Chapter 18
It was well into winter and Ella had been living in the palace for five months now. She had met the nobles and learned to deal with their noisy and often troublesome presence. Whenever they encounter Murtagh or her they'd bow low and exclaim over their honor. Ella grew to despise this with a passion. Crivony snorted flames at the nobles anytime they tried to approach him, thus ending the attempts.
Despite the court ladies attempts to get her to join them in there parties she remained alone with only her dragon, the King, and Murtagh for company.
Murtagh had guided her through learning all he could teach her of the Rimgar. She was a very flexible and learned each position quicker then Murtagh expected. Hand to hand combat she was very good at and often sent Murtagh sprawling, but for every time she did he sent her sprawling five times more.
She learned the basics of sword fighting and did dreadful. She even learned to handle a bow moderately well, and a sling. It turned out she couldn't handle an axe or war hammer either. She excelled with her daggers and the staff though. Murtagh gave her a staff with the largest white diamond at the top she'd ever seen. The diamond was bigger then her fist, and after three months of storing magic in it she still had yet to find it's limit. The stones in her daggers had been long since filled.
As she had dreaded Galbatorix sent her through six more learning sessions. In one she learned about dragons, and other races, and in the next she learned about darker magics. She was pained by each one less till the last one she'd endured she hadn't noticed the pain. The King had been very pleased.
Ella dressed for the day in warm leggings and a thick wool shirt. Crivony was in the middle of his court yard which was free of snow unlike the rest of the castle. It seemed that the inner heat that Crivony projected was to warm for snow to stick in his yard.
(It looks like it will snow even more.) Crivony said in the way of greeting, (I don't think I like winter all the much.)
Ella grinned and patted her dragon's shoulder, "On that I'll agree with you."
Crivony snorted and let his rider vault on to his bare back. They didn't need the saddle so that he could fly her down to the great hall for breakfast.
The gray dragon launched them into the air and spiraled down the levels of the castle. When the arrived at the large court yard Ella was pleased to see that Murtagh had just arrived and he was waiting for her and Crivony.
(You like Murtagh.) Crivony mused
Ella shrugged, (A bit.)
Crivony snorted, (The King would use this against the pair of you.)
Ella nodded, (I know beloved.)
Crivony landed gently on the ground and crouched so that Ella could dismount. In the past few months Crivony had grown to a very large height. Even Galbatorix exclaimed over how fast Crivony was growing. Thorn was still only half the gray dragon size but he made up for it in speed. Whenever they had mock battles in the sky Thorn would fly circles around the larger dragon. Crivony on the other hand was stronger and harder to hurt. The two dragons were very different and always served to amuse their riders.
"Good morning." Murtagh greeted
"Good morning to you as well." Ella grinned
They never really talked most the time and when they did it was because the King was gone. Morning greetings were as far as conversation went when the King was in the palace.
(We will return from our hunting by mid day.) Crivony told her and the pair of dragons sprang into the sky. Ella watched as the rose up into the clouds and disappeared from sight.
Ella turned and silently followed Murtagh into the castle. The great doors lead into the entrance hall which the great hall was connected to by the large black doors.
The King was already at the head table and thirty of the nobles and their families. Ella and Murtagh strode side by side up to the head table and bowed to the King before going around the table to sit on either side of him.
"Good morning riders." He greeted them as they sat, "I hope you're well rested, because we have much to do today."
Ella nodded, "I slept very well my Lord."
Galbatorix nodded, "Murtagh tell me how is Ella's combat training proceeding?"
Murtagh launched into a telling of Ella's latest lessons. He complimented her Rimgar, hand to hand, staff, and dagger skills. He winced when he told the King of her dismal sword skills. The King laughed and said he had expected as much of Ella.
"Are you nearly finished going through all the magic knowledge I gave you?" Galbatorix asked Ella
She shrugged. "I have learned much, I have just gone through the thirteen ways to kill and person, so I imagine that I am well on my way to done."
Galbatorix snorted, "Spend more time on it, it's your priority from now till you finish."
Ella inclined her head, "As you wish my Lord."
They quietly ate their breakfast for the next ten minutes. When the King finished he spoke again.
"I want you both to accompany me to the library." King ordered
Ella looked up from her meal and sighed inwardly. Pushing her yet to be finished meal away she stood and followed the King from the room with Murtagh.
They arrived in the library as Ella felt the thrill of delight from Crivony as he caught a young buck. She smiled fondly as he broadcasted a sense of satisfaction weather he knew it or not.
"This morning we will bolster your magic." Galbatorix announced as the door shut behind them. Ella knew what ever bolstering her magic involved wasn't good from the way Murtagh stiffened.
"Now this process is a bit complicated and involves a certain amount of risk." Galbatorix sneered, "It first involves you casting your magic into a spell that would normally debilitate you of all your strength and kill you. Then it's up to the two of us to help you and thus make you stronger."
