Chapter Three: Under the Mask

=Murtagh=

Murtagh was practicing in the training area when a messenger came for him. The messenger told him that the king wished for him to escort his new singer to the throne room. Knowing better then to decline, Murtagh sent the messenger away and had for the girl's room. He knocked on the door. When he heard the quiet "come in," he entered the room.

The girl sat in a chair in front of the vanity, a servant standing behind her so they could brush her hair. She was dressed in a form fitting, deep green dress with long flared sleeves. Her hair was kept back so he could finally see her face. He was surprised to find that instead of both eyes being brown, only the left was. The other was a sapphire tone. Though she seemed different, all cleaned up and looking like a proper lady, she still had that doll-like air to her. Only now she seems like one of those dolls that only nobles could buy instead of a sad little rag doll.

Her mismatched eye shifted and noticed him standing by the doorway. Her full lips twitched slightly before she said "Yes?"

Murtagh cleared his throat. "The king wishes for me to escort you to him,"

Her mouth twitched again. "I see," She turned carefully to the servant brushing her hair. "Will I be able to leave soon?"

The servant carefully finished one last stroke and then stepped away. "You may leave now, miss,"

The girl nodded and followed Murtagh out. They walked for a while in silence.

"I forgot to ask, but what is your name?" He asked, breaking the dreaded silence.

Her mouth twitched as she stared straight ahead. "Why do you wish to know?"

"It's only polite to ask. I'd offer you mine but I'm fairly certain you already know it,"

She nodded slightly. "You are correct. However, what's the use of a name when all it does is bind you?"

He froze and stared at her in shock as she kept walking. She only got a few steps ahead before noticing that he wasn't there. She turned and noticed his shocked expression. A slight smirk appeared on her face.

"Hit a nerve, did I?" she sneered.

"How did? But, how could?" He sputtered.

Her smirk only grew. "How could I have known? I'll keep that little tidbit to myself. Now, aren't you supposed to be 'escorting' me?"

He grew annoyed at her tone but continued to walk with her to the throne room. How could she know about his binding to Galbatorix? Most people thought he simply joined Galbatorix like his father had. Where did this girl find out such things that only few knew? He glared at the girl, whose smirk was still present.

They arrived at throne room and the girl sang when asked with only minor hesitation; most likely because she needed to find a song worth singing. This time it was short, just a few lines but it was still lovely, if Murtagh wasn't still angry at the girl.

"Home is behind
The world ahead
And there are many paths to tread
Through shadow
To the edge of night
Until the stars are all alight
Mist and shadow
Cloud and shade
All shall fade
All shall fade
,"

The king seemed happy and smiled at the girl. "Beautiful. Ethereal. But, I should expect nothing less from one such as you. Now, my dear, I seemed to have forgotten to ask your name,"

She nodded and said "You may call me Azalee,"

The king nodded back. "Well, Azalee, you may go. Murtagh, a word with you please," The king snapped his fingers and a servant walked with Azalee back to her room. Once the girl was gone, Murtagh turned to the king, waiting for him to speak.

The king stared at him for a moment. "I need you to keep a close eye on that girl. She is not entirely human,"

Murtagh grew confused. "I don't understand sure. Yes, she has a beautiful voice but she looks as human as you could imagine. Well, except for her eyes,"

The king nodded. "Yes, that is true but I don't she is entirely human,"

Murtagh stared at the king. "I don't understand, my lord,"

"Of course, I haven't told you. That girl was brought in many, many months before under the suspicion that she is of the fey,"

"Fey? You mean faeries?"

"Yes, Murtagh. Faeries,"

Murtagh still stared. "But faeries don't exist,"

The king dipped his head for a moment. "I was skeptical at first as well but the soldier who caught her showed me a memory and I now believe it,"

"What was the memory?"

"I'll show you," The king stood and stepped up to Murtagh so he could place is palm upon the Rider's brow. Murtagh closed his eyes and saw in his mind Azlee by a tree in the summer. She looked brighter, happier, alive. But that wasn't what took him by surprise. On her back with the sunlight filtering through them like a screen, as if they weren't truly there, were a pair of deep blue butterfly wings. They weren't even proper butterfly wings. They were shaped similar to a swallowtail's wing but had jagged edges that remind him of dark icicles.

The king removed his hand and the memory faded. Murtagh opened his eyes in shock. "But, she doesn't…"

"Not now, no. But it's possible they she may have been in the process of hiding her wings after a flight. Whatever the reason, the soldiers captured her and brought her to me. Apparently there were other with her but they escaped,"

"Nut if she's a fey, then why did you lock her in a cell?"

The king frowned. "Because a fey's mind is difficult to enter. Their barriers must work differently to keep out intruders. This is where I need your help, Murtagh,"

"My help? But how could I…"

"I need you to bring her guard down. I thought by being caged for so she'd loosen but she'd as stubborn as an ox. But, she still seems part human and could be…persuaded," A slow smile appeared on the king's face.

Murtagh nodded understanding. "You wish for me to seduce her,"

"Seduce her, charm her, whatever it takes to loosen that tongue and reveal her secrets. If I can find the fey and convince them to take my side in this war, I can finally crush those vermin that dare oppose me,"

Murtagh nodded again. "I'll do what I can, my king,"

"You had better," With that, the king dismissed him.

Murtagh walked up to his room, trying to unravel the muddle that was his mind. Charm her? But she is unlike any girl I've ever met. Most are chatty and won't shut up, but this one barely says two words!

Maybe that's what it'll take. said Thorn, who was on his way back from hunting.

Murtagh snorted. What do you mean?

Break the silence. Convince her you are not a threat. She has been locked up for so long, she may need someone to breach the gap.

Alright, so what am I supposed to do? Thorn was silent for a bit as Murtagh walked into his room. Introduce her to things, show her around the castle. Just get her out of that room. She's probably stuck in there all alone.

Murtagh sighed as he lay down on his bed. Then an idea popped in his mind. Hey, Thorn.

What?

I have an idea, but I'm going to need your help.

Oh no. I was afraid you'd resort to that.

Just play along. It should work.

You hope.

I know. Murtagh grinned. His idea would work. It had to.

Author's Note: Here we are! Now we know her name. Or do we? We shall see ;) Yes, I know she's a little mean but in her position, wouldn't you? Even to somone as epic as Murtagh. There will be romance but this is not instant ramen love here! This is gradual, bud to blossoming to full bloom sort of thing, so it's going to be a while for the romance to start. Azalee is an African name that means "singer" or "she who sings." No question where that came from and it definitely has a "fey" feel to it. I've been wanting make a Inheritance fan-fic involving faeries because, well, I think Alagaesia need some faeries :) and I have yet to see a single faerie story here so I hope it's original enough!

Special Thanks to: PatchsFallenAngel! Thank you so much for being my first reviewer! It actually helped me finish this chapter :) I hope this big twist doesn't disappoint!

Please follow Patch's example and review. They really do inspire me to write more and more of the story! And it just takes a minute or two at the least :)

TTFN, Ta Ta For Now!