Heartbreak chapter 4
A/N: So the deep dark secrets have been exchanged. How will this affect them?
(And I am putting up more chapters of Fallen. I am so mad at myself for deleting it! GR!)
Disclaimer: I do not own Eragon or Blackbird by the Beatles (yes, I am using a beatles song)
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Now that Dreona knew his secret, Murtagh felt like she carried apart of him with her. He felt like now they were connected by more than just friendship.
Now that Murtagh knew her secret, Dreona felt like Murtagh was part of her. She felt like Murtagh had seen into her heavily guarded soul.
The night before, after Murtagh finished his story and Dreona had let go of them, neither of them were very keen on doing anything else than going to sleep. They were both suddenly exhausted. While Murtagh was sleeping, something soft and gentle reached his ears.
"Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, you were only waiting for this moment to arise. Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these sunken eyes and learn to see. All your life, you were only waiting for this moment to be free. Blackbird fly, blackbird fly, into the light of the dark black night. Blackbird fly, blackbird fly, into the light of the dark black night."
Dreona had woken up and was singing softly. Murtagh listened as the gentle music soothed his ears. Dreona had a wonderful, mature voice, but at the same time it was very sad. He did not tell her that he had heard. He thought it would be best if he didn't tell her. Soon, he fell asleep, as her soft voice filled the air.
The song she had sung, to Murtagh, explained who he was.
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"Please, Murtagh!"
"No!"
"Why can't I?"
Murtagh sighed. Dreona did not give up easily. But Murtagh would not give into her pleas. He knew she had to stay safe.
"Dreona, if I take you to Uru'Baen, the king will get a hold of you and use you as he done to me. Not only will he hurt you, but the rest of Alagaesia will be put at risk." Murtagh explained.
Dreona knew he was right, but he did not want to leave Murtagh. How could she? They were like parts of each other, not whole without the other.
"You are to go to the Varden, the only place that is safe for you." Murtagh told her. "Cross the Hadarac desert and head for the Beor Mountains. There, you will find a valley that should lead you to the Varden."
"How do I know which valley it is?" She asked, trying with all her might to stay with Murtagh.
"It's pretty hard to miss." He laughed. "You'll know which one it is." Dreona sighed, giving in. She had to obey Murtagh, as much as she didn't want to. "Don't tell them I sent you; say that you were being chased by the king's men and ran into the desert. They stopped chasing you because they did not want to brave the Hadarac desert." He instructed her.
"Why can't I tell them of you?" Dreona inquired.
"Believe you me, it's better for everyone if I was left out of this." He chuckled. Dreona looked at him with sadness, and the gaze did not escape Murtagh. "Don't be sad. We're doing the best for Alagaesia."
But Dreona could not shake the daunting feeling she had. "Will I ever see you again?"
Murtagh responded, "There is a chance, but it is very slim. It all depends on if Gallbatorix spares me. But I will try my hardest to see you again. Thorn would like that, too." Thorn nodded. "I will take you to the edge of the Hadarac desert, and from then on, you are on your own till you reach the Varden."
Dreona nodded. When they had packed up camp, they flew to the desert, Murtagh on Thorn and Dreona using her magnificent purple wings. When the Hadarac desert came into view, her heart dropped. She had little time left with Murtagh.
They landed, and bid their farewells, exchanging one last embrace. Both hesitant to leave the other, they stood silent for a long time, but eventually Murtagh sighed and let Dreona go. He walked somberly back to Thorn and they launched into the sky. Dreona waved goodbye, holding back tears.
They did not know it, but it was more than just friendship.
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Murtagh left Dreona with enough food and water to last a couple days. She had been in the desert for two days already, and Beor Mountains had barely gotten closer. But thankfully, the journey went faster because she could fly. She had flown for forty-eight hours straight, because flying got her mind off things she didn't want to think about. There were definitely some things she didn't want to think about.
