Eragon – Oops! – Chapter Twenty-Four
Author Note: It's going to be Murtagh x Payton. Saphirarox --- Please don't hunt me down and try to kill me. I really wanted to do this story both ways but I know I can't. I'm really uneasy about this decision so when this story is actually finished. I might just reupload Oops! And then have two versions going where one is Eragon x Payton and the other is Murtagh x Payton. So please, no death threats.
Payton heard shuffling around her and had attempted to ignore it for a good five minutes before she reluctantly opened her eyes and sat up. The fire looked as though it had dissipated long ago and Murtagh was busily packing up his bedroll. Payton yawned and stretched before packing her belongings and sliding her cloak on over her head.
"You don't have to wear that anymore." Murtagh didn't even face her when he spoke.
"I know, but it gets cold in the air sometimes." Without another word they both mounted Thorn and took off. Will I get to see you today? Payton reached her mind out to find Vanilor.
Yes, you will most likely make it their first though. We encountered some difficulty in the Hadarac desert.
We? Murtagh watched Payton silently as her expression changed throughout her conversation with Vanilor.
Eragon and Saphira have decided to accompany me. Payton's expression brightened. It felt like forever since she'd seen Eragon. She reached for her neck to touch her necklace even though she knew it wasn't there.
I'll see you shortly. Payton severed the connection and looked back to Murtagh. "Vanilor says we'll probably make it there before he does so I guess we can just set up another camp."
"Right. Once they arrive I'll be leaving." Murtagh's expression was dreary.
"I understand." Payton turned back around to him. "Thank you for doing this." She spoke hesitantly, "and sorry for hitting you the other day." Her cheeks flushed a pale pink. Murtagh only nodded in response. Payton turned to face forward and smiled happily. She was finally going back to the closest thing she had to a home. She started humming softly. She sang softly to herself enjoying every moment that passed. Her smile quickly faded as Thorn entered into a nosedive. Her eyes went wide and she gripped onto the saddle with both of her hands, her knuckles turning white from the pressure. As they neared the ground, Thorn pulled up and shot back into the sky. As they leveled out safely, Murtagh began laughing. "What the hell was that?" Payton turned around glared at Murtagh.
"You seemed to be off in your own little world so we thought we would give you a little treat." Murtagh's eyes went wide as he saw Payton ready to hit him. He jumped off of the saddle and slid backward until he got a grip on one of Thorn's spikes.
"You're an asshole!" Payton's anger quickly dissipated as she saw Murtagh lose his grip and begin falling. Thorn quickly jerked his body around and caught Murtagh in his claw. Payton climbed out of the saddle and onto Thorn's shoulder to see Murtagh who was unconscious.
Get back in the saddle. An unfamiliar voice resounded in her head.
Thorn? Payton obeyed and they quickly landed in a field underneath them. Thorn's landing was rough since he only had one front claw to work with. As soon as she deemed it safe, Payton jumped off of Thorn and over to Murtagh who was cringing in pain. "What's happening to him?" Payton looked back at Thorn for an answer.
You. Thorn lowered his body over Payton and released a puff of smoke. We should have turned you into Galbatorix when we had the chance. He opened his jaw as though he were going to snap Payton's body in half.
"Stop it now." Payton had been so enveloped with fear that she had not noticed Murtagh getting up slowly. "This was entirely my decision." Sweat beaded Murtagh's forehead and he was breathing heavy.
"What was that?" Murtagh walked past her and situated himself on top of Thorn, cringing occasionally.
"Get on. We must go." After Payton just stared at him in disbelief he lost his patience. "Get on now." Payton sighed and took her place on top of Thorn.
"Does this mean that you won't tell me?" She turned around to face him.
"It doesn't matter if you know or not." Murtagh looked away, Payton continued to stare at him.
"Tell me." Murtagh sighed dejectedly.
"That was Galbatorix." Payton didn't quite understand what he meant. "He was attacking me mentally." Murtagh groaned as he felt another sharp jab at his stomach. "I think he's pretty much figured everything out. He knows where we're going and what we are doing. I need to get you there as quickly as possible." Murtagh clutched his chest in pain. Thorn slowed down. "No, you have to keep going. We've made it this far we can't turn back now." Murtagh urged Thorn onward.
"Come here." Payton brought her right hand to Murtagh's face. "Let me in." But Murtagh only shook his head.
"I'm fine."
"No, share your pain with me." Payton tried to force her way into his mind but he continually blocked her out.
