When we reached the entrance, the guard waved me inside, eyeing Roran skeptically. Nasuada was sitting in her chair, weary.

"Lady Nasuada, this is my adopted cousin Roran Garrowsson," I introduced while she motioned me to take my appointed place on her left side. It took little prompting for Roran to relate the events since Carvahall. I winced, ashamed as the story started out with him and Garrow searching everywhere for us after we disappeared. The two had even taken a trip to Therinsford to see if anyone had seen us. By the time they returned, their house had been destroyed, along with half the village, but two black-cloaked creatures he now knew to be the Ra'zac. He then talked about how the Ra'zac had targeted him and Garrow because of their relation to Eragon, they had no idea I even existed, and ended up killing Garrow trying to get information. Katrina had come by to make sure Roran was fine and they tried to threaten her. Roran brushed over the details but he basically lost it and nearly killed the Ra'zac before they kidnapped Katrina and injured his arm. He then rallied the villagers in protest of the destruction of their property and the damage done to the people. Eventually, they marched towards Surda, took a boat from Terim, and landed on the shores of the river during the battle.

Nasuada listened without interruption.

Roran made his final request. "I will do anything to have my fiancée back, I'm asking for your help, Eragon's, or even Ella's if there's no other choice. I would do anything to have my Katrina returned to me."

"Do you speak for Carvahall?"

"If need be."

"Very well. The Varden has need of your strength and the individual skills of the rest of your village. I will see what I can do about your Katrina, but I am unsure whether we are capable of such a campaign in the near future."

"Ella and Arya defeated three of the Ra'zac, the only thing I need is a companion, supplies, and the location of their nest."

I discreetly nudged Nasuada. I knew where the Ra'zac lived, Oromis supervised me figuring it out by compiling all of Ellesméra's writings on them and cross-referencing the texts. I had even dug up a map of Helgrind that not even Oromis knew had existed. I kind-of wanted to go. I remembered that Eragon had helped Roran the first time, and had found Sloan, leading to quite a trek through Alagaësia on foot.

"Now that we are sure the Ra'zac have been severely crippled, now would be the most advantageous time to launch a counter-attack."

Nasuada leaned forward to escape my more insistent nudging, studying Roran carefully. My cousin met her gaze evenly. Finally, she made her decision. "I will see what I can do, but your quest may have to wait a few days for everything to settle down."

It was if something was nudging at the back of my mind like I had been nudging Nasuada. I tried to ignore it, but it only grew stronger. I felt myself go rigid as I looked at what I was being compelled to say.

"Speak, Ella."

Before, I had thought I felt the oath I took working, giving a little help and a bit of authority to what I wanted to say, what I felt was the right course of action. Now, it was compelling me to say words I abhorred. "The Varden can't risk—" I tried to lock my jaw shut, but the words continued anyways. "Sending anyone that deep into the Empire, not now, not right after we just captured Galbatorix's Rider, nearly exterminated the Ra'zac, which not even the Elves could do before Galbatorix rose to power, and won against his army. At this point, his arrogance will tell him Murtaugh wasn't strong enough and he chose poor generals to lead his army. If we show that we can get to Dras-Leona and rescue one of his prisoners, then it tips our hand and increases the chances that Galbatorix takes an active role in the war." I tried to turn and run, but Nasuada caught my wrist, forcing the rest of the words out while Roran's face paled as he realized what I was about to say, but not understanding why I was saying them. "Rescuing Katrina on an independent mission would result in more net loss than leaving her where she is and hoping she's still alive or hasn't been moved to Urû'baen—" I was crying even though I could finally force the awful words to stop.

Roran's jaw was working as if he wanted to say something but couldn't get the words past his teeth. His fists clenched at his side as I rubbed the tears out of my eyes. "What did you do to her?" Roran demanded of Nasuada.

"She consented to take a powerful oath in the Ancient Language. She knew exactly what she agreed to."

"She's just a little girl! There's no way she could understand what she was getting into! Where was Eragon when you forced her into this?"

Nasuada opened her mouth to respond, but Roran had turned to leave. I felt myself standing and aiming my bow at him. "Roran! Stop!"

He turned to look at me, eyes widening in horror.

