Torn Between Two
Chapter 6
She was sitting between Saphira's front paws when he walked up.
"I win!" she beamed.
"Sometimes I'm convinced you're not really eighteen Reilyn," he smiled, sitting beside her.
"I'm not so sure you're sixteen sometimes."
"What does that mean?" he snapped. People never believed he was sixteen, even with his strength and tanned skin, they always assumed he was thirteen or fourteen.
"You act so grown up sometimes, Er," she soothed, "I mean you have led an army and been in many battles, you've been to the elf-land and trained with them."
"Humph," he grunted. The comment hadn't annoyed him as much as it seemed, it was just the fact that she touched Murtagh and he had even held her. He was jealous.
"Well," she threw an arm around him, "Someone's got to let you be a kid, so why not me?"
He looked into her eyes, feeling his heart melt instantly, and leaned into her. He could never stay mad at her for very long.
"Can I ask you something?" he asked, feeling himself blush.
"Sure, you know you can always ask me anything, Eragon. What is it?" She settled against Saphira's scaled leg and looked at his face.
"Did you really-," he swallowed hard, "untie Murtagh?" He stared at the dirt, too embarrassed to look at what might be on her face.
"Yes," she said.
"Why?" he whispered, turning to lock eyes with her.
"For you, Eragon," she inhaled deeply. "I know what he means to you, how much he means to you." She gently wiped his falling tears off his face and brushed his hair from his eyes.
"He's my friend," he started.
"Eragon, I-," she faltered, "I know he's more than that to you."
He pulled away from her, pushing her hands away from him. He felt panic in him and wanted to run.
Little one, Saphira spoke, listen to her. Don't fear her. She has already spoken to me about this.
"How long? No, forget that, it's not important," he stammered. "You don't care?"
"What, that you like men?" she smiled and shook her head from side to side.
"Yes," he fought more tears. "Do you care that I like men in that way?"
"No," she looked into his eyes and cupped her hands around his face, "I've known since I met you Er. . . The way you looked when you spoke of him. I don't see you as any different and never will! Eragon you will forever be my friend!"
"Rei," he let the tears fall, "thank you."
She pulled him close and he clung to her neck, burying his face into her cool skin. She gently rubbed his back as he sobbed against her.
I told you, Little one, Saphira said, putting her neck around them both protectively.
He was too upset to respond to her at the moment, her words making him cry harder. He moved as close to Reilyn as he could possibly get, wanting nothing but her comfort.
"Eragon," she whispered, "I--love you." He felt her soft lips press to his temple and then she pulled him closer.
"I love you too, Rei," he managed to choke out. "You're the best friend I could ever have!"
"For a girl, you mean," she said. He felt her smile against his neck.
"For a girl, I mean," he laughed weakly. She always made him laugh in the most simple ways.
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"I told you!" Murtagh yelled at the guard and the healer. "She healed me of her own free will, I didn't ask for it!" He stared at the tray of food just outside his cage, wishing they would just beat him instead. They'd been at this for hours, asking him the same questions over and over.
"Why were you holding her?" demanded the healer.
"She was going to die if she didn't stop!" His stomach growled loud and painful. The tray was heaped with food: meat, fruit, vegetables, bread and cheese, and a dessert of some sort. A pitcher of what he presumed to be water stood beside the tray. He salivated at just the thought of tasting the food. Since captured, he'd been served some sort of tasteless sludge and stale water. Not eating had become better than eating.
"Are you telling us that you saved her life?" Jierden roared, slamming his hands on the bars.
"That's what I've been telling you this whole time!" Murtagh's patience was growing very thin. The sun sitting on the horizon reminded him of the hour.
"You think we should trust you?! You've tried to kill her not a week ago!" the healer again.
"You should believe him," a familiar voice said, "he did save my life."
Murtagh swung his head to the right when he heard Reilyn speak. He gasped quietly when he saw her. She had changed since their last encounter, still in boys clothes, but breathtaking all the same. She still wore leather pants and her boots, both still very black, but her shirt was different and her hair was down.
My god! he thought, awestruck.
The shirt was a light material, black in color, and obviously altered to her body. The sleeves ended just a few inches below her shoulder and tied off with laces. The front of the thing was plain, uncut, until just below her collar bone. Here, it was cut in a V shape and laced together for show. Her hair was what attracted his attention most. The wavy, copper locks flowed well past her mid-back, shining like embers in the setting sun. She had done nothing special with it, from the looks of it she had merely taken the holder out. It seemed to be the only tame thing about her and he found himself wanting to run his hands through it.
"Have you eaten yet?" she asked, casting a glance at the tray on the table. She seemed to demand respect from everything without trying, even the wind that played with her hair seemed to respect her.
"Not since we last met," he bowed his head, "Miss Reilyn."
"I thought I told you to feed him," she growled at the guard. The large man shrank away from her harsh tone, even the healer jumped back. Murtagh smirked against his better judgement. He quickly removed the smile when she cast a look at him from the side. He saw the smile she was hiding and almost laughed out loud.
"This man saved my life," she scolded both men, "and you dare deny him food? That you were previously ordered to give him!"
"Forgive us Miss Reilyn!" they stammered. "We-we-we thought it was too late to feed him. We knew not when we were to leave. . ."
"I see," she smiled and looked to Murtagh, "since we're still here, when do you think we'd be leaving, Traitor Murtagh?"
"I would imagine," he feigned deep thought, "that not until morning."
"You'd be imagining correctly," she bit her lips to repress the big grin that wanted to be free. She must really enjoy scaring the guards, he thought.
"Oh?" both men gasped, "Morning?"
