Leonor and Murtagh got to the place on the mountain that Leonor saw. They were surprised how big it was. A perfect place for private battle.
"Wow, the view from here is great!" said Leonor, louder then usual, while looking down at soldiers. Suddenly they all looked up at her.
"Oh." she smiled at them and they just went back to their jobs "This is not good."
"Just don't talk too loud now. When the battle starts, probably no one will hear you from here." said Murtagh.
"Whatever." said Leonor "Where are the dragons anyway?"
"Why don't you ask Diamond?" asked Murtagh surprised.
"Because it's easier to ask you." said Leonor "But you probably didn't speak with Thorn."
"Why do you think that?" asked Murtagh.
"I don't think. I know." she smiled.
"What? Leonor! Not again. It's not fair." he said angrily.
"So what if I spoke with Thorn? He wants to speak more with you and I'm just trying to help." she said.
"I don't know what is worse; that you are in mine or Thorn's mind. But we now share different type of connection." he said.
"Yes. Maybe it's because we are stronger now." Leonor looked at him.
"Leonor!" she could hear Diamond's voice in her mind.
"Hey! Is everything ok? You sound nervous." said Leonor, feeling that something is wrong.
"You need to come here. Someone wants to speak with you." said Diamond.
"Who?" she asked surprised.
"This man says he is…your father." said Diamond quietly.
"What?" Leonor said, shocked "I'm coming!"
"Leonor, honey!" said the tall man with dark brown hair when Leonor came.
"Dad, what are you doing here?" said Leonor surprised.
"I came to save you." he said and looked at Murtagh "I won't let you stay here, serving to Galbatorix and being close to the son of Morzan!"
"Dad, please, you have to leave! The war can start in any moment and I don't want that something happens to you." said Leonor and hugged him.
"Honey, I'm not leaving you here!" he said.
"You have to." she said quietly and moved away from him.
"Leonor, please. I'm not angry on you because you ran away without saying a thing. Your mum wants to see you. She misses you a lot. And you don't want her to get sick, do you?" he looked deep into her eyes.
"Dad, you know I love you and mum more than anything. I would die if something happens to you. But I left for a reason…and I won't let you blackmail me. Not again. Not this time. After this is over, I will visit you, mum and grandma but that's it. I'm not going back!" said Leonor.
"But, honey, no one is blackmailing you. I just wanted what is best for you. And I hoped that now when you are older, you will think better. You are now a woman and I know you miss your old life. Come with me and you can make all your dreams come true. You can have all you want." he said.
"All my dreams come true? Like what? Getting married with a nice guy from a decent family, walking in the garden, taking care for the house, thinking only about new dress and jewelry?" Leonor looked at him with a fake smile on her face.
"Yes!" he said "Everything you want."
"That's your dream, dad!" she said angrily "Not mine!"
"And what is your dream? To die fighting? To act like a guy? To live in danger?" he asked in a sad voice.
"Let me think." said Leonor angrily "Why would I die fighting? I'm good enough to survive. Why would I act like a guy? There are now many girls who do same as me. And why would I live in danger? Look around! I lead this army! They are here to protect me!"
"I see; you must be confused with what Galbatorix told you. And the girls, who do the same as you, are close to their death. This army also belongs to Galbatorix and don't expect from them to protect you!" he said angrily.
"Dad, I'm not your little girl anymore. You can't do anything to protect me. Galbatorix would kill you all!" said Leonor.
"I knew you are just afraid of the king! But we can escape and hide. He doesn't know where you used to live. Your grandma can protect us with magic. Come with me!" he said and pulled Leonor's arm. She looked at him angrily and whispered something in ancient language. The man fell down on the ground, few meters away from Leonor and looked at her surprised.
"I'm not afraid of Galbatorix! I don't want to go back! Go now! When the war starts, you won't be able to survive. Please, leave!" she said.
"Leonor…" the man looked shocked "Don't do this…"
"Go!" yelled Leonor "Just go!"
"It's because of him! Is he forcing you to stay?" asked the man and looked angrily at Murtagh.
"Dad, please, don't make this situation even worse." said Leonor quietly. The man got up from the ground and pulled out his sword.
"Dad? What are you planning to do with that?" asked Leonor surprised.
"I will kill him and you will be able to leave!" yelled the man and ran to attack Murtagh. Leonor looked in shock and Murtagh just whispered something in ancient language and the man fell down. His sword fell out from his hand. Leonor came and picked it up. The man was shocked when she pointed the sword at him.
"Leave now and nothing will happen. We will forget about this." she said with a cold look on her face.
"Leonor…you wouldn't…" said the man and tears appeared in his eyes.
"Maybe…but you don't know that." said Leonor "Go!"
The man got up and looked at her.
"If that is what you want." he said finally and started walking away "I love you. Don't forget that."
He didn't turn around and Leonor bit her lip. When they couldn't see the man anymore, Leonor fell down on the ground and started to cry.
"I'm sorry, dad. But you won't be in danger because of me." she whispered while tears were coming down her face.
"Leonor, are you ok?" asked Murtagh and helped her to get up.
"Maybe not at the moment, but I will be." she said quietly and smiled while tears were still filling her eyes.
"You know…if you don't want to be here…I won't stop you." he suddenly said.
"What?" she looked at him surprised.
"I know you don't like this thing. If you leave now, Galbatorix won't find you." he said.
"Ok…so much time together and you still don't know me." she looked at him angrily.
"I was just saying." he smiled.
"Oh, ok then." she said and finally stopped crying.
Suddenly they heard a loud sound.
"They are coming!" they heard one man yelling. Leonor and Murtagh looked at each other.
"Go up on the mountain! I will give the orders to the army. They will be here for few hours!" said Murtagh and Leonor looked at the sky.
"Will you come there?" asked Leonor.
"Yes, after I'm finished with giving orders to the army." he said "I'm not planning to loose lot of my energy on fighting with the Varden. Our magicians will take care of fight with magic. We will wait for Eragon."
"Should I contact Galbatorix?" asked Leonor before leaving.
"Maybe. But be careful. It's better that Thorn and Diamond help you with keeping your other thoughts from Galbatorix." said Murtagh.
Hours passed by very fast but nothing happened. The army of the Varden didn't appear and the army of the Empire was ready for the fight. Everyone waited nervously.
"What is taking them so long?" suddenly asked Leonor and looked at Murtagh.
"Maybe they will attack tomorrow." he said, not showing that he is nervous.
"Maybe they want us to think that." said Leonor nervously.
"They will come." said Murtagh in a cold voice.
"Yeah, but when? We know they are close. Just we can't check with magic because they also have powerful magicians. It's hard to wait!" said Leonor and looked at Murtagh.
"Stop being so nervous!" he said angrily.
"But how can I not be nervous? The battle can start in any moment!" she said.
"Just stop and shut up!" said Murtagh angrily and put his hands on his head.
"What's wrong?" she asked quietly and looked at him.
"Nothing! It will pass." he said and closed his eyes for a moment.
"But it didn't happen for a long time. Why now?" asked Leonor surprised.
"I don't know! Just leave me alone!" said Murtagh angrily.
"Ok. Ok!" said Leonor but she kept looking at him. Suddenly she saw a blue dot in the sky. It was getting closer and closer when Leonor realized it's Saphira. Then she could see the army approaching. Murtagh saw her shocked look.
"They are here." whispered Leonor and looked at him.