Torn Between Two

Chapter 28

"You used to come to me all the time when we were young," Murtagh whispered. "People here were always hard on you because 'you were a little girl'. . ."

Murtagh felt her muscles starting to relax as the tension worked out of them. Her fingers traced light circles on his sides and lower back as she listened intently.

"Father was the worst. . .He would treat you just like me, whip you, hit you, not feed you for days if you disobeyed him. . .He wanted to turn you into a fighter, a ruthless fighter, and he stopped at nothing to get that."

He could feel her jaw clench as she processed what he was telling her. He waited to see if she would ask a question, remember something, or just wanted him to go on.

"Things got. . .worse for you when he found out you were. . .comforting me?" she whispered, sounding unsure.

"Much worse, for both of us really," he sighed, moving from her shoulders to her mid-back. "He told me to stop going easy on you in training, told me if I kept holding back he'd. . .kill you. But I knew that Galbatorix wouldn't allow that."

"Why? What's so special about me?" she asked, nails digging into his skin.

"I never really found out," he shifted into her nails, enjoying the discomfort she caused.

"If he couldn't kill me, what did he threaten to do?" she whispered, slowly removing her nails.

"Torture you," he said, "but it never came to that. I started toughening up on you in training, yet at night you'd still come to me to sleep."

"What?" she pulled back to look into his face. Her eyes were shrouded with fear and laced with mistrust, her hands shook, and her entire body tensed.

"You had horrible nightmares, Reilyn," he breathed, "of your family, of Father's abuse. . ."

She relaxed and her eyes reflected remembrance. The pale girl bit her lip as the memories started to flow back, her eyes closing and a single tear trailed down her face. Murtagh slowly put his hands on her face, pulling her face close to his, and his lips to her ear.

"I kept you safe from monsters during the day," he whispered, "and demons at night. I tended your wounds and made you feel safe. . ."

Suddenly, Reilyn buried her face into his neck and cried, the emotions coursing through her body making her tremble. He pulled closer, feeling helpless to stop her pain, and kissed her neck gently.

A noise at the door caused him to glance up. There was Eragon, tray with water, pot of soup, and bread in hand. Murtagh looked at him with teary eyes, begging for help. The young brunette set the tray down and crawled on the bed, embracing Reilyn tightly. She turned her face form Murtagh's neck and Eragon slid to the side to look at her.

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Eragon gazed at his best friend. Never had he seen such emotion from her, it was always her comforting him. She moved against Murtagh, curling on her side against his chest, and looked at Eragon with pain-filled eyes. He glanced up to Murtagh, the hazel eyes were filled with tears and helplessness. The pale teen didn't know what to do with Reilyn, she was a foreign creature to him. Eragon smiled, telling Murtagh everything was all right, he knew what to do.

"Rei," he whispered, wiping tears from her face.

"Er," she sobbed, turning her face into his hand.

He looked up to Murtagh, silently asking permission to pull her to him, the elder nodded.

"Come here, Rei," he breathed, pulling her to him.

She sank into the brunette, burying her face in the familiar chest, her tears were beginning to let up, but emotions still racked her body. She kept shivering uncontrollably, so Eragon reached down and pulled the blankets over them.

Murtagh exhaled shakily and scrubbed the tears from his face. He looked at the two and went to the bathroom, presumably to wash his face.

"Rei," he whispered, "what's wrong?"

"I'm starting to remember being here, Eragon," she said in a shuddery voice. "But it's all coming back too fast, quicker than I can sort out. . ."

"Everything's all jumbled?"

"Yes, and confused. I feel overwhelmed by it all."

"Understandably so," he kissed her forehead.

"What do I do? My mind is going so fast. . .I can't focus, I feel helpless."

Murtagh reappeared, drying his face, and propped himself against the doorframe. Reilyn hid her face from him in embarrassment. A knock called everyone's attention.

"Murtagh?" Eragon whispered, looking to the door.

"Coming," he called, moving to the door.

When the teen opened the door, Eragon looked at Reilyn and put a finger to his lips. She nodded in understanding, they needed to listen.

"Yes?" Murtagh asked.

"I hope you saw we refilled the bath," a servant said. "We used the servant door so not to disturb you."

"Yes, I've seen. Was that all?"

"Yes, Sir Murtagh."

"Before I forget," Murtagh quickly put in. "When does my father wish to see us?"

"Not until much later tonight," the servant replied. "We will send someone to fetch you."

"I see. . .Dismissed," Murtagh said, shutting the door.

"I'll be taking my bath now," he mumbled, walking towards the bathroom.

The door was shut and locked. Eragon looked to Reilyn, smiling.

