Summary: Trapped in his personal hell, Murtagh lives each day with regret. When Nasuada is captured by Galbatorix, Murtagh's life takes a turn that could very well change Alagasesia...MurtaghxNasuada
Disclaimer: I don't own The Inheritance series. Which sucks. But I bought Murtagh on eBay. Yay eBay! (don't own that either...)
Rating: T for angst
Song on Repeat: She's a Handsome Women by Panic at the Disco
I'm sooo sorry that it's been forever! But this is a long chapter so yay. And I'm sorry about the screw up with chap. 7, it was weird. Just know that Chapter 7 and this chapter are both dedicated to one of my best friends Sasha, who has taken up the librety to read this story and nag me almost every week about a new chapter. Thank her for this one!!
Day eleven dawned cold and early. Murtagh had sat with Thorn most of the night. Thorn awoke first.
'Good morning young one.'
'Wh-what time is it?'
'Let me check the sundial.'
'Well, it's good to see your humor's back.'
Murtagh stood up and stretched his aching legs carefully. He walked around Thorn and viewed the damage. His scales were missing from the wound, and the skin was raw looking and red.
'So tell me young one. You talked with Galbatorix. Why did you also feel the pain?'
Murtagh sneered and kicked a small stone on the ground.
'The Twins put something in our minds. If you are to die, so will I. And vice versa.'
Thorn's eyes widened and he sat up quickly.
'WHAT!? The evil- That unbelievable- I have the right mind to go right now and-'
'Calm down. I've been searching our minds all night. I found the link.'
'And? Can you get rid of it?'
'…'
'Murtagh?'
'It takes a bit of magic. You would need to help.'
'What's wrong with that?'
'You don't have enough magic to spare if you want to heal faster.'
'I don't care. Murtagh, if I'm attacked again, I don't want you to feel that pain.'
'If this is what you want…'
'Murtagh, stop stalling already.'
'Alright. I need your help though. '
Gritting his teeth, Murtagh and Thorn both used their magic to hack away at the extra link in their minds. It took a few minutes, but the link finally was gone.
Murtagh fell down, breathing heavily. That had taken so much effort. He suddenly realized something wet was sliding down his face. Blood. He used the back of his hand to stop his bleeding nose.
He looked over at Thorn, and was surprised to see him sleeping.
'Well, that took a fair bit of magic. He's probably exhausted.' Murtagh thought standing up and stretching his newly black and blue limbs. Every one of his muscle and joints protested as he walked to the door.
He walked to the kitchen and got the food for Nasuada and limped unsteadily to Nasuada's dungeon hold.
"Food." Murtagh mumbled, walking in and locking the door.
"Well finally! I was starting to get-" Nasuada walked over, but then stopped suddenly. "Murtagh? What's wrong?" She asked, running the last few steps, scrutinizing his face with a worried expression. Murtagh suddenly wondered if he still had dried blood on his face and muttered a quick spell to get rid of it, if it was there.
Murtagh brushed her aside. "I'm fine." He huffed, shoving the tray of vulgar food in her hands. Nasuada's worried eyes never left Murtagh.
Murtagh never noticed this though. He was tired, he was so…empty feeling. He just couldn't deal with any if this today. He sat down on the rickety desk chair and buried his head in his hands, mind deep in thought.
"Murtagh?" The blackened Rider looked up to have his onyx eyes meet Nasuada's. "Just tell me what's wrong. What happened yesterday? Why is Thorn not with you? What- Just tell me." Her voice was gentle and persuasive.
Murtagh didn't want her to know. Why should anyone know about his life? Especially Nasuada. But…He sighed, agitated. "Your very lucky I need someone to talk to." Murtagh finally said.
"Thorn was attacked last night by Shruikan, Galbatorix's dragon. Galbatorix had implanted an extra link in Thorn and my mind, so I felt the pain to. Galbatorix said that there was no point of having a dragon without its Rider, and vice versa. He also said that this precaution would stop me from leaving again, like I actually could! Thorn and I got rid of the link, and it took nearly all our magic. And, I don't know, it made me feel kind of selfish breaking that extra link between us, because it was like I was pushing Thorn away even more then usual, because sometimes I wish he'd never hatched for me, then I wouldn't be in this mess." Murtagh breathed silently, as though he'd just extracted a poison from his soul.
