Chapter 14

Ella lay in her room for the next two days only talking to Crivony and letting her back heal. She only left the bed to drink, eat what little Murtagh brought her, and look around her room. Finally on the third day she was healed enough to walk without to much pain. Because of this and the fact that she was quite tired of stale bread, old cheese, and too sour fruit juice, she decided to make herself presentable. After a careful bath in the adjoining wash room, she donned the dress that was left for her. It was soft and when she slipped it on it failed to irritate her back.

Murtagh arrived a short while later with her meal. He grinned when he saw her, "Ready to have your super with the King and I?"

"Yes, I do believe I'm ready." Ella drew herself up as much as her injured back would let her and followed him from the room.

(Are you sure you are ready to face him?) Crivony asked

(I have to get this over with sometime.) she answered

(I just worry.) the gray dragon answered, (Are we going to join him?)

Ella followed Murtagh through open and airy corridors, windows from floor to ceiling showing her a rolling green landscape.

(I have no real choice, besides he's offered us so much.) Ella picked at a string hanging from her sleeve

(You are right.) Crivony said shortly and Ella had the impression that her dragon was mad about something she said. When she reached to ask him what was wrong she encountered a strong barrier between them.

Murtagh led down a great stair case and too a set of large double door. They were made of the darkest wood Ella had ever seen, but even more amazing was the great carving. On the two doors a great dragon was carved. It was standing facing the door, head held proudly. It was a very regal looking dragon. The wood was polished so that it gleamed, and where there should have been eyes carved, where two beautiful emerald green eyes.

"It's beautiful." Ella gasped

"The King says it has been here as long as the building has been standing." Murtagh explained

He pushed the doors open and Ella looked around amazed as they entered a large hall with a ceiling so high Ella had no doubt even the ancient Shruikan could sit inside. Great stone Pillars lined the hall on either side of the room holding up the great ceiling. It was the ceiling though that really made the room. Depicted on it was a flight of multi colored dragons. Ella stopped to stare at the ceiling wondering how anyone could get up there to make the colorful dragons shine with such luster.

"They're made from old dragon scales."

Ella jerked out of her trance and look down form the ceiling. Four long tables were parallel with the walls on either side on the hall. At the other end of the room six steps above the floor was a table running parallel to the back wall. The depiction on the ceiling ran down the back wall as well, so that it gave the very real like impression that the back wall and ceiling were open to the elements.

"come sit with us."

Ella blushed and scurried to join Murtagh and Galbatorix. She sat next to Galbatorix in front of a plate heaped with steaming vegetables, roost, and fruits. Her mouth watered hungrily and after saying a polite greeting she dug in.

"You like the hall?" The King said after she had eaten enough to curb some of her hunger.

"Very much."

"It's the way I wish the rest of our kingdom to look." he smiled

Ella smiled back, "It would be a wonderful kingdom indeed."

The King nodded, "You have thought about my offer?"

Ella nodded, "I will join you and help you further your cause."

The King nodded, "Are you willing to relinquish your name to me then?"

Ella nodded solemnly and looked at him, "Does this mean that you enter my mind and get the information you seek?"

He nodded, "It will be painless as long as you do not attempt to resist me."

Ella nodded, "Then lets do it now and speak of it no more."

He nodded and reached out with his hands and laid them on her shoulders. Turning to face him she waited.

Suddenly she was reliving her memories. First her life with her family, getting up early to milk Betty, pricking her fingers learning to sow, sleeping with Pumpkin to warm her feet, playing on the Ninor's River bank, and learning to embroider. Then her examined the destruction of Yazuac; how she had cried for days upon hearing the news, how here teacher had turned her out into the streets, how she'd gone back to her home to see what she could salvage, and running into the raiders that lotted the homes. He moved to examine her travels to the Varden and her encounter with the old man on the road. When he learned that this was the man who had Crivony he paid closer attention.

He watched as Eve helped the man repair his broken wagon wheel, how the man upon learning what had happened to her, invited her along, and how he had taught her simple magic. Then he watched as she found the egg when helping to unpack the wagon once, how she had stroked it, and pretended to not have seen it. Next he watched as one evening the egg rolled off the wagon and hatched.

Ella and the old man had been astonished, and when Ella went to touch the dragonet how she'd gained the gedwey ignasia. He watched as she went with the old man till Crivony could fly, then how she had gone in search of the elves to learn more magic. Then how she'd arrived in a small camp of elves. They refused to help her and old her that she was better off with her fellow humans in the Varden. So she had set to find the Varden and instead she was caught by Murtagh.

Galbatorix drew out of her mind and smiled at her as she sat before him trying to gain control of her frazzled emotions.

"Your life has been such an adventure." He remarked

Ella shrugged and looked up at him, "You have what you need?"

"Yes, I have your and Crivony's true names." He nodded, "I welcome you into Ur'baen and hope that you will be most comfortable here."

Ella reached out to tell Crivony the news but met the same solid barrier. She frowned inwardly and vowed to ask where he was and go see her beloved dragon.

"Your belongings will be in your rooms when you return to them, and your training will begin at sunrise tomorrow. As for now you will see the palace healer and we shall see what can be done about your back. Then I'm sure Murtagh will show you too where Crivony is staying." Galbatorix explained

"Please my Lord, me and Crivony have never slept so far apart, it causes us great unease." Ella ducked her head hoping he'd grant her request.

"I think there is a room next to the court yard he stays in you can claim." The King shrugged, "Murtagh will show you around as long as you will be needing an escort."

Ella inclined her head respectably, "Thank you my Lord."

Diner ended without any further conversation. Afterwards Murtagh led her to the infirmary. When they arrived Ella was quickly sat on a bed and a plump woman with a sour face tended to her back. She was given a few healing potions, had a stinking yellow paste applied to her back, a green paste to the brand on her hip, and both were wrapped.

The woman took a look at her fingers that Galbatorix had broken early on in her stay and healed them with murmured words of power. She gave her a potion for her bruises, and an order to not do anything strenuous for the rest of the week. Ella was relieved she'd gotten off so easy and followed Murtagh to her dragon.

"I thought that you would never give to the King." Murtagh said as the were in route.

Ella looked at him sharply, "Being in his service doesn't seem as bad as being dead."

Murtagh shot her a glare, "Yo have no friends or family that you will be expected to kill. Your brother doesn't believe that you wish him dead."

Ella's resolve crumpled and she looked up at him sadly, "I'm sorry about your situation, but I'd rather be here then dead."

Murtagh shook his head, "Every morning I wake and I'm sorry I didn't die during the night. The only saving grace is Thorn, he's the best thing that has ever happened to me."

Ella nodded, "I hope it isn't as bad for me."

Murtagh snorted, "He has you now, soon you will be nothing but a slave to his commands."

Ella shrugged, "I'm still alive."

Murtagh snorted and increased his pace so that he wouldn't have to walk next to her or talk to her.

Ella shrugged she couldn't help if he was depressed. I the back of her mind worry bloomed. Worry that she'd be stuck serving the King and carrying out commands that she hated. She worried that she'd be tortured again, and she worried that her dragon would be harmed. Above all though she worried about their freedom and if it had been truly seized from them.