Hey everyone! Firstly I would like to thank you for reading, next I'd like to say I'll do my best to get a few more chapters up over the easter holidays, I hope you like this chapter cause I had a bit of writter's block halfway through (grrr) so hopefully it's ok. Let me know what you think!
HAPPY EASTER!!!!
That night Murtagh had a horrible dream of Galbatorix torturing him, he was mocking him and laughing as he inflicted wave after wave of merciless pain. Murtagh tossed in his sleep letting out small whimpers and cries of protest when suddenly he was awoken by someone shaking him. Without thinking he pulled out his dagger and stabbed whoever it was in the stomach. His eyes widened in horror as he saw what he had just done.
"I'm sorry" he whispered as Tori let out a small cry of pain and stumbled backwards.
Both Murtagh and Thorn stood up. Murtagh rushed towards her, she tried to move away from him but she couldn't, her eyes were full of fear. Murtagh pulled out the dagger and dropped it.
"Tori listen to me, you're going to be alright but I need you to lie down" Murtagh said putting his hand on the wound trying to slow the bleeding.
Tori couldn't hold herself up anymore so she collapsed onto Murtagh who lay her down put his hands over the wound.
"Waise heill" Murtagh said and felt the magic flow from his body into Tori. He looked at her face and saw her eyes widen with shock. Murtagh looked back at the wound and watched it slowly close up and the skin heal over it until there wasn't even a scar.
Tori suddenly began to gasp for breath, she tried to sit up but Murtagh stopped her "Lay still for a moment" he told her. Murtagh grabbed his wineskin and passed it to her "Here, drink slowly"
Tori took the drink with two shaking hands, when she was finished she handed it back "Thanks" she breathed, sitting up "Wow, that was a close one"
Murtagh looked away "I'm sorry" he murmured.
"No problem" Tori said giving a weak smile "You know it was lucky you were here to save me"
"But I nearly killed you"
"Well, yeah but you're also the reason I'm alive, therefore we're even so I can't try and get revenge by killing you while you sleep or anything" Tori was trying her best to lighten the mood of the whole situation.
Murtagh didn't respond, he looked out the cave opening and saw it was still night time. "You should go back to sleep, the sun hasn't even started to rise yet." Murtagh still didn't look at her, he turned and went back to Thorn's side, closed his eyes and pretended to go to sleep. He didn't sleep at all though, not for a second. The whole night Murtagh kept watch over Tori making sure that she was alright.
He didn't know what made him do it because he knew his magic had healed her but that didn't stop him from watching her very closely the whole night.
The next morning Tori was acting herself again, she and Thorn were having a heated discussion about bubbles, but Murtagh on the other hand just walked along beside them in silence. Tori had noticed this and had tried to get him involved in the conversation but he would just shrug and remain silent, avoiding eye contact with her.
Murtagh you could at least talk to her, you're hurting her feelings, Thorn nagged.
Murtagh sighed and shook his head, I nearly killed her.
So? You saved her too, Tori isn't the type of person that holds grudges.
I…
Just talk to her! You're driving me crazy! Thorn grumbled.
"Tori…" Murtagh began nervously "I- I just wanted to apologise for what I- for-"
"Stabbing me last night?" Tori smirked as Murtagh cringed "you don't have to worry about that Murtagh, holding a grunge isn't my thing"
Thorn gave Murtagh a look that said 'I told you so'
Murtagh then began to talk again, he even joined in with the argument about bubbles which soon led to Tori describing something called a balloon to them. Tori strolled along beside Thorn and Murtagh singing a song by 'the queen'
"Not the queen" Tori had explained "just 'queen' it's a band of four guys"
"I'm burning through the sky yeah! Two hundred degree's that's why they call my Mr Fahrenheit! I'm travelling at the speed of ligh-oh my God!" Tori gasped as she saw the castle. "This is where you live?!"
"Yes" Murtagh said, his stomach tightened unpleasantly as he looked up at the castle. This was a bad idea Thorn, he said, we shouldn't have brought her here, she's going to get hurt.
Before Thorn had time to answer Tori had disappeared. Thorn and Murtagh ran in the direction they had last seen her heading. Murtagh's stomach turned over as she saw Tori talking to the guards outside the gates.
"No, see you've got this all wrong" Tori explained to the guards who refused to let her through "I don't live here, but I need a witch who can teleport me back through the dimension to earth where I live, it's quite self explanatory really when you think about it because I don't dress like you or do my hair like you or talk like you and my teeth are considerably cleaner."
The guard's eyes were bulging by the time Tori had finished. Murtagh approached them and Tori turned around and saw them, then with a smile she turned back to the guard and said "It's cool bro, I'm with them"
"Sir, forgive me I didn't know…" the guard bowed to Murtagh apologising repetitively.
"Gilden it is forgiven, please just give us a moment" Murtagh said waving the apologies away with his hand.
