I will tell you this now, this fanfic isn't MurtaghxOC (because let me tell you, Murtagh would be a pedo if I did that D:), I'm not a big fan of those, I was just bored... A few things before I begin, one being that the title of the story is in German and it means 'Another Side' (I'm pretty sure, I used a translator XD;) and the title of Chapter one means 'Encounter' or 'Meeting'. So the rest of the chapter titles shall be in German! (I love the way German looks XD;)

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Chapter One - Treffen

Murtagh sat on his red dragon's back, looking up at the light blue sky, his right hand resting on Zar'roc's hilt. His mind was on other things right at this point, he didn't even know where he was going and why. Something Galbatorix said about rebels in a near by village and being punished. It was a good thing that Thorn had been listening in on the conversation or Murtagh would have been at a complete lose at what to do. He couldn't stop thinking about what Eragon had said to him just a couple of weeks ago. "Then let us kill the two of you." To think that someone who shared the same blood as him, someone that he even considered a friend once suggested such a thing! That was his way of setting a person free?! With his free hand, his left hand, Murtagh made a fist and shook it at his side. Is everything all right...? Murtagh heard a deep voice that was full of concern in his mind. He nodded, un-clenching his fist and patted Thorn. "It's nothing you need to worry about." There was no reason to get Thorn worrying over him and risk his guard being down. As he told Eragon, life was too sweet to just waist.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, the cold wind hitting him on his face. "Are we there yet?" Murtagh asked his dragon. You should have paid attention rather then daydreamed.

"W-what? I wasn't daydreaming!"

I could have sworn there was drool coming from your mouth.

"Thorn..." He was in almost a warning voice.

Won't you tell me what it was about?

"It was nothing important. Just focus on our destination!" He snapped and could have sworn his dragon was laughing. Sure... maybe he was daydreaming about a certain brown-haired boy but he wasn't planning on admitting that or telling anyone. There were just some thoughts in his mind that he wasn't willing to share, not now, not ever. Not even with Thorn.

They finally reached the village were the said rebels were suppose to be at. Trying to keep a low profile for the time being, Thorn lowered himself into the forest. Murtagh bit his thumb, thinking. He was now wondering if the people of this village were even rebels, for all he knew they got on the king's bad side for not giving him their meat or money. Killing innocent people... Murtagh could hear Eragon's voice in the back of his mind, whining about how it was wrong, he should give the people a chance, blahblahblah. But he didn't have a choice, why couldn't Eragon understand? "I should make him swear something in the Ancient Language and see how he likes it." He muttered under his breath as he slid off of Thorn's back. He took a quick moment to stretch, cracking his back and neck. Gross! He heard Thorn hiss, clearly hearing the cracks and not liking them. Murtagh couldn't help but at least slightly smirk at that. "Are you telling me you find that sick when you eat animals and crack their bones to get to the meat." Thorn shook his head telling Murtagh that it was completely different. He couldn't see how different it could be but just shrugged, "What ever you say, Thorn. What ever you say..."

He took a moment to look around before speaking once more, "Did the king ever say if there would be back-up?" Thorn snorted and rolled his red eyes, No. See Murtagh, this is why you have to pay attention. The king said this was punishment for not bringing your brother back. So that's was the being punished part was all about. Murtagh sighed, running his finger through his dark hair. "Well shall we be going then?"

Thorn looked at him, almost puzzled. Do you have a plan you would mind sharing with me?

"I knew I was forgetting something... okay we'll set up a distraction. I want you to fly above the village and set it on fire, ki--..." Murtagh stopped himself from finishing that sentance. He took a semi-long pause before going on. "If in any way they look like they are going to attack you then I want you to get rid of them." Murtagh waved a hand as if to say 'go on, get going', but Thorn stood still. What about you?

"I'll be going in through the entrance once the place is in flames. So make sure you don't set me on fire."

