Dance With The Devil
Dance with the Devil
Disclaimer: As you might have guessed the song belongs to Breaking Benjamin. The characters belong to Christopher Paolini.
Murtagh POV
'Trust me; I'm far from giving up.' Eragon replied and surprised them both by getting past Galbatorix's blocking, his sword glancing off his armor instead.
"If you think this is a breakthrough, you are quite mistaken." Galbatorix said and swatted Eragon's conjured sword away into the air where it vanished.
However, before he could raise his own sword against Eragon, the tip of a red blade protruded from his stomach, covered in blood.
I stabbed him. I actually stabbed him through the gut.
But for some reason, I feel like this is only the beginning and not the end like I so desperately hope.
The sound of laughter proved my gut feeling.
This wasn't over, not by a long shot.
"Ha! Murtagh, honestly, you amuse me to no end!" Galbatorix roars with laughter as he yanks the sword out of his stomach and out of my hands before healing himself completely.
Eragon sits dumbfounded on Saphira who also looks amazed yet dismayed at the same time.
Thorn snorts in my mind. 'Tch, you knew that wouldn't work.'
'Shut up, I had to distract him for a moment.' I tell him.
'Uh huh, suuuure, just keep telling yourself that.' He replies and snorts again, renewing his attacks on Shruikin.
Eragon shakes himself of the shock and begins renewing his attacks as well, but I can tell that Galby was just toying with him.
"Eragon look out!" I yell when I see Galbatorix forming an all-too-familiar spell.
However, my beloved brother is unable to get out of the way in time, so I do the only logical thing: Throw myself in front of him.
'What are you doing!?' Thorn yells as I swing him around in front of Eragon.
The instantaneous pain is overwhelming. All I can feel is ice stabbing everything of my being, all I can hear is shrill screaming high enough that a dog would cry out in pain, all I can see is blackness, and all I can say is "AHHHHHHHHH!!"
Here I stand, helpless and left for dead…
Even though I'm used to pain, almost even numb to it, this is so terrible I just want to die right here and now. But I have to fight it, for Eragon's sake. I can't have him sacrifice himself and let Galbatorix win just because I'm being a baby.
But the pain! I…can't think straight...Eragon, no…don't let him win…you have to survive…I have to survive…but I don't want to…make it stop…make the pain go away!
Close your eyes. So many days go by. Easy to find what's wrong, harder to find what's right.
Eragon's POV
I saw it. With my own two eyes. Saphira saw it too.
Zar'roc sticking out of Galbatorix's stomach.
But then he just started laughing and pulled it out with so much force Murtagh couldn't hold on to it! What gives!? He should be dieing! He should be dead!
But of course, it's not that easy. Murtagh told me this, but I still didn't believe him. I guess I had this fairy tale hope that it wouldn't be too hard and we'd both make it out alive all happy.
But as I stare in horror at my love, my life, writhing and screaming in agony, I realize that there's a greater chance of hell freezing over and becoming an ice rink for dragons.
Okay, so maybe that's a bit dramatic, but still…
Murtagh saved me; he threw himself in front of a spell I didn't even realize was being uttered until it was too late.
But now he's dieing, and there's nothing I can do, because I'm barely able to keep myself from suffering the same fate!
Galbatorix keeps lashing out with everything he has; weapon, mind, magic…it's too much! I can't fight it all; I can't handle it all…
I want this to be over, I want to just skip this whole part and fast-forward to the happily-ever-after, but at this rate, there might not even be a happily ever after!
'Eragon! Focus!' Saphira shrieks at me, startling me out of my reverie, thankfully.
I narrow my eyes and put more of my rage into my attacks and defenses while Saphira keeps jabbing at Shruikin with her teeth.
He has small cuts and bruises along his neck, legs, and sides, but nothing serious enough to give me hope. Galbatorix is completely healed while I'm covered in cuts and bruises, most small, but some major.
"You two are so weak I almost pity you! Have you not been training!? Did you think that you would win so easily!? Bah! Murtagh is already out for the count, and I can tell you're close." Galbatorix scoffs at me.
I grit my teeth and channel my rage into my next attack.
"You say we're weak, but you're wrong. Murtagh won't die this way, he'll die as an old man with his strong arms around me, and then I will join him. Until that day, we will laugh at this battle and at you for underestimating us." I say in the strongest voice I can manage.
