For those of you that were wondering, the part that underwent major changes in the previous chapter was the part where I talk to Murtagh in his cell. Stay tuned for a sneak peek of our LOST story, Perdu. Although I'm considering making the title all caps.
The Confrontation (Brittany's chapter)
The rest of the day was spent overlooking the soldiers and giving a hand in training them.
"Well, at least they can hold a sword," Brittany grimaced, watching a group of soldiers use their sword as a back-scratcher.
"Oh, this is a disaster! We'll all be slaughtered by Galbatorix's army! They are trained professionally and have bloodlust in their hearts," Tamara moaned.
"We need to strengthen our defenses. Galbatorix always makes the first attack, and it's always a crippling blow," Brom informed.
"Well, then, obviously an attack on Uru-baen is out of the question," Brittany said, swinging her sword around absently.
"Then we need to draw him out and fight him here," Tamara said, breaking off into her thoughts.
"We can think of that later, right now, let's eat," Brom said, dragging Brittany with him.
"But what about the army?" Brittany asked.
"I'm hungry," Brom complained.
Brittany rolled her eyes. "Come on, Tamara."
They had dinner and talked of military manners. They discovered that they had at least ten thousand men in their ranks, but that wasn't enough against fifty thousand of Galbatorix's well-trained army.
Tamara, who had gone back to inspect the troops without eating anything, came back a little more relaxed. She saw Brittany and Brom putting away their dishes. Hands on her hips, she said sadly, "Where's my dinner?" Brittany turned to her and shrugged. Tamara began searching through the cupboards and kept asking, "Where's my dinner?"
"Here, have some left over steak," Brom handed her a plate.
"Thanks, I'm starving. I smelled a meatloaf coming from Nasuada's place. I almost climbed in the window," Tamara chuckled.
"Sheesh, you're taking this battle really seriously," Brittany whistled.
"Well, one of us has to. We're in charge now, we can't make mistakes or it's our head! We hold all of these peoples' lives in our hands now. That's a lot of pressure!" Tamara snapped.
"Relax, let's just take it one step at a time. We still need to figure out where to have this battle," Brittany pointed out.
"I know! The Spine Mountains! Galbatorix's men are superstitious. They'll fear every sound, from a crow's cry to the snapping of a twig. We could place the troops inside caves and on ledges and take out the soldiers one by one. Eventually, they're fear will overcome them, and they'll start making silly mistakes," Brom smiled in triumph.
Brittany pumped her fist into the air in victory. "Yes! We have a heading! Thanks hon." She pecked Brom's cheek.
"Sounds good, but we have to leave tomorrow. This needs a lot of planning, and we need to know the lay of the land. I'll rally the troops and head for the Spine on the morrow, alright?" Tamara asked, finishing her food.
"Perfectly so," Brittany grinned.
"Right, I'll inform the soldiers," Tamara said, scooting out of the kitchen.
"And I'm going to sleep. Night Brom." Brittany kissed him and left.
Walking down the hall, Brittany thought she heard someone following her. She turned and found the hallway completely empty. Sighing, she said, "Brom, you can stop following me now. I think I'm perfectly safe walking down a hallway."
Brom came out from the corner of the hallway and said, "You can't be too careful."
Brittany took his hand and led him to her room. "Sit," she commanded, pointing to a wooden chair. She sat and waited curiously to hear what she had to say.
Noticing the look of apprehension on her face, Brom chuckled. "You're not going to give me the birds and bees talk, are you?"
Brittany smiled, easing the tension a little. "No, but I have to ask you something."
"What is it, dear?" he asked, pulling her into his lap.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and played with his hair. "I need you to stop following me. It's getting a little ridiculous."
Brom looked away. "I have to. When they took you, I felt so guilty. You asked me that night to stay with you, but I insisted that I sleep in my own room. I could have saved you. None of it would have happened. Murtagh would be with us, and we wouldn't be marching to our deaths."
"Our deaths? Brom, we are always marching to our deaths. It is inevitable. We all die some day."
"But before we can really enjoy our lives? It's not fair! You have no idea how it felt when I woke up the next morning to find you gone without a trace. Every day was spent in agony, wondering if you were alive, of what they were doing to you. I couldn't sleep, I was plagued by nightmares of your screaming into the dark and me not being able to find you. So, don't you say I'm not allowed to follow you, to protect you, because there is no way in hell I'm ever going through that experience again." He rested his head against her chest, holding her tight around the waist. She put her face against the top of his head, burying it in his thick, brownish grey hair.
"I won't let them take me again, I promise," she cooed in his ear.
He relaxed and looked up at her. He nodded and smiled sadly. "Come on, let's get to sleep."
They collapsed onto the bed and held each other tightly throughout the night.
Brom woke the nexdt morning to find Brittany missing from his side. He sprang up and looked wildly around him. Just as he was about to jump out of the bed, Brittany came into the room carrying a bunch of trays.
"Honey, I'm home," she greeted.
Brom took a big breath of relief and sank into the bed. "Where were you?"
