Disclaimer: I only own the plot and the new characters.

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Important note: First of all, I want to apologize for taking so long to update this story. I know it has been months, and most of you probably thought I had given up on it, but the truth is that I went through a major writer's block. I don't know why, but I got stuck in this chapter and I wrote and rewrote it so many times, but somehow was never satisfied. Only very recently I found my inspiration again and decided to give it another try, and this is the result. If there is someone out there who still wants to give this a shot, thank you very much for waiting and thanks to those who kept reviewing me with supportive words. Hope my efforts were worth it!

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Chapter 24 – Never Surrender

The sun was finally setting outside and if Murtagh bothered to look through the window, he would see a beautiful sky streaked with orange and pink. Only Murtagh couldn't be bothered. He was fatigued by the recent events, so he paid little attention to what was occurring about him.

The enormity of the situation he was now facing weighed on his mind; it made it almost impossible to eat, sleep or concentrate properly. It took him a while to make a decision, but once he did, Murtagh knew it was the best course of action. That fact brought the young man no comfort or peace of mind.

Kaila would be arriving soon and even though it was clear on Murtagh's mind what he had to say, he did not know how to voice it without hurting her deeply. Moreover, what he had to tell Kaila would alter her life dramatically, change it beyond the point where she could go back. This realization made Murtagh feel a despair so great it threatened to engulf him.

He closed his eyes and rubbed at them a moment, sighing aloud. His dark head rested against the cold stone wall and his legs stretched along the window-sill. He considered his options once again, hoping to find a last minute solution that might have escaped him before.

'You know what you have to do.'

Murtagh's eyes sprang open. For a long time he could only sit, staring blindly at the floor, as a cold sickness visited the pit of his stomach. 'I know, Thorn, I know.'

'I know you wish there was some other way, but it is better to have a broken heart than the life of a prisoner. You would not want that fate for Kaila, would you, Murtagh?'

'Of course not, but…' Striking his palm with his fist, Murtagh voiced a low, harsh curse. 'I cannot help but fear for her. There is no guarantee that she will be safer out there… at least, here I would be able to keep an eye out on- who am I fooling? She would be in greater danger here…'

Thorn nodded his agreement, looking up into his Rider's bedroom window. He could see him through the partially stained glass; bowed head, slumped shoulders: a perfect image of the utmost defeat.

'You know what really kills me on the inside?' Murtagh said in a bitter tone. The dragon could see the answer forming on Murtagh's mind. 'To know that if she doesn't leave, I could become the one person she would most fear and hate…'

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Kaila climbed the stairs reluctantly. Her mind was willing her forward but her legs seemed to think differently. She was not one to believe in superstitions or premonitions, but a sick feeling had been steadily growing in the pit of her stomach. It was as if every fibre of her being was telling her to turn the other way without looking back.

"Nonsense", Kaila heard herself whispering in an irritated tone. Murtagh simply wished to talk to her; there was nothing to worry about. Still, his voice had been serious and urgent… She sucked in a chest full of air, to calm herself down. Giving in to that irrational concern would be useless and foolish.

Her steps echoed in the empty hallways which led to Murtagh's quarters; that sound was unnerving and it did not help her to quiet down. "Finally", she hissed, relieved, rounding a corner and spotting the familiar black door. Her legs were finally obeying her and she quickened her steps.

A creak indicated the door was being open, fact which did not surprise Kaila remotely. She had grown accustomed to Murtagh's unnatural abilities. Shrugging away her concerns and resolved to meet his eyes with a smile, she looked up and froze.

Murtagh's face was set in a mask of grim determination that sent shivers down Kaila's spine. Maybe she should start believing in premonitions… He looked long at her, and there was pain and – something else she couldn't identify – in his eyes.

With an almost resigned note, Kaila asked, "That serious?" The young man nodded, stepping aside to allow her entrance. She walked forward apprehensively and looked up into his anguished face but he did not say a word.

He did not feel ready to speak just yet; he felt like he could crack any moment now.

Kaila stared enquiringly at him as he closed the door mechanically. She sat at the edge of the cluttered desk, careful not to knock anything aside, and waited. Murtagh gave a few hesitant steps towards the girl but then seemed to change his mind and went to sit on the unmade bed instead.

Kaila's expression of concern deepened. As a rule, he would already be pulling her into his arms and kissing her as if there was no tomorrow. However, there he sat with a bowed head, a curtain of dark hair shielding his face from her. She wondered where all his determination had gone to.

