AN: Hello again, first off: Disclaimer I own nothing as all source material and inspiration belongs to Christopher Paolini.
Rude Awakening
A dark armored figure rushed through the night air, the ever darkness of the figures shape was concealed by the blackness of the night sky. The figured had had his mission, and now it was time to return to his master. He wish that his master had chosen someone else to perform the task he had complete, or at least allowed him more free will on how he was to perform his task, but no he did what he had. To perform poorly or not precisely to measures was to court the master, and the master was death. He was their leader, their warlord, and they were his undying soldiers. They would serve him until their end of time, some of them had come very close to doing just that.
The Shade continued as he sped back to the halls of his master, as he remembered the humiliation and deaths of two of his comrades at the hands of the mortals; two mortals that possessed the powers that he himself had just regained. What was left of his race had just now been returned the power they had lost so many years ago, now when there master was to finally return and end the lives of all those who had restricted them would finally die. But now that was plan was disrupted, the Shade was tasked with finding out the remnants of what the Varden was left of, while his companions would personally kill off the leaders of Alagaesia's races.
The three Shades watched as the leader gathered around a table to bicker and argue about petty things none the wiser to what was about to happen to them. As the others left to kill what was left of Alagaesia's leader he would find the Rider. The boy who had killed the king and struck down his master, but there was no need for that know, for the leaders of the Varden had told him just what his master wanted to hear, that the boy had lost his dragon and was just on the brink of death himself. No need to find him, the boy was their master's prey, it would be best to let him die by his own means anyway.
He rose from his hiding spot as he watched his fellow Shades prepare to finish the two mortal who unwisely chose to fight them rather than just die. His brethren sent blast of energy at the pair, but he could not see anything as a consuming white light surrounded the pair of mortals. As the blasts of power from his comrades hit the light, there power rebounded of its energy sending both of them and himself to the ground. The blast sent him into a ditch as he smashed his head into a nearby stone. Dazed the Shade turned around to now see a completely new scene unfold before him. The two mortals all of a sudden began using the very power that only his kind held will over. He watched as both his brethren were killed by the mortals. He knew he would not be able to best the pair of them so he left, taking with him the knowledge of what he had heard and seen before him, for his master need to know.
The Shade finally return to the face of the mountain, desert air blew through his jet black hair. The gates open to reveal two more of his brethren who escorted him to his masters halls. "I see that it is only you who have returned. Why!" his master stood before him, his pitch black cloak flowed as the wind around him picked up more.
The Shade moved down to his knee as he bowed his head, "My lord much has happened, I return because my brethren cannot. They were struck down by the mortals. We have encountered something that we never saw as a threat my lord." The Shades at the entrance to the hall left, shutting the door behind them, locking him and his master into the confines of the hall.
"Speak now. What bring the death of my kin in the wake of our great revelry?" the Shade rose from his feet as he began to move forward, "My lord we may regain that which was taken from us, but our enemy has return as well; The Grey Folk. They yet live, or at least have survived to pass on their powers. The master turned to face his warrior letting out a chuckle, "The boy, he holds their power. The boy has our power. Most interesting." The master turned back around as he pondered what this would pre-tell.
The Shade before him began again to speak, "My lord that is not our only threat at this moment. The boy, he was not the one who was activity using his power, he wasn't even there. He remains in a medical tent among the Varden; his body and mind have been broken by the battle with the king, and the loss of his dragon." The master turned around violently, he had figured that the boy held power much like himself, he felt the inner energy of the boy as he ran him through the heart, he could feel the power of the boy before him and knew that one day that boy would unlock that power. But now he was told that two of his Shades were killed not by this boy, for the boy was dying of his wounds. "Who then and how!" the master growled.
The Shade before him sneered as he spoke, "The she-elf and the Red Rider, they two have our power. I don't know how, when my comrades engaged them at first they seemed lost, they were just toys to be played with, but they put up a fight, at least by mortal standard, so my companions used their turn power, but when they tried to destroy them all of a sudden a white light consumed both there bodies and when the light was gone they held the power of the Grey Folk. They slaughter both of my comrades as if they were lowly mortals.
My lord we have to wait to strike at them, we must be a combined force my lord. I saw what he did, what the boy did. The capital city is destroyed, the energy left there is reminiscent of this very desert. My lord, his strength holds much of the likes of you. He has barely lived and yet he holds more power than any of us, other than you, none of us would be able to hold him alone."
The master listened carefully as his warrior exploded with fear, "This changes nothing!" the master hissed. "The boy is still just a boy, if he holds my power then he will never be able to control it, you said it yourself, his body and mind are already broken. If he returns he will be but a shell of himself. As for the other two, this will only slow our efforts. We are many they are three; three is as much as zero. Three is not enough." The Shade before him stepped back, he felt fear, not for himself, but for his master.
"My lord, you are not strong enough. You have only just return, our powers have only just returned. If you were to battle the boy he could kill you, permanently. I do not mean to undermine you my Lord, but this boy and his companions we do not truly understand the nature of their powers. He is not a Shade nor is he a Grey Folk. We cannot risk you my lord." The Shade feel silent once more as his master passed before him, a dark scowl had formed on his face.
