The moment he entered the dungeon he knew something was wrong. Soldiers crowded the hall, all armed like they were going to war. Eragon pushed past them nervously, staring straight ahead to his destination at the end of the hall.
The door to Murtagh's cell was open, much to Eragon's surprise and he rushed towards it, only to have a sturdy looking soldier rush in front of him, preventing him from entering.
"I am sorry," he said, "but you cannot enter."
Eragon's eyes narrowed in confusion. "What happened?" he asked nervously, trying to glance past the soldier and into the room. His heart seemed to stop as he spotted Murtagh lying on the floor, Orik and a man he did not recognize standing over him. A few feet away, Nasuada looked on with worry.
"Nasuada!" Eragon called, trying to move past the soldier, but to no avail. "Nasuada, what has happened?"
Nasuada turned in surprise at his voice and rushed to the door, where the soldier turned to greet her.
"You can let him in, Kerr," she said, taking a deep breath. The soldier nodded and moved past the door, allowing him entrance. He rushed in, looking down in horror at Murtagh's limp body.
"Is he…?" Eragon couldn't even say the word; there was no way the Murtagh could be… dead.
"No," Nasuada replied quickly and he let out a sigh of relief. "But he is not conscious."
"What happened?" he asked again.
It was Orik who answered. "Galbatorix tried to enter his mind again," he said, moving to Nasuada's side.
"Is this standard procedure, then?" Eragon asked, hoping desperately that it wasn't.
"No," Nasuada answered. "With the exception of when we first captured him, it is not. In the past, he was simply extremely weak, but awake and able to recall all that happened. We have no idea what happened this time."
"The healer is tending to him," Orik said, nodding at the man who sat next to Murtagh, "and it seems he will make a recovery, but for now he needs to be under strict watch until we know what happened. For all we know, Galbatorix could have regained control over him."
"And what would happen then?" he said anxiously.
"We will cross that bridge if and when we come to it," Orik said. "For now, we must simply worry about his health."
"Whatever happened," Nasuada said, "it must be somewhat significant."
"Yes," Eragon agreed. "We can only hope that Murtagh will remember."
They remained quiet for a moment, pondering the situation. Eragon looked back at Murtagh, who lay motionless on the floor. He looked so helpless, so different than the Murtagh Eragon knew, that Eragon could not look at him for more than a few seconds.
"Perhaps we should speak to Thorn," Nasuada said, breaking the silence. She turned to look at Eragon, a questioning look on her face. "Do you think he will know exactly what happened?"
"He should know at least a majority," he replied. "That is, if Thorn didn't somehow black out with Murtagh."
Nasuada nodded. "Eragon, will you have Saphira contact Thorn to make sure he is alright?"
"Of course," he answered.
Saphira, he called. It was only a few seconds before she responded.
I am with Thorn, she said, knowing exactly what he was going to ask of her. He is weak, but he is conscious.
Does he remember anything that happened? heasked worriedly.
He does not remember everything, she responded, but what he does remember should be useful. I think you should come out here and see what he has to say. He has told me little.
Thank you, Saphira, he said, I will be there shortly.
"Well?" Nasuada asked, looking at him expectantly as Eragon turned to her.
"Thorn is awake," he responded to her query, "but weak. Saphira is with him and I am going to meet them outside to question him."
Nasuada nodded. "I will stay down here for the time being," she said, "but be sure to contact me when you are finished."
"Certainly," Eragon said, turning to leave. "Will you let me know when he wakes?"
"Of course," Nasuada said, smiling weakly at him. "Good luck, Eragon."
"Thank you," he replied, smiling back at her. And with that, he left.
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Arya met him in the courtyard, where she stood anxiously with Eridor.
"Saphira told us what happened," Arya said as he greeted them. "Is Murtagh alright?"
"I don't know," Eragon murmured, looking around for the sight of Saphira and Thorn.
"They're not here," Arya said, noticing his questioning glance. "They are a few miles away from here, in a large clearing where all the dragons have been sleeping."
