Disclaimer: I still do not own any of the characters from Eragon.
A/N: Wow, I've been updating really fast lately! Yesterday, I updated my Troy fic, and now I'm updating this one again. The reason this chapter is done so fast is because my cousin came and fixed our car yesterday, and I had nothing else to do as I sat outside with him and my mom (the entire process took about 2 ½ hours…). So, what else could I do but… write? So, during that time, I nearly got this entire chapter done except for the last two paragraphs, which I did this morning. Our car is fixed now (crosses fingers, knocks on wood, does a bunch of other stuff that is supposedly good luck…), so we're good. I've done some outlining for this story, which I will explain in the ending A/N. Anyway, enjoy this chapter!
Ch. 9: Blood of the Moon
It all happened so fast. "Murtagh!" Aianna screamed, watching in horror as the Rider suddenly appeared next to her. The next thing she knew, the elf was lying on the hard cement… and Murtagh was being crushed underneath the tree's heavy branch.
"Murtagh!"
The Rider gasped when all of the air left his lungs as the large branch came down on him, crushing him. He felt Zar'roc's hilt slip from his hand, and he closed his eyes in pain when more pressure was applied on top of him. Then, he concentrated on his magic, knowing that it was his only option if he wanted to get out alive. "Thrysta!" (compress) he shouted.
The tree's branches all began to bend together inward and finally forcefully snapped off. It groaned as it leaned backward, collapsing to the ground as the dark soldier came out of it and headed toward the town nearby. Murtagh coughed violently as the air rushed back into his lungs, cringing a little when his back throbbed from the use of magic. But he ignored it. He was just relieved that nothing was broken.
The Rider grabbed onto Zar'roc's hilt and pushed himself to his knees just as Aianna reached him and knelt down next to him. "Murtagh, are you all right?" she asked anxiously, placing her hands on his shoulders.
"I'm fine, Aianna." Murtagh answered, slowly getting to his feet with the elf next to him. "Now, go find Agatha and defend the town. Go!"
Aianna looked into his determined eyes for a moment, wanting to protest, but then reluctantly nodded. Without another word, she ran from his side and disappeared into the darkness of the night.
Xxxxxxxxxx
Thorn quickly opened his eyes when he heard an anxious voice speaking into his ear. He raised his head a little and was surprised by who he saw.
Agatha? he asked as he looked down on the elderly shopkeeper. What's wrong?
Murtagh is gone and Aianna has not returned yet. Agatha answered quickly. You have to go after them, Thorn. They're in danger!
Anxiety rose up in the red dragon as his thoughts shifted to his Rider. Murtagh, are you all right? Thorn said, hoping to get through to him.
He was relieved when he got a response. I'm fine, Thorn. Murtagh replied. Aianna's coming back to you. Wait for her, all right?
What is going on out there? Thorn asked anxiously, now seeing all of the flames and hearing the screams.
His Rider's response was simple, but it still sent chills through him.
Morzan's soldiers.
The red dragon growled with worry. Murtagh, I'm on my way!
No, Thorn, wait!
Murtagh said desperately. I'll be fine on my own for now.
Wait for Aianna. Please, do what I say!
Though it was against his better judgment, Thorn said as he reluctantly gave in. All right, but if something happens, contact me immediately, all right?
I will. Murtagh assured him. Goodbye, Thorn.
As their communication link was severed, Thorn growled deeply with concern and fear. He had a terrible feeling that when Murtagh had told him goodbye, he was doing so for the final time.
Xxxxxxxxxx
Murtagh raced to the market, the conversation he had just had with Thorn running through his mind. He hoped that his dragon would listen to him and wait for Aianna. But he knew that his dragon was as stubborn as he was, so he knew he wouldn't be surprised if Thorn just came then.
But he didn't, and the Rider sighed with relief. He knew that he could handle the threat in this area on his own.
When he rushed into the market, he saw that the snakes that had come out of the water were only running over the boards of the pier while the bird-like creatures were circling the buildings of the market. They were only staying within that area, which Murtagh found strange. But when they saw the Rider, they all rushed toward him with their talons extended and their fangs bared.
Murtagh backed up a little, muttering something in the Ancient Language as the snakes came nearer to him. A bright light emitted from his hand and the serpents scattered, hurrying for cover in the shadows of darkness. Then, he covered his head as the flying creatures ambushed him, their talons and beaks tearing at him. He closed his eyes, his back still throbbing a little from the use of magic as he continued to try to protect himself from the vicious animals. He dropped to one knee, blindly swinging out Zar'roc to try to deflect some of their attacks and try to get his strength back so he could use magic.