"I have always respected the strength of my enemy; I do the same for this boy. He is nothing compared to the might of my power, even as weak as I am now. I will destroy both his body and very will, this I know. You do undermine my power and my strength." The master rushed his minion as he grasped the Shade by his throat hoisting him into the air.
The Shade quickly spoke before his master could do something rash, "My lord I beg for forgiveness, I have been with you from the start. I know who you are and what you are capable of. I do not say that we should wait because I think you are weak, but I will not risk your life. Allow me to propose a breach of what we both want; the boy dead." The master turned his head as he looked into his servant's eyes, only two of his follower remained from the time of his brother, one was already dead. Killed by his hand early the last day and now the other was at his whims. Finally the master released the Shade, "Speak your peace."
Rubbing his throat the Shade began to speak of his plan, "I would propose that we deal with boy first, and do it now. He is vulnerable, weak in his current state, an assassin would be able to kill him, allow me to send one, get the boy out of our way before he ever is in our way. Then when the boy is dead we will easily kill the other two, and you will be free to destroy this world. Please my master, allow me this task."
The master thought on what his servant said debating over the proper action to take, he had already sent his Shades to attack the Varden once, they would be ready now, but using a mortal would catch them of guard. "I shall allow for this, we still have are asset among them I believe, use it."
The Shade bowed his head as he moved to leave to gather there asset, but his master spoke once more as he neared the door, "Oh and one last thing, if this should fail, then we will strike. I have waited for five thousand years for this; no one, no boy, will stop me. Send the assailant, and hope for the boys own sake that he is dead by nightfall tomorrow."
Murtagh and Arya slowly walked to towards Eragon's tent, Thorn trailed behind them, it was the first time the Ruby dragon had left the side of his fallen brethren. The elves tasked with protect Eragon and Saphira now watch over her body, placing the need spells to preserve her body for when her Rider final awoke.
Arya clutched the Dautherdert using it as a walking-staff; Murtagh still held his side as the pair head to Eragon and to Angela. Meeting with Nasuada and the rest of the consul turned remarkably into the same conversation they had had early, as both Arya and Murtagh explain how they now were able to wield the same power that Eragon held. They had kept the conversation between Eragon the First to themselves, as that knowledge was trusted to them and them alone. The consul agreed to attempt to hold another meeting the following morning to pick up were the last had left off, and re-account what had happened that day as well. As the group departed Nasuada informed the pair that Angela had returned to Eragon's side after helping them. And so with Thorn by their side the pair head off to get Murtagh's side taken care of as well as finally see Eragon.
Much as Arya had seen earlier that day, four nighthawk guards still stood guard at the entrance of the tent. Unlike other passers the guards seemed unfazed by the sight of Thorn, as they most likely had been notified of Murtagh and Thorn alegeis with the Varden. Once again the lead guard blocked there way asking why they were there. Luckily Angela poked her head out, tell the guard it was fine and to allow them to enter.
Arya hesitantly entered the tent; it felt like an eternity since she had seen Eragon last but after everything that had happen, she needed to see him. Angela politely held the tent flap open for them as she gestured at Murtagh's side. "Don't tell me one of the Shades actual hit you?" Murtagh nodded his head as Angela sat him down at a nearby chair. "You are so much like your blockhead brother; always get yourself into ridicules situations that far outweigh his own logic." Looking at Arya, Angela continued, "He is just around the corner, I had the tent enlarged, need more room for him and my stuff.
Angela quickly got to work on Murtagh as she removed his shirt, as she applied a liquid substance to the burn. Arya slowly moved over to the cot that she herself had laid Eragon on just yesterday. And there he was; Eragon laid bare chest as dozen of bloody rags and what seemed like surgical knifes laid throughout the area. Eragon himself remain almost motionless, except for the steady movement of his chest as he breathed. Arya fell to her knees as she neared the side of the coat. A dark scar remained down the center of his chest, likely from the damage Vrangr had done to him. Bandages and cloths cover his body, most covered with blood as other were soaked in water. Arya moved to face Eragon's own face as she felt tears make their way down her face, she had tried so hard all day to suppress them, but now being in the presence of Eragon made everything flow out.
Eragon looked so peaceful as he laid there ignorant to the world and all the destruction that had unfolded around him. He had almost dead right in her arms, just as Saphira pasted on. Arya had never felt so helpless and now it was all so different, she understood just how much Eragon truly meant to her, just how much she need him. Arya moved her hand across to hold Eragon cheek; slowly she extended her mind pressing up into Eragon's unconscious. What she found was a solid barrier; Eragon's mind was completely shut off from everything around him.
Arya quickly pulled her mind and hand away from him as Angela and Murtagh moved her way. Arya wiped away the last of her tears preparing to face the two; she knew Angela had some answering to do. Murtagh chose to sit next to her on the grass ground as Angela examined one of Eragon's many bandages.
