A/n: Not sure what to call this chapter. Oh well.Thanks once again reviewers! I'm glad you liked the last chapter. It was fun to write. Now, onto chapter 22! Booya! By chapter twenty-three, I will be eighteen!!!!!!!! I can vote!

Twenty Two

Feelings

Murtagh quickly tracked her down. He called out to her, but Nasuada had already disappeared around the corner, with Garth trotting at her heals. Her dress flashed in the sunlight like a thin sheet of gold. Murtagh wondered if she even realized that she was still wearing the dress.

"Nasuada!" He finally caught up to her, and tugged at her sleeve. "Hey, what's wrong? I thought we were having fun. Why'd you walk off like that?"

Nasuada blinked, as if seeing him for the first time. She shrugged. "The maid was getting on my nerves." It was a lie and they both knew it.

"Do you want to talk?"

"No." She walked past him.

She wants you to stop her, Thorn echoed. Don't let her walk away.

How would you know? You're a dragon.

Yes, I am a dragon, not a monkey. And one that has watched this woman carefully to make sure she's right for you.

You think we do well together? He was just a little surprised that Thorn cared that much. And all this time I thought he was trying to annoy me. He heard a low growl ripple across their connection. Murtagh rolled his eyes. He grabbed Nasuada's arm, firmly but gently. "Well, I want to talk."

Nasuada's gaze was sharp and impatient, her lips pursed tightly together. "About what?" Her voice was laced with a prickly, challenging edge.

Talking about Ajihad was too awkward, even for Murtagh. What was he supposed to say? In a way, he could relate to how Nasuada must have felt, but unlike Ajihad, Morzan was nothing worth mourning. Murtagh was glad Morzan was dead. And he hardly remembered his mother. So Murtagh said the next thing that came to mind: "Your training. Have you thought about it?"

Nasuada crossed her arms impatiently. "I have," she said. "And I understand that it is necessary, but what Arya refuses understand is that I cannot and will not leave the Varden for such a length of time. I have a rebellion to lead."

"I realize that, but it won't do the Varden any good if you don't understand—"

"I know!" Nasuada snapped. "I understand the importance of my studies, but I cannot leave the Varden for so long."

"I'm sure Arya will figure something out. I just don't want to see you get when we could have avoided."

"I've survived this long," Nasuada said. "It shouldn't be any different than before. After all, I am not made of glass."

"Yes, but Galbatorix can make steel bend. He—"

"Galbatorix will not find my name overnight," Nasuada interjected. "So stop worrying about that." She gazed at him thoughtfully, tapping her fingers against her elbow. "You seem to worry double when you have nothing to do. There is something I've been meaning to ask of you, but I refrained from it while you were sick. Would you like to hear what I have in mind?"

Murtagh shifted uneasily. "I suppose."

Nasuada took his arm, linking it with hers. "Walk with me."

Why are women so confusing?

Because all you monkeys know how to do is screech and thrash about the trees, Thorn replied. Your girls, they just don't know what to make of your howling.

"I have a proposal for you, if you'll hear me out."

"I'm listening," Murtagh said, glad there was no one around, or they might laugh at the troubled expression on his face.

"Would you teach the younger soldiers fencing?"

Murtagh stopped, surprised by her request. "You want me to teach?" A sense of dread came over him as the words slid through his lips. His thoughts flickered back to his volunteer service at the infirmary, and the dread deepened.

"I've seen you in battle," Nasuada said. "You could easily outdo any of my warriors, especially with a blade."

"But teach?" The more he thought about it, the more he abhorred the idea. "Honestly, I don't know if I can. I've never taught anything before."

"Twelve boys," Nasuada said. "We'll start you out with the youngest ones, from sixteen to thirteen. Right now, our Youth Division only consists of twelve, because anyone older than sixteen is considered a child, and most parents are afraid to enlist their children. Because there are so few of them, we have had to train them with the adults, and quite frankly, they couldn't use a sword to save their adolescence lives. If we don't do anything now, they will be slaughtered."

He ignored that last part. "You send children out on the battlefield?" They walked on.

"I try not to," Nasuada said. "Usually the Youth Division protects the women and children during combat. My concern, however, arises with the notion that should they come across the enemy, which they will someday, they will be slaughtered. So, who better to teach them than you?"

"How about someone they might respect?"

"Oh, Murtagh." She knit her fingers with his. The edge in her voice softened. "It takes time for people change their minds. They aren't entirely convinced right now, but many are on the brink of forgiveness. When you teach their children how to stay alive, then I am positive they will decide they were wrong. And the easier it will be us."

"Us?"

"Yes, us." She looked at him with pleading, loving eyes. How could he refuse?

He sighed. "When do I start?"

Nasuada beamed. "Tomorrow morning. You may keep them there as long as you feel the need, and should they give you any trouble, feel free to run those boys into the ground." He dress flashed as they passed through a ray of sunlight pouring in through the arches.

Unable to resist the temptation, Murtagh tugged at the sleeve. "I thought you were going model this privately? I must say that I am a bit disappointed."

This made Nasuada laugh. "Well, don't get too let down. I may need help out of this fabric trap, if you are interested."

The inside of Murtagh's tunic burned up like a blazing furnace, and it wasn't because of the sun climbing higher into the noon. He slung an arm around her shoulder, wearing a sly grin. "I'm always up for rescuing a damsel in distress."

Nasuada steered him around in a half circle, towards the direction of her office. "Then I think I will extent my lunch break. Orrin did say that I need to vacation more often."

A/n: I'm developing Murtagh and Nasuada's romance a bit fast, but for good reason. I have a plot that I'm trying to set them up for (once again, though, this chapter took me by surprise!)

If anyone wants to beta for me, let me know. If not, no biggie. I can deal.

Thanks again reviewers!