A.N. I was sick… really! It is not just an excuse. But here the next chapter is. I hope that you enjoy it.
Arya walked beside the werecats as Saphira took to the air to hunt. She had finally managed to convince the sapphire dragon that starving herself was in no way helping anyone. After a brief dispute, in which Arya would have been fried if she didn't have a ward protecting her against the inferno Saphira engulfed her in, the dragon took off.
The lone elf looked over the crowd of werecats to find the queen watching her, though she looked away as soon as she noticed that Arya had seen. She shook her head, not even bothering to attempt to understand the mind of a werecat. The queen had even burdened her with the care of the orphaned kitten until they rejoined with the Varden and the rest of the werecat army in Belatona.
Arya had asked a different werecat, a young male about why she would be trusted to take care of the baby that they held in such high regard. The werecat had only growled slightly and told her it was an honor. Arya resolved to ask Eragon's werecat when she returned. At least that one understood that few could claim to understand the werecats. Actually, she believed that only Angela could. All the same, she was not about to allow any harm to befall the infant.
Saphira landed with a heavy thud, not caring to soften the impact. Arya walked over to her and touched the dragon's snout. "What is it?" She asked. The dragon was obviously off. Saphira lowered her head to the ground and whined. "Saphira." The dragon's mind was shielded even as Arya tried to touch it. She sighed.
Little One. There was so much pain behind that address, the way she called Eragon as well that Arya was amazed she had chosen to use it. Eragon had been being tortured every four hours almost to the second, but he has not been since I woke this morning. I worry that… Saphira roared. Arya glared slightly as the tiny werecat, Hali, whimpered and buried herself more completely in Arya's arms. The blue dragon met Arya's eyes. I cannot help feeling that something is very wrong, Arya. What if he did give in?
Arya swallowed. Not many lasted under the emperor for any amount of time. "He is strong." She said, though her voice wavered.
The dragon tore at the ground with her talons. I shouldn't be disrespecting him by thinking this way, by doubting him.
As Saphira continued to worry and stress, Arya did the only thing she could think of and lightly swatted the dragon on the nose. As Saphira rose up angrily, Arya stood her ground. "He would not appreciate you behaving like this. You are a dragon; act like one." Aryasighed, hating herself for what she had come to terms with herself. "Thorn has accepted what has come to pass and is determined to fight, with or without his rider, and now you must do the same."
Saphira tried to stare her down, but eventually lost, looking away instead. I was right in the first place. You never deserved my rider. He cared for you above all the world, but then he is captured and you move on easily. Then you tell me, one who actually loves him, to forget about him? Consider our friendship broken, Arya. Until you prove yourself, I will speak to you no more.
"Saphira." Arya said in shock. The dragon took to the air and flew in the direction of the Varden, abandoning Arya and the werecats. A gleaming tear ran down Arya's cheek as she watched the departing dragon. She had never meant for this to happen. She had only been trying to convince Saphira to not give up. Her link to Eragon was gone.
The queen walked over and looked at the elf. "Sometimes well intentioned acts have unfortunate consequences. I could not help but notice your break with the dragon. It is up to you whether you take my advice, but to intrude upon her may turn out badly. Let the dragon speak first." The werecat walked away.
Arya thought for a moment and then reluctantly decided not to pursue Saphira. It was said never to disregard the words of a werecat, and she had been given advice by the werecats' queen, and as much as she didn't like it, she decided to listen.
The door shut quietly, but Eragon didn't turn to see who it was who had entered. Most likely it was a servant, coming to check in on him and make sure he wasn't doing anything objectionable to the king. "Eragon. Get over yourself."
He groaned and sat up. "What do you want, Murtagh?"
"Is that any way to speak to your brother?" he asked irritably.
Eragon glared. "You deserve it, and you're not my brother." Eragon watched the confused expression come over Murtagh's face and then he decided to continue. "My father is not Morzan. It was Brom."
An expression near anger came over Murtagh's face. "No wonder mother liked you better."
Eragon felt he owed something to his half brother. "I'm sure that isn't true, Murtagh. She may have preferred Brom to Morzan, but we both were her sons. How could she have taken you from Morzan if he barely allowed her to see you in the first place? The reason I did not get left there was because she knew her mistake and knew I did not belong there."
"So now I am a mistake?" Eragon groaned and tried to appease the rider.
"Her mistake was allowing Morzan near her son. He was a monster." Eragon sighed. "Why did you come here, Murtagh? Surely it wasn't only to talk about the mother neither of us ever knew."
"No. It wasn't." Murtagh took the chair nearest Eragon's bed. "He really set you up with a nice room, didn't he?" Murtagh was scanning the room and Eragon shrugged. The room was much larger than the entire house he had lived in back before he was a rider, but Eragon knew he preferred being free and living without a bed or roof than being a nameslave to the king.
"Murtagh, why did you come here? You are avoiding the question."
Eragon's half brother leaned back, tipping his chair onto two legs as he looked at the fire across the room, keeping the room warm. "I wanted to know, Eragon, if you could ever forgive me."
