Pain and Love: Forever Entwined

Chapter 14

Reilyn was drenched on the battlefield, Morzan was making them practice yet again, and it was of course, storming. Eragon had been included on this battle, but he was currently pacing the sidelines in wait, a long gash on his thigh. Murtagh's eyes were dark with the storm, he was relentless with both teens, and Reilyn was getting fed up with being beat.

Reilyn! Saphira scolded. Don't swing blindly in anger, control it--channel it! Then you may be able to defeat him. . .

Murtagh knocked her sword away, she slid on the slick grass, and saw Zar'roc swinging at her. She quickly used her sheath to block his blade, rolled, grabbed her own blade, and swept his legs from beneath him. Hazel eyes filled with surprise as he went down, she scrambled to her feet, pinning his blade with one foot, and put the tip of her silver blade in the hollow of his throat.

"Dead!" she called over the storm.

Finally! Eragon beamed. It's high time he was knocked down a peg!

"Boy, get your worthless ass up!" his father roared. "Again!"

Reilyn let him up, proud of herself, and prepared for another round. Murtagh got to his feet, glaring darkly at her, and she felt a shiver travel down her spine. They had become dangerously serious during battle anymore, she saw the darker side of the handsome teen far too often, but he never took that off the field.

Nicely done, Reilyn, Murtagh growled. Let's see if you can do that a second time. . .

Gladly, Rider. . .she growled in return.

He snarled, rushing her, she was poised and ready, but he suddenly changed actions and danced behind her. She cursed loudly, spinning, and barely blocked his blade. He growled like an angry animal, locking their blades, and she felt herself slip. She fell, Murtagh staying with her, locking their blades further, and he had a terrifying glint in his eyes. She felt him use his weight to force the sharp blades closer to her exposed throat, she fought hard to keep them away, eventually grabbing the blade with bare hands, pushing him up.

Reilyn?! Eragon called, very concerned.

Stay put! she snapped. This is between us!

Trying to be a hero again, is he? Murtagh smirked.

Reilyn ignored him, putting her focus into getting the deadly weapons away from her neck, and felt her sword bite deeply into her palm. She winced from the pain, but forced herself to keep going. Murtagh's eyes darkened with the storm clouds, she somehow found this side of him oddly attractive, and he pushed down harder on the crossed blades. She realized that his weight wasn't evenly placed on her anymore, most of it going into the blades, and used it to her advantage.

Damn! he cursed as she flipped him off of her.

She moved, making it to her knees, and found herself staring at his blood-red blade. Lightning flashed, illuminating the blade, and rain dripped from Murtagh's raven hair, making him look like the dark man he could very well be.

"Dead!" he called, staring into her eyes.

"Good!" Morzan laughed. "This storm is getting much worse than I expected. . .Inside for now. . .We'll finish this training on another day. Dismissed!"

Zar'roc was quickly put away, Murtagh's hand replacing the deadly weapon, and she allowed him to help her up. Morzan beckoned his son to him, Reilyn was putting her blade in it's sheath, and Eragon walked over to her.

"Why is it every time I am allowed to battle, they put me on the sides as soon as I suffer a scratch?" he grumbled.

"I've noticed that happens a lot. . ." she murmured, inspecting her own wounds. "I don't know. . ."

"Well," he gave her a big grin. "At least you managed to get him this time. . ."

"It was nothing more than luck, Eragon," she growled. "I'm not as strong as you would like to imagine."

"Rei, that's not true!" he scolded. "You're quite strong! Almost as strong as. . . well--."

"That's exactly my point, Eragon," she glared at him. "I'm not as strong as you would like me to be. . ."

Murtagh strode over valiantly, letting a hand brush down Eragon's back briefly, then crossed his arms and stared at her.

"Eragon, head to the room and bathe. . .I need to speak with Reilyn alone. . ." he said firmly, leaving no room for questions or argument.

Reilyn. . .Good luck. . .He sounds serious. . .he whispered as he left.

That he does. . .

Murtagh stared at her with stern eyes, hand messing with his belt, and his back perfectly straight. She crossed her arms, looking him over with uneasy eyes, and waited for him to speak.

"You've been holding back on me," he growled. "Haven't you?"

She refused to speak, silently staring at him, and his eyes narrowed. He moved fast, pulling his dagger from his belt, and put it to her throat. She flinched, but didn't move from her spot or to block him. He used his free arm to pull her flush against him, keeping the sharp edge to her neck, and stared at her with those dark, stormy eyes.

"Defend yourself!" he barked.

She remained as motionless as a statue, avoiding his eyes, and felt his anger build. He was right, she was indeed holding back on him, but strongly believed that it wouldn't make a difference if she wasn't. The rain fell harder from a quickly darkening sky, thunder cracked like a giant whip, and lightning flashed with quick blinding flashes.

"Reilyn!" he was close to being furious with her. "Do as I say! Defend yourself!"

