A/N: Here it is, up faster than before. I'm rushing to put these up now, because I'm not sure when the third book is coming out, though it's rumored to be this fall!
Disclaimer: Eragon © Christopher Paolini. Duh.
Murtagh slowly opened his eyes, and took in his surroundings. He was in a small room with bare white walls, the paint chipping in many places. The Varden's flag hung over the door. The room was empty except for a small side table and the bed he was in. It was at that point he noticed that he was chained to the bed.
I'm a prisoner once again, he thought bitterly to himself. He felt more alone than ever before, he knew that nobody would be coming to visit him now.
Thorn, where are you? he asked. Thorn? THORN?
No response. He truly was alone.
He tried to turn around in his bed, but the chains restricted him from turning the slightest. He exhaled, and shut his eyes, allowing a restless sleep to overcome him.
--
Taya walked in between two guards, their eyes fixed straight ahead. Wyrda walked behind them, smoke swirling out of his nostrils.
"So, er, where are we going?" she asked tentatively. "Because, I'll have you know, I've just made a very long journey and I-"
"You don't ever close that large mouth of yours, do you?" the guard on her right interjected.
Taya closed and opened her mouth, shocked at the guard's rudeness.
"Gnott!" the one on her left exclaimed.
"What?" Gnott asked. "I found her annoying, so I told her to shut it."
"See," the one on the left said, "this is why Mother always favored me the most!"
Taya blinked. Of all the guards she could have been given, she had to be given the two bickering brothers.
Wyrda, do you find them a bit odd? she asked as the guards continued to argue.
Wyrda eyed them for a moment before saying, Yes, I do.
Taya nodded her head and came to a halt when the guards did.
"Listen up, Ovi, Mother never liked you the best!" Gnott argued.
"Excuse me?" Taya tried to cut in.
"Gnott, you're an imbecile!" Ovi cried.
"EXCUSE ME!" Taya exclaimed again. The two guards stared at her, stunned.
"Who's she?" Gnott asked Ovi.
"Not sure," Ovi responded, eying Taya.
Taya rolled her eyes. "You're both imbeciles!" she cried. "Now, tell me, why'd we stop?"
"I think the better question is why are you with us?" Ovi asked.
Taya took a big breath before gesturing to Wyrda.
"Barzul!" the brothers cried together, and together, took off down the hall.
Taya stared at them, a puzzled look on her face.
Just then, the door was opened by Eragon, who smiled warmly at her and gestured for her to enter.
"What about Wyrda?" Taya asked.
"Have him stick his head through the door," Eragon replied.
Stick my head through the door? If I must...
Wyrda stuck his big head through the small opening in the door.
You alright there? Taya asked.
Yes, I'm fine.
Taya walked forward into the room and took a seat across from a woman, whom she assumed was the leader of the Varden. She had dark brown skin, unlike any Taya had ever seen before, and long, cascading brown hair. Her brown eyes had a sparkle in them, and a sadness at the same time. She smiled at Taya and extended her hand.
"Hello," she said. "My name is Nasuada, leader of the Varden."
Taya shook Nasuada's hand.
"And my name is Taya," she said, then gestured to her dragon, "and that is Wyrda."
Nasuada nodded. She rested her chin on her hands, staring at Taya for a long time. Taya averted her gaze from Nasuada, and instead looked at her hands, which were resting in her lap.
"Ahem," Eragon said. "Should we, perhaps, begin this meeting?"
Nasuada nodded her head. "Taya, I am assuming, because you were flying in this direction, that you wished to join the Varden?"
"Yes."
"Excellent," Nasuada said. "Now, how did you come in possession of your dragon?"
Taya took a big breath before saying, "I was out by the edge of The Spine, when there was a large, booming sound, and then, Wyrda's egg was there."
Nasuada raised her eyebrows at Eragon.
"Similar to the way I received Saphira's egg," Eragon murmured.
"It must have been sent from inside Galbatorix's castle," Nasuada muttered. She grabbed a quill that had been resting on her table and scribbled something on a piece of parchment.
"Tell me," she said, a few moments later, "what made you decide to join the Varden?"
Taya bit her lip. "A cat. A very, very smart cat."
"...A cat?"
Taya nodded her head. "Well, werecat to be exact. She goes by the name of Visii. She knew a lot of things, about dragons and the elves and..."
"She knew about Oromis and Glaedr, Lady Nasuada," Eragon said.
Nasuada raised her eyebrows. "I'll be right back, I'm going to go get Angela."
She left the room, leaving Eragon and Taya alone.
"Who's Angela?" Taya asked, turning to the rider.
Eragon let out a tired sigh. "She's a witch with a werecat. I'm assuming Nasuada thinks that Solembum, her werecat, will know some more about you Visii."
