AN: Alianna & Murtagh are finally together again:) Of course, that doesn't mean things will be easy for them. Anyway, I wanna thank OpheliaHyde for her input on one of the scenes in this chapter. I ended up rewriting the scene, that's why it took so long for this chapter to get out. I hope you all like it...

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"Stop it!!" Alianna shouted, "You're hurting him!"

The two men (who Alianna now realized were twins) looked up at Alianna but didn't say a word. Before Alianna had a chance to attack them, the Twins faded out of the room. She quickly ran over to Murtagh and helped him up. Murtagh looked exhausted and very beaten up, but that didn't matter. Alianna was just happy to see him again.

"Alianna?" Murtagh said, "Is that really you?"

Alianna tearfully nodded, "Yes, it's me." She immediately threw her arms around him and sobbed, "I missed you so much."

Murtagh held her tightly, "I missed you too."

At that moment, Alianna happened to glance over at Argus, who was standing at a distance. Argus just nodded and left the room, knowing that the young couple needed some time alone. Alianna and Murtagh just stood there holding each other for a minute or two, before Alianna suddenly pushed her husband away.

Murtagh was confused, "What's wrong?"

Alianna (still sobbing) shouted, "Why did you leave me here? If you missed me so much, why didn't you come back for me?"

"You don't understand," Murtagh said, "I thought you were dead."

"You what?"

"When Evander attacked you and threw you off your horse, you just layed there motionless on the ground. It looked like you were dead. I swear, if I had known you were alive, I never would've left you."

"Really?" Alianna asked, trying to take everything Murtagh just said in.

"Of course," Murtagh said, "I love you."

Alianna wiped away her tears and replied, "I love you too."

Murtagh slowly leaned in closer to Alianna, their faces only inches apart. Just as their lips were about to meet, the door burst open and in came a group of guards.

"The king wishes to see you immediately." one of the guards said to Murtagh.

Murtagh sighed and said angrily, "I just got back. Can I please have a few minutes alone with my wife?"

"I'm afraid not," the guard answered, "Let's go!"

Alianna watched in horror as the guards grabbed Murtagh and began to walk out of the room. This couldn't be happening. She had finally been reunited with Murtagh just minutes ago. Alianna wasn't about to lose him again. She quickly stepped in front of the guards and blocked their way out.

With her sword firmly in her hand, Alianna said, "Release him!"

"We can't," one of the guards said, "The king gave us orders. He insists on Murtagh being brought to him right away."

"Then I'm going as well," Alianna replied, "I'm not about to let Murtagh be alone with my father."

Alianna could tell that the guard (who she now recognized as Kayin, Galbatorix's new head guard) was becoming annoyed with her. The two of them argued back and forth for several minutes. Murtagh tried to come to Alianna's defense, but the other guards held him back.

"This is the last time I'm going to say this," Kayin said, "Get out of our way before I make you move!"

"Don't speak to her that way!" Murtagh told him. As a result, Kayin dealt Murtagh a blow to the stomach.

"Silence!" Kayin ordered.

Alianna quickly held her sword to Kayin's throat and told him if he layed a hand on Murtagh again that she would kill him.

"You wouldn't dare," Kayin said nervously.

Alianna pressed the sword even harder on Kayin's throat, "Try me!"

Kayin replied, "Fine, I won't harm Murtagh again. You have my word."

Alianna slowly lowered her sword. As soon as she did that, Kayin began to grab Alianna by the arm and tried to move her aside. Alianna pulled back and was about to use magic to attack Kayin, when Argus walked in.

"What's going on?" Argus asked.

"They're trying to take Murtagh to my father." Alianna explained, "They refuse to let me go with them."

"We're just following orders." Kayin said, "They king wishes to see Murtagh… alone!"

Argus nodded and turned his attention to Alianna, "Perhaps it would be best if you stayed behind."

Alianna was stunned. She couldn't believe what Argus had just said. Alianna felt like Argus was betraying her. The two of them had become so close over the past few months. He should be taking her side over Kayin's.

Argus could sense what Alianna was thinking and said, "I'm not taking anyone's side. But if you go, you may end up making things worse for Murtagh."

"Enough of this," Kayin said, he looked at the other guards, "Lets go!"

