Web Woven at Helgrind

I just found a guy dancing to "Don't cha" on Youtube. It's hilarious.

Disclaimer: Don't own. Don't sue. Thank you.

Oh, what a tangled web we weave

When we practice to deceive.

-Not really sure whose quote it is but I don't own it

Ardis awoke slowly. Her eyes opened and found that her vision was blurred. Her lips felt cracked and dry. She tried to reach for Kazul's mind and couldn't reach it. She tried to call her dragon, but she could only rasp, "Kazul," because her throat was so dry. She looked down at her hands and saw that they were bound by ropes. She reached for the magic to break them, but she couldn't remember the word. Did it begin with a J or a G? Was it even one of those? She couldn't remember at all.

She heard voices outside her cell. One was a husky, breathless, feminine one. The other was merely a low his that made Ardis' spine shiver.

"You cannot see the rider," the other voice hissed.

"You do not tell me what I can and cannot see," the female retorted.

Ardis recognized the voice. It was Luce.

"Yess, but the king can," the hiss came. "We are his messengers. Learn it."

Ardis could hear Luce's scowl.

Another voice spoke up. It was male. "Let her go if she must. I do not see what harm she could do." Ardis recognized Murtagh.

She heard a hiss that sounded like the dissenter had grudgingly dropped his argument and then the sounds of someone walking away. Her cell door opened. Luce stood in the doorway. Her sister immediately moved towards her. Luce pulled out a flask and emptied it into Ardis' mouth.

The youngest rider immediately felt her head clear. She could think of the Ancient Language again.

"Keep drinking this, but keep it hidden. Pretend you still have the drug," Luce ordered. "You will be freed when Eragon comes. I know that he and his cousin are coming to rescue that other girl in here and kill the Ra'zac."

"But the oaths!" Ardis protested. She didn't understand.

"I can break mine. I swore it on your life, and Galbatorix threatened it," Luce explained.

"And Murtagh?" Ardis pressed.

"He doesn't know. He cannot break his oath, but there is one who can help him. Possibly. I have to get him to the Varden," Luce spoke hurriedly after a moment's pause.

"Who, Luce?" Ardis inquired.

Luce told her all about Siloa and Vrael. Ardis only sat there, stunned. At last, she found her voice.

"I have only one question for you, Luce: will Murtagh forgive you for what you intend to do?" Ardis asked.

Luce froze, dropped her head, and whispered, "Perhaps, perhaps not." With that, her sister left, only saying, "Iormungr will free you and Kazul when Eragon comes. He is expected tomorrow."

Ardis reached out to Kazul with her mind. She hoped the dragon could hear her. She could.

I am sorry I let them get you, Kazul apologized profusely. I tried to stop that man from taking you, but he threatened to kill you.

The fault was mine. If I had been alert as you were, I would have been more cautious when the spy came, Ardis replied. She knew it was true and regretted it.

Don't blame yourelf, Kazul comforted. The dragon thought for a moment. So your sister and her dragon are going to help us?

Aye, Ardis answered.

The green dragon seemed kind, Kazul observed.

I suppose Iormungr is. I haven't seen him in a while, Ardis remarked. After a pause, she laughed.

What amuses you? Kazul inquired coolly.

Nothing, Ardis responded. Her demeanor became grave again as her mind went back to her situation. Whatever Kazul felt for Iormungr was meaningless now.

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Luce went back to her room. She stared at herself in the mirror. Could she go through with this?

You have to, Iormungr told her. That's the heart of it. You don't do this, and it all falls apart. It's not as though you mind doing what you're going to do.

I mind doing it for the reason I must, but yes, I must, Luce replied. She bit her lip. She didn't know how this would work.

She walked through the twisted paths of Helgrind, looking for Murtagh's room. Where was it? She knocked on the door quickly. Murtagh opened it.

"Back for more?" he inquired, quirking his eyebrow.

Luce pressed her lips against his immediately. She would have to keep this up for awhile.

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It was dawn at Helgrind. Eragon dismounted from Saphira. She had been carrying him, Roran, and Birgit. Arya and Vanir had managed to keep up with them by horse and by foot. They were nearing Helgrind.

Roran and Birgit leapt off from behind him. Arya and Vanir came up as well.

"How are we going to get in?" Birgit asked.

"Saphira can fly three to the top. I think Vanir and Arya will be able to manage to get to the top avoiding the Ra'zac. I could as well. Katrina will be imprisoned near the top. You and Birgit should fly up there and find her prison," Eragon explained. Arya nodded.

"We should be able to kill the Ra'zac, and Saphira should be a match for the Lethrblaka," she stated.

"And Ardis?" Vanir pressed. "Do they free her?"

"I came here for revenge," Birgit protested. "I did not come here to save Stronghammer's fiancée and a rider."

"Believe me, Birgit," Roran put in. "You will have an encounter with the Ra'zac."

