Brooke: Merry Christmas! In honor of the festive holiday, the author is posting THREE chapters instead of one! Happy holidays!

Rebecca: The author only owns us and their strange plot additions!

"Listen to your heart before you tell him goodbye," -DHT

Murtagh had gone out to run some errands, whatever they may be. Meg had expected him to return before Ellie, Rebecca, and Sarah came and it troubled her that he didn't. She hadn't even been given the time to ponder where he could've gone when the herbalist's door opened and out came Murtagh. "Meg, I thought you had left without saying goodbye." He said with a smile, then noted her confused expression. "Angela told me about your friends, I thought you had gone."

"Oh," She replied quietly. "I'm sorry I startled you, it's just been an interesting day."

His brows furrowed in concern. "Are you alright, Meg? You look paler than usual."

She snorted, "Gee, thanks, I'm fine."

He scoffed, one of those arrogant scoffs he did before they were more than acquaintances. She didn't know why, but he was bringing back her original anger and annoyance. "Brooke said that if you ever say 'you're fine,' you're lying."

She clenched her teeth, pushing aside the question of why her anger was flared. "It's not your place to be concerned for me."

He looked at her with frustration of his own, now. "What's going on?"

"Nothing!" She insisted, attempting to turn away from him, but he grabbed her arms and held her, forcing her to face him. "Murtagh, let go of me!"

"No, not until you tell me what's going on."

"Murtagh, we don't need you anymore!" She cried, trying to pull away from him, though he only tightened his grip on her. "We found our friends and that was the terms of our agreement. We don't need to go with you any longer." But I need you.

He pulled her close to him, his grip making her squirm. "Murtagh, please, you're hurting me!"

He seemed to realize her pain and let go of her. He shook his head, "I knew you were trouble. I should have left you in that forest."

"What is wrong with you?!" Shut up, Meg!

"You, Meg! You're my problem! Everything was fine and perfect until you came along and I started thinking I could have something I couldn't!" No, Murtagh, please, please understand...

"What happened to finding who you are? What happened to together?" She asked, tears in her eyes threatening to spill over. Murtagh, please listen! I need you to know—

"Yes, Meg, what happened to it?" No, no, no, no, no!

"I wanted to go with you!" She exclaimed when he tried to walk away. He froze, but never turned back to look at her. "I was thinking of how I was going to tell my friends that I would go with you when you came here and made it clear enough that you don't want me with you. So I'll take my leave from your presence and your life and forgive me if I have only ever been a thorn in your side!" Call me back, Murtagh, please! I need you! What's happening to me? Tell me, I beg of you! What's happening to me?

With that, she stormed away and with anger and sorrow mixed in his eyes, he headed for the stables to retrieve Tornac and leave Teirm and the memory of Meg behind.

When Meg returned to Jeod's house, she hid in the study and fell asleep among the books that had been her only comfort that had always been there before.

It was in the morning that Ellie found her and the girls all came to comfort her. Some in different ways than others.

"Where is that self-righteous son of a toad, anyway? I'll let him have a piece of my mind-" Sarah said, punching her palm.

"He has long gone, you guys. It's fine. I was upset because he had treated me poorly. It's alright now that I sent him on his way."

"You did not!" Brooke cried. "Meg, can't you see that you love-"

"Brooke Grace it'd do you well to cover that fly trap you call a mouth!" Meg snapped. Brooke looked away, clearly hurt. "Brooke, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap. I'm tired, that's all...and I am not, nor ever was, in love with him."

Ellie rubbed her temples; Meg's mind was set on not liking him—and perhaps, just this once, it was a good thing—but that didn't mean she was alright.

"I've made up my mind, Ellie." She said, "I'm going with you and Sarah."

With a sigh, the leader nodded and smiled. "Alright, Meg, you're welcome with us."

The doors to the study burst open and in came Eragon, panting and bloody. "We have to go—now!" He grabbed Ellie's hand and pulled her with him. The girls jumped up and followed.

