You're Safe 21
A/N: Sorry I'm taking so long to update. I'll try to put the next chapter up faster. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Eragon.
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Murtagh examined he papers Gallbatorix had given him. It had the names of people he was supposed to catch, their pictures and their descriptions. The first person he was supposed to go after was an old friend of Gallbatorix's. Although the man wasn't an elf, he could controls things with song. He did not create life though. He destroyed it. He destroyed anything he wanted to, and all he had to do was sing. His name was Oyvind and he resided in Aberon.
Murtagh walked down to the slave quarters and retrieved Almos. "We're leaving!" Almos whispered with excitement. Murtagh chuckled to himself, thinking that Almos was as enthusiastic as he was.
They went to the Dragon Hold and jumped on Thorn. "Let's go." Murtagh said, and Thorn launched into the air. He and Almos began their flight to freedom.
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"Eragon." Roran said, peering into his cousin's room. "Are you alright?"
Eragon snorted. "I wish people would stop asking me that." Roran rolled his eyes.
"Is it wrong to worry?" Roran replied.
"We shouldn't be worrying about me!" Eragon shouted back. "We have more important things to worry about, to take care of! We have to kill Gallbatorix, we have keep chaos from spreading across Alagaesia and we have to save Murtagh!" Eragon cried out.
Roran sat down next to his cousin. He looked Eragon right in the eye and sighed. "You can't do any of that if you're not alright."
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Murtagh smiled to himself, listening to the delighted laughs of the boy behind him. Almos loved flying like a drunken man loved alcohol. He enjoyed feeling the wind whip past his face; the trees beneath his feet.
"Having fun?" Murtagh called back to the boy. Almos replied with another hearty laugh. Murtagh smiled and Thorn grinned.
I haven't seen you this happy, ever. Thorn told his rider. It's refreshing and reassuring. Being out of the castle is good for you.
Yes. Murtagh replied. Nothing is better than freedom.
Soon the sun began to set and the trio landed. They set up their camp and ate their dinner, talking like old friends. Almos lied down and as he fell asleep, he asked Murtagh one more question. "Murtagh?"
"Yeah?" The older man replied.
"Do you think I could stay with you and Thorn? Forever?"
Suddenly taking a brotherly-like protective stance over the young boy, Murtagh replied, "Sure." Almos closed his eyes, a smile playing upon his lips. "You're safe, kid." Murtagh whispered.
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Murtagh stared at the soldiers surrounding him. He looked at the men holding Almos. He sneered at the evil tyrant grinning before him.
"Murtagh, did you think I was stupid?" Gallbatorix laughed. "I knew you were trying to run away." Gallbatorix waved his hand like he was dismissing a child's misbehavior.
"Then why did you let me go?" Murtagh demanded.
"I wanted to see if you had the gall to actually go through with it." Gallbatorix replied. "It seems that I was wrong. You actually are a persistent little bastard." Murtagh scowled. "When are you going to learn?" Gallbatorix shook his head, as if in disappointment. "All these little stunts only cause you pain. Every cause has an effect, my dear boy." Gallbatorix unsheathed his sword.
"What are you doing?" Murtagh asked. Gallbatorix did not reply. Instead he walked up to Almos. Fear lingered in the boy's eyes, but he kept on a strong face. He knew that if he betrayed any hint of fear, Gallbatorix would have already won.
"You've wasted a good life, Murtagh. Look what you've done to him." Gallbatorix said with a sickening smile.
Just as Gallbatorix brought his sword down, Murtagh jumped for the grasp of the soldiers holding him and shielded the boy. Gallbatorix's sword pierced the skin. When he finished, a diaganal line from Murtagh's right shoulder to his left hip bled profusely. Murtagh gagged and fell in front of Almos. Blood poured from his chest.
"Hm." Gallbatorix breathed through his nose. "Good enough." The tyrant laughed. "Someone wrap his chest up and bring him back." Gallbatorix grabbed Almos's arm and shouted to Thorn, "You're coming back with me." Thorn shook his head. "Protest and I kill your precious rider." Thorn obeyed, worried for his rider. "Almos," Gallbatorix said. "I bet you think this is the worst it gets." Gallbatorix looked at the boy, but Almos remained emotionless. "But you've barely grazed the surface."
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His chest heaved as he sucked in every life saving breath. His labored breathing rang through the halls. He leaned against the wall as he made his way to the slave quarters. He tripped over his own feet and fell to the floor.
I can't get up… but I have to keep going… he thought as his vision blurred. He lied on the floor for what seemed like hours, wondering when the healer would notice he was gone. He'd gone pretty far from the healing quarters. She was probably already looking for him.
He removed his hand from his chest, which screamed with pain. He looked down, only to see his hand doused in blood. He sighed and closed his eyes.
"Murtagh?" A voice suddenly broke the silence. "Murtagh!" The voice came again. Murtagh breathed through his noise, but didn't open his eyes. "How did you get down here? Come on, we have to get you back to the medical wing." Murtagh felt himself being picked up and his feet slowly moving.
After a while, he felt himself being placed on a bed. Someone put something in his mouth and he reflexively chewed. Soon the pain went away and he drifted off to sleep.
I failed… again. He thought.
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A/N: Sorry it took forever to get this up. I'll get the next one up in a few days, I promise! Thanks for reading!