Sorry about the wait, I started a new story and it took a while to get the 1st chapter up! For anyone who wishes to know, Murtagh is near the city of Melian.

"Bring him in," Gallbatorix ordered the servant as he saw the shady form of the Red Rider outside of his tent.

The young girl bowed and opened the flap knowing the King was not in a good mood and the happier he was the better.

"You wanted to see me?" Murtagh all but spat as he gazed at the face of the Black Rider.

Gallbatorix felt his eyebrows dip as he heard the total disrespect present in his slave's voice and he made a mental note to teach him a lesson later. For the time being however he swallowed his anger and proceeded with the matter at hand.

"Yes I did, you see I need you to find me a certain plant needed for a potion I'm making. This plant is very difficult to find but I know exactly where to find it," Gallbatorix said pleasantly watching his pupil raise an eyebrow wondering what the purpose was.

"Of course King Gallbatorix, where can I find this plant?" Murtagh said interested enough by now to hide all the loathing he felt for the man.

"It is back at the highest peak of the Helgrind Mountains. It is a few hours from here on horse so you should be back by the end of the day if you ride Thorn. Its name is Aedra and its juice has a terrible power. It has a white stem and the flowers are pitch black, to make sure it is the plant you are looking for just take a flower and rub it against the ground, if something happens it is the one you want," Gallbatorix instructed grinning as Murtagh translated Aedra for despair.

"What do you need this plant for?" Murtagh asked trying to act polite enough to get the answer he needed.

"That is for me to know and for you to discover at the battle in two days," Gallbatorix teased knowing what it was his student wanted and denying him of it.

"Of course my lord, but may I bring someone with me on the journey?" Murtagh said slightly stifling his anger at not getting the information.

"And who would that be?" Gallbatorix asked. He wanted to know who the Red Rider had befriended in case it came in handy later.

"The servant Kilendi whom you enlisted in the war," Murtagh said thinking about his hold friend who had been there when Murtagh had needed him the most.

Gallbatorix made another mental note to look up this Kilendi but he decided that there was nothing wrong with an extra set of eyes if it meant he got the plant quicker. The potion he needed to make would take a while and the sooner he got the juice the plant held the better.

"Kilendi, Kilendi! Wake up you good for nothing…"Murtagh yelled softly kicking the bundle curled up in his tent.

"Ah come on Murtagh, I was enjoying that rest," Kilendi complained crawling out of his sleeping bag and stretching on the floor like a cat.

"Well stop enjoying it, Gallbatorix is sending me on a mission and your coming along," Murtagh teased kicking his friend playfully again in the side for good measure.

"Now why is it that the first time in a week that I get to sleep in without tending to a sergeant's every need, you have me go on a mission?" Kilendi whined knowing that he was kneading his friend.

Murtagh rubbed his temples knowing what his old friend was up to. Kilendi found it fun to see how long it took before the Red Rider broke and threatened to use magic against him. He never carried through, but it seemed to amuse the servant to watch an all powerful Rider stoop to being pushed by a humble servant.

"Come on, or do you want Gallbatorix mad at us?" Murtagh snapped back watching his friend pretend to pale at the threat.

"Oh no the King mad at us, what are we going to do Murtagh?" Kilendi joked grinning as he changed into his traveling clothes.

"We're going to do what he says before Murtagh ends up with broken ribs," Murtagh teased back glancing down meaningfully at his chest where he had been injured many times before.

"Fine, but only for your safety would I give up my well-deserved nap," Kilendi said finally giving in and fetching his sack filled with everything they would need.

"What did I do to deserve such a loyal friend like you, Kilendi?" Murtagh teased pushing back the flap as his friend shouldered through.

"Not enough," Kilendi grumbled then laughed as Murtagh shouldered him playfully.

Thorn we need you for a mission Gallbatorix is having us go on. Murtagh called out feeling for his Dragon's presence and finding it at the edge of the camp.

What is it this time? Thorn called out irritably not in the mood to go flying for however many hours for a pointless mission.

The first time it had been because Gallbatorix had left an important scroll in his throne room and needed Murtagh to fly back to get it. Then it had been to fill a water canteen which meant flying for an hour to a lake. And now it seemed this was just another pointless mission to get them out of the way.

He needs us to retrieve a plant named Aedra for him. Murtagh said calmly knowing what was upsetting his Dragon much.

Despair. Thorn translated thinking through the possible reasons the King would want a plant with such a name. The after results were not pleasant.

Yeh and he wouldn't tell me why it's needed. It's back at Helgrind on the tallest mountain it looks something like this. Murtagh said sending a mental image of what he pictured the flower would look like.

That plant seems strangely familiar. Thorn mulled the picture over in his mind trying to figure out why the flower sounded and looked so familiar.

Do you think maybe you sensed it while you were in your egg? Murtagh asked knowing that anytime after Thorn hatched Murtagh would have remembered.

Possibly, probably actually, I just can't seem pin-point my mind on any particular time. Thorn said angry at himself for being able to remember.

Don't worry about it, maybe seeing it will help you remember. Murtagh comforted knowing that his Dragon hated not knowing anything.

"Are we going to get going?" Kilendi asked knowing that his friend was talking to his Dragon but not liking to be left out.

"Yeh just let me put Thorn's saddle on and we'll be off. Have you ever even ridden a Dragon before?" Murtagh questioned watching Kilendi eyeing the hand and foot straps warily.

"That doesn't matter, let's just get going so we can get back and I can rest," Kilendi mumbled trying to repair his hurt ego at Murtagh's remark.

Murtagh grinned and climbed onto Thorn's back; he watched as his friend clambered on and attempted to strap himself down.

This will be entertaining. Murtagh remarked before Thorn took off and Kilendi started screaming in his ears.

Hey! For anyone who doesn't remember I created Kilendi in the Two Battles chapter 15. hope you liked it!