Down in the dungeons Tori had finally come to terms with the fact she wasn't going to be getting out of there anytime soon. She was in a cell and there was a guard stationed a few metres away from her. Tori smiled to herself, she decided to make small talk.
"So what did you say your name was?" She asked casually.
"I didn't" he answered firmly not even glancing at her.
"Oh ok, my mistake… what's your name?"
The guard didn't answer her.
"How come old evil kings always have really creepy castles? I think it would be really refreshing if just once the bad guy had a nice cottage or something, you know? Or even some carpet would be great, it would really make this place a lot more welcoming"
"Alright, that's enough out of you" The guard said with a snarl.
"What, you think I like being stuck down in a dungeon with you for company? Trust me dude this is not how I planned to spend the weekend, the south park marathon was s'posed to be on last night but somehow I got sucked into your world where everyone is terrified of some guy how has more hair growing in his ears than on his head-"
"Enough!" The guard yelled "You insult the King one more time and-"
"And what?" Tori challenged "You'll throw me in some festy prison cell? Too late buddy! Now, do you have a hair tie I could borrow?"
Tori continued to blabber on to the guard who was slowly going insane, she was oblivious to the fact that Murtagh was standing just around the corner watching her. Soon the guard ordered her to stop talking, so with a huge huff Tori sat down… and started to sing.
The guard cracked, he stood up and let out a frustrated scream then drew his sword and walked towards Tori.
"Hey you're not going to kill me are you?! Dude calm down! I got stabbed last night ok, and I gotta tell you I'm not a fan of the whole experience so it'd be real great if you would just chill out"
The guard wasn't listening, he just unlocked the cell slowly and moved towards Tori, his eyes gleaming angrily. Tori started to freak out, it was then that Murtagh decided to intervene. As if he had appeared out of no where, Murtagh tackled the guard to the ground and stabbed him in the back with his sword.
Murtagh look up at Tori who was now pressed up against the wall, "Hi" she squeaked.
Murtagh stood and took her hand, pulling her out of the cell "Come on, you must get out of here" He continued to pull her towards the door.
"Why?" Tori protested.
"Because if you don't Galbatorix will kill you" Murtagh answered picking up the pace.
Soon they were out of the castle thanks to a secret trap door in the dungeons (it was there in case an emergency should ever arise and a guard needed to escape). The door led to a passage which took them to the stables.
Murtagh climbed out and approached one of the horses, he grabbed the saddle and began to fastened it on the horses back.
"This horses name is Silverbow, he is the fastest in these stables. You must ride him to the Varden, when you get there tell them it is urgent that you speak with Eragon. Tell Eargon everything that has happened since you got here and tell him he needs to get you home by whatever means possible" As Murtagh spoke he finished saddling the horse and gave Tori a knee up onto him.
"Wait, why are you telling me all this if you're coming with me?" Tori asked, he stomach knotted when she saw the sad expression on Murtagh's face "You're coming with me right?"
"No" He answered "I can't leave, Galbatorix still has control over me, I am bound to him"
Tori felt her eyes prickle, warning her that tears were on the way "Murtagh, no I can't do this by myself, how will I even find this place?"
Murtagh forced his mind into hers and showed her his journey to the Varden with Eragon. "You must hurry, they will not stay there for long, the king knows where they are and they are very well aware of that fact, they will be moving on soon"
"Murtagh please, I can't just leave you here…"
"You have to" He answered firmly "Now go"
"No, not until you get on this horse and come with me"
"Tori I can't, I wish more than anything that I could but I can't"
"Then you have to promise me that I'm going to see you again" Tori said with a hard and serious gaze "Promise me you will come soon"
"I promise you I will" He said staring her in the eye, he then turned to Silverbow and whispered some ancient words into the horses ear "Now go"
With one last look at Murtagh she turned and dug her heel into Silverbow's side, the horse whinnied and galloped off. Murtagh watched them go, his stomach knotted horribly, What have I done? He asked himself, he had just sent Tori out into dangerous lands completely alone and defenceless.
Tori rode as fast as she could, she had only gone horse riding a few times in her life and it was not one of her strong points but it truly is amazing what adrenaline can make you do. So Tori held on as tight as she could as Silverbow sped through the forest.
Murtagh sat with his back against the wall, he was holding Tori's ipod. She had left it at the castle and now it was all he had left of her.
