Author's Note: I'm so sorry this chapter took so long to get out. I had a really hard time with one particular scene in this chapter and it took me forever to write it. Speaking of that scene, I wanna thank my friend Heather (aka OpheliaHyde) for helping me with it :)
WARNING: This chapter contains sexual content and some violence, although I don't think it's enough for me to give the chapter an M rating.
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"Are you serious?" Alianna asked, "But how are we going to do that? Where will we go?"
"I don't know yet." Murtagh told her, "I'm going to speak with Tornac and see what he thinks. He'll probably come with us."
Alianna nodded, "I should start packing."
"We won't be able to bring much, so only pack what you need."
"Alright."
"I'm going to see Tornac now." Murtagh said, "I should be back in an hour or two." He kissed Alianna, "Everything's going to be okay."
After Murtagh left, Alianna took out a bag and began to pack. She only packed some clothes and a few small things that she couldn't bear to leave behind. Just as she was finishing up, Alianna heard a knock on the door. She froze in fear, thinking that it might be her father or one of her guards.
"Who is it?"
"Alianna it's me, Emma. May I come in dear?"
Alianna breathed a sigh of relief, "Of course you can."
"I just heard what happened and came to see if you were alright." Emma said as she entered the room. She saw the bag on Alianna and Murtagh's bed, "What's going on?"
Alianna looked all around, including out into the hall, ""Did anyone follow you here?"
"No my lady." Emma replied.
Alianna shut the door and locked it, "Still, just to be safe- Atra nosu waise vardo fra eld hornya (let us be warded from listeners)."
"Are you going with Murtagh to Cantos?" Emma asked.
Alianna nodded no, "No, I'm not. In fact, Murtagh isn't going to Cantos. We're escaping tonight."
Emma's eyes widened, "Alianna, that's dangerous! You know what your father is capable of. If he finds out…"
"We don't have any choice!" Alianna told her, "I'm tired of living like this and so is Murtagh. We need to find a better life for ourselves."
Alianna saw that Emma looked deeply upset. She could understand why. Ever since Alianna was three years old, Emma had been the main person who raised her. The two of them were so close that if you didn't know them, you would think that they were mother and daughter.
Suddenly, Alianna had an idea, "Emma, come with us."
"What?" Emma asked.
"Please come. I'd hate to leave you behind."
Emma sighed, "I'd love to come with you Alianna, but I can't."
"Why not?"
"You know that Selwin is buried nearby. I can't leave him."
Alianna tried to fight back the tears.
Emma continued, "Alianna, this doesn't mean that I don't love you, I do. You've always been like a daughter to me. I hope you'll understand though why I can't go with you."
Although Alianna started to cry, she did understand what Emma was trying to tell her. She knew how much Emma had loved Selwin and still loved him to this day. Alianna would do the same thing if god forbid something happened to Murtagh.
"I guess this will be the last time we ever see each other then." Alianna said sadly.
Emma walked over and hugged Alianna, "You and Murtagh are going to be just fine. You're both so strong and I know you can take care of yourselves." Emma let go of her, "I guess I better get going. I'm sure you have a lot to do before tonight."
Alianna cried as she hugged Emma. Just as Emma was about to leave though, Alianna stopped her.
"Emma, wait!" Alianna said as she went over to her jewelry box, pulled out a beautiful pearl bracelet, and handed it to Emma, "I want you to have this."
"Alianna, this is your best bracelet." Emma said, "I can't accept this."
"I want you to have it. It's my way of saying thank you for everything you've done."
"Thank you," Emma said as she started to cry, "I really should go now." She gave Alianna one last hug, said goodbye and then left.
A few minutes after Emma left, Murtagh came back.
"What's wrong?" Murtagh asked Alianna, who was sitting on their bed crying.
Alianna told Murtagh what just happened with Emma.
"I'm sorry," Murtagh said, "I know how close you and Emma are." He walked over and kissed Alianna, "Perhaps someday, if Galbatorix is ever defeated, we can return."
"Every year, my father becomes more and more powerful. I don't think he'll ever be defeated. We're never going to be able to return!"
"What are you trying to tell me? Are you having second thoughts? Look, Tornac and I are leaving tonight. If you don't want to come, I'll understand."
"Of course I want to come. I'm just scared, that's all."
"I know you are." Murtagh said as he sat next to Alianna and held her.
Alianna leaned in and softly kissed Murtagh on the lips. Murtagh responded and then began placing kisses down Alianna's neck. Alianna let out a soft moan. At one time, Alianna would've sent Murtagh flying across the room if he had tried what he was doing at that moment. Now she welcomed his touch. It made Alianna feel safe and loved.
Suddenly, Alianna could feel Murtagh's hand slip down her thigh. Murtagh stopped then and looked at her, but Alianna didn't say anything.
"Are you sure?" Murtagh asked.
Alianna nodded and kissed him, "Make love to me."
Alianna was surprised to hear those words come out of her mouth and that she meant it. Although she and Murtagh had become very close over the last month, the most Alianna had ever let him do was kiss her. It had taken awhile, but now Alianna completely trusted Murtagh and (although she was a little scared) was looking forward to what they were about to do.
Murtagh undid the buttons of Alianna's dress, kissing the exposed skin as he worked his way down. Before long, all of their clothes lay in a pile next to their bed.