Murtagh knew he was only stalling. He could feel her growing restless – and fearful. She had seen him troubled and sombre before, but never on this level. Thorn was right there with him on his mind, murmuring words of encouragement, but he too was concerned. There was no knowing how Kaila would react.

Blowing smoke through his nostrils, Thorn finally declared: 'This is bordering on the absurd, Murtagh! Don't just stand there in silence! Can you not see you are making it worse? The poor girl is about to have a nervous fit just by looking at you! Just go straight to the point-'

'I WILL!'

Thorn shrank away from the violence in his voice. His Rider was masking his emotions well, but Thorn could still feel them there, powerful and deep. The bond they shared was too profound; something always surfaced.

'Forgive me, my friend', the dragon muttered, overwhelmed by the emotions flowing from his Rider. 'I did not see… I did not realize how hard this would be for you.'

Murtagh stared at Kaila, who returned the stare with a puzzled frown. The young man closed his eyes before replying to Thorn: 'I am just tired of pushing people away…'

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Back and forth they moved, exchanging blows and parries, each looking for an opening to finish the contest. They were both fast and equally skilled in handling the sword, so there was no telling who would be the winner.

The Sword Master observed the contestants, beaming with pride. Those were his two best and most dedicated students, and they couldn't be more different from one another. Nonetheless, they shared a strong trait: competitiveness. Even as they struggled to deliver the final blow they exchanged witty remarks and challenges. "I wish you two would stop bickering! Focus on the fight!"

A young boy, apparently around 9 years old, turned his head a fraction – yet without averting his blue eyes from his opponent – and replied enthusiastically: "Oh, we are focused enough, Tornac! Aren't we, Katherine?"

The little boy's adversary only nodded, a dangerous half-smile on her face. Her long, dark hair was matted with sweat and her cheeks were red with the effort, but nothing else indicated how tired she was beginning to feel. In comparison, the boy looked quite fresh.

Tornac chuckled softly at his protégés' antics, but then seemed to remember that the match should have ended ages ago. "Stop talking and finish this, kids! I do not wish to have your tutor lecturing me again about the importance of a proper education and so on, so forth!"

Almost as if he had been waiting for the Sword Master's command, Murtagh unleashed a last, decisive blow and Katherine landed square on the gravel. "You alright?" he asked.

Gesturing to be helped to her feet, she took the outstretched hand of Murtagh and pulled him down. Caught off guard, the boy also landed on his bottom. "I am now", Katherine replied, a smug smile playing on her lips.

"Well, I suppose that is the only way you could defeat me… cheating", the boy commented, sticking his tongue out.

"Cheating?" Katherine said, punching him in the stomach with not inconsiderable effect. She got up and wiped her scratched hands in the front of her loose grey tunic. "Smug little brat", she snarled, crossing her arms against her chest.

"Always so impertinent…" Tornac commented, resting both his hands on his students' shoulders, but squeezing Murtagh's to indicate he was talking about him. "Katherine…"

"Katherine?"

As if waking from a trance, Katherine's head jerked up and her eyes met Morcant's inquiring stare. "Oh…" she mumbled.

"I am sorry for interrupting your thoughts", Morcant said, still eyeing her questioningly, "but I need to stretch my legs for a little bit, and I'm afraid I can't get up from this bed on my own. Old age and numbness", he concluded, smiling apologetically.

"No, that's alright", Katherine replied at last, getting up from her chair and putting aside the book she had been reading. The memory had confounded her, not only because it had come to her completely out of the blue, but also because she did not like to reminisce of her past. There had been good moments, like the scene she had just recalled, but others… other moments were best not to be remembered.

"Thank you", the old man said, smiling appreciatively as the younger woman helped him to his feet. He took her arm in a fatherly way and they walked across the room in silence, but Morcant could no longer control his curiosity: "Say, Katherine… did you ever live in Urû'Baen?"

Her step faltered momentarily but her voice showed no emotion when she replied: "Yes."

"Inside the castle?"

"All right now", she hissed, withdrawing her arm and staring angrily at him. "Why do you want to know?"

"Please, don't be mad, child; I did not mean to trouble you. Your face looks familiar, that is all…"

Katherine regretted her outburst but it was too late now. "Yes, I did live in the castle. But I left it when I was young, about 8 years ago." He did not need to know how or why.

"I see… I started working there around that time. Perhaps I saw you before you left."

"It is possible", Katherine mumbled. "Do you need my help to walk?"

Morcant smiled ruefully; it seemed that no matter what he asked, she always ended up changing the subject. "If you could hand me my walking stick, I think I'll be fine."

