Ok, here is the second part. Murtagh is very bi-polar in this, but it gets some what explained at the end. Once again, please let me know if this is horrible. I would like to fix it if it is. Thanks, and thanks for reading

Disclaimer: I don't not own any of the Inherritance characters, they are the property of Christopher Paolini. I do own, however, my character, Alethea.

Part 2

Everyone was quite surprised when Lord Murtagh rode into Uru'baen with a woman on the back of his horse. The crowds were quieter as they just stared at her upon the grey stead. Murtagh whished that they would do something. He knew Alethea could hear the dead quiet. He groaned quietly at the thought of what the king would think, if the commons had this reaction. Alethea gave him a gentle squeeze

King Galbatorix was also quiet surprised to watch the son of his most trusted ally return with a woman in tow. It didn't seem like Murtagh to allow himself to have baggage. All the same, he ordered that the report be given and Murtagh did so. The mission had been a success, and the uprising had been crushed. All the while the woman stood quietly in the back ground.

"Good, very good Murtagh. Now what of this woman?" This is where the son of Morzan faltered.

"I, um, she was near by and—"

"Perhaps we should give a chance to speak for herself," Galbatorix interrupted smoothly. "Come here girl." She did so, walking slowly toward him, as if counting her steps. She knelt in front of him, head bowed. "Rise." She did so, her eyes still toward the ground. "What is your name?"

"Alethea, my liege."

"And how did my vassal come to acquire you?"

"I lived in the woods near the skirmish, majesty. I offered food and my abilities as a healer to Lord Murtagh."

"Ah, and has my vassal made his intent for you clear?"

"No, my liege."

"Why don't you look at me?"

"It is not proper my liege."

"Look at me." He saw her eyes flick up, and saw that the silver glazed that that had formed over her blue orbs. "A blind girl? Out of all the women in the world, you pick a blind girl, Murtagh?"

"Yes, my liege."

"And what are your intensions toward her, boy?"

"I don't know my liege."

"Well, then, lad, I suggest you marry her. Bringing a woman back as such is an open declaration that you will either do as such, or use her as a whore. And I don't believe that you wish to do the latter, do you?"

"No, my liege."

"Good. It's high time you were married anyway, you're nearly twenty and I suspect that had your parents lived that you would have been wed some time ago. Go select a room for your bride. But you might not want to choose your own." Galbatorix gave a cold laugh as Murtagh grabbed Alethea roughly and escorted her out the room.

The blind girl stumbled as he led her violently down the hall. She was grateful when they stopped, only to find herself shoved into a room. It her world of darkness, she felt a bit of fright for the first time in a long time.

"You are to stay here until I call for you. Do not leave this room unless your life is threatened. I will send some maids along to accommodate you and to measure you for proper clothing." The door closed, and he was gone.

Alethea calmed herself and reminded herself that she was there because she had chosen to be, long before she met Murtagh. Placing her hands out in front of her, she stumbled along trying to find something, and acquaint herself with her new room. She found a wall, a wardrobe, a vanity, a table and a bed. Sinking gratefully down onto it, she sighed as she heard,

"Mistress? We're your new maids."

"Come closer, please," Alethea asked. "I have no desire to find the door currently."

"Oh, that's right; Lord Murtagh mentioned that you were blind." Small rough hands pulled her to her feet. She felt them all tugging at her clothing but were unable to get them off. Alethea laughed slightly and began removing her clothing with her long fingers. "Oh Mistress, you shouldn't do that!"

"That's all right, I'm used to it. I've been wearing clothes like these for years. They are a bit hard to get used to." Alethea shivered as she helped them remove the last of her outer clothing.

"Well then, let's get you into a bath and some proper clothing. We'll just have those thrown out."

"Don't," Alethea said. "Those are special clothing. I need them."

"Lord Murtagh, ordered us to my lady," said a bit of a younger maid, fear tinting her voice. Alethea frowned.

"I'll hide them then, and then it will be no fault of yours."

"But what if he finds them?" asked the maids. "We'll get in trouble."

"He won't," Alethea insisted. "I will hide them well." One of the maids sighed.

