A/N: Woah

A/N: Woah! Okay, I promised I would write a simple Murtagh/Katrina story, so here it is! Like I said, it's SIMPLE. Plot's not sophisticated or anything like that. I plan on it beind kind of short. Anywho, here you go! And btw, I'm too lazy to get my book, so spelling may be terrible! Just to warn you…

Disclaimer: I do not own Eragon nor any of the characters from it, but I can fantasize about Murtagh being alive, right? Right? RIGHT?!

Chapter 1 - Phlegm

Murtagh sat upon Thorn. His hamstrings and gluteus ached from riding nonstop for hours on end; he had just spent a relaxing time in the sky. Just him and Thorn in the wilderness - with no Galbatorix. He wished it to always stay that way, but of course fate was not as kind. He was just glided over Dras-Leona, Thorn's wine red scales glimmering in the pinkish orange sunset, when an intense cool pressure massaged his brain.

Murtagh, growled an ever-so-familiar voice in his head. The darkness and evil within it made him shudder. Why was he not used to it by now? Had it not been but a year now that he dealt with the king's mind touch his, yet it still felt like a cold cell with no blanket - cold, empty, lonely, cruel.

Yes, master? He brown-nosed. What now?

Watch you're tone, you ungrateful apprentice, hissed the king. While you're in Dras-Leona, I have a mission for you.

Murtagh sighed. What now? Remembering his manners, he added, Your Highness?

Better, chimed Galbatorix. Ga'nga eom Helgrind un waisevinr du alfrinn dauthlieker. Go to Helgrind and befriend the women prisoner. It should be easy for you, what with all your charm.

Yes, ebrithil, he responded with the usual hollowness.

Quit wallowing in self pity, threatened the master.

Yes, ebrithil. He sounded brainwashed lately. Which, he supposed, may be the case.

He had been thinking a great deal about that lately - had he been brainwashed? Long ago, he had been, but he saw the error in his ways and fled. Yet, Galbatorix wove the same story, same unrealistic paradise he had believed earlier, and now he was pursuing such a ridiculous fairy tale land. But it won't be a fairy tale for much longer, he justified. What is killing one stranger for the greater good of an entire nation?

Are you okay? came Thorn's voice.

Yes, Thorn, responded Murtagh. Pull up to Helgrind.

The feeling of shock from Thorn that reached Murtagh was unmistakable. He related to his dragon his master's message.

A prisoner, thought Thorn. Fascinating… They soared their way above the littered streets in the city of Dras-Leona, landing on the rocky surface at the mouth of Helgrind. Murtagh hoped off Thorn, stroked his muscular dragon in a farewell gesture, then headed off into the cave.

Inside was damp and cold. He felt sorry for whatever prisoner he was instructed to befriend, not only because of the harsh conditions in which they suffered, but also most likely the reason he was suppose to become aquainted with them. "Raz'ac!" he bellowed in his low voice. "Master Murtagh calls upon you."

Two demonic figures jumped out of the shadows and landed on either side of the red rider. Fear enveloped him, but he had been well trained to conceal it.

"You beckoned, masssssster?" cooed the Raz'ac to his left.

"Yes," he said in a stern voice. "I have orders to visit the lady prisoner you hold here."

The Raz'ac hissed with what must have been a chuckle. "Ah, yes. Come with me." The Raz'ac escorted him down a corridor with dripping water dampening the walls and dried blood on the floor. They walked for what seemed like hours, Murtagh trying his best not to shudder at the sanitation level Helgrind endured. But then, he had survived much worse.

The Raz'ac halted at one of the cell doors. "Here you are, sssssssir."

"Thank-You," Murtagh managed to say, though he did not mean it at the least. He hesitantly turned the knob. The rusty metal door caked with dried blood creaked open to see a cell without a much better atmosphere. A woman with her arms suspended in the air and her head limp sat motionless against one dark, smelly wall.

Murtagh hesitantly walked towards her.

The woman unexpectantly launched off the wall grunting like a wild creature and barring her teeth, hissing venomously, only to be yanked back by the chains holding her arms. "Get out!" she hissed, her eyes crazed and her brown hair unruly. "I said get out!"

Murtagh took a step back to back out of her line of fire. "My name is Murtagh," he said. "I'm here to help you."

The woman chuckled mockingly. "Me?" She stood up as far as the metal clasps would let her and stretched her neck. She made a gurgling noise and hacked some phlegm in Murtagh's face.

"Ugh!" Murtagh wiped the disgusting mucus away and stared at her, trying to control his rage. "Look, I'm just here to help you."

"Get out of here! And tell your lovely friend the king he can screw his own ass for all I care!"

Murtagh was silent for a second, than he laughed loudly.

"What is so funny about that?" pestered the woman.

Murtagh ceased laughing and said, "I like you."

The woman just blinked. "I spat phlegm in your face, and all you can say is, 'I like you?'"