She did so without saying a word, but her mind was working furiously. She had been alone for a while now, so trusting someone and opening up to them didn't come easily. Morcant seemed like a good person, but she was not ready to talk about her past. Perhaps she never would be…

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For a moment it seemed time held its breath. Kaila stood frozen for a long moment, trying to process what she had just heard – or what she thought she had.

Murtagh observed her, flexing his fingers nervously – that was the only outward sign of the turmoil inside his head. Her brow was creased in concentration, but her eyes were perplexed; it looked as if she did not believe what he had just told her. He opened his mouth to repeat his words when Kaila spoke up.

"Leave Urû'Baen? You want me to leave the castle and the city?" She was eyeing him as if he had lost his mind. "What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I told you", Murtagh replied, resting the palms of his hands against his knees, to stop them from clenching and unclenching. Was that his own voice, so calm and collected?

'How about filling in with some details?' Thorn growled, astounded by his rider's lack of tact.

'I was getting there, Thorn; if you would just give me some time…' He wanted to choose his words carefully before he voiced them, for he had promised Morcant he would not reveal his secret to Kaila.

'The more you think about it, the harder it will be. Keep it simple', the dragon suggested, ignoring his rider's request. Grudgingly, Murtagh admitted he was right.

"Would you mind telling me why I must leave?" Kaila inquired, crossing her arms defiantly.

"I was getting there." Oh great, now he was repeating himself. "Just sit down, please", he added, for Kaila was now standing halfway between the desk and the bed. Instead of walking back to the desk she came to his side and sat on the mattress. Murtagh half-turned; he wanted to be able to face her as they spoke.

Kaila looked expectantly back at him, taking in his rigid posture and the agitation behind his blue eyes.

"When I rescued your grandfather, he warned me there would come a time when it wouldn't be safe for you to stay here." Kaila raised an eyebrow and opened her mouth to interrupt, but he hurried on. "I can imagine the many questions running through your mind now, but let me finish before you ask them." She nodded reluctantly.

The Rider sighed before continuing: "I thought he was wrong, to be honest. I thought that if I kept a close eye on you, I would be able to protect you." He laughed bitterly. "I was foolish. Morcant was right."

"I know you asked me to let you finish, but please, hear me out", Kaila said, raising her hands in a pleading gesture. Her voice was even and she looked less preoccupied than before. "If this is about Lord Art… well, I won't lie – he scares me a lot. And I don't know what he wants from me… but I am not going to run away, Murtagh."

Murtagh shook his head stubbornly but did not reply at once. He looked long at her face, as if memorizing each feature. He imagined his fingertips running down the side of her face, down to her lips, tracing them before he leaned in for a kiss… He knew his resolve would crumble down if he allowed these indulging thoughts to cross his mind, so he pushed them aside.

"Even if I leave Urû'Baen, it doesn't mean I will be safer", Kaila pressed on, taking advantage of his silence. Her tone was persuasive and her green eyes gleamed with resolution. "If I stay here, at least I'll know where Art is and-"

"Don't you want to see your grandfather again?"

"- and you and Morcant worry too much about me – oh…" Kaila halted mid-sentence. "Of course I want to see him, but…" She threw Murtagh a glance through her curtain of light-brown hair and mumbled: "Do you… do you want me to leave?"

'Oh dear… I do not want to watch this', Thorn put in, but the dragon Rider was too focused on the young woman before him. 'You know what, I will give you two a little privacy… Call me if you – hum – need anything…' And with that, he withdrew from Murtagh's mind as quietly as he could.

Outside, the sky darkened and a few drops of rain fell. Kaila craned her head to stare out the window while she waited for Murtagh's reply. Whatever answer he gave her, she just wanted him to be honest.

Murtagh had not seen that coming. When he had imagined that moment, Kaila had agreed to his words without much discussion; he had not counted with her strong will; and her feelings for him… And now she demanded to know if he wanted her to leave…

If he told her the truth, she would somehow manage to persuade him that it was best for her to stay. But if he lied, any chance they might have had to stay together…

But then a terrible image danced before his eyes… Murtagh saw himself, kneeling before the King, uttering a new oath; gaining more power but bound even further to the hated Sovereign. Only the gods – if such beings existed – could know what Murtagh would become after that oath.

And then another image appeared; one that was all too familiar to Murtagh but which never ceased to inspire a deep fear in him. Morzan stood before him; he wore a velvet black cloak over a finely embroidered robe – also black.

