AN: I actually had most of this chapter finished back in late August, but for some reason I couldn't figure out how to end it until now. Hope you enjoy it :) Reviews are appreciated.
"Alianna! Alianna wake up!"
Alianna, half asleep, could feel someone shaking her. Instinctively, she reached to her side and pulled out her sword. But she put it down when she saw that it was Murtagh who had woken her up.
"I'm sorry." she said.
"You don't have to apologize." Murtagh told her. "What happened? It was the nightmare again wasn't it?"
She told him that it was.
"I heard someone else screaming this time though."
"Did you recognize it?"
Alianna thought the scream sounded vaguely familiar, but she couldn't remember. She was getting more frustrated each time she had the nightmare.
"Perhaps once we get to Surda, someone there will know what it means." Murtagh suggested.
Alianna wasn't so sure, but she nodded in agreement. "First we need to worry about getting out of here."
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After more than two weeks of hiding out in the forest, Murtagh figured it was safe enough for him to go into the nearest village and see what, if any, information he could find out.
Murtagh insisted once again on going alone. While Alianna understood his reasoning, neither she nor Thorn liked the idea.
"I'll only be gone for a day." Murtagh told her.
They kissed each other goodbye. Thorn could see the worried look on Alianna's face as Murtagh rode off on his horse. He tried to make her feel better by assuring her that Murtagh would be alright.
I'll be able to sense if he's in danger.
Alianna nodded and went to get something to eat.
The day passed by rather uneventfully. Alianna swam, wrote in her journal, and talked to Thorn. Anything to distract her from worrying about Murtagh.
Then that night, when Murtagh was due back, Alianna was gathering some branches to start a fire. Suddenly she heard a noise in the distance. It sounded like footsteps.
Thorn let out a low growl.
Alianna spoke to him. Perhaps it's just Murtagh?
It's not. I can sense it.
Alianna began to panic a little. Had they been discovered? She got out her sword and stood near Thorn.
Thorn thought Alianna should stay behind him.
It sounds like only one person. Alianna said. I'll be alright. Just stay close.
Of course.
Alianna held onto her sword tightly as she heard the footsteps coming closer.
Out of the forest came a man who appeared to be around Alianna's age, maybe a year or so younger.
"Who are you?" Alianna demanded.
"I was about to ask you the same question."
Alianna looked him over. He didn't appear to be a soldier. He was dressed in regular clothes that were worn from travel.
"Have you been following us? Did Galbatorix send you?"
"No. I'm just…" the man looked up at Thorn. "How did you come across this dragon? Are you a Rider?"
"No."
"I don't believe you! How else do you explain the dragon?"
He went to grab her hand to look for the mark, but Alianna was quick and slammed the end of her sword into the side of his head. The man stumbled for a few seconds, then got back on his feet. Blood was trickling down his face.
Thorn let out a growl so loud that the trees seemed to shake.
Touch her again and you'll lose a limb!
The man backed away.
Thorn turned his attention to Alianna. Murtagh is near. I told him what happened. He'll be here shortly.
Alianna nodded. Suddenly, she could feel someone trying to get inside her mind. She looked over at the man, who was staring at her intently.
"You're wasting your time." she said.
The man looked at her in amazement. But before he could say anything, Alianna saw Murtagh's horse out of the corner of her eye. Murtagh got off his horse and ran over to the man, tackling him to the ground.
Eventually the man got up and looked at Murtagh closely. A look of shock came over his face.
"Murtagh?"
Alianna was confused. She asked Murtagh if he knew him.
Murtagh took a few steps closer to the man. As he did this his eyes grew wide. "Yes. This… is Eragon."
Alianna couldn't believe it at first. For weeks they had been searching and then suddenly she comes across him by accident.
It finally hit her that this was Eragon and realized what she had just done. She apologized profusely.
"I never would have done that if I had known."
"It's alright." Eragon said. "I've been through much worse. So, will you finally tell me who you are?"
"Of course. I'm Alianna."
"You obviously know Murtagh."
"He's my husband."
"Husband?" Eragon turned to Murtagh. "You never mentioned anything about having a wife!"
Before Murtagh could reply, Eragon noticed the mark on Murtagh's hand. "You're a Rider! But how?"
Alianna looked at the two of them and then spoke to Eragon. "We have much to tell you. But first, we should rest. We don't have much food, but you're welcome to it."
Eragon thanked both of them.
A few minutes later, Murtagh started a fire. Alianna got some dried meat for all of them.
With the fire glowing brightly, Alianna took a really good look at Eragon for the first time and was surprised. She could see he looked mostly human, but had several features of an elf. Glancing over at Murtagh, Alianna could tell he was just as confused as she was.
"What is it?" Eragon asked them.
