PLEASE READ!!
thanks so much everyone reading this story, for waiting for this chapter!
Apparently a large amount of the people reading this story really love the fluffy-loveydovey-moments with Murtagh and Tori so i have packed it in to this chapter especially for you guys :)
Also thought i should warn you all that this chapter is an emotional rollercoaster for the characters we have happy sad scared angry shocked all in the space of one chapter so strap yourselves in and be prepared for that!
and lastly (i promise to shut up and get on with it after this) i still would really really love you guys to post in your opinions and ideas for the rest of this fic PLEASE! - a special thanks to deddy luvs eragon on that subject ;)
OK it's finally here, after a very very long wait (for which I'd like to apologise: sorry!) i present to you chapter 18!
(if you didn't read the authors note yet, please do)
Gaia smiled gently walking towards Tori, Murtagh and Thorn
Gaia smiled gently walking towards Tori, Murtagh and Thorn. Tori felt Murtagh's arms tighten around her again, he buried his face in her hair and breathed a long slow sigh of relief. She felt a shuddering sob shake through Murtagh's body, he was crying. It broke Tori's heart, she gently pulled her arms free of Murtagh's vice-like grip and wrapped them around his neck, she stroked his hair and whispered softly;
"It's ok. We're alright."
Murtagh shook his head violently "You were almost killed because of me."
"I was almost killed?" Tori whispered, with a small disbelieving laugh "You stood between me an-and all the -" she gestured to the bullets hanging in mid air "You would have died, Murtagh! Not me." Tori's voice broke with her last words.
Murtagh shook his head again "I- I couldn't have shielded you from them all Tori, you would have been hurt… I swore that I would never let anything hurt you. I'm supposed to keep you safe. I-"
"Stop." Tori tried to calm him.
"- love you." he finished.
Tori's breathing hitched. She looked up at Murtagh's tearstained face and shook her head furiously.
"No. Don't say that," she begged burying her face in his chest "Please, don't say that."
"Why not?" Murtagh whispered, hurt.
"Because," the word came out in a sob, "you can't, I can't. She's come to take you back, Murtagh. You're leaving me and I'm never going to see you again." A tear began to slide down her face and Murtagh bowed his head, defeated, "So you can't say that to me, because it'll hurt enough as it is trying to say goodbye to you without knowing that you love me too – I mean…"
Murtagh looked up as she said this, all traces of misery in his features now slowly transforming into those of hope. He knew what he had heard, though he was sure it was not meant to have been said aloud. Murtagh tilted his head slightly, trying to catch Tori's eye, "Do you love me?" he asked softly.
Tori bit her lip and looked away. She couldn't look him in the eye as she tried to shake her head convincingly.
Murtagh only smiled now and placed his hand on her cheek, gently turning her head to look at him. "Tori," he said softly, running his fingers lightly over the left side of her face "Do you love me?" he repeated.
Tori melted under Murtagh's gaze and answered in an almost inaudible whisper, "Yes."
Murtagh's smile spread wider, Tori had never seen him look so genuinely happy. He brought her face to his and kissed her with so much emotion that Tori felt her knees go weak. Murtagh slowly pulled away and rested his forehead against hers, he kept his eyes closed and breathed out slowly.
"Say it," he whispered running his fingers through Tori's hair.
Tori smiled, her eyes closed as well, "I love you," she said quietly, opening her eyes to watch his reaction.
Murtagh let out another content sigh and eased his head down into the crook of Tori's neck, nuzzling her skin and leaving small kisses as he went. Tori forgot completely about everything around her, nothing mattered anymore. It didn't matter Murtagh was leaving, it didn't matter how close she had just come to death, it didn't matter that time was frozen, nothing did. Nothing, except for the feeling of Murtagh's lips on her skin. "Say it again," he breathed.
Tori closed her eyes again and rested her cheek against Murtagh's head as he continued to kiss her neck. She breathed in the now familiar scent of his hair and felt calmed, "I love you," she whispered into his ear, smiling.
Murtagh laughed softly as he placed a kiss on her shoulder. He took her hand and laced his fingers through hers, "Say it again," Murtagh whispered once more this time he looked up at her with a gentle smile on his face.
Tori watched his eyes travel over her features and smiled back at him when his eyes finally met hers, "I love you," she told him, not looking away when someone cleared their throat pulling her back to reality.
Cat groaned with frustration and punched Jay in the arm, "What the hell is wrong with you?! Why would you interrupt a moment like that?"
