"A glorious victory." Galbatorix stated as Murtagh stood in the throne room. "Your father would have been proud."
"They still have three dragon riders, my King." The eldest brother stated.
"You are wrong, brother." One of the other brothers spoke up.
"What do you mean?" Murtagh asked hiding the worry in his voice.
"We went on a mission last night…" The brother smiled at Murtagh.
"Was it successful?" Galbatorix questioned impatiently.
"Extremely, my King." The brother responded and as if on cue, they heard a dragon's angry roar.
"They've captured Onóra!"Murtagh heard Thorn's angry voice right before the doors opened. Onóra was thrust through the doors and into the hands of the eldest brother.
"Let go of me!" She struggled against him.
"It's nice to see you again, too, Lady Onóra." He smiled and gripped tighter.
"Her dragon is outside, my King." A guard stated. Onóra watched as Galbatorix made his way to the window.
"Is that him?" Eirwen's voice resounded with hatred.
"Yes, that's Galbatorix." Onóra's tone mimicked her dragon's.
"A pure white dragon. What's her name?" He looked at Onóra, who only stiffened. He made his way to her and when she refused to answer, he struck her. Murtagh's hands clenched into fists as he struggled not to protect her. He couldn't risk that.
"Eirwen, my King." The eldest brother answered when Onóra wouldn't.
"Take her to the dungeon and teach her some manners. See what she'll tell you about the Varden." Galbatorix ordered. "Murtagh, take Eirwen and put her with Thorn. I want to see what she's made of." Murtagh nodded and reluctantly obeyed.
"I'm sorry, Eirwen. I didn't know about this. Now he wants to see if you will fight with Thorn." Murtagh explained as he led the white dragon to the arena where Thorn was kept.
"What are they doing to her, Murtagh?" Eirwen could feel her rider's pain.
"I can't stop them with risking your lives even more." The turmoil of this knowledge marred his voice.
"What is this?" Thorn asked as he watched Murtagh lead Eirwen into the arena.
"Galbatorix wants to see what she's made of." Murtagh replied aloud. "I wasn't stupid enough to tell him the fact that you're mated to each other." He added mentally.
"Go check on her, please." Eirwen didn't like not knowing what was happening to her rider.
"I can't sense her!" Eragon slammed his fists on the table in frustration.
"She's fine, Eragon. I'm sure she's fine." Arya sat next to him and tried to assure them both.
"Murtagh won't let things go too far, but if he steps in too early…" Brom was hoping that he was right about the first part.
"What?" Eragon looked at his father.
"If he steps in too early, he risks getting them both killed." Brom knew he was right about the second part.
"Come on, we have to prepare for this battle." Arya knew that the mounting rescue mission would mean a battle but they weren't going to leave Onóra any longer than necessary.
"Why did you switch?" Onóra asked the eldest brother.
"Why do you care?" He glared at her. She was wiping blood from the fresh cut about her right eye.
"Does it have anything to do with your wife?" She had noticed the wedding band. "Is it because of her death?"
"Shut up!" He spun around and struck her with his whip. "You know nothing!" He seethed.
"I know enough. I know that it wasn't the Varden who killed her. It was staged to look that way, but the truth is that the town had been attacked by Galbatorix's men."
"Liar!" This time he punched. "You're just trying to confuse me but it won't work." He hit her with the whip five more times.
"You know that the Varden protects, not destroys." She stood on shaky legs. He struck her once more before he left. She crawled into the darkened corner. Her back, arms, and legs burned and her face throbbed.
"Here's your meal!" The middle brother came up to the cell with a loaf of bread and some water. He placed it just inside the door. "I don't care if you eat or not." He spat before disappearing down the hall.
"Eragon, if you can hear me… get me out of here." She felt hopeless. She hadn't been able to sense Eragon in days; not since she'd been captured and brought here. She slowly made her way towards the bread but stopped when a shadowy figure appeared.
"Galbatorix wishes to see you." It was the youngest brother; the one she really hadn't seen much of. He grabbed her arm and led her to the throne room.
