Sorry about forgetting to update within the last two weeks. It's been here and everything (I'm just stuck on a future chapter and have been for about a month now...), but I've just been forgetting. I'll try for at least once a week... Since I missed last week, I'm putting up chapter 13 as well.

Happy reading!

Sarah (LadyMalfoyx)

Darcie woke up cuddled next to Murtagh with her rest resting up against his chest. She felt the warmth and light weight of his arm protectively wrapped around her waist. The land was still rather dark, but she was aware of the light peeking over the horizon beyond the opposite sand dune.

Did you have a good sleep, little one? she heard Kazryth ask wearily.

Did I wake you?

I couldn't sleep any longer than what I assume was two hours. I've been watching carefully all night as to clear my mind of possibly lurking danger by looking to see if the madman's soldiers had found us.

We're going to Helgrind today, aren't we?

It is the only way for Rider Murtagh and Thorn to be accepted. As for us... it is best not to take that chance.

Darcie heard Murtagh grunt as he repositioned himself on the bed of sand.

We should be leaving early - it is a fair distance from our location to Dras-Leona let alone Helgrind.

But Helgrind is just outside of Dras-Leona, isn't it?

Yes, but it is some distance out. Wake Rider Murtagh, Thorn and I have been awake for hours, waiting for you two.

Sorry... Darcie grumbled as she slid out of Murtagh's hold. His hand dropped from her waist to the ground.

"Uh...?" Murtagh pushed up into a sitting position and looked around, squinting hard.

"We have to go," Darcie told him as she stood up.

"Five more minutes..." Murtagh said airily as he started to lie back down.

Darcie crouched in front of him and lightly gripped his arms and fought him to sit back up. He finally sat further up and looked at Darcie with half-closed, glazed-over brown eyes.

"Five... more..."

Darcie claimed his mouth with a soft, passionate kiss that woke Murtagh up. As he tried to deepen the kiss, Darcie pulled away slightly.

"You have to get up," she told him, her forehead leaning against his. Murtagh looked into her light blue eyes for a few moments, but then tilted his head so his lips met hers in another kiss. It took Darcie a few moments to realize was happening, and she pulled away and stood up and took a few steps back.

"We have to go," she repeated. Murtagh pouted wearily. "If you get up and we get to Dras-Leona, you just might get a deeper kiss than you expected..."

Murtagh pushed up off the sand dune. He stretched and yawned and stiffly followed Darcie, who was walking towards Shiloh and Poco.

After galloping across the land, they left the horses by the Ramr River. Darcie told them, in the Ancient Language, that they were free to go once she loosened their halters and removed the saddles. They took off towards Urû'baen once they were free.

Once they were gone, Darcie mounted Kazryth and Murtagh mounted Thorn. They flew over the Ramr River and made it to Helgrind with two thirds of the day gone by.

The Ra'zac won't be expecting an quick ambush, and since the girl is in the main chambers, I think I should go in alone Thorn said. I will be out quickly.

Murtagh jumped off his dragon's back. With a whoosh, Thorn took off and was heading straight for the main entrance of Helgrind. Moments later, a petit girl with binds on her hands and feet and a gag in her mouth appeared balanced on her back, shaking in fear. Thorn softly landed as to make sure the girl wouldn't slip off his back.

We best move quickly. The Ra'zac had not appeared but they will notice their... previous hostage gone Thorn told them. Now get this girl off my back, she won't stop thrashing.

Murtagh went up to Thorn's side and removed the girl from Thorn's back and placed her down, standing up. He looked at her, unsure of whether to break the binds on her feet, hands, or the gag.

"Not much choice?" Darcie pressed with a smirk. "For all we know she could have a loud mouth."

The girl glared at the princess.

"Or she could run away, but that's not the proper way to treat ones that have saved you, is it?" Darcie asked the girl with a sly smile. She moved up next to Murtagh and whispered, "You hold her and I cut the binds."

"Which ones are you going to cut first?"

"Feet, which is why you're going to holding her."

Murtagh didn't question Darcie as he went up behind the copper-haired girl, who eyed him warily. In a split second, one of his arms grabbed around her waist tightly. She tried screaming, but it was muffled by the gag and Murtagh's hand. Darcie crouched down warily and quickly cut the binds. As soon as she did, she jumped back, narrowly avoiding getting kicked by the girl.

"Do you wish to see you love again?" Darcie snapped, holding the knife up threateningly.

The girl was dead silent, unmoving.

"Oh yes, we know. That is why we freed you as a matter of fact. You're coming with us to the Varden where you'll be reunited with what's-his-face. Now, until then, you will cooperate or we'll make sure you never see your lover's face again, understood?"

The girl nodded jerkily, tears running down her face. Darcie then cut the blinds off her hands.

"Before I remove your gag, there's one other thing - don't run away. These lands are never-ending and if you don't die first you'll be recaptured by the Ra'zac."

The now-shaking girl nodded again. Darcie then undid the gag and Murtagh let go of her.

"What is your name?" Darcie asked as she burned the cloth in her hand. The girl looked startled and scared at the sudden show of magic.

"K-Katrina," she stammered.

"And what is your lover's name?"

"Roran," she responded as tears fell faster from her eyes. She looked at Darcie and Murtagh, and then the two dragons with confusion in her eyes. "W-who're y-you?"

"Darcie, hidden princess whom is now the third dragon rider."

Katrina's eyes widened slightly.

"And I am Murtagh, son of Morzan and long-lost brother of Eragon Shadeslayer."

Katrina's mouth dropped. "You're... you're Eragon's brother? But... you... that means..."

"Yes, he's our other dragon rider," Murtagh responded impatiently. The sound of the Ra'zac screaming echoed throughout the land.

"Get on the green dragon, Kazryth, and hold on tight," Murtagh said. Darcie looked at him questioningly. "You're riding with me."

The green dragon Kazryth stepped in front of Katrina. He eyed her momentarily, and then hummed and crouched, indicating she could touch him and get on. The copper-haired girl managed to get onto the green dragon, who took off as soon as her feet were in the stirrups. She held in a scream that built up in her throat.

South-east! Thorn told Kazryth as he took off with the two riders. Darcie just managed to fit in behind Murtagh in the saddle and held onto him for dear life as Thorn took off and started to catch up to Kazryth.