"I didn't do anything!" he whispered back.
"You coughed!" she hissed.
"I had a tickle in my throat I couldn't help it!"
"My ass you couldn't-"
"I'm not the one who started talking am I? You did, you're the moment ruiner here."
"I only started talking 'cause you ruined the moment."
"But I didn't do anythi-" Jay began, but Thorn let out a frustrated growl, ending the whispered argument, "-okay! And that's a dragon." He stated taking a huge step backwards, away from Thorn.
Murtagh finally looked away from Tori and hushed Thorn, rubbing his neck comfortingly and whispering words to calm him, all the while smiling softly. Tori, however, was no longer smiling. She walked slowly over to Gaia with a long sigh.
"They're leaving then?" She asked, trying to keep her voice even.
Gaia nodded, "I'm afraid the time has come. Galbatorix has rallied his troops, they are marching. He will attack the Varden in two days time. Murtagh and Thorn are needed-"
"I'm not going back there to fight for him!" Murtagh spat the word out in disgust.
"You will not be fighting for the King, Murtagh." Gaia answered, "You will fight for the Varden."
"The Varden!" Cat exclaimed in awe.
Murtagh laughed bitterly, "They won't have me fight for them, I'll be killed on sight! They hated and mistrusted me before I was even worthy of such treatment, can you imagine it now?" Murtagh shook his head, "And, I am still tied to Galbatorix, even if they wished for my help on their side I can not."
"Murtagh," Gaia spoke calmly, "Draco and I have found a power which we can use to free you from your ties. The power Galbatorix tried to retrieve from earth, the power he failed to get to."
Murtagh looked up.
"We must take you and Thorn back immediately and begin the ritual."
"How long will it take?" Murtagh asked, "if you think it is truly possible to be achieved, Thorn and I will need all the time we can get to convince the Varden that our intentions are not of betrayal."
Tori back away from the conversation, hugging herself and biting her lip. She felt so empty, listening to Murtagh discuss the war he was about to fight in. It would be so dangerous for him to go back there; he had disobeyed the king repeatedly. Tori knew he would be punished, maybe even killed. If he went to the Varden… it was equally as dangerous there. Tori had seen for herself how much the people hated and feared him. Murtagh was right; they wouldn't give him a chance, it was too big of a risk on the lives of all their people. Especially so close to the battle. And, perhaps worst of all, Tori would never know what happened to them. She wouldn't know whether Gaia's spell worked on Murtagh, she wouldn't know whose side he and Thorn would fight on, she wouldn't know which side won, and she wouldn't know whether or not they lived.
Tori felt arms snake around her frame and hold her tight. She looked up and saw it was Abby who was hugging her. Tori realised her face was wet with tears, she bit her lip and rested her head on her sisters shoulder. Gaia was no longer speaking, she kept her wise eyes upon the sisters, as did the others.
"It's ok Tor," Abby said stroking her hair, "I'm here."
Tori nodded her head and tried to speak, but choked on her words.
"Shh, I know." Abby held tighter. Abby stood holding her little sister. For a long time no one spoke, no one moved. Abby looked over at Murtagh, he was deliberately looking away from Tori.
Murtagh kept his eyes glued to the ground, he barely felt Thorn attempt to comfort him with a gentle nudge of his snout, he was numb. He couldn't bring himself to look at Tori crying in her sister's arms knowing that he was the reason for her tears. He wanted to go to her, he wanted to hold her until tears eased and whisper words of comfort to her, letting her know it would be alright. He wanted her to smile again.
Murtagh looked up at Thorn, he looked as miserable as Murtagh felt. Murtagh went to speak but Thorn was already nodding his head, knowing exactly what Murtagh was about to say.
"Tori," Murtagh spoke at last. Tori looked up, hastily wiping her eyes and trying to smile at him, all she achieved was a few more tears spilling down her face. Murtagh closed the gap between him and Tori in only a few steps, he took hold of her shoulders and looked her in the eyes. "If you want for me to stay, Tori, just say the word and I will stay."
Tori smiled sadly and placed her hands on Murtagh's chest, "We both know you can't do that, Murtagh. Thorn needs to be back in Alageasia, he can't talk here, he'll be hunted down… they've seen you with him, they'll want you too. Neither of you know this world, it just-"
Murtagh shook his head defiantly "We will find a way. Thorn can hide in the clearing, you can teach me the ways of the people here… I… I want to be with you."
