A/N: I'm so sorry I didn't update this earlier, but I swear I re-wrote this chapter at least a dozen times! I wanted it to be good. Maybe I should've waited for a couple of days, to revise it for the grammar and punctuation stuff, you know, but I can't wait to see your reaction to this chapter :) Anyway, please enjoy and let me know what you think!

"We'll walk from here," Murtagh said when they arrived at the edge of the Ramr River. Thorn and Nacara flew away, although Nacara was reluctant to leave Claris behind. But they all knew it was best if they kept this visit as quiet as possible, and the arrival of the two dragons would hardly go unnoticed. Murtagh's word might be enough for Nasuada to trust Claris, but if people found out that Morzan's son was training Galbatorix's daughter, it would definitely start an uprising in the city. The Black King might have been dead, but the atrocities committed during his reign were still fresh in people's minds.

"Be careful in there, little one," Nacara said. Claris couldn't see her anymore, but the presence of the white dragon was still strong in her head. "And no matter what happens, don't even think of shutting me out of your mind, do you understand? Or I will come to get you out of the city right away, I don't care what Thorn or Murtagh says."

"When did I ever shut you out, Nacara?"

"Just a warning. " It was true, Claris had never hidden anything from her, but Nacara feared finally meeting Nasuada in person might trigger some dark thoughts Claris might not want to share. She already hated and envied the Queen furiously, even though she always denied it. Since Nacara revealed Murtagh and Nasuada's past, she had become too proud when it came to her feelings for Murtagh. She constantly claimed that it was a fleeting and childish infatuation that resulted from gratitude, but Nacara had already seen the hidden truth behind her denial. And she wanted Murtagh to reciprocate those feelings, she truly did, because the relationship between Nacara and Thorn was changing as the young dragoness grew up. If they were going to be mates, that meant Murtagh and Claris would have to spend a lot of time together, even after Claris' training was complete. But Nacara couldn't put her Rider into an emotional torment just to mate with Thorn.

"Emotional torment? I think you're exaggerating a bit," she mentally chuckled. "What I thought was just a naive fantasy. We're too much alike to be a couple."

"Isn't that supposed to be a good thing?"

"No. Think about Eragon and Arya. You know how different they are. They bring balance to each other's life. Murtagh and I, on the other hand? Yes, we're both outsiders, outcasts. And we come from a dark background. That's the problem, we would probably drown ourselves in each other's darkness. Not to mention we're both too reserved. My mind, my privacy, and my freedom are too precious for me to trade with any comfort a lover could offer, I'm sure it's the same for him. What kind of relationship would it be if we aren't going to share anything?"

"You share your privacy with me. Murtagh shares his with Thorn. You can change for each other."

"That's different. Once you become a Rider, you have no choice. I'm not changing who I am for a man, though."

"So? Are you going to live your entire life as a hermit?"

"Why not?"

Sometimes Claris could be more stubborn than a dragon.

...

They had arrived at the city gates. There were two guards waiting outside. "Halt!" one of them said. "Identify yourselves and state your business in the city!"

"I'm Murtagh Morzansson, and this is my apprentice," Murtagh spoke, avoiding to reveal the name of his apprentice. "We're here to bury Master Ari of House Helcrest."

"Wait here," the guard told them and went into the city in a hurry, as if he had been instructed to report if he saw Murtagh. Was the Queen expecting them? No one knew about their plans to bring Ari's remains here, not even Eragon or Arya. Claris looked at Murtagh, who was thinking about the same thing.

"Eragon must have informed Nasuada that you're now under my responsibility."

"Right, but she couldn't possibly think we were going to pay her a visit, could she?"

Murtagh shrugged. So, she expected to see Murtagh, and Murtagh knew that all along? Maybe he didn't care about Ari or Claris at all. Maybe he was using her as an excuse to see Nasuada. Even worse, maybe he wasn't even as innocent as Claris thought… He might be using her to make Nasuada jealous… Suddenly, she felt so stupid for falling for this trap. She should never have come here.

