Murtagh and Thorn led Nasuada along the mazes of hallways in the palace, telling her the purpose of the room they pass by.
"this is the library." Murtagh said as the passed my two large double doors.
Nasuada did not speak during the tour. She was still occupied by the thought of their encounter with the king. She was bothered by how he treats his subject and Murtagh.
"Nasuada?" Murtagh called over his shoulder. Nasuada's eyes snapped up and met his.
"Are you even listening to me?" Murtagh asked.
"I'd pay attention if I were you, human." Thorn projected his thoughts for Nasuada to hear.
"I'm listening." Nasuada lied.
"Then what room is that?" Murtagh pointed to the library.
"The conference room?" Nasuada guesses and hoped she was right.
Murtagh and Thorn glanced at each other then looked at her.
"Don't blame me if you get lost." Murtagh muttered and continued walking.
Shortly after that, they entered a room; a bedroom. The room was large; there was a fireplace , a four post bed, a large window over looking the plains and a wide opening to the veranda. Inside, one whole portion of the wall was covered with shelves and books from top to bottom.
There was a study beside it, with a desk filled with parchments and quills. At another end of the room was a large cusion, similar to that of the king's.
"This is my chambers." Murtagh said simply. "This is where you'll mostly find me if ever I summon you or you need anything. But be aware that I'm not always here."
The two of them went out of the room and went to another room a few doors away from Murtagh's chambers.
"This is your room." Murtagh said as he opened the door in front of them and led Nasuada in.
Nasuada was expecting some rat hole that would fit a peasant's but what she saw left her speechless and impressed.
The room was a little smaller than Murtagh's room, but it was luxurious and homey. There was a four poster bed with lace curtains, a small study, a lounge area, a dresser with a mirror and various drawers and box containers and a shelf filled with books
There was also two glass doors leading to a veranda over looking the palace gardens.
"I'll leave you to wash up and get dressed." Murtagh said, turning around to leave. "Meet me at the dinning room in half an hour."
And he left leaving Nasuada alone.
Nasuada went to the shower chambers and took a bath; washing off the dust and grime that had stuck on her for two days. Then she went to her room to get dressed. She opened the closet beside her dresser and she was greeted by the sight of dozens of dresses. There seemed to be a dress for every occasion. She took out a simple pastel colored evening dress and sat down in front of the dresser to fix her hair.
She looked at herself in the mirror with her hair down to her back. She might as well make her self presentable to her master. Nasuada opened one of the drawers and saw hair brushes of different kinds and such other things arranged inside. Realizing that Murtagh would be expecting her soon, Nasuada fixed her hair into a neat and simple but elegant bun. After that, she exited the room and made her way to the dining room.
*
"You're late, Nasuada." A voice greeted her as she entered the dining room. Murtagh sat on one end of a long, rectangular table. With only the part where Murtagh sat was covered with food.
"My apologies." Nasuada closed the door behind her and made her way to the table. "I got lost."
Murtagh, who was studying a scroll, glanced up at Nasuada before looking down on the parchment again; "I recall giving you directions."
"You don't expect me to memorize everything in one hour." Nasuada placed her hands on her hips. "This place is huge."
"Sit." Murtagh motioned to a chair in front of him. Nasuada obeyed and sat down. She stared at the food and somewhat felt uncomfortable because there were candle on the table for ambiance.
"Go ahead." Murtagh said as he turned the scroll horizontally and studied it even more. "Eat."
Nasuada hesitated for a moment there, afraid that she might be poisoned. But the hunger that's been clawing inside her for two days dared her.
She a spoonful of everything in front of her and started eating.
There was silence between the two of them while Nasuada ate and Murtagh studied. No one started a conversation so, when Nasuada finished eating she asked;
"Has the not supped yet?"
Murtagh rolled the scroll and set it aside. He then turned his attention to Nasuada.
"The king rarely dines with company."
"What about you?" Nasuada asked.
"I'm not hungry tonight." Murtagh replied.
Murtagh stared at Nasuada with piercing gray-blue eyes. He watched her intently and this made Nasuada uncomfortable.
"Is something the matter?" she asked.
