Chapter Eighty: Reunion

A swell of magic envelop Murtagh and he turned to see Mark and Arya rushing up to them. Thorn hissed and lashed his tail, but hesitated when Murtagh dropped to his knees, holding his hands behind his head. Mark stepped behind him, watching Murtagh with an even expression, then moved over to his sister, checking her mind before picking up her limp form in his arms.

"Mark." Eragon's voice was devastated, and exhausted as he leaned against Saphira.

He looked up and saw him panting, his face contorted with expressions that didn't carry a name. Letting out a quiet breath, Mark sighed, "Eragon… I-"

"Don't apologize," he snapped.

"Wouldn't do much good, would it?" Murtagh asked as Arya stood behind him, weaving protective spells over him, binding his wrists together with her magic. A glowing green rope twined about his bracers as she forced him to stand. Eragon looked between Murtagh and Mariah, still enraged, but expended. Then, Murtagh smirked, letting out a quiet chuckle. "Of course you knew, Mark, and you didn't tell him?"

Flicking his gaze to Arya, Mark remembered the princesses, "We need to find Kendra." He scanned his eyes over Murtagh, "Are you going to cooperate?"

"I don't have much choice in the matter," he straightened, jerking his chin up. "She surrendered for us. I can't do anything to you without her permission. If we're lucky, Kieran will have felt the restraint as well."

"Good," he looked down at his sister, unconscious in his arms, then at the others. There weren't enough of them to guard Murtagh, and go find Kendra and Kieran.

Eragon cleared his throat, "I can watch her." Saphira shifted behind him and eyed Mark.

"No, you need to get back and tell Nasuada what happened. The battle is over, she'll have returned to her base. Arya, are you able to guard Murtagh?" He saw Eragon begin protesting and turned to look at the she-elf.

"I will make sure he is taken care of." In return, Murtagh shot her a glare, curling his lip with distaste. "Tell your dragon to stay out of sight; it wouldn't be of any consequence for anyone to kill him now that you've been caught." The dragon snorted, gathering Zar'roc up in his talons, and gliding from the plateau into the rising smoke from the plains below. Arya pushed his shoulder lightly and walked him down the side of the ridge with one last glance toward Eragon.

"Mark… let me do this, you need to find Kendra."

As much as he didn't want to leave his sister, Eragon was right. It was more important to make sure everyone was safe, and he could trust his sister with no one better. "Alright, stay here with Saphira and rest a minute until you can make it. Here." He gently set Mariah back down, careful not to harm her. The armor made it difficult, but he bundled her cloak up around her head to help compensate for the rock. Once she was settled, he walked over and grasped Eragon's arm, pushing a surge of energy back into him. "Get to Nasuada when you can. I'll meet you there."

He wrapped his hand around Mark's forearm, squeezing slightly and giving a nod. "Aye." The man stopped once more by his sister, brushing her hair from her face and checking her for wounds before standing again and following in Arya's wake.

Andrar took a few long strides and settled down next to her, curling slightly to guard his Rider, licking at the wound in his shoulder. His eyes avoided all contact with Saphira and Eragon, settling his head on his paws and closing his eyes to rest.

Brushing against her Rider's consciousness, Saphira watched him walk toward the edge of the plateau. Little one. A rush of sympathy panged against him and he clenched his jaw.

Eragon surveyed the Burning Plains and the aftermath of the battle, for the battle was over. With the death of the Twins, the Varden and dwarves regained lost ground and were able to rout the formations of confused soldiers, herding them into the river or chasing them back from whence they came.

Though the bulk of their forces remained intact, the Empire had sounded the retreat after their Generals had been captured, no doubt to regroup and prepare for a second attempt to invade Surda. In their wake, they left piles of tangled corpses from both sides of the conflict, enough men and dwarves to populate an entire city. Thick black smoke roiled off the bodies that had fallen into the peat fires.

Aluora trotted forward through the death and decay, finally reaching the magenta dragoness sprawled out over her Rider in the middle of the battlefield. The two women were shouting at one another, Kendra was unable to get close enough to attack, even if she had been able to, Kieran's wards were still too strong for her to combat them. Nyx was crouched beside Kendra, his jaws dripping with a ragged chunk of flesh - pink scales glittering with bloody tendrils. Blood streaked his matted fur as he held one of his paws off the ground.

"Fight me you coward!" Kendra shouted, pressing a hand to her side as it bled. She threw her last dagger at her sister and growled with blood and sweat trickling into her eyes.

