Meg: I like this chapter, in spite of all we go through. It has a good basis and the idea that one should feel hate is a neat twist

Ellie: Says the girl who doesn't have her parts cut up into a billion tiny pieces because Keeper was too lazy to actually write them out

Me: HEY!

"Hate me today, hate me tomorrow, hate me so you can finally see what's good for you." -Blue October

Not even Meg was allowed in Nasuada's Pavilion when she was judging Roran for his acts against his superior's orders.

She knew it was best to keep away from Rebecca in such a case and Brooke was probably with her, being the only one who could offer comfort. So where did her thoughtless wanderings lead her? To the tents where the children were cared for while their parents tended to other things.

With a nod from the guard, she was granted access to the tent and was received with bright faces and warm hugs. "Lady Meg!" Some cried. "We had hoped you'd come!"

She laughed as she was lead to their circle and sat with them. "Yes, I was granted time to myself and I had thought of nothing better to do than visit."

"Good! You can tell us a story!"

She rolled her eyes and smiled, "You always want stories, Little ones, is there naught else you wish to do?"

"You tell the best stories, Lady Meg, oh please!"

"Once upon a time..."

When she finished telling them of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White, the guard asked her to head to the Whipping Post. A bad feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. She searched the crowd and found Brooke and Baldor, standing by them instead of Nasuada to show without words that she had no part in Roran's fate. When it began, Meg closed her eyes and looked away, wincing at the sound of the lash coming in contact with flesh.

Why couldn't they have just stayed home?

Rebecca watched Triana warily as she healed her husband. She didn't trust the witch as she took far too much pleasure in treating her unconscious, shirtless husband.

"Triana," They looked to the opening of the tent where Meg had entered. "You may leave, I shall tend to him myself."

The witch glared at her, "I hardly think Rebecca and Roran want a heartless wench to tend him."

"Triana," Rebecca growled. "Leave us."

Meg took a seat beside Roran and traced each mark of the lash, turning them into mere scars that would fade with time. As she removed her hand, she winced. "What did you do?" Rebecca asked, eyeing her friend skeptically.

"I prevented infection and took his pain so that he may wake without the stab of pain."

"What did it cost you?"

Meg smiled weakly at her knowing friend, "Pain must be endured. I replaced his pain with my peace. Do not worry, it will leave me soon."

"Thank you."

"Any time."

Nasuada entered the tent; if she was surprised to see Meg, she did not show it. "Lady Meg, would you please leave me to speak to Roran." She nodded and left without another word.

Rebecca didn't want Meg to leave, but her friend obeyed Nasuada now rather than herself. "I have another mission for you, Roran: a small raid similar to those you have already participated in."

"When will I leave?" He asked. Rebecca was immediately tuned to the strangeness of the situation.

"Tomorrow."

"I don't like this." Rebecca murmured immediately. It took a good hour or so, but Nasuada and Roran had managed to convince her to accept his leave.

"Lady Meg, are you alright?" Her blurred vision cleared enough for her to identify Blodhgarm. She leaned against a barrel for support, though covered it with an expression of annoyance.

"Perfectly fine, thank you. What can I do for you?"

"I have come to speak to you as your friend about something more than friendship." He told her. She raised an eyebrow, curious as to what his intentions were. "You must know I have feelings for you, Meg."

She scoffed, though the act only added a dull ache to her mind. "And you must know that speaking to me of love is the equivalent of speaking to a rock. I am not called The Heartless Lady for kicks, Blodhgarm."

"You were the one who told me it mattered not what you say, only what I chose to believe in."

"Okay, but you believe in the stories, which all say I am heartless. You will receive no emotion similar to yours from me and even if I did care I would be too grief stricken from Murtagh's hand to try to love again."

"If I can not feel love for you, what emotion should I feel then?!" He exclaimed loudly at her back as she turned to leave.

"Hate." She replied quietly.

"What?"

"Hate is an emotion derived from love. Feel hatred for me from now on so you understand that this is in your best interest. I will not hurt you, but you must hate me so that I can not."

