Chapter 4 – Soon, we all fall down

The man lifted his hand above her head, she looked at it. His nails were long and his hand was white. His veins swell up while Meghan felt an intense pain in her head. She had learned something about this, she had learned not to allow this. The pain didn't allow her to fight it. She tried even harder, she tried to focus. What did Brom say years ago? Brom..her thoughts drifted away to grief.

"No!" she screamed, before she knew it she had built up a strong barricade around her thoughts.

"Where did a maid like you learn this.." she heard the man whisper, she opened her eyes. He brought out several strange items, all of them looked like knifes or pincers.

"Then we'll try a different way." She didn't know how he did it, but she felt a kind of pain she had never imagined she could feel. Her head pounded and stung. All over her body she had a feeling that her skin was cut open, slowly. She tried so hard to shield her thoughts. The memories of her father kept her strong. Stronger than she thought she could be. She felt blood run over her arms but she was too scared to look. She screamed in agony. When she refused to talk after several hours, the torturing stopped.

"That's enough for today." She heard the dawdling voice of Galbatorix. "Did you get something out of her?"

"Her barricade is strong."

To her surprise the man stopped entirely. They just left her, buckled at the wooden table. She could lift her head a little, but not enough to see her body. For a while she was too scared to close her eyes. She heard the screams of others down here. A terrible sound. Then she heard footsteps. She was scared, she wasn't ready for more pain. She wasn't shore if she'd ever be ready for more pain. She heard someone putting something down on wood, and the sound of water. She felt someone brushing the blood of her arms. Cautious, almost tender. The water on her arms felt warm, the hands even warmer. She couldn't lift her head anymore. The footsteps went to the other side of the table. Her other arm was being cleaned, just as soft and cautious. She felt how a tumb went over her cheek, the pain stung. The wound was cleaned with some extra water. She saw a hand go by in front of her eyes, it brushed her hair out of her face. Then a face appeared above hers. It was Murtagh, he looked at her with is head a little more to the left. Before he could say anything she spit in his face. He scared off. With his sleeve he calmly wiped his face. Just as calm as before he went on cleaning her wounds. Meghan tried to move but the little belts kept her where she was.

"I'm sorry." He said quietly after a while. Meghan laughed a heartless laugh.

"Meghan, I'm really sorry. I didn't know what they were going to do to you." Again his face was above hers.

"Wait." He took of his jacket and rolled it up to a little pile, gently he lifted her head and put it under her neck.

"That's more comfortable." He smiled at her but saw that Meghan did not find it anything amusing.

"You didn't know they were going to do this to me when you betrayed me?" she screamed, she found out it was harder to scream now.

"Betrayed?! I haven't betrayed anyone!" Murtagh took back a step looking angry.

"Well how did I get here than?!"

"You're here, because I want to tell you why I am here."

"Oh, great." She said sarcastically.

"I never knew they were going to do this! I swear! Galbatorix wants to test your loyalty."

"What's your secret?!" hissed Meghan just before she had to cough.

"Just work with them, you don't have to tell them about your father..but let them know you can be trusted..that way they'll leave you alone." He said quickly.

"But I can't be trusted. If they find out who I am they're going to kill me." Meghan noticed how afraid she really was, she shivered.

"Who are you?" he asked again, this time more desperate.

Before she could answer that question, on which she wasn't planning to, Galbatorix came into the room.

"What are you doing here, Murtagh?" his eyes slipped over the cloth in his hands and Meghan's wound which were still bleeding.

"Your majesty..I…" he bowed hastily.

"You have a special bond with this servant…or am I misled?"

"I just wanted to tell her to cooperate, that it would be easier if she did."

"And why would you care?" it seemed as if Galbatorix was provoking something.

"I don't." Murtagh's voice was cold and harsh all of a sudden.

"Go to your chambers Murtagh, I'll handle this."