"Eragon, wait, where? Why?" Ellie yelled, but they did not stop until they reached the stables where Brom was already waiting.

An Urgal jumped at them, slashing wildly in an attempt to kill at least one, but he was cut short by Brom.

"WHAT THE HECK DID YOU DO?!" Sarah yelled.

"We are to be leaving," Brom explained quickly. "I understand Rebecca should be leaving now, I do not know when we shall see you again."

The girls mounted their horses, some riding with others, and headed for the gate.

"Rebecca! Brooke!" Ellie called as they began to ride in opposite directions. "Be careful, you hear?!"

Rebecca shouted something back, but the words died in the wind and they soon disappeared into the distance.

Sarah had grown extremely annoyed at being left out of the conversations between the old man and the rider. She had been reluctant to let Rebecca and Brooke leave, but according to Brom,. There had been no time to argue. Sure, they had gained Meg as a companion, but she was as silent as death, refusing to control the horse when asked if such was desired and often avoiding conversations unless she was asked up front.

Sarah had her suspicions when it came to why Meg was being antisocial, but without Brooke, none of it could be confirmed. The frequent glances from Ellie provided reassurance that she was concerned as well.

Unintentionally, Meg had been listening to the conversation between Brom and Eragon regarding the Varden. It seemed that they were destined to go there, though, first, they would continue after the Ra'zac, which was why they were on the run.

Her teeth clenched and her grip around Sarah's waist tightened ever so slightly and nearly imperceptibly at the thought of the Ra'zac. Murtagh's going after them; I pray we do not see him.

"Let us stop here." Brom instructed and Meg immediately slid off the horse and made herself useful; quietly completing whatever task she was given or found.

"Meg, you're going to work yourself to death." Ellie said, her hands extended to the fire in search of warmth.

"Would that be such a bad thing?" She muttered.

She had been gathering wood and was piling it beside Brom when the old man suddenly reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her so she faced him. "You look much like someone I know." He murmured.

"I assure you sir, that I have never seen you previously." She replied calmly, though her heart beat vigorously in her chest.

Ellie felt the tension in the small camp and decided to break the ice—by teasing Sarah, of course. "Sarah, do you think we'll see Edward Cullen out here?"

"Don't you start-" Meg was snickering while Sarah became defensive.

"What? I'm being serious!" She cried, but the grin was telling another story.

"Who's 'Edward'?" Brom interrupted.

Before Sarah could reply, Meg exclaimed, "A fairy!"

"He's a vampire!"

"Sarah, he's a fairy. He sparkles and can basically fly. Fairy."

"No, he's a-"

"Urgals!" Eragon said, dodging a death blow from Saphira. "I found their tracks."

"Then we must keep moving." Brom replied, kicking out the fire. The girls prepared to leave, wary of the dangers that awaited them if they took a wrong turn. "Eragon, go with your dragon. It will be safer."

"But I-" He cast a fleeting glance to Ellie who promptly interrupted him.

"Go, we will be safe with Brom." She put on her best reassuring expression, before he reluctantly complied and they took off at a gallop.

They were obedient to whatever the old man asked of them, but when Eragon passed out while trying to defend God-knows-who against the Urgals, Ellie became defensive. She, along with the dragon, removed the issue, though three beasts escaped. Brom was not happy with him in the least for exposing him and the dragon to the pack and for using magic, but he knew better than to bother Ellie while she cared for Eragon and knew well enough that she would give him an earful when he woke.

"Eragon, you could've gotten us hurt or killed, you could've gotten hurt or killed!" She exclaimed.

"Ellie, I'm sorry, I didn't think I needed permission to defend the people I care about."

"Eragon, Ellie, would you SHUT UP!" Meg yelled. This was the first time she had raised her voice since she joined the trip. "Brom, I believe you have words for him that Ellie does not need to elaborate upon."

Brom nodded his thanks to her, though he seemed slightly startled.

This was going to be an interesting trip.

Brooke: Oops, I forgot the disclaimer.

Sarah: The author only owns their OCs! HA!

Brooke: -_-