The Sweet Downfall

This chapter is for all the readers of All I Ask Of You, you have inspired me to write this. Thank you, and enjoy.

Chapter 1 – Another Goodbye

"Meghan?" it was too early in the morning for the sun to be up. For anyone to be up for that matter. Meghan had only fallen asleep an hour ago, because of the baby, pregnancy was tiresome. It had been a week since the battle, they had built a camp miles away from the battlefield, but still the incidents of that day haunted her like ghosts.

"Meghan?" it sounded again, this time more urgent.

"What?" it was the first word she had spoken since the night she had overheard Galbatorix's conversation with Murtagh. Murtagh, even thinking the name hurt.

"It's me. Roran." His deep voice was kind, as if he was preparing her for a conversation that wouldn't make her day pleasant.

"Come in." Meghan got up and started braiding her hair.

"Meghan listen.." he squatted in front of her, his face gentle and insecure "..why didn't you tell me?"

"Did you talk to Eragon?" Meghan snarled. He nodded his head and shrugged, as if it was only logical.

"Well the next time you speak with him again you may say that it is none of his business to tell you about my personal condition."

"You should've told me. We're friends aren't we? I can help, I want to help."

"What did he tell you?"
"That you're with child. I know you had to leave the father to help the Varden, it's him isn't it, a servant at Galbatorix' court?"
"A servant." Meghan mumbled, she couldn't deny the irony in that. Suddenly she looked up. "There's nothing you can do to help. I have to do this on my own."

"You don't."

"Why did you come here Roran? And at this hour?"

"We're leaving." Meghan was finished with her hair and dropped her arms beside her body.

"What?" she whispered, as if saying it louder would make it more real.

"Eragon and I, we're leaving to look for Katrina at the Helgrind."

"But that's insane." She mumbled.

"Maybe. But not impossible. I have to find her. If you ever had even the slightest chance to see him again, you would do anything wouldn't you?" Meghan didn't even want to think about her answer to that question. She would do anything to see him again, the way he was, the way she fell in love with him. Not the mindless monster he became.

"I have to go." Roran repeated when she didn't answer. "Eragon has sworn to help me, and I know his life is really important to all of you, but I'm more than grateful he's willing to come with me."

"When will you leave?" Meghan knew that if Eragon had sworn to help Roran, they would go no matter what. Eragon was many things, but he wasn't a liar.

"Now." Roran couldn't look at her when he spoke, his eyes were looking at his knees for an abnormally long time.

"N-now?" Meghan had to fight back her tears, Roran and Eragon made her feel just a little less alone. And now they were leaving too?

"I'm sorry." Roran whispered. "I came to wake you, so you could say goodbye before we left." He went on.

"Where's Eragon?" Roran didn't answer, he got up expecting Meghan to follow him. Meghan got up and followed him through the many tents, no one was up except for some guards at the sides of their camp. There he was. The young Rider who was the Varden's only hope. After the revelation of Murtagh being Galbatorix' personal Rider, Eragon had become of even more value to all the people of Alagaesia. As he turned around to face Roran and Meghan, Saphira greeted both of them in their minds.

Meghan still couldn't believe how beautiful and special Saphira was, what a miraculous creature in this dark world.

"Meghan.." Eragon whispered, his voice seemed to fail him.

"You shouldn't be leaving." She whispered back, standing in front of him feeling helpless, like a child abandoned by her parents. He was the only one who could potentially make her feel safe.

"I am truly sorry. We will be back as soon as we find Katrina." He said, fully believing in the suicidal quest. Meghan wanted to scream that it was impossible for them to find her, but she didn't want to upset Roran. She didn't want him to be hurt like she was. She wanted him to find happiness, and she wanted Katrina –a young woman unknown to her- to feel safe and loved in the arms of a man who would do anything for her, so that at least someone was getting a happy ending. Maybe she needed Katrina to be found, to prove there was hope.

"I will take care of them and bring them home. I wouldn't forgive myself if anything happened to Eragon or his family." Saphira's gentle angelic voice sounded.

"Please be careful and take care of yourself." Eragon whispered to her hair and pulled her into an embrace, and it felt safe in the arms of a friend. It had been so long since someone made that gesture.

"You make sure you get back." Meghan said, suddenly fierce. "Both of you." She turned to face Roran.

"I don't want to part again without knowing if I'll ever see you again. I don't want to loose any more friends."

"When we come back with Katrina you will only gain friends." Meghan embraced Roran and when she let go she turned to Eragon and Saphira again.

"Keep an eye on the horizon." Eragon said as he and Roran climbed on Saphira. "We'll be back before you know it." And then Saphira spread her wings to fly away, leaving Meghan with a feeling of doubt and fear.