Disclaimer: The only two characters that are mine are Dera and Anastasia. The rest belong to Christopher Paolini.
A/N: Sorry for the wait, guys. I've been busy lately. But I'm on spring break now, so I'll be able to update! Now, for the thank-you's….
LoNnI: Mrs. Morzansson! (smiles) Thanks for everything! And thanks for hanging in there!
Lady Shana: Thanks a bunch! I was really concerned about that part… You're interested in my Four Brothers story? Well, I have a few on now. You can go check them out if you want! Thanks!
alsdssg: Thanks! I love suspense… Murtagh should be all right… Lol! Thanks!
swim freak 9000: Thank you so much! That means a lot! Hope you like this chapter!
G.A. Clive: Yay! A new reviewer! I hope this doesn't completely scare you away… Lol! Anyway, thank you so much! I hope you like this one too!
Kalisona: Thank you so much, mellon-nin! You're awesome! Good luck with your story! I will keep reviewing!
Kat Kat B.: Another new reviewer! Thank you so much! I'm having fun with this story. I hope you like it! I just love Anastasia. Lol!
Okay, now on to chapter three!
Ch. 3: Anastasia's Reason
Murtagh groaned as he slowly opened his eyes, immediately closing them because of the glare from the light above him. Then, after a moment, he tried opening them again. As soon as his eyes adjusted to the lighting, he saw that he was in a small bedroom, the only things occupying it a wardrobe, a small desk, a bed, and a chair. The chair was right next to his bed and was being occupied by a sleeping Anastasia, a blanket draped over her thin shoulders. The Rider began to sit up, but he gasped and closed his eyes in pain when he felt a sharp pain in his head.
"You may want to stay laying down, Rider." a voice said. "Storms can be very unforgiving."
Murtagh looked up and watched as Dera slowly entered the room, coming to a stop at his bedside. "What happened?" he asked, having to force his voice out since it wasn't wouldn't come easily.
Dera's face turned grave as he sat down on the bed. "Well, you have a pretty serious head injury from when the rubble collapsed on you." he answered. "But that will heal nicely in a few days… that is, if you stay in bed and rest like I tell you to."
The Rider tried to turn himself a little bit so that he could face the elderly man better, but he winced when his side protested to his movements.
"Ah, yes." Dera muttered, watching as Murtagh carefully moved back to his original position. "You also have a slightly cracked rib. If you move too much or in a wrong way, it could snap and pierce your lung. You don't want that. If you stay in bed and rest, that won't be a problem."
Murtagh sighed to himself. He didn't have the time to stay in bed and just wait for his injuries to heal since he had to return to Uru'baen. He didn't want to, but he knew that his injuries would be even worse if he returned to Galbatorix late and without the sword that he had ordered… Maybe he would wait and let time heal his wounds. It wasn't sounding like such a bad idea at that moment…
"You should consider yourself lucky, Rider." Dera said. "If it hadn't been for the combined efforts of Anastasia and your dragon, you would have drowned."
Murtagh didn't know what to say, but his dark eyes moved to the sleeping girl. "How is she?" he wondered quietly so that he wouldn't wake her.
"She's fine." Dera told him with a smile. A bit shaken up perhaps, but physically, she's fine. It's been a day since your accident, and she hasn't left your side since."
A day?! Murtagh couldn't believe that he had been unconscious that long. His gaze was confused as he continued to look at Anastasia. She'd sat there in the same spot all of that time?
Dera laughed. "Well, since you're awake in time for dinner, Rider, I'll make some soup to warm you both up. I'm sure the lass will wake when she smells it cooking."
Murtagh sighed and closed his eyes as Dera left the room. His head was pounding, and blocking out the light helped a little…
I told you. I told you that something would happen, but you didn't believe me!
The Rider slowly opened his eyes again when he heard his dragon's voice echoing in his mind. I'm all right, Thorn. Murtagh told him. Thank you for your worry anyway…
No, you're not all right. Thorn replied. I here when the old man checked you over for injuries when he first brought you here. Some are pretty serious! If I had gone with you, this wouldn't have happened. I could have lost you…
I can heal myself with magic, Thorn, or have you forgotten that? Murtagh laughed. I think I'll be fine. He looked out the window that was on the wall next to him, seeing his dragon's large outline against the storm clouds above. The weather's still pretty bad. Let's hope that it's better tomorrow so that we can leave in the morning.
There is no way that that is going to happen, Murtagh! Thorn said forcefully. You are not fit for travel. Even if you did heal yourself, you would still be weak from your ordeal. We're not leaving until I'm convinced that you can't get hurt again.
Thorn was normally protective of him, but never this protective. This was overdoing it. Thorn, we have to leave! Murtagh persisted. You know what Galbatorix will do to us if we're late.
He could hear the dragon's growl from outside. You almost died, Murtagh. Thorn replied. I think Galbatorix will understand.
Murtagh raised his eyebrow, knowing that the red dragon could see him. Are we talking about the same person? he asked.
Suddenly, his attention was diverted when he heard a noise from the chair next to him. He turned his head away from the window, but he must have done it a little too quickly because another sharp pain shot through his head.
See? Thorn muttered.
Murtagh ignored him and opened his eyes, seeing that Anastasia was awake and staring at him with her unseeing eyes. She had a look on her face that showed the fear she had that if she touched him, he would break into thousands of pieces.
"Are you all right, Rider?" she finally ventured to ask.
"I'm alive." Murtagh answered her with a smile. "Don't worry. I'll be fine."
Anastasia instantly calmed down as she let out the breath that she had been holding. "That's good…" she muttered.
Murtagh sighed, a pained look in his eyes. "Anastasia, I have to ask you something." he said. "Why did you try to save me? I'm a Rider who works for the Empire, the man who does nothing for your town but gives it trouble. Why didn't you let me die like everyone else her probably would have?"
Anastasia didn't say anything for a moment. Then, she leaned in closer to him. "It's because you have a good heart." she whispered before moving away again.
Murtagh was silent. He didn't know what to say to her. No one had ever told him that before…
Then, a wave of tiredness passed over him, and he closed his eyes. Though she couldn't see him, Anastasia looked at him sadly as he slipped back into sleep. "I know that you really don't want to work for the Empire, Murtagh." she muttered quietly to herself so that she wouldn't wake him. She sighed. It seemed that the only time the Rider was peaceful was when he was in his dreams, in the world where no one could hurt him. His energy felt like an innocent child without any cares while he slept, nothing like the hated Rider he was forced to be…
Anastasia jumped a little when the door to the room opened and Dera entered, holding two steaming bowls. He stopped when he saw that Murtagh had fallen asleep.
"I'll leave this here for him." Dera muttered, giving one bowl to Anastasia while he set a tray and the other bowl down on the desk. "Come on, lass. Let's give him some peace."
Anastasia nodded and got to her feet, allowing Dera to guide her to the door. But she case one last, unseeing glance back at Murtagh before she closed the door behind her.
A/N: Hey! Sorry if it's kind of short, but I hoped you liked it anyway! Happy Easter everyone, even though it's a day after. I'll get the next chapter on soon, hopefully… Lol!
