Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in Eragon. Just Alianna and a few random characters I come up with along the way.
Alianna was awoken by a loud knock on her door.
"Ugh" Alianna thought as she slowly got up and walked over to her door. She opened it and saw that it was one of her servants.
"Yes?" Alianna asked.
"Dinner will be served in one hour my lady." the servant said.
Alianna nodded, "Thank you"
Alianna rummaged through her closet looking for a dress to wear. She had several to choose from. Her father did see to it that she had some of the finest dresses and jewelry in all of Alagaesia. This wasn't because he cared about Alianna and wanted her to have nice things, but so she looked like a proper young princess and wouldn't embarrass him.
"God forbid he actually care about me." Alianna thought.
She finally settled on a dark blue cotton dress with lace trim. After fixing her hair and putting on one of her favorite necklaces, Alianna walked out of her room and was then taken down to the dining hall. When she arrived, she saw not only her father standing there, but Murtagh as well.
"What's Murtagh doing here?" Alianna asked.
"I invited him." Galbatorix replied, "Besides, you should get use to eating with Murtagh. He'll be your husband soon enough."
"Don't remind me" Alianna mumbled.
"What was that?"
"Nothing"
The meal was silent, but this was nothing new to Alianna. Galbatorix rarely talked to her during dinner unless it was about something really important. Murtagh didn't say anything either, but every once in awhile Alianna caught him glaring at her.
About halfway through the meal, Alianna wanted some more bread, but noticed that there wasn't any left on the table. She looked around and found a tray of bread on a food cart in the corner of the room. Alianna got up and went over to get it, bringing it back to the table.
"What are you doing?" Galbatorix asked, "Put that down, Alianna! My god, we have servants to do that!"
"I can get my own bread, Father." Alianna said as she put the tray on the table and sat down, "Besides, the servants work hard enough as it is."
"They're servants, that's what they do." Galbatorix replied, "I won't have any more of this talk. You're my daughter and it's time you started acting like it. "
"I'm nothing like you, Father. I never have been and I never will be. Perhaps I take after my mother…"
Galbatorix stood up and slammed his fist down on the table, "I've told you never to speak of her."
"How can I speak of her when I don't know anything about her?" Alianna asked, "Why won't you tell me who she is? What are you trying to hide?"
"That is enough! Do you hear me?" Galbatorix shouted, he then looked at Murtagh, "I hope that when the two of you are married, you'll be able to keep her in line."
Murtagh looked at Alianna and then back at Galbatorix, "Yes my lord…"
Galbatorix sat back down, "Good. We will not discuss this anymore, Alianna. Understand?"
Alianna simply nodded. Just as it looked like Galbatorix was about to speak again, a guard came in and quickly ran over to him.
"Your majesty! I apologize for interrupting your meal, but it's important. There's been an attack on two of our brigades!"
Galbatorix stood up immediately, "What?! By whom?"
"We believe the Varden is behind it." the guard said.
"I must meet with Durza." Galbatorix replied.
Durza was a very powerful Shade (a sorcerer possessed by demonic spirits) and had become Galbatorix's right hand man after Morzan was killed. Without saying another word, Galbatorix and the guard left, leaving Alianna and Murtagh by themselves.
Alianna waited a minute to make sure Galbatorix was really gone, and then said to Murtagh, "I hope you weren't serious when you told my father that you would keep me in line."
"Of course not" Murtagh told her, "If Galbatorix isn't able to do it, I certainly can't."
"And you never will." Alianna replied with an angry look on her face.
"What's the matter now princess?" Murtagh asked, "Are you upset because Galbatorix left?"
"First of all, my name isn't princess!!" Alianna said, "It's Alianna. Second of all, no, I'm not upset because he left. I'm glad he did. I just can't stand being alone in the same room with you."
"Likewise" Murtagh told her.
"You're not going to say something sarcastic?"
"About what?"
"About my father yelling at me."
"No, I'm not."
Alianna was surprised, "Really? Why?"
Murtagh answered, "Because I know what it's like to not have a mother."
The room became silent for a long time. Finally, Alianna got up and began to walk towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Murtagh asked.
Alianna turned around and said, "Not that it's any of your business, but I feel like going for a walk."
"I'll go with you." Murtagh said.
"I don't think so. I'm not going that far anyway."
"We all know what happened the last time you tried to take a walk. Besides, Galbatorix said you couldn't leave the castle unless you were with me or your guards."