'Saphira, it is time.' I tell the blue dragon beneath me.
'I understand, I will lend you my strength and ask Thorn to do the same, unless he is aiding Murtagh.' She replies.
'Yes, we didn't count on Murtagh getting this badly hurt, we were all supposed to do this together, but oh well, hopefully it'll work, if not kill him, weaken him enough that I can restore some of my own strength and that of Murtagh's.' I answer gravely.
'Murtagh, please pull through for me, you can't die, I can't live without you! Please, I believe in you Murtagh, I know you can survive this, you've gone through worse before.' I compel my thoughts into Murtagh's mind, or actually, throw them at him, hoping he can hear through the pain he's feeling, and then I get ready while Galbatorix blabs on about us not being able to put a scratch on him.
I believe in you! I can show you that I can see right through, all your empty lies I won't stay long in this world so wrong!
Say goodbye as we dance with the devil tonight! Don't you dare look at him in the eye! As we dance with the devil tonight!
Murtagh POV
'Murtagh…you can't die…please…I believe in you…been through worse…' I hear a faint but familiar voice through the screeching in my ears, but it's not from the outside…
My mind…Eragon…he's in my mind…no, he's talking to me…or did he simply will his thoughts into my mind, hoping I would hear?
'I believe in you…been through worse…' he believes in me…he thinks I'll survive. Maybe I have been through worse, but I can't imagine anything worse than this pain…
Yes I can. The worst pain of all would be losing him, and I'm slowly losing him. Even if I make it, without me he can't win, he'll die, or be enslaved and tortured into madness…no, I can't let that happen!
I have to keep fighting…but…my strength is almost gone…in some places I've even become numb, thankfully, but in others I feel excruciating pain…searing pain…like burning ice…
Eragon…I'm sorry…this is my breaking point…I'm sorry…Eragon…
'I believe in you…'
Eragon…he believes in me…I can't disappoint him…I want to see him, to tough him, to taste him one last time…no, I want to stay with him…I don't ever want to let him go…I can't bear the pain…far worse than this stupid tingling!
I can't believe I was about to give up, again! I must not have trained hard enough, I was too busy…
'Eragon, please hold on, I'm coming…I'm going to help you finish this…' I call to him with my own thoughts; hopefully he'll hear it like I did.
I start pushing with everything I've got, everything that isn't being controlled by the pain. I push outward, willing the pain away, forcing the pain out of my system. Galbatorix used a spell, I knew this spell, I've done this spell, there's a way out, there's always a way out…
I'm strong enough to do this; the fact that I'm still alive proves that much. I just have to think, to figure out how to repel the pain, or at least keep it at bay for a few minutes.
But it's overpowering! I can't think straight…all there is is pain! Come on Murtagh, you can do this, you know this spell! Why can't you remember the defending spell!? You found it the last time…the last time he put you under this spell…you found out how to counter it…how to make the pain go away…come on, where is it…
Blinding light…
Blackness…
Bright flashes, bright enough to burn my eyes, temporally enhancing the already overbearing pain…
Images…my father, my mother…more bright flashes…Galbatorix making me his slave…training to become his second-hand man…escaping…more bright flashes…finding Eragon, knowing that he might be my long lost brother…traveling with him…kissing him…touching him…blinding flash of light…being with him…becoming one with him…
The pain vanished. I had overcome it. But how?
"…too weak to make a difference, I don't even know why you try! You cannot hope to defeat me! You can't even put a scratch on me!" that voice…it must be Galbatorix…what is he talking about?
'Hey, can you hear me? We don't have a lot of time here, Eragon has decided to go with Plan B, if you can hear this, if you have any strength left, send it to him, Saphira and I are giving him some of our power, he's strengthened his magic and restored some of his energy by using that of others down below, but I fear it will not be enough…please, I know it's a lot to ask, I know you're in pain, I can feel it too, but you can't let them die! Not like this! Murtagh…lend him your power, if it doesn't work at least we'll be able to regroup and restore our energies for a bit…you probably can't even hear me…I'm most likely wasting my time…but I can feel you better than before, so you must be listening! Murtagh! The time has come!' Thorn tells me.