Murtagh's eyes rose from the tips of his shiny boots to his proud chest and then – with a gasp of pure horror, Murtagh realized he was not staring at his father. Beneath the hood a pair of ice-blue eyes fixed him; his own eyes. But they were so void of emotion that Murtagh felt a chill running down his spine.

Kaila watched him apprehensively as the silence stretched; when he gasped she stifled a startled sound. Whatever disquiet Murtagh experienced, it was clear he was not willing to share it with her. A strange, pained look was briefly revealed in Murtagh's eyes, but it was gone before Kaila could react.

"I- I think you should go."

"That was not what I asked you."

"Look", Murtagh snapped, standing up and towering over Kaila, "Morcant will never be able to return to this castle. Not ever! Do you understand that, Kaila?" She nodded. "He is your family; you belong with him…"

"I see…" Kaila whispered, dropping her gaze to the floor. Her tone left no doubt she understood there was more he wanted to say, but couldn't, for whatever reason. "I do want to be with my grandpa; I miss him so much… But still, you didn't answer my question."

"It wouldn't change anything." His voice was hoarse with poorly disguised emotion and Murtagh knew Kaila could feel it. He felt like smacking himself for being so weak. He closed his eyes, no longer bearing to look at Kaila's bowed head and slumped shoulders.

Kaila looked up at him and clenched her fists. He was evidently trying to push her away, but she would not allow him to shut her out like that. She got up.

Murtagh heard her getting up and suddenly found her in his arms, her head on his chest. Gently he held her, as if the slightest motion would cause her to flee. No words were said; it was as if none of them wished to break the spell.

Kaila was the first to break the silence; she sighed in resignation and took a step back, but Murtagh's arms still circled her waist and her palms touched his chest softly. "So… you were saying?"

The young man bit his lower lip to avoid laughing. He stared down at Kaila, who was smiling sheepishly up at him. "And you say I am persuasive", he hissed, half-frustrated, half-amused.

"I learnt that from you."

This time, Murtagh did laugh and Kaila followed his example. Their shoulders heaved with laughter, but the tension in their voices indicated they knew the conversation wasn't over yet. After a much needed minute to ease the tension, the laughs started to fade away and their eyes met again, anxiously.

Kaila pulled Murtagh by the hand and they sat back on the bed; their knees touched and their hands remained locked. "Even if it won't change anything", he started, "you have the right to know the truth. If I had a choice, I wouldn't want you to leave…"

Kaila pursed her lips before asking: "You say, 'If I had a choice…' What exactly do you mean by that?"

"If I thought that staying here was the best thing to do, I would never ask you to leave", Murtagh replied simply, relieved that she seemed intent on understanding his reasons, rather then disputing them.

Kaila pondered this for a moment. "Before, you said something about it not being safe for me to stay in Urû'Baen…" Murtagh nodded his agreement and Kaila continued. "Were you talking about Lord Art?"

Murtagh's hand tightened around hers and Kaila shot him an enquiring glance. "Yes", he said, tentatively, looking for the right words, "but he is only one of your concerns. There are… other dangers out there."

"Other dangers?"

"Will you stop repeating everything I say?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, Murtagh. I'm just trying to understand", Kaila replied, blushing.

Murtagh rubbed her right knee soothingly. "Being on this castle is more perilous to you than crossing unknown territory to get to Morcant. There are more threats around you than you can possibly imagine, Kaila."

"You keep talking about dangers and threats, but you don't tell me anything specific. What are you hiding from me?" Kaila asked incisively, meeting his eyes. They were once again filled with indescribable emotion, but were somewhat distant.

"I am not hiding anything… I am simply not allowed to explain everything."

"Not allowed?" His vague remarks were beginning to annoy her.

"I know how this sounds, Kaila, but I'm being as honest as possible. I made a promise to Morcant and I don't intend to break it", Murtagh replied soothingly.

His words seemed to have caught her by surprise; Kaila bit her lower lip nervously. "I suppose it is pointless to ask you what you promised him…"

"It is not my place to tell you", he replied. "Morcant confided in me only because he wanted to be sure you would be safe. But he will have to be the one deciding what to reveal, or if she should tell you anything at all."

Kaila sighed, clearly not satisfied but convinced that she would not learn any more from him.

"What I can tell you", Murtagh continued, "is that Lord Art is probably the least of your concerns, though we should not underestimate him."