"How is he doing?" Murtagh questioned the healer. Moving back Angela reached for a chair as she calmly sat down. "Eragon has always been a cause of the miraculous. Just this morning I would have stated that he would most likely not make it through the day only to literally hours later see that he was stable. Now he seem completely physically stable and on the path to recovery. His body is still in bad condition don't get me wrong, but compared to the state that he was in before, it's truly is miraculous, I have never seen anyone to heal so quickly. Still as I said this morning his mental state is well, dangerous. With everything that he went through I would be amazed if he returned as he was before. The mind is a delicate thing, the body can deals with the events in life by adapting, the can mind do this too but a much slower pass. From the power Eragon unlocked, to him being run through with Vrangr, to using the amount of magic as he did, and to losing his dragon; his mind will not be able to handle all that at once. I have tried only once to breach into his mind, but I was unable to. His mind has receded in on itself; pulling away from both the physical and mental pain he felt and is still feeling. I asked the dragons what they taught, but they did not elect to respond to me."
Angela's mentioning of the dragons sparked the questions Arya held toward the witch, "Angela how is it you know of the secret of the Eldunarí, only Riders and those most close to the, knew of their existence?" Arya spoke with more harshness in her tone that she really meant, but it was required here. Angela by no reason should know about the secret to Galbatorix's rain.
Angela's' previously calm mood turned bluntly irritated as Arya asked her question, she knew the she-elf would eventually ask the question, but she had hope to stave off the question for as long as she could. "Many people have died in this world because they underestimated the knowledge of their opponent; they believe that because they hold secrets that there enemy will not be able to find out about them, that is where they are wrong. Vrael felt to this very fact, as have many figure though out the history of Alagaesia. What I mean by this is that I was once a said friend of the Riders, natural I was in on their secret, but to be personally fair they held much darker secrets than the true power of their dragons, I would beat a rather substantial amount of money on that fact." Though Angela began to speak irrationally the more she spoke her mood lessened back into her normal chipper and sarcastic mood. "Now I know you have another question for me so I will just answer it now. Yes I brought the Dauthdaert with me, yes it was not mine to take, and yes I do not regret a thing. When I was with Saphira I saw it there and I made sure some fool didn't take it thinking it to be some jewel. Oh and by the way you're welcome."
Arya glared at the witch as Angela laughed towards her; the witch always thought she knew everything. Normal it would be fine, but when it came to Angela the problem was that she was always right. She knew exactly how to get away with answering your question yet not actually answer your full question at the same time. "Well it is getting rather late, the two of you should probably head off to bed or whatever it is you folk do these days. Goodnight." And with a push Angela forced the pair out of the tent.
Murtagh and Arya looked at each other as Murtagh laughed, "Well she is as interesting as when I first saw her back in Farthen Dûr." The two began to walk as Arya lead them towards her tent, "She seems to know that we know now, yet she puts in off like nothing. I don't get her." Murtagh was again speaking cryptically as Arya shoot him a glance. Murtagh respond as he laughed. Thorn blowing smoke towards him, "What Thorn you don't think it's a little funny that she cannot see what right in front of her." This time Arya jumped in front of Murtagh as she glare into his eyes, "I has been a long two days, excuses me if I am not in my prime observations I've been a little busy fighting off practical gods."
Arya was irritated, she knew her sanity was running out if she was bring up gods that did not exist. She had given Murtagh a lot of room today, she offered him her friendship, something she didn't even offer to Eragon for a while, but she offer Murtagh it in less than a day of knowing his motives when staying with the Varden. Yes the Grey Folk had chosen him to help her and Eragon, but that didn't force her to have to be friends with Murtagh, at least so suddenly. Arya began to already regret her choice, all because he was mocking her, what was happening to her.
First Eragon had gotten under her skin now his older brother who two days ago was a hated enemy. This is not me! Arya though to herself. Arya turn away from Murtagh as she walked towards her tent, "Goodnight Murtagh." Was all she said as she left the Rider in the rows of tents of the Varden. Returning to what was now her tent; Arya for the second night in a row removed the stains of battle from her body. The dark black tunic she had put on that morning was now ripped, burned, and coated with blood and grim.
Drawing a bath Arya cleansed her body repeating what felt like an endless ritual of battle and cleaning. Galbatorix was supposed to be the last time she had to do this, the last time anyone had to do this. Now Alagaesia and especiallyher had to be dragged back into another cycle of death and battle. The Shades were about to return, if they had not already. The attack on the Varden showed that the Shades were back, but where they ready to go to war. She hoped deeply not. The battle with the two Shades today and the meeting with Eragon the First showed that even with the new power her and Murtagh had, they were not invincible, they were not gods, the Shades were.
We need you Eragon; we need you to help us. If Angela was right then it would be too late, from what Eragon the First told them the Shades would strike soon and hard, how where just Murtagh and her going to protect the whole of Alagaesia, they possessed great power, but so did there enemy and there enemy knew how to control their power.
