In reply to mbl and Kiba-ish, the next chapter will be dedicated entirely to Murtagh. However, he isn't important until chapter 24, since Eragon replaces him for a while. You'll probably see him in chapter 15, 24, 26-27, and the last few chapters.
As with the Mary- Sue... sorry! Really! I didn't know about Sue until after I created her! Don't worry, I take care of the problem, but it isn't totally lucid until the sequel. YES, SEQUEL! I'm planning on writing a MurtaghNasuada, EragonArya, and KatrinaRoran OneShot sequel. I could write it now or later. Do you guys want me to publish it now? I'm also going to write a trilogy, where this is the first book. The second will once again be in Algaesia, and the last book will be a crossover with Dune and XXXHolic (maybe). Assuming I ever get to those, which I doubt.
I wrote 35,000 words in one month... wow, and I didn't even notice.
I decided not to make Arya a Rider. Sorry.
"We all live in the shadows of our predecessors for a time. But we who determine the fate of planets eventually reach the point at which we become not the shadows, but the light itself." – Dune: House Atreides
Chapter 14: Lenora
A head poked from the cracked shell, and the hatchling spread her wings, splitting the rest of the egg. She licked the silvery membrane from her bistre scales with difficulty since the casing persistently glued to her like a tightly spun spider web. Her scales were neither scintillating nor beautiful, but rather an insipid dark umber the color of slick mud. She squealed and grunted as her head bumped into the mahogany chair. (Note from Author: Why didn't she make Lenora a beautiful pink dragon, rather than ugly brown? And I thought the dragon was going to be white? Because in my opinion, all dragons are Mary-Sue. They're so noble and dedicated that it makes me gag. Thus, I will prove that not all dragons are gorgeous, worth lauding, astute, fierce, intrepid, omnipotent, etc. From here on out, I am going to polarize Lenora's traits from the rest of the dragons just to make my point. Don't worry, RainbowAurora, the dragon'll turn white eventually.)
You can't be serious... Jeannette could have fainted from shock. I was carrying an egg with me the entire time? And it hatched for me? Fabulous. Won't Murtagh be thrilled.
She looked so fragile and delicate with an elongated curving neck and thin wings. Evenly spaced ivory spikes grew from her skull to the tip of her tail. Jeannette condescended to the dragon's intelligent sepia eyes. The fledging dragon tilted her triangular auburn head and took her first few steps toward her Rider. To Jeannette's horrible revelation, she noticed that the dragon was limping. The reason was apparent: her left foreleg was mutilated, being nothing more than a short, scabbed stump. That must be from the crack in the egg! It must have injured the fetus dragon inside.
"You poor thing," she reached out to touch the wound. She gave a blood- curdling scream. A freezing energy inundated from her right hand, spreading like fire in her veins. For a second, she was suspended in total agony as if her bones were on fire. The next moment, the pain swept away as sudden as it came, leaving her entire body shivering and numb.
"Jeannette, are you-" Lyla cried in concern as she opened the door, staring and paralyzed in shock.
Jeannette, glassy- eyed, stared at her paralyzed hand dumbly. She touched her sizzling skin as it formed a silvery whirlpool on her palm. It smarted and itched like a mosquito bite.
The russet fledging nipped at her palm apologetically, and then their gazes clashed in an effusion of mixed emotions.
"Jeannette, I can hardly wait for the explanation for why a baby dragon is walking around in my house!" Lyla exclaimed in disbelief. You just had to ruin our bonding moment, didn't you?
She lifted the dragon from the ground and they initiated a staring competition. After a few awkward moments of silence, there came a gentle hiss.
Jeannette screamed in revulsion and immediately dropped the dragon on the table. "I can't believe- she-" she muttered in fitful irritation at the damp spot on her chest, "pissed on me!" Lyla broke out laughing, enjoying the incredulous look on her former pupil.
"Ugh, that's nasty," she gritted her teeth and twitched her eyebrows at the cowering dragon.
"That dragon looks famished. Victor! Fetch me meat!" Lyla ordered. There came a groan and shuffling of feet from behind the door.
"Well, looks we are going to get along just fine, aren't we?" Jeannette cradled the hatchling in her arms.
"So, care to explain how this happened?"
"It's a long story."
"I've got plenty of time. Hurry up, Victor!" She gave a brief summary of how she found it buried deep in the dirt and how it hatched.
