DeadlyCreative: Thanks so much!
SidiousSith: Haha. Glad you liked the chapter, and the nickname; his name is just so long!
Voyfan7: Yup, unexpected right there. First came across the theory on Shur'tugal. They've got a nice little article on it. Yes, Arya will be queen, and Eragon's position will be decided next chapter.
Canadien-Girl14: Hehe, well I don't usually like killing people off. I have a feeling Thorn will be just fine.
TwilightMoonEclipse: Glad you liked the chapter. Eh, I knew I was taking a risk by going after that theory.
Chapter Twenty-Five: Healing
The room was dark, terribly dark; black curtains had been pulled over the windows while she slept. She could see nothing, and she could hear nothing. Shock and confusion took control her. Where was she? And, more importantly, what had happened while she was taken by the Rider King's horrible spell?
Circe sat up, breathing heavily, and tried to make sense of everything that had happened in the past twenty-four hours. She had been imprisoned by Nasuada in Aberon and had changed shape in order to flee to Urû'baen. Hating both the Varden and Galbatorix, she had come to the palace seeking to put and end to the destructive conflict. With both of her enemies destroyed, she would leave Alagaësia in peace and return to the land of her kin, alone or with Murtagh. But, in her zeal, she had greatly underestimated Galbatorix. The Rider King had quickly overpowered and incapacitated her with his accursed magic.
She had been forced into a fitful and unpleasant sleep, one that could only be lifted by the Rider King. It had been filled with dreams of war, blood and the deaths of those she cared about. She had been forced to relive the deaths of her parents and she saw for the first time the deaths of Murtagh and Thorn, who were the only ones that she thought understood her. And now it was all over. That was the only way she could have awakened. The battle was over. Now she had to discover the outcome.
Slowly, she began to reach out with her mind for the nearest life forms. Most of the castle was empty; she wasn't surprised. Every guard and maid would have been called upon to fight and die for his or her King. However, she did find two people that interested her. Eragon and Arya were in the castle, down in the lower levels, probably imprisoned. Suddenly, she felt someone trying to get into her mind. Hesitantly, she let them in. The only one that could do her harm from within her mind was Galbatorix, and if it was the King there was no point in trying to resist.
Circe?
The voice was not Galbatorix's as she had feared, but Eragon's. A knot formed in her stomach. After she'd betrayed the Varden, she didn't think she could bear such intimate contact with the Blue Rider. They all probably hated her by now. Reluctantly, she responded to his query. Yes, Eragon, it is I.
Can you tell me where you are?
I do not know where I am. Galbatorix's spell still clouds my magic.
Eragon was silent for a moment. Hold on then. Arya and I are trying to find you. Circe gulped. Then the Varden had won and she had woken because Galbatorix was dead. What did the Varden want with her now? To arrest her again?
With a soft groan, she managed to sit and eventually stand. Like her mind, her bones and muscles were weary from Galbatorix's spell. "Éclairez," she whispered. At her command, a sphere of light appeared in her hand, illuminating the room so she could see her surroundings. With a gasp, she realized that she was in Galbatorix's chambers! How dare he! She grimaced at what he must have been planning to do upon his arrival. She strode over to the window, pulled back the curtains and extinguished the ball of light in her hand.
As sunlight flooded into the room, the witch gazed out the window and down into the courtyard below. The three dragons, Saphira, Thorn and Garrow, were all huddled close together in the center. She thought she saw Murtagh there too, pressed against Thorn lovingly. Once more, confusion took her. What happened? She would have liked to know.
After a few more moments, the door swung open to reveal Eragon and Arya, both looking disheveled and battle scarred. Circe turned from the window to look at them; her face was emotionless. "What happened?" she asked quietly. "Why have you come looking for a traitor like me? Do you simply wish to arrest me again?"
Eragon shook his head and grabbed her arm hastily. "Thorn needs you," he told her. "We have to get down to the courtyard as quickly as possible."
She looked to Arya, who nodded in confirmation to Eragon's words, and then back the Dragon Rider. Thorn was in trouble? So that was why they were all crowded in the courtyard. She nodded to Eragon. "Take me to him," she replied.
The flight to the courtyard was long and full of stairs, as Galbatorix's chambers were high in one of the towers. Circe remained silent the entire time, knowing that the Elf and Rider still viewed her as a traitor and one who couldn't be trusted. However, Eragon and Arya exchanged a casual word or two, though Circe never understood what they said in the ancient language. When they finally exited the palace and walked into the warm sunlight, Circe noticed how those present turned to glare at her. She lowered her gaze and strode over to Murtagh and Thorn.
"Are you all right?" she whispered to him.
"Heal Thorn," he commanded firmly.
Her eyes fell on his twisted limbs. "You're hurt," she told him. "Let me help you."
"No!" he snapped angrily. "Thorn needs you more than I do. Fix him and then you can help me."
She nodded reluctantly, turned her attention the red dragon and sat down next to him. His neck was covered in large gashes and dried blood. She grimaced at the sight. In addition to that, a dragon's teeth, probably Shruikan's, had punctured Thorn's wing membrane. She placed a gentle hand on Thorn's unconscious body and muttered a Kylrian spell. "Raccommodez les blessures du dragon," she whispered and watched as the gaps in his scales closed and the holes in his wing mended. She took a deep breath; it had taken a great deal of energy to heal wounds that serious and she was previously weakened from Galbatorix's spell. She smiled weakly as Thorn's breathing returned to normal.
