Daughter of the Forsworn

by the Lady of the Mists

Chapter Eleven: A Glimpse of the Future

When she felt Eragon's hand squeeze hers, Muirgen almost jumped, broken from her resolve to not look up. She glanced towards him and he smiled at her reassuringly before he turned his attention towards Angela as she studied the bones on the table. Muirgen bit her lip as the witch took a sip of the drink again, studying the bones curiously.

At long last, she looked up towards Muirgen and shook her head, smiling wryly. "I have to say this much," she remarked, "out of all the people I have done readings for, you two are definitely the most difficult. Never before have I ever seen young lives so tangled. I never would have imagined that a young life would be woven so twisted."

Muirgen's stomach clenched as she glanced down at the bones, but she could no more read dragon bones than Eragon could. What did Angela see for her future? A beautiful and peaceful one, like the one she longed for? Or a dark and desolate one, like the one she dreaded?

"This is where it is the clearest, young girl," Angela said, pointing towards the bones. "You have been searched for many long years by an evil that will haunt you until you defeat it. This evil hunts you even now and will stop at nothing to gain your allegiance. He knows you for who you are, girl, and you will meet him eventually. But then, you will be forced to make a choice."

"What do you mean?"

"Your blood is tainted. One side is the essence of pure good and the other of pure evil. Both sides will try and control you, and eventually you will have to make a choice between the two. You will have to reject your mother or disown your father."

"My father?!"

"He is of great power and wealth, but as his only child you have the right to the power that he held. I speak of nobility, girl. In many ways, you have the right to claim what was once his." Her eyes grew haunted slightly. "Cathair was indeed powerful, as undoubtedly his daughter is."

Muirgen froze, her skin prickling as she heard the name. "Cathair," she breathed, recognising the name. Not many knew all thirteen names of the Forsworn; the most famous was Morzan. But Muirgen knew them all by heart. Cathair had been the name of one of the more famous ones. A deadly assassin and Rider. It can't be . . .

But even as she tried to deny this fact, she heard Brom's voice echo in her mind when she had asked him months ago about her mother. "She was a member of the Varden. A powerful ally, who was a spy in the palace, though the King believed her to be a double agent, especially when she fell in love with one of his own men."

One of the King's own men. Or rather, one of his Riders who had betrayed his kind and slaughtered the dragons. Muirgen felt sick at the very thought of it and was glad that Eragon was tightening his hand around hers.

"I wish that it was to grow more pleasant for you, but I'm afraid that it grows more and more tragic," Angela said solemnly. "You have a healer's hand, born of the woman who raised you, but crossed with magic of the past which was born of your destiny. But I'm afraid, dear child, that your magic will never become absolute. A death looms closer and closer, drawing ever so near. This tragedy will end in heartache, both for you and the lover of the person whose death approaches."

Muirgen took a deep breath, trying to stop the horrified gasp that threatened to escape from her. A death that would cause her great pain . . . who would she lose now? Eragon? Brom? Or someone she had not yet met?

"Who?" she asked, her voice shaking.

"I'm not sure. But it is unavoidable. No matter what you do, no matter what you attempt, his fate is to leave this world." Angela frowned. "Upon this person's death, you shall be captured by the ones who wish to control you. It is here that you will be forced to deny one of your parents. Reject your mother and everything she stood for, if you will . . . or disown your father and everything that he thirsted for. It may not be by your own will, however. You may be forced to choose a path to save those you love."

Staring at Angela, Muirgen understood what she meant. As much as she hated the thought of serving the King, if it meant that she would keep her friends from harm, she would do it. If it meant saving those that she loved, she would do it. Even if it meant casting herself off from everything she hoped for, everything that she dreamt of.

"Now, let us move on to happier thoughts," Angela said with a small smile. "There is a man that you love. A man pure of heart and great leadership, but he is of great power, greater than your own. His heritage is similar to yours, yet he may be unaware of it. But you will follow him to wherever he may go and if his destiny takes him away, then you will go with him, to follow him to the ends of the earth and beyond. It is unclear if this man will take you from Alagaesia, but you shall love this man as you have never loved anyone else. When you are within the darkness and facing your mortal enemies, he shall be your light in the darkness."

Muirgen glanced sideways at Eragon. Was it possible? she wondered. Was Eragon, the son of Selena and who had no known father, the same as her? Someone who had evil lying within their blood, but didn't know it?