'I'm here, I can hear you, I will lend the rest of my strength to him, just make sure I don't fall okay?' I reply weakly.
It takes him a few seconds to respond, and I feel a strange aura among the wind, like something big is coming, but it halted for some reason.
'I'm glad you made it through. Eragon needs our help, hurry, before Galbatorix catches on!' he says quickly.
I gather my remaining strength, my energy, my magic, all that I am except for my very soul, and send it at the warm, blue aura that I would know anywhere.
Eragon.
I open my eyes; I forgot that they were even closed.
"Enough of this meaningless nonsense! It's time to finish this once and for all!" Galbatorix shouts again.
Galbatorix is preparing a spell of his own; it seems familiar…is he?
He can't…not that spell…horror washes over me and I send the very last of myself to Eragon as quick as possible with a shout, 'HURRY!'
Blackness.
Eragon POV
'I need more power…I don't understand, I restored as much energy as I dared but it's still not enough!' I think as I hurriedly try to think of another source of power.
'I'm giving you as much as I can without killing myself, we really should have gotten closer to the ground for this…Murtagh's act was so unexpected…' Saphira told me.
'I know, I know, have you spoken with Thorn yet?' I ask her quickly.
'Yes, he is sending some of his energy to you as we speak, but he said that he would try to contact Murtagh, to see if he is able…but he looks to be in so much pain!' she answers.
'Please Saphira…' I plead. I can't think about him in that state or I'll never be able to save him. I have to concentrate solely on this spell, solely on Galbatorix. He can't realize what we're planning or else all will be lost and we will all die.
Murtagh…
'Just keep attacking until we have enough power, keep distracting him Saphira!' I tell her.
'Of course.' She replies and slams into Shruikin so fiercely I almost lose my balance, as well as the evil king.
'Eragon, please hold on, I'm coming…I'm going to help you finish this…'
Murtagh! It's him! I hear him! He must be coming back, he must be healing!
'Saphira! It's Murtagh! I heard him!' I call to her, trying to hide my joy from Galbatorix.
'I know, Thorn tells me that Murtagh is talking with him, and that he will give you as much power as he can spare.' Saphira says. There is joy in her voice, but also a hint of graveness, hidden behind a small flicker of hope.
I understood why she was feeling this way. If Murtagh gave me all his remaining strength…he will surely die if this doesn't end soon…
Murtagh…I can't lose him…I would rather die with him…I would rather bear his pain than allow him to leave this world…
"Enough of this meaningless nonsense! It's time to finish this once and for all!" Galbatorix bellows, and then I feel enormous energy flow through me. Familiar energy I would know anywhere.
Murtagh.
'HURRY!' Murtagh's voice breaks into my mind, resonating that one word until it's all I can hear.
I obey.
Murtagh POV
Blackness. Nothingness.
I feel nothing, I hear nothing, I see nothing, and I say nothing.
Is this it then? Am I dead? Is my soul floating within the black abyss, or being transported to another dimension to rest for all eternity?
Eragon…eternity without Eragon.
I am in Hell.
A nudge, no, not a nudge, more like a pinch within my mind, awakens me from the blackness.
I can see light behind my eyelids. I feel…numb still. I hear the beating of wings in the air, and smell the reeking stench of death and sulfur…it burns my nose…unbearably repulsive…
I open my eyes again, but do not dare move.
I see black…have I gone blind then? Or has my soul found a resting place already?
I hear harsh breathing and can feel the air around me shift, from what I realize is pressure that drops as I feel a sense of falling.
"Uhhn." I hear an oddly familiar voice and feel my throat vibrate. Did I make that noise?
'…okay…landing…might…bumpy…you okay?' is that Thorn?
'Thorn? Wha…' I cannot think anymore, my whole being is exhausted, I feel myself slipping back into the darkness.
Warmth. Blue. Familiar presence close by…two familiar presences close by…
I suddenly shift (is it me or someone else?) to the warmer presence, cringing away from the cold, dark one.
My vision clears and my eyes are suddenly blinded by the blue sky.
I slowly turn my head and see…
…the eyes of Galbatorix, staring straight at me.
I try to yell but nothing comes out except harsh rasping noises, I try to scoot away but my arms are being held down by something, or someone. I look around to see Eragon, bloodied and battle-scarred, staring down at me with concern and elation.