Satisfied, she turned to Murtagh and said, "Raccommodez les blessures de l'homme." His broken bones healed in an instant. Her violet eyes met his dark ones. "Thorn will be just fine," she said softly.
"Thank you," Murtagh replied, running his hands over his previously broken bones in astonishment. "Thorn and I are forever in your debt."
Circe smiled at him. "Forget about it," she told him.
A moment of silence passed before Murtagh spoke again. "I was so worried about you," he whispered. "Galbatorix… he told me that you were dead."
"Galbatorix was a wretched liar," she said quietly. "I worried about you, too. My dreams… they showed me your death."
Murtagh opened his mouth to say something else, but stopped when he noticed how everyone was staring at them, Saphira and Garrow included. Standing there watching them was Eragon, Arya, Roran, Katrina, Nasuada, Orrin, Trianna, Orik and a group of guards trailing behind Orrin and Nasuada. He glared at them; why were they interrupting his moment?
"And the traitor returns," Orrin muttered. Nasuada motioned to the guards and they moved forward obediently.
Circe gulped and turned to face Murtagh. As much as it pained her, she knew there was no escaping being taken into custody again. "I must accept the consequences of my actions," she said gravely. She rose and went to face the Varden.
Murtagh grabbed her arm. "Nonsense," he said, "Let me talk to them. I'll get you out of this."
She shook her head and wrenched her arm from his grip. "I am a traitor to the Varden and therefore, since they won the battle, they have the right to arrest me and punish me in whatever way they consider just," she said, forcing a weak smile. "Nasuada is a righteous leader. I will not be judged unfairly." Before Murtagh could say anything else, she stepped forward and faced Nasuada.
"You are formally charge with treacherous actions against the Varden, actions that aided the vile Rider King Galbatorix. What do you have to say for yourself?" Nasuada demanded, meeting Circe's eyes with her own dark ones.
The Kylrian raised her chin to the sky in a dignified manner. "I do not regret my choice," she stated stoically. "At the time, it seemed to be the best way to destroy my enemies. You are right to arrest me, Lady, and I will not attempt escape. Though, I do beg you to be merciful and just."
Nasuada nodded. "Very well." She motioned to the guards and ordered, "Take her to Galbatorix's chambers. Trianna, I want strong spells sealing the room and guards outside the door at all times." Circe made no motion to resist as the guards bound her hands and she was led back up the stairs and into the castle.
The instant she was out of earshot, Murtagh jumped up from Thorn's side and approached Nasuada. "What are you doing?" he demanded. "You wanted her to escape!"
"I know," answered Nasuada. "But no matter how you look at it, she betrayed us and informed Galbatorix of our plans. She did not know of my intentions. As far as she knew, she was giving Galbatorix the information he needed to eradicate us, and for that she must be punished justly." Murtagh glared at her and returned to Thorn's side in defeated silence.
"There you are!" shouted Angela the herbalist, approaching with Solembum and Elva at her side. She pointed a finger at Eragon. "The war is over, Galbatorix is dead, and it is time for you to relieve this poor girl of the burden you bestowed upon her!"
Eragon nodded. "It would seem that you are right, Angela," he acknowledged. "Though the danger to the lives of the leaders of the Varden is not completely gone, I will cure the child. If that is what she wishes."
Elva raised her solemn head as Eragon asked for her opinion. Her black hair obscured her violet eyes and the shining mark Saphira had given her and sent an eerie chill down the Blue Rider's spine. "This battle, along with the one that preceded it, has brought me much pain and agony," said Elva in her strange, cynical voice. She lowered her head again and continued, "If it can be done, I desire to be relieved of this curse."
Eragon took a deep breath. "I cannot foretell what will happen to you if I lift this curse," he said quietly. "I doubt that all the effects of my previous spell can be fully erased. Though I am quite confident I can take away some of your pain and suffering."
Elva nodded. "I wish for you to try," she said, raising her face to look at him with her strange violet eyes.
"Very well," said Eragon with a nod. He raised his palm over her head and sat what he should have said over her in the first place, "Atra gülai un ilian taught ono un atra ono waíse sköliro frá rauthr."
At the end of his spell, Elva's expression went blank and she fainted into Angela's waiting arms. The herbalist shot him a glare. "You'd better pray to whatever gods may exist that she gets better," she snapped, before picking up the young girl and storming away angrily.
Eragon was about to turn away as well, but he felt something touch his mind. You've done well for once, said Solembum the werecat with a crooked smile.
Eragon chuckled. I'm glad you think so.
Just for the record, said the werecat, I do enjoy helping you… sometimes.
Just as I enjoy receiving your help… sometimes, Eragon said with a smile.
You remind me of your mother, Solembum told him wistfully. Except you achieved what you set out to do. Selena… she tried her best, but after she heard had her fortune told, she was never the same again.
Eragon lowered his head sadly. So the woman Angela and Solembum met in Teirm really was his mother. Her fate was sad indeed; Angela told him the truth. Slowly, he turned away from Solembum and remained silent, not knowing what to say to the werecat's remark.
"Eragon!"
He looked up and saw Arya and Nasuada motioning for him to follow them. "Come on, Shadeslayer," said Nasuada. "All of us need to sit down and have a nice, long talk. There are dozens of things that need to be decided quickly, before groups arise that will resist the Varden's authority."