Brooke: LET IT GO! LET IT GO! CAN'T HOLD IT BACK ANYMORE! LET IT GO, LET IT GO! TURN AWAY AND SLAM THE DOOR!
Sarah: Wait, did you see that movie without me?
Brooke: No...
Rebecca, Ellie and Meg (in the distance): LET IT GO, LET IT GO! I AM ONE WITH THE WIND AND SKY, LET IT GO, LET IT GO! YOU'LL NEVER SEE ME CRY! HERE I STAND AND HERE I STAY, LET THE STORM RAGE ON, THE COLD NEVER BOTHERED ME ANYWAY!
Brooke: We saw it...without you...I love you.
Sarah: That's right, Brooke, I love you-to death!
Brooke: Um, in case I don't come back, the author only owns us and the stupid-I mean genius-plot twists!
"You've got a friend in me. You've got a friend in me; when the road feels rough ahead and you're miles and miles from your nice warm bed, you just remember what your old pal said because you got a friend in me." -Toy Story
Meg looked and felt better the next morning when she found herself in Murtagh's arms, despite the fact that he was awake. She smiled and he could tell that her thoughts were sorted and that she was grateful for what he had done the day before. "I-" Her words of thanks were interrupted when the door opened and in poured a dozen warriors, the bald man, and Orik.
"You have been summoned to Ajihad, leader of the Varden."
Ellie was nervous about meeting the leader as she did not know how they would be received. Three girls—women, a naive rider, a dragon, and the son of Morzan. She could see a potential conflict.
Eragon took her hand and whispered, "Brom trusted the Varden, they can not be savages." She smiled and interlaced their fingers, walking closer to him out of fear of the warriors as well as affection.
When they entered Ajihad's study, Ellie grinned at the sight of all the books and thought that she heard Meg gasp. A dark-skinned man sat before them and smiled at her reaction, "Am I right to assume that you enjoy the company of books, Miss?" He asked, his voice deep and rich.
Meg looked around the room in awe before meeting his gaze and replying simply, "They are my life."
His smile faded when his gaze fell upon Murtagh who took a seat directly beside Meg. She gripped the arm of the chair tighter, her knuckles turning white. In his first act of public display of affection, Murtagh placed his hand atop hers and she visibly relaxed.
"You have placed me in a difficult position by refusing to be examined," Ajihad said; if he had noticed the display, he did not show it. "You have been allowed to enter because the Twins have assured me that they can control you and because of your actinos on behalf of Eragon, Arya and your group. I understand that there may be things you wish to keep hidden in your mind, but as long as you do, we can not trust you."
"You wouldn't trust me anyway." Murtagh said defiantly.
Ajihad's face darkened as Murtagh spoke, and his eyes flashed dangerously. "Though it's been twenty and three years since it last broke upon my ear, I know that voice." He stood ominously, chest swelling. The Twins looked alarmed and put their heads together, whispering frantically. "It came from another man, one more beast than human. Get up."
Meg gripped the arm of the chair, her only clue to her chaotic inner thoughts and feelings, but she said nothing. Ajihad seemed interested in her reactions more than he was in confirming his thoughts. Murtagh complied, shoving away his hesitation to prove to Meg he was fine. "Remove your shirt," Ajihad ordered.
He took a breath and pulled it off. "Now turn around." Ajihad took a good look at the scar and muttered, "Murtagh." He turned to the Twins. "Did you know of this?"
They bowed their heads, "We discovered his name, but we did not suspect that this boy was the son of one as powerful as Morzan. It never occurred-"
"And you did not tell me? We shall discuss this later." Ajihad said dangerously. His gaze then was set upon Meg, his rage slackening ever so slightly to those who noticed surprise. "Did you know of this?"
"Yes,"
"No,"
Murtagh and Meg looked at each other as they spoke in unison. Meg drew a look that told him to keep quiet as she looked back to Ajihad and said forcefully. "Yes,"
"Not for long," Murtagh insisted. "She hasn't-"
"Enough," Ajihad interrupted and they became silent. "Do you still refuse to be searched?"
