Disclaimer: I am not Christopher Paolini and do not own any characters from the story Eragon or Eldest. The only characters I own are Seriph and a few others that will be seen later. Oh, and thanks to The Used to inspiring a random title.
"What have you done here?" a voice demanded, a woman's voice. "That is none of your business, wretch." a harsh, rude snap replied to her. Who were they? His mind swam, and things were coming in and out of focus. Where am I... he thought. The last thing he remembered was the Urgals attacking, and the Twins taking him somewhere, and knocking him out. "Galbatorix will want to see Murtagh shortly." the same woman said, her voice hard and reserved. "You take him to the King then, we have better matters to attend to." one snapped and turned on his heel, leaving.
"You poor man." the woman knelt down to him and touched his forehead, causing him to stir. She gasped in shock and flinched, "You're awake?" she whispered.
"Just barely." he replied and his eyes finally focused on her. She was pale, and her eyes seemed tired, exhausted really. A sheet of black hair fell from one side of her face, the other side tucked carefully behind her pointed ear. She's an elf! B-But why with Galbatorix? And she looks so familiar. He opened his mouth to speak again, but shuddered with pain.
"Don't move." she said and rose slowly, she was tall and lean, but she had a warriors build, and wore armor bearing the King's symbol. She walked to a bag just near the wall, retrieving water. "Here, drink this, you're probably just dehydrated." she said and he nodded, looking up at her golden eyes before taking a drink.
Murtagh finally was able to stand slowly, and he smiled, he was at least a foot taller than the elf. "I swear I've met you before..." he said to her and she almost seemed to tense, though it could have just been him. "I can assure you, we have never met." she smiled and gestured to a pair of large doors. "Galbatorix awaits your arrival. Shall we?" she asked and he nodded with a shrug. Why was a brought here? The Twins betrayed the Varden! Why!?
The two large doors swung open with a haunting creak and the elf stepped through, bowing to a man sitting in a large chair in front of a map. "Milord, I have brought you Murtagh." she said softly before moving to the side. Murtagh stood before the King, his body stiff, making him appear to be a statue.
"Ah Murtagh, so you return to me." the King grinned widely. The young man's jaw clenched and he glared, "Not willingly." he reminded Galbatorix and the King laughed. "Never the less, you have returned." the elder pointed out. "You must be tired, we will speak later. You!" he barked to the elf, "Take him to Morzan's former quarters." he commanded and she bowed.
"Yes Milord." she said softly and walked back out the doors, Murtagh behind him. He didn't dare run, for he knew what would happen. He'd have to wait a while. "So, if it's not to bold of me to ask, why have you joined Galbatorix?" Murtagh asked her.
"I have grown up here, he has given me a home, and so it is only proper I repay him by serving him." she stated simply and reached a door, taking a key and unlocking it. "This will be your quarters, they used to be your fathers. All of your things are here, you will find, though if you try to escape, we will know. Two guards will be outside this door." she said harshly, and turned to leave.
"Wait, I never got your name!" Murtagh said and she laughed, "Just call me Elf for the time being."
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In his hands Murtagh now held Zar'roc. Yes, he had already faced his brother, already been named a Dragon Rider, and already fought under Galbatorix's banner. Though he was miserable. The only good thing that had happened through all this time, was that each day he learned a bit more about 'The Elf' that he'd met when he had arrived here.
A knock sounded at the door and he smiled. "Enter." he said firmly and the elf entered with a bow of her head. "It is time I told you my name, Murtagh." she sighed, walking to the window after shutting the door.
"Why so sudden?" Murtagh asked, confused as he watched her. She seemed nervous, almost scared of him. "Because, I have hidden it from you for too long." She sighed and looked up at the sky. "Do you remember the little girl you used to play with when you were young? Her name was Seriph, wasn't it?" she questioned and he nodded. "But, what does she have to do with any of this?" he asked.
"When you were fourteen, you gave Seriph a scar on his left arm that twisted up to her shoulder. You two were practicing fighting that day, and you accidentally slipped." the elf turned to him and he nodded slowly. She took a deep breath before pulling up the sleeve of her tunic, a long bluish-purple scar spiraled up her arm.
"Y-You were an elf the entire time?" Murtagh stammered, he was breathing heavily, as if someone had hit him in the stomach.
"Yes. And after you left I continued to serve Galbatorix, and slaughtered under his banner. My people have labeled me The Banished Elf." she explained and leaned against the window sill, her eyes glazed over, and emotionless.
Murtagh was silent for a long while, and sighed, "Why did you wait this long to tell me who you were?" he questioned and she laughed.
"Because, if I had told you before, you would have become distracted. Galbatorix would not have liked that, would he?" she smiled and turned back to him. "I will leave you now, but if you ever need me, I am in the room in the third hall, second door." she stated before leaving the room quickly.
You seem upset, My Rider, what is it? Thorn's heavy voice vibrated within Murtagh's skull. Murtagh quickly revealed the Thorn everything he knew about Seriph, and what had just happened. Thorn hummed in thought, but eventually spoke. Well, it seems that she worries for you if she wanted to keep you focused. And, she has helped us with training, and other various things. The dragon stated.
Yes Thorn, but I worry for her swell. She now serves Galbatorix as a warrior, and something tells me she does not with to be here. What am I to do, my dragon?
A/N: Kind of short but thanks for reading. I would really love it if some of you submitted a few reviews, it would be great of you. Hoping to update soon, having writers block.