Kieran was nearly in tears, "It's over Kendra, let it go! The fight is over!"

"I still see you standing here, why don't you flee with the rest of your pathetic soldiers?" Mark dismounted, walking over to Kendra. She saw him coming and a relieved expression rushed over her. "What happened?"

He shook his head, glancing at the Rider. "My sister surrendered."

Kendra's face flooded with panic. "What? Why?"

"I don't know why. I spoke with her but briefly and could glean only a little of what transpired over the past few months. Your sister and Murtagh both were under orders to try and capture you and Saphira. I am assuming by my sister surrendering, she forced the other two to fold as well. That is why Kieran has halted her advance. You'd best inform her of the news."

Kendra's face was red as she turned towards her sister, knowing she had heard the exchange. "What now Kieran?"

"It's not like I have a choice!" She screeched from behind Nasreen's paw. "I can't kill you, and to return to father would be a death sentence on its own."

"Tell your dragon to flee then. So I can take you with us."

Mark looked up as Murtagh's dragon swept overhead, flying above Kieran. She stared at him for a moment, as if conversing silently, then her lips parted as if in disbelief. Nasreen raised herself to her full height and stepped back from Kieran, throwing out her wings and pushing off the ground, leaving the princesses together, unguarded.

Kendra walked over and wrenched the silver blade from Kieran's fingers, throwing it aside. She shoved her and grabbed her by the throat of her battle dress. "Give me one reason I should spare your life."

Mark stilled behind her, "Mariah surrendered for them all and begged for the mercy of the Varden."

Glancing over her shoulder, she growled at Mark. "I am not the Varden," she spat, turning back to her sister.

Kieran gave no resistance as tears rushed down her cheeks, clearing stripes of blood from her face in hot rivulets. "Just tell me, are they alive?"

"Who?"

"Mariah… and Murtagh?"

He looked at Kendra, waiting. She was staring at her sister, the vein in her forehead pulsing as her decision weighed on her. Mark glanced between them, "They are, for now. Kieran?"

"Y-yes?"

"My name is Mark… Mariah is my sister."

A small smile broke across her face, "I am glad you got to see her again, she spoke very highly of you, what little she did mention." Looking up at Kendra she sighed, "Make your decision dear sister, or we'll be here until dawn."

She slammed her fist into Kieran's cheek, cutting along the bone. Then again, her eye turning black and blue. She hesitated the third time and in a low voice spoke, "I'm not trusting you until we get everything sorted out, if you step out of line even once I will not hesitate to have you killed. I am capable of sentencing my own blood to death." She dropped Kieran and watched her hit the ground, gore spattering up onto her face. Moving behind her, she bound her hands and pulled her to her feet, shoving her past Mark. Nyx followed along at her heels, limping as Mark pulled himself back into the saddle.

Eragon pulled away from the edge and looked over at Mariah and Andrar. Stepping towards the dragon, he paused and brushed against his consciousness. Andrar responded with a dull acknowledgement, getting to his paws. In a few more strides Eragon was within striking distance. Reaching down, he took the sheath for Ancalë from Mariah's waist and replaced the sword within it, then tied the set where Zar'roc had been. Crouching beside her, he let out a breath he'd been holding.

As he picked her up, Mariah's head lolled back, her hair cascading over his arm. Clenching his teeth, Eragon walked down the side of the plateau with Saphira trailing behind him. Andrar bounded into the air, flying overhead.

He felt anger and hatred where he thought he should feel relief and joy. The conflicts of emotion rushing through him set his head spinning. Mariah was alive, for that he was thankful, and had he not been so exhausted, would have taken time to reflect on the thought, but now his only goal was to get her to Nasuada and find out what had happened.

They angled south toward he Varden's encampment, making their way along the river. Overhead, Andrar's wing beats were but a steady pulse in the silence so stark in contrast to the battle moments ago. Then, Eragon saw Roran approaching from the Jiet River. Trepidation filled him and he set Mariah down beside Saphira so he wouldn't drop her. Roran stopped directly in front of them, planted his feet wide apart, and stared at Eragon, working his jaw up and down as if he wanted to talk but was unable to get the words past his teeth.

Then he punched Eragon on the chin.

It would have been easy for Eragon to avoid the bow, but he allowed it to land, rolling away from it a bit so Roran did not break his knuckles.

It still hurt.

