Author's Note: Hope you all have some tissues handy- this chapter is really sad. I'm sure some of you are going to hate me after this one lol

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Alianna could see a small house near the edge of a forest, the only house that appeared to be around. Outside of the house stood two figures that appeared to be struggling. Although Alianna couldn't make out their faces, she could tell that one was a man and the other was a woman. Suddenly the man took out his sword and stabbed the woman. The woman fell to the ground, obviously dead. All of a sudden the scene went from the woman lying dead on the ground to the house being on fire…

Alianna woke up screaming and confused by the dream. But the dream wasn't her biggest problem. Her head was pounding as if it had been hit with a hammer. Suddenly Alianna realized that she was back in her room at the castle!

"Oh no!" she thought, "I must've been captured and brought back while I was unconscious. But where's Murtagh?"

She tried to sit up, but Argus came out of the corner and quickly over to her.

"Slowly my lady." Argus said.

"What's going on?" Alianna asked, "Where's Murtagh?"

Argus was very hesitant.

"Where's my husband?"

"Perhaps this should wait until you're well…"

"Tell me Argus! I demand to know where Murtagh is."

"He's gone," Argus said.

"What do you mean he's gone? I have to find him! It hasn't been long, perhaps…"

Argus interrupted, "Hasn't been long? My lady, you've been unconscious for two days! The king ordered Evander and the soldiers to capture you and Murtagh by any means necessary. You were hurt very badly. Then…"

"Then what?" Alianna asked, "Argus, please tell me."

"Forget it," Argus replied, "I've already said too much…"

"Please!" Alianna begged.

Argus sighed, "From what I could gather, after Evander threw you off your horse and you layed there unconscious, he and Murtagh fought. Murtagh slashed Evander's arm and that distracted Evander long enough for him to get on his horse and escape."

"This doesn't make any sense." Alianna said, "Murtagh wouldn't leave me like that. There has to be a reason why he did it."

"I don't know." Argus answered.

"I wish to speak to my father."

"My lady, I don't think that would be a wise thing to do."

"I don't care what you think." Alianna said, "I'm going to speak to him." She started to get out of bed.

Argus stepped forward, "Before you do that, you should know…"

But it was too late. The moment Alianna got out of bed and tried to walk, huge, searing pains shot up and down her left leg. Alianna would've fallen on the floor, but Argus got there just in time to catch her.

"What's wrong with my leg?" Alianna asked after the pain went away and she sat on her bed.

"It was damaged when you fell." Argus explained, "The healers did all they could. I'm so sorry."

"What are you saying? Is my leg always going to be like this?"

"I don't know."

Alianna had never felt so angry and upset. Murtagh was gone and now her leg might never be the same again. She knew that her father could heal her leg by using magic. He was the most powerful man in all of Alagaesia. Alianna knew that he wouldn't though. This was her fathers' way of punishing her for trying to escape and for killing some of his soldiers.

"I'm sure the punishment will only get worse when I confront him." Alianna thought, "Still, I have to do it."

Argus saw the look on Alianna's face and said, ""I think it would be best if you rested awhile longer. I'll have some food brought up. After that, I'll take you to the king."

"Thank you Argus." Alianna said, "I know we've had our disagreements over the years, but I appreciate you being so kind to me."

"Your welcome my lady." Argus said.

Alianna layed down for about an hour and then a tray of food was brought up to her. She was surprised to see that it wasn't Emma who brought it. Emma had always brought Alianna food when she wasn't feeling well. She shrugged and figured that Emma was busy that day. After Alianna finished eating, she got up and, with Argus' help, walked down to her father's chambers. Every single step was agonizing. It took Alianna over half an hour to make it there. Alianna opened the door and she and Argus slowly entered the room.

Galbatorix got off of his throne and charged at them. He struck Alianna across the face. Alianna winced in pain.

"Leave!" Galbatorix said to Argus.

Argus protested, "But sir, she can't even stand by herself…"

"I said leave!"

Argus nodded and quickly left the room. Alianna almost fell over, but she was able to grab on to a nearby table.

Galbatorix continued, "How dare you betray me! You and your bastard of a husband. I gave you two everything."

"Everything?!" Alianna said, "You treated us like dirt, Father. That's why we decided to escape in the first place."

"And yet you failed. But somehow you managed to kill eight of my soldiers!!"

"We did what we had to. I'm sure you've already found men to replace them."

"That's not the point!"

"Then what is your point, Father?"

Galbatorix struck Alianna again, "I won't have you speaking to me that way."

