AUTHORS NOTE: Now the story is really getting started. I made this a long chapter! Hope you like it!
"Julia, wake up."
Julia sat up with a start and grabbed the nearest rock, ready to attack.
"It's ok, it's me," said Murtagh, taking the rock from Julia and throwing it on the ground, "It's almost dawn; we want to get into Bullridge early so there aren't too many people in the streets."
Murtagh stood up and proceeded to pack up the camp.
Eragon smiled at Julia and started to saddle Saphira. Arya's condition hadn't changed.
Julia stretched and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. It had been hard for her to keep watch, but she managed it until Murtagh took over.
Julia made her way to the nearby stream and washed her face. After taking a drink she made her way back to the camp.
Eragon was securely tying Arya to Saphira's saddle and Murtagh was busy saddling Tornac.
Feeling a bit useless and seeing that Snowfire wasn't saddled yet, Julia proceeded to do that.
When she was done, Murtagh had finished saddling Tornac and was waiting for her.
"Ladies first," said Murtagh as he motioned towards Tornac's saddle.
Julia wasn't quite sure how they would ride together. She looked down at her dress and decided it'd be best if she rode side-saddle. Julia had ridden horses before, but she always wore breeches, and she'd never ridden side-saddle.
Murtagh held onto Tornac and watched Julia. She put her foot in the stirrup and pulled herself, sideways, onto Tornac's back. Unfortunately for Julia, Tornac sidestepped away from her and she slid out of the saddle and down his side as if it were a slide. Luckily, she landed on her feet.
Murtagh just laughed and shook his head. Julia straightened her shoulders and attempted to look as dignified as possible.
With one quick motion Murtagh grabbed Julia around the waist, sat her sideways in the saddle, and then got onto Tornac behind her. He then pulled her towards him, onto his lap, and wrapped one arm around the front of her waist and rested his hand on her lower back. He used his other hand to hold the reins.
Julia didn't even realize what had happened until she was securely in Murtagh's lap.
Without a word, Murtagh reined Tornac towards Eragon, who was already on Snowfire.
Eragon turned towards Saphira and said, Lead us to Bullridge…and take care of Arya.
Saphira let out a snort and jumped into the air, flying ahead. Eragon and Murtagh urged their horses to follow her at a gallop.
Julia would have flown off had it not been for Murtagh holding her. She wrapped her hands around Murtagh's arm to secure herself more.
She had never been this close to a man before. Julia felt a bit awkward clinging onto his arm and practically sitting on his lap.
The rocking motion of the gallop caused her head to bump into his chest every couple strides. It eventually annoyed Murtagh enough that he brought his arm up and gently pushed her head onto his chest, signaling her to keep it there.
Julia awkwardly rested her head against him. She felt a bit unnerved by the emotions Murtagh brought out in her. She couldn't help but notice the muscles in his arms and the firmness of his chest against her cheek. Occasionally she could feel his chin brush the top of her head.
Just then, Julia realized that she was scared. It was as though she had grown into a woman over the past day. Her body was responding to Murtagh in ways she had never experienced before and she wasn't sure if she liked it. All these new sensations and feelings were so alien and terrifying that she didn't know how to respond to them.
Julia decided to put these new feeling out of her mind. She tried to concentrate on the passing trees and countryside, but she would always get sidetracked by the shivers running down her spine when Murtagh would reposition his arm around her waist.
Eventually Julia dozed off and didn't wake up until they stopped in a clearing behind Bullridge.
The sun had almost completely risen, but the red light it cast made the small town look like it was on fire.
"We walk from here," said Murtagh as he got off Tornac and proceeded to help Julia down.
Julia couldn't believe how sore she was! She could barely walk and the thought that she would have to endure this for another two weeks didn't comfort her.
Eragon remained hidden with Saphira, Arya, and the two horses. Julia and Murtagh made their way to Bullridge.
It was a small town, not much bigger than Carvahall, and it had a large wooden wall surrounding it. Julia's heartbeat quickened when she noticed the two guards standing at the gate…would they recognize Murtagh?
As they were approaching the gate Murtagh whispered out of the side of his mouth, "Just let me do all the talking. If anything should happen I want you to run…don't stay and fight."
Julia felt a knot form in her throat, so she just nodded.
The guards stepped in front of the open gate and one of them asked, "Who goes there? What is your business in Bullridge?"
Murtagh smiled pleasantly, "My name is Hansel and this is my wife Gretel. We're here due to personal reasons."
The guards looked suspicious, "And what personal reasons be that?"
"Well, if you must know. My poor wife Gretel has an illness."
The guards immediately pushed Murtagh and Julia away, "We will not have any contagious illnesses brought into Bullridge!"
Murtagh lifted his hands, "No, no! It's not contagious. You see…it's hard for me to talk about…" he covered his face with his hands and let out a small sob, Julia resisted the urge to roll her eyes, "my wife suffers from an incurable illness of the brain. She doesn't remember how to speak or who I am. Some days she won't walk and she'll act like a child. It's quite painful for me to watch."
Julia almost glared at Murtagh, but she knew it would be unwise. Instead, she played along; Julia put a blank expression on her face and watched the clouds above her, humming to herself.
One of the guards lifted his eyebrows, "I still don't see why you would need to come to Bullridge for this reason."
Murtagh immediately stopped 'crying', and said, "You see, we are on our way to see my dying mother in Urû'baen and I'm in dire need of my wife's medication. A glass of fresh fish-oil usually subdues her illness. I heard from cities far and wide that Bullridge harvests the finest fish-oil in all of Alagaėsia."
