Murtagh stared in amazement at her face. He released the holds around the chains and caught her as she fell.

"I'm afraid I am." he said quietly, "There was no way to avoid it."

Makenna, smiled, and coughed.

"Tell me of the Varden's plans."

Makenna sighed, "What does that matter? I've found you again. I missed you…" she place a bruised hand on his pale cheek. He closed his eyes and breathed in, letting her warmth sink through his face, as he had done so long ago.

"It matters…because…" he said, sighing, " I work for Galbatorix now. He controls me. I cannot escape him. And I'm not exactly sure I want to…" he added, looking at her very hard.

"hmm…" she said, "Then maybe I did Ajihad wrong for being angry at him for his warning."

"Makenna." he said. "Don't make this hard, just tell me what you know, I'll find out no matter what…"

"I'll will take my secret to the grave." she snarled, breaking free of his grasp and scooting painfully to the other side of the room.

"See! This was why your father was killed! He was stubborn and didn't cooperate! Do you want to end up like…like him?!" said Murtagh in exasperation. He had almost forgotten what it was like to love.

"If you mean…" she got up, back supported by the wall, and wincing, "An honorable death, then yes!" she began to breath heavily and then collapsed on the floor. He scrambled by her, lifting her head up. She licked her bloody chapped lips and said, "I die staring into the face of my father's murderer…" she said looking into his eyes. His eyes filled first with surprise, then shock, followed by anger and hate.

"I thought you said you weren't going to judge me by my father's sins." he said.

"That was before you became your father!" she began coughing, but always kept her eyes locked on his. Her strength began to fail and she momentarily closed her eyes. A single tear ran down her face, removing the dirt and blood of the place, and he saw the pale cheek and remembered her happy dancing eyes, and his heart filled with love for that moment.

"Please…" he whispered, as she began to stiffen and the life left her. "…Forgive me…" he cried over her face. "…please" he bowed his head and his nose brushed along her cheek.

She opened her eyes one final time and said, "I still love you." and she never moved again.