"Well, looks like Algaesia's got a new Rider, eh? Or, more specifically, the Varden," Lyla's wry lips twisted into a bitter smile. She bit her lip in uncertainty. Sooner or later, she would have to choose which side she was going to fight- or even die for. Murtagh or Eragon? Lyla or Alanis?
Your mother or father? (Once again, a HUGE hint!)
The voice came from nowhere, and so Jeannette decided it was just a figment of her imagination.
"Aye," she lied.
"Aren't you thrilled? Think! You're a Rider! How many people in this world get such a chance? You're going to be a hero and your legacy will be sung by the greatest bards in all time!" Despite the dissonant emotions tearing at her insides, she coerced her lips to curve in a smile.
"I thought you were on a diet, Lyla," Victor's head popped in with a slab of rabbit meat.
Ignoring him, she tossed the chunk at Jeannette, but she didn't need to catch it. The young dragon pounced from Jeannette's arms and its jaw snapped in the precise moment to devour the meat, landing gratefully with outreached wings.
"What-" Victor recoiled.
"Don't ask," the two women interrupted at the same time.
---
Nasuada half- closed her eyes in contemplation, rubbing her temples. And tomorrow I still need to leave again for Abueron.
"He ate an entire month's rations of eggs! A month's rations! A mon-"
"I heard you first ten times you said it," Nasuada snapped, the last of her patience defeated.
"But ma'am, he was one who invited me to the meal! He said I could eat until my belly's full!" he whined.
"Do you mistake me for an all- you- can- eat buffet? It's-"
"Ludacris, you will treat your friend here to a free dinner. You both are dismissed," the dark- skinned leader ordered with a wave of her hand.
"I sure as ain't-" They were escorted out by the guards, and a young boy was name was Jafthra, she believed, skittered inside the room.
"Ma'am, there's two women outside carrying a baby dragon! And one of them claims to be her Rider!" the boy exclaimed, his dark eyes alight.
Nasuada swore she thought she heard the word 'rider' and 'dragon'. I need more rest. I'm so fatigued that my ears are deceiving me. "Excuse me, I wasn't paying attention. Pardon me?"
Exasperatedly, he repeated, "Please, a Rider is awaiting you right outside these walls." Nasuada just gaped at him stupidly.
"Let her in," she muttered. The doors opened and two women stepped inside. Nasuada couldn't believe her eyes. In the woman's arms was a chocolate- colored baby dragon. They kneeled and curtsied before the Varden's leader, but Nasuada was too pre- occupied by the shock of the sight of another dragon before her.
"Your names?" she inquired, regaining her composure. She couldn't keep gawking with all these attendants observing her every movement.
"Lyla and Jeannette," the younger woman answered. Nasuada stood up from her uncomfortable seat and walked soundlessly towards them.
"Everyone is dismissed. Trianna and Jormundur, may you please stay by my side," she commanded with an air of authority. With a shuffling of feet and wave of whispers, the room was cleared save for the five individuals.
"Atranosu waíse vardo fra eld hórnya," the sorceress chanted, "Now you may talk freely without worrying about eavesdroppers." She was quite lovely with fine, elegant features and a magical, powerful aura around her. Jeannette felt a stab of jealousy and regret at her own lost beauty.
"Thank you, Trianna. Now, may you please explain to me your story?" I shouldn't tell her I'm a hostage, but I wonder how powerful that sorceress is.
"When returning from the Battle of the Burning Plains, I inadvertently came upon a peculiar rock near a ravine. Later, when I returned to Cithrí, I discovered that the egg had hatched for me," she showed them the gedwëy ignasia. Doubt clouded the minds of the leaders. She just happened to stumble across an egg unknown to the world for decades, even to Galbatorix, and it chose her, this meaningless girl, of all people?
"I was present the entire time, so I bear witness for her story," the older woman alleged.
"Were you seen while you came?" Jormundur asked.
"No. I was hiding my dragon," she replied, pointing to the pack at her side.
"Does he have a name?"
"I don't know yet. I don't even know whether the dragon's a male or female," she shrugged.
"I'm sure you'll come up with something suitable," Nasuada nodded. There was something about this woman that Jeannette detested. She recalled how fondly Murtagh had described the leader of the Varden, and she now understood why. Nasuada could relate to Murtagh in a way Jeannette never will or could. Nasuada understood how it feels to have the burden of countless lives on her shoulders, and how she had to fight for every moment of her life. Envy effused into Jeannette, loathing suddenly churned in her stomach.
What is this? First Trianna, now Nasuada. Is this some kind of jealousy phobia?
