Meglamaniac Unbound.
Summary: Galbatorix has managed to get his hands on Eragon's true name… What do you think Galbatorix plans to do with that knowledge?
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Eragon characters. But the unfamilier ones are mine.
Chapter one:
Eragon willed himself to wakefulness. He sat up on the bed he was sleeping on and looked about. There was a simple table on one side of the tent and a few packs in the corner. Eragon's eyes fell upon his cousin, Roran. It had been a week since the battle on the Burning Plains. Katrina was still with the Ra'zac, and it was time to rescue her. At that moment, Roran woke up. He sat up and looked at Eragon, a question in his eyes. Eragon looked right back and then said.
"Do you want to go now?" Roran looked closely at him, and then nodded.
Eragon got up and dressed, told Roran that he was going to speak with Nasuada, then left the tent. Saphira was awake and watching him. Eragon lightly stroked her muzzle as he passed and got a croon in return. He walked up to the Nasuada's tent, informed the guards that he wanted to talk to her, and then went in. Nasuada was seated at a simple table reading a scroll. She looked up and smiled at Eragon. Eragon took a breath, and then asked.
"Can I go now, I need to help my cousin save Katrina" Nasuada looked at him gravely for a moment then nodded slowly. Eragon thanked her, and then withdrew. He went to the store tent and packed supplies, careful to keep in mind that Roran ate meat, even though he himself could not eat it. He also packed spare clothes and a water skin.
Eragon slipped back to the tent and found Roran waiting for him outside, standing next to Saphira. Silently, Eragon handed the packs to Roran then went into the tent. He can back out with Saphira's saddle.
Are we going? Saphira asked. Eragon responded by putting Saphira's saddle on her. She snorted, and then turned her head towards a group of tents to the south.
Arya comes She told him. Eragon felt irritated, he did not want her on this trip.
"Quick, get on her" Eragon hissed at Roran. He looked a bit apprehensive.
"I thought we were going to take horses" Roran asked, puzzled.
"I've changed my mind for now, get on!"
Roran looked surprised, but climbed onto Saphira, Eragon right behind him. Saphira leaped into the air. Eragon turned and saw Arya waving a fist at him and calling his name. Eragon sighed in relief. He cared for her to much for her to come. Eragon turned back as Saphira steadily rose. Saphira flew on for most of the morning, passing over from Surda into the Empire. Roran and Eragon did not speak, neither did Saphira.
Toward Afternoon, Saphira started to head towards the ground. She landed in a small clearing. Eragon looked about, it was a pleasant little clearing. It had a small stream running though it, surrounding it was cherry trees in blossom. Eragon dismounted and helped Roran down. Roran looked about and said
"Pleasant" Eragon didn't reply, he was busy collecting sticks for a fire. When it was lit, Eragon looked in the pack with the food in. He handed roran the meat to cook, then took some bread and vegetables out. While the meat was cooking, Eragon walked around the clearing, thinking how to rescue Katrina. Roran called that lunch was ready. Eragon sat down and took bread and vegetable, not touching the meat.
"Don't you want meat, Eragon?" Roran asked, surprised.
"No" Eragon said bluntly. "I can't. When I was with the elves, I was taught that we should not give any living being unnecessary suffering, so I do not eat meat as that animal has suffered." Roran blinked, then averted his eyes. They ate in silence.
After they had lunch, they set off again. They flew on until evening. They ate and then slept.
It took five days, but they eventually saw the spires of Helgrind. Saphira stealthily approached the spires. Eragon could clearly feel Saphira's distaste for the place. She landed near by. Eragon and Roran dismounted. Roran took out a hammer, and Eragon took out a sword. Hot long as good as Za'roc, but it was serviceable. Saphira growled slightly.
I do not like this she stated.
I'm sorry, but Roran wants Katrina back. Eragon replied. She snorted, and then nudged him.
Get going then.
Eragon and Roran silently climbed some stairs. Eventually, they entered a large hall. It was deserted. There were a couple of corridors leading out of it. Eragon choose the one to the right and started down it. On either side of the corridor, there were doors.
"Jierda!" Eragon cried. One of the doors broke inwards. The cell was empty. Eragon and Roran broke most of the doors until there was one door left.
"Jierda" Eragon said wearily. He felt slightly tired. When the door opened, Eragon gasped. Roran let out a soft sob. Katrina was no more then skin and bones. Her auburn hair was over her face. Her hands had been chained above her head. Hear the door, was a bowl of rotten food and a mug of curdled milk.
