"You must be joking!" laughed Murtagh after Leonor ended on the floor, her sword next to her "Come on, do you actually know anything about fighting?"
"Huh." said Leonor "I never tried to fight actually. Only thing I ever needed is to kill people on the spot, they didn't actually move around."
"Great." Murtagh rolled his eyes "Well you will have to learn how to move with the sword."
"Ok." said Leonor, not really interested in fighting. Murtagh showed her some moves, but she just didn't manage to repeat them. After whole day of trying, Leonor actually learned few moves but Murtagh wasn't happy with that.
"You will have to learn faster tomorrow or we won't get anywhere." said Murtagh while they were walking back to the tower.
"Whatever." said Leonor "I'm going to find a new sword."
Leonor decided to go to another tower. It was possible that she finds a new sword there. The tower was very dark and cold. Leonor just hoped there won't be much spiders and it seemed like everything left the tower, even them. She entered in the one room. There were many things on the floor. She found some old books, clothes and other things. Nothing seemed to be interesting.
"I wonder who owned all these things." thought Leonor. She was sure these things didn't belong to Galbatorix, unless he liked to dress like a woman. Finally she saw something glowing under the clothes. She threw away other things and pulled out the glowing thing. On her surprise, it was a sword. It looked very nice. She touched its blue blade. The rest of the sword was silver and it had a sapphire in its hilt.
"Wow, it looks so beautiful." said Leonor to herself and decided to take the sword. She looked at the piece of paper on the floor. When she took it in her hands, she could read: A special gift, sword and ring.
"Sword and ring?" thought Leonor "I wish I could know who received this precious gift."
Suddenly she saw something small on the floor, also glowing on the moonlight coming from small window. She picked it up and realized it was a silver ring with sapphire in it. After checking out the ring, she slowly put it on her finger. It fit her perfectly.
"I hope Galbatorix will let me keep this." she took the sword and decided to leave the room.
When she was out of the tower, Galbatorix was expecting her outside.
"I see you found what you wanted." Galbatorix smiled.
"Yeah." said Leonor "Can I keep it?"
"Well it fits you perfectly, both, you can keep it." he said, looking at the ring on her finger.
"Will you tell me who owned these things?" asked Leonor.
"You will find out soon." Galbatorix smiled.
"Great." said Leonor.
"And I hope you will do better with this sword. I wouldn't like to hear again that you are having problems." said Galbatorix.
"I will try…but you know fighting is not really a girl thing." smiled Leonor.
"Killing is also not a girl thing and you did it." said Galbatorix in a cold voice.
"Maybe." said Leonor "I guess I will always be different."
"Yes, Leonor. You have to do your best, or something bad will happen. Think on someone you love." Galbatorix smiled and left.
"Diamond." thought Leonor and felt sad and worried "What if I won't be able to keep him safe?"
Suddenly she saw someone in the dark. She came closer. The person turned around.
"No." said Leonor quietly, shocked. Her body was shaking.
"It's your fault." said the person and started to laugh.
"No!" screamed Leonor while tears were coming down her face. The person just disappeared in the dark.
"No! Wait!" Leonor was crying. Then she felt someone's arms around her waist.
"Leonor, calm down. What is it?" asked Murtagh.
"No! I'm sorry!" Leonor was still yelling at the dark.
"Leonor, stop! Nobody is there!" said Murtagh, confused.
"It was him! I saw him!" Leonor was still crying.
"Who? The guy who you loved? He is dead." said Murtagh.
"But he seemed so real. He was here. He knows it was my fault!" Leonor looked at Murtagh.
"It wasn't him, Leonor." Murtagh looked deep into her eyes, still holding her in his arms.
"But…who was it?" asked Leonor, covering her face with her hands.
"It's probably part of Galbatorix's revenge for Astrid's death." said Murtagh and looked at the ring on her hand "Where did you get that?"
"What?" asked Leonor and moved away from him.
"That ring! Where did you get it?" he asked surprised.
"I found it in the tower. And this sword also." said Leonor and showed him the sword "I decided to keep it."
"I don't know why was that in the tower." said Murtagh quietly.
"Do you know who owned it?" asked Leonor, looking at him.