"Yes," He replied sharply, pulling his clothing back on. "I won't let anyone inside my head."
"Then you have decided for yourself. You will remain here until we can determine what to do with you. Guards! Take him to a windowless room and bar the door securely. Post six men by the entrance and allow no one inside until I come to see him. Do not speak to him either."
They surrounded him, eyeing him suspiciously. As they left, Murtagh only broke his locked gaze with Meg once to look at Eragon who mouthed, "I'm sorry." He shrugged and slightly nodded to Meg before leaving the room.
"I apologize," Ajihad said to Meg. "I did-"
"I understand," She interrupted, her face prim and pristine as her eyes were fixed upon the shelves of books, refusing to look upon Ajihad. "You did what you thought was necessary for your people's safety, I could ask nothing more than that. Do not associate hatred and loathing of the Varden or yourself because I care for Murtagh and Murtagh was the child of a renegade."
"He was quite a lot more than a renegade, Miss,"
"You're right," Meg calmly agreed. "But Murtagh is quite a lot less."
Ajihad ordered the room to clear, but wanted to see the girls alone after his discussion with Eragon.
Ellie was ticked when Ajihad told the room to clear, though the girls were told to wait right outside the room, for they would be called in later. "I swear the only thing we do is wait and travel." Sarah muttered, clearly bored out of her mind.
"We could play a game," Meg suggested, speaking for the first time since talking to Ajihad.
"What game? There's not much you can do with tall, muscular guys pointing sharp sticks at you every time you make a sudden move." Sarah replied.
"We could do riddles."
"You always win."
"So?"
"We could play tag."
"No." Ellie and Meg said in unison.
"We could-"
"Ajihad will see you now."
As they were escorted back into the study, Meg murmured, "Dr. Chase can see you now, Mr. Brown." The girls swallowed their snorts quickly.
They took up their former seats and waited for Ajihad to begin. He looked to Meg, "You look nearly identical to my daughter, Nasuada. What is your name?"
"Megara," She replied to the girls' surprise. "But everyone calls me Meg."
"You love him." His face was stony and scrutinizing and he spoke it to her as a statement, not a question.
"Yes." She replied firmly, without hesitation.
"Even after learning of his past, you still claim love for him?"
"A son does not chose his father," She replied coldly. "And from all I can see, he has been charged with the consequences of his father's actions, not his own. Forgive me if I am out of line, but I hardly think destroying the life of his son is justice at all."
He released a 'hmm' and stroked his beard in thought before turning to Ellie, "You, you are good friends with Eragon, are you not?"
"That can be said."
"A little more than good friends, wouldn't you say?" Sarah added.
Ajihad raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "You three are amusing, though I get the sense that you are only parts of a whole."
Sarah looked down, "There are two others, Rebecca and Brooke, but they went to Carvahall."
"I see," He murmured. "Something tells me that you will all play an important part in this tale; I am glad you chose this side."
"As are we."
With a nod, they were released, though as Meg exited, he called, "And, Lady Meg, you are welcome to these books whenever you please as well as the cell that has recently become occupied." He winked and she flat-out hugged him before joining Sarah and Ellie in their search for Eragon.
Instead of the former farm boy, they found Orik who explained that Eragon was "washing away the stains of travel." Ellie groaned and Sarah face-palmed while Meg rolled her eyes.
Sarah suggested exploration, though it was quite easy to get lost in such a city and they did not want to be too far from Eragon. No one was keen on waiting, but their options were limited. Meg leaned against a marble pillar, Ellie sat on the floor, propped by Meg while dear, special Sarah was lying sprawled across the floor. "I spy something white." She said.
"The pillar." The other two replied in unison, unblinking.
"I spy something black."
"Our pants."
