Eragon layed over Murtagh's body. And the only thing he could think of was that it was his fault. Saphira had gently tried to tell him that it wasn't, and she was getting fed up that he would not listen to her, and gave up. After Eragon, Arya and Saphira had sat there for a few minutes, Arya finally spoke.

"We should probably bury him, and then keep going," said Arya. Eragon nodded his head in agreement, wiping away his tears. They wandered around until they found a spot to bury Murtagh that satisfied Eragon.

Arya muttered, "Deloi Moi (earth change)," and a grave was dug into the ground, the pile of dirt standing beside them. Eragon and Arya lowered Murtagh's body into the grave, but before they covered it, Eragon placed the Zac'roc in his hands, after all, it was his rightful possesion. He and Arya then covered the grave and created a grave marker that read:

Murtagh

He was of good body and mind

A strong swordsman

And a loyal friend

May he rest in peace

Eragon slowly stepped away from the grave and let his tears flow ontop of it. Soon later Saphira joined him, her tears falling onto Murtagh's grave as well. As Saphira's tears fell on the grave a single lily grew, wrapping around the grave. With a final tear, it glistend and layed there ceremoniously.

What did you do? asked Eragon.

It's a flower. A flower that will never die.

Thank you. Eragon said quietly, stroaking her neck.

Roran sat limp in his cage. It had been a week sense his first beating, and he had been beaten everyday sense. His body was covered with scars where the whip had lashed him. Blood still oozed out of his wounds from his previous beating. For days now, he had just sat and starred at the wall, in too much pain to actually do anything. The only exception to this was to eat the meager meals that were delivered to him each day.

When Roran heard somebody open the door to the dungeon and walk down the hallway, he slowly averted his eyes to the cell door. He assumed it was time for his daily beating. But to his great surprise, it wasn't the guards who stood infront of his door, but King Galbatorix himself. Roran wondered what he was doing down here. The King only appeared at the beatings, and sometimes not even then.

"I think it's time," said Galbatorix in a sly voice, "that you and I have a little talk." With these words, two guards appeared my Galbatorix's side. "Would you care to have dinner?" Without waiting for an answer, Galbatorix had the guards seize Roran by his arms and follow him. Wordlessly, Galbatorix guided them through the castle until the arrived at a magnificent dining room. A large chandeleir hung from the ceiling with more then a dozen candels lighting it. A enormous wooden table sat in the middle with a blood red table cloth lying on top of it and, even better, mountains of food. Smoked chicken, steaming vegitbles and red wine. Roran stared at them hungerly as he was seated across from the King.

Galbatorix motioned towards the food and said, "Eat, I'm sure you're hungrey." Roran flung himself at the food, piling it onto his plate. He wanted to fill up now; he may not get another decent meal for a very, very long time.

"I have a propisition for you," Galbatorix announced to Roran, as he dug through his food. "I'm sure that you have been thinking death is in your near future. On the contrary, I think that you could be very valuble to the Empire.

"You see, when the Ra'zac attempted to invade you mind, you put up theoretical mind sheilds. Not many ordinary men can do that. It takes practice and determination. And even though your shields were defeated, it proved significant.

"If you could give us any information you might have concerning your cousin, Eragon, we could make you one of the most powerful people in the Empire. With my knoledge and your premature abilities, you could be accepted by a dragon." With saying this Galbatorix revealed two large, shiney stones. One was a deep scarlet red, the other emerald green. As these were revealed, Roran stopped eating and starred. The stones were mysteriously beautiful. After a few moments of starring, Roran questioned him.

"What are those?"

"These," replied the KIng as he repocketed them, "are eggs. Dragon eggs."

Dragons! Thought Roran. He hadn't even known they exsisted! He had only heard of them in stories that their town's storyteller Brom had told. He had mysteriously dissapeared on the night Eragon had fled the city. He wondered what had happend to him, but was shook out of his thoughts when Galbatorix began talking again.

"So, you tell me what you know about your cousin, and I can provide you with ultimate power. Join me, Roran, and together we can rule."

Roran took in what Galbatorix was asking him. To rule? He wanted him to become a Rider?

"As I have already told you," Roran spoke after a few minutes, "I know nothing of where my cousin has gone, or what he is doing. And even if I did know, I could not tell you." Hearing this made Galbatorix furious, stood up and began shouting.

"I will figure you what you know weather you like it or not. And if you will not serve me, you will die. Guards! Take him back to his cell, and give him no food until I tell you otherwise." The two guards who had broughten Roran in grabbed him roughly by his arms, clawing at some of his scars, peeling them back open.

"I know nothing!" Roran screamed once again. But the King refused to listen, arrogent in power. So once again, Roran was thrown into his cell, and left alone and hopless. He crumpled on the floor, silently crying, silently praying that somebody would help him.

"Somebody save me."

It had now been three weeks sense the death of Murtagh. Eragon, Saphira, and Arya were now somewhere deep inside Du Weldenvarden. The past weeks had been filled with sparring at night against Arya ( he was now using Arya's sword because he had burried the Zar'oc with Murtagh, and Arya used a stick, which gave him no advantage, and he was defeated everytime), marveling the wonders of Du Weldenvarden, and silently mourning Murtagh. As they traveld Arya and Eragon didn't talk much. Eragon was afraid if he talked, Arya would ask him about his past, something he was not ready to reveal yet. And latlely he had been thinking about it more, and abuot how much he missed Carvahall. His thoughts were interupted as Arya said, "We're getting close, very close."

His thoughts of homesickness were soon swept away as she said this. They were almost to Ellesmera! City of Elves.

I can't believe we're almost there! Eragon told Saphira

I know! It's so exciting...replied Saphira.

We'll finally be able to train with the elves, and finally find out who The Mourning Sage is. For awhile Eragon had forgotten about The Mourning Sage, with the shock of Murtagh's death. But as he got closer to Ellesmera, his requests became clearer. He was to go to the City of the Elves and find him. He would give him information, vital information. Eragon couldn't wait. After a few more hours of travel, Arya led them behind a waterfall. As Eragon followed her, he saw the most spectacular thing ever, it took his breath away. Behind the waterfall hid the great city of Ellesmera. A large golden gate stood infront of them taller then Eragon and Saphira combined (which was saying something, as Saphira had grew an additional 5 inches sense they left Farthen Dur). Then, branching off from the gate, was a golden wall that surronded the city and had a mysterious glow to it.

"The wall has been enchanted to protect the city. The only way in or out the city is through the gate," explained Arya. Amazed, Eragon just stared until they were at the gates. At the guards post was a tall, slender, male elf. As they approached, he looked down suspiciously at them.

"Identify yourself," he shouted down at Arya.

"I am Arya," she replied. " And he is Rider Eragon. He has come here to train." The elf's eyes widend, and he didn't question them, but opened the gate quickly, exspecially after Saphira flew up next to them. The gate rolled up to reveal the most beutiful city Eragon had ever seen.

"Welcome to Ellesmera."

I hope you guys liked that! And I know I sorta stole the whole diamond tomb idea for Murtagh's burial, but i tried to give it a twist. Oh, and I know that the grave marking isn't the best, but I tried. And I also tried to work out the whole "how does Roran have mind sheilds" thing...Review Please!