"Still not talking?" Galbatorix's voice made her flinch. She could sense Murtagh standing somewhere in the room. "Maybe you need some motivation." She was pushed to the window. What she saw both horrified and angered her.
"Eirwen, hold on." She turned to face Galbatorix.
"Onóra, call on the ancients for strength and power; it's the only way to protect Eirwen." His voice was unexpected but welcomed.
"Thorn?" She glanced at Murtagh. She could see the tension in his stance. That angered her more. She settled her glare on Galbatorix. "I call upon the power of the ancients. Lend me your strength to protect the gifts that have given to me. Lend me your power that I may protect your daughter!"
"Impossible!" Galbatorix stood in shock as Onóra's sword found its way into her hands and the chains fell away. Her wounds healed and her dragon rider mark glowed.
"Azura, my old friend." At the name of the sword, the stones and the blade started to glow. "Release my dragon!"
"As impressive as this is, I'm afraid I can't do that." Galbatorix grinned evilly.
"Fine then, I will free her." Onóra fought with the youngest brother and then leapt out of the window.
"After her!" Everyone scrambled out of the throne room.
"Back off!" Onóra stood in front of Eirwen with sword raised.
"Onóra, this chain is making it hard to breathe." Onóra turned and cut through the chain that connected the collar to the ground. Then she smashed the lock that held the collar closed.
"Get her now!" The eldest brother ordered the men.
"Eirwen, the magic is weakening. I don't know how much longer I'll last." She watched as the soldiers approached them. She noticed Murtagh standing in the distance and when their eyes locked she knew there was something wrong.
"Alright, we move out at dusk. We will travel at night until we get just outside Uru'baen. They cannot see us coming." Eragon said as the Varden gathered for one last strategy sesson before heading to Galbatorix's castle. "Do not kill Murtagh. He may be serving Galbatorix, but he is still one of us."
"Eragon, what is he can't be saved?" Arya asked.
"I'll deal with him if it comes to that." Brom answered before Eragon could. "Let her hate me, not you."
"Roran, you and your men are to find Onóra before anything else. Get her to us at any cost." Eragon looked at his cousin, who nodded in understanding. "We're entering the point of no return now more than ever before. Expect anything; Galbatorix will try to destroy us all."
"You should eat." Onóra was sitting in the darkened corner while the eldest brother stood at the door.
"Go away. What do you care if I live or die anyways?" She replied. "Besides, I couldn't move even if I wanted to."
"If you hadn't pulled that stunt the other day, your arm wouldn't be broken." He stated coolly. The truth was, he had thought a lot about what she had said about his wife's death. The more he thought about it the more what Onóra had said made sense. "Do you want me to get Murtagh?"
"What for? So he can stand silently over my weakened, bloody body as he tries to force me to eat?" He had already done that once before. She was starting to believe that he didn't care about her anymore.
"Eat something, please." That word snapped her from her dark thoughts. "You're going to need your strength, something is going to happen soon."
"Like I said, I couldn't move even if I wanted to." She repeated. "I won't be of much use in a fight with a broken arm and sprained ankle." She leaned her head against the wall. "If only you could hear me, brother." A tear ran down her cheek.
"Eat something, Onóra." It was a different voice and she flinched. "Get up and eat something." This time he sounded like he was begging her.
"I can't, Murtagh." He hadn't seen the new round of punishment. She was thankful that the darkened corner hid her cuts and bruises from him.
"You have to." His eyes bore into hers. He had been sent to scout the area and had just gotten back.
"I can't!" She repeated. Tears stung her eyes as her bruised ribs throbbed from the movement. "Ah!" Her hand flew to her ribs in instinct as the sob escaped her lips. Tears poured down her face as she struggled against the pain.
"Galbatorix would like to see both of you immediately." A guard came up to Murtagh. "Let's go!" He entered the cell and grabbed her and forced her to stand. The sudden movement caused the pain to spread. She collapsed to her knees and found breathing difficult.
"Tell him we'll be along momentarily." Murtagh ordered. The guard did not question his tone.
"Leave me." Onóra whispered through the pain.
