You're Safe Chapter 8
A/N: Okay here we go again! I'm feeling better than I was last night so I might have more drive to write! WoooOOOOOoooo!
…Sorry about that…
Anyways, read on!
Disclaimer: I do not own Eragon
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When Murtagh heard the scream, he knew something was wrong. He jumped off his horse and sprinted to the direction the sound came from. There, he saw a Ra'zac standing over Brom and Eragon. Murtagh jumped at him wielding his sword. A battle raged on between the two and they were almost equally matched.
The Ra'zac lunged at Murtagh, aiming for his chest. Murtagh ducked under the blade and went to one side of the Ra'zac. As he flew past the Ra'zac, he cut the monster's side. The Ra'zac hissed and jumped into the woods. Tornac finished off the one he was fighting and sent the creature reeling into the woods, making frantic, mad clicking noises.
Murtagh went to Saphira who had landed during the battle. He rubbed her muzzle and whispered, "Do you remember me?" A warm purr from the dragon hinted that she said yes. "Can you carry Eragon and Brom?" Saphira nodded and Tornac brought the two unconscious people to her. "Thanks, Saphira." When Murtagh and Tornac were on their horses, Saphira took off gracefully into the night and followed silently behind the mentor and his student.
--
The cave was silent. No one said anything. How could they? Brom had died. He sacrificed himself to save Eragon and what thanks did he get? He died. Eragon refused to talk to anyone but Saphira. He carried Brom's body up to the top of the cave.
"Tornac?" Murtagh whispered. "Are you alright?" Tornac looked over at his student. Murtagh was truly worried about his brother and his teacher. Tornac gave a slight nod.
"I'm able to handle it a little better because I know that Brom was happy to join his dragon, Saphira." Murtagh nodded and then thought about what Brom had said to him while he was dying.
"M-Murtagh." He coughed. "You're a strong boy. I've never seen anyone more loyal than you." Brom paused and drew a long breath. "I know how evil that man is. The scar on your back bears testament to that. You have a turbulent path ahead of you, to say the least. But I know that you're going to survive it. I can sense the strong will power you have. Protect Eragon; keep your promise."
Murtagh felt honored that Brom complimented him on his deathbed. Everyone keeps telling me to keep my promise…as if I need a reminder…I'll keep my promise. I will.
Tornac sat a little closer to the back of the cave, thinking about what Brom told him.
"Tornac." Brom whispered. "I'm going to see Saphira again…Maybe someday you will join Bjartskular. Once a rider…" Brom trailed off, unable to finish.
"Always a rider." Tornac completed.
Now Brom was gone and besides Gallbatorix and Morzan, Tornac was the only survivor of the Dragon Wars. Tornac got up and went to the top of the cave, Murtagh following at his heels.
Tornac bowed his head when he saw the crystal case that surrounded his friend. "It's very fitting, Eragon." Eragon didn't say anything. He just wanted Brom back.
--
The next day, everyone was slow to get up. The atmosphere was definitely different without Brom there. Eragon was the last to arise and when he did, he walked straight over to Murtagh with a serious expression on his face. "Murtagh." He said. His brother turned to look at him. "Who was our father? I know you know."
Murtagh looked to Tornac, and the former rider gave a slight nod. Murtagh sighed and began. "Morzan." Shock attacked Eragon's face. He couldn't believe it; he wouldn't believe it. His father couldn't be Morzan! "Mother was young and ignorant when she went with him."
"That isn't possible!" Eragon shouted.
Murtagh breathed deeply. "Yes it is. I know you've never seen him, and I don't really remember what he looks like, but I've been told that Morzan and I look so much a like that we could be twins." Eragon gaped. "Selena, mother that is, left Uru'Baen when she learned she was pregnant. She took me with her. She could have left me, but she didn't. She didn't have to leave Uru'Baen, but do you know why she did?" Eragon slowly shook his head. "Morzan is cruel. Everyone knows that at least. Two months before we left, Morzan was drunk and angry. Unfortunately for me, I ran past him at the height of his rampage. He threw his sword Zar'roc at me and it sliced open my back from my right shoulder to my left hip. Mother was shaken to the core and she knew she had to leave. So she did, with me in tow." Murtagh finished and Eragon did not say anything.
Finally, the awestruck boy spoke. "He did that…?" Murtagh nodded solemnly and turned around around. He removed his shirt to reveal the long white scar that disturbed his tan skin. "Oh no…" Eragon choked. He looked at Tornac. He wanted Tornac to say Murtagh was lying but Tornac's eyes said otherwise. Murtagh was telling the truth.
Murtagh turned around as he put his shirt back on. "Mother knew she would be saving the both of us if she took us away. She did save us. I promised her the night she died that I would always protect you. That's what I intend to do." Eragon didn't say anything. "Eragon, you must tell no one, especially the Varden, that you and I are the sons of Morzan. They would not accept us."
After another hour of silence, Tornac decided it was time to move on. "Well, we should start going. Can you travel, Eragon?" The boy nodded. "Alright, let's go."
--
"We're pretty close to Uru'Baen, so be as discreet as possible." Tornac whispered. Hopefully, they would pass Uru'Baen without being noticed, but nothing ever went as planned.