There was mattered straw on the floor along with bits of human waste. The smell was overpowering to Eragon's sense of smell. Roran ignored all this and went straight to Katrina. Eragon broke the chains. Roran held Katrina close to him. She lifted her head slowly and smiled her marvelous smile at them. She then laid her head on Roran's chest. She smiled an oddly peaceful smile the closed her eyes with a sigh.
"Katrina?" Roran said then, shaking her gently, calling her name again when she didn't respond. Eragon sent a probing thought, and found nothing. Eragon gasped as he knew what that meant. He felt tears in his eyes.
"Roran" Eragon said, his voice breaking slightly. "Roran, she's… she's dead." Roran head snapped up and looked at Eragon with unbelieving eyes. He started to sob frantically, shaking her body and calling her name. Eragon let him sit there rocking Katrina's body, stroking her hair and softly calling her name.
What has happened? Saphira demanded, feeling Eragon's grief.
She's dead, Saphira, She's dead. Eragon sobbed. He felt her pity, then felt her anger at the Ra'zac. Then Eragon grabbed Roran's arm. Roran glared at him, then yanked his arm out of Eragon's grip.
"Go away." Roran sobbed. Eragon stared at his cousin, then said bluntly,
"If we stay here then the Ra'zac will find us." Roran looked at his surprised, then shook himself.
"You're right, let's go" He said softly. He stood up, hesitated, then picked up Katrina's body. They stepped back out into the corridor and hurried to the entrance hall. They were about to walk out when Eragon heard a harsh cackle. He whirled round and glared. It was the Ra'zac. Eragon whipped out his sword, stepped in front of Roran and got into battle stance.
"The king want'sss to talk to you, Rider." The smaller one hissed. Eragon's eyes hardened and he raised his sword. The Ra'zac laughed chillingly. Eragon was angry, they killed Katrina, ruined his home, killed Brom, and killed his Uncle. This was a time for revenge. The creatures walked towards him, crouched low. Eragon made no move to attack. Then the smaller Ra'zac leaped forward with its sword unsheathed Eragon parried and made a stab at the creatures face. The Ra'zac parried the attack and made a lunge at him. They battled for a while, then Eragon heard Roran's exclamation.
Eragon whirled to see the second Ra'zac attacking Roran. Eragon felt angry and leaped forward to help his cousin, but the smaller Ra'zac jumped in front of him and attacked, effectively cutting off Eragon's route to Roran. Eragon glared at the Ra'zac, it laughed chillingly back. He could see Roran struggle to defend himself against the larger, and more powerful, Ra'zac. Once again, Eragon tried to go to Roran's aid, but, again, the smaller Ra'zac blocked his path. Eragon concentrated on killing the smaller Ra'zac, and then heard Roran cry out in pain. Eragon looked at Roran and saw to his horror; his cousin was on his knees clutching at his shoulder. The Ra'zac lifted his sword above his head, Roran just stared at its face. Then, the Ra'zac brought down its sword onto Roran's head, splitting it in half.
"NO!" Eragon cried, realizing he had lost the last of his family. The Ra'zac yanked its sword out and stared triumphantly at Eragon's cousin. Roran toppled slowly to the floor and lay silent next to Katrina. The two Ra'zac looked at Eragon. Eragon was in flames now; he lifted his sword, preparing to attack The Ra'zac made no move to attack. Grimly, Eragon started forward.
"Stop!" cried a new familiar voice. Eragon turned to see Murtagh. Eragon narrowed his eyes. Then, he made a move to attack Murtagh.
"Letta!" Murtagh cried. Eragon dropped to the ground as invisible bands clamped around his arms and legs. Eragon glared at Murtagh. Murtagh slowly walked up to Eragon and stood looking at him. He drew Za'roc and held it at Eragon's throat. A group of soldiers marched in through the door; they came up to Murtagh and saluted. Murtagh nodded, then said to the lead soldier,
"Captain, tie the Rider up. And don't forget to drug him. We don't want him using magic right now." The captain saluted, then proceeded to tie Eragon's arms behind his back. Murtagh turned to Eragon and said,
"You better behave yourself, brother"
"Your not my bother!" Eragon growled, angry because no family member should betray his kin. Murtagh laughed, then turned somber.
"We're going to Urû'baen, and don't forget to ask Saphira to come with us"