Even though she could feel her new power, she did not fully understand how to use it or in what ways it could be used. Though her body seem to know how to us the basic forms of the energy she knew from what Eragon the First told them that his power was extremely vast and could be controlled to the fine details. But how was she to learn to use her power like that, Eragon was able to control his power with a great amount of detail without even know what the power was. Even Murtagh seemed to control his power with more ease than had Arya, but still when the Shades and especially Eragon the First's brother came they would be able to overwhelm the three off them as they understood how their power worked. They need to practice with their new power; they need to learn what it could do and how they could control it.
Arya remembered back to how Eragon the First described how their power was blood magic to generate the energy and spirit magic to control it. Arya also thought back to how she controlled her power during her fight with the Shade. Though her body controlled her movements she was in control, she had thought hard trying to control her will to generate the power needed to blast the Shades to pieces. Is that how it works? Arya questioned herself. Her power was just raw energy; all she had to do was will herself to use it.
Rising from the tub Arya dressed in one of her night gown tunic that Angela had provided her with. She would have to find Murtagh tomorrow and test her theory on how they could control their power. Arya's though quickly turned to Murtagh; she was becoming more and more irritated with herself about how she had handled him. She really barely knew him, aside from what Eragon had told her and what she had learned over the last few months. Much of what Murtagh had said over the last two days was a confused mess; even now no one really knew how honest Murtagh had been with them. He seemed sincere in both his apologize to the leaders of Alagaesia and his statements towards herself. But no one could be sure. As much as Arya wished to doubt him, she knew deep down that Murtagh was probably telling them the truth; still it was very strange to her why.
Murtagh went from clashing with his brother, to risking his life to save him. She remember the tears flowing down his eyes as they finally found Eragon among the ruins of the throne room, how he was definite about seeing his brother after Saphira died, but most importantly how Murtagh defied the King in the face of everything that who happen to him if he would fail. It was not as if he had come into a winning fight, Galbatorix had had herself and Saphira completely controlled, and Eragon ran through by Vrangr. He was what allowed herself and Saphira the ability to kill Shruikan, and he was the one would allowed Eragon's true power to finally spark.
Then something hit Arya that she had not thought about before, something no one had of before. Murtagh was bound to the king by his true name, there was no physical way Murtagh could have defied the King under his current bindings that meant that Murtagh was able to completely change his True Name, he had changed himself. But what made a man so filled with hate and anger to change his complete identity, what could do that to a man.
Arya had heard word from Nasuada herself that there was something there between them when they first meet in Farthen Dûr, had that sparked something more when she was captured. Murtagh had seemed slightly protective of her after he personally rescued her from the halls of his former master, but they did not seem to be anything else of that. Could it have been Eragon himself that caused the change? It made as much sense as his caring for Nasuada. Ever since the battle with the King Murtagh had been overly protective of his brother, wasn't that what he was doing in Urû'baen, protecting his younger brother?
Whatever it was only Murtagh knew and Arya doubt that she would be able to get it out of him. Murtagh had somehow been able to get the same result out of her that his brother had. It seem that whenever she was with one of the brothers her humanity seemed to come out, she acted more and more human. Why did both brothers affect her like that? Arya sighed loudly as she sunk into her cot; too many questions were left unanswered, and too many were personal questions. But for once in her life what she did know was how she felt for Eragon, now all see need to do was finally act on them, if she ever got the chance.
Arya closed her eyes hoping to whatever high power existed that she would be left un-plagued by visions that night.
Arya awoke clenching the sides of her bedding, neither dreams nor visions had plagued her that night, still she awoke with sweat covering her body. Her heart raced as she clenched her chest, her breaths were heavy as if the labor it took to breathe was too much for her to handle. Calming herself Arya rose from her cot, the soft grass ground weaved between her bare feet. Perhaps today will be calmer, Arya though to herself, she really could use a break from the constant pressure of battle and politics.
Arya's head suddenly whipped around, she heard a distant noise not far from where she was, when all of a sudden an explosion struck the heart of the Varden. The blast caused the very earth to shake as she fell to the hard ground. Ash could be smelled as Arya rushed out her tent to see what had happened. The moment Arya looked out her tent fear struck her heart; smoke billowed up from where Eragon's tent was located. Without hesitation, or really thinking, Arya grabbed the Dauthdaert and raced over to Eragon's tent.
The scene there was a mess, ash and debris was everywhere, bodies laid throughout the surrounding area as other members of the Varden quickly gathered around to help those harmed or injured. The sight of Angela caught Arya's eye as she rushed over to the witch's side, much of her body was covered in soot and ash.
"Healer!" Arya called for, "I need someone here!" Angela's eyes suddenly shot open as she regained her bearings. Her eyes widen quickly, "Arya behind you." Turning quickly Arya saw a cloaked figure race away as he raced toward Urû'baen. The roar of a dragon followed the figure as Thorn and Murtagh had seen the assassin as well. Turning back to Angela, Arya tried to figure what had happened to Eragon. The witch tried to move as she held her head, "I don't know what happened, I stepped out this morning to go and see Nasuada, just as I returned a bright light consumed the area and then the tent exploded into piece, I don't know about Eragon. Go find him that figure was likely an assassin."
