Torn Between Two

Chapter 21

Reilyn watched the children laugh and splash in the small pool she had found, as she dried in the warm breeze. She and Eragon had taken a much needed swim after helping set up camp, they had even played in the waterfall at the back of the pool.

She sighed and rubbed her sore neck and her right shoulder. Her stress from being back in the woods she had once called home was taking a toll on her. She was sore all over and had sunk into a much noticed silence.

"Holding up?" Eragon asked, startling her.

"Trying," she whispered.

"Here, let me," he said, sitting behind her.

He moved her hand away from her neck and shoulder and began to massage her stiff muscles. Reilyn relaxed as the young boys strong hands worked on her back, untying the knots in her shoulders. She smiled and closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling. Rarely did she ever let anyone, Eragon included, touch her back. She viewed it as a weak spot and didn't like it when people were behind her either, but Eragon was slowly breaking that habit.

"Rei," Eragon said, resting his chin on her shoulder, "you're really tense. You sure you're going to be able to manage."

"I'm not made of crystal, Eragon," she sighed. "People always see me as being this fragile being. . .I can and will manage just fine."

"That's my stubborn Reilyn," he laughed briefly kissing her neck before moving up to loosen those muscles.

"Was Murtagh always so moody when you first met him?" she asked, changing the subject. "Or is this surprising to you as well?"

Eragon hit a very knotted muscle and she hissed, pulling away briefly.

"Sorry!" he gasped, allowing her to settle back.

"Be a bit easy on that one," she whispered.

"Murtagh was always rather withdrawn, quiet. He's rough and he knows it. . .He seems to enjoy it," he whispered, working carefully on her.

"Always so full of attitude?"

"Yes."

"But why the sudden switch in him? Why now?"

"I'm not sure, Rei," he sighed.

"Eragon," Reilyn turned, grabbing his hands. "I think he's up to something."

"Like what? How could he be? He's been sealed and he's weaponless," Eragon said defensively.

"Listen, he's been sealed, yes," she exhaled. "But it's a petty seal. Someone with the right amount of power could bypass it."

"Do you think Murtagh-?"

"No, he doesn't have that amount of power. Yet at least. . ."

"Can this King really undo the vow Murtagh took?" Eragon looked at her with pleading caramel eyes.

"Yes, if Murtagh really wants to be released from it. He has to want to join us. . ." she whispered.

Somehow, I don't see things going well. . .she thought. This whole ordeal has come about to easy. . .

"I think we both need some time to think." Eragon whispered. "Alone, if you don't mind."

An image of flames and fireflies flashed in her mind, but she shoved it away. She did want to be alone right now. She needed it.

"Sure," she kissed his cheek. "But we have to be together before night comes."

"Of course," he said getting up.

They walked in opposite directions, too engulfed in their own minds to notice the raven haired teen watching them.

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Reilyn sank down on the side of the river, gazing at the flickering fireflies, hovering above the water. Frogs sang their lullabies and evening birds chirped quietly, lulling everything around them. She lay down on her side in the tall, sweet smelling grass and closed her eyes.

"Mother, Father," she whispered as tears trailed down her face. "I'm home. . ." It wasn't long before Reilyn drifted off into an exhausted sleep.

Swords rang as they clashed together, both teens locking eyes over them.

"Remember what I said boy!" the pale teens father roared from the sidelines.

Their blades parted and the boy lunged at her, she deflected the blow easily, and side stepped him. Young Reilyn twirled the sword at her side, slicing at the older teen. The boy stepped around her quickly, his Rider reflexes outdoing her own, and his blade rested against her neck.

"You have to be quicker than that," he panted playfully in her ear.

Reilyn smirked and thrust her elbow into the pale boys ribs, pushing his blade away with her sleeved arm, and danced two steps forward. She turned to the doubled over boy and tossed her sword from hand to hand, tauntingly.

"You were saying?" she laughed.

The teen darted toward her, catching her in the middle with one arm, and they toppled to the ground, swords flying out of reach. He quickly pinned her, using his feet to hold he legs still and straddling her hips. He grabbed her wrists and punned them with one hand, the other went to the dagger on his belt.

"That's right boy! No holding back!" his father cheered, laughing.

"Dammit!" she hissed, struggling to free her wrists.

"You're too damn slow," he laughed, leaning close.