Eragon nodded in agreement.

Little did they know, a green dragon was watching.

Luce, Iormungr yelled, they are here.

Free Ardis and Kazul now. I'll keep Murtagh preoccupied as long as I can, she ordered, waking. Murtagh stared over at her.

"What is it?" he questioned.

Luce almost jumped.

"Nothing," she murmured. She rolled over so that she was on top him and wrapped her legs around his waist. Murtagh pulled her down and rolled over on top of her. Luce felt disgust at herself. She was almost certain Murtagh would not forgive her. What she was doing was shallow and wrong.

She just had to do it to keep him from coming to the Ra'zac's rescue. She knew she couldn't keep him from noticing Eragon was there even by knocking him out because he would awaken too soon anyway. He seemed to have an aptitude for coming to quite quickly, even after being knocked out. Besides, the Ra'zac would have noticed. They had to die first, and by then, Murtagh would know what was going on and she wouldn't be able to knock him out. She needed Eragon's help. Thorn had been forced into sleep by a drug too powerful to be administered to a human. Even so, the dragon would awaken soon enough.

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Eragon, Vanir, and Arya climbed quickly. They were nearing the top when a voice screamed.

Eragon looked to his left. A stone had become dislodged, and Arya had almost fallen. The scream turned into a gasp of surprise.

"An entrance," Vanir muttered as he looked through the large gap that had formed.

Arya dropped through it quickly. Both males followed her.

They looked through the tunnel. They heard sounds of hissing.

"The king told usss that they were not to be allowed to be together," one voice hissed.

"What doesss it matter?" another inquired.

"We have kept track of their movementsss. They have done exactly what he asssked them not to do. That isss what mattersss," the first voice snarled.

"Passssion mattersss little. They will do asss he sssaysss. I do not wisssssh to make enemies out of them, and what the king doessssn't know won't hurt him," the second voice replied coolly.

"Wait! I hear sssomething," the first voice whispered.

It looked around. Eragon leapt out of the shadows, Mor'ranr poised to strike. The Ra'zac jumped deftly out of the way. The shorter Ra'zac moved to attack him, but it was cut off by Arya. Vanir quickly joined the fight, helping both of them when he could.

A hideous howl filled the room. A Lethrblaka flew through it and pinned Eragon and Arya to the ground its claws. It whipped its tail around and knocked Vanir against the wall, keeping him locked in place as well.

The first Ra'zac strode through the room. It looked at Eragon first.

"Too valuable to kill," it crooned. Its eyes moved to Arya. "We captured you once, you know. Should we let him take you again or merely kill you?" It looked at Vanir. "Another elf. We only need one of you. Which one?" it asked its companion.

"I say we eat the male. He will be a more satisfying meal," the second one answered The monster raised its sword to Vanir's throat when a roar filled the chamber. A war cry erupted, and the Ra'zac was cut down by Roran. Birgit followed him.

Saphira threw her weight against the Lethrblaka and freed Eragon, Arya, and Vanir. The two beasts grappled as their riders fought.

Arya, Vanir, and Birgit fought the remaining Ra'zac. The thing had quickness to rival even the elves and had already wounded Birgit. Roran ran to find Katrina. The Lethrblaka threw Saphira off of it, and Eragon leapt onto her back as both beasts rose into the air.

The sound of two other beasts clashing filled the hall outside. Vanir pushed past the Ra'zac and ran towards the sound. This gave Birgit the right opportunity to drive her weapon through the thing's arm. It howled and turned on Birgit. Arya cut it down swiftly. The Lethrblaka swung its tail and knocked both women over. Birgit was out cold, and Arya's vision was blurred by the wound in her head. Eragon and Saphira raged on with their battle against the Lethrblaka while Arya could only watch.

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Vanir saw Kazul clashing with the other Lethrblaka. Ardis was upon the dragon's back. She shouted spells at the beast, wounding it. The male elf leapt on the beast's tail and scaled it. The thing flipped in an attempt to shake him off. Ardis hit it with a spell, and it howled in anger. The thing flew straight at her, and Vanir was almost shaken off. Kazul was pinned against the wall. The two creatures fought fiercely. Ardis feared Kazul was losing, but she could do nothing, pinned against the wall. Vanir stabbed the thing in the back and wherever else he could reach, but its movements kept him from the head or eyes. Even so, he was the only thing keeping it from killing Kazul or Ardis.

A green dragon burst flew through the air and pulled the Lethrblaka off of Kazul. The purple dragon flew forward and scratched the thing. Kazul's jaws clamped over it from the front, and Iormungr's jaws got it from the back. Ardis shouted, "Brisingr!" and drove the blazing Unin into the thing's neck. It left only a flesh wound.

"Get it in the eye!" Vanir shouted.

Ardis obeyed, and the Lethrblaka shrieked as the sword made contact with its brain.