"I spy...Eragon!" Ellie perked up and looked around. Eragon was stopped by a crowed of people and was speaking to an older woman who held a child.
However, when the crowd cleared, Eragon gave her an apologetic look and said, "Saphira and I need time to think, I'll talk to you as soon as I can. Orik has offered to show you to your room."
She nodded, trying to cover her disappointment and cast a last glance at him as they left, giving him a smile as they slipped around the corner.
"Solembum!" Ellie and Meg covered their ears when Sarah shrieked. She ran into their room (one room, three beds) and had her arms around the werecat tightly in three seconds flat.
Was that necessary? He asked with a chuckle as he tried to squirm out of her iron grasp.
"Yes," She said. "Yes it was."
"Come on, Phineas, let the werecat breathe." Meg laughed. Reluctantly, she let the cat go and he pranced on her bed before making himself comfortable on her pillow. "What are you doing here? Is Angela here as well?"
Angela is here, though she prefers to stay hidden. I am here because I enjoy being where important events are occurring.
"Something big is going to happen?" Ellie asked. Her mind went to the massive army of Urgals that they may or may not have lead to the Varden.
A free dragon rider has not been seen for a hundred years, now, suddenly, one rises up and joins the Varden with an army of monsters on the doorstep. Piece it together yourself, Meg, you are extremely intelligent.
Darn. Well, perhaps it was too much to hope that the Urgals had vanished.
"I'm going to find Eragon." She said and reached for the door handle.
He is going to see the dwarf king, Hrothgar. Solembum explained, purring when Sarah scratched behind his ear.
Ellie groaned and had a feeling she would not see him for a long while. "I'm going to go to the study," Meg said. "Ajihad said I could take anything I pleased at anytime." She nodded, well aware that for, perhaps, the first time in her life, Meg would go the opposite direction of a room with books.
Meg prayed that she wasn't being too hasty in going to Murtagh's cell. She wandered the halls until she found Orik who escorted her and explained to the guard that she was welcomed at any time she pleased. "You may go in, Fair One," The guard said, "But there is someone in there already who does not want to be disturbed."
"Thank you then, I shall wait." She said, turning to Orik. "You may leave, thank you so much for bringing me here." He bowed, bid her farewell, and left.
Ten minutes later, the door opened to a woman of about seventeen years with Ajihad's skin color and a beautiful gown. Her eyes fell on Meg and she smiled welcomingly. "You must be Lady Meg. My father has spoken of you much. I am Nasuada."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Nasuada." She said, smiling warmly at her counterpart. "It appears as though we have found our doppelganger."
"Indeed," The woman replied, "We are twins, more or less." They laughed; despite her being in Murtagh's room, Meg liked her and considered making her part six of the group of friends. "I shall not keep you any longer, I understand the desire to see someone you care for, and from the way he speaks of you, you two are meant to be."
Meg blushed and thanked her, promising to speak with her soon. As calm as possible, she entered the room. "Meg!" She had expected to remain calm during this, but when he jumped off his bed in joy to see her, she embraced him as though it was her last chance to do so.
"My God, I thought I'd never see you again." She whispered in relief.
He chuckled, "I hardly think it's the end of the world, but I've missed you, as well."
She looked around and smiled, "Ajihad has been treating you well."
"Yes," He said with a laugh. "If I am not careful, I will become a fat scholar." He dragged over a chair and had her sit while he sat on the bed across from her. At a single glance, he could fundamentally read her thoughts. "Something is troubling you."
She laughed, "You know me so well." He became silent, taking her hand in his and waiting expectantly. "The Urgals, I fear that they will attack Farthen Dur."
She looked at him expecting a reassuring answer when he whispered, "I fear you are right."
It was their third day in the city under the mountain and Ellie was becoming angry. Meg spent much of her time in the library or study, with Murtagh or Nasuada who had been introduced to the girls. Sarah was always with Solembum, whether causing mischief or speaking with him in his human form. Ellie wandered through the endless halls, frustrated that Eragon had found time to spend with Arya, but had neglected anything to do with her.
