Hello everyone,
It's hard not to see the finish line and look back at things that could have been done, scenes that would have helped the story, and things like that. But, and I've said this before, this story is my favorite out of the two I am writing because it really showcases the improvements and the failures in my writing. I thought it might be shameful, but it actually fills me with pride going back and reading early chapters.
Anyway, enough rambling. Authors note at the bottom.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
The burrow worms crawled into me.
Then a mind, the size and power of the sun battered into my mind. I was a helpless sandcastle against a tsunami. He washed my defenses away, the first time outside of training, that someone had forced their way into my mind.
I did not like it.
Luckily, that was when the visions started.
It was not like a dream at all. The ground crunched under my black boot, it sounded like glass cracking.
It is glass. I realized looking down. My eyes trailed back upwards and my point of view twisted to show my body. As if I was hovering in front of myself.
My normal dirty blonde hair was replaced with blood red, to match my eyes. In my right hand I held a twisted version of Fram and a bright white light hovered above my left shoulder.
A shade? I wondered before it hit me.
No, a Bonded. The answer came to me, except it wasn't me speaking. The idea hit me, what I might have been if my ancestors had bonded with spirits instead of Dragons.
My point of view shifted again to show the army at my back, an army of men built like me, with varying colors of hair, obviously more Bonded. Faces I recognized from my own army, and my friends.
I was thrown back into the eyes of my doppelganger. I looked up and saw two dragons diving towards my body. One sapphire blue, another blood red, and I knew their riders. Fire rained down on me, and with a twist of my arm, it twisted around me and grew to epic proportions, taking the form of a snake and launching back to the Riders.
The scene shifted quickly.
A scream, the type that doesn't just pierce your ear but your soul also, tore into me. It stopped suddenly.
Elva. I recognized the scream. My heart wrenched and I let out a cry of my own, knowing why her scream stopped so suddenly.
I tried to turn but realized there was something around my neck and wrists. I was kneeling, unable to look in any other direction besides forward. Then Galbatorix walked forward, a spear in one hand.
A spear that had bisected Elva, and he started at the bottom.
There are no words to describe the emotion that ran through my body.
The vision melted away and instantly I realized that I was back in the real world, back in my own body.
And I had subconsciously been casting magic. I cut the flow off immediately, feeling the drain on my tired body.
"I will rip your heart out with my bare hands." I stated to the man in front of me.
He didn't even listen to my statement, instead he was studying me with a smile on his face. As if I was his new thing to dissect and figure out.
"Oh my." Galbatorix said out loud and laughed.
I could feel liquid start to run down my face out of my eyes, nose and ears, but it was not tears. If I could have seen it, it would have been greenish black in color. It was what was left of the burrow worms. It must have been a menacing sight, combined with the rage on my face.
"No one has ever broken through the worms before." He commented while twisting his head. "And you should not be able to access your magic through the drugs."
"I metabolize things quicker than anyone alive." I told him, leading him away from the real reason the drugs didn't work.
He can't discover the truth, my whole plan relies on it. I remembered for a moment before I forced myself to think about something else, in case he attacked my mind.
"We'll have to increase the amount fed to you then!" Galbatorix exclaimed with a clap and a happy smile. "You continue to impress, Stronghammer. Please, keep it up."
"The last thing you see, will be your still beating heart, in my hand." I couldn't help it, the words just came out.
I expected a back hand, anything to remind me where I was. I didn't expect his smile to get bigger, a feat I thought impossible.
"That would be truly remarkable, wouldn't it."
Now his insanity is peeking through. I realized as I looked into his eyes.
"The first vision was disappointing, to be honest, nothing torturous, just what could have happened if you had turned to sorcery. That's the problem with the worms, you can't control what they make you see. It all comes back to the victim. Those visions were yours, Stronghammer." Galbatorix told me, the smile dropping. His eyes roamed over my face to see my reaction.
"Tell me, why would your mind produce that horrid image of that little girl? The blessed one?" Galbatorix asked.
I'm not so stupid to think that I produced that image. The worms must pull out fears and show them to you how you imagine it. I deduced from the vision, unwilling to let Galbatorix beat me into submission with guilt.
His face changed again, this time into a frown. "I should have known that wouldn't work. Not with a mind like yours. Has anyone described to you how your mind feels?"
