Anything For You Chapter 11
This chapter is rated K+
Eragon woke up in a lavishly decorated room. There were tapestries on the walls, and carpeted floors. The walls were colored a rich chestnut, and there was a large fire in a small stove. Eragon stood up and got off the mattress he had been sitting on. He walked around the room and studied the fine arts and linens that hung from the walls, his eye studious after is time with the elves. He walked over to a table and found a large stuffed chicken. He was far too hungry to turn the meal down so he wolfed down the meat.
After eating his fill, he explored the room further to find out where he was. The only door was locked by both magical and mundane means and there were no windows. The more he thought about it the more he realized he was in a cell. Every possible way out was blocked, and even the chimney for the stove was made so that no one could enter through it. Eragon tried to use magic, and to his great surprise found that he was not drugged.
He walked over to the door and tried to burn it down. nothing happened. He tried to crack it, and nothing happened. Eragon used every method he could think of, but they were all blocked by wards. Eragon grew frustrated with the task, so gave up and sat down on his bed. He tried to contact Arya, but he was still somehow blocked. Eragon waited in the room for what seemed like days. His patience for his host was wearing thin. A new platter of food always appeared on the same table, but no one visited or even contacted him.
After what seemed like a week Eragon started to realize what they were doing to him. Solitary confinement, he realized, The only way they can torture me without me legally being an outlaw... or at least until I deny their demands. He had read about this type of torture in a scroll Oromis had once given him to read. In solitary confinement, the victim is left alone until they become mentally unstable, He remembered, I need to out wait them.
From then on, Eragon meditated all day, and slept as much as possible. He exercised and practiced magic. He tried not to think about what Arya and Saphira were doing with him missing. After about two weeks his patience paid off and someone finally opened the door.
A hooded man wearing all black entered, and Eragon froze and stopped what he was doing. The hooded man slowly started to walk towards the him, and Eragon backed off. Another man entered the room. This time it was an ordinary messenger with a scroll. He stood in front of Eragon and read it.
"You Eragon Bromson, are now considered a public enemy. Will you give away and information concerning the Varden or elves at this time willingly?"
Eragon spat at the messengers feet and laughed,
"I would rather die!" Without another word the hooded figure lifted his hand and yelled "Slytha!"
Eragon fell to the ground with a muted thud. The messenger bowed to the hooded man and walked away clearly afraid at the use of magic. The illusionist just laughed at him and dragged Eragon's limp body out of the room.
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Eragon woke on a cold stone floor. He picked himself off the floor and looked around at his new cell. It was made of unforgiving, cold stone, once more there were no windows to the outside world and the only object in the room was a small, musty old cot that was stained with blood. He briefly tried to use magic, but this time he had been drugged, and all his memories were hazy. Eragon sat down on the cot and tried to sort out his thoughts. He had been gone from the Varden for about two weeks he estimated, but he couldn't know for sure for sure. He hadn't seen daylight his entire visit here. And there was no way of knowing how long he had been asleep.
Eragon felt his stomach rumble, and he started to pat down his tunic. He smiled when he found that he still had some of his food. Everyday back in his other cell, he took the food that would not rot and hid it in the pocket of his tunic. Now he had enough to last about three days.
Enough to outlast the drugs effects He thought, hopefully.
Where exactly is here? He thought, I could be in Uru'baen, but that's not likely... Eragon ended his thoughts when he heard someone approach his cell door. He heard someone struggle, and then observed a sound like a brutal fight before the door was opened. Something was carelessly tossed in, and the door slammed shut once more.
Eragon got up from the cot to see what was thrown in. As he neared it he realized that the something was in fact a someone. Eragon knelt next to the person and turned the body over to see his or her face. Eragon gasped as he realized that it was Arya's bruised countenance. Blood trickled down from her left nostril, and she had a deep purple bruise on her brow. She was unconscious, so he lifted her onto the cot and covered her abused body with a dirty sheet. He wiped the blood from her face, and did all he could to make her look like the Arya he knew and loved.
Arya shivered under the sheet, and Eragon started to run his hands through her hair. He was furious that someone had hurt her, but he was even more hurt about how he had almost killed her during the illusion battle. Eragon leaned down and kissed her upon her bruised cheek where she was not hurt. He started to talk to her about things and how he had spent his time over the past two weeks, how he had missed her and about many other things but most of all he begged her for forgiveness.
Arya awoke several hours later. She felt a throbbing pain on her brow, and something pressing on her shoulder. Arya opened her eyes and looked into a tangles mess of brown hair. It took her a moment to realize that some man was sleeping with her. Arya shoved the man off on to the floor, and tried to stand up. She fought back tears as her legs screamed with pain. Arya finally gave up and collapsed back onto the cot. The man got up and rubbed his head moaning with pain.
"Arya, please forgive me..." The man pleaded with a hoarse voice.
Arya curled up her lips in disgust. He acts as though he knows me! How dare he talk to me after doing what he just did! Arya repositioned herself so she sat upright in the cot, and her back leaned against the wall.
"I will not forgive you!" Arya screamed, "How dare you try to sleep with me!"
The man chocked back a sob, and Arya could see tears falling from his down trodden face.
"I am sorry Arya, I didn't mean to hurt you." He cried out in desperation.
Now Arya was very confused. How does he know my name? She wondered. Arya looked over the figure lying on the floor. She felt a pang of guilt for being so cruel to him. He probably hasn't seen another women for years... She thought guiltily.
"Show me your face." She requested in a now softer tone.
Eragon turned his face back up, and Arya gasped as she recognized him. He was asking forgiveness for cutting me! Arya realized now feeling even more guilty. She watched as he crawled to the foot of the cot and held her foot in his warm hands.
"I forgive you Eragon..." Arya whispered. Eragon's eyes grew wet, and a small smile appeared upon his face. Arya motioned for him to sit beside her, and as soon as he was she pulled him into a kiss. Eragon eagerly returned it, and they both started to pull each other closer.
For the rest of the day they shared their experiences with each other, and ate Eragon's food. Arya had been in a solitary confinement room like Eragons, but she was released several days earlier than him for questioning. When she refused to give away any information she was beaten by the black cloaked man.
"Apparently, the black cloaked man is called The Illusionist." Arya said, "He is another one of Galbatorix's pets magicians. He specializes in creating all sorts of illusions and he has very effective torture." Arya shuddered as she recalled. "He can read minds without entering them, and can make illusions of your worst nightmares." Arya trailed off seeming to not say any more about the foe.
Eragon allowed Arya to rest her head against his shoulder as he thought more about how they could escape from the prison. They still had no idea where they were, and rescue was highly unlikely. Eragon sighed and rested his head against Arya's now sleeping one.
I must remain strong. Eragon thought determinedly, I can't let them get the best of me, I won't...
Eragon stopped thinking and gently moved Arya's head off his shoulder. The elf mumbled something under her breath, but continued to slumber. He carefully repositioned her body so that she now rested lengthwise along the edge of the cot. Last of all Eragon climbed in after her and draped the dirty sheet over them.
The cot was barley large enough for the two of them, and there was no room. Eragon's ears reddened as he realized how close he was to the sleeping elf of his dreams.. Other men might have taken advantage of the situation, but he didn't, and he never would without her consent. Eragon sighed once more and kissed her once again, wishing he could heal her bruised features.
I must stay strong..., Eragon thought as he passed into sleep.
AN: ok guys really short chapter coming up after this... oh yeah, and just so you know, I lost my beta AGAIN (lol, this is literally the 6th or 7th time now...) . if you are a beta seeking employment, please PM me, so we can start talking about your future at; BOB THE BUILDER OF STUFF INC.