"I never do", Kaila replied in a bitter tone. "I know what he is capable of. He has been haunting my steps ever since I came to this castle." Absent-mindedly, she shuddered before continuing: "I know it is all connected to my past, somehow. Lord Art always seemed to keen on finding out who my parents were."

Murtagh tensed but Kaila didn't seem to notice. The hand that wasn't wrapped in Murtagh's clenched tensely and he stroked her white knuckles with his other hand, unsure of what to do or say next. Fortunately, Kaila was the one doing the talking now.

"I don't remember my father that much. I know he visited me and my mum when I was little, but I think those visits stopped when I was around 4. I never knew why, but never asked my mum either. She didn't like talking about him."

Murtagh listened with his head tilted to the side; Kaila had never spoken of her childhood before. She huddled closer to him before speaking again; the words seemed to come with difficulty. "When my mum died and Morcant came for me, I tried to ask him about my father, but his reaction was even worse than my mum's. You should have seen his face… he went white with fury! To be honest, I was startled by his outburst, so I never asked him again about it." She paused, staring down at Murtagh's tanned hand, stroking hers softly. "But I wonder…"

Feeling that the conversation was heading down a dangerous path, Murtagh cleverly retorted: "It is better to have an absent father rather than one who beat you out of pure malice."

Kaila looked up into his blue eyes, reaching up and touching his face. "I'm sorry; I know you endured much more than I did. I shouldn't be complaining… but not knowing everything about your own past is disturbing. And like people always say, The past always catches up with you. I just wished I was a bit more prepared to deal with it."

"Believe me, Kaila, sometimes it is better not to know."

She felt hopelessly confused, but maybe, when she met up with Morcant, all the puzzle pieces would fall into place and she would finally understand.

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A tired sigh escaped Kaila's lips. She buried her head in her pillow, waiting for sleep to come, but her mind was running in circles. Her conversation with Murtagh was permanently etched into her brain and she could not help but imagine what was to come; it terrified her.

As a shiver shook her body, Kaila hugged her torso underneath the blanket. Right before leaving his room, Murtagh had told her they would now have intensive training sessions; he wanted to make sure she would be as prepared as possible in such short time. He hadn't been precise about when she would leave, but it would be soon.

A lump formed on Kaila's throat as she recalled the desolate kiss they had shared at his room's door. It had felt as if she was leaving already, as if they didn't have the courage to prolong the moment. What was the point on insisting on something that had no future? she told herself.

"Who are you trying to fool?" Kaila groaned, pulling the blanket over her head and allowing darkness to lead her to oblivion, even if only for a night.

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'Considering everything, you did well', Thorn commented, nudging his Rider affectionately on the head. Murtagh had come to him not long after Kaila had returned to her room.

The young man snorted grumpily. 'Oh yes, very well. I was supposed to make her understand the dangers she faces, but as soon as I saw those pleading green eyes I just held her hand and said everything would be fine.'

'At least she doesn't hate you…'

'Only if she did, things would be easier', Murtagh replied. He had grown callous in many ways, but the next words didn't come easily. 'If she hated me, she would stay as far away from me as possible. And we both know that will be a wise thing to do in the future.'

Thorn tried to think of a way to argue with that, but what Murtagh said made sense.

'As soon as I think she is ready – or as ready as anyone can be under such short notice – I will have to find a way to push her away.'

'Isn't it enough to know she will go to Katherine's?' Thorn inquired, staring apprehensively at his Rider.

'No', Murtagh replied at once. 'If she doesn't hate me… Kaila is stubborn. She promised she would help us find a way to get free of Galbatorix. If I don't hurt her enough, she will never give up on fulfilling that promise.'

Thorn lowered his head and blew hot air into Murtagh's dark hair, ruffling it. 'Regardless of how hard it gets, in the end we always have each other, little one.'

Murtagh stroked the dragon's snout lightly, enjoying the feeling of his hard scales against his palm. 'Until the end… whichever it might be. And as for Kaila… she will be better off if I don't surrender to my feelings for her. I cannot allow my emotions to cloud my thoughts again.'

The moon broke through the clouds, illuminating the courtyard where dragon and Rider stood. Murtagh looked up in awe, for an eerie full moon lit up the sky. For one fleeting moment he permitted himself to think of a brighter future, but then a dark figure blotted the moon.

Gigantic black wings beat strongly, interrupting the tranquillity of the night. Shruikan let out a chilling roar as he circled the courtyard and then headed northeast. Murtagh's sombre eyes followed the dark dragon's shape until it was out of sight. "Never surrender… I won't let them turn you into me…"

To be continued…