"No," she said emotionlessly.

He released her, clenching his jaw in anger, and stepped back. He paced back and forth, staring at her, then lashed out at her with his hand. She turned her head to the side, never moving to block him or dodge him and his hand stopped inches from her face.

"Dammit, Reilyn!" he snapped. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"

He dropped his hand, then pulled her to his chest. She tried hard to ignore him, the love he offered, and failed miserably, burying her face into his rain soaked neck.

"Rei," he breathed, "what's going on? You've been acting strangely ever since yesterday. . ."

"I won't be what they want," she growled. "I refuse to become what they desire of me. . ."

"Reilyn," he nuzzled her, "Father is getting rather pissed at you about this. . ."

"I don't care."

"I do. . .Rei, he's threatening to use the whip on you," he said. "Unless you start listening to me and fighting with all that you've got."

She kept her comments to herself, clenching her jaw in order to do so, and he held her closer. Reilyn didn't want to do what he was telling her, but also loathed the thought of Morzan's whip.

Reilyn. . .Thorn came into her mind, he's not telling you one thing. . .

What would that be?

That if you're to be whipped, it's Murtagh who's to be the one doing it. . .he growled. Which is why the fool just acted how he did. . .he'd do anything to avoid harming you like that. . .He doesn't want to be forced to do that. . .

Thank you, Thorn. . .I understand things now. . .

Quite welcome, Reilyn. . .he said and left her mind.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Murtagh hated his wretch of a father even more than he imagined possible, he'd just be told that if she didn't start showing what she had inside her, he'd have to use the whip on her--him. He felt his fury rise at the thought of that whip, the one that had already tasted his flesh and blood too many times, and he'd be damned if it would taste Reilyn's.

"Murtagh," she said, pulling back from him, "do you want to see my best?"

"Father does. . ."

"Yes, I know. . .But do you?" she locked her gaze on him.

What is she getting at? he wondered, staring at her in the torrent of rain.

Murtagh. . .Whose orders does she follow? Who has she sworn to? Thorn asked. Who is it that she really cares about pleasing?

Not Father or Galbatorix, that's certain. .. Then. . .Me?

Aside from herself, that's exactly who she wants to please, he rumbled before leaving him to his task.

"Reilyn," he looked deep into her brown eyes, "show me your best."

The teen nodded, smirking, and stepped back, drawing her moonlight blade. He quickly drew Zar'roc, excited to see just what the girl would do, and noticed that his father stood watching them in slight amusement. She swung, he blocked her, and realized too late that she had used her sheath to attack him with. He felt her blade tear into his side, making a shallow wound, but had to bite back the pleased noise in his throat. Reilyn was rather resourceful it seemed, as she used her sheath just as much as her sword.

Is this what you wanted, Rider? she growled.

Is this all you have, Reilyn? he smirked.

Suddenly, she was behind him, his knees gave as she kicked the backs of them, and he was down. Her slender fingers wove into his hair, pulling his head back and exposing his throat, then he felt her blade on his skin. She quickly removed his dagger from his belt, tossing it a ways in front of him, then disarmed him of his sword.

"What now, Murtagh?" she purred into his ear.

"This," he snickered, grabbing her legs from behind and pulling forward.

Just as he had hoped, she slid on the grass, dropping her blade on impulse, and fell back. He spun, taking her sword and used it to stab through her vest and into the rain sodden ground. She hissed the blade grazed her right side, reaching for her dagger, but he grabbed it from her. She was pinned on one side by the sword, him on her hips, her right hand beneath his knee, and her left was held between his leg and her body.

"Get free," he challenged darkly, holding her own dagger to her throat.

She growled loudly, her eyes going as dark as the sky, and he laughed. He felt her trying to work her left hand free, but grabbed it and pinned it above her head by the wrist. There was absolutely no way she could get free, but he wanted to hear her say it.

"I--," she struggled briefly. "I can't. . ."

"Let her up, boy," his father ordered. "She's more than earned it. . ."

He slowly got off of her, carefully pulling the blade from her side, and helped her to her feet. Morzan was gone now, back in the castle, and Murtagh turned to the teen. She was placing her dagger back on her belt, soaked hair hanging in her face, and he stuck her blade in the ground before going to retrieve his own. He had this strange feeling in his body, he'd seen a side of him in her eyes, rage-filled and blood hungry, and could still feel something emitting from her.

He gathered his things, never saying a word, and went into the castle. It was drearier inside than out, only a few torches had been lit in the halls, and he had to let his eyes adjust before moving on. He heard the door open as Reilyn entered, the quick breeze making the torches sputter, then felt another stronger breeze and everything plunged into darkness.

She must have done this! he thought, frozen and waiting for his eyes to see clearly again.

He didn't know what the girl was planning and instinctively went for his dagger. A hand closed on his as he grabbed the handle, preventing him from using it, and he was shoved to the cold stone wall.

