgust.

The King must have seen a flare across my face, for he continued, "You'll do well to control that temper of yours, Murtagh." I uncurled my fingers, relaxing the fists I had made unconsciously. As much as I hated to admit it, he was right. I had always had a quick temper, and one thing I learned in my time with Galbatorix is that it only leads to trouble...and pain.

"Yes, sir," I answered, calmly. I hated when he brought up my father, and he knew that. He saw it each and every time he brought up Morzan, that flare of anger and hatred. He did it on purpose.

"You are dismissed, Edoc'sil." I held back another cringe and turned to leave, but he stopped me. I could feel his power over me, the stinging of his magic controlling me. My legs turned me back towards him and then gave out from under me, forcing me to my knees, into a bow. I didn't fight it, not that I could have. He was too powerful, full of dark magic that only hurt more when you fought against it.

"That's better," the king hissed and released his hold on me. I didn't risk looking up, but instead got back to my feet and bowed to him properly, whispering,

"My king..." and leaving the throne room as quickly as possible. Once in the hallway, I leaned up against the stone wall and tried to calm down. My hatred was still there, but not for my father, no, this was for Galbatorix.

After a moment I pushed myself from the wall and made my way to Thorn. The army had already left, so they'd have to get going soon also. Thorn was waiting for me by the front gate and he was in the same mood as I was.

"If there was any other way, Murtagh..." he started to say, but I cut him off,

"We have no choice Thorn...I have no choice." Thorn went silent and I climbed into the saddle without a sound, leaving my bow behind. I wouldn't need it, I had my sword, that's all I'd need.

Thorn pushed off the ground with a quick jump into the air and flapped his giant wings, and we were on our way.

A few days later we arrived in Surda, the battle had already started. Thorn landed some distance away, so that we could watch for our chance to strike. I needed Eragon alone. This was our fight.

I stared at the battle for a while, my eyes red while I borrowed Thorn's vision. After a little while I saw my opportunity. He was alone, on the hill. He had sent away the others around him. Galbatorix's voice echoed in my head, egging me on and I frowned, instructing Thorn to fly.

He did, we shot into the air and flew quickly towards the hill that Eragon was. We must have looked like a red blur in the sky, until Thorn flew low and I jumped, landing a few feet from Eragon.

Eragon's eyes were on my now, holding so many emotions that it didn't seem possible. I kept my face emotionless and pulled my sword from it's sheath. His eyes widened now, "M-Murtagh? I thought, well, you were dead!"

I nodded, "That's what they wanted you to think." I didn't feel like explaining everything now, but I knew Eragon. He'd ask. As if on cue, Eragon asked,

"They?" Then he stopped, realization hitting his not Elfish face. I nodded and replied,

"The twins."

"But...how? I mean..." I rolled my eyes and answered,

"In all the commotion of the battle, after Adjihad was killed. Someone came up behind me and knocked me out," I stopped, refraining from rubbing the back of my head from the memory. "When I woke up I was in the castle..."

"Galbatorix! How could you, Murtagh!?" I felt my anger flaring again, but replied calmly,

"I had no choice..."

"You always have a choice, Murtagh!" he practically screamed at me. I could hear the pain behind his words, the betrayal. He had a right to hate me now...Funny how he was the only one that had accepted me in the first place...

"Not this time," I replied simply. He didn't understand the truth of my words. I felt my grip on the sword in my hand tighten. Eragon drew his sword and the red blade caught the light and shined. Zar'roc. My father's sword, no...our father's sword.

I took my stance and poised myself to attack and defend. I was a better swordsman, that I knew, this would be too easy. I attacked, striking left and right, a little surprised that he could now keep up. But then again, I wasn't really trying. You could say that I was toying with him, making him think we were evenly matched now, but we were not in the least.

"You've improved," I said softly, blocking his strike with ease and striking him hard. My comment caught him off guard and he struggled to block my strike. A cruel smile touched my lips, and I couldn't make it leave.

He fought back, not answering my comment, he was already starting to tire. Even his Elfish body could not go on forever. I felt beads of sweat upon my forehead but I knew I could go on like this for hours. I was a warrior from birth, he was just a farm boy.

The battle raged on around us, while our one-on-one battle continued. Finally, I decided that enough was enough. I slammed my sword down on his and broke his grip on the heavy sword. He dropped it and I yelled, "Thrysta!"

Eragon flew backwards with the power of my spell and his head cracked up against the rock. More damage done to the rock in my opinion. He winced and tried to get up, but I had already walked towards him with my sword. My hand-and-a-half sword's tip pointed at his neck. He stiffened, but spit out,

"You are your father!" I didn't move. He knew that would throw me off. I stared at the blood trickling down Eragon's forehead and I looked down, not moving my sword. My scar burned my back, memories from just last year haunted me now. And from years before...