With that Arya bolted upward following Thorns figure into Urû'baen. Murtagh jumped from his dragon saddle as Thorn head back, Murtagh was completely unarmed as he spoke quickly as the pair rushed into the streets of Urû'baen, "Thorn is going to make sure there are no more of the assailants, we just awoke when we heard the explosion. We saw a figure run this way and concluded he was attempting to escape from the scene." The pair rushed past builds and rumble of the former city, Arya questioned Murtagh's lack of weapon for if the assailant was a Shade it would case issue.
"Sorry left it back at my tent, I'll be fine, I've got rather good at fighting unarmed, any ways I still have my raw power, so…" As the pair turned the corner the assailant nailed Murtagh across the neck sending him straight down, pushing Arya back as well. The assailant continued to run away as Arya rose gripping the Dauthdaert hard into her palms. "Murtagh stay down!" she yelled as she thought exactly what she wanted to happen. With a turn of her weapon she sent dozens of her razor sharp energy wires at the assailant.
But the assassin seemed to know this was coming, as he turned around he reached out and caught Arya's energy within his hands. Arya let out a gasp, she could not believe what the assassin was able to do, not even the Shades with the powers were able to control someone else energy force. Arya felt as the assassin pulled her own energy, trying to hold on Arya heaved back, but the assassin was much stronger than her. The only positive to this was she was able to finally get a looked at the assassin. He wore simple brown pants with a cloak that concealed his face.
As Murtagh began to rise, the assassin pulled hard on her energy strand forcing the Dauthdaert to rip right out of her hands. The assassin grabbed hold of the Dauthdaert as he threw it back towards Murtagh who had just gotten back on his feet. Lucky for Murtagh the staff end of the Dauthdaert smashed into his face as it sent him falling back onto the ground. Arya rushed forward ready to battle the assassin; this time the assassin made no move to leave as he simply stood there waiting for her. Arya sent a blast of her golden energy towards the assassin hoping it would have more effect than her previous attack. The assassin responded kindly by simple deflecting the blast of energy sending into a near building.
Arya ready for the fight as she went to strike at the assassin's mid chest, the assassin ducked under her as he flipped around kicking her right in the jaw. Arya returned blows with the assassin striking his upper thigh with a powerful kick only to have the assassin strike her again in her jaw. Arya back up again as the assassin charged her, return the favor Arya slid under the assassin striking his now exposed left leg, which sent the assassin into a nearby wall.
Turning to were Murtagh and the Dauthdaert were Arya extended her hand as she though only of her weapon, willing it to return to her. The weapon shock as if flew through he air directly into her extended hand. With her weapon back in her control she turned to face the assassin only to see that the assassin was already upon her, with a twist of her wrist Arya tried to strike at the assassin's head, but was unable to as the assassin ducked her blow only to wrap his arm around hers. Locked together the assassin pulled hard as Arya felt her shoulder give in as the assassin pulled her arm out of it socket. Arya yelled in pain as the Dauthdaert dropped to the ground as did she.
The assassin stood over her as he began to reach for her head, Murtagh once again came to help her. Recovered from his double beating Murtagh attacked the assassin with a violent passion. The two duel as if they both held swords, each seeming evenly matched. The two fought as the each of them battered the other apart. The two final paused as Murtagh rubbed his neck from his previous wounding while the assassin spat blood out his mouth from his upper lip. Arya sat in pain as she tried to clear her head to use her magic, but the reoccurring pain in her arm would not allow for her to be clear minded. Murtagh jumped forward as he struck at the assassin head, the assassin simply pulled away as he went to return the blow, right into Murtagh's plan. Murtagh quickly moved under the assassin's guard as he struck directly as the assassin's chest.
Though Murtagh expected the blow to hurt the result produced a great outcome than he thought, the assassin began to grasp his chest as if his chest was caving in from the pain. With a wild blow towards Murtagh, which was easily sidestepped, the assassin fell to the ground defeated.
Murtagh rushed over to Arya's side as he grabbed her arm, "It's dislocated, can you fix it, I can't move." Murtagh nodded as he grasped her shoulder, "On three," he said, "One…Two…" Murtagh pulled hard as he popped Arya's arm back into its proper place. Arya let out a small gasp as the pressure in her shoulder was finally released. Grabbing the Dauthdaert Arya ran up to the assassin, "Where is Eragon!" Arya yelled at the assassin as she violently trashed him, but the assassin didn't speak. Arya released him as she notice that his hand was still clutching his chest. As Arya kneeled down to look at what Murtagh had done, Murtagh himself began to speak, "What is it? Did he talk? Where is my brother?"
Arya simply ignored him; Arya pulled apart the assassin's shirt to reveal the wound that Murtagh had caused, or at least that's what she original thought it looked like. The assassin held a dark scare down the center of his chest. Murtagh continued on his rant, "Did they kill him!" he asked almost hysterically, Arya you answer me!" Murtagh seemed to become hysteric more by the minute. Arya traced the scar down the assassin's chest, it looks was so familiar.
