A/N: Yea! Updated! It wasn't that long of a wait was it? Read and well you know REVIEW!
The bright early sun peaked through Leona's eyelids and woke her up. She found herself against Eragon's bare muscular chest as he held her gently to him. She looked up to see that he was sleeping silently. She smiled and rested her head to try to go back to sleep but the sun would not allow her to. She gave up on going back to sleep and got up slowly under Eragon's arms and got out of the warm blanket. She quickly put on her clothes and went back to Eragon's side. The sun was even brighter now and Eragon was still sleeping.
Wow, he sure is a heavy sleeper, Leona thought to herself and giggled. She quietly sat next to his head and lightly picked it up and put his head on her lap. She lightly stroked through his soft brunette hair. Eragon finally opened his blue eyes that Leona loved as she said softly,
"Good morning." Eragon smiled and caught her hand that was in his hair and lightly kissed it as he said,
"Good morning." Leona giggled as he pulled her in for a light kiss. Then he said,
"How long have you been up?"
"About five minutes. That's why I'm dressed." Eragon looked her down and then back at her face and said,
"I should probably do that too." Leona smiled and nodded as he picked his head off her lap and reached for his pants and shirt. Leona watched as he dressed trying not to think about what Galron and Saphira would say to them. She was woken up from her thoughts as Eragon held out his hand and said,
"We should probably go." Leona gracefully took his hand and smiled. Once they were out of the cave Leona mentioned about what they should say to our dragons,
"So I was thinking about this. About what we should say to our dragons and . . . " Eragon cursed and said,
"O great! Saphira is going to kill me!" Just then a voice that was familiar to Leona was behind them and it said,
"Oh I could do that for her." Leona and Eragon turned around and found Murtagh sitting on the edge of the cave with his feet dangling. Eragon became so furious and moved Leona behind him and roared,
"What is it you want here?" Murtagh laughed and jumped off the cave and said in a simple yet powerful voice,
"You. Just you and me. I come with a message from the king, and no I am not here for any more damaging." Eragon looked to Leona and then back to Murtagh and nodded and said,
"Alright, go on. Tell your message." Murtagh smiled and shook his head and said,
"Alone. She needs to leave." Eragon nodded and looked to Leona, but she did not like the sound of this.
"Eragon, I'm not leaving." She said quietly. Eragon sighed and said to Murtagh,
"Excuse us for one minute." Murtagh nodded and said,
"One minute." Eragon carried her away for a bit more privacy as Eragon said,
"What's wrong, we're just going to talk." Leona shook her head,
"You cant trust, Murtagh, can you? I doubt he is going to keep things simple." Eragon grabbed her hands and Leona held tight to them as he said,
"Don't worry he wont hurt me, alright?" Leona did not look at him but he let go of her hands and held her face to make eye contact as he repeated,
"Alright?" Leona nodded in his hands and she reached up and grabbed them. She held them again as she said,
"Come back soon." Leona heard Eragon chuckle and say,
"Of course. Don't worry, I will be fine. Just go by the water fall and I will be there soon, alright?" Eragon leaned in for a soft kiss and walked towards Murtagh. Leona turned around and headed toward the waterfall and treasured that kiss. For it could be the last.