"What did they do to you?" He knelt beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder. She flinched and pulled away from him.
"Leave me." She repeated.
"What happened?" He reached out again but she still moved away. "Waisse heil." He whispered the spell and she relaxed. She sat up, free of pain.
"Thank you, but what are you going to tell Galbatorix?" She asked. He reached out a hand and helped her stand.
"Leave that to me." He took her gently by the elbow and guided her to the throne room.
"She's healed." Galbatorix stated when the entered. "Murtagh?"
"She was of no use to us in that condition." He explained. "If I may, Sire, in light of Previous tactics not working to change her mind… perhaps I can be more persuasive."
"You have my permission to try whatever you think might work." Galbatorix replied and dismissed them with a wave of his hand.
"Shall I take her back to the dungeon?" The middle brother asked.
"That won't be necessary." Murtagh said as he escorted Onóra to his chamber.
"What now?" She backed against a wall.
"First, a bath." Murtagh smiled a little. He motioned for her to follow him. He led her to a wash tub full of hot water. "There are clean garments on the stool when you are done." He left her alone. She looked around, still very cautois about the whole thing.
"Now what?" She stood next to the fireplace after her bath.
"Come sit." He replied. He was sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace. "Eat something." She sat, hesitantly, beside him. "Onóra, I'm not going to hurt you."
"I know. It's just that I've been on edge ever since…" Her eyes grew distant as she stared into the fire. She jumped at his touch.
"What else did they do to you while I was away?" He watched her eyes flicker close and tears stream down her face.
"Nothing that can be healed with magic." She stood up and leaned against the mantel with her back facing him. "I'm sorry." Sobs racked through her body.
"Onóra?" He turned her around to face him. "Tell me." He rolled up her right sleeve. Her soulmate mark had faded. "How?"
"After he…" More tears flowed down her cheeks. She didn't want to sit because that would make it real. Images flooded Murtagh's mind as she willed him to know what had happened.
"I'll kill him. I swear that he will pay for this." Murtagh burned with anger. "He acted against Galbatorix's orders; you were to be left untouched in that way. He will pay for this."
"Why would Galbatorix care?" Onóra didn't understand.
"He was hoping that if he could get you on his side that you and I would…" Murtagh rested his forehead against hers.
"But now I've been defiled."
"I don't see if that way. He didn't fully… but he did enough to warrant his death." He pulled back to look her in the eyes. "Regardless of what happens when everything is said and done, know this: Lady Onóra, I know the truth now. I know the truth that I couldn't see before." He rolled up his right sleeve revealing his now-complete soulmate mark. "Even if the Varden fail, I will not let him kill you."
"Murtagh…" She laid a hand on his mark. A tear hit his arm. "You are my destiny but I can't serve Galbatorix. Maybe if Thorn hadn't told me about the ancients to save Eirwen… I can't fight against my family. I'd die first." She moved away from him.
"You would fight against me?" He asked in disbelief.
"I would hate it, but I'd die before I fought against my family."
"Have you been able to contact Eragon?" He stepped towards her.
"Not since my capture. I can't stand it." She backed into the wall as another wave of tears broke loose.
"Onóra, help!" Eirwen's voice was followed by a roar.
"Eirwen!" Onóra's head shot up, eyes wide. More thunderous roars were heard.
"Come on!" Murtagh grabbed her by the hand and they ran toward the arena. They skidded to a stop at the sight before them. Eirwen was laying on her side with a spear deep in her shoulder. Thorn was in front of her protecting her.
"No!" Onóra ran to her dragon.
"Enough!" Murtagh yelled with such authority that everyone jumped a little. He stood in front of Thorn. "What is going on here?"
"That dragon attacked us." The middle brother replied.
"Liar!" Thorn growled. "He provoked her and then when that didn't produce the result he wanted he attacked her."
"What is the meaning of this?" Galbatorix stood at the entrance of the arena.
"He claims that Eirwen attacked them. Thorn says something different." Murtagh answered when Galbatorix made his way to them.
"Which do believe, Murtagh?" That was a dumb question, even for Galbatorix.