Murtagh are you going to be ok? Thorn's mind connected with his.
Of course, Murtagh tried to hide his misery from Thorn even though he knew it was useless.
You know Galbatorix will not forgive you for this, Thorn was worried.
What does it matter? Murtagh sighed then added spitefully, she's gone now.
Then they heard it "MURTAGH!!!" Galbatorix's voice boomed through the castle. Murtagh stood up, he knew what was coming, he was ready for it.
Stay here Thorn. Murtagh ordered as he left his room and headed towards the throne room. When he entered there was an unearthly quietness, nothing could be heard aside from the gentle tapping sounds Murtagh's feet made as he approached the King. He stopped moving forward a good ten metres from Galbatorix.
Galbatorix stared fixatedly at Murtagh as he stepped towards him. The deathly silence was back again as he stopped inches away from Murtagh. It was broken when he asked "Where is she?"
"In the dungeon" Murtagh answered.
Galbatorix struck Murtagh hard across the face. "WHERE IS SHE?" He screamed, there was a large vein throbbing in his temple.
Murtagh wiped the small amount of blood that was now trickling from the corner of his mouth away and answered "I don't know"
"Murtagh don't make me do it, you know very well that I will get the information I want from you one way or another and for your sake it would be best if I got it this way."
"Why do you care so much? Why is she even important? She has done nothing of consequence so why is it that you can not just let her go?"
Galbatorix turned to the four guards standing by the door "Leave us" he ordered, once they were gone Galbatorix spoke "Once every 1500 years a comet named the 'Skulblaka Comet' passes our moon and the moon in another world. This is the only time that either world has access to one another. It passed two nights ago now, so I cast the spell that would send me all the magic and secrets this other world possesses. However, something went wrong, the spell brought the girl here instead of what I had summoned. Now I need the girl back because if I don't return her to where she came from I won't get their power"
Galbatorix grew angry again "But once again the son of Morzan disobeys me! I warned you that you would be punished if you ever did this again and so you shall be! You are to hunt her down and kill her!"
Murtagh's heart started beating at an alarmingly fast rate.
"Actually on second thoughts, bring her to me" Galbatorix said, Murtagh sighed inwardly with relief. The relief was short lived as the king added "I would very much enjoy watching you kill her so you can do it right here in the throne room, right infront of me…GO!"
Murtagh unwillingly turned and headed towards his room to get Thorn.
Silverbow raced through the woods at an amazing speed, everything surrounding them went by as a blur. Tori figured Murtagh must have cast a spell to make the horse run faster. Murtagh…
Tori couldn't stop thinking about him, if something had happened to him, if he really was coming, if he was still protecting her in some way. They travelled all throughout the night, not once stopping to rest, eat or drink. It was wearing both Tori and Silverbow to the point of utter exhaustion but she knew they had to keep going.
Soon the sun began to rise and things started to look very much like what she had seen in Murtagh's vision.
"Where is it Silverbow?" Tori asked the horse as she scanned the area. There was a waterfall nearby but she didn't think it was the same one as in her vision. "What are we going to do?"
"I don' know" a voice answered.
Tori jumped a mile off the saddle "Silverbow?"
"Actually the name's Bowen"
"Oh" Tori said "I'm sorry I didn't realise that you could talk, uh, did you want me to get off your back?"
"What? What are you talkin' about I'm standin' right next to you, you're not on my back. And I take offence to tha', just 'cause I'm short doesn't mean I don' know 'ow to speak"
Tori looked down and saw a very small man with a long black beard standing beside her horse.
"Oh, I'm sorry" Tori sighed climbing off Silverbow "I thought my horse was talking. I'm Tori"
"Bowen the dwarf, at your service" he bowed to her. "Is there anythin' I can do to assist you m'lady?"
"Actually yeah, do you have any idea where the Varden is?" Holy crap I just met a dwarf!
The dwarf gave a rough laugh "Of course I do, I'm not daft, girly"
"Can you take me there? I gotta talk to Eragon"
Bowen eyed Tori up and down for a moment or two before saying "Follow me" Bowen turned and approached the waterfall "I'll 'ave to take you to Lady Nasuada"
"Who's she?" Tori asked grabbing Silverbow's reigns and leading him along beside the dwarf.
Bowen chuckled "You aren't from around 'ere are you?"
Tori smirked you have no idea "No I'm not"
Well there you go everyone, hope you liked it!
