Disclaimer: Don't own Eragon.
FINALLY! School's been murder. Rehearsals a bunch too.
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Alycie stirred, opening her eyes blearily and peering around the marble room. Saphira yawned in a corner and Eragon and Murtagh were sitting side by side against the wall facing her. She sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes.
"Has baldy returned?" she asked. Murtagh cracked and shook his head.
"No." Alycie crawled over to them, sitting up by Murtagh. Her stomach grumbled. Murtagh held out a hunk of bread. "I believe this is yours?" She took it gratefully.
"I thought you would have eaten it," she said. She tore off a large piece with her teeth ravenously.
"I knew you would want it later," said Murtagh, his smile fading. "Finding that you've unknowingly befriended a monster for months does cause one to lose their appetite." Alycie's insides squirmed with pity mixed with guilt. She swallowed and looked at him with earnest blue eyes.
"If I reacted badly last night," she began, "I swear I didn't mean it. I don't care what you've done in your past or whose blood runs in your veins. I won't blame you for your father's doings. But I want you to answer me truthfully." She took a deep breath. "Are you toying with my affection for loyalty or for love?" Murtagh understood what she was referring to.
"Undeniably love," he said. "I am not my father."
"I know, but I needed to hear you say it," said Alycie, kissing him.
She stood, walking to the knife that still protruded several inches from the wall. She grasped the hilt, tugging. It didn't budge. Bracing her feet on the wall, Alycie grasped the dagger with both hands, pulling with all her might. The weapon remained unfazed. Eragon stood, walking over.
"Knífr reisa," he said. The knife moved upward through the marble as if it were mere water, pulling itself out and floating down to Alycie, who took it, replacing it in her boot.
"Thank you," she said.
"Now that you know of your magical ability," said Eragon, "I suggest you find a teacher amongst the Varden." Alycie frowned, crossing her arms.
"And what if I don't want a magical ability?" she asked. "It's convenient, there's no denying, but so far it's caused me nothing but trouble."
"Now that it's been accessed, you can't just forget it and go back to being normal," said Eragon.
"I can," said Alycie. "I'll just shove it back down where it came from and never think of it again."
"It doesn't work like that, Alycie," said Eragon in frustration. "You just--" The door opened suddenly, cutting him off mid-sentence. In stepped twelve warriors, Orik, and the bald man. The warriors hesitated, setting eyes on Saphira.
"You have been summoned to Ajihad, leader of the Varden. If you must eat, do so while we march," declared the bald man. Alycie glanced at Eragon before walking to Murtagh. He stood up, watching the bald man warily. Eragon spoke.
"Where are our horses? And can I have my sword and bow back?"
"Your weapons will be returned to you when Ajihad sees fit, not before. As for your horses, they await you in the tunnel. Now come!" commanded the bald man.
"How is Arya?" rushed Eragon. The bald man paused disdainfully.
"I do not know. The healers are still with her." He turned, walking with Orik out of the room. One of the warriors looked at Eragon.
"You go first," he said, motioning with his hand. Alycie recognized him as the guard who had held the blade to her neck the night before. Eragon walked through the door. Saphira followed him. "You next," said the warrior. Alycie started forward, feeling Murtagh close behind her. "Watch your step." Alycie shot the young warrior an odd look as she followed the dragon into the stone hallway. Glancing back, she saw Murtagh glaring warningly at the helmeted man, quickening his steps to remain close to Alycie.
They walked single file along the curving hallway, passing a statue of an unfamiliar animal sporting quills. Alycie couldn't recall setting eyes on it the night before, but she dismissed it. They reached the large tunnel they had first been brought to by the waterfall. The bald man stood in the center, next to Orik. The dwarf held the reins of their horses.
"You will ride single file down the center of the tunnel," snapped the bald man. "If you attempt to go anywhere else, you will be stopped." Eragon began to climb into Saphira's saddle. "No! Ride your horse until I tell you otherwise," ordered the bald man. Eragon backed down to the tunnel floor, pulling himself into Snowfire's saddle instead. Alycie mounted Cadoc, seeing Murtagh mount Tornac behind her protectively. The warriors divided their numbers, surrounding the short line. Alycie noted that the familiar guard positioned himself a few feet to her left, riding his steed a little ways ahead of her. She tried to ignore him as the bald man ordered they march.