Alianna wiped the blood coming from her lip and said, "I hate you! You evil bastard. You've taken everything from me."

"If you're referring to Murtagh, he left by his own choosing. But he will be found and punished severely for what he's done. Now tell me, where is he going?"

Alianna looked up at her father, "I don't know!"

"Liar!" Galbatorix shouted, "I know you know where he's going."

Alianna refused to answer.

"Then I'll take what you know out of your mind myself!" Galbatorix said.

Alianna weakly smiled, "You can't Father. You taught me how to close off my mind so that no one may enter unless I want them to."

Galbatorix cursed at himself.

"I guess being your heir does have some advantages." Alianna said.

"Then I'll just have to beat it out of you!" Galbatorix replied as he stepped closer to Alianna.

Alianna tried to step back, but when she did, she fell to the floor. This didn't stop Galbatorix, who began to beat her. Alianna was too weak to fight back. After a few minutes, Alianna's face was covered in blood and bruises. Her whole body was in pain. But no matter how much her father beat her, she still refused to tell him anything.

"I'm going to ask you one last time," Galbatorix said, "Where's Murtagh?"

Alianna looked at him defiantly, "I don't know." She slowly crawled over to a table, held on, and pushed herself back on her feet.

"Emma also refused to tell me where you and Murtagh were." Galbatorix said, "But unlike her, I can't kill you."

Alianna couldn't believe it.

"That's right; your precious Emma is dead."

"You're lying!"

Galbatorix walked over to a shelf, picked something up, and said, "Does this look familiar?"

Alianna froze- it was the pearl bracelet she had given Emma!

Galbatorix continued, "I was made aware that you, Murtagh, and Tornac were missing. I knew how close you were to Emma. So I asked her where you all were and when she refused to tell me, I killed her."

Alianna cried and began to scream, "Nooooooo!! She was my only friend."

"Do you honestly think I care?" Galbatorix asked, "This is what happens when you betray me!"

"I hate you. You evil bastard. I HATE YOU!!!"

Alianna lost her balance again and fell to the floor sobbing.

"Argus!" Galbatorix shouted.

Argus entered the room.

"Take the princess back to her chambers. She's forbidden to leave the castle. I want a guard with her at all times. Do you understand? She's never to be alone."

Argus nodded, "Yes my lord." He helped Alianna up and they left. When they were walking down the hall, he said, "I'm so sorry my lady. Are you alright?"

"No I'm not alright!" Alianna snapped, "My husband is gone and Emma is dead."

"I know."

"You knew that Emma was dead?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"You were already suffering enough. I didn't want to add to it. I was going to tell you eventually, really…"

Alianna nodded, "I understand…" She was about to say more when she saw a familiar face walking down the hall- it was Evander!

Argus saw this and said to Alianna, "My lady, don't. You're not in any condition to…"

"Evander!" Alianna shouted.

Evander nervously approached. He saw the condition Alianna was in and said, "My lady, are you alright? What happened?"

"Don't stand there and pretend like you care about me!" Alianna said, "Especially after what you've done."

"I know you're upset…"

"I'm way beyond upset!"

Alianna grabbed Evander's arm. Evander winced as blood from the wound Murtagh gave him soaked his sleeve.

"How could you?" Alianna asked, "You could've let us escape! Instead you killed Tornac, chased after us, and attacked me. Now Murtagh is gone and my leg might be crippled!"

"I had no choice!" Evander replied, "You don't understand…"

"Understand what?"

"The king gave me orders. I didn't want to do it. In fact, I refused at first. But then he threatened my family. I have two daughters just a bit younger than you…"

Alianna interrupted, "I don't want to hear it! I blame you almost as much as my father. If I wasn't so weak, I'd kill you right now. But someday, you and my father will pay for what you've done. I'll see to that."

Evander stood there speechless as Alianna and Argus walked by.

When they got back to Alianna's chambers, Argus had a healer come in to tend to Alianna's latest wounds.

Afterward, Alianna said, "Argus, I know what my father said, but I'd really like to be alone right now."

Argus sighed, "Alright, but it can only be for a few minutes. I'll be outside your door if you need anything."

"Thank you," Alianna said.

When Argus left, Alianna layed down on her bed. She hugged the pillow that had been Murtagh's and began to cry. Alianna felt like this was all a bad dream. That she would wake up at any moment and everything would be okay. But seeing that empty space on the bed, where Murtagh should be, it hit Alianna that this was real. She had to face the fact that Murtagh was gone, Tornac and Emma were dead, and she was severely injured. In just two short days, Alianna's whole world had been taken from her.