Sorry for not updating in forever! Here's the next chapter, I hope you like it. Enjoy! I think it's gonna take a while for me to update again, because I'm going to London for a while in a couple of days. But I'll try my best to update some more today or tomorrow! X

Chapter 9 – Slow dying flower

In the kitchen Aiden walked towards Meghan. His face was serious. Meghan was not in the mood to talk to someone after the conversation with Murtagh, but Aiden was.

"Hey." he tried to speak as nonchalant as he could while cleaning the dishes. Meghan nodded her head.

"So, how's the whole personal servant thing going?" his voice sounded irritated.

"Fine."

"You and that Murtagh are pretty close right?"
Meghan felt a mean comment coming but remained calm.

"He's all right. He's a decent man." She concentrated on drying a cup.

"I saw you this afternoon Meghan." He sighed "What are you doing?"

"It's nothing Aiden!"

"He kissed you! If the king finds out about this!" he hissed "You deserve so much more than Morzan's son!"

"He's not who you think he is!"

"So it's true?!"

"I told you it's nothing!" she hissed angrily.

"I won't tell anyone Meg, but you're just asking for trouble. Do you really think he cares about you? You're only amusement to him!"

Meghan threw the cup in the sink. "I'll do the serving tonight, at least that way I don't have to come near to you. Enjoy yourself." He yelled something when she walked away but she didn't react. In front of a mirror she fixed her hair. She looked into her own dark brown eyes and sighed. What was she doing? She cradled her head in her hands for a while when she felt someone's hands on her shoulders. It was Murtagh, he kissed her neck and she panicky looked around if anyone saw. He didn't seem to bother the fact that the king would kill them could-blooded if he found out.

"Are you okay?" he asked when he saw her face. She nodded quickly.

"I have to dine now, but will I see you tonight? I want to talk to you, this afternoon you left so quickly."

"Maybe." She said stiffly.

Everything went as it should during dinner. The king was in a heavy discussion with one of his guests. When Meghan heard it was about the Varden, she paid more attention.

"They're nothing without Ajihad sire!" Meghan didn't understand what he was talking about.

"Since Ajihad's death his daughter took the lead of the Varden. The rumors has it that she's cooperating with another strong leader. So don't tell me it will be easy to bring the Varden to their downfall, Osdir." At the words 'Ajihad's death' Meghan let the plate in her hands fall down. She startled at the sound of breaking porcelain and immediately reached down to pick up the splinters. Her hands trembled by the shock that her leader had died. In her haste to clean up she cut herself, the palm of her hand was bleeding and she grabbed her apron to stop it from bleeding. Galbatorix stood up so fast his chair fell down.

"You." He said coolly and so loud that it could fill the entire palace. Meghan looked up, scared. Murtagh looked at Galbatorix' reaction with narrowed eyes. The man named Osdir looked amused.

"You can scrub the floors of the dining hall tonight, alone."Galbatorix didn't like clumsiness, en she knew he would try to keep the floors clean during diner. With all that was left of the plate in her hands she left the hall, as soon as she entered the hallway she started to run. In the kitchen she threw the splinters into a bun and fell down on the floor in despair.Without even knowing, panic took control over her. Her eyes didn't know where to look, her breath was not longer under control. She felt an itching pain at the space behind her heart, something she felt to much the past few weeks, after that the tears came. Itching pain and tears. After that anger, and all that was left was pain. She looked at her hand, she didn't feel the pain but her apron was covered in blood. Clumsy she tried to put a piece of cloth around it. She waited in the kitchen until diner was over and begun to scrub the floors afterwards. The soap stung the wound in her hand, her back ached and her knees started to bruise. But none of it mattered. She was tired of it all. She rubbed her hand over her forehead and ran her hand through her hair. It hung loose so she could hide her face behind it. This way she felt more safe, hidden. She had took off her shoes an hour ago en threw them all the way to the other side of the hall. They lay in front of the door, one of the laces was stuck because she was too impatient to loosen them. The huge windows in the dining hall let the moonlight from outside trough and the floor bathed in light. Along with the candles there was just enough light to see that the floor was filthy. She had almost finished and thought it would be past midnight at this point.

Blisters slowly formed on her hands. Angry she threw the brush away again a small door. She was furious when she came to the conclusion that she would have to get up and get it. Her jaws clutched together and she yelled angry, impatient, hopeless and vicious.

"I'll get it." She looked behind her, leaning against the wall next to the doors was Murtagh, her shoes in his hands.

"And why are these here?" he asked her while he started to walk towards the brush.

"Because I like to walk barefooted." She said pissed "And I have the tendency to throw things when I get angry." He bowed down to get the brush and walked towards Meghan to hand it over to her. She sat on the ground and crossed her arms in front of her chest, she looked like an angry little child. He squatted in front of her and rested an arm over his knee.

"I'm sorry about Ajihad Meg. I did not know he died. I knew he was in danger but.." he looked away. "I thought I could help him but the Twins took me and I wasn't strong enough to fight them and save him. I though he had survived but.."

"He didn't." Meghan said vicious while she threw the brush in the soapy water which made the water splash over Murtagh.

"I must go back Murtagh." She said calmly. "They're my people, my home. I must do anything within my power to help them and they need me now." Murtagh nodded understanding.

"But don't go yet, go when there's no other way. You don't understand how dangerous is it to try and escape this place Meghan. Please don't go yet." His voice sounded as if he was begging her. The choice was hard but she decided to listen to Murtagh's advice. It was better not to rush into these kind of things.

"Stop." He took the brush out of her hands when she wanted to continue her work. "He won't notice it I promise. You did great." He continued when she opened her mouth to protest.

"You're exhausted. I'm so sorry you have to go through all of this."

"I'm more sorry for those with a fate much worse." Said Meghan, he understood what she meant. He helped her up and looked down at her small face, more than perfect in his eyes. He caressed her cheek and took her head in his hands.

"Are you okay my love?" he whispered softly. Meghan nodded her head a little, intoxicated by all that was Murtagh. He kissed her soft and after their foreheads rested against each other for a while.

"You can sleep in my bed tonight, a real bed. I'll take the chair, it was quite comfortable." He smiled. Meghan didn't even hesitate any longer.