"I don't understand..."

"You won't for a while. Give it time. All wounds need time to heal."

"Some scars run too deep."

She heard him walk away, angry, bitter and confused and thought it strange when a warm tear slipped down her cheek. "I'm sorry," She whispered to none but herself. "I'm so sorry."

It took four days to reach Ellesmera. Eragon and Saphira took them to Oromis and Glaedr, their teachers, and this time, they were permitted to be with him.

"Wow." Sarah gaped at Glaedr, a massive gold dragon that literally took her breath away. "To think they've been hiding for near a hundred years."

"Ah, Eragon, I see you've brought company." Oromis said, shaking Ellie and Sarah's hands. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Lady Ellie, Eragon has told me much of your strange group."

"It's not-" She thought a moment, choosing her words carefully. "I don't really think 'strange' appropriately describes us anymore."

He laughed, "No, I suppose not. Now, Eragon..." While teacher and student spoke, Ellie and Sarah were free to go where they chose and by Fate's vile hand, Nari met them.

"Ellie! I am so glad to see you again!" He exclaimed.

"And I, you, Nari, though I believe now is the appropriate time to talk about certain things." She said, motioning for Sarah to leave.

"Yes, I've been meaning to ask you something." He took her hands and they sat on a log.

"Oh? You can go first."

He seemed hesitant, nervous, even. "Ellie, you are a human, you're life time is shorter than an elf's which I hope explains my rush; but well, Ellie, I mean to ask you to marry me."

She gaped at him, her mind in a thousand places at once when two words finally brought them out of temporary paralysis. "I can't."

"Can't? Why?"

"Because I do not love you as you deserve, Nari. You deserve someone who is faithful and strong and can fulfill her promises. I can not because my heart belongs to Eragon and will always belong to him no matter what."

"But, Ellie-"

"My decision is final. Wait for someone who can truly love you. I am not that girl. Goodbye." She placed a kiss upon his cheek and left to find Sarah and return to Eragon and Oromis.

"My father is Brom." Eragon murmured as they took a seat beside him.

"What?"

"Brom is my true father, not Morzan." He replied.

"I can honestly say I'm not surprised." Sarah said, toying with a pebble between her paws. "You two are almost exactly the same."

"Did you learn anything else?" Ellie asked softly, unsure as to the toll the news might have taken on him.

"A way to defeat Galbatorix and a recommendation for where to get my new sword."

"Busy day at the office, huh?"

"I can't believe he won't let us even go near the tree." Sarah grumbled.

"He needs time. Time to think and sort things out, we can provide him that much." She defended.

"Whatever."

"Ellie," Eragon said when he reappeared with a sheet of gleaming metal. "I will need your help to persuade the sword maker to help me make a sword. Sarah, as always, you are free to wander."

"A good split up plan," Sarah said, turning into a cat. "I think I shall find Solembum. Good luck."

"It's so hot in here." Ellie murmured as she entered Rhunon's forge.

"What did you expect?" The she-elf asked. "Only the hottest can melt brightsteel. Ready?"

"Brisingr."

"Eragon! DON'T SET YOUR SWORD ON FIRE!"

"No, I meant it as a name." He explained, gingerly picking up the sword he had dropped to find that it was cool. "I named it that and it burst into flames, but I did not use magic to do so."

"Ah," Rhunon said. "I believe you have discovered the true name of the sword. Good choice; I like it."

"Nice job, Eragon." Ellie patted him on his shoulder. "I'm so proud of you. Now, we can win."

Sarah and Solembum ran to meet Ellie and Eragon by Saphira. "We must hurry, the siege of Feinster has already begun."

"We can't leave, not yet." Eragon said. "I have to see Oromis one last time."

"Eragon, we don't have time-"

"I know, I'll be quick, I promise."

He returned a half an hour later to endure a glare from Ellie and a growl from Sarah. "Oromis and Glaedr are joining the battle at Gil'ead, goodbye took a lot longer than we thought."

"Of course; make up for it by flying as fast as possible." Sarah groaned.

"With pleasure."