Two and two finally clicked as Arya ripped the assassin hood off revealing his face. Arya dropped the Dauthdaert as soon as she saw the assassin's face holding on to him with all of herself. "What in the name of the king are you doing?" Murtagh yelled as he moved to where Arya was, "Are you…" but he fell silent. There in Arya's arms was Eragon live and conscious. "How is this possible?"
Arya wrapped her arms around him as she stood up supporting Eragon, his breaths became labored again as they were the last time he was in the streets of Urû'baen. Arya looked at Murtagh, concern was on her mind, "Murtagh help me, I think you might have reopened a wound of his when you hit him, we need to get him back to Angela." Murtagh never spoke as he grabbed his brother throwing him over his shoulder. The two once again raced back to the Varden, hoping that Murtagh had not just kill Eragon.
The pair made it back to the Varden camp as Thorn told Murtagh where Angela was being treated. Nasuada had wanted Eragon's condition to be kept secret from the soldiers of the Varden, but know every passerby saw their Rider, unconscious and batter to pieces.
Finally they reached Angela who was with Nasuada and many of the other leaders. Arya rushed up to her explaining what had happened, "He attacked the both of us, we thought he was the assassin that had attack him. He fought the both of us, I don't know why, but he did not once stop to pause of even look at us as if he knew us." Angela got to work looking over Eragon as the leader circled around to see the fallen Rider, "What exactly did you do to him?" the witch questioned Arya. Murtagh spoke up, "When we fought I hit him center chest, I ended up knocking him out, I think it was because of his previous wound."
Angela responded by placing her palms on Eragon chest, directly over his scar. After a few moments of utter silence Angela moved off, "He is fine, actual he seem perfectly fine. You said he fought you two?"
Arya and Murtagh both nodded their heads in agreement, "I don't see how that is possible, he should not be able to even perform basic tasks for weeks, let alone fight." Angela paused as a soldier came up to Nasuada, "My liege, we have found a body among the dead that has not been identified and is not one of our, we believe it may be one of the assassins." Angela was quick to act, "Bring the body. I need to see how the assassin was killed." The guard did not move, until Nasuada ordered him to do just as Angela had said.
By that point the leaders had begun to discuss amongst each other, while Murtagh, Angela, Nasuada, and Arya remained by Eragon's side. "What is it your thinking?" Nasuada questioned the witch. Angela sighed as she turned to face Nasuada, "To be honest I don't really know, there was a mighty amount of energy used today that caused that explosion, I can only think of one source for it, that does depend on the body though. I believe I can speak for Arya and Murtagh when I say, I though the assassin as a Shade, that kind of power could really only come from one sources, but there is a chance it could have came from Eragon himself." All three of the party thought about what the witch had said, they had never found an assassin, as the one they thought was the assassin was actually Eragon. Had Eragon awoken to find someone trying to kill him, and in response caused the explosion which he used to kill his attacker?
But that still doesn't account for why Eragon attacked us, Arya though to herself. Before more could be though on that, the solider returned with a few of his men and a burned up corpse. Angela rushed over to the corpse as did most of the leaders. The corpse was mostly unharmed, if not for the giant whole in the center of the man's body, the person looked rather fine. The whole in the corpse's body was almost perfectly round and the flesh around the whole as burned inward. Angela stepped back, putting her hand on her chin, "I have seen a burn like this only once before, from you Murtagh. What is it that happened to you yesterday?"
Though he question was directed at Murtagh Arya felt fine answering the elder witch, "He was hit with the magic of the Shades, they kind Galbatorix used. The kinds were able to use now." Everyone knew what Angela was getting at, "Well it looks like our assassin became the victim, but that doesn't explain exactly who his killer was…" Angela stopped dead in her tracks as movements caught the attention of everyone. Turn everyone saw as Eragon stood before them. His brown eyes flickered around as he looked at the faces of those around him.
Arya felt her heart jump, it felt as if she had not really seen him for many years; she was the first to move towards him, not caring what the others would think. Extending her hand towards him, Eragon back up, his face showed no prominent emotion. Soon Murtagh was by her side trying to get some response from his brother. Unlike when Arya approached him, Eragon made no reaction to Murtagh's advance. Getting closer Murtagh began to speak, "Are you alright brother?"
Eragon's face went blank as his brother spoke; he shook his head from side to side as he ran his hands through his hair. Everyone was on alert, they had heard what Eragon had done, and now it seemed he was the one responsible for the explosion that morning, he was unstable now.
Arya finally lost her patience with him, "Eragon what is it, why did you attack us this morning?" Eragon's face again went blank, as he balled his fingers into fists; everyone grew even more on edge as they did not know what was wrong with Eragon and were his state of mind was. Roran stepped up from the crowd, he too was sick of what was going on here as he tried to reason with his cousin, "Eragon, your back! We have been worried about you. Everyone here has." Roran spoke with so much joy is his voice, unlike Murtagh and Arya who were just as equally as happy, but did not fully trust Eragon, in light of him attack the both of them.