That was actually an intriguing thought, because no one ever had. I imagine it feels very different to a normal human.
"The first thing I noticed was the pure strength it holds, it is endearing, truly." Galbatorix began. "And then the depth takes you by surprise. As if you spent a whole lifetime learning and solidifying who you are. One could mistake you as an old man just by the feel of your mind."
That makes perfect sense. I thought about the description.
"Do you know who it reminds me of?" Galbatorix asked.
Oh, here it comes.
"Me."
Couldn't be more predictable.
"The more you come to see me, the more I find ways to hate you." I told him, not reacting at all to his bait.
"Hmmm, fair enough. I think that will be all for today, it's been quite stressful for you and informative for me." Galbatorix said and walked out, still holding that magic that kept me confined to the table spread out.
Fuck you.
*Brom's POV*
I'm too old for this shit.
I couldn't help myself as I walked to the meeting of the other leaders. I was not looking forward to the interaction that would take place.
I have enough trouble keeping Orrin in line. I remembered. He must have been terrified by Roran.
I passed the fields full of marching soldiers. Jormundur was busy yelling orders and obscenities at the legions surrounding him. He is perfect for the position.
I looked at his grey beard and was reminded of my own, once glorious beard. I stopped and looked down at myself, clenching and unclenching muscles that had once left me. My hand reached up to the skin around my face. Where once it was thin and loose around my frame, it now sat strong and tight around my features.
It's amazing what purpose, exercise, and magic can do to a man. I told myself for what felt like the one hundredth time since Roran and I left Carvahall years ago.
I continued my journey after gathering myself and squaring my shoulders while looking towards the direction of the hill the meeting would take place on.
Hrothgar is already there. I thought, picking out his lone form.
I picked up the pace, tardiness has always bothered me. The lack of a sword on my belt felt odd, after all this time carrying one, but the weight of Aren on my finger reassured me that I was not weaponless.
"Brom." Hrothgar called out once I got close enough. "When will you tell me the secrets of youth? Please don't tell me it's that piss the elves drink?"
I couldn't help but laugh at my old friend. My laughter was immediately replaced with guilt because of his inability for magic, and thus the key to youth.
"That piss is just as good as what you dwarves drink to get you piss drunk!" I teased back at him.
"Well then I might need to give it another try eh?" The old dwarf king chuckled back to me. "No doubt, the dragons are to blame for your youth. They never had love for us dwarves, or the ground at all really. The sky is where they belong."
Well the dragons are responsible, actually. In a roundabout way. I thought to myself about his comments.
"Aye, and I would be much the same if you dwarves weren't so good at drinking." I joked. The dwarves had been a friend to me for a long time now.
His laughter roared out again just as Orrin decided to show up. I ignored him for the elf approaching behind him.
I touched my fingers to my mouth and greeted Islanzadi as expected for one of her station. She and her companion, Dathedr, responded in the typical response. I did not add the last line, intentionally.
"Islanzadi, Dathedr." I nodded my head at both of them. They noticed my cold greeting immediately.
"Well that is to be expected I suppose." Islanzadi commented. "I have brought a gift, Brom. Before you object, just ask Glaedr. Oromis wanted you to have it."
Glaedr is with Eragon, to guide him. I thought to myself but didn't reveal the information.
At those words, an unnamed, unfamiliar elf approached, holding a long cylindrical object wrapped in fine linen.
A sword. I deduced immediately. Naegling no doubt. Don't let it catch you off guard. I steeled myself as Islanzadi took the object and unwrapped it.
Sure enough, Oromis' Rider sword revealed itself in her hands. She wasted no time in offering it to me. I felt anger that I hadn't felt in a long time, the type of anger that fueled my campaign against Galbatorix and the Thirteen.
I grabbed the sword from her hands, not because of my want for it but because she did not deserve to touch it.
"A gift, you say? A bribe I would think." I gritted out to her before drawing the weapon.
I was instantly surrounded by swords from elves and dwarves alike. I was not intimidated, my eyes stayed on Islanzadi.
"Lower your weapons." Hrothgar commanded and his dwarves obeyed, the three elves didn't.
My gaze said everything. You betrayed Roran.
"You can not blame me!" Islanzadi hissed out, not bothering to pretend she didn't know what this was all about . "They are mirror images of each other."
I turned to the guards who still had their swords drawn at me. "How long do you think you would last?" I asked them.