"Well, he's busy right now, so he'll never know."
Alianna opened the door and saw all of her guards standing in the hallway. She looked back at Murtagh.
"It's either them or me." Murtagh said with a smirk on his face.
Alianna looked at Murtagh and then at her guards. She rolled her eyes and then looked back at Murtagh, "Lets go"
Alianna and Murtagh walked out into the courtyard. There were several people out and about that night. Many of whom were staring at Alianna and whispering to each other as she and Murtagh walked by. Alianna tried her best to ignore them.
"You don't care that they're talking about you?" Murtagh asked.
Alianna shook her head, "No, not really. I'm use to it."
"You know, you could have those people hanged if you wanted." Murtagh said.
"I know" Alianna replied, "But I would never do that. I refuse to be like my father."
"I understand. So, princess…"
"Why do you insist on calling me that?" Alianna asked, sounding very annoyed.
Murtagh smiled slightly, "Because I know you hate it."
Alianna just shook her head and continued to walk. After awhile, they left the courtyard and walked towards the edge of the forest. They stopped when they came across a particular tree.
"Do you remember this tree?" Murtagh asked.
"Of course" Alianna replied, "I was five and you were six. You told me that if I climbed up that tree and jumped out, that I would be able to fly like a dragon. So, I did it and ended up breaking my arm! I'll never forget the look on your face…"
"Well, I didn't think you'd actually do it!" Murtagh said.
There was a brief pause, and then Alianna and Murtagh both started to laugh.
"I think this is the first time we've ever had a civilized conversation." Alianna said.
Murtagh replied, "Weird, isn't it? Maybe you're not what I thought."
"What's that suppose to mean?" Alianna asked him.
"I've always thought of you as just a stupid…"
Alianna interrupted Murtagh and sounded hurt as she spoke, "I'm not stupid! Don't you ever call me that again!"
"What's the big deal? I've been calling you stupid ever since we were kids."
"That doesn't make it okay! I hear it a million times a day from my father. I don't need to hear it from you too." Alianna began to walk away.
"Where are you going?" Murtagh asked.
Alianna turned around, "Away from you. Just leave me alone Murtagh. I hate you. Do you hear me? I HATE YOU!!"
Alianna started to run from Murtagh. Murtagh followed her, but Alianna used magic once again to thrust Murtagh backwards, giving her enough time to slip away from him. She ran deep into the forest until she reached her special hideout. It was nothing fancy, just a small hut where she and Murtagh use to play as kids when they wanted to get away from the castle.
Alianna doubted that Murtagh remembered this place (it had been years since he'd last been there), so she figured it would be a perfect place to hide. She went into the hut, sat down and began to cry. Alianna had been trying not to cry all day and it finally just came out. Tears streamed down her face. After crying for what seemed like hours, Alianna heard footsteps coming towards her. She quickly drew her sword and went outside to see who it was. Alianna put her sword back when she realized that it was just Murtagh.
Murtagh breathed a sigh of relief, "I have been looking for you everywhere! I… what's the matter with you? Have you been crying?"
"Maybe" Alianna said.
"Do you have any idea how dangerous it was for you to run off like that?" Murtagh asked, "You could've been killed!"
"Like you would even care if I died." Alianna said, "Anyway, I'm fine. I can take care of myself."
"Yeah, sure you can." Murtagh replied.
"How'd you finally find me?" Alianna asked.
"It wasn't easy." Murtagh said, "Then I remembered that this is where we use to play when we were kids. I thought maybe you would come here.
Alianna was surprised, "You actually remember this place?"
"Yes" Murtagh said, "We should head back to the castle."
Alianna agreed, "That's a good idea. I'm tired. Plus, the sooner I get to the castle, the sooner I can get away from you."
Murtagh rolled his eyes, "Would you stop being such a brat?"
"I'm not a brat!" Alianna said.
Alianna and Murtagh continued to argue until they reached the castle and went up to Alianna's bed chambers. Emma was walking by as they arrived.
Emma greeted Alianna and then looked at Murtagh, "It's nice to see you again, Murtagh."
"Hello Emma" Murtagh said.
"Do you need anything my lady?" Emma asked Alianna.
"No" Alianna said, "I feel like being alone right now."
"As you wish." Emma said with a smile as she walked away.
Alianna looked at Murtagh, "You should go."
"Alianna…" Murtagh said.
"Just go!" Alianna shouted as she walked into her chambers and slammed the door in Murtagh's face.