A/N: Okay, so you read the first chapter and hopefully you liked it. So here's the next one. BEWARE, Alice gets a bit of a self-insert in this chappie, but I'll try to change that ASAP (i.e. next chapter). If you're going to review (yes, you are going to review) could you please give me a bit of advice on how to make the story less of a cliché? Thanks people. Though if you don't review…well, er…you don't really wanna know what will happen to you. Yay! Now, READ AND THEN CLICK THAT EVER SO SHINY REVIEW BUTTON.

Chapter Two: Learning how to Live.

Alice's eyes snapped open as her nightmare awoke her. She had been running through her deserted house screaming, before finding her parents on the floor throats slit by a smiling Galbatorix. The nightmares had been haunting her for almost the whole week she'd been in Alagaesia. Nothing could make sense anymore, more to the point; nothing could make her see sense. She quietly dressed in the usual plain black knee-length dress she always wore. She would've preferred the whole "tunic-and-pants" outfit, but here in retarded-medieval fairyland, she didn't like the stares that came from "dressing like a man". She passed her reflection in the wall mirror, and gasped. She had dark rings under her eyes; her face was actually pale, even though she'd always been a bit tanned. Her dark copper-brown hair was a little flatter than usually and she was thinner than ever. Make myself inhumanly beautiful and my name and hairstyle won't be the only similarity between me and Alice Cullen, she thought to herself. She smirked as she saw that her "TWERD" badge was still pinned to her clothes, followed by the sudden longing to read her favourite series and get all angry about Jacob Black's mistreatment. Edward Cullen is so gay, huh? (No offence all you Edward fans, I just can't stop hating that evil, evil Gary-Stu) Alice turned to gaze out the window, as if she would see something a decent bit more interesting then fatty nobles pacing like snails around the courtyard.

Her footsteps echoed unnaturally through the silent walls. She felt like she was marching to her death as her shadows blackened the dead grey walls. The sound of wood on wood splintered the silence; someone must be sparring, Alice thought, she didn't really need to know who. What's-his-name, the red rider…Murtagh, that's it, she thought, was well known for being the only person bothering to get up early enough to spar. She'd never spoken to him since a week ago, when she'd witnessed his torture by dear old Galby's hand. She had tried speaking to the "fatty nobles", but she realised that gossip couldn't be relied on. Alice had gained a vague history of Alagaesia, which caused the surge of pity she felt for Murtagh, being Morzan's son would be a heavy burden on anyone's shoulders. But she couldn't stop hearing about Murtagh, and how he has become his father.

"He has a scar on his back, from his right shoulder to the opposing hip, his father gave it to him when he was only three."

"His mother disappeared for a year and died a few days after she came back."

"No-one knows why, but he tried to escape a few months after his eighteenth birthday, he escaped. They think he went to the Varden and was friends with their rider, the farm boy, but no-one can be sure. But you should-ve heard the screaming coming from the dungeons after they brought him back. Next thing we know, he's Galbatorix's rider. It doesn't take a genius to put two and two together."

Murtagh observed the wisps of gossip that were running through Alice's mind.

The girl should really learn how to defend her mind, walking around like an open book is just..retarded? What do you reckon Thorn? I think she's a total idiot, I've never met anyone sillier.

Huh. I didn't think so.

Just agree with me Thorn.

You wanted the truth.

Murtagh almost lost his temper at the pitiful solidier sparring with him. The soldier was pinned in about two seconds of standing up again, and almost crawled away from him as Murtagh turned and spat on the ground.

You've got a problems with the whole spitting thing.

Shut up Thorn. I suppose size and level of annoyance are linked.

Actually, it all depemds on perspective. Humans think me a giant, but I find them mere insects.

Thorn, don't try to be clever, you'll just embrass yourself.

Murtagh snickered at his own joke. The soldier looked like he had significant concerns for Murtagh's sanity.

You don't try to be clever, or you'll just embrass yourself, youngling.

Thorn, aren't dragons supposed to be smart? Cause the little bratty new girl could be more creative. Retarded…where the hell did she get that one from..

Murtagh hurriedly pulled his tunic on as Galbatorix's callous voice echoed through his mind.

Get to the throne room. Quickly. Bring the girl. HURRY!

Anger swelled in Murtagh's chest as the voice he hated even more than his father's brutally forced through his mind. "Bring the girl", bring the total brat ass-hole, more like, Murtagh thought to himself.

"YOU!!!! Yes, you, the crossdresser! The transversite! The girl who dresses like a guy or whatever you call homosexual people 'round here!" Alice pointed calmly to Murtagh, a smirk spread all to widely over her face. Murtagh's face went from an unhealthy pale pallor to the same colour of Thorn's scales. Anger welled up inside him and on an impulse calmly looked into her her eyes, blue eyes locking on green, and clearly stated one word. Just one word, Alice's most dreaded one. "Thysta!"

Alice flew across the room, hit a stone wall, then everything went black.

"WHEN I SAID TO 'BRING THE GIRL', I DIDN'T MEAN FOR YOU TO KNOCK HER OUT, THEN BRING HER, DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!"

A single drawn-out scream echoed around the whole room.

"I SAID, DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME???!!!"

Another ear-splitting scream. It was too much. Alice flicked her eyelids open and quickly turned her head to face the torturous scene before her. Murtagh was shrieking, writhing on the floor in pain. Because of her insolence. Huh. Oh, well, he'll get over it.

"Little bit cold aren't you?" The voice speaking was barely a rasp, and Alice turned to see Murtagh's head twisted around to glare at her.

"Not, really, I just don't really care if you jumped of a cliff or not, frankly. In, fact, I might jump for joy."

"And you always struck me as such a nice, warm-hearted little girl" Another shriek.

"I thought I told you to stop your little insolent comments, Murtagh." Shriek Mark II.

It was only then that Alice remembered Galbatorix.

"Get your sorry backside back to your quarters, I don't care if you have to crawl."

Murtagh threw another agonized glare at Alice, before stumbling and swaying out of the room.

"Alice, my dear, I'm rather sorry you had to see that…unfortunate incident".

Alice blanched.

"I didn't really care too much about it, actually."

"Murtagh means nothing to you?"

"I don't know him well enough. He strikes me as arrogant, proud, insolent and feminine." Alice tacked on the last one with a smirk.

"Really?"

"Really. He thinks he's so hot just because he had a hell abusive dad and was forced into servicing you and is an awful loner. Boo-hoo. Someone should really tell him that no-one cares if his brother wants him dead, that all the people he trusted have either died or think he's evil and they too want him dead. I think they're perfectly justified. He should go die in a hole s'not like anyone would miss him."

"I like your attitude, Alice. You may go now." Galbatorix gestured vaguely to the door. Puzzled, Alice left. Meanwhile, Murtagh was leaning against the wall, behind the door Alice just exited, pain permantly etched onto his face.

A/N: Awww…poor little Murty. Hehe I love wrting character torture.

Also, I'm really sorry updating took like a whole fricking month. Possibly more. I lost count. Listen to Short Stack on youtube and become obssesed with them like me or well…er…um…basically, you don't wanna know.