Murtagh tried to get to Alianna, but the guards grabbed him. Alianna was in tears as she watched Murtagh and the other guards quickly leave. As soon as the door was shut, Alianna sat down in a nearby chair and began to sob. It felt like her heart was being ripped out of her chest. Alianna knew that her father would punish Murtagh severely for what he had done. He might even kill him. Panic filled Alianna and she began shaking. She couldn't bear the thought of losing Murtagh again.

Not knowing what else to do, Argus took out his waterskin and handed it to Alianna. Alianna thanked him and drank the water in small sips. This seemed to calm her down somewhat, but she was still worried.

"I'm sorry Alianna," Argus said, "Please try and understand. I was only trying to help."

"I know," Alianna replied, "I'm sorry for the way I acted."

"You don't need to apologize. I understand. I probably would've done the same thing if I were in your situation."

Alianna sighed, "I just hope Murtagh will be alright."

"I'm sure he will be," Argus said, "Try not to worry so much."

"How can I not worry?" Alianna thought.

When she finished the water, Argus asked Alianna if there was anything else he could get her. Alianna gave him a small smile and said no, she was fine for now.

"Thank you though," she said.

"I'm glad I could help." Argus replied.

Alianna and Argus then began walking back to Alianna's chambers. They tried to ignore the stares and whispers from various servants as they walked by.

Along the way, Alianna asked Argus, "Do you know who those horrible twins were?"

"No, I don't," Argus answered, "Do you?"

Alianna nodded no. Until tonight, she had never seen them before. This was odd, since Alianna thought she knew just about everyone who worked for her father. Alianna decided she would ask Murtagh about them later. That is, unless Galbatorix killed Murtagh first.

"Stop thinking like that!" Argus told her as they entered Alianna's chambers, "Murtagh's going to be alright."

Alianna hoped so. She decided to read a book in order to keep herself distracted. This worked for awhile, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Murtagh and the horrible things Galbatorix might be doing to him. The next few hours were pure torture. Time seemed to move slowly. Argus did what he could to comfort Alianna, but it didn't help much.

"I should've gone with him," Alianna said, turning to Argus, "Why did I ever listen to you?"

"Calm down," Argus replied.

"I wish you would stop saying that! How can I possibly calm down? Murtagh could be dead for all I know."

"You getting worked up like this isn't going to help the situation."

Alianna thought for a moment, and then said, "I guess you're right."

Suddenly, the door to the room opened. Murtagh slowly walked in looking more beat up then he had before, but that didn't matter to Alianna. The important thing was he was alive. Tears fell down Alianna's cheeks as she stared at Murtagh, not knowing what to say to him at first.

Argus looked at them and said, "You two have a lot to catch up on. If you need anything, I'll be out in the hall."

Alianna nodded and turned her attention back to Murtagh. She walked up to him and for the first time in months, their lips met in a kiss. Having been separated for so long, their kiss became more and more passionate with each passing second. Murtagh gently pulled Alianna closer to him. After a few minutes, the two of them finally separated in order to catch their breath. Without even realizing it, Alianna began to cry again. Murtagh wiped the tears from her face.

"It's okay," he said, "I'm here."

Alianna kissed Murtagh again and then asked, "Are you alright? What did my father do to you? What did he say?"

"Lets not talk about that now." Murtagh said, taking Alianna's hand in his. As they walked towards their bed, it was then that Murtagh finally noticed Alianna limping, "What happened?"

Alianna looked at him sadly, "I damaged my leg pretty badly when Evander threw me off my horse. The healers could only do so much. It's not as bad as it use to be though. There was I time when I couldn't even stand on my own."

This time it looked like Murtagh was the one who was going to cry.

Alianna continued, "Murtagh, it's alright. I'm better now. It doesn't hurt as much and I just walk with a limp. I've gotten use to it."

Murtagh had an angry look on his face as he spoke, "Where's Evander? I'll kill him for what he's done to you!"

"It's too late," Alianna told him, "He's already dead. I really don't want to talk about it anymore."

Alianna and Murtagh sat down on their bed and started kissing again. Within a matter of seconds, they had their clothes off. Murtagh gently layed Alianna down and they made love. Alianna had forgotten how wonderful it was to be with Murtagh like this. When it was all over, she smiled as Murtagh held her in his arms and kissed her.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too," Murtagh said as he held Alianna closer.

Not long after that, Alianna slowly drifted off to sleep- no longer feeling that a part of herself was missing.