Finally, knowing the plan, Thorn stretched his red wings and took off. Murtagh watched for a moment before taking off himself. As he walked he pulled the Zar'roc out of it's wine red sheath and he looked at the red blade before pointing it in front of him. He closed one eye and smiled, by that time screams of women, children and men could be heard. Though they were faint from where he was at, he knew that Thorn didn't wait and set the village on fire right away. Murtagh kept a slow pace that turned into a jog. He didn't know how many people were in the village and if they were rebels they would have weapons so this was most likely complete suicide. What was the king planning, having him killed by worthless villagers? -Not going to happen.- Murtagh thought as he made his way to the entrance. Hopefully he could get this done quick before the forest lit on fire. Standing just feet away from the village, Murtagh lifted his hand up, "Brisingr!" fire shot out, hitting a few running people were were heading his way, trying to flee.

This would have been so much easier with some soldiers. Thankfully he noticed that it was small - most likely not even a real village, just a base of some sort. By the size of the village there had to be at least fifty people there? Maybe more? Thorn seemed to be doing a pretty good job and getting rid of them. He would fly down low, breathe fire, hit a group of people with his tail - slamming them into a burning house then fly higher in the air to avoid arrows. For a quick moment Murtagh watched his dragon, making sure he wasn't hurt. But he let his guard down one second too long. A villager made his way towards the forest and instead of fleeing like everyone who was surviving did, he hid behind a tree, took his bow and arrow out and pointed it at Murtagh. He let go of the arrow and as he was turning around, the arrow struck him right in the leg. Murtagh was about ready to scream in pain but he bit his lower lip to hold it back. "Damnit." He cursed, trying to dodge another arrow. Murtagh easily counter-attacked with magic, killing the person. He began to wonder why he had to destroy this place with the people if they didn't even seem like a threat. Murtagh bent down, looking at his leg as he pulled the arrow out. He grunted and threw it aside.

Thick dark red blood came out from the wound and traveled down his leg. Muttering a few words, with his hand over the wound, it closed up. -Thorn, can you tell how many people there are?-

Not exactly. A lot have been killed while some have fled.

-I knew that much...-

I would say that we could call it a day

-What? That's all? This was stupid..-

Murtagh shook his head, as he walked around, kicking a few dead bodies. Perhaps Galbatorix wanted this place destroyed before it got any stronger?

"Who knows what that man was thinking. He could have easily sent bloody soldiers out to do this."

By now Thorn had landed and was behind Murtagh, following him closely. He did say it was p--

"I know. I guess it's better then being tortured. Come on, let's just go." Murtagh began to drag his feet in the dirt as he walked, putting Zar'roc back in it's sheath. He didn't even need to use the thing. Now the man was aggravated. "How long do you think we were even out? Fifteen minutes? Ten?"

An hour. If you notice the sun was out when we landed, it's now getting darker.

"Oh.." Murtagh didn't even notice it before, until Thorn pointed it out. Maybe he was in the forest too long while Thorn did most of the work, and didn't even realize it. He opened his dry mouth, about to apologize when Thorn began to growl. Do you hear that? He didn't respond, slightly turned his head and listened. Besides the fire cracking there was someone whispering. Murtagh growled and followed the voices. Couldn't the person at least pretend to be dead so he could go and clean up and sleep?

He noticed that inbetween two houses there was an older man with a small child who was shaking. In her hands she held a torn doll that she was using to cover her face. The man in front of her was the one whispering. He had a sword out but it didn't look like he was going to attack the girl. Murtagh could hear what the man was saying, but he simply just didn't care. With the Zar'roc back out, Murtagh ran forward, stabbing the guy in his side. He didn't have a chance to react and allowed himself to be slaughtered right in front of the child's eyes. Blood gushed out and Murtagh dug the sword deeper in before yanking it right out, tearing up the skin. Then to make sure he got the guy, Murtagh slashed at his throat.

