I woke feeling tired and dirty so I bathed and dressed in my beautiful blue dress with it`s nice open sleeves at the elbow and it`s white lace in the skirt. I had my maid Ashton put my hair in a braid and tie it with a bow. She interlaced some blue and white lace into it trying to cheer me up. But my mood couldn`t be shifted for I was to dine with Murtagh for Breakfast. As I walked down the hall and to the stairs I felt my hopes spiral downward with the stairs. Murtagh would surely discover Eragon on my mind and then our plans.
I tried to think of something else incase Murtagh did try to enter my mind and discover what I had done yesterday. As I entered the dining room I saw him taste testing a dish that our main chef made. He gave a few tips and then the chef left. Murtagh looked solemn until he saw me then he smiled and said, "Ana, Good morning. Will you join me for breakfast?"
I was silent for a minute but then nodded and sat down. He went for my hand under the table but I moved them both into my lap. He sighed and asked, "How did you sleep?"
I stayed on guard as I replied, "Fine. Why do you ask?"
I saw the all too familiar look of captured prey in Murtagh`s expression as he replied, "Your dreams were screaming to me all night but when I entered them I saw none else then my brother. The goody two shoes who now has your heart I see. You even said his name a lot in your sleep."
I didn`t know how to react so I just stared at the table. He grabbed my chin and made me look at him. For a split second he looked sad but then his expression turned to the blank mask he wore as he said, "Ana at least give me a chance to try to win you over. All I want is your love."
I nearly gagged but I looked him straight in the eye and said, "All you want is to make love to me so that Galbatorix has another off spring of the Royal elven family. You just want to please his wishes like his lap dog."
I felt his hand connect with my face before I even knew what was happening. He screamed, "You insulant girl. Do you really think that my mind and heart is controlled by him. I felt love toward you but now I shall see if it`ll be me who punishes you or your father."
"Galbatorix is not my father." I screamed at him before I ran from the room. I ran all the way to my bedroom before I stopped and broke down and cried.
I woke to the sound of a dragon`s roar far off in the distance. Galbatorix will be home soon. But first he`ll see to the servant`s then to the towns people and by tomorrow night he`ll be able to deal with me.
I got up and dressed quickly deciding to leave for a long ride into the forest. I had the stable hand saddle Cappucino as quickly as he could. I wished he could come with me but I knew if he wasn`t here tonight he would be punished. That and Galbatorix could scry him but not me. My mother had given me a charm so that I would be protected from anyone who tried to scry me.
We rode as quickly as we could out of the castle and city surrounding it and into the woods. That`s when I noticed how quiet it was. I looked around and saw a black figure above me. I noticed them immediately just before I felt sometime try to touch my mind. I opened it slightly just enough for communication but not enough so that they could get any information.
So I see you came to see me again, I heard Eragon`s voice in my head.
More or less. Galbatorix just returned and I needed out. I must talk to you Eragon. I knew he heard the fear in my voice because what he said next let me know he cared.
There`s a clearing about a mile north of you. Go there and we will discuss what happened.
I pushed Cappuccino to ride faster in that direction. After 5 minutes we arrived to see Eragon and Saphira already started a fire. I dismounted Cappucino and brought her as close to the fire as I could without getting too close to Saphira. I tied her to a branch and sat across the fire from Eragon.
I heard him inhale his breath as he saw my face. He came closer to me stroking my cheek and asked, "Who did this to you?"
I remembered that incident between Murtagh and me but forgot to close my mind before Eragon could see. Saphira growled obviously seeing it too. Eragon started to move his hand to my face but I pushed it aside and asked, "What are you doing?"
Eragon replied with, "I`m going to heal it."
"No your not."
"Yes I am."
"No, Eragon, you need to save your strength for tomorrow. Don`t worry about something so futile as a bruise on my face."
I saw his eyebrows rise as he caught the hint of concern underlying my words. "Ana, don`t worry about my strength. Let me heal it for you."
Saphira reached out to me with her mind and said, Give up little one. He can be more stubborn and persistent then you can. Just let him heal it so he can feel better about himself.
Eragon gave her a look that said shut up but I sighed and said, "Fine. I`ll let you heal it."
He leaned toward me and said in the ancient language, "WaĆse heill."