"I went to the kitchen to cook us breakfast. The sad thing is, I can only make pancakes, so if you want bacon, you'll have to steal it from someone." She laid the tray on the bed and gave Brom a big, warm stack of pancakes. "Here's some syrup, though I bet it's not as good as Mrs. Butterworth's."
"Mrs. Butterworth's?" Brom questioned.
Brittany was about to answer, but a blank look came across her face. "I don't remember."
"That hasn't happened in a while. You know, sometimes I forget you're not from here. But then I remember that you're totally out of this world," he grinned.
Brittany playfully slapped him. "No pick-up lines from you, Mister! Yeah, sometimes I forget myself, which is why I think it happens. Some…force on this world wants me to forget my past and live a new one in this world. I wish I knew why."
"I have heard you be called Argetlam before. Perhaps one day you'll find out who you really are. Whether you are Brittany or Argetlam. Do you know what it means?"
Brittany paused. "Silver Hand."
"Yes. It fits you well. You are my equal in sword fighting." Brom smiled.
"I don't know about that. I think I'm better than you," Brittany said, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Maybe, but I bet I can best you at one thing," he smiled devilishly.
"And what's that?"
Brom's smile turning into a hungry smirk. He pulled her into the bed with him and covered them under the sheets. He pinned her against the bed and kissed her along her jaw line and neck. "Wow, you haven't even eaten yet," Brittany panted.
"Which is good for you. If I had, you'd be screaming by now," Brom murmured nonchalantly.
Brittany's eyes widened, his very words were making her go crazy with desire.
His hand crept lower and lower down her waist. Just as it was about to move up her dress, they heard an uncomfortable and embarrassed voice stammer, "Oh! I, uh…just wanted to let you two know that we're ready to go."
Brittany and Brom peeked their heads over the covers and saw Tamara looking anywhere but at the bed. "Thank you, Tamara," Brittany said, just as awkwardly.
Tamara nodded and quickly left. Brom laid back and sighed sadly. "You know, I'm starting to think the universe doesn't want us to have sex," he growled.
Brittany laughed and kissed him quickly on the mouth. "Waiting makes the sex all the more pleasurable," she purred. "Come on, we better get down there."
Brom ate on the way down while Brittany buckled his sword on his waist. "Stop moving so much," she ordered, gritting her teeth.
"I can't help it; I'm walking," he huffed.
"Well, move less when you walk!" With a huge effort, Brittany was finally able to hook his sword on.
"Took you guys long enough," Tamara scolded, tapping her toe with impatience.
"Sorry," they said together.
"Whatever. Soldiers, to the Spine! March!" Tamara bellowed. The troop, in rows and columns of five, marched determinedly down the road, smiling at friends and loved ones as they went.
"You know, you choose very inopportune moments to have sex," Tamara mumbled to Brittany.
"Sex? Oh no, we weren't going to have sex," Brittany laughed.
"No? Then what were you doing underneath those sheets? Playing Marco Polo?"
"Look, Brom won't have sex with me until he feels that I'm ready. In other words, we're not going to have sex until after we're married. It's just the way I grew up," Brittany shrugged.
"Well then, that was the biggest make out session I've ever seen," Tamara smirked.
"Yeah, we're pretty good at it now," Brittany joked.
"Apparently."
"So, how are we going to get Galbatorix to fight us at the Spine? He isn't stupid, he'll suspect some sort of trap," Brittany changed the subject, while watching Edoc'sil and Nalia fly above them.
"Ah-ha!" Tamara brought forth a letter.
It read: Dear Galbatorix,
As I'm sure you know, you have been out beaten by a group of Dragon Riders. The leaders of this group, being us, two girls. We're sure this angers and humiliates you, if it doesn't, then it should! Anyway, we strongly feel that the time has come for a final confrontations, the last battle of all Alagaesia history. We will be waiting for you in the Spine, nancy-boy. Don't keep us waiting.
Sincerely, your enemies,
Tamara and Brittany
"Great letter! He'll surely attack us now!" Brittany grinned.
The next day, a group of Urgals sent the letter to Galbatorix. The Urgals never returned, which made Tamara and Brittany believe that he was, in fact, furious. The troop was starting to feel weary and footsore.
"Hmm, I think a song should cheer them up." Brittany pulled out a guitar.
"Where did you get that?" Tamara asked.
"…I don't know," Brittany replied, puzzled. "Anyway, I know the perfect song. It always gets me to dance around."
"What is it?"
"You'll know it as soon as I start, and please jump in. It's a duet."
Brittany cleared her throat: Listen, Baby, ain't no mountain high, ain't no valley low, ain't no river wide enough, baby.
Tamara smiled and joined. If you need me, call me, no matter where you are. No matter how far.
Brittany: Don't worry baby.
Tamara: Just call my name. I'll be there in a hurry. You don't have to worry.
Brittany and Tamara chorused: 'Cause baby, there ain't no mountain high enough. Ain't no valley low enough. Ain't no river wide enough to keep me from getting to you baby.
