Hello everyone! My apologies for the late update, my family and I have been away for the past three days. Thank you so much to last chapters reviews; XscouselondonerX, Galby'sapimp, Restrained Freedom and Vesper's Lullaby. You guys make me smile :) Ok so I had someone ask why the Varden are still in Tronjhiem, because according to the book's timeline they should have migrated to Surda by this point. My answer is simply because keeping it this way was better for the storyline, and it's just easier :) please don't hate me for messing with perfection. Anyway, on with chapter twenty-one :)

(Set on the day that Meralaena and Char arrive at the Varden)

Lying on his bed in Uru'baen, Murtagh sighed and let his body relax. His muscles protested the sudden absence of tension after the constant strain. He stared up at the dark, wood-paneled ceiling and tried very hard not to think. He knew where his thoughts would go if he let them wander, so he didn't. No need to think about Meralaena now. It wouldn't change anything, and anyway she –

No! He growled, realizing that his mind had wandered despite his efforts to focus. Don't think about her.

To distract himself, he thought about the king's plan to conquer Surda. It was a full-scale attack, but Galbatorix was keeping the majority of the troops behind the front lines until the last possible moment. If Surda fell, Galbatorix knew that the Varden would follow.

Murtagh closed his eyes, trying to block the images of a woman with fiery red hair.

I can't stop thinking about her… The offense on Surda was scheduled to begin in four days, with Murtagh and Thorn scheduled to leave to reinforce the troops in two. That meant that he and his dragon would be arriving a single day before the siege began. Murtagh did not relish the thought of taking Surda – but as usual, what he wanted had nothing to do with what Galbatorix told him to do.

He groaned as he thought about it and rolled over, wishing he could fall asleep but knowing that he couldn't.

A knock sounded on the door to the room, and he tensed, standing quickly.

"Who is it?" he growled.

"Ruuka," a girl's voice said. "The King wants to see you, my lord." Murtagh swore silently as he crossed the room and yanked the door open. The maid, Ruuka, jumped back in surprise and then curtsied. "He wishes to speak with you about the attack on Surda," she said. Murtagh said nothing for a moment, then muttered,

"Tell him I'm coming."

Ruuka curtsied again and backed away, shutting the door as she did so. The King didn't usually send for him until it was time to leave; something must have changed. Murtagh pulled on his boots and cloak just in case Galbatorix sent him out somewhere immediately, and then buckled on Zar-rock. Absently he glanced over at the mirror standing on the dresser, and jumped back with a yelp of surprise. Meralaena's fire-red hair and cold gray eyes stared out at him for a split second, before the reflection in the mirror once again became his own. He sank down onto the bed and clenched his hands to stop them shaking. It wasn't the first time that that had happened; every day since he'd seen Meralaena in Furnost her face had haunted him. Whether it was in water or a mirror, or even the surface of the polished wood dresser or Zar-rock's shiny blade, he kept seeing her. No wonder it was so hard to stop thinking about her. Brushing the incident aside, he stood and left the room, trying to avoid looking directly at any shiny surfaces as he made his way to the throne room.

Three minutes later he stopped outside the tall, dark doors. He braced himself and pushed them open. Galbatorix was sitting on his high-backed throne, a frown on his face and his black-bladed sword in his hands.

"My lord," Murtagh said, spitting the honorific between clenched teeth, "you wanted to see me?"

Galbatorix glanced up.

"Yes. I want to initiate the attack on Surda early. My spies have reported that the woman and the dragon have reached the Varden, and I suspect that they will head out again to support king Orrin's troops on the border." Here he paused, and Murtagh waited, desperately hoping that he wouldn't be ordered to fight Meralaena again.

And this time she'll have a dragon, Thorn said. Murtagh nodded but didn't bother explaining that her increase in strength was not the reason he wished to avoid fighting her. Galbatorix spoke again, and Murtagh shuddered at the sound of his voice.

"Fly to Surda and back up the troops," the king ordered. "I am sending you ahead of schedule."

Murtagh groaned inwardly but let nothing show on his face. Wordlessly he nodded and turned to leave.

"Oh and, Murtagh," the king said, "If you see the new rider, I want you to offer her a position with us. If she rejects the opportunity to join us, do your best to kill her and her dragon."

Murtagh felt like the air had been knocked out of him. He wanted to say no, but his lips refused to form the word.

"Yes, my lord," he ground out. Galbatorix, however, wasn't satisfied with that.

"Swear it," he growled. Murtagh whitened; if he swore in the ancient language, he'd be forced to battle Meralaena until one of them died.

"Is that really necessary?" the younger rider asked, hoping to gain time.

A cruel smile flitted across Galbatorix' lips.

"Yes," he responded. "Now swear that you will either convert the rider or kill her."

Murtagh was backed into a corner and he knew it. He clenched his teeth against the words that his bonds were forcing him to speak. He wanted to run, wanted to fight back, wanted to do anything but what was asked of him; but then he found himself speaking the two fateful words in the Ancient Language, his previous bonds forcing the words passed his lips against his will.

"I swear."

Thanks to everybody who read and enjoyed this :) reviews are amazing. Reviews are like fudge-covered chocolate cake, only better. Or lollypops. Or candy apples. Or… well you get the picture.

There once was a man named Choo

Who didn't send a review

So Rose got sad

And then she got mad

Because Choo didn't do as she said.

If you do not review, I will not get mad. But I will be sad. So please review :) thanks so everyone who has reviewed and read up till this point, you guys are awesome!