Wincing, Eragon faced his cousin. "I guess I deserved that."

"That you did. We have to talk."

"Now?"

"It can't wait. The Ra'zac captured Katrina, and I need your help to rescue her. They've had her ever since we left Carvahall."

So that's it. In an instant, Eragon realized why Roran appeared so grim and haunted, and why he had brought the entire village to Surda. Brom was right, Galbatorix sent the Ra'zac back to Palancar Valley. Eragon frowned, torn between his responsibility to Roran and his duty to report to Nasuada, and most importantly, finding out what had happened with Mariah. "There's something I need to do first, and then we can talk. All right? You can accompany me if you want…"

"I'll come."

Eragon nodded, turning back to Saphira and hoisting Mariah back into his arms. She felt heavier this time when he picked her up, the armor encasing her figure grimed with blood. Suddenly, Roran's face split into panic.

"What happened?" He stepped over, looking at the face of the girl he knew from Carvahall. She was bloodied, and her features angled, like his cousin's but he still recognized her, even in the gleaming armor, unconscious.

"I… don't know," Eragon admitted quietly, trying not to let his voice shake.

"The last time I saw her she had told us to run. She said that the king had sent her to capture me, and torch Carvahall…"

He blinked, forcing himself to continue walking back towards Nasuada's pavilion. "What? You saw her?"

"Yes, just before Katrina was taken. The Ra'zac came and she had escaped them long enough to warn me of what was happening. She told me what was going on, about the two of you being Riders, and that she had been captured by the Empire. She said you were safe… but she didn't seem too sure."

Eragon looked down at Mariah and bit his lip. Shaking the thoughts out of his head, he walked with his cousin through the pockmarked land. While minding his footing, he glanced at Roran out of the corner of his eye. Finally, he said in a low voice, "I missed you."

Roran faltered, then responded with a curt nod. A few steps later, he asked, "This is Saphira, right? Jeod said that was her name."

"Aye, and Andrar above." He said, glancing at the red-orange dragon in the air.

"I've seen him before."

Saphira peered at Roran with one of her glittering eyes. He bore her scrutiny without turning away, which was more than most people could do. I have always wanted to meet Eragon's nest-mate.

"She speaks!" exclaimed Roran when Eragon repeated her words.

This time Saphira addressed him directly: What? Did you think I was as mute as a rock lizard?

Roran blinked. "I beg your pardon. I didn't know that dragons were so intelligent." A grim smile twisted his lips. "First Ra'zac and magicians, now dwarves, Riders, and talking dragons. It seems the whole world has gone mad."

"It does seem that way."

"I saw you fight that other Rider… wait, was that Mariah? Were you two fighting?"

Eragon's jaw set, "Just… wait. You'll hear."

When they reached the pavilion Eragon was searching for, he swept back the flap and ducked inside, followed by Roran and Saphira, who pushed her head and neck in after them. In the center of the tent, Nasuada sat on the edge of the table, letting a maid remove her twisted armor while she carried on a heated discussion with Arya. Nasuada stopped in the middle of her sentence as she spotted the new arrivals.

"Ah, where's Mark?"

"With the others," Nasuada said, walking over to them, glancing between Mariah and Roran.

"Nasuada, I would like to introduce my cousin, Roran. Ajihad may have mentioned him to you before. Roran, Lady Nasuada, leader of the Varden and my liegelord. And this is Arya Svit-kona, the elves' ambassador." Roran bowed to each of them in turn.

"It is an honor to meet Eragon's cousin," said Nasuada. "But we have more pressing issues to attend to. First," she looked down at Mariah. "She needs to be put under guard until we find out what's going on. Come." She pushed past him and outside, filing down rows of tents, past battered soldiers, until they found Mark, Kendra, and Du Vrangr Gata.

"Under guard?" Roran asked, "Why? She practically saved our entire village."

"Until she wakes and we are able to question her fully about what has transpired, she is to be considered a member of the Forsworn. Mark?"

He turned his attention and looked between them all, sweeping over and taking his sister from Eragon. "Hey Roran. Good to see you."

"You too." He said, pausing at the idea of the Forsworn. "But…" Roran trailed off, watching as Mark put her down on a blanket, making sure her wrists were bound together with magic. The magician walked back and smiled at Roran, shaking his hand tightly before turning his attention back to Nasuada.

After they finished exchanging greetings, Eragon explained that the entire village of Carvahall had arrived on the Dragon Wing, and that Roran was the one responsible for killing the Twins.