--
"Alright, what is it?" Murtagh laughed and said,
"Let me give you a clue." With that being said Murtagh balled up his fist and swung his arm into Eragon's face but Eragon dodged it quickly and said furiously,
"I thought you said no damaging." Murtagh laughed and said,
"Oh come on! Are you serious? Really, are you? I'm Murtagh! You cant trust a damn word that comes out of my mouth!" Murtagh spat those words out like he hated it but loved it. Eragon shook his head and was about to say something until Murtagh punched him hard in the gut and said,
"Oh that was another clue by the way. Still not getting it? Maybe I should get to the punch line." Murtagh kneed him hard in the stomach that made Eragon yelp and fall to the ground. Murtagh laughed and pulled out his red blade. Eragon's eyes grew wide,
"What are you doing?" Murtagh twirled the sword around and said,
"A message from the king, remember?" Eragon realized what he was doing and tried to get up, but Murtagh stomped on his stomach again and Eragon grabbed his stomach and screamed. Murtagh chuckled and was about to raise his sword until Eragon yelled,
"Wait, you don't want to do this!" Murtagh put down his sword but then raised it up again and said,
"No, I'm am pretty sure I want to do this." Eragon inched back and shook his head and said,
"Why? Kill your own brother?" Eragon could see a little remorse in Murtagh's eyes but his voice was not,
"Don't you see? It's you! You make me repent and I get punished for it! If you were just gone forever I could live up to Galbatorix's expectations and I would not have to face any beatings from him which I experience almost every night. With you out of my way I can forget remorse and live in authority." Eragon shook his head violently and said,
"Murtagh, look what the king has done to you! I have not put any shame on your part and you know that! Do you hear yourself? It's like you are Galbatorix! You are an exact replica of your father! What happened to the man that hated Galbatorix and hated being Morzan's son?" Murtagh lowered the sword and said through his gritted teeth,
"I hate them both. You don't know how much hatred I have for them." Eragon became confused and said,
"Then why do you do this? Why don't you just kill yourself. It's better than to see you like this!" Murtagh looked to the sky and back at his sword which he planted in the ground as he said,
"Eragon, you don't know how many times I have tried to do that. But every time I do, something tells me to put the knife down and think about what you are doing. And honestly, I do sometimes wonder why I am still alive, why I couldn't just pick up that damn knife and slice it across my throat." Eragon looked down and then back at Murtagh who was still looking at his sword and said,
"Murtagh, I'm sorry for what you have been through. But I know what it's . . . "
"No," Murtagh shot a glare at him and hovered over Eragon inches away from his face. "You don't know at all what it is like. It is hell. Have you ever been there? It's dark and scary and you here screams every night from Galbatorix's prisoners. And you would think that disturbs him, but oh no. He loves that sound, it is like music to his ears. His special lullaby before he goes to sleep. But wait, we cannot forget his favorite part of the day! Beating me! Throwing me against the wall, bashing my head against the floor, kicking me like I am a useless old pathetic dog! But if it makes the king happy so be it! He doesn't give a damn what I think or anybody else. No, you do not know at all what it is like. You don't know a damn thing about it!" Eragon could see tears well up in Murtagh's eyes but they would not fall out. Eragon did not know what to say, but Murtagh got up and stabbed the ground with his sword as he said through his clenched jaw,
"I am tired of people praying to a God every night. Nothing is happening, and obviously they cant see that! They don't get it. There is no God. If there were wouldn't we be in peace? Wouldn't I have never gone through the dreadful pain I face every night? Wouldn't I have a family that loved me?" Murtagh looked down and he finally let the tears fall. Eragon did not get up to comfort him but he did say,
"I'm family and . . . I love you. Sure I don't like the things you do, but you're my brother and I should love you anyway. I believe that you are good Murtagh, and its up to you to decide that as well. You don't have to rot in hell." When Murtagh was silent Eragon got up and put his hand on his shoulder and said softly,
"It's almost over, Murtagh. The King's reign will be destroyed. You wont have to go through this anymore. You'll be free." Murtagh finally looked to Eragon with glassy eyes. He could see his bottom lip tremble as Murtagh looked to the sky and took a deep breath as he said,
"Free. I was never aloud to say that, but it feels so good to finally do so." Murtagh let the tears roll. He Looked to Eragon and stumbled his way over to him. Eragon inched back but Murtagh dropped the sword and hugged him tightly. It was an awkward hug but Eragon managed to hug back as he heard Murtagh say,
"That's all I want to be . . . free." Eragon pat his back as Murtagh stepped away and wiped the tears quickly off his face. Murtagh picked up Zar'roc and put it in his scabbard.
