Makenna started in surprise.
"Hello?" she called, and her voice echoed through the hall. Murtagh felt his heart jump as he assured himself he was not dreaming, but he stayed in the shadows.
"You- -You were dead," trying to hide his emotion and keep his voice steady.
"Murtagh?" Makenna uttered in disbelief, after a long pause. She strided forward into the drakness, and let the candle she was holding drop with a small clink as the holder hit the stone floor; everything went dark.
"…yes."
She ran eagerly forward then hesitated.
"Do you fear me now?" he asked, laughing a little at her sudden hesitation.
"Did you…escape Galbatorix?" she asked tentatively.
"No," he answered flatly, but the went on with a smoothness like he was remarking on the weather. "I work for the King now."
"So you've turned into your father…"
"DON'T! Say those words to me ever again," Murtagh said venomously, and his voice had a violent edge to it. "I've had to listen to this speech about my weakness once, I won't hear it again! And what? Were you just toying with me?! Just…pretending to die and putting me through all of that just to figure out secret ways into the castle or something like that?! Was I just a pawn in you and the Varden's plans?! Did you even ever care about me at all?!" he was fuming, but paused in his rant for a breath. Makenna quickly cut in.
"Someone did die in that dungeon that day, but, it wasn't me. It was necessary that I appeared dead. I didn't want to hurt you…" and either by the shock of his reappearance or the suddenness of his anger, she began to sob and sank to the floor.
Murtagh felt his own anger leave him as he beheld her weeping on the ground before him. He walked over to her, knelt down, and lifted her easily. He felt the, now familiar, urges of temptation rush through him. He carried her to her room, he knew it by the door that stood slightly ajar. He laid her on the bed, which he could just make out from the moonlight trickling in through the window, and had to hold himself back from the impulse of laying down beside her. He knew he had to turn around, and not look back, or else he could not leave. All the same, as he made his way back to the door, he paused at the doorframe, his hand lay heavily on the post.
"M-murtagh?" Makenna said quietly.
He couldn't help but turn around. She had risen up to her elbows, her blonde hair pulled in front of her shoulders and she stared at him with wide eyes. He felt a surge through his body as their eyes locked.
"You're…leaving?" she said, keeping her breath steady and tears held back. He nodded, dropping his gaze. "Don't." He looked back up.
"You…want me to stay?" he asked, she nodded.
"Yes," He came to her side, and sat next to her. She stared into his eyes, and put her hand on his, their fingers intertwined. "Don't leave," she said, looking down at her hand. He lifted it to his lips and kissed it.
"I will never leave you,"