"You know Eragon," I finally said, "We're a lot more alike than you think we are."

Eragon looked at me, obviously confused, so I explained.

"Your mother, her name was Selena...she was my mother too. We're brothers. Which makes you the youngest son of Mor-"

He cut me off, "No!" Pushing past my sword and getting to his feet, he shoved my chest. I staggered back a step and he continued to yell, "You're lying. Galbatorix wants you to trick me!"

I simply shook my head and let him speak, "It looks like Galbatorix has corrupted you more than I thought."

I looked up, my brown eyes meeting his. "I can't do this."

Thorn answered from somewhere behind me, "You have to, he'll know if we don't."The thought of Galbatorix fueled my anger and I struck Eragon to the ground. He fell to his knees and looked up at me. My sword was at his neck again, this time touching his skin. He wouldn't be able to distract me this time. Nothing would.

His face was pleading me, he wanted to live. More than anything, he wanted to live. "You know Eragon..." I started, looking away from his gaze, past him. I caught the sight of a figure on the hill. She looked like a warrior angel.

I lost all train of thought by the look on her face. She wasn't smiling, no, she had a look of disgust on her sweet face. She was watching. She had seen the monster I was, the monster that I had become...

Her lips trembled slightly as she caught my eye and she whispered, "No. Please."
Nasuada. My one weakness.

I tore my gaze from her, remembering when I had first seen her, back in the prison in the Varden. She had been my first visitor, and one that I certainly wasn't expecting. She had touched my heart, and would be the death of me...

I looked at Eragon, torn. I couldn't hurt Nasuada any more than I had. I pulled my sword from Eragon's neck and whispered, "Keep your life this time brother, but next time know...I won't have a choice but to kill you."

I walked past the stunned Eragon and up to Nasuada. She backed away a step and my heart sank. "Nasuada, please."

Her face hardened and she placed her hand on her jeweled dagger. I frowned and looked over my shoulder at Thorn. I had to go. Turning back to her I spoke so softly that only she could hear, "Galbatorix may hold my life, but you Nasuada, hold my heart."

I could tell that she was trying not to smile and so I stepped towards her and took her face in my hand, bringing my lips to hers in a tender kiss. When I pulled away she looked dazed, her eyes were closed. I smiled slightly and caressed her cheek with my fingertips. She smiled more and I backed away, letting my arm fall to my side as I turned my back to her and strode back over to the still-stunned Eragon.

I bent down and picked up Zar'roc. "This is my sword by right, as the eldest son of Morzan."

I stole one last glance at Nasuada and climbed into Thorn's saddle, carrying Zar'roc, flying off quickly before I could change my mind.

It seemed like the trip back to the castle took no time at all, even though Thorn flew as slowly as possible.

"He's going to kill me..." I thought morbidly.

"You knew what you were getting yourself into when you didn't follow orders," Thorn replied harshly.

I got down off him and headed inside to meet my fate.

Galbatorix was waiting in the throne room, and I tapped on the door slowly.

"Enter," boomed a voice. He was angry, already. This wasn't good.

I crept inside, keeping my eyes low as I walked up to him, stopping a few feet from his throne and bowing. "My king..."

He said nothing at first, waiting for me to straighten and look at him. "I'm very disappointed in you Murtagh."

I nodded, "Yes, sir."

"I trust you know the penalties for disobeying orders." I cringed and looked down, ready for what ever he threw at me, but at the same time, afraid for my life.

"You must be punished," he said simply before uttering a silent spell. I cried out as pain filled my body. Everything went black, but I could still feel. Agony raced through me and I felt myself drop to my knees and my jaw stiffened to refrain from screaming.

After a few minutes of this he released his spell and I fell to the ground. I could feel myself shaking, unable to control the tremors that coursed through me. The pain was still there, just not as potent now.

"Next time, he won't get away from you, will he, Edoc'sil?" He sat there, waiting for my answer but I couldn't make myself speak. He uttered a simple spell, "Rïsa."

I felt myself rise off of the floor, back to my feet and he stared at me, "Will he?"

I shook my head and managed to speak, "N-no, sir."

He smiled, pleased and released his spell again, sending me crashing back to the floor. I slammed against the stone and I heard a snap of the king's fingers. Two guards came up behind me and picked me up by my arms. I had no energy to fight them, I could still feel the pain from Galbatorix's spell in my being.

Galbatorix looked at the men and said, "Lock him up."

My eyes widened slightly and the men dragged me from the room, throwing my into one of the torture cells in the dungeon and locking the cell. I couldn't move. I couldn't think.

I laid back against the wall and closed my eyes, thinking of Nasuada as I dozed. My muscles ached horribly, and every bone in my body felt like it had snapped in two. My punishment had just started...and it wouldn't end until Eragon was dead. I knew it. I knew what I was in for.

What you'll do for love...