Reilyn turned away from his face, growling angrily.

"Not used to be treated fairly?" the older teen joked, turning her face to his with the dagger. She stared into his smiling face with a mock snarl on her face. The pale boy laughed, tossing his raven locks from his hazel eyes, and leaned even closer.

"Dead," he whispered, lips almost on her own. He sat up and said it louder for his father to hear, "Dead!"

"Good! See how easy it is to quit being so easy on her, Murtagh?" his father bellowed, striding towards them.

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Reilyn's eyes flashed open and she sat bolt upright in the tall grass. Her chest heaved and her mind spun.

"Murtagh?!" she gasped. "He's the boy from my past?"

It makes sense, her logic said. It would explain how he is so familiar.

She closed her eyes and shook her head, trying to deny the truth that was apparent.

Things will become clear before you know it. . .the werecat's fortune resonated in her mind.

Reilyn took a deep breath through her nose, a scent that didn't belong bombarded her.

"Smoke?" she whispered. Then things cam perfectly clear. "Eragon! No, my vision!"

Reilyn scrambled up and started in a dead run for the direction of the camp. The vision playing over and over in her head, forcing her to push harder, run faster. Soon, light from a raging fire became visible and she saw fireflies dancing and swirling against the flames.

"No! God dammit!" she yelled, drawing her blade.

She darted under a burning tree that had broken and now leaned against another, searching for signs of life. Swords and screams caught her ears and she bolted for the noise. She ran her blade through a black clad fighter, saving a mother and child.

"Hide! Now!" she barked.

The two ran and she deflected the blade of a kings fighter just before he beheaded her. She growled and spun, cutting the man's chest, then swung her blade down, taking his head. A noise behind her caused her to spin, sword up, to face someone.

"You?!" she roared.

The pale man laughed, staring at her.

"Did you really think we'd just let you go?" he demanded, drawing his own black blade.

"Where's Eragon?!" she yelled, tightening her grip on her silver sword.

The man from her past roared with laughter and made eye contact with someone behind her. She sensed the person getting closer to her and she spun, swinging her blade.

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Murtagh blocked the girl's swing with Zar'roc, the red blade sparking as it clashed with her silver one. He knew Reilyn would be no match for him right now, she was almost blind with rage and it seemed that she had remembered the same thing he had.

She knows how we know one another, he smiled.

He ran his blade the length of her, locking them together, and closed in. He shoved her back and tripped her at the same moment, throwing their blades aside, and landed on top of her.

Murtagh sensed she had foreseen this coming, but he didn't expect her to react so fast. Reilyn used the split second he was off balance to reverse the pin. She straddled him and reached for her boot. He smirked and grabbed her arms, rolling and regaining dominance.

She struggled fiercely for a moment, but let up when she realized she wasn't going to be freed. Her brown eyes burned into his hazel ones and she turned away when he leaned close, only making him want to kiss her neck. He fought with his body for self control and won, briefly. Control broke and Murtagh gently placed a kiss on her pulse point, pleased when he heard her growl at him.

"I'm sorry," he whispered into her ear, emotionlessly.

No, I'm not. . .I've waited five long years to find you. . .

Murtagh pressed a finger to a pressure point, feeling her go rigid, then smiled as she passed out.

"Good, Murtagh," his father laughed, walking over. "You didn't even go easy."

Murtagh nodded and got off of the unconscious girl, putting an arm beneath her knees and one under her arms, lifting her up.

"You will still be in charge of their training, both of them. I'll give you your full orders once we're home," his father said, brushing red locks from Reilyn's face. "My, she's grown."

Murtagh nodded again, gazing at her. He carried her to the cage where a very conscious and very pissed Eragon was.

"She's fine, Eragon," he hissed, noting the caramel eyes filling with terror. "Just unconscious."

"You betraying bastard!" the brunette screamed, throwing himself against the bars.

"Away from the bars!" Murtagh snapped. "Or she'll stay with me."

Eragon sank to the floor, far from the door, and glared at him.

"Good boy," he smiled, motioning for a man to unlock the door.

He carefully lay Reilyn down on the cage floor, then to spite Eragon fro his little remark, kissed the girl's mouth and brushed her hair back. Eragon's furious growl was all the reward he needed, her sweet taste was merely a bonus.