"I can't remember," Leah said sadly, leaning her cheek against his chest.

"Let me help you," he said.

Leah looked up. Her breath caught in her throat. Suddenly, he was ripped away from her. Two dark human figures dressed in black robes dragged him away. One of them drew a blade from its robe. Leah couldn't do anything. She sank to her knees and cried.

"Eragon!"

Leah was still crying as she woke up. Eragon was shaking her shoulders. Leah sat up and gasped for air. She held her head in her hands and cried.

"It's okay, I'm here," Eragon said, holding her tightly.

It was him, all this time, but she never realized. There were so many hints, but she always ignored them.

"I believe Eragon fancies you," Wyvern had told her.

"Sounds like love to me," Murtagh had joked.

"Too bad Eragon never had the chance to say good-bye," said the Shade, Ogmarth.

"You really care about him…because you love him."

The way Eragon had always scryed into her mind rather than asking her what was on her mind…their "almost" moment just before Wyvern hatched…Eragon's bouts of anger and frustration when Murtagh was around… "I'm glad you kissed me."

Leah threw her arms around Eragon's neck and kissed him. She wanted to feel loved. That's why she kissed him last night. She wanted love, and her unconscious led her to Eragon. Sweet memories of Eragon came flooding back. He had always been there to comfort her. He was always there…

Then Leah abruptly pulled away from the kiss.

"Leah-"

"We shouldn't," Leah mumbled, scrambling for an excuse. "We're not safe yet. We need to stay alert."

"It didn't stop you last night," Eragon chuckled.

Leah was amazed at how he could say something like that and still seem perfectly innocent. She blushed, feeling pathetic. Eragon stroked her cheek and then kissed her.

"We should get going," Eragon said. "If we fly all day and all night, we might reach the Varden by tomorrow morning."

Suddenly, a dark blur passed through the trees. Eragon leaped up immediately and snatched Zar'roc from the ground. Leah scrambled to her feet and grabbed Eragon's bow and quiver of arrows.

"Leah, get away and stay out of this," Eragon warned.

"I'm not going anywhere."

"Don't be stupid."

"One part brave, three parts fool," Leah said. "Am I right?" She strung two arrows into the bow and waited for her targets to come into sight. Suddenly, a black blur appeared out of the dense wood and launched at Leah and Eragon. Leah fired both arrows into the assassin. Eragon spun around to meet the other assailant with his sword. The red blade glinted in the light as Eragon swung it and jabbed it into where the Ra'zac's heart should be. Leah lowered the bow.

"Is that it?"

Eragon stayed vigilant. "Can't be. That can't be the real Ra'zac. It was an illusion. It's a diversion."

"Smart boy."

Eragon spun around. Perched on a high rock was the Shade, Ogmarth. He smirked down on the two Dragon Riders. Leah raised her bow strung with another arrow. She was so sick of this bastard following her around. Eragon laid his hand on her arm.

"Not yet. Wait."

"Why?"

"Just be patient."

Leah nocked another arrow and waited. Urgals began appearing all around them.

"Damnit," Eragon cursed. "I knew it was a trap. There's no way we can fight them all off."

"We'll have to use magic," Leah said.

"Forget it. We'll waste too much energy. Magic is only used as a last resort. We'll have to find another way out."

"With an entire band of Urgals and a Shade? Yeah, there's a way out," Leah mumbled sarcastically.

"We still have Saphira and Wyvern."

"Oh yeah. I forgot about them."

The two Riders quickly mounted their dragons and took to the sky. Saphira breathed blazing flames on the Urgals below. Leah struck with an arrow any Urgal that escaped the deadly blaze. Ogmarth cried out in frustration, caught up in the smoke and chaos.

"Wyvern, get Leah out of here now!" Eragon ordered. "Get as far away as you can! I'll catch up with you later!"

Leah began to protest, but Wyvern sped away from the fight before she could say anything.

"Wyvern! Turn around!"

"Eragon can handle this," Wyvern argued. "You're the easy target. They want you. You must get to the Varden alive."

"What about Eragon?"

"He'll be fine. He has a plan worked out."

"What is it?"

"I don't know, but I assure you that he's alright."

Leah felt uneasy, but she didn't press Wyvern anymore since he didn't know anything else. Wyvern flew up to the peaks of the Beor Mountains and soared over the mountaintops. After flying for what seemed like a long time, Wyvern landed by a small stream. Leah slid off Wyvern's back and took a drink from the cool, clear stream. Then she began to wonder about scrying. She could scry for Eragon to make sure that he was alright. But then she remembered that Eragon had told her that scrying took a lot of energy. In case the Urgals got past Eragon and found Leah, she would have to fight them off. In other words, she had to save her energy in case something went wrong. Leah shook her head. She didn't want to think of what might happen if something went wrong. She didn't want to think of the possibility of Eragon being hurt. A few hours later, Leah began to really worry. Where was Eragon? Why hadn't he come back yet? Was he alright? Had he been hurt? Suddenly, the loud but relieving sound of Saphira's wings reached Leah's ears. Saphira landed gracefully as she always did, and Eragon jumped off her back.

"Eragon, are you okay?" Leah asked, hurrying toward him.

"Yeah. I'm fine. I need to take a break for a little bit before we start flying again." Eragon sat down on the grass and rubbed his face stressfully. When he looked up, there was a look of despair in his eyes. Something had gone wrong. Leah debated with herself whether or not to ask him.

"They've taken Murtagh," Eragon muttered sadly.

"What?!"

"He never left. He's been following and watching us. I didn't know until just now when he showed up."

"What happened?" Leah asked.

"Ogmarth and the Urgals had me cornered. Murtagh came out of nowhere and offered himself as a prisoner in exchange for me. They're taking him to Gil'ead."

"We should go after him."

"I don't know. I want to, but I know he wouldn't want me to. We'll go to the Varden and see what they think. If the agree, they may be able to help us save him."

Leah pressed her hand to her forehead. Murtagh had this all planned out. Did he plan to escape once he was captured? If so, would he be able to escape Galbatorix? Would he be forced to fight for the Empire?

"I tried to stop him," Eragon began, "but he was willing to make the sacrifice. He said it was the only way to distract the Empire's attention long enough to get you to the Varden safely."

"This is my fault," Leah said as she came to the sad realization.

"No, there was nothing you could do."

"But-"

Eragon stood up and took Leah into his arms, shushing her. "None of this was your fault. If anyone, I should be the one to blame. I brought you here."

"But I wanted to be here." Now Leah knew why she had wanted to come to Alagaësia.

"Why, Leah? Why did you want to be here?"

"I wanted to be with you," Leah said softly.