Taya nodded her head.
"What has happened to Murtagh?" she asked tentatively, twirling a piece of her hair around her index finger.
"Right now he's isolated from everyone else, including Thorn," Eragon said. "He'll have a meeting with Nasuada and I later today, to decide what we should do." His voice sounded hurt at these last words. "You must come as well."
"Y-you're not going to kill him, are you?"
Eragon looked up, startled. "No, of course not." He didn't sound as if he believed himself.
--
Later that day, Taya found herself wandering around in the courtyard alone. The meeting with Nasuada had been tiring, she'd found out so much information it was overwhelming. She hadn't been aware that elves and dwarves were also involved in the war; she'd heard rumors, but always thought them to be the ravings of a drunk man. There seemed to be a lot of those in Teirm lately.
Finding out where she would be training was the largest shock to her. Training with the elves themselves had surprised her greatly, and when she had found that out, she touched the pointed tips of her ears. Perhaps she could find out more about her parents during her stay in Du Weldenvarden.
Of course, she was worried about the war that was sure to be coming soon. The Varden didn't know when the Empire would attack next, but whenever it was, they needed to be prepared. After the Empire's last defeat, it was quite possible that Galbatorix would fly in himself. The fact that Taya would be so inexperienced worried Nasuada greatly, and Taya even doubted her's and Wyrda's abilities to do this. It was so much responsibility, and Alagaesia's future rested upon three peoples' shoulders, her's, Eragon's, and Murtagh's.
She came to a halt at a small tree, where she found a cat in one of the branches.
"Visii?" she asked.
The cat snarled.
No, I believe you looked up the wrong branch.
Taya grimaced, realizing this must be the werecat Eragon had spoken of, Solembum.
"No need to be rude," she said out loud.
You must the new rider, I assume.
"Yes. What of it?"
It's rare to see a rider without his or her dragon.
"Are you questioning my relationship with my dragon?"
Of course not.
"You know, I'm beginning to wonder how that witch puts up with you."
You really should be wondering how I put up with her.
"Why?"
She's a bit eccentric.
"Isn't everyone," she said with a sigh, running her hand through her hair. "It's been nice talking to you, but I think I'll go now."
Solembum gave no response, and she turned to leave, heading to Nasuada's office for the meeting.
--
It was at that point, that Murtagh was visited by his brother.
"Brother," Murtagh said as Eragon stepped into the room.
Eragon gave no response, but leaned against the door, an agitated look on his face. It was difficult to tell whether he was cross or worried.
"Are you going to speak?" Murtagh asked. "You chain me to this bed, and yet, you cannot look me in the face?"
Eragon looked up and locked eyes with Murtagh.
"Happy?" he asked bitterly.
"Not until I know what fate has befallen my dragon," Murtagh hissed icily. He hated himself for the way he was acting, but there was no room for kindness when he didn't know where Thorn was.
"Thorn is stable nearby. We ripped apart the stalls so all the dragons could fit, and it was quite a task."
"He's chained up, isn't he," Murtagh whispered.
There was a pause, a moment of pure silence, before Eragon spoke.
"He is."
Murtagh stared at his own chains, and his hatred for them grew stronger.
"I thought I'd be free by listening to him, but it appears all that king speaks of is a lie," Murtagh muttered dejectedly.
Eragon walked over, a silver key in his hand. He placed the key into the shackle and turned, releasing Murtagh's wrists.
"What are you doing?" he asked as Eragon undid the other binds.
"You're going to speak with Lady Nasuada."
Murtagh's cheeks burned as Eragon said this, but followed his brother down the hall, a spell tugging him in the direction of Nasuada's office.
"You needn't pull me with a spell, brother," Murtagh said. "I haven't got anywhere to run to."
"Precautions," Eragon muttered.
Soon, they reached large doors with three guards stationed around it. The halls were wide, and Wyrda and Saphira were crouched in the hall. Murtagh took a deep breath and stepped through the doors, following Eragon.
And for the first time in a long time, he saw Nasuada.
A/N: Okay, done with this. I hope I put it out fast enough for all of you. Anyway, in the last chapter, I apologize for calling Wyrda a girl by accident. I guess I didn't catch it while I was editing. Also, I put this chapter out without editing it (lazy me) so I apologize for anymore gender mix ups. WYRDA IS A GUY. I'd like to thank alsdgg for pointing that out to me.
Now, I'm in need of a new character, and I've seen this done before, so, if you could maybe send me a PM (please do not put it in the comments) on a character, including: name, age, race, appearance, personality, and any interesting facts on this person. Oh, don't forget to mention the gender. Anyway, I'll pick the one I like the best, and do not take it personally if it's not chosen.
Before I update, I'd like 7 reviews. Thanks, much love to all!