They rode in silence for several minutes, looking around at the odd, blue lamps or at the well-crafted walls of the tunnel. Alycie remained bothered by the ever-present blankness in the back of her mind. After a time, curiosity overwhelmed her, pressured by boredom, and she prodded at it. A strange, floating sensation filled her as she felt her consciousness expand.
Panicking, she withdrew from the magic, shaking her head to bring herself back to reality. After several more tedious minutes, however, the curiosity returned. Alycie hesitated, and then delved into the magic blankness. Keeping her wits about her despite the sensation, she realized the blankness acted as a kind of hole through which her consciousness could escape and wander.
Tempted, she allowed her mentality to seep through slowly. So this was how Eragon read minds. His would be the first to visit; not as a forced probe, but merely a visitor. She focused on the Rider, slowly prodding his consciousness with hers.
'Eragon?' She heard Saphira snort slightly, then tried again. 'Eragon?'
'Who are you?' answered a voice in her head. She hesitated before answering; it felt so strange.
'Alycie,' she sent. A clod of questions hit her mind at once.
'What are you doing in my head? How did you learn to do this so fast? I thought you didn't like magic.'
'I'm experimenting,' she answered. 'Could I talk with Saphira?' A trickle of excitement buzzed through the connection before she could stop it. She felt Eragon's smugness briefly, before regret.
'No,' he replied. 'It's considered rude to speak with another's dragon. Sorry.' Alycie withdrew from his mind, breaking the connection. She moved to the horse behind her. What was Murtagh thinking? She reached out.
Her mind met a thick, solid wall. She felt all around it for entry, but found none. No wonder the bald man had been unable to breech his mind. Breaking into Murtagh's mind seemed as impossible as breaking into Galbatorix's bedroom in Urû'baen itself. She withdrew back to her own mind, her comfort returning at being back in her familiar environment.
They walked for nigh an hour on a straight path down the center of the tunnel. Several times Alycie nearly fell asleep in the saddle, shocking out of her doze not a second before Cadoc began straying from the line. At long last, a white light became visible at the end of the tunnel. It increased in size as they approached, brightening considerably. Marble pillars covered in amethysts and rubies now lined the walls. The blue light now glowed brighter than ever from hundreds of the glowing lanterns strung between the pillars. Shining golden threads were strung around the bases of the columns, shining. Around the ceiling arched towards the center were raven heads carved into the stone mid-screech. Alycie glanced around Saphira, seeing two gigantic ebony doors matching the ones at the entrance by the waterfall in size. Spun silver webbed in the image of a majestic crown spread across both doors. The bald man halted, stopping the line with a raised hand.
"You will ride upon your dragon now. Do not attempt to fly away. There will be people watching, so remember who and what you are." Eragon climbed into Saphira's saddle, handing off Snowfire's reins to a warrior.
"I'm ready," he said confidently.
"God," said the bald man. "Now walk to the doors and, once they open, follow the path. Go slowly."
Sunlight blinded them as they walked through the doors. Alycie held a hand to her eyes as she peered through the light. Her jaw dropped.
A marble city larger even that Urû'baen spread before them at the center of what seemed to be a colossal volcanic crater. The walls of the mountain rose to a height that no human could possibly climb to. Her eyes lowered, taking in the lichens and greenery that covered the rocky crater walls nearest the ground. The doors had allowed them onto a wide cobblestone road that lead to the white mountain of a city in front of them.
Alycie was suddenly aware of the crowds surrounding the street. Dwarves and humans alike stood around them, looking up at Saphira and Eragon in awe. Alycie turned in the saddle, curious for Murtagh's reaction to the magnificence of the mountainous civilization. He had his head bowed, avoiding the staring eyes of the people. He glanced up at her briefly, face pale. Alycie nodded to him confidently before turning back around. Walking in plain sight of this many staring Varden probably had him anxiously waiting for just one of them, anyone, to point up at him and shout out his secret
As a lone cough echoed over the heads of the crowd, Alycie became aware of the awkward silence they were in. The staring people said not a word. Alycie could suddenly feel the hundreds of judging eyes on her skin. She bit her lip apprehensively, waiting for something to happen. She could see Eragon sitting rigidly in Saphira's saddle. He raised his hand into the air, waved it stiffly, and then jerked it back down. She could see the back of his neck glowing red.