Brittany: Remember the day I set you free. I said you could always count on me, darling. From that day on, I made a vow, I'll be there when you want me, some way, some how.
Both: 'Cause baby, there ain't no mountain high enough. Ain't no valley low enough. Ain't no river wide enough. To keep me from getting to you baby.
Brittany: Oh, no darling!
Tamara: No wind, no rain or winter cold can stop me baby.
Brittany: No, no baby!
Tamara: Cause you are my soul!
Brittany: If you're ever in trouble, I'll be there on the double. Just send for me baby.
Both: Oh, baby!
Tamara: My love is alive. Deep down in my heart. Although we are miles apart.
Brittany: If you ever need a helping hand, I'll be there on the double, just as fast as I can.
Both: Don't you know that there ain't no mountain high enough? Ain't no valley low evough. Ain't no river wide enough to keep me from getting to you baby. Don't you know that there ain't no mountain high enough? Ain't no valley low enough. Ain't no river wide enough. Ain't no mountain high enough. Ain't no valley low enough…"
They ended the song. The men grinned at them appreciatively and held their heads higher. To Brittany and Tamara's surprise, the soldiers broke out into song…
For a long time we've been
marching off to battle
In our thundering herd
We feel a lot like cattle
Like the pounding beat
Our aching feet aren't easy to ignore
Hey, think of instead
A girl worth fighting for
Huh?
That's what I said
A girl worth fighting for
I want her paler than the moon with eyes that shine like stars
My girl will marvel at my strength, adore my battle scars
I couldn't care less what she'll wear or what she looks like
It all depends on what she cooks like
Beef, pork, chicken
Mmm
Bet the local girls thought
You were quite the charmer
And I'll bet the ladies love a man in armor
You can guess what we have missed the most
Since we went off to war
What do we want?
A girl worth fighting for
My girl will think I have no faults
That I'm a major find!
Brittany and Tamara called: How 'bout a girl who's got a brain who always speaks her mind?
The guys looked at each other and shook their heads: Nah!
my manly ways and turn of phrase are sure to thrill her
He thinks he's such a lady killer
I've a girl back home who's unlike any other
Yeah, the only girl who'd love him is his mother!
But when we come home in victory
They'll line up at the door
What do we want?
A girl worth fighting for
Wish that I had
A girl worth fighting for
A girl worth fighting--
They cut off abruptly at the sight before them. The Spine Mountains, just a few miles ahead of them, was inaccessible due to Galbatorix's army charging at them. "No, how did they get here before us?" Brittany asked in disbelief.
"I'm afraid we've misjudged Galbatorix's military intelligence," Brom growled.
"Okay, then we have to fight here. To the death!" Tamara rose her sword in the air.
"The death," Brom and Brittany echoed, touching the tips of their swords with Tamara's, forming a triangle.
Brittany smiled, but it quickly vanished when she noticed a huge red blob coming straight for them.
"Tamara, look," she said slowly, a look of sadness and disappointment on her face.
Tamara turned and her heart gave a painful jolt as she saw Murtagh, astride Thorn, leading the army and heading right for them, a look of determination and anger on his face.
Cliffhanger! Tell me, what did you guys think? A few disclaimers: We obviously don't own Eragon. We also don't own "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." I don't know who owns that song, although I am familiar with it. We don't own "A Girl Worth Fighting For," which is from the Disney movie, Mulan. Love that movie. We had to watch it in French a while ago. The joke of, "Where's my dinner?" at the beginning of the chapter is from the movie Pleasantville.
Check out our profile for a sneak peek at the next chapter. Also, at the bottom of this page, I am putting a sneak peek at Perdu (as I said above) that's not already out. I just feel like I have to prove that it gets better. Even though the response for it has been very good so far.
This is from chapter nineteen of Perdu, entitled: Phantasmagoria
When Richard had left, the entourage in the closet tumbled out.
"Tamara!" Brittany exclaimed in surprise.
"Hey," Tamara said, straightening up. "Why are you sleeping on the floor of Benry's room?"
"Well, he's mad at me and won't let me sleep with him in his room, so I come in here every night to make sure he doesn't die or something like that," Brittany exclaimed.
"Why's he mad at you?" Tamara asked.
"Look at his face." Tamara did so and she saw that someone (and she had a very shrewd idea who) had drawn a lightning bolt on Benryjamin's forehead.
"Oh my god! It's Harry Potter!" She yelped cheerfully.
"I do not look like Harry Potter!" Benry snapped.
"Maybe you should've thought of that when you went glasses shopping," Tamara shrugged.
"So, Tamara, what brings you here?" Brittany asked as John and Ben began to talk about things that nobody cared about.
"I was bored," Tamara said.
"You live on the beach with the plane crash survivors, right?" Brittany asked.
"Yeah," Tamara confirmed. "Speaking of which, can I use the shower?"
If any one of you continues to read our LOST and Harry Potter stories, you'll find that we start randomly pranking people. Pranks, a character named Waldo, and pancakes became a theme for our stories. In Waise Heill, the pranks are, apparently, replaced with songs, as the other two stories aren't musicals.