"You know, you scared him," he snickered.

"I scared myself, Eragon," she murmured, sitting up and turning away.

Oops, he thought. Humor usually works, but I think I tried too early. . .

"I'm sorry," he whispered, hugging her from behind.

Now, she smiled, leaning back into his hug. She cocked her head to the side.

"Don't be," she laughed lightly, "it's true."

"He doesn't know you like I do," he said. "At least, not like he used too. That and he's never been good with emotions. . .besides anger and. . .lust. . ."

Reilyn laughed loudly at the last word. Eragon had pronounced it funny on purpose and it did the job. Her giggles finally subsided, but threatened to reemerge when she looked back at him. To prevent it, he nuzzled her neck, keeping her looking forward.

"Eragon," she snickered, "you always know how to make me smile."

"Mmm," he smiled into her skin. "Have you eaten yet?"

"No," she looked at him, "have you?"

"Not yet, but the food smells great! What do you think? Eat together, right here on the bed, make a huge mess?" he laughed.

"Yes, to everything, but the mess part," she giggled, "that's bad manners."

He broke into loud laughing as he went to get two bowls of soup and a loaf of bread. Reilyn was a manners person, in spite of her masculinity. She wouldn't even talk with food in her mouth.

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Reilyn ate the delicious soup, covering her mouth as she giggled at Eragon's fooling. The young teen played with his food before eating it and kept turning his bread into little works of "art".

He always makes me feel better, she thought, watching the brunette. No matter ho bad things get. . .

Eragon finally settled down and got serious when he saw that he had really made her feel better. They finished their bowls and the boy got them seconds.

"Starving," he laughed, sitting down next to her.

"We need to start eating before we sleep," she said firmly. "No matter how exhausted from training we are."

"Yes, Mother," he joked.

Reilyn shot him a playful look and gently elbowed him. Thunder clapped, making them both leap and break into embarrassed giggles. They were acting like small children, but it was what they needed.

Murtagh emerged from his bath, still bare from waist up, raven hair plastered to his forehead, and gave them a curios look. He smirked as they broke into more laughter and walked to the fireplace, removing wood from the stack beside it and placing it inside. After he got what he viewed as enough wood, he extended his hand and whispered a word.

"Brisingr," he said.

Flames danced up, casting a warm, flickering glow on everything. Reilyn watched Murtagh's back, her eyes focused on the long scar and the muscles beneath the pale skin. The skin reminded her so much of her own, except for the fact that his was warm when she had touched it. She felt watched and looked up.

Hazel eyes met hers and a smirk spread over Murtagh's lips as he looked at her over his shoulder. She cursed herself and looked away, letting her hair obscure her face. A warmth spread over her as she blushed and she prayed that the firelight didn't make it visible to the others.

"Rei, are you done eating?" Eragon whispered, extending his hand.

She looked at the boy, still feeling Murtagh's eyes on her. A sly glance concluded that he was now leaning against the wall, staring at her and smiling.

"Yes," she breathed, handing the empty bowl to him.

"Murtagh, have you had enough to eat? I'll get the dishes back to the kitchen," the young teen said, gathering the dirty dishes up.

"I've had enough," he said smoothly. "You don't have to take care of the dishes, Eragon."

"I know. I like to, it's a habit," Eragon laughed, briefly kissing the older boy.

"I see."

Reilyn felt the eyes back on her and her toes curled as another warm wave hit her. She wanted to look at the pale figure, study him completely, but was still very uncomfortable with this whole situation.

How can he love two people? And not feel awkward about it? she wondered.

Lightning flashed, catching her attention. She stared out the window and a memory floated to her. It was pleasant and didn't wash over her like before or overwhelm her.

It was of her first kiss. She was twelve, Murtagh thirteen, and they were standing in a hallway somewhere in the castle. The older boy was standing in front of her, arms braced on the wall behind her, and smiling. He was trying to get her to smile, she was mad over something, and he was not doing too well. Suddenly, the boy leaned in and pressed his lips to hers, gently touching her face as he did. The young Reilyn had tensed, but relaxed and closed her eyes immediately.

The door shutting brought her back to the present. She opened her eyes, unaware they had even closed, and looked out the window. Smiling, she touched her lips briefly, then became very aware that Murtagh was still in the room.

She looked at the pale teen, his arms were crossed over his strong and scarred chest, and was met with a curious look from the hazel eyes. He stayed leaned against the wall, wet hair still dripping, and let her look him over.

"You were," she composed her voice, "my first kiss. . ."

The older teen's lips smiled, hazel eyes softening, and his breathing picked up slightly. He moved off the wall, biting the corner of his smile and looked at her.