"Please, I don't move," I begged him. "I can't knowingly let you go after Katrina, by force if necessary and I'll know if you lie to me. Please, Roran, don't make me shoot you."

"I can't just abandon her, Ella," Roran turned around.

"NO!" I screamed and jerked to the side, knocking the arrow of course just enough to avoid killing Roran.

I took a step forward, screaming my lungs out, but something collided with my back and my head snapped back. I saw the ground rushing up to meet me. Fortunately, I had a hard head and hitting the hard-packed dirt only dazed me. The next second I threw Elva off my back, nearly sending the little girl into the side of the pavilion, and ran for Roran. Angela appeared out of nowhere, catching me around the waist.

"Gánga!" She ordered. I struggled for a moment, but still weakened from the fighting, it was futile. Crying, I fled towards the only person I trusted and was unconnected to the events. Eragon. I grabbed the first horse I came across and dashed away, guiding the creature with my mind and wishing for Folkvír. It was halfway through the night before I started to calm down, and let the poor horse stop. I pushed a substantial amount of strength into the horse and sent him back to the Varden, continuing to run towards the Silverwood forest, the most likely place Eragon would have gone. Angela's spell must have been stronger than she thought because by the time I fully realized where I was, I had nearly run through the soles of my shoes and stood at the edge of the forest. With a deep breath, I plunged inside, still trying to scrub the tears off my face and ignoring the thorny underbrush I strode through.

It didn't take Eragon long to know I was there. He practically materialized in front of me. I ran straight into him, bouncing backwards. He caught my shoulders and knelt down in front of me.

"Ella? What happened? Why are you crying? What's wrong?"

I sobbed and he picked me up. I knew he was thinking the worst but I couldn't regain my composure enough to tell him what happened.

He carried me back to the small camp he made with Murtaugh. "What happened?" Murtaugh asked.

"I don't know," Eragon answered. "She's in hysterics, like when I first met her." He sat down.

"Galbatorix is going to call me back soon and I'll have no choice—"

"You won't be able to leave, trust me."

"I'm not inclined to trust anyone right now."

"No you're not, but you still can't leave."

"How? You can't just—"

"I can. The elves have discovered many things magic can do."

"You're not strong enough—"

"No, I'm not. You recited the oaths you took and I found a way around them and used a bit of magic while you were unconscious so you can't leave this wood until we are finished here."

"She's settled down."

"I think she's asleep, but let's refocus on what we were doing before."

"I'm not telling you my true name."

"I'm not asking you too. Do you remember my explanation on how to go about changing your true name?"

"Stop treating me like an imbecile!" Murtaugh hissed and I heard him shoot to his feet.

"Sit down." Eragon sounded so much like Brom it was scary.

Murtaugh sat.

"You'll only make this harder on yourself and Thorn if you keep fighting me."

"I'm compelled to—"

"No, you're not. If you were compelled to fight me at every turn, you would have lost significantly faster than you actually did."

"Quit—"

"Murtaugh!"

"It's not like you're the eldest—"

"Like it or not, I may be your younger half-brother, but I am the Leader of the Riders by default. I'm not trying to hurt or humiliate you, so please stop—"

"You're a fool."

Eragon didn't answer. I had a feeling they had gone through the same conversation multiple times before.

Murtaugh took a deep breath. "Where's Thorn?"

"Saphira took him out into the desert to work on the same thing we are here."

"Why do we—"

"Your true name changed when you became a Rider. At the same time, Galbatorix forced you into a situation where you had no choice but to meld your identity so closely with Thorn that both of you nearly became a single entity, just to survive and remain sane. Before you protest, yes, most Riders linked their identities with their dragons as closely as you do with Thorn, but not until after they've finished their training, and that is done by choice, under circumstances that don't cripple their minds. No dragon bonds so closely to their Rider until after they have matured and developed their own personality, which Thorn hasn't had the luxury to do."

"How—"

"I can think and reason, Murtaugh. I may not know your true name but I can figure out how closely it is linked with Thorn, just from what you have already told me about your bond. At this point, the two of you act as two halves of a circle." Eragon shifted me onto his shoulder and fidgeted with his hands for a moment. "This is a puzzle ring. There are many different aspects to it, but it comes together to make something whole. A Rider is linked to their dragon, just like the various parts of this puzzle ring, the two come together in just the right way to make a whole. They have similarities, but they still remain independent. Both you and Thorn need your own identity before Saphira will return.

