Summary:

Disclaimer: I don't own Eragon, but I have naughty thoughts about owning Murtgah! (Wicked grin)

Rating: T

Listening to: This Is How I Disappear by My Chemical Romance

I told you didn't I? Reviews equal my chapters! And you all reviewed! Feel proud. So here is chapter 2!

Murtagh got up in the morning as the sun hit his face. He did not immediately remember the dream from last night, not until Thorn reminded him.

'Are you well now Murtagh?'

'Just fine, thanks.' Murtagh responded cooly.

'Were you always this cold? Or just since I hatched for you?'

Murtagh was silent for a moment. He didn't hate Thorn. Thorn was the only friend he had left. And he was pushing him away. Murtagh didn't need another enemy. He needed a friend.

'I-I'm sorry Thorn. It's just that well-'

'I understand Murtagh. Sometimes you act as if I had hatched because I was forced, and not because I'd felt the kind heart of my Rider.'

Murtagh walked over to his dresser while listening slightly abashed. It was hard to remember a time when he'd truly felt as if he had a kind heart. He found a tunic, nearly identical as the one he'd worn the day before and slipped it on, along with his usual black cloak and sword belt.

'A kind heart that will open the door to his room to let me in, before I knock it down with unimaginable strength.' Thorn sighed testily.

Murtagh gave a slight grin. Ever since he'd first trained with Thorn, the dragon had always made snide, sarcastic comments about his strength, seeing how in his enthusiasim, he'd knocked down the castle front doors.

Murtagh hurriedly opened the door, revealing his ruby dragon staring at him, raised eyebrow that only Murtagh could see.

'I don't think the king'll be very pleased if you knock down another door.'

'You know I care as much about the kings feelings as you do.'

Thorn stepped slowly into Murtagh's room. Every room in the palace was big enough for a dragon to fit in, seeing is how the king let his dragon, Shruikan roam the castle. And nothing gave Murtagh bigger chills then rounding the corner in the middle of the night to see the glowing black eyes of the corrupted dragon.

There was a knock upon the door. "Master Murtagh?" The voice was low and scratchy, yet for all of that, was high and squeaky.

"Yes?"

The door was pushed open to reveal an Urgal servant. Shorter then the males, her skin was darker then the males too.

"King Galbatorix has requested your audience immediately." The Urgal said silkily in her terrible voice. She gave Thorn a nasty look. It was only common knowledge that all the Urgals and Kull hated the dragons of the palace. Thorn growled at her.

"Master Murtagh?" She asked. Urgal women had tempers. Murtagh looked at her disgustedly.

"Get out of my sight." He snapped. She gave a silky bow and left. Murtagh sighed and ran a hand over his face.

'What do you suppose Galbatorix wants?' He asked Thorn.

The dragon shifted uneasily on his feet. 'Nothing good I expect.'

'Then we should probably see him as quickly as possible to get it over with.'

'As long as you're in front.'

Murtagh smirked. 'Scared?'

'No. I have a bad feeling about all of this.'

Murtagh sighed and nodded. The two, Dragon and Rider, took off down the halls of the king's palace.

As they passed the main hall, Murtagh heard some interesting news from two of the Urgal Generals, talking in the Urgal language. Murtagh had been forced to learn it too.

"Ahgrat ukmar." Said the first. ((It is done.))

The second spat venomously. "Drajl. They killed some of our best fighters." ((Spawn of maggots.))

"We didn't accomplish what we were supposed to-"

"-Varden put up a good fight-"

Murtagh froze. The Varden? Had his dream been real?

'Is there something wrong Murtagh?'

'...Nothing.'

They hurried down the halls to the king's throne room. Murtagh knocked trembling on the door.

"Come in." The voice was sleek and slippery, as a snake. But it was a cold voice. So very cold. In the deepest corners of a recurring nightmare, Murtagh heard that voice haunt him forever and ever.

Murtagh and Thorn walked through the threshold and into the dark throne room. There, sat Galbatorix in all his horror, and to his right, his hideous black dragon, Shruikan.

"My lord." Murtagh kneeled. He cursed his tongue. Thorn also bowed his head.

"Come." Galbatorix said to his servant and the red dragon. They followed him out of the throne room, noticing the black dragon was staying in the throne room.

"Last night, as you may or not be aware of, we interpreted the Varden on their way out of Surda, heading to the coast. We're not sure where they're trying to get too." Galbatorix informed Murtagh and Thorn.

"Why was I not involved in the attack?" Murtagh asked.

'Do you actually mind we weren't there?'

'Not at all.'

"Was there a specific reason for the attack?" Murtagh added.

Galbatorix raised his eyebrows as they rounded another hall. "We were trying to intercept the before they escaped again. Lessen their numbers. There was no need for you, or so we thought."

Murtagh looked up startled. "We were also trying to capture a warrior of exceptional powers, and gifts. The only non-rider to ever have the gedwëy ignasia. She has a talant to shield anyone from danger, even at the cost of her life." The king licked his pointed teeth grinning manically. "I'd thought she'd be a good protection for me."

"Did you capture her?" Murtagh asked. The girl with the gedwëy ignasia from his dream? She had to be four years old! Could the king really be so ruthless to enlist the help, no, force the help of a young girl?

"Unfortunetly, one of our Kull was trying to take out the Varden leader. The girl died in the attempt to save her." Murtagh's stomach turned to ice.

'Murtagh?'

'My dream was real………'

'From last night?'

'Yes. That girl…Her name was Elva…….she was a child! A child Thorn! A CHILD!'

'The king is ruthless. But he seems excited. There was a silver lineing to his rain cloud.'

'All the worst for us.'

"We did, however pick up a consolation prize." The king stopped at the door of the dungen for important guest and fit the key into the lock and pushed the heavy door open.

Murtagh followed in with his dragon. Galbatorix locked the door behind him. Murtagh first noticed that this was one of the more grand prison chambers. Small and long, but big enough to hold a handful of people and a Dragon of Thorn's size. A small palet bed was in one corner, and a desk in another. A scratchy sort of rug, for Murtagh could only assume it was such, lay in the center of the room. Three small arrow slit windows gave light to the room. The young Rider also suddenly realized that there was a small door in the back leading off to, what Murtagh was sure was a small dungeon like area.

Suddenly, there was a scream heard from the chamber behind the door. A womens'scream.

"Sire?" Murtagh asked confused.

'Thorn? What's going on?'

'He caught a prisoner.'

'Obviously. But who?'

'How should I know?'

Galbatorix had no need to answer. As it was, at that moment, three Urgals carried in the prisoner. A girl, around Murtagh's age. Shackles were tied to her arms and legs, creating lines of blood around her wrists and ankles.

Her ebony skin matched her onyx hair. Her hazel eyes were watered in pain.

Those hazel orbs met Murtaghs onyx ones. She gasped and he breathed in quickly.

It was Nasuada.

R&R! You know what to do!