"Stop it." Murtagh struggled to sustain consciousness. "I can do it on my own." Payton caught Murtagh as he fell limp.
Hold onto him. I will get there as quickly as I can. Thorn surged forward. Payton could feel Thorn's blood pumping rapidly even through the saddle. She slipped Murtagh's feet into the braces carefully and leaned his body against her. It was at that time that she endured the longest minutes of her life. Murtagh occasionally groaned in pain, she could feel his heart racing constantly. Every so often she remembered to check his pulse to ensure that he was indeed still alive. After fifteen minutes passed, Payton felt Murtagh's pulse slow down drastically. Fortunately it steadied itself to a normal pace and Payton sighed in relief. Scenarios went through her head of what would have happened if his heart had stopped entirely. She blushed profusely at the thought of giving him CPR. Payton looked away and saw Bullridge passing quickly underneath them. Children that had been playing outside all paused to watch Thorn fly over them, which made Payton smile happily.
The dragon riders will emerge once again. She looked down at Murtagh and sighed. I don't want to have to fight you. She bowed her head next to his and rested it in the nook between his head and shoulder. Payton stayed in that position for quite some time. What will happen when we depart? How are we supposed to defeat Galbatorix? If nobody else has been able to do it so how could I? But if Eragon is on our side. She smiled hopefully.
We will defeat Galbatorix. Have no doubt in that. Vanilor interrupted Payton's thoughts. You still have much to learn from Oromis and Eragon has learned much as well.
I believe that. I'll be glad when Galbatorix is finally gone.
With Galbatorix, Murtagh will go as well. Payton nodded her head.
I know. Do you know when you will arrive? Payton changed the topic quickly.
We've been held up again, the weather this way is not so good. Payton looked out into the horizon, but did not see any bad weather clouds in sight.
Oh, does this mean you may not arrive until late? She looked toward the sun; she estimated that it was just a little bit past mid-day.
Perhaps, although I suspect it shouldn't take us too much longer than it will you.
I'll see you then. She shifted her grip on Murtagh before closing her mind once again. Communicating at such a distance tired Payton greatly. At such a distance it felt as though every time they communicated it tested their limits. Thorn continued to travel at a high velocity. By the time they landed, Murtagh had not yet awakened, but he had stirred occasionally. Payton had chosen a hilly area with a few trees. She laid Murtagh under a tree and gathered some water, which she cupped and let fall into his mouth. She knew Murtagh's unconscious state was all due to her and it didn't help that Thorn was furious with her. As soon as she sat against the tree, fatigue overcame her. It seemed as though everything that had been happening lately had all come down upon her at once.
Don't sleep. Payton felt something tugging at her mind and body but she shook it off and continued her sleep. Get up. She shrugged it off again. NOW! She looked up to see Murtagh looking at her wide-eyed. He grabbed her arm and yanked her toward him. Looking back she saw an urgal wielding an axe. She picked up a small stone and shouted brisingr as she threw it at him. It made contact right between his eyes and continued through his skull, obviously propelled by magic. Payton nearly lost her balance as Murtagh collapsed, still lacking energy. Payton drew his sword from its sheath and held it toward the other Urgals that threatened to come forward. She closed her eyes, searching her mind as quickly as she could. She felt outward to find the Urgals energy. She carefully extracted each of their energy, causing them to drop dead only feet in front of her. She quickly bent down next to Murtagh and transferred the energy into him.
"Do you feel any better?" She slowly helped Murtagh to a standing position.
"Aye, a bit." He looked around to see if there were any more Urgals coming to attack them.
"Did Galbatorix send them?" Payton handed Murtagh's sword back to him. Smoke rose from Thorn's nostrils during the transaction.
"It's hard to say, they could have just had a nearby camp or Galbatorix could have sent them." Murtagh shook his head. "Come here." Murtagh removed a necklace from underneath his tunic and took Payton's hand in his, wrapping the necklace around both of their wrists. "This should-" but before Murtagh could finish his sentence Payton was on the ground. She frantically tried to tear her arm away from Murtagh. "Stop it. He'll be able to see us."
"No! No! You have to get it off!" She jerked her hand back, which forced Murtagh to fall. He sat up quickly and restrained her arms against the ground.
"No! Take my energy." Murtagh stuttered for only a second before lowering his guard around his head. Payton immediately found shelter in his mind, but both of their energies were draining rapidly. "How is this happening?" Murtagh cringed. Thorn quickly covered them with his wing and began giving Murtagh all the energy he could afford.