"Have you gotten training in fighting or magic?" Trianna glared at her in disdain.
"I know how to defend myself, but that's it."
"I would be happy to teach you the fundamentals of magic," the charming sorceress offered, holding out her hands.
"No, she needs professional training. Eragon may be able to teach her the basics, but once the message is delivered to the elves, they will demand to shape her, especially when she's so malleable in the beginning," Nasuada disagreed.
"I suppose we can't shield her existence from the elves, can we? Islandazí will find out eventually, and she won't be delighted," Jormundur pondered aloud.
"I guess we don't have a choice but to send her to the elves then," Nasuada decided. Jeannette grew steadily annoyed that they were making her decision without her consent or input at all.
"But can we spare the time and resources? The Varden is in even more dire need-"
"If she isn't properly trained, she won't stand a chance in battle. Surely you wouldn't sacrifice her life for our convenience?" Jormundur and Trianna glared at each other.
"The question is: how can we transport her to the elves without trouble? Uru'baen and Dras- Leona are smack in the midst of the journey."
"You've forgotten that Eragon and Roran are at Helgrind. If we send them to Shadeslayer and Stronghammer for protection, I'm sure she can arrive safely," Jormundur analyzed.
"That might work. But whom would we send with her? And how do we contact Shadeslayer?"
"I know a powerful magician who can both protect her and contact Eragon Argetlam. I'm concerned about her slipping through unseen, especially with an infant dragon that can't protect itself." The hatchling growled in a low tone, as if offended to be called 'it'.
For the rest of the night, they continued to debate on the best course of action, oblivious to Lyla's and Jeannette's escalating exasperation and weariness. They shot each other sympathetic looks, and the dragon soon joined them.
"This is ridiculous. She will go with a few trusted, powerful magicians to Dras- Leona and she will proceed with Shadeslayer until they arrive under Queen Islandazí's custody," she turned her attention from the her scarlet- faced companions to Jeannette and placed a hand on her shoulder, "You have no idea what renewed hope you have given to us, Argetlam. I insist that you stay here for the night."
"When will I depart for the elves?"
"As soon as possible. In days, perhaps." Jeannette was so languid she could only manage a nod. They opened the doors and proceeded into the hallway, where attendants were patiently waiting for Nasuada's word. Jeannette tried but could not suppress a yawn. If it hadn't been for the hatchling, she'd long be asleep.
"Good night. Bethe! Please guide these ladies to their chambers," she clapped her hands, and a lady attendant stepped forward.
"Thank you, Lady Nasuada," Lyla said, nudging Jeannette.
"Aye. You've been more hospitable than necessary," she coerced to spit it out despite her abhorrence.
"Likewise," she said with a twinkle in her eyes.
"Follow me, please," the lady- in- waiting ordered, walking further into a labyrinth of rooms. After washing and dressing into a new nightgown, the hatchling cuddled on the bed near Jeannette's feet. She stroked her soft scales, her eyes lost in meditation.
"You need a name. And a gender. Trianna can't keep calling you 'it' the entire time," Jeannette muttered under her breath.
"Let's see..." she recalled the scrolls she had read about mythical dragons, and picked out a few names. "Deormund? Grimwold?" The dragon simply looked at her with irritated eyes. She repeated long lists of all the names she could think of, but the dragon only stared intently back. "Miremel? Alelda? Oh for goodness' sakes, what do you want to be named?" In response, the dragon hopped awkwardly to the table, her movement limited by her maimed leg. Its snout nuzzled the map of Algaesia and hooted softly.
"What?" She climbed out of the covers to see what the dragon was fussing about. "Lenora... Lake?" she read aloud. "Are you Lenora?" With smug satisfaction, she jumped back to the bed and curled up in a ball, closing her cocoa brown eyes.
"Well, good night, Lenora." With that, she walked barefoot to her window, which was covered by satin curtains. Just before she pulled them together, she looked up to see the Anatam Constellation in a myriad of stars. Her heart ached to be reunited with Murtagh, to feel completely secure inside his arms, and his smile to elapse her world.
Oh Murtagh. Are you thinking about me as I'm thinking about you?
The answer was yes.
In the heart of Galbatorix's Empire was Murtagh Morzansson, staring at the same stars at the same time.
The Next Chapter:
Chapter 15: Premonition
This entire chapter will be in Murtagh's point of view. Whoopee! I might even include a poem in the next chapter. I'll have to see...
R&R! I'm crazy about reviews, trust me.