"You have to go home." Tori told him softly. Murtagh was shocked by the acceptance in Tori's voice as she said these words. He looked at her, desperation evident upon his features. "You're not safe here Murtagh. At least in Alagaesia you can protect yourself, you have power and you have people who want to help you. Gaia and Draco are there, and Eragon. He wants to free you too, I know it. I think that you'll be ok if you go back there." Tori looked down, "I just can't stand that I won't ever know what happens to you and Thorn… unless…" Tori hesitated "…I come back." Tori looked up hopefully.
Murtagh's eyes widened, "No, it's far too dangerous-"
Tori turned to Gaia, "Take me back with you, just for a little while." Tori asked, "I have to know. I have to know that they end up ok, I wouldn't be able to stand wondering forever."
"Tori, no." Murtagh said firmly.
"Tori…" Cat said softly, her voice filled with worry.
"Please," Tori continued to stare at Gaia, ignoring the others.
Gaia said nothing, only nodded. Anger flared in Murtagh's eyes, "Have you forgotten my orders in Alageasia? I am to kill you! There is no way you are going back there to risk your life again, have you thought of the danger you will be in? Gaia I will be forced to take her life. Do you want that? I won't be able to save you this time, Tori, it will be me." Murtagh's eyes shot from Tori to Gaia. Gaia stood watching patiently, thoughtful, Tori stood with her arms crossed, defiant.
"I think we can lift the spell before Galbatorix's orders need be continued," Gaia said finally before turning to Paolini, "Do you not agree."
"If we hurry," he answered, walking to stand by Gaia.
"Huh?" Tori looked at them blankly, "What? What do you mean 'we'?"
"I'm coming with you, my assistance will be needed." Paolini told her, doing nothing to help her confusion.
Gaia went on to explain a little better, "Christopher created Alagaesia, he alone has the power to alter our world. Not even I am capable of doing what he can do. When Christopher first came to Alagaesia he could do wondrously impossible things, things not even the riders were capable of. Galbatorix caught word of a man who was able to do things he couldn't even begin to imagine, a man from another world, a man responsible for the existence of Alageasia." Gaia finished. "It is this man, this power that can free Murtagh and Thorn of their bond to Galbatorix."
Tori's eyes widened, "You?" she said "You're the power that Galbatorix wanted? The one he tried to take? The reason I got sent there?!"
Paolini explained to the others his trip to Alagaesia. He had been able to do amazing things, his strength did not diminish as much as that of the magicians of that world either. In the beginning he had been able to control everyone and everything, to an extent. But as time went on, he explained, Alagaesia became less of him and more of it's own world, his powers of control over the beings there lessened gradually, until he could do nothing more than control the magic of the Ancient Language.
Once Paolini finished Gaia spoke, "Come, we must leave. Time is short." Murtagh began to protest, still not convinced about the matter of Tori's safety but Gaia spoke first, "You have my word that she will be well protected, Murtagh."
Murtagh nodded stiffly, still not looking entirely convinced. He was painfully torn between the desire to have Tori with him and the need for the guarantee of her safety.
Tori turned to Abby and threw her arms around her, "I love you Abby, I'll see you soon, ok?"
Abby squeezed her little sister, "You be careful, alright? And sensible, look after yourself, don't do anything stupid, come back to me in one piece."
Tori smiled, "I will" she promised.
And you!" Abby looked up at Murtagh, "take care of her, you hear me? If she has a single scratch on her when I see her next I'll be after your blood."
"I'll protect her with my life, I promise," was his answer.
Tori walked over to Cat and Jay, rapping her arms around their necks and pulling them closer to her, "Thanks for your help guys, I love you both so much."
"Are you going to be ok?" Cat asked, worried.
"Of course I am Cat, I'll be back before you know it," Tori smiled, "…I'll miss you"
"I'll miss you too," Cat said hugging Tori again.
Jay smiled, "See you when you get back."
Tori walked back over to Murtagh and took his hand in hers, Gaia then spoke. "I shall alter the time of this world two hours back the second we leave, you shall, therefore, find yourselves wherever you were two hours ago."
The three nodded. Tori looked back at them and smiled, squeezing Murtagh's hand a little tighter. Paolini, Thorn, Murtagh and Tori all moved closer to Gaia. There
was a bright flash of yellow light, and they were gone.
there you go everyone, hope you like it! let me know - and remember suggestions for plot direction would be awesome!
BYE!
