AN: I am so sorry this chapter wasn't out sooner. I had writer's block once again and was dealing with a lot of personal issues. Anyway, I hope this chapter is worth the wait. I think it is :) Enjoy and remember to review!
"Is it Murtagh?" Alianna asked.
"No," Argus said, "No one knows the name of the boy, but from what I could gather, he's from Carvahall."
Alianna was surprised, "Carvahall? I thought the elves had the egg. How did it get all the way to Carvahall?"
"I don't know," Argus told her, "But the king has sent the Ra'zac out to look for the boy."
Alianna nodded, "He wants to control the next generation of Riders. It would give him an enormous advantage against the Varden. Whoever this boy is, I hope they don't find him."
Argus agreed and said, "I'm sure the king will be quite busy for awhile."
"Which means he won't have time to pay attention to what I'm doing." Alianna replied.
"True," Argus said, "But that does not mean you can go around doing whatever you please."
"But-"
"I'm serious Alianna. These are dangerous times. What if you ventured off and a spy from the Varden found you? What do you think they'd do?"
"You sound like Murtagh." Alianna told him.
"Well, he was right. I'm not saying all of this to be mean. I'm saying it because I don't want anything to happen to you."
"I know and I appreciate that." Alianna said, "I guess now I won't be able to have any time to myself."
"I'm sorry," Argus sighed, "It's too risky."
Just then, Alianna's morning guard arrived. Argus turned and looked at Alianna.
Alianna knew what he was thinking, "Don't worry, I'll try to stay out of trouble."
"I hope you do this time." Argus said, "I'll see you tonight then."
"Of course," Alianna replied, "Goodbye Argus."
xxA FEW MONTHS LATERxx
Argus had been right- Galbatorix was busier then ever. Alianna watched as her father made plans to attack the Varden. All over the city there were soldiers and Urgals gathering. Alianna couldn't believe that her father had found the Varden. Apparently, a group of Urgals had been following the Dragon Rider (whom Alianna discovered was named Eragon) and because of that, had been able to find the Varden's location.
Alianna was thinking about all of this late one afternoon, when one of her guards, Xavier, confronted her as she re-entered her chambers.
"What is the matter with you?" Xavier asked, "I turn my back for just a moment and you disappear."
"I wanted to be alone," Alianna said, "Why can't you understand that? Besides, I didn't go very far. And I can take care of myself."
"At one time, that was true," Xavier told her, "You could fight as well as any soldier. But it's different now. You're a-"
"A what?" Alianna replied.
"A cripple! I know it's not your fault, but-"
As Xavier said this, anger boiled inside Alianna. She drew her sword and before Xavier could react, held it to his throat.
"If there's one thing I cannot stand," she said, "It's being called a cripple."
Alianna lowered her sword and then punched Xavier in the face. She had punched him so hard that she broke his nose. Xavier kicked Alianna's feet out from under her and she fell to the ground hard.
Xavier shook his head, "All these years, I've been one of the men who helped protect you. This is how you thank me? You ungrateful little brat! No wonder Murtagh left you."
"That's enough!" a voice shouted.
Alianna looked behind her and saw that it was Argus.
Argus helped Alianna up, "Are you alright Alianna?"
Alianna nodded, "I'm fine." She turned to Xavier and smiled slightly, "Which is more then I can say for you."
Xavier charged at her, "Why you little…"
Argus stepped in front of Alianna, "I said that's enough!"
"You're always defending her Argus!" Xavier said.
"Unlike you, I actually care about Alianna." Argus replied.
"Since when do you speak of the princess so informally?" Xavier asked, "Some say you care a little TOO much about her. The two of you have become awfully close these past few months. Too close if you ask me." He turned to Alianna, "How quickly you move from one man to the next."
"How dare you speak to me that way!" Alianna shouted, "I love Murtagh and would never be unfaithful to him."
"How can you love a traitor?"
"Murtagh is not a traitor!"
"He's sided with the Varden! That makes him a traitor."
"You're lying."
"It's true," Xavier said, "He's there right now. Everyone knows it, even Argus. We've all known for some time."
Alianna looked over at Argus, shocked.
Xavier smiled, "I guess he didn't tell you."
Alianna punched Xavier in the face again, "Get out! You bastard! You'll never guard me again."
Xavier wiped the blood from his nose, "You don't have to order me, I quit! None of your guards can stand you anymore my lady." He turned to Argus, "Except you."
With that being said, Xavier quickly left.
Alianna looked at Argus with a hurt expression on her face, "Is it true what he said?"
"Yes," Argus confessed, "But please try and understand. I would never do anything to hurt you."
"Well, you did!" Alianna said, "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I didn't know if it was true at first. I wanted to wait until I knew for sure. I only found out today. It was one of the things I came to talk to you about. You have to believe me."
"I do," Alianna said, "So, Murtagh really is at the Varden?"
"Yes," Argus told her.
Alianna was confused, "This doesn't make any sense."
"Why do you say that?" Argus asked.
"Because he thinks they're trying to destroy the Empire." Alianna replied, "Almost as much as my father is trying to destroy it. Are you absolutely sure he's at the Varden?"
"Yes,"
Alianna grabbed a bag from her closet and quickly started putting clothes and other necessary supplies in it.
"What are you doing?" Argus asked.
"I have to go find Murtagh." Alianna said.
"That would not be wise Alianna." Argus told her.
"You don't understand. The Varden must've captured him. That's the only explanation I can think of. And once they find out that Murtagh is Morzan's son, who knows what they'll do to him. I have to go before it's too late."
