"M-me?" Stammered Murtagh. He scowled at the soldier, "Hey! I didn't ask for this!"
The soldier sighed heavily then he said to Murtagh, "Sir, it's the crowd's request."
"Request?" Asked Murtagh confused. He turned to the crowd who were all cheering and applauding. "C'mon Murtagh!" One cried.
"Hurry up and burn that savage man! He's our enemy!" Cried another. Then lastly, "He's a joke!"
Their jeers crashed down heavily on Murtagh's ears. He despised it. His fist coiled in fury. Stop it! His breath came in hisses as their demand grew louder. "Kill him already! You're the one who hates him the mos-"
"SHUT UP YOU INSOLENT DWARVES!!!" Yelled Murtagh, so loud it silenced the crowd.
"Don't make this seem like an attraction! You dwarves will never understand!"
"BURN HIM!!!" Demanded the dwarves. It was no use, they all seemed to agree with Murtagh when he said "We'll execute" you 4 days ago.
Thorn what should I do? They're a stubborn bunch!
I'm sure you'll be able to think of something go on. Dwarves can't use magic!
Unsure, Murtagh faced Morzan, still carrying that torch the soldier gave which pointing uselessly towards the ground.
There was something that seemed strange in Morzan's eyes since the last 4 days. He stared at Murtagh coldly with a grain of fury.
Doubtful, he stepped up the pile of hay and sticks, and then he walked slowly at the pole, facing Morzan.
"He's going to do it! BURN HIM!" Erupted the crowd.
Ignoring them, Murtagh leaned closer to Morzan's ears and whispered. "I know, I hate the crowd too."
Then Morzan's face contorted with anger and hissed, "It's not them I hate. It's you!"
Shock rang in his head. What? Thought Murtagh in disbelief. "Look, Dad…I'm-"
"Dad? Bah don't make me laugh!" Shouted Morzan
"No please listen I want to-" He began but Morzan cut him off.
"Forgive me?" The old man paused then a mocking smile spread across his face, then his face darkened, "Why now Murtagh? I gave you every chance! I begged! I even surrendered on the tortures you did on me, to open your eyes and finally realize that I never hated you! But you were beyond reason and were too busy following your own pride! So what are you waiting for? BURN ME ALREADY! I'D RATHER DIE THAN BE BETRAYED BY MY OWN SON!!"
Murtagh recoiled. the words stung him more than Morzan in their second encounter. It felt as if somebody had pulled off his beating heart. Like an empty living shell without a soul. He stared at his father in shock, his eyes wide and his mouth hung open. His hands grew cold and trembling, letting go of the torch letting it plummet to the pile.
The fire made a crackling sound, licking the hay, the wood and slowly spread.
The crowd cheered. "He did it! Murtagh's executing Morzan!" But they were unaware of the disaster coming…
"I thought you never hated me…" Said Murtagh, his voice trembling.
Murtagh! Get out of there! You'll be burned to ashes! He heard his dragon cry frantically but Murtagh's mind was only focused on one thing.
"Father I'm so sorry. I know I don't have the right to apologize…" He gulped; the fire was half a meter away.
Morzan remained silent.
"Dad! Listen to me! I didn't want to admit my pity so I tried… I tried to replace them with hate… but I can't stand seeing you like this! Please!"
Quick Murtagh! Get out of there!
"Dad, please…" He couldn't continue. Tears started to spill from his eyes.
The crowd turned from erupting joy to erupting panic. "Murtagh! He still hasn't come out!"
"You're not the coward, I am! Please forgive me." Now it was Murtagh's turn to beg for forgiveness.
It's no use, he won't listen. Thought Murtagh. Now he felt the same way as Morzan did. Every beat of his heart ached and it seemed like it was about to fall out of its place. The fire was a few inches from his ankle but Murtagh didn't notice, usually people would sense the flaring heat and flee for their lives, but not Murtagh.
Murtagh… Now you felt the same way as I did? Do you feel the size of that scar in your heart? Morzan sighed he knew it was useless. He couldn't hate him like he Murtagh hated him.
Murtagh stood up and looked straight at him, pleading "Father? Please answer!"
Morzan gave a doubtful look, almost pitying for his son.
One part of the wooden pile blasted with flaring red fire, prolonged to the heat and Murtagh tripped and stumbled backwards.
Murtagh! There is no time! Murtagh! The dragon did not receive any reply.
"MURTAGH! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! GET AWAY FROM THERE!" Bellowed Eragon.
It seems all is too late and hopeless. The fire seemed as if it had swallowed the two men.
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"Dad?" Asked Murtagh.
"Yes son?"
"Will you forgive me?" Asked Murtagh.
"Why of course son? Do you forgive me?"
Murtagh hesitated. Images of the bitter times with him rush through his mind, but his heart didn't carry vengeance.
Then on the top of his lungs, "I FORGIVE YOU!!"
With that, the flames had destroyed all sides of the burning pole, which crashed down in a few seconds.