He's alive…but then that means…
I turn back to see Galbatorix lying on the ground a few feet away from me, eyes open, but still, like a statue. His complexion is slowly turning white, and his eyes hold no ferocity, no glint of evilness in them that I remember.
The Evil King is dead.
We had won after all. It had worked. I am free.
Alagaesia is free.
I shudder as I look at the corpse of the man that tortured my mind, body, and soul. I can't really understand the concept of his death; I'm still trying to get over the fact that Eragon and I are still alive!
But he is. He can never hurt us again.
So why am I not happy?
Trembling. Crawling across my skin. Feeling your cold dead eyes stealing the life of mine.
I believe in you! I can show you that I can see right through, all your empty lies; I won't last long, in this world so wrong!
Say goodbye! As we dance with the devil tonight. Don't you dare look at him in the eye! As we dance with the devil tonight.
Eragon POV
I did it. I actually killed him! I didn't think it would work, I only hoped, maybe that was enough, just to hope…
Murtagh…
He's alive, I can see his chest rise and fall as he breathes…I can't look away, not even to make sure Galbatorix isn't just playing dead…
Murtagh…I was so afraid he would die and I would lose him. I couldn't bear that; I would have let Galbatorix kill me…
'No you wouldn't have. You knew that you couldn't leave the Varden to fend for themselves against that tyrant! Besides, if you die I die as well, remember?' Saphira says in an odd tone, like she's still trying to convince herself of her own words. Her feelings are being carefully guarded, but I can still feel the joy seeping through at the fact that her beloved is still alive and the fight is over.
'So you would still go on living if Thorn had died as well, Saphira?' I snap at her. How could she do that? If she loves Thorn as much as I love Murtagh she would be more than happy to die with them.
'I didn't necessarily say that, Eragon. If Galbatorix had stolen their lives I would have fought twice as hard to destroy him, and then, once the danger was over, I would slip away quietly in the night and lay down to sleep…forever. You should at least take care of loose ends before taking your life, and who knows if you would even be together where your soul would take you?' she replies matter-o-factly, making me feel like a jerk and a fool.
'Fine, but enough of this talk, they're both alive, the king is dead, and Alagaesia is free.' I remind her.
'Yes, we can finally rest and enjoy ourselves…' she replies.
I raise my eyebrows and am about to comment on the out of place tone in her voice when I hear rasping sounds. I look down at Murtagh whose eyes are wide and fearful as he tries to get away from the dead king near him.
Oops, I probably shouldn't have put him there…
I put my arms over his and he looks up at me, his face going from fearful to confused to happy to…disappointed?
I try to smile and he looks back at Galbatorix, the disappointed yet glad look still on his face.
Why is he disappointed? Galbatorix is dead, he's alive, and I'm right here for him, so why?
'Eragon…' Saphira starts out cautiously, 'Galbatorix put him through a lot, maybe he feels like he should have been the one to end his life.'
'But he did! Or at least, he helped! I don't understand…' I answer. Murtagh gave me his remaining strength, without him I wouldn't have been able to produce enough energy to kill the king, he should be happy!
'Still, this is a very delicate thing. Thorn told me that Murtagh wanted to be strong enough to kill the king on his own, so that he could assure himself that he wouldn't fall under his control again. He wanted to kill him with his own power so that he would finally be at peace…at least that's what Thorn gathered from the frazzled thoughts Murtagh had on the subject. Do not ask him so quickly about it and do not be so angry with him.' She tells me.
I guess I understand that…Galbatorix tortured him and made him do a lot of things he didn't want to, if that were me, I suppose I'd be a bit miffed that someone else killed him before I could…but still…he helped…
'It's not the same to him Eragon.' Saphira whispers in my mind. I sigh and decide to push it back into the farthest recesses of my mind so I can refocus on healing him, because it appears that the pain is coming back.
"Murtagh, it's me, Eragon. He's dead, Murtagh; Galbatorix. We killed him." I say in the most soothing tone I can muster at the moment, emphasizing the we.
Hold on!
He looks back up at me and finally looks relieved, he tries to smile as well, but all the blood around his mouth makes him look…
"Here, let me clean you up. Are you still hurting anywhere? Can you move?" I ask quickly and wipe his face off with a torn piece of fabric I found lying on the ground earlier.
