Three days after Murtagh and Nasuada's encounter in the labyrinth, Nasuada refrained from speaking to Murtagh for days. When they did meet by chance in the hallways or during meals, they acknowledge each other's presence with formal bows and when they were summoned by the king, they unwillingly conversed with each other when required.

To keep herself from loosing her mind due to the lack of company, Nasuada talked to the maids and sometimes even helped around the household even if the maids begged her not to. But she always stubbornly insisted. She started to make friends around the household and even earned the respect and loyalty of some maids and grounds keepers. Nasuada saw this as opportunities to learn more about the castle and any information she could use against Galbatorix, Murtagh and the Dragons.

Nasuada also noticed that Murtagh and Thorn had been returning to their quarters deep into the night lately. On the wee hours of the night of some days, Nasuada would hear Murtagh and Thorn cry out in pain. She would then sneak out of her room and follow the sound only to be led to a room a few doors from Galbatorix's bedchamber. Nasuada would press her ear on the door and she would hear Galbatorix instructing Murtagh to do spells that were beyond his power that he would collapse to the ground. Galbatorix would then order him to get up and punish the weakness he had shown.

"Get up, you scum!" the king would yell and Nasuada would hear things being broken and other disturbing things.

Nasuada would go back to her room with a disturbed but pitiful heart. She felt sorry that Murtagh was treated this way but she was helpless about it. Nasuada could not understand why she is feeling this way. Murtagh was the enemy and yet, here she is, sitting in the dark wishing she could do something to help him.

Nasuada came to realize that Murtagh was an innocent victim of fate. Being sired by Morzan and slaved by Galbatorix.

But there's something else she could not quite make out.

A strange feeling inside her chest indeed.

One late autumn day, the wind was starting to get chilly. It'll be winter in a few days.

Nasuada was in the library reading a scroll of ancient poems written by monks living high in the mountains.

One poem caught her heart's attention that she had memorized it the very first time she had read it.

The wind blows down gently

On emerald plains

A maiden of fair stood alone

Waiting for Him that holds her heart

Of such simplicity and grace

Maiden fair, whose patience was long,

Started to wither as her knight did not come

But she waited, like seeds in winter

Who waited for spring's kiss of life

In a sudden, like lightning in a fierce storm

The sound of her lover's voice

So sweet to her ears that her heart

Began to flutter like hummingbirds

To a flower so dear, When her knight

Said her name like a prayer of love…

"Nasuada."

Nasuada's heart jumped in shock that she stood up from her seat and dropped the scroll.

"Gods, Murtagh," she closed her eyes in irritation and relief as she caught her breath. "Don't sneak up on me like that!"

"My apologies." Murtagh looked at the scroll on the floor and then at Nasuada who picked it up and rolled in close.

"I did not know that you take fancy reading romantic poems." Murtagh raised a curious brow.

"I don't," Nasuada felt her cheeks burn with embarrassment. "It just so happens that I was bored out of my wits and I've read every book about the geography of Alagaesia, I turned to literature."

Murtagh stared at her and her at him.

Nasuada noticed that there was a small healing cut on Murtagh's right temple and he looked somewhat tired.

"Why are you here?" Nasuada asked to distract herself.

"The king has summoned us." Murtagh replied.

In the Throne Room.

"It's about time you brats showed yourselves." Galbatorix was clearly annoyed.

"My apologies," Nasuada curtsied. "My dress ripped and it had to be fixed in order to look presentable to His Majesty."

Murtagh glanced at Nasuada then back at the king. Why was she lying?

Galbatorix sneered with disgust. "No one will acknowledge you beauty here, you harlot."

Nasuada felt her temper rise but she figured out that letting it out would be a very bad idea.

"Anyways," Galbatorix said, getting to the point. "A ball will be held by one of my cabinet members in his estate to celebrate the engagement of their daughter. I was invited, but obviously, I will not attend since I find such petty matters useless."

He shifted in his sit a bit and continued. "But not to be rude and lose his loyalty to me, I will send you, Murtagh, in my place."

"As you wish, my lord." Murtagh said as he slightly dipped his head.

Galbatorix leaned closer as to study the two youths before him. "But I will not be sending you there just so you could enjoy yourself. I have herd rumors that one of my officials, the owner of the estate and the one who sent the invitation, is working against me. I want you to find out if this is true and report back to me about any discoveries. I'll take it from there."

For a moment there, Galbatorix sounded vicious. Like a snake hissing in his den as his prey walked clueless on the mouth of his lair.

"And take this woman with you as your muse." Galbatorix added.

Nasuada felt her blood freeze but at the same time, her cheeks burned.

"My lord," Nasuada began carefully. "It is an honor to accompany Murtagh, but I might only be a bother to his task."

"His majesty asked your presence." Murtagh sounded stern but annoyed. "How dare you decline?"

"Exactly." Galbatorix smirked. "And you might be of use to him as well. I need hands in this espionage task of yours."

Nasuada only gave a curt nod and remained silent.

Then a messenger boy came to the room and bowed before the King.

He carried a scroll on a gold tray and approaching the king; he dropped on one knee and offered the tray to the tyrant.

Galbatorix took the scroll and dismissed the boy rudely.

His dark eyes lightened with amusement as he read.

"Ah," he said as he placed down the scroll and looked at Nasuada.

"I am pleased, Nasuada," it was the first time he had called her by her name since she arrived. "The ambush squads I have sent for your little friends down south have already mobilized. And the assassin for Orrin of Surda is already on the move. Isn't that pleasant news?"

