Author's Note: Hello again! First off, a special thanks goes out to all who reviewed the last chapter! Your thoughts are greatly appreciated!! Anyway, on to chapter seven. Hope you enjoy it! Let me know what you think…

Disclaimer: I do not own Eragon,Eldest, or any of the characters in this story. They are all Christopher Paolini's.

Chapter Seven

Murtagh paused, breathless, in the corridor. Glancing around cautiously, he set Eragon's limp body on the ground and sat down heavily. Cradling his head in his hands, he turned and looked at the unconscious form of his brother. Now that the adrenaline had worn off, he really had no idea where to take his brother. Once again, he had acted too rashly. Now he had nowhere to go, and no way of getting there.

Dragging himself back to his feet, he turned to Eragon and picked up his burden, slinging him over his shoulder. He resumed his trudging walk, setting off down the darkened corridor. The torches had not yet been lit, and Murtagh cursed at the darkness, even though it concealed him. Hearing voices, Murtagh came to a halt, and looked around for a place to hide. Stone walls stretched endlessly on both sides, seemingly for miles. Murtagh cursed again. He didn't want to use any more magic than he had to. But in these circumstances, he really couldn't take the chance of some servant telling Galbatorix about his latest escapade. Murtagh waited until the two people got close enough that he could tell that it was a couple young maids. Muttering a few words, they dropped over like flies. Continuing on his way, Murtagh realized his beating from Galbatorix was beginning to take its toll, and that his breathing was become laboured. Each step became heavier, until he finally stumbled.

What are you doing? Thorn asked in his mind. Murtagh ignored him, instead choosing to focus on calming his racing heart rate.

You tell me to 'be ready', and then you shut your mind to me! Tell me, what do you want me to do?! Murtagh could tell Thorn was exasperated by the tone of his voice, but he still did not answer. Silence filled his head. A silence as thick as the night air.

Closing his eyes, Murtagh spoke slowly, I have to tell him, Thorn. I can't keep going on like this. He has a right to know. And if I tell him, he just might be more willing to leave.

Silence filled Murtagh's mind. Finally, Thorn answered, Do what you think you have to do. You know I'm always here. It's not like I'm going anywhere.

Murtagh didn't say anything, couldn't say anything.

After a few moments, Murtagh got to his feet, and walked over to where he had dropped Eragon. Whispering a few words, he took a step back, but kept his eyes on Eragon. The boy's eyelids began fluttering, and soon opened. As soon as he saw Murtagh, recognition filled his eyes, and a look of anger crossed his face.

Before Eragon could say anything, Murtagh spoke softly, "We have to find a place to hide. I'm sure Galbatorix has noticed that we're missing and has raised the alarm."

Glaring at Murtagh, Eragon curtly nodded. "Now that you've got the entire castle looking for us, we'll probably be dead by the end of the day, and Arya as well, because they will no doubt find her too."

Grabbing Eragon roughly by the arm, Murtagh briskly set off down the corridor, dragging the younger boy behind him. "I'm doing this for you, you know," he said angrily. "You don't need to be appreciative, but you could try to help a little."

"Well, I never wanted to leave this way," Eragon answered, a dark look clouding his face.

"What did you think you were going to do?! Escape in some great escapade where you outsmart the King, and ride away on a horse while the moon is hidden behind a thick cloud? Or maybe you thought that you would kill Galbatorix before you left. Or maybe you want to kill me, I mean, I am a traitor, aren't I? Maybe you want to kill everyone who works for Galbatorix, just to free them from the oppression. Or maybe you want to rescue everyone under Galbatorix's control, and be touted as a hero throughout the whole nation! It would be the perfect end to the perfect existence of your life, wouldn't it?"

Breaking away from Murtagh's grasp, Eragon stepped back, eyes as wide as saucers. "Well, if I knew that you felt that way, than I would have left a lot earlier," he said angrily. "I'm sorry I've gotten in your way, but you won't have to worry about me anymore." Turning on his heel, he stormed away in the opposite direction that Murtagh had been going. Hearing Murtagh's footsteps following him, he began to run.

Murtagh realized what he had done too late. Following Eragon, he called after him, but the younger boy would not stop, and soon had disappeared from view.

Murtagh tried to keep following him, taking the paths that he thought Eragon would have taken, but he still could not find him. Soon, the corridors became more crowded with nobles and their families, all staring curiously at the frantic Red Rider.

Cautiously, one noble approached, and when he came within an arm's distance, quietly asked, "Do you need help with anything, my lord?"

Spinning around, Murtagh glared at the man, freezing him to the spot in fear. "No," he said tonelessly. Then as the man began to turn around, Murtagh added, "Actually, you wouldn't have happened to notice a boy a few years younger than myself pass by here would you? He's a little shorter than me, with lighter hair. We look quite similar though…"

"You mean Galbatorix's latest prisoner?" The man questioned timidly. Nodding his head, Murtagh saw the man's eyes become frantic. "You mean the prisoner has escaped?!"

Panic coursed through Murtagh. "No! No. He didn't escape," he assured the man.

"Well, have the guards been alerted? We have to alert the guards! There are women and children here!"

"Quiet!" Murtagh hissed. "The guards have been alerted. This mustn't reach anyone else's ears! Why don't you take your family and leave, just as a precautionary measure?" he suggested.

Nodding his thanks, the man turned and hurriedly walked over to a woman and two small children. Murtagh watched as the man grabbed his wife's hand and steered their children towards the door of the castle. Breathing a sigh of relief, Murtagh turned around and continued walking, searching for Eragon.

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Eragon walked wearily around yet another corner. It seemed like he had been trudging, lost, for hours. After having had the time to think about his actions, he now realized that he should never have left Murtagh, no matter how angry he was. He didn't know his way around the castle, let alone the city, should he actually manage to escape. Dejectedly, he leaned against the rough stone wall.

Saphira? Deafening silence.

Cupping his head in his hands, Eragon blinked back tears. He was alone, and had now walked away from the one person who could probably help him.

A few minutes later, Eragon stood up. Murtagh was not the only one who could help him. Arya was somewhere here too. All he had to do was keep walking, and hope that he would meet up with her. Determined that he could find Arya, he renewed his walk.

Coming to the end of another corner, Eragon confidently walked around it and stopped short. There stood Galbatorix, smiling down at him.

"I've been looking for you, Eragon."