A big black dot was moving out of Uru'Baen and headed right for them. "Keep going!" Tornac whispered harshly. They tried to reach the woods uninterrupted, but it was not so. A large unit of Urgals was in shooting range of them and their leader was not what they expected. "A Shade!" Tornac hissed. "We're going to have to stay and fight. I'll handle the shade and you two take care of the Urgals. We're largely outnumbered, but we do have something they don't have."
"What's that?" Eragon whispered. Murtagh snorted.
"A dragon!" Murtagh tried not to shout. "Your dragon!" Whenever Murtagh said dragon, Tornac's eyes lit up. Eragon nodded and blushed furiously but prepared for the fight that loomed ahead. The Shade stopped walking and he Urgals raced at the group. Murtagh began shooting them with his yew bow and every target went down.
"I see you've been practicing!" Tornac shouted.
"Yes!" Murtagh called back. When the Urgals were close enough, the two brothers drew their swords and began to cut down the Urgals. Tornac and the Shade approached each other.
"You dare challenge a shade?" The mutilated man asked.
Tornac smirked smuggle. "I am a former dragon rider."
"Former for a reason, Shur'tugal." The shade scoffed. Tornac snarled at his reply. They lunged at each other and their swords clashed in the air, sending sparks flying. "What a wonderful story; how Durza the shade killed Tornac the former Dragon Rider of the dragon Bjartskular. A wonderful story it is, indeed." The shade laughed.
The furious battle that started out as just a battle to defend themselves turned into a personal fight. Durza verbally attacked Tornac one time too many and Durza had crossed the line. The battle raged on with sparks flying everywhere for what seemed like long hours. And more Urgals kept coming. Murtagh and Eragon were swamped with adversaries.
"You and I both know that we don't just fight with swords." Durza whispered smoothly. Tornac jumped back when he knew Durza intended to use magic. Well, one must fight fire with fire. They began to say words used to summon magic frantically. Each attempt was close, but futile. The duelers were evenly matched.
Durza's mouth suddenly moved with untraceable speed. Tornac could not tell what he had said, and even if he could, he wouldn't have the time to conjure up a defensive word. The dark magic hit him in the gut. A shadow of black magic passed through him, destroying his vital organs. He fell to the ground with a yelp. Murtagh cut down and Urgal and as Urgal, Murtagh witnessed Tornac fall.
"NO!" He shouted. Setting an arrow on his bow, he gave the best archery performance of his life. The arrow flew silently through the air and hit Durza in the forehead, dead on. The shade dissolved into the air and the Urgals retreated back to Uru'Baen. Murtagh raced over to his dying mentor. "Tornac don't die. You can live, you'll de fine, I promise. Don't give up, don't give up…" He trailed off franticly. Eragon raced over ad Saphira landed behind the former rider.
"Murtagh," Tornac coughed weakly. "No. My time has c-come…" He closed his eyes. "You are the best thing that ever happened to me. I probably would have killed myself if I never met you. You were what kept me going after Bjartskular's death…I want you to continue on. Protect yourself, protect Eragon. Protect what's yours. You're strong, Murtagh. You don't need me."
"You have no idea how much I need you!" Murtagh yelled.
"Murtagh," Tornac coughed again. "He has hit too many of my vital organs There's no way I could live. This magic is incurable…I'm finally going to join Bjartskular…Please, Murtagh continue on. I cannot express in words how much I love and admire you." A tear slid down Tornac's face. "I wish I could stick around, but I can't. Be strong, Murtagh. Become your own person. Goodbye. You're a great person. And you too, Eragon. I know you will be a great Rider. I know you both will do what's right." Tornac stopped talking and soon his breathing slowed. Then his heart stopped.
Tears poured profusely from Murtagh's eyes. "No!" He shouted. "Damn it! No!" Murtagh was shaking violently and his face was twisted with pain and anger. Tornac was dead. Tornac was dead. "Why? WHY?" He shouted to no one in particular. Suddenly he began to feel sick and lightheaded. He passed out, but not before vomiting because of the nausea that plagued him.
--
Murtagh slowly cracked open his dry eyes. He didn't want to face the day. He didn't want to realize all over again that Tornac was dead. "Murtagh?" Eragon whispered. "Are you okay?"
"No."
"I put stones around
Tornac and after we write something on his epitaph, Saphira's going
to do to it what she did to Brom's." Eragon paused. "What do
you want written on his epitaph."
"He was a great rider,
mentor and friend. He will always live on. He will never be
forgotten." Eragon wrote it on the stone and then Saphira turned it
into a beautiful crystal coffin.
"He was a dragon rider?" Eragon asked.
"Yes. His dragon was Bjartskular and they were a very good pair. They were highly honored." Murtagh replied confidently.
"So I've heard." Eragon mumbled. Murtagh arched an eyebrow. "Brom mentioned that Tornac was very good at what he did. Very good." Eragon paused again.
"Is this what it felt like when Brom died?" Murtagh inquired.
"Yes."
No one said anything for a while.
"Saphira wants you to know she's sorry about what happened to Tornac." Murtagh mumbled his thanks and Saphira bowed her head. They packed up and got ready to move along. Before leaving, Murtagh bide his farewells to Tornac.
"I've made a lot of promises already," Murtagh began, "But I promise I will come back."
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A/N: I almost cried writing that! I killed Tornac! AW!! :'''(
Well, I hope you liked it… I'll update as soon as possible…
(Tornac is so cool…)
