I am so sorry I left for so long with no word! I am begging for forgiveness! Anywho, my computer crashed. I lost everything. I had to borrow an old laptop from my parents to write this. In better news, three day weekend! I might actually post another chapter soon! Please enjoy this update as a sign of my apology.


When Murtagh returned, he saw the girl staring into the fire. She looked troubled, but he did not want to bother her. He sat down across from high to keep out the night's chill. He set the squirrels he had caught on one of his bags. He was more tired than hungry. She still had not spoken or moved, and he wondered if she was in shock from the attack.

He leaned closer to the fire, and tried to catch her eye. "Mirella?" She startled a bit when he spoke. He was starting to worry slightly, wondering if she was entirely healthy.

"Yes? What's wrong?" she asked. He sat back, relaxing now that she was responding.

"Are you alright? You seem upset. Is something bothering you?"

She smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. It was not very reassuring. "No of course not. I just had a dream. Nothing to be worried about." The last sentence seemed more to her, and he did not press further.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

When Mirella woke the next morning, she realized something was wrong. The sun was up; she should have left camp already. She stood up and realized Murtagh was awake and cooking some of the squirrels from last night. He looked up and smirked.

"Good morning." He looked back to his work, as Mirella raised an eyebrow in confusion. "I thought you should be allowed to sleep in after the Raz'ac attacked. But we do need to get moving soon, so get ready then we'll eat."

The thought of breakfast was tempting to her empty stomach, so no questions were asked. She quickly prepared herself, mentally and physically, for the day. She wondered if this new, kinder Muratgh was the real him. She wanted him to trust her, but was afraid of what she might find if she tried to explore his mind. Mirella knew that was not completely fair, but she could not help being afraid.

Throughout and after their silent meal, she pondered this and the dream. What did the elf want with her? She had not worked with many elves, and had never angered one. Perhaps, she just had an overactive imagination. The other guards had always told her she had the wildest stories and greatest tales of adventure. She mentally shook that thought away. That life was behind her, and this dream had definitely not been from her own mind.

Murtagh told her that they would soon be beyond the borders of Alagaesia, and Mirella wondered what they would find outside the only land she had ever really known. She was excited at the thought of going where few had gone before.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

The sun blazed above them, and Murtagh waved to Mirella as they flew by, knowing that she could not see him. She waved back anyway, and he nearly missed it. If not for his magic boosting every sense, he might have never noticed. Thorn beat his wings, maintaining their altitude.

This was one of Murtagh's favorite things about being a Rider. The dizzying drop below never fazed him (maybe the first time it had) and the rush or wind in ears thrilled him. He loved the feeling of infinite sky around him, and when Thorn passed through a cloud, the small droplets of water clinging to his hair and clothes. The entire experience was exhilarating.

He knew he was lucky to have Thorn, and he almost pitied the girl and her horse. He watched as Mirella soon disappeared behind him. He laughed and wondered if she had ever flown on a dragon. What are the chances of that, he asked himself. She was only a guard for the new queen of Alagaesia. She's probably never even seen a dragon until Eragon met her.

His thoughts took him, unwillingly, back to Eragon, Saphira, Arya, Nasuada, and all the other friends he had left behind. He started to appreciate just how much she had to have left behind too.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Mirella saw Thorn pass above her and waved. She could not see if Murtagh waved back. She watched as the red dragon beat his wings once. She stained her eyes to see the glittering red speck long after it had vanished.

Her poor horse was tiring earlier each day, and she knew she could not keep riding him this hard for long. Mirella wondered what she would do when the animal could no longer keep going. She didn't ant to think about it, but knew that she needed to tell Murtagh. He would probably tell her to sell it, maybe trade it in for a new horse. She couldn't do that. He was her friend. She pushed the thought from her mind.

The sun had started to slowly sink towards the horizon, and Mirella urged her steed farther on.


Hooray! Another long chapter! I was going to add more, but that seemed like a nice place to end it. Sorry! I think I'm getting better at this, if you agree click that pretty little review button. Much love! 3