New Path

Disclaimer: I don't own Eragon or Eldest, just Arianna and Nolan

Chapter 8: At Ease

Angela had been feverishly trying to stop the bleeding but she had, fortunately, stopped the poison from spreading. But a fever had set in, giving her more concern that the girl wouldn't survive the few hours. Her brother came in just as she was trying to stem the bleeding with a worried and look of anguish. She hadn't dealt with him much but knew that he had let his seemingly stoic mask, and she could only reassure him. Angela stopped for a moment and took him aside.

"If it puts you at ease, she should come around in a few days." She said. "But there is a chance that she won't recover."

He seemed to light up when she said it and he knew that chance was small. He had seen how much blood there was and that had worried him, how much blood could be lost from such a wound.

"I had just gotten word of what happened and I thought her wound wasn't major but I heard wrong." He said. "I have an idea of how she got it."

"I believe it was the night your uncle was killed. She had said that Murtagh had given it to her." Angela replied. "But she doesn't speak of it much anyway."

"She doesn't like talking about anything like that, Arianna's just a very private person in that way." He said, thinking. "But she's strong, even if she seems awkward at times."

"I don't doubt it. I met her before when I was in Tierm." Angela replied. "You can stay if you'd like, but it's looking grim."

"I'll stay, I think I should be here when she comes to." He said, moving away. "I was in a meeting with Nausauda, she wanted Arianna there, they decided that she can keep an eye on Murtagh in his cell."

"How is he, by the way?" She asked.

"Held by magic fortified chains in our strongest cell." He simply replied.

Angela nodded and went back to stemming the bleeding. After a few hours of that, it had stopped but the fever still ran effectively and relentlessly. She tried every herb that was in her reach but couldn't seem to get it to break. By that time, it was dawn and she had no choice but to move onto others. She left the girl in the care of Solembum who took it with little complaint. Nolan sat in a corner, just observing along with a little girl.


It had been at least two days since Nolan had been in the sick bay, he had slept on and off but kept a steady eye on his sibling, who seemed to be improving slowly. Angela had been vigilant to keep an eye of the bleeding and had beamed a little when she had seen indicating signs of coming to. She muttered to herself and left. He slept again after that and had realized he slept for the entire day. At this point, Arianna finally came to with little damage, other than a burning back. Lady Nausauda had come in and was glad to see that at least one of the Varden had healed. Angela now felt the girl's forehead for fever and seeing there was none let her dress and go. Arianna walked leaning on Codas a little to the cell where their captive was being kept.

"I'll be back in a few hours and your brother and Codas can stand guard outside." She said. "I do trust him now, don't worry about that."

Arianna went in with a very cold eye, not caring if he was dying or not. Murtagh tried to probe her mind but couldn't due to the neutralization of the chains he was held by. The girl didn't speak as she seemed to be listening to another conversation. She muttered a spell and the chains loosened a bit.

"I won't hurt you." She said, a little cold. "But I will not let you try and contact anyone. These walls are made for keeping anything we say inside."

Codas growled a little outside but it was a threat but agreement. He had no trust in anyone that tried to hurt his riders, especially the youngest. Even at seventeen, he considered her a hatchling still. Nolan was an exception, he was blood to Arianna so he was a rider to him. Despite that he worked for the king at one point, he thought. Arianna was simply picking apart her mind and Murtagh's. She seemed to have a breakthrough and part of his true self seemed to be revealed.

"I didn't mean to give you that scar." He said.

"Of course you didn't. Why not give me one more while you're at it." Arianna replied, coldly.

"I know what pain you're in." He said, trying to get an emotion out of you.

"I already know. Your father was one of the Forsworn and he threw his sword at you." Arianna replied, not as coldly but with some disregard.

"You don't know about your real family, do you?" He asked.

"I don't care to." Arianna replied.

"Your mother was one of the Forsworn. After you were born, she didn't want to expose you to him so she took you and your brother to the entrance of Carvahall." He said. "And let you go to your uncle. He killed her soon after."

"You're possessed by Galbitorix, how can I know you're not lying?" Arianna replied, now with a bitter tone.

"I cannot lie to you, dragon rider." He said.

Arianna left after that, in a flying rage that she took out on herself and muttered something to keep him chained. She had come up with a plan and said it to her brother away from the traitor's ears.

"We're going to take him back." She said.

"What?!" Nolan said, taken aback by shock.

"We're going to take Murtagh back to the king in exchange for his Eldunari." She said, showing little anger. "I've calculated the risks, it's our only option."

"Then I support it but who can we take with us?" Nolan asked, now a little worried.

"The only person we need now is Eragon. I need to get something that can keep Murtagh from using his magic or telepathic speaking." She replied. "I need to be sure that Lady Nausauda is supportive, I don't want to go against any odds."