Whole New World
I feel a tug at my shoulder, Murtagh is waking me up. I open my eyes, the sun is shining bright, it hurts, but I don't care. I feel a blanket of protection in Murtagh's presence, more than I've ever felt before, I don't know why.
"How much longer?" I ask.
"Two days at the most." He replies. "Let's keep riding, we'll stop again before nightfall, so we can get a good night's rest and to give the horses a break."
I nod and hug Amalyia.
"Hugs are always appreciated." I hear someone whisper.
I immediately take my arms away from her neck.
"What's the matter?" He asks curiously.
"I thought I just heard...oh nevermind. "
Could it really be I thought? Amalyia talking to me?"
"Did she say something to you, miss?"
"How did you know?"
"You have powers, miss, one's that you can't even imagine, though most are dangerous, some are beautiful and fun. The power of tongues is one of them."
I stare at him blankly. I have powers I thought, impossible.
"Nothing is impossible, Jade." Amalyia whispers in my mind.
"Powers, you mean like magic?" I ask Murtagh.
He nods. " You can talk to animals and can speak almost any dialect, Elvish and even Dwarvish. Listen to your horse, she is wise."
"I will."
"Good." I hear her say.
"You are not curious, miss Jade? About your other powers?"
"I am, but for now I am content."
We ride until dusk and settle down in a small cave, just big enough to have a small fire and two people to lay down side by side.
"Wait here, I'll be back with some fire wood."
I unsaddle Amaliya and brush her soft velvety white coat. I scratch her withers and she whinnies softly.
"Tickle?" I ask her.
"It feels good." I laugh with her. Five minutes later Murtagh comes back with some fire wood.
"Now to start a fire." He said looking around for something to use.
"Brisingr." Amalyia says.
"What's that?" I reply.
"The ancient word for fire, now trust in yourself and repeat after me. Brisingr."
I kneel over next to Murtagh, and say Brisingr aloud. Fire sparks arise from the wood and then a steady flame. I feel weak afterwards and almost fall over, but Murtagh catches me.
"Power, drains your energy, until you learn to build that up , you must keep it at a minimum." He says looking down at me."
"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind."
"Here eat some bread." He hands a piece of bread and then a plate of meat.
"What is it?"
"Rabbit." He replies. "Its rather good, but if you don't want it, I'll give it to my ho..."
"No, it looks great, thanks." He nods and smiles.
After our meal we lay down to sleep. I feel that Murtagh is uncomfortable, laying so close to me, but I don't care, I feel safe.
"You like him don't you?" Amalyia asks giggling.
"No." I shot back.
"Yes, you do, he is a good young man. Don't be afraid." She says.
"Good-night, Amalyia."
"Sleep well, dear one."
I wake up and notice Murtagh and I are really close to eachother. He opens his eyes and gets up quickly.
"Morning miss, I didn't think you'd be up so early." He says putting his shirt and vest back on.
"Sorry, if I woke you."
"Its okay, we should get an early start. We'll eat something later."
We saddle the horses, and get back on the trail.
"Why do you call me miss?"
"Because I am just your collector miss..sorry Jade. I'm following orders to get you to the Varden."
"The Varden? Who are they?"
"No more questions, you will know soon, enough."
"He's afraid." Amalyia tells me.
"Of what?"
"Of you, he's afraid of getting too close to you, and that scares him. He wants the one thing he cannot have."
"But even the lowest of the low, are entitled to some happiness, aren't they."
"Yes, he is not of low stature, his father was once a great ruler, but then he betrayed his people. He craved power, and in the end it destroyed him."
"So you mean he's a prince?"
"He walked away from that role, a long time ago, he hates his father for what he did to him."
"What did he do? What happened to his father?"
"His father left him a scar and a legacy of deceit."
"Why? I don't understand."
"I've said too much, I'm sorry, but we'll talk later."
"Very well." I say back to her.