Nasuada lifted a dark eyebrow. "The Varden are in your debt, Roran, for stopping their rampage. Who knows how much damage the Twins would have caused before Eragon or Arya could have confronted them? You helped us to win this battle. I won't forget that. Our supplies are limited, but I will see that everyone on your ship is clothed and fed, and that your sick are treated."

Roran bowed even lower. "Thank you, Lady Nasuada."

"If I weren't so pressed for time, I would insist upon knowing how and why you and your village evaded Galbatorix's men, traveled to Surda, and then found us. Even just the bare facts of your trek make an extraordinary tale. I still intend to learn the specifics – especially since I suspect it concerns Eragon – but I must deal with other, more urgent matters at the moment."

"Of course, Lady Nasuada."

"You may go, then." Roran glanced between Eragon and Mark, nodding before walking off to find Jeod and tell him the good news.

"We all need to have a long discussion about what to do with the Riders. Marcus, are you able to wake your sister?"

"I can try," he admitted, having been hesitant to do so before now. Kendra glanced at him from where she was standing, guarding the entrance to one of the tents nearby. Kneeling beside his sister, Mark brushed against her mind, finding a void. Mariah?

He felt a rush of thoughts and she flicked her eyes open, staring at him. Mark. Is he safe?

Everyone's still alive… well, everyone I know you were trying to protect. He continued, answering her other unasked questions, I had to bind your magic, until we know what's happening. Nasuada is here, she wants to talk. Murtagh and Kieran are being guarded as well, as much for their safety as ours. Can you stand?

Yes.

He stood, helping her to her feet. Mariah swayed for a moment and he grabbed her shoulders to steady her. As she stepped toward Nasuada, Andrar landed with a thud behind her, twisting around and guarding his Rider as the nearby members of Du Vrangr Gata and kull readied themselves for a fight. He let out a low growl and Nasuada raised her hand, making them lower their weapons.

"I don't want to fight. I want to understand…" Nasuada said, watching her carefully. "Mariah Dawnsinger, you have murdered King Hrothgar in battle, attempted to kill me, and from what I can tell, followed orders from King Galbatorix for the past three months as a member of his new Forsworn. I have been informed that you helped lead this campaign against the Varden, I have but one question for someone I once considered a friend: why?"

A harsh chuckle resonated from her throat, when she parted her lips; her voice came out deep and caustic, "Ajihad raised you strong if you were able to gain enough power to lead the Varden as you have, Nasuada. You may have been able to capture my Riders, due to an unforeseen instance, however your defeat will come, and your resistance will be crushed."

Mark snarled and stepped in front of his sister, barreling into her mind again. Regain control Mariah. When he found that he couldn't get through Galbatorix's guards, he pulled his consciousness away from her and punched her square in the jaw. Get out of her head! She stumbled back and spat out blood, growling at her brother. Andrar's chest rumbled as Du Vrangr Gata and the kull all readied their weapons again. Nasuada was now standing behind Eragon, watching Mariah's face in horror. In half a moment, Mariah had launched herself past Mark, drawing a brightsteel dagger from somewhere in her armor, aiming it for Nasuada. It was Eragon who grabbed her arm, twisting and slamming her into the ground next to her dragon, throwing the knife from her grasp and knocking her out cold with a blow to her head. He had felt her arm break from the pressure of his movement and stood again, shaking.

His eyes flicked to Mark who was silent, staring at his broken sister. This isn't her, Mark… something is very wrong. What is going on?

Galbatorix seems to have some sort of control over her. I had anticipated something like this, but... He shook his head, Let's go and see if Murtagh can tell us anything.

Eragon stiffened and nodded tightly, looking back at Andrar who remained still as enemy blades surrounded him. The dragon looked to both sides of himself and twitched his tail. Saphira lowered her head, barring her jaws towards the red-orange dragon. He sniffed at Eragon and parted his jaws, forcing the Rider to tense. He took a step back from the large dragon, mentally preparing a spell to deflect flames. Andrar snorted, moving towards him for a second as he shifted before he dropped to the ground on his side, settling his head on his massive paws so that Mariah was beneath his throat. Smoke floated from his nostrils, as if daring someone to step closer.

"Thank you, Eragon." Nasuada said, straightening herself back out, "Mark, if you are unable to control your sister, then something will have to be done." She smoothed out her clothes and looked between them. "She is clearly dangerous and needs to be watched. Trianna!" The leader of Du Vrangr Gata stepped up towards her and inclined her head.

