FanFic----A New Hope
Chapter One-Incoming
Murtagh collapsed. He couldn't take the searing mind-numbing pain any longer.
Galbatorix laughed softly. "Enjoying your punishment Murtagh? Don't you know why you're being punished? So let me ask you. WHY ISN'T ERAGON SHADESLAYER HERE???!?" he roared.
Murtagh didn't answer, drawing shallow, ragged breaths.
"You will go again. You will not fail. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!" Applying more pressure to Murtagh's bones, threatening to break them, Murtagh gasped.
"Y..Yes." And blacked out.
Galbatorix stared at him with contempt. "If your father could see you now…" and strode out of the room.
--
The teenaged girl straightened. "I have to go heal…The Red Rider?" she asked curiously.
"Yes, Illera," the head healer confirmed, "Apparently His Majesty seems to have punished him…again. But this time even more harshly. And He can't be bothered with healing him so he sent one of us, that is, you to go."
Illera sighed. "Fine.." and left. She walked towards the torture chamber, deep in thought. She had only seen the Red Rider once, when he was out flying with his dragon and there had been a major accident outside. He'd landed and started healing with the infirmary. Once she got towards the last turn, her step faltered. I wonder how badly Galbatorix punished him this time.
Shuddering at the concept, she walked up to the guard and said, "I was called down." in her most commanding voice.
The guard leered and said, "Wouldn't you rather spend time with me, instead of the Red Rider?" Illera sighed inwardly. She got that a lot. Mainly just because the guards didn't have wives or...whatever.
Pulling out a wicked looking dagger, and bringing it up to the man's chest, she said dangerously, "You were saying?"
Paling, the guard quickly let her in. Walking in, Illera inhaled sharply. Blood was everywhere. Murtagh looked almost unrecognizable, bruised, bloodied and beaten, laying in a pool of his own blood. Damn! Illera thought. Galbatorix really troubled himself this time. She stumbled over to Murtagh and knelt by his side. Turning his head, she saw that his eyes were closed and he was breathing ragged breaths.
She uttered, "Wash the blood from this man's body." and began to examine his wounds. He shuddered, and opened an eye, "why….why're……you….'ere?"
Illera answered, "I'm just going to heal you." "Is…he…coming?"
Understanding and sympathy shone in her eyes, before they vanished.
"No." He closed his eyes with relief and didn't speak.
Illera placed her hand over his wounds and said again and again, "Waise Heill!"
When she finished, exhausted, all the wounds had disappeared. Illera sighed. Healing Murtagh had taken a lot of time and effort.
"I'll get something to eat." Illera decided out loud. Murtagh mumbled something that sounded like "Me too".
She studied him. "I'll get something for you then," she said.
She left the room and strode towards the kitchens, grabbing a bowl of broth, a loaf of bread and a pastry for herself, and balanced them on a tray. She retraced her steps to where Murtagh was. Setting the tray down on a table, she kneeled and roused him from his sleep.
He sat up and rasped, "Whas happening?" She helped him up and let him lean on her, while he struggled to find his balance, and walked towards the table.
"Eat. You need to regain your strength."
Murtagh's point of view
Pain. All he could remember was pain. Burning, unlimited pain. Unable to contact Thorn, he closed his eyes and succumbed to the inviting darkness. Then...he was awake. Jostled out of the sleep he had so willingly gone into. He felt his injuries being healed; preparing for another torture session perhaps? But…wait…touch was more gentle. And the mind he sensed was feminine. Thorn? He called. About time, grumbled the ticked off dragon. Sorry, Murtagh said, I was a bit busy. Well go talk to your rescuer, you've been ignoring her. He scanned her over. A bit younger than himself….maybe 17-18. But it was interesting to know she could use magic.
"Eat. You need to regain your strength." the girl said, in a voice that was neither loud nor quiet but firm. Seeing the food in front of him, he began wolfing it down. She nibbled her pastry listlessly.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"I am Illera." She answered, a bit of sadness in her voice.
"Illera," Murtagh repeated. "Yes?" she replied.
"Thanks for healing me." Murtagh said gratefully.
"It wasn't any trouble."
Murtagh didn't know what to say to that. Of course it was trouble, Thorn said, amused. Galbatorix went to far greater lengths than ever to get the message drilled into you. They finished the meal in silence, and she piled the dishes into a bucket near the door.
"He punished you because you let Shadeslayer go, didn't he?" Illera asked softly.
Murtagh frowned slightly. "Yes…but I'll take it. I hate the King, and no one should have to go through what I just went through. And...no, never mind." Illera blinked, her eyes turning curious, but she didn't press him further.
They reached his rooms and he said, "Thanks again. If you hadn't healed me…" he shuddered, not wanting to think of what would have happened.
"I told you, it wasn't any trouble." Illera said, slightly amused.
"And yet you can barely stand."
Illera swore. "Well..."
Murtagh grinned.
"It was worth it. I have to go now, they'll be needing me at the infirmary."
There was something about him, she couldn't quite place it. A bit of mystery, ruthlessness, and sorrow. But that wasn't everything. Giving herself a mental shake, she was turning to go when Murtagh said, "So...I'll see you around then?"
She hesitated. "…Yeah." She finally said, giving him a half-smile. Her footsteps died along the corridor, Murtagh stumbled into his room and fell onto his bed.
And Galbatorix had seen everything.