Roran, like Murtagh and Arya tried to confront his cousin. As Roran closed Arya felt her hands yearn for the Dauthdaert, she felt something was going to happen. Arya looked over at Murtagh to see he felt the same way, Arya could hear as elven soldiers began to close in around Eragon, everyone feared something was going to happen. Roran made it close enough to wrap his arm around Eragon. Though Eragon did not return the hug, he did allow it. Then Arya notice something, an elf with a drawn bow was slowly moving into position to fire at Eragon. Arya knew the arrow was probably lased with magic to sedate Eragon, but then she saw Eragon, and he saw the archer as well.
"Murtagh" Arya yelled as Eragon shoved Roran to the ground. Arya reached out for her weapon just as the archer fired his shot. The arrow never made its mark as Eragon simply reached out and caught the arrow. That slowed everyone down as the elves around Eragon rushed the unarmed former-rider. Arya quickly turned to her mother knowing full well that she sent for the soldiers, "Call them off before someone gets killed!" was all she yelled before bodies began to fly.
The fully armored elves ran straight at Eragon, these elves were no human soldiers who could be easily dispatched, these were hard tested warriors. Yet there Eragon stood unarmed as elves charged him with drawn swords. Eragon easily dodged the elves increasingly fast attacks, and whenever there was on opening Eragon would disarm his attacker and send them fly into the air or down to the ground with a violent series of blows. Murtagh stood back as he tried to restraint the elves from provoking Eragon on more. Arya rushed in as she saw an issue, there a batter elf laid behind Eragon, the elf raised his palm as he utter a word in the ancient language. "No!" Arya screamed, but it was too late, a bolt of electricity leap from the elf's palm, Eragon turned just in time to deflect it with his palm as he glared at the elf. Murtagh and Arya looked at each other as they rushed Eragon, both knowing how Eragon would respond.
The leaders above watched as Eragon ripped apart dozens of elven warriors with his bare hands. Eragon began to uses his true power as the elves around him tried to sedate him with force and magic. The magic of the elves was strong but nowhere as powerful as the power of the Grey Folk. Eragon final finished the last of the elves as Murtagh came at him, Eragon and Murtagh began the dance once again, this time with more magic then before.
Murtagh would send blast of his crimson energy at Eragon between attacks, only for Eragon to simply wave them off as if they where nothing. Eragon would hence return with his own torrents of his white energy as the two tried to outdo each other. Arya after make sure that her mother's soldiers where fine, went to help Murtagh. Using the Dauthdaert Arya jump onto Eragon's back putting her spear under Eragon's neck as she tried to knock him out. With a kick Eragon sent Murtagh back as to open him up to deal with Arya. Reaching around Eragon grabbed Arya's shoulders as he ripped her off his back, sending her into Murtagh.
The two collided sending them to the ground as Eragon approached them wielding the Dauthdaert. As Eragon neared the two and elf tired to grab Eragon, only to have Eragon backhand him. Eragon looked over the pair as he raised the Dauthdaert against them. Arya quickly tired to reason with him, she couldn't believe what Eragon was going to them. "Eragon, it's me. It's Arya. Please stop this, you don't know what you're doing. Look at the people you're hurting! This isn't you!" Arya was practically crying at him.
For the first time Eragon's face seem to register something of an emotion other than anger. He finally spoke, though it was his voice it did not sound like his words, "I don't know who you are, but you came after me! Do not act as if you know me, if you wish to lie to me then so be it, it is not my life." Arya's heart sank, he doesn't remember me, he doesn't remember any of us. Eragon raise the Dauthdaert as the screams of the leader could be heard. Arya blink only to then see Eragon go flying as Thorn's tail smashed into his body send him back.
Thorn stood over the pair as he protected them from Eragon's crazed mind. Eragon rose as he shuddered back, "Dragon, how is that possible!" Eragon moved backwards, Arya now knew that Eragon's mind was not with him, he had lost his memories. But Thorn was a dragon, a dragon like Saphira. Angela had said that the loss of the bond with Saphira could cause something like this to happen, that Eragon mind would be unable to handle the pain of his loss, so it would just ignore it.
Now Eragon stood down a dragon he had once faced before, but this time it seemed he had no remorse. Arya turned to Murtagh as fear struck her, "Murtagh warn Thorn to be careful Eragon is unstable and has lost his memory he could actual harm Thorn!" though the statement sounded crazy, and unarmed warrior versus a dragon, both Arya and Murtagh knew that Eragon's magic was stronger than any Shade or even their own power. Murtagh quickly relayed the message, but Thorn ignored it as Eragon rushed him."He truly is a fool." Thorn told his rider before cutting him off.
Eragon rushed the dragon as Thorn swiped his massive claw at Eragon, Eragon jumped up into the air avoiding the swipe as he sent a blast of white energy directly at Thorn. The blast connected with the ruby dragon as the energy dissipated around the great dragon. Thorn became angered as the lone rider was actually able to harm him. Once again Thorn struck at Eragon as he tried to pin the rider down. Eragon once again dodged the blow, instead of blast Thorn, Eragon rushed up the dragon's maw as he put all his energy in to his foot as he spun around kicked the dragon in its head, a blow that my any means would have shattered every bone in his leg, but the blow did not, as the energy pushed the larger ruby dragon aside..