The courtyard is simply too crowded for three dragons, Eridor added.
Eragon nodded. "Will you take us there, Eridor?" he asked. "I need to speak with Thorn."
Of course, the dragon responded. Saphira gave me instructions to do just that. She did not think it best to leave the red dragon alone.
"Let us go, then," Eragon said, boarding Eridor, who, Eragon noted, would soon be as large as Saphira. Arya climbed up a second later, sitting behind him. Eridor leaped into the sky. Eragon held on tightly to Eridor as he dived recklessly though the sky. They were flying over a small forest that looked quite odd in the normally barren part of Surda.
Eragon had not ridden Eridor before and he noticed a distinct difference between the way the Eridor and Saphira flew. Saphira was much more graceful, while Eridor rarely flew in a straight path; he seemed to enjoy performing tricks more than Saphira ever did.
A few moments later, Eridor dived sharply into a space between the trees. Eragon immediately recognized the huge forms of Saphira and Thorn lounging underneath the shade of the trees.
Eridor landed bumpily a few feet away from the other dragons. Eragon and Arya jumped off quickly and joined them under the trees. Eridor, Eragon couldn't help but notice, sat closely next to Saphira, looking at Thorn with an oddly possessive look on his face. Eragon grinned slightly at the sight.
"Thorn," he said, kneeling in front of the red dragon, who lay there looking uncharacteristically frail, "are you well?"
As well as I can be, Rider, he murmured, looking up from the ground where he lay slouched vulnerably.
"Do you think you can tell us what happened?" Arya said from where she stood in between Eridor and Saphira.
I do not remember much, Thorn responded. But first, how is my Rider? I only know that he is being tended to be healers. What else can you tell me?
"Nothing else, I am afraid," Eragon said apologetically. "He is in good hands, though."
That is good, Thorn responded, shifting slightly in his position and lifting his head from the ground. Eragon waited patiently for him to say more.
All I remember, Thorn began, is a quick onset of images. I do not know how Murtagh was able to see them, but I believe that he was able to break through Galbatorix's barrier and was able to catch of glimpse of what was in Galbatorix's mind.
"What did he see?" Eragon asked anxiously.
He saw the face of Galbatorix. He was frail—sickly looking—and weaker than I have ever seen him. But as I said, I could only catch a glimpse. The next image was of Galbatorix in a bed, surrounded by men—soldiers or assassins, I think. He once again looked extremely weak. They were talking about something, but I could not hear anything. I think he was giving them orders, though.
Thorn paused and Eragon took in the information. If what Murtagh had seen was true, then Galbatorix was very sick.
There was one other image, Thorn continued, but this one was different and I cannot remember any of it. I do not think, though, that it was from the mind of Galbatorix.
"Why do you think that?" Eragon asked.
It came a few minutes after the first images, Thorn responded, and it was after Murtagh had been able to prevent Galbatorix from regaining control of his mind.
"So Galbatorix was not successful in his attempt?" Eragon asked, relieved.
No, Thorn said. In fact, I think this was his most pitiful attempt yet. Galbatorix was much too weak to be able to fight Murtagh and that is why Murtagh was able to break through the king's barrier.
"I still don't understand, though," Arya said and Eragon turned to look at her, "why Murtagh saw another image after he had beaten Galbatorix."
Nor do I, Thorn replied, laying his head back on the ground. But I do not think what he saw was simply an image. It was a vision of some sort. Of what, I do not remember, but it must have been important. I am afraid you shall have to wait for Murtagh to wake to find out.
"That is interesting…" Eragon murmured, staring curiously at Thorn. "It seems to me that the first two images, coming from Galbatorix himself, are of the past. But since this last image, a vision perhaps, occurred separately from Galbatorix, I am willing to bet that it is much different than the first two images—perhaps of an event that has yet to happen."
That is plausible, Saphira said. After all, Eragon has had visions before.