"Put the swords away." Dathedr commanded his men and they obeyed. "You too Brom."
I eyed him for a moment and cutting him down seemed like a fantastic idea, but I thought better of it and sheathed Naegling. I took my belt off and attached the magnificent blade with practiced hands before putting it on my hip. It's weight felt perfect.
"I vouched for him, Oromis was wary but believed in him after a while. Barzul Islanzadi! Even Rhunon approved!" I replied to her finally.
Hrothgar cut in. "And I too, gave him my blessing."
Orrin, if you say one word I will gut you. I couldn't help but think as I got a handle on my anger.
"He is closer to Evander, than he is Galbatorix." I told her, bringing my attention back to her.
She visibly recoiled as if it was my hand that hit her instead of my words. She recovered quickly.
"He has obviously been the right choice." She finally responded. "I was wrong."
I nodded in acceptance, not quite sure if she was genuine or not. It does not matter. I concluded.
"Good. Now we didn't meet to talk about the past, but the future." Hrothgar cut in, tired of the talk.
I glared at Islanzadi and buried my anger. Something I didn't learn to do until Selena taught me.
"Aye."
*Roran POV*
My cell door opened and I mentally prepared myself for another day of torture. Instead of the mad king, my cousin walked in.
"He will not come today." Murtagh began as he walked over to me.
He grabbed my arms and turned them over. Bright red and black burn marks marred my arms, but I did not wince at the skin being agitated from his rough treatment.
"Do not heal them." I told him, guessing where his mind was going. "I can handle a little pain, Galbatorix must not catch on to you."
He paused his movements. "What about deadening the pain? I have gotten good at that."
The painless soldiers. I guessed.
"No." I answered quickly. "I'll endure. You need to focus on you."
"I have been doing what you said, it feels good, to be in control." Murtagh whispered, his fear of his master getting to him.
"It will not be enough. We don't have much time." I responded.
His eyes flashed with panic and he backed away from me. "Yes, I know. I am close though. I can feel it."
"Good." I answered quickly, even if it was the placebo effect, it could work to our advantage. "Now we need to delve a little deeper."
He turned to me. "What do you mean?" Murtagh asked.
"I think, given a few days, I could also learn your true name, cousin." I began. "I get to do a lot of thinking in this room."
"Don't!" He begged quickly. "Please don't prove it."
"I won't." I answered, appeasing him. "It is unnatural to have such power over a man." I revealed.
"Good." Murtagh breathed.
"What is the emotion that rules you most?" I asked him, already knowing the answer.
He looked away from me, and started pacing the room. "Anger." He answered.
"Don't lie to me!" I barked, not entertaining his delusion. "You have heard your true name, you know the answer."
He stopped in his tracks and was about to answer before I beat him to it.
"Fear." I said, revealing that I know the truth. "Although anger is a close third."
"If you know so much about me, just say my name, and free me from his bonds." Murtagh requested, hope seeping into his voice.
"I can not contest the power he has over you. He probably has wards on your true name just like he has on his own." I shot his proposal down. "It has to be you."
He put his hands on the table and hung his head, defeated.
"You're doing good, keep taking control of the physical aspects around you. But we must start on the mental aspects too." I said trying to encourage him.
"You said they were one and the same." Murtagh retorted.
"They reflect each other, but it will not change the substance in your mind." I answered.
He took a deep breath. "What do I need to do?"
I also took a deep breath knowing I was about to unload a bunch of shit on him. "Well, let's start by not lying to ourselves. You can't change who you are until you know who you are." I reasoned.
If you know your true name, then you literally have to know who you are. Shouldn't be hard. I thought to myself.
"I only lied to you, because I was afraid you would find my name. I know who I am." Murtagh told me confidently.
"Good." I said having no choice but to believe him. "Now we need to change how you think, how you reason, how you react to problems, everything. Why do you think you are in the position you are?" I asked him.
"Because of my father, and Thorn." Murtagh answered quickly, telling me he was telling the truth.
"That's a problem. You have a victim mentality." I said, not willing to pull my punches. "Let's go more recently. You were a free man, right?"
"Yes."
"And then you wanted revenge for your father figure, so you chased after the Ra'zac. Once you were done and they were dead, you could have walked away." I said trying to lead him to the answer.
"Aye." He agreed.