"Or, perhaps you're overthinking…"

"People are not as honorable as you think, Nacara. Not even Riders. Everything makes sense now."

"I still disagree."

"Well, you'll see…"

A quarter hour later, the guard returned. "The Queen is expecting you. Master Ari's funeral will be held tomorrow evening. Until then, you'll be her guests."

"See, just a few months ago, she wanted me to be turned in as a criminal. Now suddenly, she has decided to become a generous host…"

Nacara didn't say anything. Claris was right, this was a bit suspicious. But Claris forgot all her suspicions about Nasuada and Murtagh the moment she entered the city. She had been mesmerized by her surroundings. She had never seen so many people and so many buildings before. Jezebel used to tell her stories, but to see it for herself…

She looked at Murtagh, who was also amazed at the magnificence before him. Hadn't he lived here for many years? Why did he look like he had never seen this place before?

"Maybe it has changed since he left?"

Right. "Is it different than you remember?" she asked.

"It surely is," Murtagh whispered in amazement. "Ilirea has thrived during Nasuada's reign."

Of course, he had to bring Nasuada into this. But she didn't regret coming here anymore. What she saw was worth it. "Are all the cities in Alagaësia like this?"

Murtagh raised her eyebrows, forgetting that this was the first city Claris had ever been.

"I've never been in a city before. Not many people live in the North to build one."

"Oh, right. Ilirea has always been the jewel of the Empire, even when it was Urû'baen. But now the influence of the dark magic is gone, it feels so different. I never thought I could feel at peace here."

"But you do now?"

"You don't?" he asked, surprised. "I thought you, too, would sense the magical influence here, probably a spell that has been cast to ease people's misery. I wonder how Nasuada allowed it, though…"

"Apparently we've been fascinated by the different aspects of the city."

"I'll give you a tour before we leave. And there are other cities we can visit."

Why was he doing that? She hadn't ask him to vouch for her, she hadn't asked him to bring Ari's remains back to his homeland, she hadn't asked him to show her around... She didn't want to owe him anything. Why couldn't he just run back to his lover's arms and leave her alone? Nacara was right, this was just an emotional torment for her. She expected her to say "I told you so," but Nacara remained silent. Too lost in her frustration, Claris didn't even notice the elegance of Castle Ilirea.

Murtagh led her to the throne room. The palace hadn't changed much, except nothing looked dark and dreadful like it used to be. The throne room was still where he remembered.

Before the guards let them in, Claris heard two woman arguing.

"You promised me!" one of them cried.

"You know what's at stake here, Ismira. You must understand." the other, probably Nasuada, spoke with a gentle, patient and thoughtful voice.

"No, I don't. I never will."

When the doors opened, both women stopped to look at the Riders. And Claris immediately recognized the Queen. It was impossible to mistake her for a commoner. The moment she saw Nasuada, she understood why Murtagh had fallen for her. She wasn't the old, calculating, frigid woman Claris had hoped her to be. Yes, she looked much older than Murtagh, but she was still gorgeous, and she carried herself with pride and wisdom. A true queen Claris could never replace. As expected, Murtagh and Nasuada's eyes locked on each other for a moment. There was no way to know what they were thinking. Or perhaps this moment was just too intense for them to think anything at all. What she wouldn't do to see what was going on in their minds now! But she knew better than invading Murtagh's mind, and Nasuada had probably been trained to protect hers from unwanted guests as well.

The young woman, Ismira, snapped her out of her thoughts, spitting on her face. She was watching her with a piercing, hateful gaze. Claris froze with confusion. All her instincts were screaming her to respond to this insult with violence, make this insolent stranger regret it, but that wasn't an option, not here. Who was she, anyway? Why did she hate her so much? She looked like a warrior. She wore a fine armor and carried an elegant sword.

"Commander Ismira!" Nasuada scolded her. "That's enough! Everyone, leave us alone, now." The guards, a man who looked like the Queen's advisor, and this young woman, Ismira all left the room. But Claris could still feel Ismira's gaze on her.