Murtagh shrugged and gave a stupid grin. "You have a flame in you. I admire that."

"I don't want your admiration! I just desire to go home! They locked me in here as bait. I'm innocent! I just want to g-g-g-" She began sobbing and sank to the floor, utterly exhausted.

Murtagh couldn't help but feel pity for her. He slowly made his way to the shuddering figure of the woman and squatted down in front of her. "Don't cry."

"W-Why not!" she huffed.

"Because," replied Murtagh truthfully. "I can't stand it when woman cry. I don't know what to do."

This just made her bawl harder.

Panicking, Murtagh tried a different tactic. "Tell me, what is your name?"

"Katrina," she choked. "Sloan is my father. I don't know where he is or if he's even alive."

Murtagh nervously placed a hand on her shoulder. Relief spread through him when she didn't snap at him. "Look…" He didn't know what to do. Sure, he expected her to be a miserable wreck, but he didn't know how to react womanly emotions! He was a man who rarely cried if ever. "I don't know what to tell you. What do you want me to say?"

"Why a-are y-you here?" Katrina sniffed.

Murtagh sighed deeply. "Just to let you know not everyone under Galbatorix's rule is ruthless." He smiled weakly, only for his expression to be exchanged for shock as he received his first clear view of her face. "My gods! You look terrible!"

"Thanks," moaned Katrina. "Just what every woman wants to hear."

"Let me heal you, it'll make you feel-" He was cut off.

"No!" hissed Katrina in a sudden rage-filled outburst. "What difference does it make? You and your little bird friends with foul breath will just beat me again! I want nothing to do with anyone from Uru'baen."

Murtagh's expression remained impassive, but secretly she hit a rare cord with her words. "What makes you think I know the king?"

"Oh, please!" she said, rolling her eyes. "You come in here, scratch-free. The Raz'ac just allow you in without question. Does that seem right?"

Murtagh smirked. "Very good. You catch on quickly. A good survival skill."

"Thanks," mumbled Katrina.

Murtagh paused for a moment. "What if," he said slowly. "What if I ordered the Raz'ac to stop beating you? Would you let me heal you then?"

Katrina was silent, chewing on his words. "You have the power to do that?"

Murtagh was unsure if he should admit to this, worried this would only cause her to have a sudden outburst again. "I do."

Katrina eyed him warily. "If you swear to have the beatings discontinue, I'll have you heal me."

"Will do. Upon my word." He repeated his words in the ancient language.

"What is that you just said? It sounded foreign."

"That's because it is," Murtagh chuckled. "It's a magical language in which you can't lie. I swore in that language, the Ancient Language, that upon my word I will have the beatings cease. Maybe I'll teach it to you sometime."

"Would you?" she asked, her eyes sparkling.

Murtagh couldn't say no to that face. He didn't know why, but something stirred within him. "Of course." He scratched his chin and inched towards her, no longer squatting but kneeling. He gently brushed his fingers against the bruises on her face. "Let me know if you feel uncomfortable. I'll stop."

Katrina blushed. "All right."

"Waise heill," Murtagh whispered, Katrina's cheeks instantly patching up. He placed the palm of his hand on her forehead as if checking for a fever. "Waise heill." Her face was untouched and brand new.

Katrina, Murtagh could not help but notice, stared into the rider's eyes the whole time he mended her wounds. Once her face and neck were done, Murtagh muttered, "Uh, well, that's the last remaining exposed skin… Do you have any more wounds?"

Katrina nodded. "Several. On my arms and back and legs."

Murtagh furrowed his eyebrow. "Ummm… how am I going to get to those areas?"

Katrina immediately comprehended what he was applying. "Oh!" she said. "For my back I suppose you would have to untie my dress." She flushed. "Can we skip that one?"

"Of course," said Murtagh instantly.

She pulled up her skirts to her knees. "That's as far as my wounds go."

Murtagh muttered the words and she mended instantly. The same with her forearms, the only other spot she was bleeding. Murtagh just pulled down her sleeves for him to reach that area, with her being chained to the wall.

"Thank-You," she said. "Really, you don't know how good it feels to be better."

Murtagh laughed. "Oh, no, I do. Feels wonderful."

Katrina raised an eyebrow. "You do?"

Murtagh smirked. "Yes, I do. Maybe I'll tell you later? I have to go now. That is, if you don't mind me visiting again…"

"Oh, no! Of course not!"

He sluggishly stood on his feet, stretching his muscles. "Remind me to unchain you the next time I'm here," he said as he strolled out the door.

"Hey, Murtagh," Katrina's voice filled his ears.

He turned around. "Yeah?"

"Sorry, you know," she shuffled her feet. "Sorry for spitting phlegm into your face."

Murtagh just grinned widely. "No, problem, Katrina. Women spit phlegm in my face all the time!"

A/N: So there it is! Did you like it? REVIEW PLEASE!! I'll update as soon as I can and when I get however many amount of reviews I desire! :D