But fatigue slowly lowered her stamina, and by noon on the third day, she was about to collapse. As she slowly lowered to the ground, off in the distance approached two people on horses and a man on giant dragon. They seemed to be approaching rapidly, eager to inspect the dot in the distance. Seeing them, Dreona flew as fast as she could, knowing that she had found Eragon. He was the only other one with a dragon besides Murtagh and the King, and they were both back in Uru'Baen.
Soon, they were in earshot of each other. Eragon, Arya, Saphira and Roran were surprised to see that there was a girl with wings. They saw that she was slowing falling to the ground. When Dreona's feet touched the ground, her legs and wings gave out, and she tumbled to the ground in a tired heap. Eragon and Saphira raced forward. They landed by the girl and gave her water from Eragon's wineskin. She gave a small moan as Roran and Arya approached.
"Are you okay?" Eragon asked.
Remembering Murtagh's instructions, she told them what he had told her. Then she proceeded to slip into the clutches on unconsciousness. Eragon put her on Saphira's back and spirited her back to Surda.
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He did the right thing. He did what was best for everyone. He might just have changed the outcome of this war. So why did Murtagh feel so empty inside?
And he was about to feel worse. Murtagh was to report to Gallbatorix immediately and he knew it would not be a good meeting. Putting on a brave face, he pushed past the giant doors and stood before his hated King.
"Murtagh." Came the snake like voice. "How was your vacation?"
"Very good, actually." Murtagh said, mocking the king. "It was very relaxing." In a moment, Gallbatorix was right next to Murtagh, ready to strangle him.
"I have no patience with smart mouths." Gallbatorix's twisted voice made Murtagh almost cringe. "What were you really doing?"
"I did not lie." Murtagh said bluntly.
"Must I search your mind?" Gallbatorix breathed. "I know how much you hate it." Really, Gallbatorix had no remorse when he breached Murtagh's mind barriers. But torturing this boy was just so much fun! He began the invasion of Murtagh's mind, forcefully breaking past his barriers and carelessly sifting through memories. Then he found what he was looking for and more.
With shock, he stepped back from Murtagh. "YOU LET HER GO!" Gallbatorix roared with fury. "YOU DAMN FOOL!" His face was turning read with anger. "YOU KNEW I WOULD HURT YOU AND YOU LET HER GO! YOU KNEW I NEEDED HER! DO YOUE XIST JUST TO SPITE ME?" Gallbatorix was exploding with aggravation. Murtagh had pushed him to the edge. He never learned. Gallbatorix realized how stupid Murtagh was. "How stupid you are, to risk your life for the benefit of others." Gallbatorix laughed. "In the end, it won't matter."
Gallbatorix began to abuse Murtagh with his magic. Murtagh's body was racked with pain, and he could not stop it. He just lay on the floor, wishing for the end to come. He couldn't tell where the pain was coming from, because it seemed to come from everywhere. He didn't know what was happening, he just knew it hurt. He didn't even know if Gallbatorix had stopped or not, because it hurt all the same.
"Guards!" Gallbatorix called. "Take him to his quarters." Before Murtagh was brutally carried off, Gallbatorix whispered in his ear, "Fortunately, I let you live. I need you to get the girl." As Murtagh was carried off, Gallbatorix manically cackled.
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Eragon paced anxiously outside Dreona's room. The healers said she would be fine; she just had to rest. But Eragon could not wait for her to wake up. The girl had wings! She was like a blessing to the Varden. And how did she even get the wings? There was so much Eragon wanted to ask her, but he couldn't. Also, he couldn't ask her anything without Nasuada there, but the Varden leader was nowhere in sight.
"Eragon, why don't you sit down?" Roran asked. He and Katrina came to stay with the Varden ever since she was rescued. They just felt safer there.
"I'm too nervous."
"Just breath." Roran instructed. "She'll wake up soon enough." Eragon just shook his head. He couldn't calm down. He was too excited. The force that could change the future of the war had come to them in the form of a girl with wings. Eragon was just too ecstatic. Eventually, Nasuada arrived. Eragon recapped what had happened, and as soon as he finished, they heard a noise come from in Dreona's room.
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A/N: So how is this turning out so far? Is it good? I hope so! So what will ensue next? The update will come soon enough!