"Reilyn?" he muttered. "What are you--?"

Lips met his hard, the hand released his in order to grasp the back of his neck, and she demanded entry into his mouth. He was truly stunned by her sudden fierceness, hesitant to grant her access, but when she felt him falter, she left his mouth for his throat. A growl erupted from him as she sank her teeth into a pulse point, he pulled her closer, and returned the favor. He wondered briefly where this was coming from, but his thoughts were spinning too fast for him to give it much consideration.

Murtagh. . .Thorn was warning him.

He acknowledged his beast, but was too distracted to respond to him, and felt her release his neck. He let go of her delicious throat, replacing his teeth with soft kisses, and she was fast to find his mouth. He fought hard for dominance, but she never allowed him to have it.

"Reilyn," he gasped as she pulled his head back by a handful of hair, mind trying to make sense of what she was doing, "why--what? Where is this coming from?"

Her response came as a low growl, followed by a swift lick up his neck, and he shuddered. She'd managed to somehow do what Eragon was never capable of--strip him of his control entirely. He tried hard to kiss her, bite her, and to just move, but she pulled his head back farther, and pressed tightly to him. He moaned, knees threatening to give out on him, her free hand went to his hip, and she prevented him from collapsing. He desperately wanted to regain his control, he wasn't used to not having it, but found that he did in fact enjoy this.

Murtagh! Thorn bellowed. What in the heavens do you think you're doing?! I thought you weren't going to mate with her just yet!! I thought you knew it wasn't time for that with her, she's not ready!

I'm not trying to mate with her, Thorn! he gasped as she claimed his neck again and again. It's her!! She's the one with the control. . .I don't have it anymore. . .

Watch yourself, Brave one. . .his beast sounded concerned.

"Rei!" he managed to get the word out of his throat. "Wh-what are y-you thinking?!"

"Merely that," she found his ear and nibbled it, "if I cannot take control of the battlefield against you," another torturous nip, "then I have to make up for it somewhere else. . .And," she sucked just under his jaw, "I had to be sure there were no bad feelings between us. . ." she pulled away. "You were acting so offish after our last match. . ."

His knees buckled, he slid down the wall, and realized something. He let out a very embarrassed groan, face burning, and heard her laugh quietly. She sank to the floor with him, leaning back against the stones, and tousled his wet hair. While she had stolen his control, he had lost control of his own body, and could just die from the shame of it.

"Murtagh," she snickered. "Stop it. . .I know what I just did to you. . .I did it--."

"Did you do this," he gestured the mess within his pants, "on purpose?!"

"Yes," she said, kissing him lightly, "I did."

He couldn't believe what had happened, couldn't fathom that it had been Reilyn to do this to him. Sure, Eragon had done it quite a few times when they first met, but only because Murtagh had been unwilling to go any farther than that with the youth, and now, she was doing it to him on purpose. When he got enough nerve to look at her, she had gone shy on him, staring away and biting her lip. He nudged her gently with his boot, getting her attention, and smirked.

"Well, at least I won't be needing to bother poor Eragon tonight," he chuckled. "And don't worry, I do not plan on sharing this little adventure with him, believe me."

He re-lit one of the torches, then climbed to his shaking legs, she slowly stood up, looking away from him, and he nuzzled the back of her neck. She jumped a little, giving him a shy look, and he licked her jaw lightly.

Don't be ashamed now, Reilyn. . .he smiled. I've managed to get over that rather quickly. . .

I'm sorry. . .she murmured. I just. . .that will not be forming into a habit, do you hear me?!

Loud and clear, Rei, he nuzzled her again.

Good. . .she turned and nuzzled back. And no telling Er about this. . .Although, I'm sure he'll know as soon as we step into the room. . .

He most likely will. . .But I highly doubt he'll say anything about it. . .He knows you well enough by now to know when to leave something the hell alone. . .he snickered.

"You bathe first. . ." she laughed, making him go up the steps to his room first.

"Of course. . ." he grinned.

Murtagh! Thorn scolded. What in the world did you allow her to do that for!? That will not help your problems you seem to have with her. . .

Oh? Well, I've already agreed to not let it become a habit, I honestly could care less if it ever happened again. . .And we're both fine with it. . .

MURTAGH! he roared.

Thorn, you are not one to be lecturing me on such matters. . .he said flatly.

What do you mean by that comment, Rider? he snapped.

You don't think I didn't see Saphira and you nuzzling the other night? he found this amusing.

Why you--! Thorn growled, then fell into a silence. It is not like that. . .

I'm so sure, Thorn. . .Don't fret, I will tell no one of what I saw. . .Unless you bring this up again. . .Clear?

Crystal, Brave one. . .And I suppose a thank you is in order for keeping this hidden for now. . .

My pleasure, Thorn. . .Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm in need of a bath. . .he smiled.

Of course, Murtagh. . .the beast mumbled before leaving his thoughts.