The shock could not contain Nasuada. "They will not go down so easily. Have you forgotten that the Elves and Eragon Shadeslayer are with them?"

"I don't worry about Eragon so much. His brother will deal with him." Galbatorix was talking about Murtagh.

"And besides," he continued. "I sent a messenger to them with one of your hair accessories that they have last seen with you before you had disappeared. I sent them a message that I will easily have you killed if they try any tricks on me. They have been awfully quiet for some days now and I heard that they had stopped mobilizing north."

"You're using me to black mail them." Nasuada hissed.

The King chuckled. "I will not be surprised to hear about Orrin's death anytime soon. "

"Orrin will not die so easily!" Nasuada's voice was clear as he stood up for her childhood friend and comrade in arms. "He is guarded by magicians and soldiers day and night and not to mention the Elves and Eragon himself!"

"The assassin is someone close." Murtagh snapped at Nasuada. She was startled and was even more disturbed when she met his stormy eyes. The storm in them seems to be even more dangerous. Gray and blue all mixing together, like real thunderclouds swallowing up the peaceful blue sky.

"What?" was all she could say.

"It's someone close." Murtagh's voice was collected but dark. "It's someone who is close to Orrin. A servant or a comrade, and since your beloved king trust anyone and everyone who serves him so easily, let's see how he'll take the idea of being killed by one."

He turned to Galbatorix. "Please forgive my slave, your highness. Her tongue doesn't know its place and it is simply too foolish."

"Forgiven." Galbatorix sounded bored. "The ball is tomorrow night. Do not fail me. That goes to both of you, especially you, Murtagh."

The rider bowed an affirmative. But then he dropped to his knees and clutched his chest as if he was out of breath.

"You know what to expect if you fail me." The king said darkly and Murtagh wobbled to back up and nodded, not trusting his tongue to speak for him.

"Let's go." He mouthed to Nasuada who was still dumbfounded.

On the hallway, when the two of them were alone, they walked in silence while Murtagh tried to steady his breathing, he coughed a few times but they sounded bad.

"Are you alright?" Nasuada asked suddenly, but she had caught the softness of her voice and the gentleness her words carried.

"I thought you were mad at me." Murtagh said simply and looked on ahead, not looking at her at all.

"I am." Nasuada replied, looking out the windows they passed, the moon was so bright and almost full. It will be a full moon tomorrow night. "I'm just asking. Your coughs sounded bad."

"It's nothing, I'm fine." Murtagh said. "I'm used it."

But she did not buy this excuse at all. Murtagh was lying, he was obviously in pain.

Nasuada said nothing, but instead her thoughts flew to the safety of her comrades.

Suddenly, she had an idea.

"Please excuse me," she suddenly said. "I have to change my clothes."

"Why?" Murtagh asked. "You look beau—"

Murtagh cleared his throat when Nasuada suddenly looked at him. "Fine. You look fine."

"I'm a mess." Nasuada argued. "Please and kindly, Murtagh. At least spare me to keep my dignity of looking respectable."

Murtagh looked suspicious but he permitted her.

"Meet me at supper." Then he walked away.

When he was out of sight, Nasuada hurried to her room and locked the door. She immediately took out the whistle she found in her old clothes and went to the window.

Taking a deep breath, she blew long and hard.

No sound came out but this did not bother the Princess of the Varden.

She then went to the food tray one of the maids brought in to her during breakfast and took some bread crumbs and small chunks of bread.

She placed them on the window sill and soon the sound of flapping wings was heard.

A grey and white pigeon with a red bad on its foot landed and greeted her with a friendly coo.

"Shh." Nasuada said. "I'm glad to see you too Adrielle. Here, eat." She motioned to the crumbs.

"I have a mission for you."

She went to the small study table beside the window and took out a think trip of parchment, quill and a jar of ink.

Nasuada then started scribbling coded words that only she, her general; Jormondur, Eragon, Arya and Orrin could understand.

In Uru'Baen. Safe. Captured by Murtagh and bound with a spell of slavery to him. Beware! Ambush squad sent by king for Varden and an assassin for Orrin. Said to be someone CLOSE. Be alert. I will stay and try to find out more. Will try to sabotage. Do not worry about me. Will write more soon.

Night Flower.

After writing, she went to the bird that was just waiting for her to finish.

Nasuada rolled the parchment into a thin little scroll and tied in onto the red band on the Adrielle's leg. The Varden's messenger pigeons are trained well to fly on any weather and will stop at nothing to get there.

"Since you got here so fast, it either means they aren't far or you happened to be in the area. Please hurry back. I'm counting on you."

The bird spread its wings and took off, disappearing into the night.

Nasuada then hurried and changed into a vermillion evening dress so that Murtagh will not be suspicious.

Suddenly a knock came on the door. Her heart almost stopped.

What if it was Murtagh?

"Yes?" she called.

"Lord Murtagh awaits you in the dining room, m'lady." A maid said. "He said that if you are not present in ten minutes, he will come and fetch you himself."

"Tell him I'm on my way!" Nasuada's chest was already hammering. And she made it out to the hallway. The

Maid escorted her on the way and while they walked, she hoped and prayed that her loyal pet will be there on time before the evil the king sent acted.

A/N: Update! Yay! Woo! I love tension! Again, Sorry for the typos and grammar. _ When I do on the spot chapters, they turn out pretty good, so I always write these in one sitting and upload them ASAP so you guys would be happy! :D hahaa… R&R!