A cheer rang out. Someone clapped. Silence. Then a gradual roar of approval erupted from the crowd, echoing off of the walls to generate an overwhelming noise. Saphira began to walk, gaining confidence, trailing Alycie and Murtagh behind her. The dragon breathed a puff of smoke proudly. The crowd gasped, paused, and then finally cheered ecstatically.
Alycie looked at the people, smiling easily now. There were many more dwarves than humans, and some seemed not at all pleased at the Dragon Rider's arrival. The humans seemed the very essence of revolution, proudly bearing weapons and past strife with admirable strength shining in their eyes. The children looked at the train of foreigners with wide, hopeful eyes. Alycie sent them a smile. A strange sense of familiarity came over her as she looked around. She felt home.
Behind her, Murtagh remained uneasy. His dark hair hung by his eyes, shielding his face from view as he steered Tornac along behind Cadoc.
They road along the cobblestone road towards the marble city. It was considerably smaller than the Beor mountain itself, but it remained nearly as large as one of those mountains from the Spine. Alycie looked in wonder at the colored lanterns that hung in every round window that dotted the outside of the structure.
They reached the base of the city, pausing before continuing on through the large fortified gate that surrounded it. Jasper pillars ran evenly-space along the walls, alternating with strange sculptures of fantastic creatures set into the stone. Archways along a high ledge revealed multiple clumps of people cheering as the dragon and Rider paraded down the hall. They reached the end of the passage, emerging into a huge domed room through a gigantic archway.
The inside of the city was astonishing. About five hundred meters across, it rose to an unbelievable height, ending in a beautiful, magnificent red sapphire about twenty meters across. Alycie's eyes nearly popped out of her head when she saw it. It was shaped into a rose in full bloom, spilling light down onto everything below it. Millions of arches lined the walls of each level in circles, narrowing as the height increased. Four hallways split off into the ground floor of the city, including the one they had just exited. The one across the floor matched that one while the right and left hallways spiraled down underground in a mirror image of each other.
"You must go on foot from here," said the bald man, dismounting. Boos echoed down at them from the crowded archways. Alycie swung out of Cadoc's saddle. Murtagh appeared by her side immediately, glaring around warily. Cadoc, Snowfire, and Tornac were led away by a dwarf and the bald man began to lead them across the room into the hallway on the right.
"Stay close," said Murtagh. Alycie felt his hand slide into hers and squeeze it. She returned the gesture as they walked into the hallway.
They walked along for a few minutes in silence, then turned into a smaller corridor. The guards followed, ignoring the small space. They turned again, walking. Another turn. And another. Once again they turned, coming face to face with an immense cedar door. Black wood stains covered it from years of use. The bald man pulled it open, ordering everyone but the guards inside.
They found themselves in a two-story wooden study lined with bookshelves. A spiral, wrought iron staircase wound up to the second floor balcony. But the most remarkable thing about the room was the man standing in it. He was situated behind a large desk, his shaved head gleaming in the light. His ebony skin looked strange to Alycie, and he had a short, clean black beard that stretched along his upper lip and chin. He, like the bald man, wore a rich shirt of purple, though his was covered with a bright red vest embroidered with golden thread. His intelligent eyes stared at each of them in turn as they approached slowly.
"Welcome to Tronjheim, Eragon and Saphira," he said in a deep, confident voice. "I am Ajihad. Please, seat yourselves."
Eragon, Murtagh, and Alycie sank into armchairs next to one another, Saphira settling behind them. Ajihad snapped his fingers. A man identical to the bald man who had led them so far emerged from behind the staircase. Alycie's mouth opened in surprise, Eragon stared, and Murtagh stiffened. Ajihad smiled at their reactions.
