Fallen Chapter 10
Disclaimer: I don't own Eragon
He heard the crashing of clumsy feet down the hallway and flinched. The sound was not a comforting one. In fact, it scared him. He knew any moment that man would crash through and lose it. He scrambled under his covers, hoping the man would think he's not there or asleep. But he couldn't trick such a powerful person.
"MURTAGH!" Came the deep voice. It reminded Murtagh of fingernails scratching a chalkboard. It was a painful sound. "GET YOUR ASS OUT FROM UNDER THE COVERS!" When he heard the demand, he knew he had to get out from bed. He wanted to stay safe. He knew his father was drunk and it was even worse when he was wasted. He braced himself and opened his door. "Boy, where have you been? I've been calling you for hours!" Morzan yelled.
"Father, you just called for me now. I didn't hear your call until just now." Murtagh said in a tiny voice.
Morzan laughed and grabbed Murtagh by his hair. "Are you goin' deaf, boy?" He whispered, close to his son's face. His breath reeked of vodka and other alcohol. Murtagh scrunched his nose at the vile smell. "I asked you a question. Are you goin' deaf or what?"
"No, father. I can hear fine." He responded. Morzan slapped the young boy across the face.
"No you can't. If you could, you would have heard me callin yer name. Now tell me somethin'." He clenched his son's hair harder. Murtagh tried hard not to flinch, but he was only three and a half. "Is yer mom around?"
"I don't know where she is…" Morzan slapped him again.
"Yes you do! She's in yer room, I bet!" Morzan shouted.
"No, dad, she's not!" He cried.
"Don't talk back ta' me, boy!" Morzan yelled, but his words were slurred. He kicked his son in he stomach and threw him at the wall. Just as Murtagh got up, came a man with a brown goatee and his crew cut hair was a chestnut brown. He had a nice, gentle smile and a smooth face. His goatee was always perfectly cut. He wore black leather pants and black leather boots; a long sleeved brown shirt, black leather gloves and a forest green cloak. Murtagh rejoiced when he came round the corner. A sigh escaped him, but Morzan glared at him evilly.
"Morzan." Tornac's deep, throaty voice came. "Gallbatorix would like to see you and Murtagh for dinner." Murtagh got a scared look on his face. He had only met Gallbatorix once before that he could remember. The first time was when he was a baby. Gallbatorix wanted to meet the son if his right hand man. It was not a very pleasant meeting, but the small baby was not harmed. The second time was when Murtagh turned three. Gallbatorix wanted to host a small party and that did not end well either. Long story short: Murtagh did not like it when he had to meet with him.
"Tell him we are on our way." Morzan said.
"Actually, Morzan, he wants me there too, so shall we not go together? I haven't spoken with you in awhile." Tornac said politely. His voice was deep but it was so light and carefree. Murtagh loved the way it sounded, especially compared to Morzan's. He wished he could have a voice like Tornac's.
"Fine. Let us walk. Come, Murtagh." Morzan ordered and Murtagh followed slowly behind the older men as they talked casually. When they reached the giant doors to Gallbatorix's chambers, Murtagh paused. Tornac and Morzan walked in, but Murtagh loitered behind. "Boy! Come on!" Morzan commanded. Murtagh jumped a little and then ran in. Gallbatorix had a long table set out and for places were set up.
"Welcome." Gallbatorix spoke in a cool, even tone. "Sit. Let's have dinner."
"Why the sudden decision to have a dinner like this?" Morzan asked.
"I was bored and I hadn't talked to any of you lately. I think this will be nice." He replied, though the tone of his voice was not welcoming at all. They all took their seats and were served their food. Murtagh was dead silent as the adults talked. Sometimes it was casual and sometimes it was about war. But Murtagh did not really care. Plus, they were using big words and Murtagh was a small child.
"Murtagh," Gallbatorix said in a sweet tone, "You are so quiet. Is there something wrong?"
"No, sir."
"Then why are you so quiet? Put your two cents in, son." Gallbatorix was actually acting nice, like a grandfather and it confused Murtagh.
"Well, I'm only three…I don't really know what you're talking about…" He responded quietly.
"Well, then, what do you want to talk about?" Gallbatorix asked. Murtagh felt like this was a trap. He felt like Gallbatorix was looking for a way to ruin his night.
"I don't know. There's nothing much to talk about." Murtagh said, acting confident. He looked Gallbatorix square in the eye, even though it sent shivers down his spine.
"Do you like Dragons, Murtagh?" Gallbatorix asked. Murtagh still did not understand why the king was acting this way.
"Yeah."
"Have you ever seen your father's dragon?"
"Once before, as I was passing the dragon hold. He was a very strong looking dragon."
"Of coursssse he isss. He'sss powerful, and almosttt asss powerful as the king'ssss dragon…" Morzan said, though his words were slurred and his S's were held out. He was even more intoxicated than earlier and Tornac had asked the servants to stop serving the alcohol, but no one would resist Morzan's wishes for the drink.