"Yes, we have been put a little behind due to this afternoon."
"Of course," the healer said, bowing.
"Feed him," she ordered, "and see that he gets fresh clothes and boots for walking."
"Yes, Miss Reilyn!" both cried out, bowing.
"Good," she smiled as she turned to leave, her hair fanning out, erupting into flames in the sun.
"Is there anything else?" Jierden asked on a hushed voice.
"Actually," she ran a hand through her hair as she turned back to face the guard. "Be sure to inform Dogon that we leave at sunrise tomorrow."
"Yes, of-." She cut him off with a raised hand.
"Also," she put a hand on her hip, "this is very important, so tell him my exact words."
The man nodded eagerly.
"Tell Dogon that tomorrow Eragon and myself will be taking turns traveling with you guard and the prisoner." Before the man could breathe, she walked off.
Murtagh's heart leapt into his throat.
Eragon!? he though excitedly. I'll get to see Eragon tomorrow?
The brunette hadn't come anywhere near his cage since his capture and Murtagh hadn't even seen the young boy among the people milling about. He'd been avoiding Murtagh.
He thought of the boys caramel eyes and soft smile and he felt warm all over. He wanted to laugh from his total ecstasy at just the thought of the strong teen, but kept himself composed, barely.
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"You said what?" Eragon gasped.
"That we'd take turns traveling with them tomorrow," Reilyn said. "Now, turn around."
Eragon grumbled, but turned his back to her. He stalked to his side of the tent and sat on the bed. He roughly ran his hands in his hair. He'd avoided Murtagh in all possible ways since he'd become their prisoner and now he had to face him.
She did this on purpose! he thought harshly.
"If it bothers you this much," she said, "then I'll just travel with them."
"No," he said, keeping his back to the changing woman, "I'll do it. . . I just can't believe you did that!"
He could feel her eyes on his back, burning into his soul.
"Do you think I did this to be rude or something Eragon?" she hissed.
"I don't know, Reilyn," he sighed. "I haven't seen him since-."
"I don't believe you!" she rose her voice. Her shirt landed on his head, he reached up and pulled it off, tossing it aside.
"Rei," he whispered, dropping his head into his hands.
Can I face him? After all of what's gone on. . . Does he even feel like he used to about me? He felt sick all of a sudden.
"Eragon," she sat next to him, "I never intended to hurt you. I figured maybe this way would be easier on us. . ." her voice trailed off.
"It's just. . .," he moaned.
"You're nervous, I understand that."
"I'm terrified!"
"Will it help if I stay during your first turn?"
"You would do that?" he was stunned at how caring she could be.
"Of course I would, I'm your guard remember? It's my job to protect you from harm, no matter what kind."
"Oh Reilyn!" he threw his arms around her. "Thank you so much!"
"You're more than welcome, Rider."
"I have a favor to ask," he said sheepishly.
"What is it?"
"Would you. . . Stay here, with me, tonight?"
"Eragon, we share a tent you fool."
"No, I mean-."
"Oh. . . Oh!" she looked at him, shocked.
"I don't mean like that! I don't like girls remember?" he blushed more, his face feeling like it was on fire.
"I see. . . Then, yes Eragon. It'll be nice to be warm for once!" she laughed, turning a little red in the face herself.
"Yeah," he said, allowing himself to smile. Though in the desert, the nights out here could be freezing. He watched her finish getting ready for sleep, she always fascinated him.
Masculine acting as she was, she was the image of a goddess warrior. Tall and proud, wise and cunning, and silently caring and loving.
Don't forget secretive, his mind put in.
"I thought you didn't like girls Eragon," she teased, noticing him watch her.
"I don't, I-," he laughed, "well, Rei, you fascinate me."
"Oh?" she stood with her hands on her hips, her black undershirt clinging to her curves and her belt-less pants threatening to fall off her.
"So much like a man," he gestured to her sword and clothes, "yet all the beauty of a flower." He clutched his sides and fell on the bed laughing uncontrollably.
"A rose," she said, moving a step in his direction.
"Huh?" he sat up and looked at her. "A rose?"
"The most elegant and beautiful flower, but it has painful thorns that draw blood."
"I'd say," he mocked thinking, "a daisy!" He laughed heartily.
"I'll show you daisy!" she chuckled, tackling and pinning him to the bed.
"Rei! No! Don't!" he said between giggles.
"Don't what?" she laughed evilly and pinned his arms with one hand.
"Rei!" he shrieked. He squirmed playfully, letting the older girl bring out the child in him. He knew if he wanted to, he could be unpinned easily, strong as she was she was not a match for him.
"Ahhhh! Rei!" he cried as she tickled him mercilessly with her free hand. He bucked his hips, trying unsuccessfully to throw her off. Another peal of childish laughter erupted from them both, her at his "pain" and him at the torture, as she attacked his sides.
"Give?" she asked triumphantly, pushing her hair from her face.
Eragon panted, trying in vain to catch his breath before she let out another assault. She released his wrists but remained perched on his hips, ready to attack.
"Give!" he gasped out.
"Mmmm," she unstraddled him, "I really hope you're never taken prisoner Eragon, you'd be an easy torture target."
He laughed again, holding his burning sides and when it passed, he stripped off his shirt and kicked off his boots. Soundlessly, he slipped under the covers and watched Reilyn slip in beside him.
She seemed uncomfortable to be here, next to him like this. He was about to tell her that she didn't have to stay if she didn't want, when she curled up to him, resting her head on his shoulder. He put his arm around her to make things more comfortable and was greatly surprised when she put her arm over his middle. He snuggled closer and fell asleep listening to her steady breathing.