"There is one more thing," Angela said softly. "A member of your family still lives. She waits for your return to the people that you have no knowledge of. When you discover who you truly are, and who your mother was, she will embrace you as the daughter of Celandine. She guides you now, as she waits for your return."

"Who?" Muirgen was puzzled, but she knew who exactly it was that Angela spoke of. The voices.

"I do not know," Angela answered. "She is clouded in mystery." She studied the bones once more, scanning them closely. "One thing is clear, you will find her in the place that you will never have expected. But your guide will help you and your man in the place of absolute darkness."

Angela paused, removing her gaze from the bones, leaning back in her chair, studying the pair of them. "What I wouldn't give," she said dryly, "to see how your futures play out. There are very few penniless young men who can expect to be loved by a noblewoman. And very few young girls," she added, "have such a destiny that could go either way, good or evil. Who are you two?"

Muirgen was about to tell her Moira and Evan, but Eragon beat her to it. "Eragon and Muirgen."

Shooting him a dirty look, Muirgen made a mental note to throttle him later as Angela frowned slightly. "Are those who you are or your names?"

A small giggle escaped from Muirgen as she realised what Angela meant by that. Eragon, the first elf Rider, had been married to a female Rider who had been named Muirgen.

"I'll tell you later," she said when Eragon gave her a strange look. "And it's sort of both," she added to Angela. "Thank you for the readings, but we really should be going."

"Anytime," Angela said with a smile as the two Riders exited the herbalist's quickly.

--

Darkness. That was all she could see as she parried the sword left and right, managing to down to of her enemies. There were thousands of Urgals and Ra'zac, so many that she could barely even count. They were like swarms of insects, crowding around to capture or kill their prey.

"Diathí!" she cried. "Diathí, I need you." Where are you, friend? Can't you hear me?

A mighty roar echoed throughout the scene and the enemies scattered to throw their attacks towards the new arrival, fearful of it and rightfully so. She screamed a warning just as a—

With a gasp, Muirgen woke, sitting up straight as she looked around the room that she was staying in, green eyes wide. Once she realised that she was alone and that the scene in front of her was an empty bedroom, not a battle scene, she relaxed, falling back onto the pillow. But she still was breathing more heavily than she was used to.

"What is going on with me?" she mumbled as she turned onto her side. Stretching her mind out to Diathí, she could sense him, but he was too far away for him to contact her. And his mind was on something else anyway. Muirgen had a vague feeling that the two dragons were doing something that was not at all appropriate for all ages.

But at least he was safe. That dream had put a chill on her heart when she thought about its contents. For all she knew, the dream could be very real and that terrified her.

"Mother, why in the name of Alagaesia did you send us here?" she whispered quietly. "Was the reading everything that you wanted to show me? Or is there something more?"

But as always whenever she tried to speak to her long-dead mother, there was only silence. Celandine's ghost had no intention of helping her daughter with this venture.

You must leave soon, daughter of Celandine. The voices, which had been silent so far since arriving in Teirm, now echoed in her mind. Danger is starting to approach you and your companions. You have delayed too long already by staying in Teirm. When leaving, you will learn the secret that may define your past . . . and your future.

But what? What more do I have to learn? I already know that a death approaches and that one way or another, I will save this place or doom it for all eternity. What more could I possibly learn?

You ask questions where you should be seeking facts. The truth always comes to us when we are ready to hear it.

I am ready!

The voices grew still and Muirgen wondered if she had angered them, but then they spoke again. For the longest time, it had been flat and emotionless, but this time, the voices were kind and gentle. You will never be ready, until you can answer this: of what are you afraid of?

I'm not afraid! Muirgen retorted, but their words put a chill on her heart. How much had they seen in her?

You need not fear us, daughter of Celandine. But you need not answer that question for yourself. It is not us that demands the answer. When you are ready, you will find the answers.

Ready for what?

When you can answer that question for yourself, you will be ready. That was all the voices said. Now hurry, leave Teirm. The answers you seeks are close in waiting and far away. When you understand we mean you no harm and who we are, then we will be waiting for you. Their voices grew still and silent.

Muirgen felt her heart skip a beat and then it proceeded to its normal rhythm. And she had learned one thing from her conversation with the voices.

Everything was about to change again.