New Path
Disclaimer: I don't own Eragon or Eldest, just Arianna and Nolan
Chapter 7: Poisoned Blades
The riders took to the air quickly, resolute in action and motivation. Each of them seemed to fight for what was best for their sides and Thorn and Codas could sense it, letting out a grand roar only another dragon could duplicate. Their riders didn't speak as both waited for the other to make the first blow, Arianna knew the risks of making the first blow although she was still weak in many areas of war. A part of her was hoping that he'd make the first cut. In her state of mind, she thought of running away but couldn't. She came up with a plan. She gave Codas a little nudge and took off the opposite way, getting a confused look from her brother.
"Arianna! What are you doing?" He yelled up to the skies.
"Just trust me on this one! Just follow my lead!" Arianna said.
She knew there was an extremely rocky part of the Haderac which was a risky spot but even that wouldn't matter in the end. I can't disarm him, she thought, but I can do what I know. It was resolution in her plan which she was going along with. After flying for what seemed ages, she saw Thorn's true size and realized that Codas was smaller and looked weaker. I thought this would work but how will it? She looked around her again, seeing nothing but sand concealing the rocks. I think I know what to do now, I can't run away from this battle but I can't die either. Arianna dove towards the rocks but landed as graceful as a cat. Her hand had been cut but it wasn't deep. Murtagh had caught on for the most part but did not know what would come next. Codas had landed himself far away from the rocks and flew up again, trying to throw the dragon off balance but was failing. Arianna helped him by sending a flamed arrow towards the red dragon. It helped him and he had success, leaving Thorn with a debilitating wound. Now that left Arianna to deal with Murtagh, who had healed Thorn the instant she looked away but he seemed to refuse to fight. But he then exchanged a blow, Arianna blocking it with her own blade. Murtagh silently sent out a flame hoping that would stop her and incapacitate her. But he had only left her with a burn and she fought back sliding her gleaming blade on his cheek. She looked seemingly satisfied but knew that wouldn't be the end of it. Then again, she was fighting to her full potential.
"So you thought running away would help you?" Murtagh said out of spite.
"That wasn't it at all. I'm not like I was when you nearly killed me." Arianna replied, with livid eyes.
He narrowed his eyes for a moment, he towered over her and was by far the stronger of the two. She hadn't seen a real battle yet and taken a life out of necessity. While he was distracted in his thoughts, She had moved behind him and held a blade to his back.
"I suggest you back behind you." She said, only hinting her anger.
He didn't reply and knocked her down and putting his sword into her shoulder and side. She didn't cry out but fought back this time pinning him down and beckoning her dragon forward but someone intervened, Eragon had landed and relieved Arianna of it, letting her go back to her dragon. But before she could, Murtagh had struck her where it had hurt the most, the scar she had been given by him had been cut open even longer then before. She cried out as the blood drained and he did it again leaving her with three more marks. Codas growled at him with an anger that was unmatched. Now she couldn't fight anymore as the pain of blood loss and exhaustion hit her, leaving her short of breath and sweat forming on her forehead. Eragon had fought him now, leaving Arianna perhaps bleeding to death.
You'll die from blood loss at the rate we're going, Codas said, with an urge to get her medical help.
Nolan is already here, so we can leave.
They did and saw the fighting stop and someone put Murtagh in shackles and taken him by horse back to the Varden. Meanwhile, Arianna had blacked out, as she had expected from the blood loss she had ignored. Codas was left fighting for his own consciousness.
(A/N: I was tempted to leave you there but I'm not. :) )
As soon as Codas made his landing, her roared loudly to get the healers' attentions. Five of them rushed up to him but Angela shooed them away, saying she'd take care of this one herself. She, in a way, had sensed his urgency and looked at the girl's bleeding back with a grim face. The cut on her back had been extended and three more cuts had been added. The cut was black now and Angela had suspected a poisoned blade had done the deed.
"I will try my best, you rest and I'll take her." She said, reassuringly.
Codas let her take his rider and he rested his head between his legs listening to the woman speak. He saw why Arianna had trusted her so much.
Meanwhile, Angela worked quickly trying to stem the bleeding and prevent the poison spreading further. Elva sat there, merely observing with Solabaum. She felt guilt as she had warned her about what would happen and the pain Arianna must've been in was the worst pain. Her back felt as if as it had been split open and someone had been putting flames in it. This was the only pain she felt and wished she could ignore it but what the girl had said to her earlier had come back to her. Elva knew she was right but doubted her truth.
A/N: Done with this chapter! I'm sorry for not updating, I got busy again and I've been in a writer's block. But I hope this makes up for it.
