Chapter Four-
Once I had ran outside, I saw Murtagh standing by the edge of the trees. Instantly I noticed that Murtagh was extremely jumpy today. Just as I slowed down to reach him, Murtagh turned and looked at me. When he finally saw me, Murtagh visibly relaxed and smiled the smile that I loved. Upon seeing that smile I ran straight into his arms. Murtagh opened his arms and caught me into a bear hug. Hearing a noise behind me, Murtagh quickly set me down and took a step backwards. Standing in the doorway of the house was my father watching us closely. Looking jumpy once again, Murtagh instantly said, "I can't stay long, and neither can you. They are after you."
"What?" Shocked, I did not understand what he was saying. "Murtagh, what are you talking about? Who is they? Why are they after me?"
Murtagh surveyed the surrounding area once again, his eyes scanning over the trees looking for an enemy. "The King is after your family. I don't know why, but they are. The palace is at full alert. I barely escaped to warn you. But you must hurry!"
"The King?" I asked in horror. "How can the King be after us? He doesn't even know we exist."
The sound of footsteps walking towards us could be heard. "Alianna, are you going to invite Murtagh in? I am sure he would like some breakfast."
Murtagh looked my father straight in the eye and said with complete authority, "I am here to warn you both, nothing more. Galbatorix is after you. A small army is heading your way. Take anything you can carry and run, run now."
"He found us out?" my father said sharply, looking at Murtagh. Something in my father tone of voice, gave me the impression that he knew something that I didn't; A reason that Galbatorix would be after me and him.
Murtagh nodded, "Yes sir. You must hurry. Alianna, I just wanted to say…"
"Dragon Riders forever?" I asked finishing his sentence when he trailed off. Murtagh looked at me and smiled, "Yes, Dragon Riders forever. And I also wanted to say atra guliä un ilian tauthr ono un atra ono waíse sköliro fra rauthr(1). Alianna, fricai onr eka eddyr(2).
Suddenly, without so much as a goodbye, he took off into the forests running. I stood there in shock, staring at the place where he disappeared.
"Alianna, we must go." My father said urgently. Literally he ran back inside the house. "Alianna! Come inside now!"
I followed my father orders and followed him inside. Standing in the doorway, I looked once again for Murtagh. I had no idea what he had said at the very end, but it seemed important. Right then and there I vowed to learn and understand what Murtagh had said to me today.
"Alianna, pack light. I do not know how much of a warning we got, but we need to leave as soon as possible. Pack only what you will need." My Father said, running around the housing packing things up.
Not moving, I turned on my father. Looking determined, I demanded, "Why? Why all of a sudden are you listening to Murtagh? Earlier you were saying how he couldn't be trusted. And now you blindly listen to him telling us that Galbatorix is after us. Why? Tell me why or I will not move."
Stopping and looking at me, my father answered, "It is what he said in the Ancient Language that made me believe him."
"You know what he said just before he left?" I asked shocked. Moving once more my father answered me once again. "Yes, Murtagh spoke the ancient language. It has been the language of the elves for centuries. Dragon Riders used it as well. Alianna, please move and start packing I will still answer you as we work."
"Fine," I said, moving to begin packing my essentials.
"Only truth can be spoken in the Ancient Language. All oaths are binding, and you cannot break an oath made in the Ancient language. Because of this, the elves have mastered speaking half truths: saying one thing and meaning another, only revealing part of the truth."
"Dad, but what did Murtagh say to make you believe him?" I asked, grabbing the last few things I needed and threw them into my pack. My father grabbed the tan leather bag he always carried and looked at me, "Ready?"
I gasped in shock. He looked exactly like he did in my nightmares. "No, I am not ready if my nightmares come true."
"Nightmares?"
"Yes, in which you die while we are running from something." I said timidly. Smiling gently, my father said, "It is possible that I may die today, or I may die later on in life of natural causes. However, no matter when or where or how old I am when I die, you will never be alone my sweetheart. I believed Murtagh today because he said that he was your friend in the Ancient Language. That was no lie, he meant that entirely. Let's go."
Following my father out of the house, we began our journey. As he asked, I packed light; only 3 pairs of clothes counting what I was already wearing, some food and water and my bow and quiver of arrows that my father had made. "But, Dad, you are my only family, the only person I know besides Murtagh. If you die today I will be alone. So how is it that you can say that I will never be alone?"
My father did not answer me right away, just continued walking. Slowly he started to pick up the pace. As I waited for him to answer, I studied my father. All he was carrying was the leather bag I knew nothing about, his father's sword and his own sword. "Alianna, I cannot answer your question right now. But if I am to die today, just know that I love you and you are my world."
Suddenly we heard noises coming behind us. Terrified we both began to run as fast as we could. At first it seemed like we were moving faster than those chasing us, but we were wrong. They were slowly catching up to us. Being younger, smaller and lighter, I pulled way ahead of my father. I glance back, and he yells, "Alianna, take this and run. Never come back. I will be fine. I will always be with you my dragon rider."
"Dad, what are you doing?" I asked taking the bag he always carried with him as well as his father's, my grandfather's, sword. The bag was heavier than I thought it would be. Kissing me on the forehead he said, "Saving you. I will always love you."
"Dad! NO! Don't leave me! Please, just don't leave me." I begged, crying like I hadn't done since mom died. My father pulled out his sword, and looking at me regretfully he said, "I would rather die saving you, than I would have if I didn't. At least this way I know I did do something good with my life. An honorable death, like my father. I'll say hello to your mother for you. I love you my wonderful, beautiful, smart, talented, dragon rider of a daughter. Now, run. Please, don't let my death be in vain, run and live your life to the fullest."
"I love you," was all I said before I took off running. I ran faster than I ever had before. I was trying to out run the sounds of my father dying. Somehow, I succeed.
The Ancient Language
1-May luck and happiness follow you and may you be shielded from misfortune.
2-I am your friend.
A/N: This chapter is now complete! Thank you so much for being patient. I am sorry, but 19 credit hours for school this semester, working 20-30 hours a week, and having a wonderful boyfriend take up a lot of my time that I would love to spend writing. But right now my focus is on my school work. Any comments or suggestions are welcome! During spring break I will do my best to write as much as I can and get ahead! No promises tho. Thanks for reading!
Disclaimer- I do now own anything but Alianna, her father, and the two dragons! Everything else belongs to Christopher Paolini!