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"Murtagh! Noooooooo!" Eragon bellowed. It couldn't be! They mustn't die! "Murtagh!"
Eragon dashed forward trying to reach them but firm arms held on to his belly and pulled him back wards.
"Let go of me Orik! Let go!"
"No Eragon! It's too late!" yelled Orik.
No matter how hard he wriggled and struggled, he could not break free from the strong arms of Orik.
"Murtagh… No! This isn't right!" Whispered Eragon in sorrow, finally he broke down to tears.
The dwarves gave out a mournful wail. Women held their loved ones, while some of the little children stood there, not understanding the situation.
Annamarae stood there crying, her shoulders shivered as tear drops fell from her eyes.
I hope you will be reunited in after life. I hope you will forgive…
There was nothing of the wooden pile oars, just a crumbling black mass emitting thick gray smoke out of the ruin.
Eragon looked up mournfully. The sky color…is darkening. So is my life…Why do I have to lose people that are precious to me?
Just when Eragon was about to lose all hope and return back to his room to, he heard a shout which attracted his ears…
"OOH! Look! Behind that cloud of smoke!" A dwarf shouted pointing at the execution pole.
What? Eragon whirled around and saw…
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Did I say it? Was it my imagination? Did I forgive him? Does he know?
"Dad? Is this all right? I don't know how long I can keep this up!"
"Son…! Don't waste your energy!" Morzan stammered.
Murtagh stretched out his hands as if protecting something. And around the two, was a massive crystal clear spherical shield of water.
"I have… to untie you…" Murtagh gasped, his energy being drained slowly.
Then he choked, "You do know? That… a pole is on top of this fragile shield. And if I… break my concentration, it will crash down on us…"
"I have to untie you somehow!" Barked Murtagh.
"Son! Don't! It's ok. Leave me." Muttered Morzan.
"I can't… I didn't forgive you…" Said Murtagh I think…Because I kind of gasped for air shouting it.
"Of course you did." Said Morzan simply a kind smile spreading across his face.
You did? "You did?" Stuttered Murtagh.
"Yes! There is nothing for me to worry about… I can rest peacefully."
A vein throbbed on one side of Murtagh's temple, annoyed. "Don't talk like that! Don't you care for other people's feelings? Assistance? Now stop being selfish! Now shut up! I'm going to untie you…"
Shouting drained more of his energy, the shield crackled and Murtagh was forced to bend his knees, pressed down by magic.
"Murtagh…" Morzan said helplessly. He wanted to help. But His powers had vanished.
One two three! Murtagh made his decision and dashed with incredible speed to the back of the pole.
But when he saw the coils of the rope he grew pale, but he cannot delay time now.
I have to maintain the shield from letting the pole on top crash and I have to untie! Muratgh worked his fingers with the rope. C'mon c'mon!
"Dad! I can't!" Shouted Murtagh frantically.
"Murtagh
don't be afraid. Trust yourself you can do it!"
With his dad's
encouraging words, suddenly his confidence doubled, Trust
yourself! Finally he managed to untie the first coil, then the
second, then the third…
Finally the last coil, but unfortunately…
Murtagh looked up as the shield vaporized to thin air letting the pole to descend casting a dark shadow on Murtagh.
"JUMP!!" Cried Murtagh as he kicked the ground and leapt with al his might, then he felt a huge impact.
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The crowd cheered as Murtagh landed safely on the hard earth with a solid thump against his back. But then the cheer died instantly. Murtagh groaned. "Dad… we made it… we …" He stopped.
"Dad?" Asked Murtagh, nervous in his voice, Morzan wasn't there with him when he was supposed to.
"Dad… where are you? We made-" As if someone had drummed his heart and ended it with an intense bash, Murtagh's eyes widened in horror.
There on the remains of the execution place, the huge broken pole was on top of the other half, and underneath the two, Murtagh saw a limp body pressed against it, the hands slightly reaching out.
"DAD! " Shouted Murtagh. He dashed to Morzan and attempted to remove the log with magic, "Reisa du vudra!" Raise the log!
His first attempt failed, though the log did budge by only a little, it never surrendered to the magic.
Then in desperation, he knew it was impossible, but he did it any way. He grabbed on the bottom of the log, with pincer like grip, yet no avail!
All he can do is shouting. "HELP! Somebody help me lift this log!"
He turned to the crowd who stared back at him blankly.
"Don't you wanna help?! HEY! THERE IS A DYING MAN HERE!!"
Women and men dwarves turned to each other, doubtful expressions on their face.
"Hey! It's my father here don't you care?!"
Silence…
Murtagh knew only time will decide if that log will not be removed. He bowed his head and gritted his teeth, C'mon! There must be something I can do! His desperation was becoming frantic, but then-
"I'll help!" Some one familiar called out. Murtagh turned and saw Eragon waving his right arm.
"I'll help too." Called out a dwarf, it was Orik. Murtagh was surprised. Orik despised Morzan so much but now he was willing to save the old man.
Saphira and I will help. Murtagh could only smile and say, "Thank you."
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