Suddenly, he heard a familiar voice cry out a spell in the Ancient Language, and the birds dropped dead around him. Murtagh slowly lowered his arms and looked up, and he surprisingly found himself feeling relieved to see the elven shopkeeper. "Sarin…" he muttered, pushing himself to his feet with the help of Zar'roc.
The elf grinned, but there was something about it that didn't seem right. "You didn't think that I would let you get killed by a bunch of birds, did you?" Sarin asked.
"Thank you, Sarin-!" Murtagh began, but stopped when he saw the gleam in the elf's eyes.
"Why would I let you get killed by a bunch of birds…" Sarin muttered, drawing his sword, "when I can kill you myself?!"
Then, he drew his sword and raced toward him with the blade raised.
"Sarin!" Murtagh shouted, raising Zar'roc to block the shopkeeper's attack. "What are you doing?!"
"What I should have done earlier!" Sarin replied, swinging his blade at the Rider's head.
Murtagh avoided the blow by ducking beneath the blade, but he had to raise his sword to block the next strike. He didn't want to attack the elf since he wasn't sure of his motives. He thought that Sarin had been on their side… he was Aianna's brother, after all. Why would he betray them?
Sarin noticed Murtagh's hesitation to fight him back, and he took advantage of it. He forcefully pressed forward, batting Zar'roc to the side and putting his blade up to the Rider's throat. He grinned, laughing a little. "This is too easy." Sarin muttered with malice. "I thought that you would be more of a challenge since you are a servant of Galbatorix…"
"You are making a horrible mistake." Murtagh protested, hoping that the elf would listen to him. "Please, Sarin. I do not want to harm you. You have to believe me. I'm trying to escape from Galbatorix!"
The elf's hand tightened around his sword hilt. "I will believe that when Galbatorix does not come to us and declare vengeance over your dead body." Sarin whispered, preparing to make the final blow.
But before he could, both of them heard a noise from the shadows of the trees nearby. A low growl followed by a long, deep howl reached their ears, sending chills through them. Sarin slowly lowered his blade and turned around to look at the dark trees with Murtagh next to him. But they didn't see anything; no movements in the trees… no more sounds…
Suddenly, a large gray form crashed through the trees, its dagger-like claws extended out in front of it and its fangs bared in a snarl. It headed toward the two figures and attacked as a loud howl echoed in the night air.
Xxxxxxxxxx
Aianna ran down the packed streets as she made it to the top of the hill as people rushed around in fear around her, pushing through them as she tried to reach Agatha's shop. She could have screamed out she was so impatient. There had to be a faster way through the mass of people…
Then, it came to her, and she couldn't believe that she hadn't thought of it sooner. Maybe Murtagh's plan was good for something…
The dragon!
Thorn! Aianna cried through her mind. Thorn, you have to come and get me! I'm on the street by the large fountain. Please hurry!
The elf cringed a little when she heard his deep voice echoing inside of her head. She wasn't sure if she would ever get used to it.
I'm on my way, Aianna. Hold on. Thorn told her. Try to stay where you are.
Aianna stopped running, beginning to feel uncomfortable as more and more people pressed in around her. She had never liked crowded areas. The elf pushed through them, trying to walk over to the fountain so she would be a little more out of the way.
Suddenly, one of Morzan's shadow soldiers came near them, creating a circle of flames around the group. Aianna cried out in pain as the people began to press in closer around her, the flames getting nearer to them…
"Adurna!" (water)
Aianna gasped and opened her eyes when she heard the spell, and she watched as water fell from the sky and extinguished the flames around them. She looked above her at the night sky, and she smiled to herself when she saw the blue dragon coming down toward them.
"Eragon!" she shouted, waving her arms wildly.
The young Rider looked down when he heard his name, and he nodded when he saw the elf. Saphira, dive down so we can pick her up. Eragon said.
All right. Saphira replied, flying down toward the crowded street. She extended one of her front legs out, flying back up again when Aianna had grabbed onto it.
Eragon reached down and pulled Aianna up so that she was sitting comfortably behind him. "Are you all right?" he asked, turning to face her.
"Yes. Thank you." Aianna answered with a small smile. "I'm so glad that you made it here…"
"Where's Murtagh?" Eragon pressed anxiously. It scared him a little that his brother wasn't with Aianna…
The elf sighed. "He's at the market. It's out on the pier." Aianna answered, pointing. "There."