"You're in contact with her?"

"You've never been taught to meditate, have you?"

"No."

"Very well, we'll do that now. Sit down on the ground and close your eyes. Don't give me that look, you don't really have a choice in this. I haven't given you any information Galbatorix can use or doesn't already know so you can trust me or go back to Urû'baen."

I figured trust was the lesser of two evils for Murtaugh. Eragon shifted to sit with him, the small fire in the center.

"Your goal is to relax and open your mind."

Murtaugh spluttered a protest.

"I'm not going to attack you. Close your eyes."

A silence followed.

"Good, now don't focus on any one thing, stop twitching, no one's going to hurt you."

"Easier said than done, you have the security of being faster than anyone who might want to harm you."

"Do you want to go back to Urû'baen?"

"No."

"Then try."

"Why don't you—"

"Listen, if changing your true name was so important to me, I would break into your head and forcibly change your true name myself, but that would make me no better than Galbatorix and despite how enticing everyone warns me that having someone completely under my control is, I find it abhorrent, wrong and uncomfortable. I don't understand why Galbatorix would do such a thing and I don't want to. You can try this, I mean actually try, not argue and distract me every step of the way, you can be out from under Galbatorix's thumb to fight with the Varden or flee across the sea. Or, you can continue this ritual until I have more important duties to attend to and leave you here to be called back to Galbatorix and face his wrath. It makes little difference to me. I know I can't win against Galbaorix, even if everyone's pinning their hope on me, what's one more enemy Rider?"

"I'm sorry."

"No, you're not, now let's start from the beginning."

I started to doze off for real as Eragon restarted from the beginning, his voice low and patient, even as Murtaugh continue to snap back at him. Each repetition brought them a half step further towards their goal.

It took Murtaugh fourteen days to succeed, something Eragon seemed quite impressed with. Every evening, Eragon contacted Arya twice during that time, mostly to assure her everything was going smoothly and to request that she assure Nasuada of the same because he didn't dare attempt to contact her. During that time, I rebuilt my glider, using a few supplies I got while visiting a nearby fishing village and singing the wood I needed out of a young tree to improve the quality of the glider itself. Periodically, I scryed Katrina. She was always somewhere dark, but otherwise seemed unharmed.

After Eragon persuaded Murtaugh to share his old true name to determine if it still had any power, he asked if Murtaugh was ready to be reunited with Thorn. To Eragon's horror, Murtaugh didn't remember Thorn. After a series of questions that irritated Murtaugh, Eragon determined that Murtaugh had eradicated a handful of influential people from his memories, along with most of what he knew about being a Rider. He shared the information about Eldunarí with Eragon, who wisely decided to address the topic with Oromis before acting on it. Eragon and I determined that I had taken Eldunarí from Murtaugh and was thankful that I had hidden them, but Eragon decided he would bring them to Oromis at first opportunity to explain.

Anyone could see that Murtaugh was not the same person he used to be. He knew about Morzan, and the fact that the man was his father, but he had no memories of the man. The same was true for his swordsmanship tutor. Because of that, Murtaugh now only knew the basics of the sword. Many of his memories of Galbatorix had been eradicated, though not all.

I found myself liking Murtaugh. When Saphira returned with Thorn, we learned that the red dragon had erased nearly all of his memories within the first few days and Saphira, much to her annoyance, had spent the remaining time teaching Thorn to fly and communicate. Her usual eloquence was quite diminished as she expressed her annoyance to me and Eragon.

He was a half-grown dragon with Eragon's intelligence, I thought that was bad, and now he's a hatchling with the intelligence of a rock in the body of a full-grown dragon. The foolish creature even erased the experiences of previous dragons. I had to start from scratch! Do you know how frustrating it is to teach a dragon to fly? It should be instinctual!

I thought it was hilarious. Eragon marched off offended. We joined him in contacting Islanzadí after our chuckles faded and Saphira assured me that Murtaugh and Thorn were not going anywhere anytime soon. Before we left, I took note of the fact that Murtaugh seemed incapable of guarding his mind.