Some of the blood that belonged to the man was all over the girl. It ran down her face like a tear, there was even blood in her hair. Her ocean blue eyes were wide and filled with real tears. "S-sir?" Her voice cracked. She crawled to the man on the floor and looked at him. He wasn't blinking nor breathing. Slowly she looked at Murtagh, who looked as if he was going to attack her too. Kill her the way he just killed her the man, with that emotionless stair. As he raised the sword, the girl lifted up her doll and threw it at his face. She pulled herself up and ran off. Murtagh stumbled back and took the doll and threw it to the ground. "Better that she escaped." He scratched his head, now calling it a day. He did what was asked of, destroyed the place and killed. As he made his way towards where he had left Thorn, he noticed something different. There was something on his back. Thorn was jumping around now, trying to get whatever was on him off. -What's going on?!- He questioned his dragon.

A human child came out of no where...

Human child? Was it that kid again? He ran towards Thorn, glaring at the girl who now had a smile on her face. "Go away." He snapped and her just shook her head. "Nope! Mister killed guardian, now mister has to take care of me."

"...Huh?"

"Mister killed guardian, no--"

"I heard you the first time! Look kid, if you don't leave I'll be forced to kill you." Not that he really planned on it, he just wanted to scare her away. "And why are you laughing? You were crying a few seconds ago."

You know this human?

-I just ran into her...-

"Giant Bird is funny!" She laughed and Thorn tried shaking her off again, insulted at being called a bird.

Murtagh began to rub his temples, he could feel a headache just forming. He couldn't exactly just ditch the girl and leave her to take care of herself, she looked at least to be eight maybe nine years old. It wouldn't be long before something attacked her and killed her. "So, Mister going to take care of me?" She asked, tilting her head off to the side. Ignoring the question, Murtagh asked one of his own, "What's your name?"

"Dagger!"

"...As in the weapon?"

"I think? Before Daddy died, he use to make weapons! When I was born he said he made this really neat dagger and somehow mommy agreed to it." She was really cheerful for someone who watched their guardian get killed in front of her eyes. "What's your name?"

"Murtagh."

"Like tag, your it?"

He shook his head, and repeated his name slowly until the child finally got it right. "Was that your father that...?"

"Nope, Mommy and Daddy died at the same time, that was Mommy's friend who was taking care of me."

"Okay... well look kid, I can't exactly play babysitter right now."

He made his way towards Thorn's side and grabbed her wrist, trying to drag her down. (He doesn't exactly know how to be nice to a child) But right away she began to cry, "Noooooo!" Thorn made a loud sound, and Murtagh was covering his ears, letting her go. "Not so loud!" If there was glass near by, Murtagh was almost positive she could have shattered it because she was screaming so loud. She stopped crying and looked at Murtagh, with a confused look. He was going to regret this but... he managed to get on Thorn's back, with the girl there. Eying his sword that he hadn't put back in it's sheath, Murtagh raised it and being behind the girl he had an advantage. He brought it down and with the hilt of the sword, hit her head. It had been so strong for her small body that she passed out.

What will you do?

-Not tell Galbatorix that's for sure.-

So you'll...

-Do I have a choice? If I leave her she'll scream and most likely be killed the next day. As long as no one at the castle finds out all should be well.-

What's with the change of heart?

-Who knows. All right, let's leave.-

Murtagh put Zar'roc away, again, and made sure that while they were flying the girl wouldn't slip off and fall. Now he just had to sneak her in. What FUN that will be. He realized though, and this was most likely the only reason he agreed to taking her with, was that she was so lively that his mind would be focused on making sure no one would see her and not on Eragon...

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Yay for lame chapter? XX I was having a bit of writers block as to how to bring the girl in. But it'll be nice to see how Murtagh tries taking care of her since he already tried pulling her arm off ;D I need some ideas, so if you liked it please give off a few ideas, I may even use some! And review too, I would like that. With the next chapter I'll respond to the reviews in some way. Please, don't flame D: and if you do, well... er... be nice? This is like my first fanfic that I'm posting. Oh by the way, YES I know I fail at fight scenes.