"You look different since the last time I saw you." Murtagh replied. "What happened?"
Eragon began to speak about his time in Ellesmera, his training with the elves, and the Blood Oath celebration. Alianna could sense, however, that he was not telling them everything. The stories lasted for more than an hour. Alianna listened in fascination.
"There are some things I'd like to know now." Eragon said when he was done. He turned to Murtagh. "First of all, why didn't you tell me you were married? In all the months we were traveling, not once did you mention Alianna's name."
"When I told you that my family was slaughtered by the king's men, I believed it to be true." Murtagh explained. He then proceeded to tell Eragon about their first attempt to escape from Uru'baen. "It wasn't until I was captured by the Twins and brought back did I find out that Alianna was alive. And the reason I never spoke of it was… it was too difficult as you can imagine."
Eragon seemed to understand. Murtagh spent the next several hours explaining what had happened to him when he was captured, his dealings with Galbatorix, and how he eventually became a Rider.
"So that's why the army was called back." Eragon said. "That's why there have been soldiers all over the villages in a panic. They're looking for the two of you."
"Yes." Murtagh replied.
"How did you escape? And why now?"
Alianna spoke up. "I would think it was obvious." She looked down at her stomach. "We couldn't let our child grow up around Galbatorix. So we left. We've been on the run for more than two months."
Eragon seemed surprised. "Two months? Why not go to the Varden for help? You could have reached Surda weeks ago."
"We wanted to find you first. From what Murtagh has told me, there are some in the Varden that still don't trust him. We thought that if we came there with you, they might be more accepting. Will you help us?"
Eragon thought for a moment. "I'm not sure how they will react, but I'll do what I can."
Alianna breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you! This means a lot to us."
"It's the least I can do." Eragon said. He then looked at Murtagh. "You saved my life on more than one occasion."
They all agreed to depart for Surda the next day. It would probably take a few more weeks to reach there. The journey would be difficult, but Alianna knew they could do it.
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Alianna was finishing packing up their belongings when Eragon approached her.
"Would you like some help?" he asked.
She was a bit reluctant at first, but ultimately Alianna said yes.
"Thank you."
But when Eragon went to put some supplies in a bag attached to Thorn's saddle, Thorn growled at him.
Eragon took several steps back, while Alianna moved closer.
Thorn! It's alright. He's trying to help.
Thorn did not respond. Instead he kept a close eye on Eragon.
"What is it?" Eragon asked.
"He's still angry about what happened earlier."
"I apologized!"
"I know. But Thorn is very… protective."
"I can tell."
"Give it some time. I'm sure the two of you will get along eventually."
Thorn finally spoke to her. Not likely.
You have to. We need Eragon in order to get into Surda. Without him, the Varden won't trust us. Please?
I will try. But only for the sake of Murtagh and yourself.
When they were done, Alianna could feel her back beginning to ache. Carrying all that extra weight was taking its toll. But she knew it was worth it.
"How far along are you?" Eragon asked. She hadn't realized that he had been watching her.
Still, she answered him. "A little more than seven months."
"It must be hard for you. All this traveling I mean."
Alianna admitted that it was, but it didn't matter. She would do whatever it took to keep her baby safe and to see that Galbatorix was overthrown.
"You know Galbatorix well?"
Alianna couldn't help but smirk. "I suppose you could say that."
"And how long have you known Murtagh?"
Before Alianna could answer, Eragon spoke again. "Forgive me. There's just so much I want to know."
Alianna understood. "We'll answer all of your questions. I promise. As far as Murtagh, I've known him for about sixteen years. I was two and he was three when we first met. Our… fathers arranged the marriage."
Eragon looked surprised. "Your father knew Morzan? Did you ever meet him?"
"Only a few times thankfully. He was a cruel man. I was very young when he died so I don't remember much."
Eragon shook his head and told her he couldn't imagine having a father like that.
"If only you knew the truth." Alianna thought. But she didn't tell him. She felt it only right that Murtagh be the one to do it.
Wanting to change the subject, Alianna said that they should get some sleep. She began to walk away, but Eragon spoke again.
"Wait, there's one more thing." he said.
Alianna was curious. "What is it?"
"We've never met before, have we?"
"Of course not." she told him. "I've never been outside of Uru'baen until recently."
"I know. But I must admit, you seem familiar somehow."
Alianna panicked, but she did her best to hide it from Eragon. There was no way he could know who she was. He had never met Galbatorix and she knew she bore no resemblance to the king.
This was not how Alianna planned it. While she was going to tell Eragon the truth eventually, she had hoped to get to know him and gain his trust first.
She had to get away. "If you'll excuse me, I'm very tired. Good night."
She walked away quickly. Eragon called after her.
"Alianna, wait."
"Good night Eragon!"