Eragon followed her
gaze and immediately saw what she was talking about. Saphira,
head toward the pier. That's where Murtagh is.
Right away. Saphira replied, changing direction. But then, she suddenly stopped and looked behind her when a voice reached her mind.
It's good to see you again, Saphira.
The blue dragon growled happily when she saw who had said her name. Thorn! Saphira cried, flying over to him and rubbing her head against his neck when she approached.
Thorn nudged her back, then saw that Aianna was on her back. Good, you found her. Now, where were you headed?
We were going to the pier to find Murtagh. Saphira told him. That's where the elf said he was…
Let's hurry. Thorn said, suddenly feeling very anxious. I can't explain it, but I fear that he is in some kind of danger.
The blue dragon looked at him knowingly. Yes. Saphira agreed. Let's hurry.
Side by side, the two dragons raced toward the market, hoping that they would be able to arrive in time.
Xxxxxxxxxx
Instinct told Murtagh that the creature was coming for him. As it came nearer, he was able to tell that it was a large wolf with blood red eyes and huge fangs. It landed a couple of feet in front of them then lunged at the Rider, it's mouth open and fangs bared.
Murtagh rose Zar'roc to try to defend himself, but the wolf was fast. Before he could hardly react, he felt the creature's hot breath on his face as it prepared to sink its teeth into him.
But when it got too close to his chest, the wolf stopped and backed away, howling loudly as if in pain. Murtagh glanced down and noticed that a thin silver chain could be seen in the moonlight. His eyes faltered when he saw one of the only gifts that he had ever gotten from his mother, realizing that it must have slipped out from under his shirt during his fight with Sarin.
Then, Zar'roc dropped from his hands when one of the wolf's powerful hind legs lashed out and collided forcefully with his stomach, and he collapsed to his knees as he gasped for air. He looked up and watched helplessly as the creature changed direction… and as its long fangs sunk into Sarin's arm.
But the elf ignored the blood coming from his arm. He used his other arm to forcefully bring his sword down on the wolf's neck. It howled in pain as it let go of him and it dropped to the ground, writhing in pain. Soon, it was dead.
Sarin's breath was coming heavily as he looked down on Murtagh. The Rider looked back at him, not knowing what to do or say. He still wasn't sure if the shopkeeper was on his side or not.
Suddenly, Sarin looked up at the full moon, his eyes widening. He dropped to his knees in front of Murtagh as his eyes began to turn completely blood red. The Rider watched in horror as the elf doubled over, the nails on his feet and hands grew longer and turned into claws while his teeth grew longer and came to a point. Then, he straightened up and howled exactly like the wolf had as he began to have more creature-like features.
But what scared Murtagh the most was the smile that he wore. It was the kind of smile that showed that a person loved the power that they had acquired. It was the smile that his father had always worn after he was won over by Galbatorix… The Rider glanced around, seeing that Zar'roc was about a foot behind him.
Sarin then lowered his monstrous gaze to look at Murtagh, his blood red eyes glowing with blood lust. "I would avoid this if I were you, Rider…" he muttered, raising one of his clawed hands.
Murtagh's eyes widened in pure terror as he turned around to reach for Zar'roc. He suddenly had the feeling that this was exactly like that fateful night sixteen years ago all over again…
His hand finally closed over his sword's hilt, but before he could lift it to defend himself, Murtagh screamed loudly in pain as the claws of Sarin ran down his back, one of them opening the scar that had already been left behind. Excruciating pain ran through his entire body as he heard Sarin's triumphant howl when he hit the hard pavement, but then his world went black and he knew no more.
A/N (please read): I know, another evil cliffie. But I didn't want to make this chapter too long, and it was a good place to stop…
Murtagh: Did you just kill me?!
Tori: What did I tell you? You're my favorite character. I don't have the heart to kill you off. But, you'll just have to wait and see now, won't you?
Murtagh: ……………. You wouldn't…………..
Tori: Probably not. Lol!
Murtagh: Just finish your note…
Tori: All right. Anyway, as I was saying earlier, I have outlined pretty much the rest of this story. If I'm going to follow it, there are probably going to be about eight more chapters left. But, I don't think you guys mind the length. Plus, I just might add a surprise in after this story is completed. We'll have to see. (winks) I hope you liked this chapter! As always, reviews are much appreciated. Thanks!