Eragon looked at Murtagh in surprise, raising his eyebrows. This side of Murtagh was something he had rarely seen. His memory went to when he had first met Murtagh, the man had attacked the Ra'zaac alone and saved he and Saphira's lives along with Brom. He had helped Eragon heal and had fought alongside him. He had helped rescue Eragon from Gilead and, forgoing his own wishes, had accompanied Eragon in bringing Arya to the Varden.
"Eragon?" Murtagh asked.
Eragon clenched his teeth. Murtagh's death had been faked and he had become a rider. He had come to fight against Eragon in the Battle of the Burning Plains. He had felled Hrothgar and tormented Eragon with the idea of having Morzan as a father. He had killed Eragon and Saphira's mentors. His conscience told him that some of that was excusable for being a nameslave.
"Why did you kill Hrothgar?" Eragon asked quietly. His oath sworn to avenge the drarf king was binding.
Murtagh met his eyes. "I was commanded to. Galbatorix was sure that if the dwarves' king was to die, it was likely that the new king would not be as sympathetic to the Varden's cause. Without the support of the dwarves, the Varden would be much easier to defeat. What he didn't count on was Orik becoming the new king." Eragon took a deep breath, partially relieved, but even more confused in his sentiments regarding his half brother.
"I forgive you Murtagh, if only because you are some of the only family I have left."
A smile spread across Murtagh's face. "Thank you Eragon." Then his expression darkened. "The king sent me here." He confided.
Eragon tensed, anger nearly bursting from him and he stood, magic only a word away. "You mean to say that all of that was a lie?" Murtagh stood and took a step back from Eragon. "After convincing me to forgive you, you tricked me."
"Eragon." Murtagh pleaded. "Listen. I meant that. Galbatorix sent me here for a different reason."
"Promise me in the ancient language."
Murtagh nodded. "I swear that no one prompted me to ask your forgiveness." Eragon took a breath. "He sent me here to bring you to Shruikan. You have not met him yet."
"And if I resist?" Eragon asked cautiously, testing his boundaries.
"Please do not, Eragon. I would then have to force you, and I have no wish to fight you." He shook his head. "And I have heard that Galbatorix wants to set us against one another. He believes that together we might be a threat to him, but if we are alone, there is little that we can do. Just follow."
Eragon followed Murtagh with a bit of curiosity. He had wondered about the dragon Galbatorix had forced to serve him. Was he a reluctant slave or was he for Galbatorix's cause. Was the dragon even sane? Murtagh stopped at door leading outside and gestured Eragon forward.
"The king and his dragon wait. I was told only to bring you this far."
Eragon opened the door and stepped forward to face the fell king and his dragon.
Nasuada was looking out a window when Saphira landed heavily in the garden. A knot of worry formed in her gut as the dragon stalked the length of the garden, snapping at Thorn as he tried to approach her. Gathering her guards, they went to the gardens.
"Saphira." Nasuada called. The dragon snapped her head around and growled at her, smoke billowing from her nostrils. Nasuada flinched but looked into the dragon's eyes. "What happened, and where are the werecats? Is Arya alright?"
At the mention of the elf, Saphira's eyes seemed to burn and the dragon took a step towad Nasuada in a threatening way.
The small emerald dragon, who had become withdrawn since his rider had been separated from him, placed himself between the dragon and the now afraid leader of the Varden. Saphira hissed before backing down somewhat, but continuing to growl deep in her throat.
Your fight is not with her.
Saphira blinked and instead looked at the young dragon. She is your rider. Saphira drew back her head and then struck the young dragon in the side, causing him to whimper. The dragon did not respond, however, and got back on his feet, looking at the angry dragoness. Saphira made to hit him again, but Thorn intercepted her with a snarl.
You would attack a hatchling? The blood red dragon demanded. Tell me. How does that make you any better than Shruikan or the king? Wryda has never wronged you.
Saphira ignored him and took to the air, flying into the forest where she disappeared among the trees. Nasuada stepped forward, looking confused. "What has caused you to fight amongst yourselves?" She asked the dragons with a sad voice. Without Eragon, everything was falling apart.
Wryda tried to shake himself out but whined and laid down. Thorn nosed his side uncertainly and the young dragon flinched away. Vainir. The elf approached from the step of his cabin, and after conversing with Thorn, went to Wyrda, casting a spell to heal the dragon. Several broken and buried ribs healed and the dragon stretched experimentally, nuzzling the elf gratefully when he found he could move without pain.
Wyrda went before Nasuada. She has some sort of feud with my rider, but I know not what it is. As for Arya, she is unharmed and still a distance away. The dragon glanced toward the forest. She has closed her mind to all.
Nasuada sighed and thanked Arya's dragon as well as Thorn before turning to leave. As she did, Eragon's snowy werecat stopped in front of her and looked into her eyes. Alia transformed into her human shape. "Hope remains while there are those who fight injustice."
She paused. "Will Saphira listen to you?" Nasuada asked.
"She would listen to none but her rider now, and he is far beyond our reach. You shall have to make do with what you have and hope for the best." The werecat, blurring form again, passed between Nasuada's legs and disappeared into Eragon's empty cabin, leaving Nasuada with much to consider.
What do you think? There shouldn't be so long of a wait for the next one. So… read and review!
P.S. Don't be afraid to check out my other story.