A/N: Hey, it's me again! I know last time I took so long to update, but, I had writer's block.

Anyway, thanks for all the reviews, you guys rock! Hope you enjoy the next chapter as much as the last, so here you go! Also, I'm trying to update my shot series, but I'm really having some writer's block with that one (seems I'm getting that a lot, huh?)

Sorry about the shortness of the chapter, but I should have another one up pretty soon!

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Christopher Paolini owns everything.

Eragon and Saphira flew on in the direction of Surda.

I need a rest, Saphira said, dipping down to a small cluster of trees.

You deserve it, that was a somewhat rough battle. I didn't know there were still Urgals serving Galbatorix... Eragon drifted off.

There are always traitors, Eragon, Saphira warned as she stretched out her legs, digging her talons into the floor. Eragon lifted his head up, his eyes scanning the surrounding area, out of habit. He had realized by now that enemies could be anywhere, and ever since his dream of the third rider being caught by Murtagh, he couldn't be too careful.

Of course, he never bothered to check the sky.

He leaned down to a small pool of water, splashing his face with the cool water. It felt cool and awakening against his hot and sweaty face. He sat there, staring at the water, lost in it's misty swirls.

Eragon! Look up!

He looked up, and gasped. Above him, was an emerald green dragon, and above it, his rider.

He couldn't believe it. The third rider was flying down to him right now. Behind the rider, he saw an unpleasant sight.

A blood red dragon, his scales shining in the sunlight.

It's Murtagh and the rider! Eragon exclaimed to Saphira, unsheathing his sword.

The green dragon landed, his talons digging into the dirt. The rider hopped off clumsily, followed by a young girl.

This was perhaps the largest surprise to Eragon of all.

As the rider turned around, Eragon was shocked to surprise the rider was not a man, but a girl, not yet even a woman.

Her dark eyes locked with his for a moment, but as she took a step towards him, she was frozen in place.

Murtagh and Thorn landed with a huge thump, and Murtagh wore a pained look on his face. He appeared to be struggling, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword unnaturally tight. He shut his eyes tightly, grimacing. The girl attempted to spin around, but only managed in moving her head. She gasped, realizing her friend had left her.

"V-Visii!" she cried, anger flashing in front of her eyes.

Murtagh looked up, the pain gone from his face.

"Brother, I am sorry."

Eragon narrowed his eyes. He pulled his sword out in front of him, glad he had taken a rest.

Murtagh hopped gracefully off Thorn, holding his Zar'roc out in front of him.

"We meet again brother," he said, his voice full of so much emotion that Eragon could figure out how he felt.

Eragon nodded his head and lunged forward, and their swords clashed in a flurry of sparks, each had used spells the countered the other.

The flung themselves backwards, only to meet again, more sparks flying. As Eragon was thrust back again, he lurched himself up into the air, flipping and landing behind Murtagh. The man whirled around, his sword meeting Eragon's just in time. Throughout all of this, Murtagh's expression remained the same, pained and regretful.

Murtagh lunged again, and Eragon parried the blow.

Suddenly, there was a third blade in the battle; the girl's.

She whirled around, and though her skills were excellent for that of a girl, she matched neither of the men, whose experience was far greater than her's, and yet she still fought.

She parried a blow from Murtagh, and at the moment, she wasn't quite sure whose side she was on, nor was Eragon or Murtagh. All they knew was that they were fighting, and they were fighting for her.

She spun around, only to have her blow parried by Murtagh, who thrust her into Eragon. She rolled on the floor, slipping underneath Murtagh's legs.

He jumped up, landing behind her.

Eragon lunged at her, and she ducked, Murtagh's sword and Eragon's meeting inches above her head. As they brought their blades down for another attack, Murtagh's cut her arm.

She let out a cry, backing up, holding her free hand to the wound, trying to stop the blood flow.

The two suddenly stopped, and a look of anger shot over their faces. Eragon lunged at Murtagh with a cry, slicing the cloth of his sleeve. Murtagh let out a cry, sliding to the side, slicing Eragon's sleeve. Eragon's cut was much deeper than Murtagh's, and he let out a cry, dropping to the ground.

--

Murtagh glanced at Eragon warily, before turning towards the girl, casting her into a sleep. He slung her over his shoulder and ran towards the three dragons, all fighting each other, none sure who was their ally and who was their foe.

Saphira had a large gash on her leg, which slowed her down. The emerald dragon was slashing at Thorn wildly, who easily evaded the dragon's attempts.

Murtagh muttered a spell, making the green dragon still.

Saphira glared at Murtagh, and for a brief moment, her presence entered his mind.

Rue.

Then, she barreled past him towards Eragon, who lay slumped against a rock, and what seemed to be tears staining the ground.

The green dragon glared at Murtagh as thin shackles that had been around Thorn's leg were placed around him. Murtagh muttered a spell, thickening the chains so the dragon could not escape.

Regret spread through his body as he walked up to the dragon.

If you fear for your rider's safety, follow us without a fight, Murtagh threatened as Galbatorix had ordered him to.

The dragon glared at him.

Aye.

Murtagh climbed into Thorn's saddle, and realized something somewhat odd. All of the possessions that had been tied to the dragon were gone, as was the girl that had been traveling with them.

Murtagh thought little of it, so the girl was a thief, traveling with them to steal their things.

He glanced at the girl, and his heart skipped a beat. Around her neck was an oddly familiar necklace, with an emerald on a golden chain.

Murtagh shook this feeling away as he stared at his brother and the dragon, lying far off.

Ready? Thorn asked, lifting his wings.

Always.

Thorn lifted his wings, flapping them. They rose into the azure sky, carrying many, many secrets with them as the flew in the direction of Alagaesia's capital.

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And haha, a little cliffhanger for you!