The feet before the leaders and the pair below was unbelievable, Eragon was unarmed and injured yet he stood there fighting a dragon. By that point Thorn had had enough, though his rider told him not to, Thorn let lose a torrent of ruby flames. The fire soon surrounded Eragon as Roran and Nasuada gasp, hoping that their loved one was still okay. Though Arya and Murtagh were not worried as they had seen Eragon be consumed by fire before, and they feared what would happen. Eragon's energy began to flow from his hands as it pushed Thorn's torrent of flames back, there streams of magic and energy combined together at the center. Thorn growled as he pressed his attack. Murtagh rose as he tried to approach Eragon, someone needed to end this fight before one of the two was severally harmed. Eragon only continued his attack until the two streams of energy began to pour out of their streams they were meant to flow through. Seeing this Murtagh looked towards the consul, "Get down!" he yelled ducking himself as Thorn's and Eragon's magic exploded violently, causing a shockwave of termers to follow.
When the dust finally cleared Murtagh and Arya rose from her previous spot, the pair looked for Eragon and Thorn. Thorn was first to be spotted as he laid still on the ground. Murtagh rushed over to his soul partner making sure he was fine. Arya began to search the grounds for Eragon, hoping nothing happened to him.
Arya saw as a figure rising up from around were Eragon last was as she quickly ran over to him. And there he was; Eragon was bleed from his temple and clutching his left side as she approached him. Arya knew she need for him not to run as no matter how he felt for Arya now, she knew who Eragon was deep done and how he belonged here with her. "I'm sorry Eragon." Arya quickly struck Eragon with the Dauthdaert as he fell to the ground unconscious.
Roran was the first to get to where Eragon was, as he asked what Arya did to him. "I just hit him in the head really hard that usually works." Murtagh soon reached them as he looked down at his brother. "This is going to be a problem." Arya glared at him, stating an obvious fact was not going to help them, better to just kept his mouth shut. "What I'm just saying that because what if they see Eragon as a treat. I mean, he did just fight Thorn completely unarmed with nothing but his magic, I don't think they will be able to handle the fact that Eragon has that much power, maybe if he was in his right mind, but he's not. They're going to see him as a threat and us as a threat."
As much as Arya wanted to ignore Murtagh and his comments she could not. He was completely right; the two of them had withheld information because of fear. Fear that the consul would not be able to deal with the knowledge of their world. Yes they with held it because Eragon deserved to hear it first, but there were other motives. Roran quickly spoke in regards to what Murtagh said about Eragon, "Eragon would never turn on us, he has always proven himself. You two call him your friend yet you turn your backs on him when he needs you most." Roran's words were bitter and harsh Arya felt as if she had been sucker punched.
"Roran, we are not trying to turn against him, we are in the same boat as he is. What I'm saying is that getting Eragon back to his normal self is crucial right now." Arya wanted nothing more than to have Eragon back, but would he ever really be back, Galbatorix had changed him, his power, his new enemy, his new self. Everything about him was going to be different, there was nothing she or anyone else could do to help that, it was all in Eragon's own hands. Based off of what she saw here today I looked like Eragon was fight hard to not return back to his own self. His mind had shut off everything that she cared so much about him, leaving only his hatred and distrust.
Eragon was with them now, yet he still remained locked away behind his own mind. Whether to protect himself or another reason Arya new that this person, this person who couldn't remember or trust her was not Eragon, not the real one. He may possess his powers but not his heart, and without that it wasn't Eragon, not really.
Eragon were ever you really are, we'll find you. We need you. Alagaesia need you!
AN:
That was the best chapter I have ever written, fun wise! I can really tell because I wrote it all in one day. I really hope ya'll liked this chapter, this really is where everything is going to started rolling out of control for our characters. And man oh man Eragon is just a problem, guess we can add that to the list of issues that are about to exploded really soon here. The plus side it that Eragon is back, well kind of, the bad side is that now it looks like the "master" is going to come pay Eragon, Arya, and Murtagh a little visit, but when?
On another note, I did get some flak for the "Arya speech" at the end of Chapter 9, I did expect that, I hope that I can make more sense of that conversation with this chapter and future chapters. But I did give a strong explanation for that in my AN for last chapter so I feel good about that.
Lastly I hope that the fighting and combat scene is readable to ya'll, (Eragon wiped the floor with Arya and Murtagh, twice… and Thorn) I am having more difficulty turning what's in my crazy head onto a written median. Love to get some feedback on that for future chapter where there is going to be a lot, epically when the "master" comes into it, as we (both the reader and myself) have not seen him fight yet, (Hint: you think Eragon is powerful, ha!)
Really hope ya'll like and enjoyed my story so far, much more to come!
See y'all soon! Thank to all my followers and reviewers. Happy Thanksgiving!