"Your confusion is understandable; they are twin brothers," he said. "I would tell you their names, but they have none."
Alycie heard Saphira hiss behind them. Ajihad sat behind the desk, pressing his fingertips together as he regarded them each with a steady gaze. The bald twins retreated to the staircase where they stood impassively. As the dark-skinned man's gaze moved from Murtagh to Alycie, she felt a surge of nerves, fidgeting uneasily. When he finished, the leader of the Varden gestured to the Twins. One of them walked to his side. Ajihad whispered something to him and he shook his head vigorously. Ajihad frowned, but nodded, turning to Murtagh.
"You have placed me in a difficult position by refusing to be examined. You have been allowed into Farthen Dûr because the Twins have assured me that they can control you and because of your actions on behalf of Eragon and Arya. I understand that there may be things you wish to keep hidden in your mind, but as long as you do, we cannot trust you," he said.
"You wouldn't trust me anyway," said Murtagh. Ajihad's face suddenly darkened. Alycie felt the bottom drop out of her stomach in foreboding.
"Though it's been twenty and three years since it last broke upon my ear...I know that voice." He stood, looking intimidating. "It came from another man, one more beast than human. Get up." Murtagh complied, watching Ajihad, alert. "Remove your shirt." Alycie opened her mouth to protest, but Murtagh silenced her with a warning glance. He stripped his tunic off, revealing his well-muscled, tanned torso. "Now turn around," said Ajihad. Alycie looked on in worry as Morzan's son turned, displaying his horrid sear to the rest of the room. Ajihad breathed. "Murtagh." Over by Eragon, Orik made a shocked noise. Ajihad rounded on the Twins. "Did you know of this!?" he demanded.
"We discovered his name in Eragon's mind as well as this girl's, but we did not suspect that this boy was the son of one as powerful as Morzan. It never occurred--"
"And you didn't tell me!?" exclaimed Ajihad. He raised a hand, halting any excuse the Twins might have had. "We will discuss it later. First I must untangle this muddle. Do you still refuse to be probed?"
"Yes," said Murtagh. "I won't let anyone inside my head." He tugged his tunic back on.
"There will be unpleasant consequences if you don't. Unless the Twins can certify that you aren't a threat, we cannot give you credence, despite, and perhaps because of, the assistance you have given Eragon. Without that verification, the people here, dwarf and human alike, will tear you apart if they learn of your presence. I'll be forced to keep you confined at all times...as much for your protection as for ours. It will only get worse once the dwarf king, Hrothgar, demands custody of you. Don't force yourself into that situation when it can easily be avoided."
"No...even if I were to submit, I would still be treated like a leper and an outcast. All I wish is to leave. If you let me do that peacefully, I'll never reveal your location to the Empire," said Murtagh.
"What will happen if you are captured and brought before Galbatorix? He will extract every secret from your mind, no matter how strong you may be. Even if you could resist him, how can we trust that you won't rejoin him in the future? I cannot take that chance."
"What will you do?" demanded Alycie suddenly. "Keep him locked up as a prisoner forever?" Ajihad turned his eyes to her.
"No," he said, "only until he allows himself to be examined. If he is found trustworthy, the Twins will remove all knowledge of Farthen Dûr's location from his mind before he leaves." He turned back to Murtagh. "We won't risk someone with those memories falling into Galbatorix's hands. What is it to be, Murtagh? Decide quickly or else the path will be chosen for you."
"Murtagh--" started Alycie.
"Don't speak!" snapped Ajihad. She shut her mouth quickly. Murtagh slowly opened his mouth.
"My mind is the one sanctuary that has not been stolen from me. Men have tried to breech it before, but I've learned to defend it vigorously, for I am only safe with my innermost thoughts. You have asked for the one thing I cannot give, least of all to those two." He pointed at the Twins. "Do with me what you will, but know this: death will take me before I'll expose myself to their probing." Alycie exhaled slowly, her heart sinking.
"I'm not surprised by your choice, though I had hoped otherwise," said Ajihad. "Guards!" The doors opened and in marched a handful of warriors, weapons at the ready. Ajihad pointed at Murtagh. "Take him to a windowless room and bar the door securely. Post six men by the entrance and allow no one inside until I come to see him. Do not speak to him either."