"I apologize for Ismira's behavior," Nasuada said once they were alone, as Claris wiped her face with the back of her hand. "She still thinks you're responsible for her father's death."

"Her father?"

"Roran," Murtagh sighed.

Nasuada turned to him with a bright smile on her face and gave him a warm hug. "Murtagh… It's been so long. Welcome to Ilirea." Claris wondered how Nasuada would welcome him if she weren't here with them. She knew Nasuada was married, but still… Fidelity was a rare occurance in political marriages. Almost all kings had mistresses and queens secret lovers. The questions was, would Murtagh accept to fall that low for this woman?

But none of these questions mattered now. There were more important things they had to discuss.

"I assume you disagree with Ismira?" Claris asked.

"Eragon told me everything about you, your sister and Ari. He was a great man who deserves a proper funeral. I'm glad you decided to bring his remains here."

"So, you were expecting us to come?"

"No, I was only hoping you would come. And I was also hoping to speak with you in person. If both Eragon and Murtagh are vouching for you, then I'm willing to give you a chance to prove yourself. But first, I need to speak to you alone, Murtagh, my old friend."

Of course you do, Claris thought with jealousy. "What about the King?" she asked suddenly, to make the two a bit uncomfortable. "Does he agree with you? And your children? Do they know who I am?"

"I don't keep any secrets from my family, Claris," she said, with a hint of insinuation in her voice. "Of course my children know the truth. And they trust my judgement. As for Orrin… He's too preoccupied with… other matters."

"I see. Here are Ari's remains. Where should I put them?"

Nasuada took the box in which Ari's bones were kept."I'll make the arrangements myself. Like I said, he was a great man. Hilde!" she called one of her hand-maidens. "Please show Claris to her chambers. She must be really tired."

"Thank you for your hospitality, Queen Nasuada," Claris forced herself to say, but didn't bow before her. She would refuse to become one of her subjects. Her authority didn't mean anything to her. She hated her even more now, she was one of the reasons everything had been taken away from her and Jezebel. She had been born here, probably in a cold, dark dungeon cell. The child no one wanted. The child no one loved. All her life, she had lived in exile as an orphan, while she could be the princess of this beautiful city. No one would dare spit on her face, no one would dare insult her like that… Why couldn't Galbatorix just have been a good man? He, her mother, Jezebel… They could live here happily as a family. Jezebel wouldn't have succumbed to madness. Ari would be alive. Murtagh could still be her father's champion, a good friend of the royal family, and maybe he would love her instead of Nasuada. She could have everything she wanted. Nasuada would be nothing but another insignificant name in the history. For the first time in her life, she understood why her sister wanted revenge so badly. A part of her wanted it, too. But she also knew none of it was Nasuada's fault. She just had been born to the right father.

After the servant led her to the guest chambers, Claris immediately dismissed her. There was a bottle of wine on the desk. She wasn't a heavy drinker, but now that bottle seemed like the only thing that could help her.

"Bad idea, little one," Nacara warned her. "You should stay alert. Nasuada didn't seem like a threat to me, but you probably have more enemies than you think."

"I don't care."

"What would Ari say if he could see you now?"

Claris didn't reply. Nacara's thoughts were just a background noise in her head. She finished up the bottle in less than half an hour, and she was feeling sick. She wanted to throw up, but she couldn't, and the room was spinning around her. She decided to nap for a few hours. No one could see her like this.

…

She woke up with something cold and sharp pressed against her neck. Someone in a black cloak was standing above her, pinning her down to the bed with one hand and holding a dagger with another. It was Ismira, Roran's daughter. She was looking at her with the same hateful gaze when they met in the morning. Claris was paralyzed with drunkenness and exhaustion. It happened so fast. She couldn't even react. Ismira didn't hesitate before slitting her throat. Then she left the guest chambers as quickly as she had come.

That night, the people of Ilirea woke up from their sleep with the terrible roar of a dragon in the distance.

A/N: Okay, this could be a bit of spoiler for the next chapter, but in case you think this ending is just cruel, here it goes: She's not dead, guys! I have an explanation, trust me :D