I felt a tingly sensation in my face and then he moved back smiling. I turned my head to say thank you but before I could say it his lips connected with mine. His kiss was gentle with his hand resting on my knee. He sighed lightly and then leaned back opening his eyes to look at me. A light blush covered his cheeks as a very dark and ferocious one covered mine. He smiled and said, "I was aiming for your cheek but that`s good as well."
Behind him Saphira made a noise low in her throat like a chuckle and said, If that much blood rushes to your faces for a kiss than imagine what would happen with something more intimate.
I blushed more remembering my talk with Murtagh about that. I`ve never thought about sharing that with any man until now. As I glanced at Eragon through the corner of my eye I noticed that his eyebrows were bunched as if he were deep in thought.
Sighing I sent Saphira a mental question, Saphira would you mind if I leaned against you to rest?
She nodded her reply and I stood and walked over to her. I covered with my cloak and curled up in a ball. Eragon followed and sat next to me as I tried to sleep. He kissed my forehead lightly and said, "Sleep. I`ll be here when you wake."
I slept for the first time in 16 years without crying myself to sleep. But I dreamt of the egg in Galbatorix`s throne room. I dreamt it had a voice and was talking to me. It told me, "Ana, do not be afraid. I will lead you to the path you have not chosen yet. I will guide you and we will learn from each other. I will be your friend as you are mine. You must come to me soon or I fear our life will end."
I woke up panting and sweating. Eragon sat up next to me with his hand on his sword. He looked around then at me. "Sorry nightmare."
He relaxed and took his hand off Brisingr. "What was your nightmare about?"
I shifted and said, "It was about the dragon egg. It spoke to me in my dream. Telling me that I need to come and get it. And soon for it fears if not we might both die."
Eragon glanced at Saphira who was now wide awake. There was a silent conversation between them and then Eragon sighed and said, "We`ll have to come sooner then. But there`s a storm so we might not make it far. The wind in storms tend to push her around while flying."
I nodded and looked at the sky for the time. "I should be heading back. I have another breakfast with Murtagh in the morn."
Eragon grumbled but said nothing else as I resaddled Cappuccino and then he lightly grabbed my arm so I turned to face him. His lips connected to mine and I closed my eyes. Our kiss lasted about 3 minutes and then he pulled back. I opened my eyes to see him watching me intently. I smiled letting him know I liked it.
After that I left riding on Cappuccino all the way to the castle. I quickly unmounted and put the saddle up and put her in her stall feeding her and giving her water. I ran up to my room and bathe then got into my gorgeous purple dress with blue lace in it. My maid helped me braid my hair and then put it in a bum with blue and purple lace in it. I looked at myself in the mirror and then left.
Murtagh was in the dining room but this time Thorn was with him. He sniffed me and lightly rubbed his head on my chest. I pat him on the head and then sat down. Murtagh smiled at my reaction and then started a small conversation. "Were you out with Cappuccino again?"
I nodded and said, "After a while I had to build a fire so that way I could read my book. It got hard to read when it got dark."
Intrigued he asked, "Why were you out all night?"
I decided not to be honest and said, "The castle feels stuffy lately and I like looking at the night sky. The star`s twinkle down at you and also the small chance I`ll see shooting stars."
He smiled eating up my story and said, "Well then maybe some night I shall take you out on Thorn and we can stay out all night looking at the night sky."
I nodded but our food arrived. I got a salad while he got eggs, bacon, and sausage. Something about eating another animal made me sick. So the chef`s knew that I preferred salad and since I befriended most of them they do it just to be nice to me. We ate in silence and I finished first as I went to drink the orange juice they brought out to me.
Thorn was fed a dead cow and I worked hard not to get sick at the sight. After breakfast Murtagh followed me to my room where I told him, "Murtagh this is sweet of you but I`m not feeling quite well. I`ll retire for tonight and see you in the morrow."
He nodded and kissed me lightly on the cheek before he left. I waited until he was way out of sight before I went in my room and changed into more durable clothes. I changed into a pair of pants with boots and a thick blouse with a cloak. I packed 2 dresses and some more pants, tops, and undergarments. I looked around deciding I wouldn`t needing anything else. I opened my door peeking out and then left. I walked into Galbatorix`s throne room looking around just as cautiously as the other day.
After I saw the all clear I ran behind the tapestry and grabbed my egg off the podium. But just as I touched it I felt it shake. So I hid it in my bag and went to my room. When I knew the coast was clear I took the egg out of my bag and set it on my bed.