When we arrived, we found Eragon getting chewed out by Islanzadí. She didn't even pause to exchanged greetings with me or Saphira. Instead, she included the dragon in her tirade.

"How foolish can you get? He is the son of Morzan and is no doubt bonded to Galbatorix through magic. Saphira, you are the last free female dragon! How could you risk yourself in such a way!"

Saphira started a tirade back at Islanzadí that only Eragon and I could hear, but after a moment, Eragon put a stop to it.

"Alright!" He shouted. "Saphira, she can't hear you, so stop yelling in my head. Queen Islanzadí, I understand that you are upset with my choice of action, but there was no other feasible option."

"You had Murtaugh and his dragon at your mercy, you should have killed them while you had the chance!"

"Kill what could possibly be Saphira's last chance to rebuild the race of dragons? Or should I have crippled them like Oromis and Glaedr so they couldn't harm us and simultaneously turn them into an enemy? The Varden doesn't have the resources to imprison a Rider and dragon, neither do the marching elves, and the dwarves have just lost their king! Should I have turned him over to the Urgals? Unless you can provide a better alternative, what I've done is worth more than anything we could've gotten out of any other option I thought of. Now, please let me explain why I am contacting you, because it is certainly not because I want to hear you scold me and Saphira one of the few times I will fully back one of my decisions and not yield to another's opinion."

Islanzadí nodded tersely.

"Murtaugh and Thorn have succeeded in changing their true names. They are no longer magically bound to Galbatorix."

"How do you know—"

Eragon ploughed over her interruption. "In the process, they eradicated nearly all knowledge and training Galbatorix gave them."

"Good riddance—"

"And now need to be trained as dragon and Rider."

"What are you—"

"Since I am quite busy fighting a war, I would like—"

"Absolutely not! I will not suffer the son of Morzan in Du Weldenvarden."

"He needs—"

"That bastard child will not set foot in the elves' domain as long as I am queen!"

I winced, realizing that the entire conversation had been in the Ancient Language and there would be no going back on her words.

"Why?" Eragon demanded.

"He—"

"You have absolutely no grounds to bar them from Oromis and Glaedr's tutelage! They are not the individuals they were two weeks ago!"

"While you are the leader of the Riders, I know I cannot prevent you from training Murtaugh and his dragon, but you will not, under any circumstances bring that traitor's son into Du Weldenvarden."

"I need to speak with Glaedr. Is there any way at all to contact them without a trip to Du Weldenvarden?"

"Not through magic. Send a messenger."

"I cannot. I believe the topic I have stumbled upon is an extremely well-guarded secret of the Riders."

"I am privy to many of them as queen, there is a chance I may be able to help."

"Oromis and Glaedr told me and Saphira all the Riders' secrets you, the leaders of the dwarves, and those of the Varden were aware of, he even told me of the ones Brom knew about. This one is not one of those."

"And what are the questions you wish to send Glaedr? I will have Bladgen deliver them himself."

Eragon hesitated, glancing at Saphira. "Tell him that we believe we have found the source of Galbatorix's power and if not, it is a resource Saphira and I must look into in order to combat him."

"That is quite a claim, Shadeslayer. I suppose Murtaugh told you about it."

"Will you deliver the message or must I find another way to do so?"

"I will send your message with Bladgen immediately, as I promised. Carry a mirror with you so Oromis and Glaedr may contact you if he so desires to leave the safety of Ellesméra."

"Good day to you, Queen Islanzadí," Eragon responded and quickly ended the connection.

"What crawled into her skivvies this morning?" I asked, lightening Eragon's mood.

"I don't know, but whatever fondness I held for her has withered."

"Luckily she didn't ban you by association."

"Hopefully Glaedr understands the message."

He will, Saphira answered confidently.

"You can't guarantee—"

He will.

We arrived back to where Murtaugh and Thorn were still absorbed in what to them was their first meeting. Murtaugh rubbed the crest of Thorn's eye, mesmerized. Eragon put a hand on Murtaugh's shoulder.