"Yes," Eragon said softly, "and some have, unfortunately, come true."
"I think you have drawn conclusions too quickly," Arya said. "You know too little of the third image to say that it is a vision of the future."
Eragon nodded, glancing at her. "You are right. But still, I have a feeling that it is something along those lines."
He turned to look at Thorn. "You saw nothing else?" Eragon asked.
I am afraid not, he responded.
"Thank you for sharing all of the information you did have," Eragon said, standing, "I truly do appreciate it."
It was no problem, Eragon.
"We should be getting back," Eragon said. "Nasuada wanted to know what we found out as soon as possible. Do you know if Murtagh is awake yet, Thorn?"
He still sleeps, Thorn murmured.
Eragon nodded. "That is to be expected."
He turned to Saphira. Will you be coming with us?
I will stay with Thorn, little one, she responded.
Be sure to let me know if Thorn remembers anything else, Eragon said, patting her snout.
I will, Saphira said.
He turned to Arya and Eridor. "Let us head back to the castle, then. Nasuada is most likely anxious to hear what Thorn had to say."
They agreed and soon were back in the air, flying towards Aberon.
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"I wonder what this all means…" Nasuada said, sighing as she lay back in her chair.
They were sitting in Nasuada's study, gathered around her desk, and Eragon had just finished sharing the information Thorn had given them. Arya sat next to him, looking preoccupied, while Orik and King Orrin sat to Eragon's left.
"If we take these images or visions, whatever they are, to be true," Orrin spoke, "then it means that Galbatorix is extremely weak and vulnerable. I think we need to take advantage of this."
"I agree," Orik said, nodding. "Galbatorix is probably unaware that we know he is so weak. We could take him by surprise."
"But then there is the possibility," Arya said, looking up at them seriously, "that he planted those images in Murtagh's mind in order for us to think that he is weak, when in all actuality, he is at his strongest."
"That is most definitely possible," Orik responded.
"I don't think so," Eragon said firmly. "I suppose that it would not be unlike Galbatorix to do something like that, but I think that Galbatorix's strength is dwindling. He is not as powerful as he used to be and the fact that he can't seem to regain power over Murtagh confirms that. No, I think that what Murtagh saw is the true state of Galbatorix."
"Nevertheless," Nasuada said, "I think we have waited too long to respond to this. I told you yesterday, Eragon, that we should wait to attack until we know for sure that Galbatorix is not well. But now I believe we do know that this is true and I think we need to make a move. What do you say, Orrin?" She turned to look at the king.
"I think you are right, Nasuada," he said quietly.
"Should we start gathering troops for battle?" Orik asked.
"Yes," Nasuada said, "I think we should."
Orik nodded and stood. "I will get right on it. I will also inform my people of the coming battle. They will want to fight."
"That would be excellent," Nasuada replied. "We need as many people as we can get."
"I will send word to the elves," Arya said and Nasuada looked at her in surprise.
"Your people want to help us?" she asked.
"The Queen wishes to send her support this time," Arya murmured. "She has been wary to have the elves get involved in this war, but she now believes that our help is quite necessary."
"It is," Nasuada said sincerely, "and we truly do appreciate any help your people can."
"We will need to make a plan," Orrin said, standing up. "But I suggest we wait until we can meet with my council and the council of The Varden."
"I agree," Nasuada said, standing up as well.
"The final battle is fast approaching," Eragon muttered.
Nasuada nodded grimly. "And soon the victor of this war will be made known. I can only hope that that victor will be us."
A/N: Quick update, compared to last time, anyway. Actually, this would've been up sooner, except I got distracted by a Harry Potter fic I just started writing (which will probably never even make its way to the internet, but who knows). Anyway, that fic took up most of my time and it's now almost done, so I decided to focus on this one. Hopefully I'll update this one again soon, since I've got two weeks of spring break coming up.
Thanks for all the reviews everyone! I really appreciate. Keep them coming (remember, they help me write faster!).