"Why didn't you?" I asked.
"I chose to follow you…" Murtagh said and was about to elaborate before I interrupted.
"Exactly! You chose." I began. "And then after that you chose, and then there was another decision you made. So did I, and so did Eragon, and so did Brom, and so did Galbatorix. We all choose. This is how you need to look at situations from now on. You made a decision that led to this. And now you need to make a decision on how to deal with it. You understand?" I asked.
He looked confused and I realized I wasn't articulating it properly.
"Not really." Murtagh answered.
"What I mean to say is that the only thing we can control, is our own actions. Nothing happens to you, things happen because of you. Get it now?" I explained.
"That doesn't apply to everything though, surely you can see that things happen to you." Murtagh objected.
"That is only true in the rarest of circumstances. And even then, it does no one any good to dwell on someone else's actions. Control what you can control! Shoulder the responsibility of your own being Murtagh. Treat yourself as if you are someone you are responsible for." I told him, genuinely trying to get my point across.
His head picked up and looked at me. His eyebrows were scrunched together. "I think I get it, I understand what you mean by the victim mentality."
"Good." I answered happy that I hadn't fucked the second explanation up. "Life is chaos, Murtagh. We are defined by how well we navigate that chaos."
Murtagh just nodded his head at me and moved to leave.
"Wait, Murtagh." I told him.
He turned back to me with a questioning gaze, wondering why I stopped him.
"Has he taught you the Name?" I was the one whispering this time.
Murtagh's eyes widened and he sucked in a huge breath of air. "How do you know about that?! Don't ask me anymore questions about it!"
"It's no secret that he has been searching for it." I told him, trying to make up a lie as to how I know it. "He wouldn't be so confident in his victory if he didn't have it."
"Stop speaking about it." Murtagh told me again. "My oaths…" And then his mouth shut audibly.
Wow his oaths must be extremely limiting if he can't even speak about it. I realized seeing his reaction.
"Good." I told him, confident that he not only knew about it, but knew it. "All hope is not lost then."
Murtagh looked at me like I had grown a second head. "How can you think that if you know? His power is absolute!" He exclaimed.
That's no way to live life. There is always hope. I thought to myself.
"It only controls the language, cousin. Not magic itself." I reasoned with him. "With power to rival him, all you would need is the right mind after that to compete with him."
Murtagh threw his hands up. "Yea exactly, there isn't any power to rival him!" He said confidently.
"Of course there is." I retorted. "Enough people working together, linking their minds and energy together could see it done."
"Even still, it might not be enough." Murtagh said.
I knew that it was impossible, you would have to link close to a hundred-thousand minds together, and keep them seperate as you took their energy. There weren't enough trained magicians in the world capable of holding that many minds separate, let alone do it while taking and using the energy. Like I said. Impossible.
I had a few ulterior motives for revealing this to inspire hope into Murtagh, but also to mislead Galbatorix as to my plans for the battle. Murtagh will report back to him, and Galbatorix will note my use of the idea. If he thought that I would try to use the power of all of the Varden then he wouldn't realize that all of my plans rode on Eragon. Misdirection.
I still have no idea how we will do it. I admitted to myself. But if I can get Murtagh to change, then we will have a real shot.
"It will be enough. It has to."
*Eragon's POV*
The weight of the minds connected mine was almost unbearable.
I can't imagine how Galbatorix does it, and with insane eldunari at that. I couldn't help but think.
Umaroth answered me quickly. He does not think as other humans do. When his bonded died, it warped him. He delved into magic forbidden, and learned many things. We have pondered on it ourselves.
I didn't have long to ponder on the answer as light filtered into my vision.
"We're almost to the surface." I said aloud, wanting to take my focus off of the minds connected to my own.
To Ilirea, for vengeance or death. Umaroth commented.
I subconsciously sped up at the excitement in the dragons mind at the prospect of battle.
A/N: Boom!
Murtagh ...oh Murtagh. The world rests on your shoulder and you don't even know it.
On another note. The army is together and planning the assault. Brom isn't taking Islazadi's shit. And Eragon has the Eldunari. Things are coming together.
What do we think about Brom getting Naegling, and the reveal that Glaedr would be with him if it wasn't for wanting to lead Eragon to the Rock of Kuthian? Roran's torture? Murtagh?
Let's talk about it in the reviews!