The elder flinched in surprise, but turned his head towards Eragon.

"I have to return to the Varden. You two have to make a choice. You may come with me and be trained while fighting with the Varden. We can use your help, or you may leave and go wherever you wish, except Du Weldenvarden."

"Why not there?"

"'Cause the elf queen is being a royal, narrow-minded, unforgiving bitch," I answered. Eragon slapped the back of my head. "She is!" I protested.

"She's still queen, technically your queen."

"But—"

"Ella."

"You're taking this Rider thing far too seriously."

Eragon rolled his eyes and turned back to Murtaugh. "Your decision?"

"Galbatorix has wronged me and Thorn, I cannot ignore the fact that he would enslave us both again in even worse torment. I know that I cannot hope to find peace and safety as long as he remains Alagaësia's tyrant. I will fight against him, but I will not bind myself to the Varden lest they rise up and become a second tyrant to enslave me and my own."

Wise words, Saphira commented.

I agreed softly.

"Nor will I devote myself to Nasuada as a commander. I am beholden to no one but Thorn."

"Nasuada will not allow you to fight with her unless she has some assurance that you will not flip sides at a critical point in time," I informed him quietly.

Murtaugh's gaze focused on Eragon. Somehow, Eragon and Murtaugh were able to read each other as if they had grown up together.

"Why me?"

"You dislike and avoid everything Galbatorix stands for. You will not betray that, no matter how strong the temptation, you fear the power."

Eragon's gaze turned stony, just like it always did when someone was about to point out his failures.

Murtaugh switched to the Ancient Language, his words not quite confident or entirely grammatically correct, with Thorn's voice simultaneously ringing through our heads, "I offer you, Eragon Shadeslayer and Saphira Brightscales my fealty as the first member of the new order of Riders you will create. I have nothing else but that promise, little skill and even less knowledge, but I ask that you take it."

We accept, Saphira answered. I got the impression that she was having a private argument with Eragon.

"Ella, show Murtaugh how to put his saddle on Thorn and strap himself in before following Saphira and I back to the Varden. Wait outside the encampment until I call for you."

I gaped at him. "You're the Rider, not me! You should be—"

Eragon leapt onto Saphira's back and the two left.

"So how does this saddle go on?" Murtaugh asked.

"How am I supposed to know? Eragon always saddled Saphira before I arrived."

"I guess we'll figure it out."

It took us almost three hours to figure out how to put on and buckle the proper straps. Murtaugh did most of the work, climbing over Thorn to try and buckle the right straps. Finally, we succeeded and began the flew back to the Varden, to land just out of sight of the watchmen.

As soon as we landed, Saphira leapt up from among the tents and flew towards us. She landed and Nasuada slid down. I noticed Eragon was not present. As soon as Nasuada landed, Saphira left. He turned and reached up to help me down. I accepted his assistance and slid down. He caught me easily and set me gently on the ground, standing half in front of me, as if to protect me.

"I am Lady Nasuada, leader of the Varden."

"Murtaugh. My dragon is Thorn."

"Eragon has informed me that you have successfully changed your true name. Is this true?"

"I am told that it is the fact, and that I did so through severe damage to my memories, I cannot honestly confirm it."

"Has Eragon explained to you who you were before?"

"In some detail, but I suspect he left out parts of the story."

"You would be correct."

Murtaugh nodded.

"Very well. From what Eragon has said, you are not up to your previous level of abilities, including but not limited to your swordplay, correct?"

"With all due respect, Lady Nasuada, I remember wielding the sword, I suspect my muscles remember the motion, but I have no memories of learning the weapon."

"Have you pledged yourself to the new order of Riders Eragon is to create?"

"I have pledged myself to Eragon as leader of the new order of Riders."

"Very well, what are your intentions with the Varden."

"I do not wish to name myself as part of the Varden, but I will fight for your cause for Eragon's sake."

"I remember meeting you in Farthen Dûr. You are not the same person."

"I am not."

"Very well. There are currently a number of things I must set to rights before I can accept you safely into our camp. Would you be adverse to remaining here until such time as I have sorted them out?"

Murtaugh nodded and took a seat beside Thorn's claw. Nasuada gestured for me to follow and I obeyed.