Well, this took considerably longer than I promised and I am extremely sorry :( Hope it was worth the wait!!
-6-
The Varden had reacted just as Murtagh had expected them to. The second he had entered he knew it was only a matter of time. Ajihad had recognised him. It was his father's legacy again; Murtagh bore an uncanny resemblance to him. At least he had told Eragon and Saphira beforehand; at least they knew. He would never forget the crushing look of betrayal on Eragon's face.
Why on earth had he given himself to them on a silver platter? He remembered the question Eden had asked him.
"Why are you here?"
He remembered his answer. Was he really that desperate to have history remember him as a hero, to remember him as the son nothing like the father? Was he there simply to gain revenge against the evil king who had corrupted his father and ordered the death of his beloved mentor Tornac?
Or, did he just want to be a part of something…bigger than himself?
Whatever the reason, Murtagh, son of Morzan the traitor, was now a captive of the Varden, he was completely at their mercy. Trapped in the small, but comfortable room, his thoughts grew darker and more oppressive. He had long ago realised that he had no hope of escape, and that his life could be ended with one word from Ajihad. Simply being the son of Morzan was all the reason he would need.
He lay back on the soft bed in the corner of his "cell" and let the possibilities run through his head.
"At the minute, Ajihad has no reason to do anything more than make sure I can't escape back to the empire. Then again, if that pair of worms are able to somehow break the barriers in my mind I'm sure they would find SOME reason to have me killed." He mused aloud.
He stretched his hands behind his head and stared vacantly at the ceiling. He studied the cracks running along the otherwise smooth surface and imagined them as great flowing rivers and the spaces that separated them became beautiful rolling glens and sparse savage deserts.
"I wonder if I'll ever travel freely over them again?" He thought wistfully.
He sat up and looked around the room. He had been provided with months worth of reading material, and the promise of any text he could possibly wish for from the Varden's impressive library. His eyes touched on the platter of half eaten food that was perched precariously on the edge of his reading desk. The food was excellent…he just couldn't stomach it. It tasted of injustice and deceit. The juicy fresh meats turned to sand in his mouth and the cool clear water had the stench of captivity.
"It's a sorry state this world is in when an innocent man can be judged guilty solely on the deeds of his father." He thought angrily as he dumped the remainder of his dinner into the bin and threw his plate disdainfully to one side.
His brooding mood was broken by a quick brisk knock on the door.
"Visitor." The guard called solemnly.
"Eragon?" Murtagh immediately thought. He felt his spirits soar. He had racked his brain night after night, hoping Eragon had forgiven him and would come to see him, and night after night he grew more and more despondent when he never arrived. Had his friend finally put the fact that Murtagh was a traitor's son behind him?
"Enter." He said cheerfully.
He couldn't help but be a tad surprised at who he saw standing there.
--
Eden's head was swimming. How was she still alive? She remembered how she had given herself up to the inevitable and accepted that she was going to die. Now of the whole experience, a gaudy scar across her otherwise smooth torso and a feeling of helplessness, were all that remained. She had awoken in a veiled room filled with incense and glowing with purity. One by one her senses returned and she could feel the smoothness of the bed below her, hear the clatter and clang of men preparing for war, and taste the sickening metallic tang upon her tongue. She sat up and suddenly the room began twirling and a dull ache began behind her eyes.
"Eden! Careful now!" She heard a concerned voice from her side.
"Eragon?" She was surprised to hear how weak her voice sounded.
"I'm here Eden…lie back down." Eragon smiled at her from a chair beside her bed.
She felt his warm hands gently lower her back.
"Arya…Murtagh!" She groaned.
"Arya's fine! In fact she's in better shape than you right now!" He replied cheerily.
"And Murtagh?" Eden asked.
"Fine." He said roughly.
"What happ…?" Eden could get no further.
"Now's not the time Eden…you have to get well again." Eragon snapped.
"The time for what?" She asked quietly.
"I said not now Eden." He said sharply.
Eden sensed the topic of Murtagh was closed. She was too tired to push it any further. They sat in silence. It gave Eden a chance to study Eragon in greater detail. He looked somehow older than when she had last seen him. A subtle fuzz had appeared around his chin, his eyes were gaunt and his expression drawn. He hadn't rested for a while.
"He must have been awake beside me for a while…waiting for me to wake." The realism hit her.
Despite herself she felt a pang of gratitude for him.
"Eragon. Get some sleep." She said roughly. "And…thanks."
For a second Eragon looked taken aback. Then he smiled slightly and squeezed her hand delicately.
"I'll be back later…you should get some rest yourself." He grinned.
--
That had been a week ago. Eden had recovered swiftly since then and she had resumed training the previous day. She had quizzed Saphira over what had occurred between them and Murtagh while she had been out but to no avail. All she had learnt was that the Varden was holding him prisoner. Eragon's face grew dark any time she even mentioned his name, so she didn't. It took her a while to realise it, but she was no longer leader of their small group. Eragon was much stronger than he had been only a short while ago. He didn't need her to protect him anymore; what's more she had changed since the attack. Fears and doubts constantly plagued her. It was as if her spirit was shackled to the past, and she couldn't do a thing about it.
"I'm going to see Murtagh." She said softly to Saphira.
"I thought you might…it may be best not to tell Eragon…for now." She replied quietly.
"I don't understand why they're treating him like this, after all it's because of him that Arya and I are still alive." Eden continued.
"You don't have to explain yourself to me little one, if I were you I'd do the same…just prepare yourself." Saphira smiled sadly.
"Thank you Saphira." Eden smiled gratefully.
"For what?" She thought.
Well I hope you liked it!! This is only a link up chapter to update you as to what's going on, so I apologise that not much happens:) Have to keep up the suspense:D:DThe next chapter will be out soon:)