"M'lady."

"See to it… Lady Dawnsinger is guarded at all times; we have two others we can question as well. Let's see what they have to say for themselves." She took one more glance down at Mariah and turned on her heel, striding past Kendra into the nearby tent. Mark gritted his teeth, glancing back at his sister, and followed after Nasuada with Kendra and Eragon at his side.

Murtagh looked up as they entered the room, his eyes immediately tracing over Kendra, his pulse quickening at the sight of her; he bit his tongue, noting a slight limp and a new scar over her left eyebrow. The four of them stopped across the room and he tensed, wondering where Mariah was. Beside him, Kieran was shaking, her eyes wide as she looked between them all. He wished he could just tell her to calm down, but something was blocking his ability to talk with her mentally, he assumed it was the she-elf in the corner. Arya's green binds were still tightly wound around his wrists.

A soldier brought a chair in so that Nasuada could sit down across from them. She sighed quietly and looked between the two Riders. "Your companion is unable to hold a full conversation with me. Before I deal out punishment, I need to understand why you are here. Alive," she looked at Murtagh, "And Riders. Please start wherever you feel necessary."

Kieran trembled slightly as she parted her lips, speaking quietly. "Are you going to kill us?"

"If I deem it essential, yes."

A stroke of empathy rushed through him. Kieran had probably never felt so helpless, other than when she was pitted against her father. She was incapable of controlling her situation and physically unable to combat her way out due to the restraints Kendra had placed upon her.

He turned his gaze to Nasuada and spoke. "The Twins captured me, Mariah, and Andrar after the battle in Farthen Dûr by controlling a group of Urgals. They murdered Ajihad before we had time to figure out what was happening. After they spirited us away to Urû'baen, Galbatorix tortured us for any information we could provide about the Varden, Eragon and Saphira, the resistance…" He paused to take a breath, trying to recall everything that had happened over a few short months. "We swore oaths and allegiances to him, binding us from leaving or escaping. To ensure that she was under his control, he sent Mariah with Kieran to Carvahall. They returned a few days after without Roran, which had infuriated him. However, he knew we would do anything he commanded of us then. He forced my hand, and Thorn hatched for me. We were unable to contact anyone to let them know we were alive, so… we endured our terrible fate."

"I have been informed there are other dragon eggs, and possibly more Riders…"

"Yes. Six more – he forced their dragons to hatch through black magic. Mariah tried to stop it, but there was nothing she could do. He used magic to grow them quickly, but this was only a few short weeks ago, he was unable to use the spell so many times, they are barely capable of flight, and are not as well trained as we are."

"Six? Kendra told me of more than that."

He refrained from looking at the princess as he spoke, "There were more, but he felt six Riders would be enough, until he was able to optimize the process. He handpicked the candidates out of some of the best he could find – magicians and fighters – and they are all under his command now. One, however, is a Shade. A girl. I don't know how it happened."

"And a Shade, as a Rider. By the gods…"

Kieran fidgeted in her seat, "Where is Mariah?"

Nasuada glanced toward her, then back at Murtagh. "Under guard until you can tell me why she attempted to murder me three times already today. The two of you seem content to be held captive. She however, just attacked me again, had Eragon not been by my side she would have succeeded." He shifted his footing behind her, uncomfortable at the thought.

"Galbatorix has placed her under some sort of enchantment, where he is able to possess her mind and body to do what he wills. I was… not there when it happened." He paused, "She is able to break free sometimes, or perhaps it is when he allows her to do as she wants, but it is unpredictable. I couldn't begin to tell you how the magic works."

"I see. And how were we able to capture you? If you three have been gifted with all of these powers, and more. Eragon has said that he likely would not have been able to best you in a fight, had Mariah not interfered."

"She broke free long enough to submit us to you. At least, that's what I assume. We had sworn allegiance to Galbatorix through her, but something must have went wrong, because when she surrendered for us, we could feel it, even though Kieran didn't hear her speak. The oath must have bound us to her instead."

Mark nodded, "From the wording I gleaned in her memories, yes. I found her when she tried to attack you the first time Nasuada, and did my best to break Galbatorix's control over her, but my guard broke after some time, which is why she attacked you again. I apologize."

"There is nothing for you to apologize for Marcus." She insisted, standing. "Is there anything else that I should know?"

