The Ra'zac hadn't found or followed the two dragons and the riders, which alone worried Murtagh and Darcie. They feared the Ra'zac were going to Galbatorix and reporting them to the king, who would in turn send out his armies. This spurred Kazryth and Thorn to fly higher and faster.

A week passed and they finally made it to Aberon, capital of Surda, in a week an a half. Kazryth lagged behind slightly as to let Thorn ahead. They circled the city and landed in front of the gates. Thorn charged through them and broke them down completely, causing a big stir to the city.

It wasn't required of you to do that Murtagh scolded.

I've been wanting to break down gates for months Thorn responded sheepishly.

Murtagh first jumped down and off of the great red dragon as the armies of the city started coming towards them. As Darcie jumped down, Kazryth landed beside her. Through the crowds, Murtagh saw Eragon running towards him and Darcie with his sword raised and an angered expression escalating as the moments ticked by.

"What the hell are doing here, you traitor?" he demanded, still running forwards with his sword out in a threatening manner.

Murtagh scanned his brother's mind and merely looked into the elf-boy's eyes. This forced Eragon to stop a matter of feet in front of him. Eragon then saw Darcie next to him.

"And who're you?" he snapped. "Another one of..." Eragon then saw the green dragon and his sword dropped to the ground from his shock. He then looked back at Darcie, his infuriated glare bore into her. "You're the third rider aren't you? You've joined Galbatorix in his plans to destroy us, twisted your dragon to nothing more than a..."

"Don't you dare insult Kazryth," Darcie snarled so viciously Eragon jumped back in surprise. "There's a difference in joining Galbatorix and being his daughter."

The crowds gasped.

"Now, we've come to make a proposition. Kazryth, if you please," Darcie said as she turned to the green dragon. Kazryth swung his head around and helped Katrina down to the ground. She appeared unnaturally pale and a tinge of green that matched Kazryth's scales.

"Get..."

"You're not getting the girl just yet," Murtagh then cut in before Eragon could say 'Roran'. "We've given her a safe return, food along the way, transportation... you let us join the Varden and you get the girl."

"No way," Eragon responded quickly.

"You bloody idiot!" Katrina yelled at him.

"You can't trust traitors," Eragon snarled as he looked back at Murtagh.

"We'll swear fealty to Nasuada or King Orrin or whoever is in charge," Darcie said. Eragon appeared taken aback.

"W-what?"

"We'll pledge our allegiance to the leader of the Varden," Darcie repeated, sounding more impatient.

"You've already swore fealty to King Galbatorix, the both of you!" Eragon snapped.

"By force," Murtagh yelled angrily, causing Eragon to wince at the force of his voice. "If we swear fealty to your leader, we can break our oaths to Galbatorix. We'll be free from him and we will serve as we pledged and help destroy this 'mockery'."

"Technically that's implying..."

"As much as a son can't choose his father, a daughter can't either. My father locked me in my room and single hallway for 18 bloody years. I have only seen the light of the world for my own eyes, living in it instead of being on the... inside looking out for the past half a year! And you know what? This is what that madman and his dragon gave me." Darcie lifted up her shirt just enough to show four long scars gashed in a faint, yet distinguishable odd diagonal design down her toned stomach.

"I wandered outside of the hallway when I was 8 and into Shruikan's chambers. That monster of a dragon gave me this, and my father scolded me for it, saying it was my fault for leaving my room. That man is nothing more than a maniac bent on conquest of every part of the world, known and unknown. He doesn't care for anyone other than himself. Why would anyone willingly serve 'King' Galbatorix?" She pulled her shirt back down sharply, a hard glint in her eyes. "Give us a chance to prove ourselves. You'll need more than one rider out there, and you of all know it."

Just then, King Orrin and Lady Nasuada appeared.

"Eragon..."

"They were just about to..."

"They aren't leaving," Orrin cut. Eragon fell silent.

"How can we trust you two?"

"Well you don't truly know me..."

"You're the daughter of the king, as you so claim."

"Who would want to be the daughter of Galbatorix?" Darcie cut in with a shocked tone.

"True enough," Nasuada gave in. "But you," she looked at Murtagh with a glare. "Nearly killed Eragon and nearly demolished our armies. How do you expect us to trust you?"

"If I was so evil I wouldn't have tried to help reunite two lovers," Murtagh started. "And Thorn and I were forced to take our oaths."

"My lady, I can check his mind if you wish," Eragon said, looking at Nasuada.

Nasuada looked at the two riders. "Let Eragon check both of your minds. If what you say is true, you are welcome to join the Varden."

Orrin pulled Nasuada aside and they quietly argued for a few minutes. Finally, Orrin said, "They shouldn't expect hospitality from the others for some time."

"No worries about that, your majesty," Darcie tried to respond without a sarcastic tone. She was surprised to have succeeded.

Eragon first turned to Murtagh. "Don't block anything with help from your dragon."

His eyes bore into his brother's as he broke into his mind. Murtagh's body shook violently for a matter of moments, but then stood serenely. After many long minutes, Eragon released the spell, his face pale and shocked; he even shook slightly.

"Now you know true horrors, brother," Murtagh said coldly.

Eragon then turned to Darcie.

"You don't have much to search for, I've had a rather dull life," Darcie warned him.

"Don't block anything with the help of your dragon," he said with a smile flickering on his lips.

Darcie felt the walls of her conscious shatter as Eragon entered. All her lank memories flashed in front of her eyes, how Desiree said she wasn't to come out from her room again, how Shruikan nearly killed her, how her father scolded her, visits from her father and some of the sparring practices with guards she had. Finally he had gotten to the more interesting memories. The day Desiree said Darcie was free, when Kazryth's egg hatched for her, when she got the gedwëy ignasia from when he first touched her, how she met Murtagh, when she fell into the water and was saved by him, how she had begun training with sticks with Murtagh and the stories he told her about his travels with Eragon, how he taught her words in the ancient language throughout the day...

Eragon had gone through all parts of her life and her truths after what felt like agonizing hours. He finally released the spell, and Darcie felt light-headed and wavered on the spot like a drunk.

"One more thing," Eragon said.

"What...?" Darcie groaned as she rubbed her forehead.

Nasuada stepped forward and asked, "Do you swear never to bring purposeful harm to the Varden, to Surda, to all opposing forces of the Empire? Do you swear to serve us and not betray us the Empire in any way?"

"Vel eïnradhin iet ai Shur'tugal." Upon my word as a Rider they both said in synchronization.

"Then it is settled. Call Roran Stronghammer and tell him of the news along the way," Nasuada told the guards.

"Stronghammer...?" Katrina asked in confusion as she edged forward carefully, still appearing a tad nauseous.

"Katrina?" a voice called in the crowds.

Within moments, Roran pushed his way through the crowds. Katrina's expression filled with shock and happiness as he ran up to her and gave her a tight hug, holding her close.

"We've done our best to help her, but you should still get healers to check her," Darcie told Nasuada and Eragon. As Darcie said that, healers had already begun to take her in.

Nasuada looked at the two of them, and then turned to Eragon. "Led them and their dragons to the buildings behind the castle, and then show them to their tents."

"But behind the castle is where..."

"Saphira is, I'm aware."

Eragon sighed. He then snapped, "Come along."

Darcie rolled her eyes and followed Eragon, Murtagh close behind. The two dragons thumped along beside their riders, causing the crowds to move out of the way for the large creatures.