"I love you." Murtagh whispered.
Murtagh hovered above Alianna and held her close. This was it- there was no turning back. Alianna began to tremble.
Murtagh brushed his hand against Alianna's cheek and tried to calm her down, although he was nervous as well. Finally, Alianna and Murtagh became one. Alianna gasped at the feeling. It was a little awkward and it hurt at first, but the pain went away after a minute or two and Alianna began to enjoy it. This felt so right, being together with Murtagh. It was like they were made for each other, even though a few months ago Alianna wouldn't have thought so.
Soon, it was all over. Murtagh held Alianna in his arms and stroked her hair gently.
"Wow," was all that Alianna was able to say as she rested her head against Murtagh's chest. Then the two of them slowly drifted off to sleep.
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Alianna and Murtagh woke up a few hours later. They kissed each other before getting up and getting dressed. Alianna looked up at Murtagh. She had never felt so happy and yet so scared at the same time. In just a few hours, they would be leaving Uru'baen forever.
"What's wrong?" Murtagh asked, seeing the troubled look on his wife's face.
"Nothing," Alianna told him.
"You don't regret what we did, do you?"
"Of course not. I'm fine, really. So… what did Tornac say when you talked to him? Where are we going to go?"
"There's this old friend of mine," Murtagh began, "We'll go to estate and hide there. At least for the time being."
"Who's this friend of yours?" Alianna asked, "Where does he live?"
Murtagh gave her all the details and (incase something happened and they were separated) directions to his friends' estate. They were going to sneak out around the time they knew Galbatorix went to sleep. From there they would meet up with Tornac at the stables, pick up their horses, and be on their way.
Murtagh was about to tell Alianna more, but a servant arrived to tell them that dinner would be served shortly. Half an hour later, they arrived at the dining hall. Galbatorix was at the head of the table, still looking angry, but not nearly as angry as he had been earlier. Alianna and Murtagh sat down quickly.
"I hope you learned your lesson Alianna." Galbatorix said.
"Yes Father," Alianna replied, trying to remain calm and not raise and suspicions, "I won't disobey you again."
Galbatorix then turned his attention to Murtagh and discussed going into Cantos tomorrow. Murtagh simply nodded and kept his answers short. Galbatorix barley said another word for the rest of the meal, which Alianna and Murtagh were grateful for.
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The big moment had finally arrived. Alianna knew that her father had long since gone to sleep. Murtagh gathered their belongings and took out a long rope that he had found. Since the entrance to their chambers was usually guarded, they would have to sneak out through one of the windows.
"Ready to go?" Murtagh asked as he finished tying one end of the rope to the bedpost and put the rest out the window.
"Ready," Alianna replied, putting on her long dark cloak.
Murtagh climbed out the window first, followed by Alianna. They moved quickly to the stables, where Tornac was waiting for them. Although Murtagh spent time with Tornac almost everyday, it had been several months since Alianna had seen him. Tornac was the best swordsman Alianna had ever met and she was grateful to have learned from him.
"Alianna!" Tornac said quietly, "It's so good to see you again, although I wish it were under better circumstances."
"It's good to see you again too." Alianna said, giving Tornac a quick hug.
"We must hurry." Murtagh said.
Alianna nodded, "You're right. Who knows how long it'll take for people to realize that we're gone."
The three of them prepared their horses and rode off as quickly as they could. Alianna's heart was pounding the whole time. She was so afraid that at any moment, they would be caught. Her fears were soon confirmed when they reached the gates of the city. Standing there was a group of eight armed soldiers, lead by Evander.
"Well well, what do we have here?" Evander asked.
Alianna couldn't believe it, "But how…"
Evander continued, "The King anticipated that you would try and run."
"Get out of our way Evander!" Alianna said, "We're leaving."
"I'm afraid we can't allow that my lady." Evander said.
Murtagh got off his horse and drew his sword, "Then you leave us no choice."
Alianna and Tornac go off their horses as well and joined Murtagh in attacking the soldiers. Since Alianna's right arm was injured, she held her sword in her left hand (which didn't matter since she could fight with her left hand just as easily as she could with her right). They were outnumbered, but Alianna, Murtagh, and Tornac fought off the soldiers as best they could. Most of these soldiers Alianna had come to know well over the years. But she showed them no mercy that night as she sliced the throat of one of the soldiers. Eventually, they were able to defeat all of them, with the exception of Evander.
"Are you alright?" Murtagh asked his wife.
"I'm fine," Alianna told him.
Alianna and Murtagh looked around to see where Tornac was. They found him still fighting Evander, who clearly had the upper hand against Tornac. Alianna and Murtagh ran over to try and help him, but it was too late. They watched in horror as Evander drove his sword through Tornac's heart, killing him almost instantly.
"Tornac! Nooooooooooo!!!" Alianna screamed, tears streaming down her face. She tried to go towards Tornac's body, but Murtagh grabbed her.
"Alianna we have to go, now!!!" Murtagh said, seeing that Evander was about to run after them.
Alianna and Murtagh quickly got on their horses and rode off, Evander not far behind. Alianna had Bella riding as fast as she could go, but soon Alianna found that Evander had caught up to her. Suddenly, Evander go so close that he was able to grab Alianna and pull her off Bella. The last thing Alianna remembered was Murtagh screaming her name and then her world went black.