Miyu: Welcome back and thanks for the reviews! The Murtagh/Durza vote is still at 5-1 Murtagh.

Shade: This is getting depressing.

Miyu: Ain't it fun though?

Shade: …No.

Disclaimer: Let's just say that Christopher Paolini would be insane to sell the story rights to Miyu.

d.r.d.r.d.r.d.r
Everlasting
Chapter #5: Shur'tugal (Dragon rider)
d.r.d.r.d.r.d.r.

The next day, Murtagh woke up before the sun had truly risen. After a while he gave up on trying to return to sleep and got out of bed. On his bedside table, laid a simple traveling outfit made for warmth and comfort. He smiled as he remembered the reason for him not having a closet. The day after Thorn had hatched and Murtagh had sworn to obey Galbatorix he had proceeded to destroy his room and all of the clothes in his closet. At all the formal occasions he had been invited to as a rider, he had worn the casual clothes in his closet and destroyed all the formal clothes. Eventually Galbatorix stopped inviting him to formal occasions and only gave Murtagh a single outfit a day in order to control what he wore. It suited Murtagh just fine.

Fully dressed, he exited from his room and walked past Selena's room, feeling a pang of guilt as he saw the guards posted there. So much for freedom, he thought.

Once again borrowing a horse from the guards' barracks he made his way to the dragon hold. Thorn was waiting for him outside. It took Murtagh only a few minutes to get Thorn ready and strap a bag of food to his own belt. Once they were far enough from the palace, Murtagh brushed thorn's consciousness.

So what did you want to talk about?
My plan of course.
Murtagh rolled his eyes, and what plan would that be?
When Selena's egg hatches you will go to Galbatorix and offer to train her as he trained you.
You already said that part.
I realised that. After you have trained her for a while you both will escape from the palace.

Murtagh nearly fell of Thorn's back, WHAT!
When Selena swears to obey you, you will swear to protect her. That promise will force you to escape this place and take her to a safe home.
But where would we go? Murtagh asked, still in shock.
To the Varden, to Du Weldenvarden, to Eragon! Does it matter as long as we leave this place?
Murtagh was silent. Thorn's plan made so much sense…yet seemed to absurd at the same time.

Or would you rather stay here with 'father'? Thorn asked.
Murtagh shook his head, you're right. We will leave as soon as possible. But how are we going to tell Selena?
We wont. Not yet at least. The less people who know, the easier this will be.

Murtagh nodded as Thorn began to dive into a small clearing in a wood near Uru'baen. Murtagh jumped off of Thorn and heard a familiar voice yelp in surprise. "Selena? What are you doing here?" A few paces away, Selena sat on a large boulder with the emerald egg on her lap. "Uh…" She began, "I couldn't sleep last night so I came out here. The guards never noticed and I took the rock with me so your king would not be mad."

Murtagh walked over to her, "Be honest Selena. Were you trying to run away?" She shook her head, "Of course not Murtagh! Both you and the king said that I would find my destiny here. Why in Alagaesia would I leave?" Murtagh felt another pang of guilt, "Selena, would you like to know what Galbatorix wants your destiny to be?" Selena looked at him oddly, "What do you-"

"The stone that you hold is an egg, a dragon's egg. Galbatorix thinks that you are going to be the last rider. The rider he needs if he is to overthrow the Varden. I brought you here on orders though I did not expect you to be the rider he needs, and now I know that it would be impossible for you to be a rider because you are neither elf nor human. I wish that I had never brought you here; I wish that I could let you escape from this horrid place. But my vow to Galbatorix forbids me from letting you leave. I'm sorry, but you had to know."

Selena looked horrified, "But…I trusted you." "I know Selena." She looked down at the green egg in her hands and then threw it down on the boulder as hard as she could. "It's no use Selena, the egg cannot crack." "Then what is that?" She picked up the egg and showed him a long crack along one side. "What have you done!" He yelled, grabbing the egg from her.

She smiled, "I have just destroyed the last chance Galbatorix had at winning against the Varden." "No you didn't, you just made it so that Galbatorix has to go fight them himself! You just secured their doom!" Her face fell, "Uh oh." He crossed his arms, "Exactly. Uh oh." She shook her head, "No. Murtagh look." He turned and looked at the green egg, more cracks had appeared on its surface.