Ella grimaced she really didn't like the idea of relying on the King to keep her alive. "What do you do to keep me from using up my magic and dying?"
The King smirked, "We'll kill a few magicians and add their magic to your own."
Ella flinched back away from the King, "No! This is absurd!"
Galbatorix smirked, "You are my slave, and I want my slave to be stronger so you in effect have no choice."
Ella shook her head wildly, "No! I won't!"
The King frowned and pain seared through her muscles.
Ella clenched her teeth against the pain and hunched over as if trying to hold it in. She sobbed as pain lanced through her muscles, boiled in her innards, splintered her bones and poisoned her blood. She didn't know how long it lasted, but it felt like forever. She wanted to die, anything if it meant escaping from this pain that was steadily consuming her.
As suddenly as the pain had started it stopped and Ella slumped to the floor holding herself upright with one unsteady arm.
"You will caste the magic and we'll add their magic to yours." the Kings said and from his tone of voice she knew she had no choice
"You can rot in hell!" Ella growled and braced herself for more pain. She wasn't left waiting long and the pain started all over again. This time it was pain on top of pain and Ella gave up trying to fight the screams of agony. She screamed for so long that her voice gave out and she was left writhing and sobbing. The pain let up again and the King stepped over her his eyes blazing in fury.
"You will do this, Melsarda." He snapped
Ella felt a jolt run through her and she weakly nodded her assent. She had no choice he had the key to her soul and she was his slave in the crudest of forms. She was because he knew all there was to know about her, he knew her true name.
Ella pulled herself up and sat swaying for a full minute blood trickling from her nose. She glared at the King with more hate then she'd ever expressed towards anyone and spat loud out onto the floor. She searched for the right words and caste a spell to bring rain from the clouds in the sky. Normally magic used to control the weather would kill a person and quickly at that.
Ella felt as her magic deserted her to go to the spell. She felt a thrill of terror and hope as Crivony added his magic to hers. She despaired though when she felt magic begin to flow into her from another unseen force. She inwardly sobbed as she recognized life forces that belonged to innocents. She lost count of those who died to keep her alive and didn't try, for the guilt was so bad already with out knowing the exact amount.
Relief flooded her as the clouds over the palace opened up and let out a torrent of rain. The spell released and she was left sitting in the library sobbing silently to herself. She felt dirty on the inside as if she had killed the people herself. She could feel there life forces combined with her own and she was disgusted.
(Ella! What has that monster done to you?) Crivony roared
Ella didn't answer and only erected the strongest barrier she could between herself and her beloved dragon. She didn't want her bonded to know what she had done, the very thought made her lose her breakfast on the library carpet.
"Take her to her room Murtagh." The King ordered jerking Ella out of her morose thoughts.
Murtagh nodded and tried to coax her up. Unable to get her to respond he scooped her up and carried her to her rooms. She heard Crivony's worried crones as they arrived at her rooms but kept the shields in place.
"Did he do this to you?" Ella sniffled
"Yes." Murtagh answered shortly
"Does it ever get easier to live with?" Ella asked
"No." Murtagh sighed, "It is just as hard for me as the day they were forced into me."
Ella nodded, "What are they exactly."
Murtagh shrugged, "Dead souls bonded to your magic, is my best guess."
Ella shuddered, "It's un-natural."
Murtagh nodded, "It's disgusting and crude, but we have no choice, some day maybe we'll find a way to have them removed, till then... We're abominations in our world."
Ella nodded and sniffled sadly, "I think I need time alone to process this."
Murtagh nodded and hesitated at the door, "Talk to Crivony soon, Thorn says he's in fits worrying about you. He won't desert you, I still have Thorn and he knows."
Ella nodded and watched as he left. As soon as the door was shut she flung herself out of her bed and raced out into the court yard. She spotted the worried gray dragon and threw herself at him. Crivony drew her to his side and held his wing over her as a mother bird would do with a young hatchling. He curled his enormous head around and tucked it under his wing to offer her comfort. Ella accepted and just clung to her dragon sobbing.
She slipped into sleep and Crivony remained guarding her like any good dragon would. He was worried for his rider, he had sensed some of what was done to her and it disgusted him. He had hated Galbatorix before but now he wanted to rend the man to shreds and dance on his body. Yes Crivony wanted revenge for his rider, and if what he sensed was true then it was time that they leave. Yes it was time that they Eve and Storm left Ur'baen and rejoined the Varden and elves.
AN: Christmas break is coming up and I plan to spend the time working overtime and writing more chapters. I know I've been a very bad author and updated poorly, but life is just so busy. First year of college is harder then I thought it would be. Oh well I'll quit my whinning. And Thank you all who reviewed and showed interest in my story which was a big motivator in this chapter.