The others returned to the room at eight to find Ellie brooding in the same place she was when they had left. "Ellie," Meg said, taking a seat beside her. "You can't let him get you in a dump."
"She's right, Smithy." Sarah said, rubbing her friend's shoulder. "You can't show Eragon that you're hopelessly dependent on him."
"Tell you what, tomorrow, we'll have a girl's day out and check out the shops and not do anything in regards to the boys (meaning Eragon, Murtagh and Solembum) at all." Meg explained.
Ellie smiled, "Alright, girl's day out. Now get some sleep, you both look like zombies." Sarah and Meg were stretched out on Ellie's bed; fast asleep in the oddest positions even before she had finished speaking. She laughed and found an irregular, yet comfortable position beside them and slowly allowed sleep to take her.
Whoever was knocking excessively on their door wanted death. Meg remained silent, though she had buried her face into a pillow while Sarah groaned and tried to hide under the blanket. This meant that Ellie was appointed to see who required their attention at such an hour as two in the morning.
She opened the door to a dwarf who bowed to her and said, "Ajihad requests the presences of you, Lady Sarah and Lady Meg to a war council. Hurry!"
Ellie pulled her friends to their feet, explaining as they ran to Ajihad's study. Meg sat beside Nasuada and Ellie sat across from Arya who smirked at her as though she was dirt.
Finally, when Eragon entered and took his seat by Ellie, they began. Ajihad spoke, "I roused you because we are all in grave danger. About half an hour ago, a dwarf ran out of an abandoned tunnel under Tronjheim. He was bleeding and nearly incoherent, but he had enough sense left to tell the dwarves what was pursuing him: an army of Urgals."
Ellie tensed, but Eragon placed a hand upon hers under the table and she relaxed, feeling safer. She saw that Solembum was sitting on Sarah's lap, too. Poor Meg remained calm without the help of Murtagh and Ellie wished that he had been summoned as well.
"All the women and children are being evacuated into the surrounding valleys." Ajihad said, looking at the trio. "You three will be joining them."
Sarah snorted, examining her nails, "I'm sorry, but you're mistaken. You see, we will be fighting, because that's what we were sent here to do." Ajihad raised an eyebrow, but nodded for her to continue. Sarah stood and walked around the perimeter of the table. "You see, Ellie, Meg, Rebecca, Brooke and I are not from this place; we're not even from Alagaesia. We were sent here to protect the righteous, the helpless, and the good. We were sent to fight and we will fight or this cause loses the grace of a power more greater than that of the king himself."
Arya glowered at them and Ellie smirked. "What proof do you have that you represent this 'greater power'?" The elf asked. "How do we know you are not lying?"
They became silent until asked. Ellie pulled an object from her pocket. She placed it at the center of the table and opened it. "What is it you want most?" She asked. Just as Meg had received her calender as a token from her own world, Ellie had her Pirates of the Caribbean compass that she had manipulated to follow a magnet she carried on her or planted on others.
Arya stood and looked at the compass and laughed. "A compass? It doesn't even point north."
Ellie rolled her eyes, "From all I've heard, Elves are courteous, kind, patient, and can hear very well. As I've just said, what is it you want most? This compass points to what you desire most in this world. Arya, why don't you give it a try?" Ellie took a stance behind Eragon and tried hard not to grin.
The elf took it and watched it spin, turning red when it landed on Eragon. "You see?" She asked. "Proof enough. We fight or the Varden dies."
There was silence, everyone looking to Ajihad for an answer. "They fight."
It was decided that they would work in the open field, bringing hope with them. "I still believe they are inadequate." Arya muttered. "Would you allow children to fight as well?"
In a flash, Meg threw two knives with one hand; the knives flew immeasurably close to Arya's face and hit the wall with a sharp thud. "Enough of your childish whines. You are an elf; strong and wise," She said, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "Act like it."