"How are you going to get there? There's a war about to begin. Besides, you don't even know where the Varden is located. I'm sure the king won't be divulging that information to you."
"True," Alianna said, "But someone else has to know. I'll force it out of them if I have to."
Argus stepped closer, "Alianna, listen to me. For once in your life, PLEASE listen…"
Alianna began to tear up, "No, YOU listen! You don't know what it's like to feel that there's a part of you missing. That's how I've felt these last couple of months. All this time, I didn't know where Murtagh was. Now that I do, I'm going to do whatever it takes to see that we're together again."
Alianna grabbed her bag and began walking toward the door. Argus quickly blocked her from leaving.
Alianna looked up at him, "Get out of my way Argus!"
But Argus refused to move, "I can't do that."
"Don't make me use magic on you!"
"You can't take on the Varden by yourself!"
"I'll do whatever I have to in order to get my husband back. You can't stop me from going."
Argus replied, "No, I can't. But will you listen to me for a moment? Please?"
"Fine," Alianna sighed.
Argus continued, "Even if you make it out of Uru'baen and somehow manage to find the Varden, how are you going to get to Murtagh?"
"I'll think of something." Alianna told him.
"If you do this," Argus said, "There's a very good chance you'll get yourself killed. I don't think Murtagh would want you to take that risk."
Alianna began to cry, "I just want Murtagh back! I miss him so much."
"Listen to me," Argus said, "Murtagh is smart. If there's a way out, I'm sure he'll find it. I know the two of you will be together again. You just have to be patient and not do anything rash."
Alianna simply nodded and decided to change the subject, "So, I guess Xavier won't be coming back anytime soon."
"He's the third guard of yours that's quit this month you know." Argus said.
"Am I really that difficult?" Alianna asked.
"Of course not," Argus replied, "They just don't know how to handle you, that's all. But you don't have to worry about them anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"They're all going to serve in the army and battle the Varden."
"Please tell me you're not going. I can't-"
Argus interrupted, "No, I'm not. That's the other thing I came to talk to you about. The king says I'm doing to be your guard full time from now on."
"Really?" Alianna asked.
Argus replied, "He says I'm the only one you'll listen to. Besides, someone has to keep you out of trouble."
Alianna smiled, "Good luck with that."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Soon after, the war began. Alianna watched as thousands of soldiers and Urgals (led by Durza) marched into the Varden. Argus had been right; all of Alianna's guards went into battle. There were others that Alianna knew were going as well, including Evander. Alianna didn't know what to think as she watched Evander leave. Although Alianna now understood why Evander did what he did, she was unable to forgive him. She did feel sorry for his daughters though, since there was a very good chance Evander wouldn't make it back alive.
One person who wouldn't be going was Galbatorix. Alianna knew that her father would not go into battle unless it was absolutely necessary. Besides, he hadn't left Uru'baen in over 10 years.
Alianna soon began hearing news from other people about what was going on in battle. At first it wasn't much, but as the days went by, Alianna learned more and more. Several of her guards had been killed (including Xavier) and Evander as well. She had still not heard anything about Murtagh, which troubled her. Alianna hoped he was okay.
"You'll never believe what I just heard!" Argus said to Alianna one night.
"What?" Alianna asked.
"Durza is dead."
Alianna's eyes widened, "How is that possible? Durza is a Shade! A very powerful one at that."
"I don't know all the details," Argus told her, "But from what I could gather, he was killed by Eragon."
"That's incredible," Alianna said, "I've only heard of two other people who've killed a Shade before. Does this mean the battle is over now?"
"For the most part, yes. A great many people were killed though. The army, what's left of it, is planning to return as we speak."
"Have you heard anything about Murtagh?" Alianna nervously asked.
"No, I haven't." Argus replied, "I'm sure the king knows something, but he's in a terrible rage right now. I strongly suggest you don't go anywhere near him right now."
"I wasn't planning on it." Alianna said.
Argus smiled, "Yes you were. If I wasn't here to stop you, you'd already be on your way to the king's chambers."
Alianna laughed, "You know me too well."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
About two weeks later, Alianna began seeing several groups of soldiers returning to Uru'baen. However, she did not see any Urgals. From what Alianna had heard, once Durza was dead the Urgals were released from some sort of spell he had on them and they began attacking each other. A good portion of the Urgal army had been wiped out as a result of that.
Alianna and Argus discussed this and much more as they walked around the castle. Everyone around them was extremely quiet. It made Alianna said to see children who would never see their fathers again… wives crying at the loss of their husbands. Alianna began thinking of Murtagh and wondering how he was or if he was even alive.
"I'm sure he's alright," Argus said to her, "You can't give up."
"I know," Alianna sighed, "But it's been so long, Argus. I'm beginning to doubt whether or not I'll ever see Murtagh again."
Suddenly, Alianna heard screams coming from a distant room. The scream sounded so familiar to her.
"It' can't be… could it?" Alianna thought.
Alianna quickly began walking towards the screams, Argus following close behind her. It lead them to a large room not far from Galbatorix's chambers.
"Alianna, be careful," Argus warned, "You don't know what's going on in there."
Alianna ignored him and tried to open the door- it wouldn't budge.
In the ancient language, Alianna said, "Open the door." It took a few tries, but it finally worked.
Alianna and Argus both drew their swords and slowly entered. In the far corner of the room Alianna could see two identical bald men torturing someone. The men were so preoccupied with what they were doing that they hadn't noticed Alianna and Argus yet. Alianna inched forward and got a close look the person the men were torturing- her heart stopped. She recognized the dark hair and dark eyes. Laying there on the ground… was Murtagh!