"Yes." he whispered.
"Who?" asked Leonor surprised.
"My mother." said Murtagh quietly.
"Oh." said Leonor "I'm really good at finding Selena's things."
"What?" asked Murtagh surprised "Did you find something else?"
"No." said Leonor. She didn't want to tell him.
"Do you mind if I keep it?" finally asked Leonor.
"No." said Murtagh.
"Ok. Then it's better that I go back to the tower. I don't want to see him again." said Leonor and looked at the dark.
"Don't believe in that. Galbatorix wants revenge and it won't be strange that you see him again. Just don't do anything. You know it's not real." he said.
"I just wish Galbatorix could see all people who died because of him. He wouldn't be able to go to sleep again." said Leonor angrily.
"Galbatorix is not like you, Leonor. He doesn't care if someone dies because of him." said Murtagh.
"You're right. He is a monster." said Leonor and looked at the sky "Everything seems so dark. Especially our future."
"We don't have a future." said Murtagh and left.
Leonor went back to her room. She just couldn't sleep.
"I have to end this." said Leonor to herself. She slowly went out of the room; feeling like someone is following her. But she knew it's all fake because Galbatorix made it with magic.
Leonor entered in Galbatorix's throne room. Somehow she was sure that he is still there.
"What do you want?" asked Galbatorix when he saw her.
"I want you to stop. I don't want to see dead people." said Leonor in a cold voice.
"Why you didn't think about that before?" laughed Galbatorix "It's your fault that your love is dead and Astrid too. But sure, I knew that you won't feel anything if I just make you see Astrid."
"It's not my fault. It's your fault." said Leonor and Galbatorix looked at her surprised.
"Oh, really?" he smiled.
"Well I didn't kill the man I loved, your men did. And you wanted to have me here, and that is the reason why Astrid died. Just stop because I want to leave the past behind." said Leonor.
"I don't know." smiled Galbatorix "I enjoy watching you cry for that guy. And I'm the king. You can't tell me what to do."
"It's better that you stop, Galby." smiled Leonor. Galbatorix looked at her surprised and shocked.
"Don't call me like that!" he said angrily.
"Why not? I like it. I'm so sorry because that reminds you of her." laughed Leonor.
"How did you…?" asked Galbatorix surprised.
"What? Found out? That's not important now." she smiled and felt Galbatorix is trying to enter her mind. She had to send her memories to Diamond so Galbatorix can't find out.
"What do you want?" finally asked Galbatorix, very angry.
"Stop reminding me on the guy I truly loved and I will stop reminding you on her, the girl you loved." said Leonor. Galbatorix looked at her for a moment and didn't say anything.
"It's your fault that she died." said Leonor "Do you still remember her perfume?"
Galbatorix looked shocked. He looked angrily at Leonor.
"Maybe I should remind you." said Leonor and whispered something in ancient language. Galbatorix hurried to break the spell which made air to smell like perfume.
"You see…I won't leave you alone, if you don't stop. It's very simple. You decide." smiled Leonor.
"Ok." said Galbatorix angrily "You will get what you want. Now get out!"
"Good." said Leonor with a smile and went out.
"Leonor?" she heard familiar voice in her mind while she was walking back to her room.
"Yes, Diamond?" she said.
"Can I know what happened that you had to send me some of your memories?" asked Diamond.
"I had to stop Galbatorix from making me crazy. I just knew that the page I ripped from the book could be useful." she said happily.
"Is he angry on you?" asked Diamond surprised.
"Like always." smiled Leonor "The good thing is that he can't hurt me much."
"You also sent me memories of some lady who tried to help you, I think." said Diamond.
"I couldn't let Galbatorix to find out that my grandma was looking for me." said Leonor.
"Your grandma? But why you didn't go with her then?" asked Diamond surprised.
"Because it wasn't a good idea. And I don't know…I don't want to talk about it. Please don't tell this to anyone." said Leonor.
"Eh, sure. I don't have anyone to tell." said Diamond.
"Really? Just don't tell to Thorn or Murtagh. Oh, and especially not to Galbatorix or his dragon." said Leonor.
"Huh, ok." said Diamond "Good night."
Next morning when Leonor opened her eyes, she saw Murtagh standing next to her bed and looking at her.