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Saphira clawed at the remaining Lethrblaka's chest, and the thing through itself against her. Eragon was grateful for his saddle, or else he would have been thrown. He had thrown spell after spell at it, and it was growing weaker. Arya's vision cleared, and she yelled as she cut its leg.

Eragon unhooked himself; vaulted over Saphira's back, neck, and then head; and drove Mor'ranr through the distracted Lethrblaka's eye. His hand went deeper into it and hit the brain. The thing howled and crumpled. Eragon pulled out his bloody hand.

He heard two sets of quickened footsteps running towards them. He turned and saw Murtagh coming closer with each bound. A tall, tawny-haired young woman followed closely behind.

He swung himself into a crouch. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Arya doing the same thing beside him.

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Murtagh stared at the sight before him coolly. His eyes widened suddenly. Thorn had just come through the door, ruby eyes wide with terror.

Murtagh, look out behind you!

Murtagh turned and saw Luce standing extremely close to him. Before he could react, she grabbed his wrist, placed a hand on is forehead, and yelled, "Slytha!"

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Eragon gasped as his brother hit the floor. Luce appeared scared by what she had done. Her black eyes had gone wide.

Traitor! Whore! Thorn projected. Why have you betrayed me? He flew at her. Luce threw herself upon the ground and moved away. Thorn's eyes had gone black. Galbatorix had taken control through his oath.

Saphira and Iormungr all went for him at once. The ruby dragon fought until he had been hard against the wall several times and knocked unconscious.

Luce looked at Eragon. "Don't kill them!" she begged pointing at Murtagh and then Thorn.

Eragon couldn't comprehend this. "You knocked him out!" he protested.

Roran had returned, carrying an unconscious Katrina. So had Ardis, Kazul, and Vanir.

"He needed to be captured. Please, I think you can help break his oath at the Varden. There is a way," Luce pleaded. She looked desperate.

Arya spook up this time. "We cannot take that kind of risk," she replied coolly.

Luce laughed. It was something between bitter and hysterical. "He really can trust no one. I am his friend, and I help capture him. His dragon could not help him. You, Eragon, are his brother. He saved your life in Gi'ead. The same goes for you, Arya. You're elves and riders. Do you dare tell me you cannot find someway to negate an oath? I found my way with help. Who's to say he cannot find his? At least I am willing to try that much."

"You insult us," Vanir stated coolly.

Ardis stepped forward. "Why do we not give him a chance?" she inquired.

Vanir only thought. He did not respond.

"Why not?" Luce demanded. "I am sure you could help him. At least take him there and try."

"What is the harm in trying? Do you really think he could harm us with all the protection we have?" Ardis added.

"No!" Arya protested.

"We shall try," Eragon spoke up suddenly.

Vanir nodded reluctantly in agreement. "Another rider could only help us. We can kill him if he becomes dangerous," he acknowledged.

Luce opened her mouth to protest.

"What would you have us do?" Vanir demanded angrily.

Luce sighed. "I accept your conditions. I will join the Varden unless you kill him. If you don't, I'll leave Alagaësia," Luce stated.

"Agreed," Eragon put in.

Murtagh began to stir. "Help me put him back to sleep," Luce begged.

Eragon and Luce both put their hands over his head. They muttered, "Slytha."

"He'll stay sleeping for a day," Luce muttered. She went to Ardis and helped her heal the wounds she'd sustained in her fight with the Lethrblaka.

Eragon pulled Murtagh into Saphira's saddle, and Roran mounted behind him holding the injured, unconscious Katrina.

Birgit and Vanir mounted Iormungr behind Luce, and Arya flew on Kazul with Ardis.

What have I done? Luce asked Iormungr.

You did what you needed to do, the green dragon replied coldly.

I think we're all mad at Luce for what she did. I was mad at her. She's very confused right now. She's having a breakdown in coming chapters. Next chapter, you find out why Galbatorix wanted Arlena, Mort, and all those people. You also find out what Líf fra Andlát is. Plus, Claudius, Siloa, Alexandros, Sanchez, Derek, and Deandra get to the Varden (maybe).

I want seven reviews because that battle scene was hard to write. If you think it sucked, feel free to say it. Here are the review responses.

Irish Maid: Thanks.

Parnagan: I guess it wasn't my best, but I'm glad you still liked it.

Teenchic2004: I don't either because they don't have DNA testing and it wouldn't work anyway because the potential fathers are related. They had to get away; they just didn't have the opportunity until then. I think it's sad how many people go, "Who is the Birgit of whom you speak?" and forget that she wanted to kill the Ra'zac. P.S. Do you think she should try to kill Roran when they get back from Helgrind?

Vixen Hood: Yeah, he does.

Frosted-Pink: Thanks. I will.

Amantine: Thanks. I hoped you liked this update.