"None of this was our choice," Murtagh said evenly. "We did not choose to be Riders. We did not choose our fathers…" He paused, remembering what he had been about to tell Eragon before Mariah had interrupted them.

"Murtagh…" Kieran said quietly, glancing at him. "They need to know."

"What?" Nasuada asked.

"Our lineages… as you know, Galbatorix is mine and Kendra's father. And you know Morzan is Murtagh's… but," she paused, licking her lips and looking at Mark and Eragon.

"You have placed much faith in the blood of your enemies. Even now they are surrounding you Nasuada," Murtagh said, watching her. "Mark knows… don't you?"

He swallowed hard, watching Murtagh with sharp eyes. "What did you find out?"

"Galbatorix told Mariah first… about her parents… both of them… I'm surprised he didn't order us to try and capture you too, he spoke of it often enough."

Dread fell into his stomach and a shiver crawled up his spine as Murtagh spoke. Eragon looked over, at his friend, "Mark, what is he saying?"

"Our mother and father were both members of the Forsworn, and worked for Galbatorix during the years of their reign." His voice was empty as he stared at Murtagh, avoiding everyone else's' gaze. "Brom… he never wanted us to know or feel like we had traitorous blood in our veins. He told me just before his death…"

"And I'm assuming that's why he never told you either," Murtagh said, looking at Eragon evenly. "About your parents…"

Eragon growled, clenching his fists, "Just spit it out already."

Standing, Murtagh watched them all tense, despite his hands still being bound in front of him with Arya's magic. Mark was already guarding Nasuada with an outstretched arm, his hand glowing faintly. Murtagh spoke quietly to Eragon, his eyes never leaving his face, "I never told you my mother's name, did I? And you never told me yours. Selena. Her name was Selena."

"You're lying!" cried Eragon, his hand on Ancalë at his side.

He shook his head, repeating his words in the ancient language and the room fell still. Even Nasuada, who didn't know the elvish words, knew exactly what had happened. She turned her back to Kieran and Murtagh, looking at the others. "I have heard all I need to know."

"You're letting us live?" Kieran asked. Murtagh gritted his teeth together, watching Kendra turn her back and stride from the tent.

"For now, you will remain here under guard, until I figure out what to do with you. Clearly you are all too powerful to go unwatched, but I cannot have all of my soldiers and magicians guard you, no. So you will stay here until arrangements can be made. Eragon, come, let us leave." She waited for him to depart and followed after Mark, leaving Arya to trail behind her. "Mark, I trust you, but if there are any more secrets you are harboring from me, I need to know them before they are spouted from the mouths of my enemies-"

"I need to speak to them." Nasuada looked over at her third prisoner. Mariah had woken back up and was leaning against Andrar's chest under his neck and between his paws. She was nursing the broken arm that Eragon had given her. The soldiers, kull, and members of Du Vrangr Gata were all watching her cautiously. "Murtagh and Kieran both…"

She tensed immediately, her hand on the dagger at her side. "Then move away from your dragon so we might restrain you."

"I refuse. Bring them to me, or I'll sit here all night and haunt your soldiers until they collapse from exhaustion. I don't need sleep, and you don't have the resources to keep watch on me like that all night. After you bring them to me, I'll do whatever you want."

"You are in no position to negotiate." Nasuada watched her for a moment. "I can't trust you Mariah. Your tongue is still sharp. And you have weapons far too close to you yet. I refuse."

"There is a very large dragon standing above me that is very capable of tearing apart your soldiers if I asked it of him, so I insist upon negotiating with you. Send someone you do trust over to me, I'll give you what I have in exchange for a few moments with my companions." Mariah motioned to her saddle bags, where two blades were still sheathed. "I will relinquish all the weapons and trinkets I have brought with me."

Kendra took a step towards her, "Allow me. If she tries anything I'll break her other arm too." Without awaiting a response, the princess walked to her. Nyx padded behind her, growling up at the massive dragon. With a knife, she cut loose the first saddle bag, nearly falling as she felt the weight of its contents. The next bag felt much the same, though this time her face contorted slightly and she peered inside. A glistening gemstone was nestled in the bag and she gasped slightly, recognizing it as an Eldunarí. Nasuada watched with curiosity as Mariah stood silently, watching her.