It is hatching!

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It was well into the night when Murtagh was finally able to sneak Selena and her new dragon back into the castle. They had to wait for a shift in the guards before slipping into her room. Murtagh laughed as he fell into a chair. "What is so funny?" Selena asked, holding the small dragon in her arms. He shook his head, "Nothing. Except we have another problem now." He looked at her, "How am I going to sneak out of your room?"

She opened her mouth and then closed it again as her idea escaped her, "No clue." He nodded, "Looks like you're sleeping on the floor." "And why would that be?" She asked. He smiled, "I'm older than you. Didn't your uncle ever teach you to respect your elders?" She shook her head, "No. He taught me the concept of, 'too slow, too bad." With that, she fell onto her bed, still fully dressed and threw the covers on, "Good night Murtagh."

He stood up and crossed his arms, "What about me?" She pointed to the closet, "Or you could go out the door and risk being scorned by the public." He frowned and (eventually) made his way to the closet, shutting the door loudly behind him. The small emerald dragon, which had been temporarily been forgotten about, curled up at the foot of the bed and fell asleep.

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The next morning, both teens were rudely awoken by a knock on the door. "Selena. I wish to speak with you." Selena sat up quickly when she heard the king's voice through her door. "Selena?". She jumped from her bed and put on a robe that hung on the wall. "Please come in my lord." At the last second, she threw the covers over the half sleeping dragon.

The king walked in to see a perfectly happy, if not tired, Selena sitting on her bed. "Good morning." He said to her. "Good morning to you to my lord. My I enquire to as the reason for your visit?" He nodded, "It has come to my attention that you were missing all day yesterday. Furthermore, it also appears that Murtagh has not been seen since yesterday afternoon. Would you know anything about that?" She thought for a minute, "Uh…"

At that moment however, Murtagh made his appearance. Opening the door slowly, he peered out and saw the king, "Umm…hello father." Galbatorix frowned, "Murtagh, come here." To Selena's great relief, he was still fully clothed.

"Where were you and Selena yesterday?" Galbatorix asked. "We were…uh…" Murtagh looked back at Selena, "Remind me what we were doing yesterday Selena." She sighed and pulled back her covers to reveal the dragon, "The egg hatched yesterday and he was helping me get used to my dragon. And when it was time for him to leave it was already dark and it would have been awkward for him to be seen leaving my room." Galbatorix nodded, "And this is not awkward now?" Both Murtagh and Selena were quiet.

The king stood up, "Now Murtagh. The guards have already been excused so you will come with me." Murtagh nodded and followed him out the door, he close this as the time to speak, "My lo- um…father. I have a request." Galbatorix stopped, "A request? Speak." Murtagh swallowed nervously, "I understand that you are very busy at the moment, with your upcoming trip to Dras-Leona. Much to busy to train another rider. If you will allow it, I will train Selena."

Galbatorix paused for a moment, "I will think about it Murtagh. Both you and Selena may have a free day today, I will give you my answer tomorrow." He left Murtagh alone. Sighing, Murtagh entered his room and told Thorn the events of the morning.

True to his word, the following day Murtagh received a message from the king that he was free to train Selena in the ways of the riders. Her dragon however, would be taught by both Shruikan and Thorn.

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Miyu: Short I know. I just had to get these final details out of the way. The next chapter is when the real adventure begins.

Shade: Which also means that it'll be deftly boring and-

Miyu: SHADE!

Review replies (Miyu):

Tarwen Svit-kona: Ya, it is weird I'll admit. But I had to make Galbatorix seem a LITTLE crazy. He's too nice right now.

Nobody: Thanks for the kind words my friend. Oh and if you like Murtagh's attitude now wait till later. Oh ya, nice saying by the way. So true...

xXSurFer ChiiCaXx: Such along review...sorry about the chapter length...I have limited computer time. I'll try to work on your two points.

Dragonflame55: THAT is what a review should look like. Short, sweet, and to the point. Thanks!

Caity: You're not aloud to vote twice...though I wish you were.
Remember, an author only updates if they know that their stories
are loved. Thanks!

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