Sarah: The girls are back! The girls are back! Climbing up the walls anytime we want; the word is out, the girls are back!
Rebecca: That was utterly and completely necessary.
Meg: It was.
Ellie: Did anybody else notice that Meg unconscious five times in the first part?
Brooke: Ouch. No wonder she's kind of messed up.
Rebecca: Keeper only owns us and the stuff that wasn't in the original.
Brooke: I called doing the disclaimer!
Ellie: Our right to do the disclaimer was suspended because we kept "trying" to reveal spoilers.
Brooke: Oh, yeah. SPOILER ALERT: THIS CHAPTER IS INCREDIBLY SAD!
"Seems like just yesterday, you were apart of me. I used to stand so tall, I used to be so strong. your arms around me tight, everything, it felt so right. Unbreakable. Like nothing could go wrong," -Kelly Clarkson
"Tell me why we're here-"
"Because we have to keep an eye on Nasuada so we aren't pulverized by Ajihad."
Meg coughed, glaring at Sarah to tell her that she hadn't finished. "I meant, tell me why we're here and Ellie gets to go out and help?"
"Forgive me, Lady Meg," Nasuada said. "You should be with the man you love."
She smiled, "Don't worry about it; I wouldn't be running around with Murtagh anyway. It's that Ellie is not here with me that ticks—finally!"
The doors opened and in stepped Eragon and Ellie, though something was wrong. Arya was behind them and she looked greatly saddened. Ellie and Eragon had tears in their eyes and stains from earlier, she carried what looked like a bag. Arya stepped forward, speaking directly to Nasuada. "I am sorry, Ajihad has died a warrior's death." The three gasped and Sarah began to silently cry, clinging to Solembum for comfort.
The elf turned to Ellie, a wordless command to tell her to give the news to Meg, but as she stepped forward, words did not seem to come from their fearless leader. With fresh tears, she approached Meg and handed her the bag—no, not bag, shirt. A bloody shirt. Murtagh's shirt...Murtagh's blood-
She hadn't even realized that she had fallen on to her knees until she saw Arya bent in front of her, her hands on her shoulders. "Meg?" That seemed strange from the elf's mouth, she only ever spoke properly. Then again, all words seemed strange now. "You're alright, Meg, everything is gong to be alright-" I promise you that I will protect you from anything. You have nothing to fear. His rich voice rang in her mind.
Can you protect me from yourself?
"Please don't leave me." She whispered, recalling what had been spoken that night not that long ago, though it seemed like centuries. I love you.
"We won't Meg, don't worry."
She didn't know why, but comfort seemed to come the most from Arya and she accepted her embrace until the tears ceased to flow and she stood silently, a look of bittersweet determination on her face as she left.
Meg had been invited to the Council of Elders—the council that would decide the new leader—but unsurprisingly, she did not attend. Ellie and Sarah stood beside Arya and behind Eragon. Since Sarah had helped her destroy the Star Sapphire, Arya had become a friend and Nasuada was initiated into the group instantly upon the grounds that she wouldn't take crap from any man.
Now, why the hell they were invited at all was a fine question they did not have the answer to. It probably had something to do with the compass and the "grace of a greater power" speech Sarah and Meg had given before the battle, but they knew not for sure.
Sarah, needless to say, did not pay attention to anything they said until it was suggested that Nasuada become the leader. Then, she choked on the air she was breathing. "Is something wrong, Lady Sarah?" One of the elders (whose name she forgot) asked.
"No," She quietly said. "I was just surprised that it was chosen so quickly."
"Then, do you agree?" They nodded. "And what of Lady Meg?"
Their eyes softened when they thought of Meg; only Ellie could muster the words and even then, it was a whisper, "She would agree instantly and wholeheartedly." Or with whatever part of her heart she has left.
Shut up, Solembum.
Nasuada was called in and told of their desire for her leadership and, rather hesitantly, she accepted.
As the council cleared, Nasuada bid Ellie and Sarah to join her; Eragon looked to Ellie with a disappointed expression, but she said, "I'll be out in a few minutes. If you could do me a favor and find Meg, that would be great." He nodded and smiled before leaving.
Nasuada had a grim expression, "I fear for Lady Meg. I do not know her as well as you, but I sense that she may do something rash. We must keep an eye on her."
"I agree completely, my Lady, in fact, I will go find her and Eragon now." Sarah said. "You two can keep chatting, and Nasuada? Welcome to the group."
Meg had packed up the necessary supplies and was walking to the exit about halfway through the Council of Elders. She had just left the security of the Varden when Eragon caught up to her. "Meg! Where are you going?"
She turned to him, her face red and puffy and her eyes gleaming with unshed tears, "I can't stay here, Eragon. I must leave, but I will come back when purpose finds me."
"What about Ellie and Sarah?" He asked. "Where do you plan to go?"
"Anywhere but here!" She cried. "I need time to think, Eragon. No offense to you or my best friends, but the reason I stayed was because of him. Now, he's gone and taken my heart with him. Please, try to understand. I-"
"Enough, Meg." He grasped her hands, which were folded as if she was begging. "I will let you go; I hope you find what you're looking for." He kissed her cheek and she thanked him before turning to leave, perhaps never to return.