" I wont kill you. I cant. You are my only family that has ever loved me and I cannot do that to a family member. Although I will be greatly punished, it will be worth it in the end." Murtagh offered his hand and Eragon grasped it tightly and they gave a manly shake. Just then a loud horn blew out through out the whole Varden. Eragon shook his head and said,
"No, not this early it cant be." Murtagh cursed and said,
"I didn't think he would come this early. I better go and meet him." Eragon stopped him,
"Wait! Murtagh! Come to our side." Murtagh gave him a look and said,
"I still have to fight for Galbatorix. I am not free yet. But good luck, brother, and may god be with you." Eragon crinkled his eyebrows and said,
"I thought you said there was no god." Just then a large red dragon came out of the forest eyeing Eragon the whole time. He had gotten much larger since he last saw him but there were several scars on his body as well. Murtagh quickly hopped up his legs and adjusted in the saddle and said before they lifted off,
"There could be a god, but I'm not totally convinced." Murtagh smirked and then Thorn lifted off powerfully in the air. Eragon smiled and was glad to have that conversation with Murtagh even though his stomach was bruised. He realized that the war was starting and he ran to get Leona. When he was halfway to the waterfall he found Leona running toward him as she yelled out,
"Eragon! The battle is starting! Galbatorix's troops are coming up the mountains!" Eragon nodded and kept on running as he said,
"I know. We must hurry." Eragon offered his hand and she took it tightly as they ran quickly through the forest. They stopped by the waterfall where Eragon left his sword and continued to run.
Eragon! Where are you? I am awaken by the battle horn and you are not in bed! What happened last night? Eragon I swear if you . . .
Saphira I am coming right now and I have Leona. And don't worry we were gazing at the stars and we . . . fell asleep.
Yea, well you better tell Galron that because he is about to rip your head off. Eragon sighed,
Alright, alright. Eragon looked to Leona and she had no expression on her face so Eragon said,
"I just talked to Saphira and she said that Galron is about to tear my head off because of our disappearance last night. Could you tell him that nothing happened?" Leona nodded and said,
"Already taken care of." Eragon nodded. They finally got to the field and ran to the inside of the Varden. Just as Eragon expected it was complete chaos. There were soldiers screaming and yelling and running around. Eragon held tight to Leona's hand and said,
"Don't let go." Leona nodded her pallid face. Eragon chugged through the crowd to get to another hallway that was almost vacant. When they finally got there Eragon looked to Leona's face and she still had the same expression, pale and blank. Eragon gently grabbed her face between her hands and said,
"Relax, Leona, we're going to get through this." Leona looked at him and said,
"But this is my first battle as a dragon rider and I don't think Im that prepared." Eragon inched closer to her and kissed the top of her head and said softly,
"I wont let anything hurt you. I promise." Leona smiled and hooked her arms around his neck as Eragon leaned in to kiss her. Whn she broke the kiss she leaned her head into Eragon's chest as he rested his chin o her head. Just then Eragon heard screams of a woman coming down at the end of the hall. Two soldiers grabbed a hold on a beautiful but scarred up woman. Eragon had seen her before but could not remember where. They approached Nasuada who was down the hall talking to another soldier. Leona lifted her head off of Eragon's chest to see what was going on. Nasuada turned around and saw this and said,
"What is going on here?" One of the soldier looked up and said,
"She wants to fight but she refuses to get her mind searched." Leona heard this and let go of Eragon and wandered down the hall and Eragon followed.
"Is this true?" Nasuada said to the woman. The woman lifted up her head and said,
"Yes, I will refuse to have anyone of you invade my thoughts like that!" Once Leona heard her speak she quickened her pace down the hall and whispered,
"It cant be." Eragon tried to stop her but she was too quick.
"Linmir! You fool! She is an elf, let her go!" Nasuada ordered the soldier as she saw her pointed ears. This made Leona start to run down the hall.
"But she will refuse for us to probe her mind! It is against the law for the Varden to allow anyone get through without an inspection, elf or not." Nasuada glared at Linmir but sighed and said,
"I am sorry, but he is right. You will have to be put in the dungeon until you get an inspection. What is your name?" The woman's beautiful brown eyes looked up to Nasuada and said,
"Adlana." Leona sprinted down the hall with tears coming down her face but she did not say anything and this worried Eragon.
"Well, Adlana, I am going to have to send you down to the dungeon until . . . "
"No! Wait, don't!" Leona yelled. Eragon tried to grab her hand to stop her but she just ran faster.
"Leona, what is wrong?" Nasuada asked. Adlana's eyes grew wide with tears as she saw Leona approaching. The soldiers were dragging her away. Adlana did not fight the soldiers she just looked blankly at Leona running down the hallway sobbing and yelling,
"No! Stop! Let her go! She's my mother! She's my mother!"
A/N: Not too long and not too short. Well I wrote this chapter as fast as I could so please review to return the favor.