Nasuada shivered. Never had she realized what evils and befallen Murtagh. "Murtagh..." She stopped. This was hard to voice. "I don't know what to tell you." She said finally. "But I'll try to understand-"
"But that's the point!" Murtagh suddenly exploded, rocketing up out of his chair. Nasuada took a couple steps backwards. "You can't understand! Nobody can, because nobody is going through what I am going through! Nobody! Not Thorn! Not Galbatorix! Not Eragon! And especially not you!" Murtagh stormed angrily to the other side of the room. Nasuada's angered erupted in the pit of her stomach.
"Well I can't understand when you keep doing this!" She yelled at the young Rider. "All you do is push me away! Here! The Varden! You never let anyone close enough to you to try to understand!" The young Rider wheeled around and faced the dark skinned girl, eyes equally as angry.
"Because no one would understand! You didn't have your father lay your back open! You aren't under the control of a man so evil milk curdles at his name! No one has to know about my life, because it is mine! I don't need anyone interfering in my life!" Murtagh shouted.
"We can't all deal on our own! We all need help!"
"I don't need help! I can deal on my own!"
Nasuada snorted. Her face was very close to Murtagh's now, as they yelled. All the pain that had been forced upon these two warriors had bubbled to the surface and was spilling over. "And a fine job you've been doing so far!" Nasuada screamed at Murtagh. "Nobody can just deal on their own! We all need help! We're human Murtagh! We are a weak, spineless bunch hiding behind proud masks and swords! If man had not sought out help, he would've ceased to exist! That entire 'I can deal on my own' fixation has lead to you betraying Eragon! And the Varden! And a rebellion that needed you! And me!" She stopped suddenly. She hadn't meant to say that last part.
Murtagh's face was mere centimeters from Nasuada's. Anger clouded his mind and judgment, and yet, he felt oddly at peace. Both he and Nasuada were too young to be in the positions they now held, and neither had a person to talk about it with. For the first time since he'd been locked up in the Varden's prison hold, he felt as if he saw Nasuada clearly. A scared young woman hiding behind a brave mask her father had left behind for her. He saw her clearly for that moment.
And he kissed her.
Nasuada gasped against his lips, but closed her eyes on contact. Her hand found Murtaghs shoulders and held onto him, as though she'd collapse without the support. His lips were fierce, soft but firm. And then she felt a tongue softly along her bottom lip.
'Nasuada! Snap out of it!' The lady thought wildly. Against her will, she broke away from the Rider.
"Murtagh-" Nasuada began sadly. Murtagh felt upset. "What?" He asked.
"We can't do this!" Nasuada cried quietly. She felt like crying.
"And why not?" Murtagh asked slowly. He was confused. He loved Nasuada. Didn't she feel the same way about him? He had once been so sure of it. Now-
"I'm the Varden's Leader, and your Galbatorix's Rider." Nasuada's throat was tight
Murtagh's onyx eyes swept over Nasuada's dark face. Her eyes were pleading with him, shining from held back tears. Murtagh unhooked Zar'roc from his belt and stared at the ruby blade. His eyes met Nasuada's once more, before turning back to the cursed blade.
"We don't have to be." He whispered, leaning into her ear. Nasuada took a deep breath of air, closing her eyes, letting two tears wet her cheeks. He then threw the blade to the floor. How many times he'd done this and wished the blade to break, just like his love for the Empire. Having the blade break at this moment would have proved his point, but alas, the blade merely bounced off the ground and then lay silently, looking harmless.
Nasuada's eyes registered the shock for a moment, before understanding. She took her own Varden Headdress off her head and stared at it.
'If I throw it away…' She thought, two more tears running down her cheeks. 'Does it mean I'm turning my back on my people?'
Murtagh looked at her bothered face, and took the headdress carefully from her hands and set it next to his sword.
Hazel eyes swept the pale face as onyx eyes swept the dark one. Neither moved for a moment. Nasuada leaned forward slowly and kissed the Rider's lips cautiously. Murtagh used his arms to press her more against him, and Nasuada locked her arms around his neck.
And for a moment, Nasuada was not the Varden's leader. Murtagh was not a Dragon Rider. They were just two people, in a forbidden romance.
Angsty kiss! Angsty kiss!! WHOOO!! I like that one actually...If you go to this link s141./ albums/r54/PrincessSasuke5993/? actionview¤tLoophole.gif (there are spaces between the /s and the 5993/? action) then you should see the banner I made for this story based off my quote in this chapter. Hope you enjoy!