The warriors surrounded Murtagh. Alycie was shaking her head, not daring to speak. Murtagh looked at her with the familiar wistful, loving look on his face, before he turned away, dropping all expression, and allowed himself to be escorted out of the study by the guards.
"I want everyone out of this room but Eragon, Saphira, and Alycie. Now!" said Ajihad sharply. Alycie jumped at her name, but remembered that the Twins had probably informed him of her name after her examination. As the Twins bowed and exited the room, Orik spoke.
"Sir, the king will want to know of Murtagh. And there is still the matter of my insubordination..."
"I will tell Hrothgar myself. As for your actions...wait outside until I call for you. And don't let the Twins get away. I'm not done with them, either."
"Very well," said Orik. He bowed his head and left the study. Ajihad sat, sighing. he ran a hand over his ebony face in silence.
"Will he truly never be released?" asked Alycie suddenly. Ajihad's black eyes met her wide, hopeful ones.
"Not unless he allows the Twins into his mind," he said. Alycie rose to her feet sharply.
"If you are indeed a gracious and wise leader, then why can you not just let him leave?" she pleaded. "Please, he has suffered enough in his life without being imprisoned for the rest of it! He wasn't even supposed to come here! It was only his loyalty to Eragon that kept him with us so long!"
"Do you not see why?" retorted Ajihad. "I am in charge of thousands of lives here in Farthen Dûr. The son of one of the most powerful and evil killers in all of Alagaësia arrives in the company of a long, sought-after Rider. He claims his innocence, but we cannot know for sure. If we merely rely on judgment, he could betray us all. He could merely turn around and tell Galbatorix everything about us. And I have not toiled against that tyrant for two decades to let that happen now."
"He is a good man," persisted Alycie. Eragon looked at her.
"Alycie, there are more important matters at hand now than Murtagh's imprisonment," he said. Alycie rounded on him.
"You'll dismiss him like that then, will you? He was your friend! He put himself in danger by helping you get here! And he's pulled away by guards and you just sit there, not even raising a complaint!" Ajihad was evaluating her with his eyes, his hand stroking his chin.
"I sense there is something more than a friendship between you," he said slowly. Alycie looked away, blushing angrily.
"They have a romance," said Eragon. Alycie didn't speak.
"I see...I must admit, though, the Twins did not inform me of this," said Ajihad. "But it would explain the hostility. I assure you, he will be treated fairly and generously." Alycie sank back into her chair, her expression changing to a mask of nonchalance.
"What will be done to him?" she asked.
"I need only to ask him a few questions. Then he will be allowed to do whatever he wishes, though I cannot allow him free reign." Ajihad leaned forward. "But now I wish to know about you. The Twins informed me that you were a slave in Dras-Leona."
"Yes," said Alycie stiffly. "I joined with Eragon and Murtagh immediately after escaping, but I'll let him tell the tale."
"Very well," said Ajihad. "It also appears you can use magic."
"Apparently."
"You did not know this before?" inquired Ajihad.
"No. Not until the Twins probed my mind," said Alycie.
"Then you cannot control it?"
"No." Ajihad leaned back with a sigh.
"This could prove dangerous; a girl with untrained magic."
"It does not work unless I deliberately access it, which is unlikely due to the fact that I know no incantations," said Alycie.
"The Twins say you attacked one of them with a knife using magic," said Ajihad.
"I was under intense stress and emotion," said Alycie simply. "It won't happen again."
"Even so, I will contact you about the matter later," said the Varden's leader. "You will be escorted through Tronjheim by a guard at all times. Ferros has been assigned to this duty. If any questions arise, bring them to him. You are dismissed."
"Thank you," grumbled Alycie, standing. "When will--"
"I will contact you when you may visit Murtagh," said Ajihad, smiling. Alycie nodded jerkily, walking to the large cedar doors. She pushed them open and strode out into the corridor.
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The ancient language speech translates to 'knife rise', which isn't really good enough to get it out of the wall, but I couldn't find the right words, so it's close enough.
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