Hey everyone thankyou so much for reviewing I'm glad that you are all enjoying this story! Well, here's the update and thanks again!
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"
"She's the leader of the Varden, she'll determine whether you're trustworthy"
"Wow" Tori said "No offence or anything Bowen but if I was someone you guys couldn't trust it wouldn't have been the best idea to let me know you're taking me to be judged"
"And why is tha'?"
"Well, I'm no dwarf guard expert but shouldn't you have lulled me into a false sense of security and gained my trust so that when you did take me to Nadsuitada you would have the element of surprise!"
"It's Nasuada" Bowen corrected her.
"Nas- Nasuda?"
"Nasuada"
"Nas"
"Nas-u-a-da"
"Nasuada"
"Tha's it" Bowen smiled at her "And you are prob'ly right, I'll try tha' next time."
"How do you know there will be a next time? How do you know I'm not going to kill you the second you show me the entrance to the Varden?"
The dwarf roared with laughter at that, he laughed so hard he had tears rolling down his face. When he finally settled down he said to her "Ah, whatever you say lovey"
"So I don't look even the slightest bit threatening to you?" Tori said not the least bit surprised.
"Nah, you don't have that look in your eye" Bowen informed her.
"The look?" Tori inquired amusedly.
"Yes, see some people come 'ere and you can tell they're no good from the look in their eyes" Bowen was dead serious "Like a black clad man 'ho turn' up 'ere not so long ago. 'e wouldn't let anyone know anythin' about 'im, but the Ajihad decided to trust 'im. Bu' that was a big mistake, 'e ended up joinin' Galbatorix and 'e was the son of Morzan."
Tori looked away sadly. Murtagh...
Bowen led Tori and Silverbow into the entrance of the Varden and through the Dwarfs honeycomb like passage. It took a very long time but they finally got into the Varden city.
Bowen called over another dwarf and instructed him to take Silverbow to the stables.
"Oh he'll be ok wont he?" Tori asked.
"He'll be fine" Bowen assured her.
He then led her to Nasuada. They travel down long marvellously decorated halls. Now that's more like it! Tori thought with a smile. They walked down the hallway, Bowen was greeted by several people and many gave Tori strange looks, she felt slightly self conscious which was strange for her.
Before she knew it they were standing infront of a big brass door with incredible carvings all over it. Bowen looked up and Tori and grunted to get her attention.
"You ready?" He asked. Tori nodded and waited as Bowen knocked on the door.
It was opened by a blonde young man "Can we help you Bowen?" He glanced suspiciously at Tori.
"Yes Argetlam," Bowen bowed respectfully. "This is Tori she 'as requested to speak wif you, I was bringin' her to Lady Nasuada first bu' now that you're hear I think I'll let you decide what to do"
"You're Eragon?" Tori asked.
He nodded.
Tori sighed with relief "I need your help"
Tori retold her tale of everything that had happened with Murtagh and Thorn, she told him that Murtagh had wanted her there for protection but she wanted Eragon to help her free him. Eragon frowned at that.
"I don't think that it would be as easy as you think Tori" Eragon told her "He knows their true names, they can't just escape from him"
"But we have to help them" Tori frowned "They can't just be left to live like that, you have to save them."
"I'm sorry but I don't know if I can"
"Don't know if you can? Or don't know if you want to?"
"Of course I want to help him" Eragon defended himself "He was a good friend before-" He cut himself off "I just don't know if it's possible…"
Tori bit her lip she looked at her feet "But will you try?" She looked up into his eyes "Please?"
"I'll try" Eragon promised. Tori gave a huge sigh of relief and hugged Eragon tightly.
"Thank you" she said.
The brass door opened again and a woman with dark skin appeared. "Oh" she said "I'm not interrupting am I?"
"No" Eragon answered quickly, seeing Arya's head poking out also. He introduced Tori to both Arya and Nasuada, then quickly recounted Tori's story and request of helping Murtagh.
"Well," Nasuada said once Eragon was finished "It sounds like you will be staying at the Varden for some time then?"
"If it's cool with you" Tori smiled politely.
"Cool?" Nasuada raised an eyebrow.
"Oh!" Tori had spent a lot of time with Murtagh and he had gotten used to the way she spoke, she forgot these people didn't understand 21st century slang "I mean, if it's alright with you"
Nasuada smiled politely back, not knowing what to say. She led Tori to the room she would be staying in. It wasn't much but it was adequate, besides Tori didn't really want something she would get to attached to. She was hoping Murtagh would come get her before too long.
"It's great" she assured Nasuada "Thank you so much, I really appreciate this"
Nasuada nodded and smiled. A young woman with shoulder length black hair soon entered the room "This is Elsha" Nasuada said "She will act as your maid while you are here, should you need anything or if you have any questions she will assist you"
"Hey" Tori said.
"Hello" Elsha curtsied.
"Is there anything else you would like to discuss before I take my leave?" Nasuada asked.
"Um" Tori looked around "Nah I'm good! Thanks for everything but the way M'Lady, it was nice to meet you"
"You too" Nasuada gave a warm smile and left.
"I like her" Tori told Elsha "So how's it going?"
Elsha looked around her confused "How is what going my lady?"
"You know, everything, how are you?"
"Oh, uh, fi-fine I suppose my lady"
"Please, don't call me my lady, I feel really stupid" Tori said waving her hands.
"Forgive me, how do you wish for me to address you?"
"Tori's fine by me, you're not my slave or anything like that, aren't you here to help me out?"
"Of course" Elsha answered cautiously.
"Well, then let's say that you're my friend not my maid"
"Friend?" Elsha smiled as Tori nodded "Well, ok then. And forgive me if I'm out of place m'la- Tori but what happened to your hair, I've never seen anything quite like it"
"Oh yeah, I dyed it" Tori answered.
"Dyed?"
"Yeah" Tori knew exactly how to explain this, it had taken her a fair while to get Murtagh to understand when he had asked her the same question but she was ready for it this time "There's this liquid stuff, you put it in your hair and leave it there for a while so it changes the colour of your hair, you know like how sometimes certain berries stain your fingers? Well that's kinda what it does to your hair except it stays that way for longer"
"Oh" Elsha said simply "Well I like it"
"Thanks" Tori grinned "So" she clapped her hands together "What is there to do around here?"
Elsha excitedly started to explain everything there was to know about the Varden.
Thorn leapt to his feet as Murtagh came through the door. Murtagh was breathless and he looked up at Thorn sadly. He tried to speak but couldn't bring himself to say anything, Thorn dropped his gaze, he knew exactly what they had been ordered to do.
I'm sorry Murtagh, he said.
So am I… Murtagh placed the saddle onto Thorn's back and climbed atop it, at least we get to see her again before-
We can't just let her die!
I know, I promised her I would keep her safe, I promised I'd get her home…Murtagh looked up at the stars, they were now outside, we'll find a way.
And with that Thorn took flight, they headed towards the Varden. Towards Tori.
There has to be a way… Murtagh told himself, there must be some way I can free Thorn and myself or at least stop myself from obeying Galbatorix this time. Suddenly he thought of something.
Thorn.
Yes, he answered.
There are flaws in Galbatorix's power, Murtagh told him.
How so?
Galbatorix said that when the comet passed he cast a spell to summon power, instead he got Tori.
Since when has he made an error when casting a spell?
Exactly, Murtagh replied happily, there are ways around his spells. We just have to find one before we get her back there.
well that's it! I'm pretty much finished with the next chapter so there'll be a new update soon. Laterz! hehe