"Y-yeah…still can't move…barely breathe…sure he's dead?" Murtagh's voice is so low and weak I can barely make out the words that he can even say as his voice cracks and falters.
"Oh, well I'll see what I can do. All of the healers are off tending to the wounded of the Varden. The Empire surrendered as soon as they saw Galbatorix falling. Shruikin is dead as well; unfortunately he got hit with some of the blast." I tell him.
Saphira snorts. 'Unfortunately? What do you mean by that? He was the enemy as well!' she says.
'I was hoping that once Galbatorix was dead Shruikin would be free from the spell and join us, but it appears that their bond was too strong, even if it was unnatural, for it to be severed by death.' I confess.
She snorts again and moves closer to Thorn who is licking his wounds carefully.
"Are…sure he's dead?" Murtagh asks again, his hazel eyes staring straight into mine.
"Of cour-," I begin but then get the feeling I should check, just in case…
I gulp and look over at Galbatorix. The skin that I can see is white, his eyes are open but unfocused, he doesn't appear to be breathing, he is as still as stone, but…
I slowly reach for my sword and turn towards him. I raise it high, Saphira's big blue eyes on me at all times, alert in case…
I hover it over his chest…nothing…it still could be a trick…I start to bring it down…still nothing…I thrust it into his chest and blood spurts outward.
"I'm pretty sure he's dead, besides, Shruikin is dead as well, we already checked that, and if he wasn't then Saphira took care of it after her mauling." I say.
He swallows and tries to get up, then winces and eases himself back down, his head resting in my lap. He closes his eyes.
"Eragon…" he groans quietly.
I lean over him and kiss his cheek and take his hand. "I won't let you die, you're going to make it, I promise." I whisper in his ear.
Hold on!
He shudders and I smile before kissing his cheek again, then his neck, then his chest…
"Ahem. Lady Nasuada asked me to check on you all before it was too late." Trianna says. Usually when she speaks to me or Murtagh she seems angry and forcefully polite, but now she sounds genuinely grateful and happy.
I blush and look up at her.
"Oh, um, he needs to be healed quickly; I'm too weak to finish it myself." I tell her.
"Then I will treat you after I'm done with him. How about Saphira and Thorn?" she asks and looks over at the two dragons.
'I'm fine, she needs to heal you two.' Saphira says and turns to Thorn. He snorts and nods, although doesn't completely conceal a wince. Saphira licks his neck where a cut is still bleeding a little bit.
"They're fine for now, you must be exhausted." I tell her. Her face is shallow, but brighter somehow. She's covered in dirt and blood, her hair is in disarray, but I see no wounds.
Of course, she probably healed herself before healing the others.
"I can say the same for you, young Rider. Defeating the king must not have been an easy task, for a while there I honestly thought we were going to lose. Bless you both, you shall forever be remembered as the Saviors of Alagaesia!" she exclaims and beams at me.
I blink in shock, taken aback by her words, but then nod and look to Murtagh, who still has his eyes closed.
"I'll get to work on him then." She says after following my gaze. She sits down next to him, on the side away from Galbatorix, and often glances at the dead tyrant and shudders as she works. I keep my eyes on Murtagh's face, which is starting to regain color I hadn't even noticed it had lost.
His breathing starts to sound normal and I sigh in relief. We're really going to make it, we're really free…
Say goodbye as we dance with the devil tonight! Don't you dare look at him in the eye! As we dance with the devil tonight!
Hold on!
Hold on.
Goodbye…
-Author's Note: Alrighty then! How'd you like it? Technically this is the end although I'm going to do a sort of epilogue next chapter since I hate it when authors leave you kind of hanging like this so look out for that. Also I'll probably throw in some last-minute songs (end credit songs, ya know?) as well as some bloopers! If you have any suggestions or ideas on songs or bloopers please feel free to message me about them and I'll get that chappy out as soon as I can, although no guarantees that it'll be uber fast, okay? Well, I hope you liked this chapter as well as this fic, thank you to all my readers and reviewers for helping me and encouraging me to finally finish this sucker, and please remember to review and tell me what you think. Again if you have any ideas for bloopers and/or songs just leave it in the review or message me! Thanks!-