"Eragon has been scrying me for Vanilor." Payton took gasping breaths of air.
"Tell him to stop, tell him you're safe. We can't have both groups scrying, it's taking too much of our energy."
Vanilor! Payton fervently searched for him.
What is going on? There was apparent alarm in his voice. I can't see you.
Galbatorix was scrying me. You have to stop. Murtagh is sharing his necklace with me so that he can't see. I don't have much more energy.
It's a trap! You have to make him stop. He's doing this on purpose so that we can't see you. Vanilor was emanating with hatred and anger.
Please, you have to trust him! The mental contact began to tire Payton more. Please. Her voice faded until she could no longer speak with him. She faintly heard Vanilor roaring and the force that was extracting energy from her body suddenly vanished. Payton took in several deep breaths as though a huge weight had been lifted off of her body but she could still feel a dull draining of her energy. Murtagh stood warily and lifted Payton from the ground. Payton's body throbbed continually.
"We need to move further north, I don't want to risk Galbatorix finding us." Murtagh mounted Thorn with Payton in his arms. Thorn took several steps forward before lifting off, his speed slowed drastically. They continued on until they were just north of the bend in the Ramr River and landed within a small meadow covered by trees.
"Why do you care if I live?" Payton looked up at Murtagh, exhaustion apparent in her eyes. Murtagh laughed softly.
"What do you think would happen to me if I returned a dead girl to Eragon?" He dismounted Thorn and lay Payton down next to the small lake and sat beside her.
I can feel your presence; we will be there soon. Vanilor kept the message as short as possible to save what little energy Payton had left. She had not entirely comprehended the message but simply rolled onto her side and curled into the fetal position. Murtagh lay on his back and relaxed but Thorn was still on guard as usual. Payton opened her eyes to look at Murtagh and curiosity overcame her.
"What will happen when I'm gone?" Murtagh looked over to her and shrugged blankly.
"I don't know." He looked back up to the sky uncertainly.
Don't lie to her. You know damn well what will happen to you. Thorn intervened and stared at the two of them. Payton sat up and stared at Murtagh.
"What's going to happen?" Payton had a hard time concealing her concern.
"Why does it matter to you? It's like you said, you're the enemy." Murtagh didn't bother to move.
"It matters because you've done a lot for me." She was becoming easily frustrated by him.
"I haven't done much." Murtagh turned his gaze to the lake, avoiding Payton.
"Why do you insist on sheltering me? Just tell me what's going to happen." The three of them looked around them quickly as they were surrounded.
"Galbatorix will do nothing to him, we will make sure of it." A man with a short chestnut colored beard with pointed ears stepped forward from the group that surrounded them. Vanilor landed next to Payton and roared threateningly
"What is this?" Payton concentrated her gaze on Vanilor.
We won't allow him to return to Galbatorix. But Payton cut him off before he could say anymore.
"No!" She stood up defiantly, forcing Murtagh up.
It must be done. Vanilor let out a puff of smoke but Thorn stepped in front of them, all of the elves raised their bows toward him.
"No." She refused to move.
"Let them do what they want." Murtagh laughed bitterly.
"Fate plays a role in every aspect of our life. If this is my fate than so be it." With one deft movement of his wrist the necklace fell to the ground and he took a step forward. Eragon jumped off of Saphira, who had been circling above the clearing for lack of space. He landed between Vanilor and Payton and threw her necklace to her. She caught it and returned it to it's designated spot around her neck. Murtagh opened his mouth to speak but was suddenly caught off guard. Payton stood in front of him with her arms crossed.
"So, you want to attack him, let's see it."
"Child, you are being foolish." The elder elf stepped forward, pleading with her.
"No, you are being foolish. His fate is to fight me on the battlefield. Let him go, I will train and I will prove that we do not have to defeat Galbatorix through trickery." She stared the old man down.
"You can be the one who explains this to Queen Islanzadi." The elf commanded his troops to lower their bows and begin their return journey to Ellesmera. Payton turned to Murtagh.
"Thank you." He whispered to her so that only she could here.
"It's the least I could do, if it weren't for you I'd probably be dead somewhere in Uru'baen." They nodded respectfully to each other and Murtagh was the first to leave. You never told me what would happen to you upon your return. Payton sighed and mounted Vanilor, Saphira landed in the clearing so that Eragon could do the same.
Author Note: This seems like it was the slowest chapter I've ever written. I hope you liked it! I'm not so sure what to think of it. It's a tad bit short too but I feel like I'm writing weird today so I decided to stop for now. Please review.