" We have a lot to discuss." Murtagh said. Shadows from the candlelight danced on his masculine facial features.
"And I want you t tell me the truth and only the truth."
Nasuada could feel the spell taking effect.
"What matters?" she asked, uncomfortably.
"We could start by those marks on your wrists." Murtagh said, his face suddenly turned grimly serious.
"Did you try to take your own life?"
"I would never do such a thing!" Nasuada said defensively.
Murtagh relaxed a little, but he tried not to make it noticeable.
"Then what happened?"
Nasuada tried to fight off the spell. She could feel the effects; she felt like she wanted to tell everything to Murtagh.
"You don't have to know everything." Nasuada said, looking away.
A small smirk appeared on Murtagh's lips. "The more you fight it, the more it hurts. So if I were you, I'd spare myself the agony and tell."
Nasuada sighed and began narrating the Trial Of The Long Knives.
Murtagh fingered the designs on the edges of the table, but under the table, he was tightly clenching his fist.
"Orrin was strongly against it and Eragon was furious when he found out." Nasuada continued. "He would've gone after my kinsmen if I hadn't ordered him to stop.
"Admirable." Murtagh said after a while. "But reckless. You could've died."
His face and tone were emotionless but Nasuada noticed something in his eyes. They seemed to have soften a bit as he looked at her.
Murtagh cleared his throat and changed the subject.
"What about Eragon?"
"After you killed Oromis," Nasuada said carefully. "He's even more eager to get even with you and Galbatorix." She looked at him with cold eyes for even she was affected by Eragon's grief over the death of his mentor.
Murtagh looked away, trying to collect himself to speak.
"I-" he tried to find the words. "I didn't know. I just lost control."
Then Nasuada froze and realized that Murtagh could asked about Glaedr's Eldunari. She hoped and prayed that he didn't.
"Please don't ask." She pleaded mentally.
"I told Eragon during our last encounter, that I wasn't evil." Murtagh found it hard to speak. He stood up and strode to the window to look at the city.
Then he turned to face Nasuada.
"And believe me, Nasuada. I'm not evil."
"He's so affected by this." Nasuada thought to herself. "He's desperate to be trusted again. But his situation won't allow it."
Nasuada stood up from her seat and said; "I cannot comment about that. After knowing everything you have done." She moved away from the table and walked to a wall to study a tapestry.
"I do not trust your words for I see the situation differently from how you see it."
Murtagh's jaw clenched tightly. He bit back words that were itching to come out and retort, but he doesn't want to hurt Nasuada.
"If you're done with supper," he said, turning back to the window. "Then you may do anything you wish. But remember your restrictions."
Nasuada's gaze fell to the floor as a pang of guilt stabbed her in the chest. She was too frank with Murtagh but she quickly found an excuse to drive the guilt away.
"He did tell me to say the truth. Hence, I didn't lie."
"I'll be in my room then." Nasuada said simply and left.
On her way to her chambers, Nasuada was thankful hat Murtagh didn't ask about the Eldunari.
She entered her room and locked the door. Nasuada found the palace to be a lonely household. Technically, not counting the servants and the soldiers, the only tenants there where Galbatorix, Murtagh, her and the two dragons.
Surda's Borromeo Castle wasn't this large and grand, but at least the atmosphere is lighter. Orrin tinkering with his glass instruments, Trianna supervising the weaver, Elva popping out of nowhere.
But this, this was just… lonely.
Nasuada picked up her old ripped clothes to put it in the laundry hamper when something fell on the floor coming from the dress.
Nasuada picked it up. It was a carved ivory whistle. It was about the size of a finger with delicate carvings of flying birds and finished off with a coat of clear varnish.
She forgot that she still had this with her and she felt stupid for not using it during her capture with the slavers.
She rolled the whistle on her palm and a small smile appeared on her lips.
Nasuada used this to communicate with the others.
WOW!!! LONG UPDATE! I've written up to chapter 6 so far. But it's still on paper. I'll type it soon!
I hope you guys like this short chapter. I'll update asap, 'kay? Sorry for the typos and wrong grammar.
R&R!!!