Gilden bowed again and went back to his position. Murtagh then turned to see a very amused Tori and dragged her out of earshot. Tori smirked at him.
"What can I do for you sir?" she teased.
"Tori there's something I need to tell you," Murtagh looked at the ground still holding onto her arm. "I- If you go in there you might not come back out…"
Tori wasn't smiling anymore "What do you mean?" she asked slowly.
"I mean that he's evil, Tori, there isn't too greater chance that he'll help you out… or let you live"
"What?" Tori said stepping away, pulling her arm out of Murtagh's grip. "Why would you bring me here?"
"I-"
"Murtagh, I trusted you…"
"Tori I'm sorry, but I-" Murtagh stopped and sighed "I made a mistake, please, let me help you, I'll take you far from here to people who can help you"
Tori was about to answer when Gilden called out "Sir, I'm sorry to interrupt you but the King has been made aware of your presence and he has sent orders that you are to go to him immediately."
Murtagh felt an indescribable feeling, it was now very familiar yet still unpleasant. It happened every time Galbatorix gave him an order. It happened deep in the pit of his stomach, like a magical pull urging him to obey, and no matter how hard he fought it he couldn't resist it.
Murtagh looked sadly giving her a look that told her one thing… Run. Tori understood and began to back away when another guard walked up and stopped her.
"He wants this one too" He said smiling at her struggle against his grip.
"Let me go ass-breath! You're hurting my arm!" Tori yelled at him.
Murtagh wanted nothing more than to help Tori but his bonds to the king stopped him. He turned and followed Gilden and the other guard who had Tori up to the Throne Room. All the while Tori struggled.
"Hey are you deaf and stupid! I said let me go! I'm a citizen of the United States I know what my rights are ok? My mother is a lawyer and we'll sue you're asses off if you don't let me go right now! Oh I am so going to kick your ass when you let me go! I'd do it now but I'm kinda concerned about my arm that you're RIPPING OUT OF IT'S SOCKET! Seriously you're going to rip it off! If you do I swear to God I will shove my foot so far up your ass that I'll be kicking your tonsils! Let me go!"
"SILENCE!" A voice boomed. Tori looked up and saw who she assumed was Galbatorix. She glanced at Murtagh who was now on his knees bowing to the king, though it didn't like he was doing it willingly. He looked as if an invisible force was holding him in place.
Finally he stood up and adjusted his cloak angrily. The king was glaring daggers in Murtagh direction, who returned the same icy glare.
"Murtagh, what was the last command I gave you before you left?" He asked calmly, almost casually.
"To capture Eragon and Sapphira Sire" Murtagh answered not dropping his gaze.
"THEN WHY AREN'T THEY HERE?" Galbatorix roared "Again and again you have disobeyed my orders and defied me! What will it take for you to understand that this isn't a game?" It was then that Galbatorix glanced over at Tori "Ah, and who have we here?"
"What up Your Highness? I'm Tori, and um I was just wondering if maybe your guards here could GET THE HELL OFF ME!" Tori started struggling again and stamped her heel down hard into the guard's foot.
He let out a cry of pain but didn't let go. Galbatorix smiled at the sight. Now, it wasn't very often that the king smiled but when he did it definitely wasn't a good thing, in fact it meant he had found a way to inflict an immense amount of pain and suffering on some one.
"Take her to the dungeons" He ordered, then looked directly into Murtagh's eyes as he said "I have plans for her"
It took both of the guards to take a kicking and complaining Tori down into the dungeons, the further away they got the louder Tori yelled. Eventually the yelling died away and Galbatorix spoke again to Murtagh.
"Now for your punishment…" Galbatorix suddenly thrust his hand in Murtagh's direction and roared a spell in the ancient language.
Murtagh felt an explosion of pain wash over his entire body, he fell to his knees and screamed in agony as Galbatorix yelled more and more words to inflict further agony. It was unbearable, just as one wave of pain would subside another would come crashing over him. At last, after what had seemed like an eternity, it stopped.
Murtagh lay on his back gasping for breath as beads of sweat rolled off his face. Galbatorix approached him.
"Now I do not wish to have this conversation with you ever again Murtagh" he said calmly "and should I have to, it will be your new friend in the dungeon that suffers the consequences" and with that the King stormed out of the room.
Thorn walked over to Murtagh timidly and nudged him gently with his snout. Are you alright?
I'll be fine, Murtagh answered sitting up, I'm just glad he didn't do anything to you.
He is going to hurt Tori isn't he?
Murtagh looked into Thorn's sad eyes. He became a different dragon when Galbatorix was around, he wasn't the wise, strong, fearless beast Murtagh knew and loved. Instead he became scared, shy and helpless. Murtagh could take all the torture Galbatorix dished out to him, but he couldn't stand the way he frightened Thorn.
to be continued... hehe
Have a great easter everyone!!!!