"Do you want a dragon, Murtagh?"
"I guess."
"You may get one yet. You may just get one yet."
"Like hell he willl…He'sss a wimp…" Morzan said, hiccupping after he finished his sentence. Murtagh blushed furiously and looked at his shoes.
"Well, he's three." Tornac said.
"Sssoooooo?" Morzan's voiced changed pitches by practically an octave. "He should be…stronga…"
"Father, please…" Murtagh whispered. He hated it when his father was drunk and what was worse was that Morzan let Murtagh see his drinking-induced actions without regret. He seemed to like seeing the fear and surprise on the small boy's face.
"Wha? Wha d' ya' want?" Morzan asked, his words hard to make out.
"Just, don't talk about that. It's uncomfortable…" Murtagh said, his voice pleading.
"S' wha' if it's uncomfatabull? I'll show ya'…uncomfatabull…c'me 'ere…" Morzan stood up and dragged his son to his feet. "You just a little…annoying…shit! You a' useless!" Morzan unsheathed Zar'roc and cut his son down, from his right shoulder to his left hip. The cut was long and deep and Murtagh passed into unconsciousness immediately, but not before letting out a screech of pain. Tornac jumped up and ran over to Murtagh's side, watching as the color drained rapidly from his face. Morzan had passed out from the alcohol and Gallbatorix had men take him to his quarters.
"How unfortunate." Gallbatorix chided as Tornac took Murtagh and ran from the room to fetch the healers and find Selena. "The poor thing might actually die."
Tornac had left Murtagh with the healers and ran through the halls of the castle. He ran to the slave quarters and fetched Selena. "Selena!" He shouted. "Come!" She briskly walked out of the room and held herself high with dignity even though she was a slave. She had, after all, given birth to one of the most powerful man's son. Even though no one knew, she could still be proud, right?
"What?" She asked. Her silky smooth voice seemed to sooth anyone whose ears it fell upon, but not Tornac's. Not tonight, not ever. He wondered why this woman loved Morzan. He wondered why Selena never secretly saw Murtagh. She had the time, but she chose to spend it with Morzan instead. Tornac saw Murtagh more than Selena and he knew Murtagh better than Selena.
"Morzan, he hurt Murtagh. Badly." Tornac said bluntly.
"How bad?" She asked. She sounded a little sad, but not as sad as she should. What was wrong with her?
"Fatally." Tornac was not a man to beat around the bush. He did not mince words. If he had something to say, he said it.
Selena sucked in a breath. "Take me to him." Tornac laughed silently. Like Selena really cared. But maybe she did. To Tornac, it just seemed like Selena did it to please Morzan.
When Selena was allowed to see Murtagh, she burst into tears. "I knew it would happen eventually." She sobbed. "Why didn't I try to save him? What a terrible mistake…" Tornac held her around the shoulders. Even though sometimes Tornac resented Selena, she was his friend and he wanted to comfort her. Murtagh was her only son.
"Having Murtagh was not a mistake."
"But letting him stay in Uru'Baen was. Now he may die."
Murtagh slept on the bed the healers had moved him to. They had sealed his wound, but the scar was long, gruesome and ropy. He had lost a lot of blood, and the healers doubted he would live.
Selena stroked his hair. She sang softly to Murtagh and he would occasionally mumble incoherently in his sleep. At least he was alive.
When he woke up, he moved and flinched. Any movement hurt the fresh scar.
"Murtagh," Selena cooed.
"Mother?"
"Do you not recognize me? I would not be surprised; I rarely see you. I'm sorry sweetie."
"Mother…Where is father?"
"I do not know." Selena whispered. Murtagh sighed. Tornac walked in.
"Good to see you alive!" Tornac laughed with joy. "You're stronger than you look!" Murtagh smiled a weak grin and lay back down. He, Selena and Tornac talked and chatted. When Murtagh fell back asleep, Selena was ordered to see Morzan.
A minute after Selena left, Murtagh whispered while still unconscious, "I knew it wouldn't last."
Murtagh woke up and looked around. "Where am I?" He asked himself. He looked around and deducted he was still in the healer's rooms.
"You awake." A deep evil voice rumbled. Murtagh looked around, but he could not find the possessor of the voice. But he knew who it was.
"Morzan!" He called into the empty room.
"Why do you not address me as father?
"I resent you in your entirety. You are not my father."
"Alas, as much as you try to defy it, I am your father. And you have become just like me."
"No! I killed Gallbatorix! You kissed his feet!"
"You will regret ever saying that, my disgraceful son." Morzan pulled out Zar'roc ad struck his son down.
A/N I'm not really sure if this was a filler or not because this was my take on how he got his scar and plus these dreams are kind of important. It has to do with how he was poisoned and just how all of this is stirring up suppressed memories. Hope you enjoyed it!