"What are you doing here?" said Leonor, trying to keep her eyes open.
"You are late." he smiled.
"Late for what?" said Leonor, looking around the room.
"Well, you still don't know how to fight. We need to hurry. And I have a plan." he said.
"Umm, ok." said Leonor and got up from the bed.
"Then get dressed and come to the training ground. I will be waiting for you there." he said and went out.
Leonor finally came to the training ground, almost one hour later. She felt different when she was holding her new sword. Murtagh didn't say anything and just pointed his sword at her. They were fighting for two hours. Leonor's sword ended on the floor so many times that she couldn't even count how many.
"I will never learn this!" she said and sat down, trying to catch her breath.
"Come on, you will. You just need to try more." smiled Murtagh.
"Whatever." said Leonor "I need a break."
"Ok." said Murtagh and sat next to her.
"So, you said you have a plan?" Leonor looked at him.
"Yes." said Murtagh quietly and looked around "But it's a secret."
"Ok. What is it about?" asked Leonor.
"I found out that the Varden have a plan how to defeat us. They could attack Galbatorix's army soon. And if they win, Galbatorix will need a new plan." said Murtagh.
"So?" asked Leonor "We don't have anything to do with Galbatorix's army."
"You're wrong." said Murtagh "If Galbatorix's army is defeated, he will start preparing for the war."
"I still don't get it." Leonor looked at him.
"Well, if Galbatorix thinks on war, he won't have time to see what are we doing." said Murtagh.
"And what are we going to do?" asked Leonor surprised.
"Find a way how to move him from the throne." smiled Murtagh.
"Oh, you think it will be easy to kill him." said Leonor, not really thinking that could work.
"Maybe. We could kill him and take his place." he said and his eyes had a strange shine.
"Take his place?" she laughed "You want to be a king?"
"I don't know. But we could make it all perfect after defeating the Varden. Just imagine…everything perfect..." he smiled.
"Wow, wait. You would actually kill Galbatorix and still continue his war?" asked Leonor surprised.
"Yes. We need to make sure that no one will ruin the plan. And the Varden don't really fit in our country. They are danger…they have their own crazy ideas." said Murtagh.
"So you actually want to say…that we will fight against Eragon?" said Leonor quietly.
"Well first we will try to convince him that our plan is not as bad as he thinks. We just need to get him away from bad influence of the Varden." said Murtagh.
"Our plan? I have no idea with who are you planning to do that." said Leonor and looked away.
"You have to help me." said Murtagh.
"And what do I get?" asked Leonor.
"Anything you want; freedom, money, jewelry, dresses…" said Murtagh.
"Hm." Leonor took a deep breath "Everything is better from being with Galbatorix."
"So you accept?" asked Murtagh.
"Yes." smiled Leonor.
"Great. Now we just need to wait and get as many information as we can. Then we can make a good plan." said Murtagh "And you have to learn how to fight and some other secrets of magic. You will need it."
"And what if Eragon wants to ruin the plan?" asked Leonor.
"Then we will have to move him away from our way." said Murtagh.
"You mean kill him?" said Leonor and looked at him.
"If necessary." said Murtagh in a cold voice.
"You would kill your brother?" asked Leonor.
"He is our enemy." said Murtagh "And he will try to kill us."
"I won't let you kill him." said Leonor.
"Why? You prefer that he wins and we die?" asked Murtagh.
"Not like that. I just don't want that he dies." said Leonor.
"Oh, now just tell me that you don't want to kill anyone who is on his side." said Murtagh and walked to the center of the training ground.
"I don't care for others. I just want the best for me." said Leonor and came closer to Murtagh.
"Then why you want Eragon alive?" asked Murtagh and looked deep into her eyes.
"As I said…that's the best for me. He could be my only chance to find happiness." said Leonor and looked away.
"Oh, do you really think Eragon will fell in love with you?" laughed Murtagh "He is in love with Arya. I say you don't have chance next to her."
"And do you really think she will survive?" Leonor looked at Murtagh.
"Then all you have to do is convince Eragon that we don't have a bad plan." said Murtagh and pointed his sword at her "Come on, you still need to learn how to fight."