"You're Kieran's twin sister… she's told me much about you." She smiled at the princess and tipped her head a bit, "Your hair's a bit shorter though…"

Ignoring her, Kendra moved to the other side of Andrar, pulling the blades down. As she touched the first one, she caught the heavy magic surrounding it. "Mark!" She threw it to him, still in its sheath. Catching the weapon he drew the blade, finding it plain and steel. Kendra turned back, ripping the second one from the saddle. She narrowed her eyes, looking back at Mariah, whispering, "What did you do?"

Mark touched the illusion upon the sword in his hands. The charm was pulling energy from the blade's own gemstone to sustain it. This is a Rider's sword. He looked at Kendra, watching her speaking to his sister, "You stole these from Galbatorix."

As if oblivious to their revelation, she watched Kendra walk back to Nasuada. "I have given you what I had with no resistance. Can I speak with them now?"

Nasuada turned, looking between Arya, Kendra, Eragon, and Mark and, making no efforts to conceal her comment, said, "If she does anything, stop her." Looking displeased, Arya went and retrieved the two Riders, walking them out into the dusky twilight. Kieran sighed in relief at seeing Mariah alive, noting her broken arm and the bright magic cuffs around her wrists denying her access to any of her magic. In turn, Kieran looked haggard compared to when Mariah had last seen her; the once pristine armor was dented and grimed by her sister fighting with her. The braid that she had pulled her hair into before the battle was broken loose and wild, looking as though a large chunk had been sheared off the left side.

Then there was Murtagh, who looked completely drained, though less bloodied than Kieran. He was avoiding the gaze of everyone except Mariah. She grinned at them, hugging her right arm to her body, using Andrar for support. Then she spoke aloud once they could hear her, in elvish, "I relinquish you both from the oaths you've sworn to me, and ask your forgiveness. I only did what I felt I must." Murtagh's lips parted in surprise, and felt Arya stiffen behind them. "Murtagh, I need you to do the same for me. I swore to you that first time in Urû'baen, not to Galbatorix."

Blinking, he took a step toward her, feeling someone grab his arm, epiphany rushing over him. She had been kneeling in front of Galbatorix, and had promised aloud the same he had repeated to her not long ago. "This whole time-"

"Please Murtagh, I can explain later… just… before I run out of time. I don't know how long I can hold him off." Her face was pleading as she spoke.

She had been bound to his words, not Galbatorix. Not wanting to be held responsible for her actions any longer than he had to, he spoke to her in Elvish, feeling a tendril of connection between them break, "I release you from the oaths you swore to me."

"Thank you." She turned and looked at her brother, speaking with him rapidly as Arya translated the situation for Nasuada. Mariah didn't know how long she had before they tried to interrupt her. I know you still can't trust me…

He met her gaze with steely blue eyes, Not after you nearly murdered us all.

"Sorry," she said, smiling crookedly at him. And I know you hate me making promises that I'm forced to keep but, I have to make one more. Okay, Mark? I've done enough harm already.

Being able to see her thoughts, he swallowed once. That's your choice Mariah.

Her gaze finally settled on Eragon, and she wanted nothing more than to run to him, but she saw the look in his eye – confusion, anger, hurt – and knew he couldn't trust her either. So, before anyone else could say anything, she smiled at him thinly, and in the binding elvish tongue said, "Eragon Shadeslayer, I give you, and only you, permission to deem me a threat to yourself or the Varden. If you find that I pose a great enough risk to you, Saphira, the members of the Varden - including Nasuada and my brother - or any of the other Riders and their dragons - excluding Galbatorix and Shruikan - I give you sole permission to end my life, without resistance from myself or Andrar, at any time, by any means. Keep me as your prisoner, or use me as a weapon, I care not. I give my life to you to do with what you will."

As she finished speaking, she saw Eragon's face turn red, a gleam of distress in his eyes. Murtagh and Kieran were staring at her, their expressions horrified that she had just sworn such an oath willingly. Beside Eragon, Mark's lips twitched into a smile and he looked toward the ground, unable to hold her gaze.

Nasuada looked at them questioningly. "…what did she say?"

He wanted the day to end, the whirlwind of emotions he was dealing with were proving too much as he felt his mind unable to translate for Nasuada. Feeling Saphira brush his consciousness, she attempted to comfort him, but the revelations about his parents, Murtagh, Mariah, and Galbatorix were still swirling about his head. He was only vaguely aware of everyone was staring at him as he tried to figure out what to say.

With Love, As Always,

Mariah Dawnsinger