"If you insist, Mistress. Now let's get you into the baths." Alethea felt herself being led into a tub. From there, she was scrubbed, soaped and dumped upon for quite some time. When she was finally led out of the tub, she was thoroughly dried, and not in the gentlest manor. "Now, Mistress, you just hold still and we'll get these knots out of your hair."

"You're not going to cut it are you?"

"Now tha's about the only way to get'um out."

"Give me a brush," Alethea ordered. The maids did so, and she began viciously brushing out the knots. She heard the maids gasp in surprise as she brushed threw her hair. In a few minutes, she brushed threw it without it snagging once. "Is that well enough for you?"

"Well, tha' is one way to do it, mil'lady," agreed a maid. They then proceeded with their torture by lacing up a corset, before pulling a gown over her head. The slippers they gave her pinched at her heal, and she kept tripping over the edge of the gown. Finally, the proceeded by tugging her hair into certain positions. "Well then, it seems like you're ready to have dinner with his Lordship."

"There is no need for that," Murtagh's voice came in smoothly. Alethea heard the maids around her gasp, and their bodies and clothes crinkle as they curtsied. She did so as well, as she heard him walk toward her. She held her ground though as his calloused hand brushed her face gently. "You look very lovely Alethea. Are you hungry?"

"Yes, my lord."

"That's good, I will have some food delivered her, and we will eat together. Doesn't that sound nice?"

"Yes it does my lord."

"Good. You four are dismissed," he said to the maids. Alethea heard the four women shuffling to leave. "Would you like me to lead you to the table, Alethea?"

"Yes please, my lord." Murtagh took her hand and took her all of four feet to a table that the maids must have brought in while she was in the bath. Murtagh inquired about the maids and how she had been treated, and Alethea answered him every time. Even though he seemed to torture her, Alethea was more worried for his sanity. Quietly, she asked the way to access his room should she need to, and Murtagh led her to a door that was right by her bed.

Alethea knew that it was dangerous to leave her room. Murtagh had ordered her not too and in truth, she feared what he would do. But she had to do this; it was as simple as that. Getting out of bed, she slowly slipped to the door and opened it. Slowly, she wandered in his room, hands out strait in front of her. Finally, she brushed against the bed.

Following the frame until she reached the head, she felt for Murtagh, and quickly found him. Gently, she stroked his face and was happy to find it peaceful. But suddenly it changed and she felt her hand being grabbed. He had woken up.

"What are you doing in here?" he hissed. "I told you not to leave your room!"

"You're in pain," she told him.

"What?"

"You're in great pain Murtagh. I can feel it, and that is why I am here. I must say, that you must have an interesting perception of reality. What I cannot understand though, is when you left the haven, you adjusted to reality like any normal person, but here you act as though you will die." She heard him give a bitter, throaty laugh.

"That isn't because you or your haven. It's because of him. I had somewhat of an intent of marrying you when I brought you here but he… he makes it so cynical! I can have no life because of him. When he told me that I had to marry you, it made me angry."

"Do you love me Murtagh?" Alethea asked after quite some time of silence.

"I…I think so."

"Then ignore the king. Marry me because you wish to. We'll make things all right, I promise."

"You shouldn't make promises you don't intend to keep," Murtagh told her.

"And you shouldn't try to become what you hate most," Alethea retorted, loosing her usual collectiveness.

"What is happening? I want to be angry with you but I can't."

"I don't know Murtagh. But the same resides within me; perhaps we shall figure it out together. Good night, Murtagh." Alethea moved to go back the way that she came, but she felt strong arms lifting her up. "What are you doing?"

"Making sure that you don't kill yourself," he replied. Alethea leaned into his chest, listening to his steady heart beat until he laid her on the bed. But a surprise came when he pressed his lips to hers, tongues touching, hearts beating as one. "Good night, Alethea," Murtagh said as he gentle pulled away.

"Good night, Murtagh, good night."

Ermmmm well, I don't know if this is going slow enough for me...I was planning on them getting married next time, but perhaps it will be delayed. Once again, reviews are aprreciated.

Gwenhwyvar --yeah, I was planning on it. In this one though, I thought that he was less OOC. Thanks for your imput

angelic elemental rose-- thanks so much! I do have a rough story line planed and it will be an interesting journey for the both of them to be sure.

Lovebuggy -- Thankies It clears up more a little bit later, but I'm glad that you liked it.