"Thorn. I've been around Eirwen enough to know that she would not attack unless provoked." Murtagh replied matter-of-factly.
"Take them to the dungeon." Galbatorix ordered. The two brothers were taken to the dungeon to await their punishment. "What should be done to them?"
"Both should be flogged, my Lord." Murtagh glanced at Onóra and his heart broke.
"They should be killed." Thorn interjected. Murtagh looked at his dragon.
"The middle brother should be killed, but not only for what he did to Eirwen…" Murtagh's thoughts trailed to the conversation he'd had with Onóra earlier. Thorn released a deep growl.
"Waisse heil!" The three looked at Onóra. They hadn't noticed when she pulled the spear out and now she was trying her dragon. She collapsed to the ground as her strength failed.
"There is much to discuss, Murtagh. Deal with these two and then see me in the throne room." Galbatorix said and then left.
"Thorn, stay with them. I'll be back to check on them after I speak with him." Thorn nodded and lay down next to Eirwen. He made sure that Onóra was in the middle. Murtagh made sure she was comfortable and then headed to the throne room.
"What do you say Murtagh?" Galbatorix asked when Murtagh entered. The eldest brother was standing in front of the throne.
"He has not only broken your order not to harm the dragon but has also gone against your order not to ruin the rider." Murtagh stood beside the brother.
"You're sure of this?" Galbatorix questioned.
"Yes, my Lord." He nodded slightly.
"Bring the brothers up!" Galbatorix ordered. A few minutes later the two brothers were escorted into the room. "Step forward." He montioned for the middle brother to approach.
"My King?" He stood between his brother and Murtagh.
"You have disobeyed me. Twice!" Galbatorix knew that Murtagh spoke the truth. He had probed the young dragon rider's mind. Murtagh had known he would do that and was able to keep anything not connected to the brother's crimes hidden from Galbatorix. Everything Onóra had shown him, Galbatorix now knew.
"What crimes have I committed against you?" He tried to plead his innocence.
"You have shamed us, brother." The eldest brother said. He knew the truth as well.
"You attacked the white dragon and ruined the rider; both actions were against my orders!" Galbatorix stated. "For such crimes you are sentenced to death."
"I've done no such things!" He looked to his brother for help, but none would come.
"Take him away! He dies at dawn." The guards drug the middle brother from the room. "As for you: you will receive 20 lashings and spend the night in the dungeon." Galbatorix dismissed the youngest brother.
"May I return to the arena, my Lord?" Murtagh requested.
"Go." He dismissed both Murtagh and the eldest brother.
"Onóra, are you alright?" Thorn's voice broke through the darkness. Onóra opened her eyes and looked at Eirwen.
"Eirwen." Onóra crawled to her dragon.
"I'm fine, Onóra. Normally you are strong enough for that spell. What's wrong?" Eirwen nudged her gently.
"I'm fine, just tired." She leaned into the dragon's neck. "It doesn't help that I've only had bread and water. The flogging doesn't help either."
"Onóra, are you alright?" Murtagh asked as he approached the three. She looked weak. "Come on, you need a proper rest." He helped her to her feet but carried her when it was clear that she was still too weak to walk.
"Where am I?" Onóra hadn't realized she'd drifted off to sleep before they even left the arena.
"Back in my chambers." Murtagh sat on the edge of the bed next to her.
"How long have I been out?"
"Not long, only a few hours. Do you think you'll be able to eat something?" He brushed some hair from her forehead.
"I think so." She sat up, already feeling a little stronger. Murtagh placed a tray on her lap. She dipped the bread into the broth and ate it slowly. "He's dead?" She asked when she was finshed.
"Not yet, it's been set for dawn." Murtagh replied; the images still fresh in his mind. She laid a hand on his arm.
"What's troubling you?" She moved the tray to the other side of the bed and scooted forward. She held his face between her hands and looked into his eyes.
"Nothing you need to worry about." He held her wrists and then stood up."
"Onóra, can you hear me?" A voice she hadn't heard for weeks rang clear in her head. She didn't react, but a small smile tugged at her lips.