The guard puffed out his chest, "You heard right, Bullridge makes the finest there is. Very well, you may pass," then the guard looked uncomfortably at Julia, "but make sure she doesn't cause any trouble."
As soon as Julia and Murtagh were inside the town, Julia pulled Murtagh into a deserted alleyway.
"Hansel and Gretel?! What were you thinking?! The guards could have arrested us right then!"
Murtagh couldn't help but laugh, "It worked, didn't it?"
Julia rolled her eyes and felt her anger subside, "Next time we sneak into a town, you can be the mentally-ill wife named Gretel!"
Murtagh grinned, "Whatever you say. Now let's get some fish-oil for my darling wife Gretel."
Julia glared at him one more time before they proceeded down the main street of the town.
The street was made up of several small houses, in which the inhabitants of Bullridge could be seen opening their shops.
Murtagh pulled Julia aside, "We'll be faster if we split up. You get whatever food we need and I'll get the rest. Meet me back here in an hour." He handed her several coins, "Don't speak to anyone unless you're buying something and if anything should happen-"
"-I run…faaar away. I know, I know."
Murtagh frowned at her, "You're not taking this very seriously."
Julia laughed, "I'm not taking this seriously?! Whatever you say…Hansel."
Murtagh gave Julia a stern look and walked away.
Julia found a bakery and managed to buy several loafs of bread. She also found a man selling fruits and vegetable, so she bought some of those. It only took her a quarter of an hour to get everything, so she decided to look around the small town.
As Julia was walking down a smaller street in the poorer part of town, a woman's raspy voice spoke up behind her, "To seek your future you must first know about your past."
Julia stopped in her tracks and turned around. An old woman with stringy white hair and covered in colorful fabrics was standing outside a broken-down house. She was wearing an assortment of gold rings and several beaded necklaces. Her eyes were an odd gray color and many of her teeth were missing.
"Wha-…what did you say?" stammered Julia.
The woman motioned with her hand for Julia to follow and disappeared into the cottage.
Julia knew better, but curiosity got the best of her, so she went into the house. Inside, was a large dirty room covered with candles and many strange objects. The old lady motioned to a small round table with two chairs facing each other. Julia sat down across from the old lady, who was staring at Julia intently.
"You want your future read from Madame Emily?" asked the old lady.
"Well...I-"
Madame Emily cut Julia off, "How can you expect to know your future when you know nothing about your past?"
Julia was shocked, "How…how do you know that?"
The old lady ignored Julia's question. She picked up a bag containing an odd assortment of bones and threw them on the table.
After studying them, Madame Emily spoke up, "You will soon discover your past…and what you find will change your present and future. The bones tell me that half of your soul is gone…it's up to you to find it, or else you will never be complete."
Julia was baffled, "Half of my soul? I have to find it? I don't understand-"
"It will all make sense in time, my dear. I also see a man…he is part of your past, present, and future. This man will betray and love you."
"Why would someone who loves me, betray me? None of this makes sense…" Julia threw a couple coins on the table and stood up.
She was just about to leave when the old woman let you a frightening gasp. Madame Emily was pointing at two bones that crossed at a right angle. She then raised her hand and pointed her finger at Julia, "You! ...You will be responsible for the deaths of hundreds! By being around the people you love you are putting them in danger and you will eventually be the reason they die!"
Julia was shocked and tears threatened to escape her eyes, "I don't know what you're talking about…I haven't done any-"
Madame Emily cut her off and whispered harshly, "The rise of the Dragon Riders will fail because of you."
Julia turned and ran out into the sunlight. She searched until she found an abandoned street where she sat on the ground. Tears ran down her cheeks and she wasn't even sure why.
Surely that lady was just crazy…but then, how could she have known about the rise of the Dragon Riders? Maybe Julia was putting Eragon and Saphira in danger by traveling with them…but…how? She would never turn against her brother and she hated the Empire! It didn't make any sense.
Julia stood up and brushed away the tears. She told herself that the lady was old and senile and didn't know what she was talking about. She made her way back to the spot where Murtagh told her to meet him. Julia found him pacing back and forth, waiting for her.
"Where have you been!? I was about to go looking for you!" Once he saw the expression on Julia's face his voice softened, "What happened to you? Did anyone hurt you?"
Julia took a while to respond, "No, no…nothing happened. I just lost track of time, that's all." She managed to force a smile and walked briskly towards the gate.
Murtagh jogged after her and grabbed her arm, forcing Julia to stop and face him, "I want you to tell me what happened. There's no reason to hide it from me."
Julia bit her lip, "There was this old fortune teller…it was nothing, I don't know why I let it bother me."
Her answer seemed to subdue Murtagh and he let go of her. Both left Bullridge in silence.
Once they were outside of the city, Murtagh lead Julia into a nearby forest, "I want you to tell me why this fortune teller got you so upset."
Julia took a deep breath and explained what the fortune teller had told her, making sure to leave out the parts where Madame Emily had mentioned Julia's forgotten past.
When Julia got to the part where the old lady told her that she'd kill all her loved ones, tears started to run down her cheeks.
Murtagh reached up and brushed a tear away, "Julia, you shouldn't let that upset you…that's pretty much what all fortune tellers will tell you. Don't let it-"
"No! You don't understand. She told me the rise of the Dragon Riders would fail because of me…because of me..." the rest of her statement was lost in sobs.
Murtagh stepped forward and held Julia as she cried. His hand brushed the top of her head and he spoke soothing words.
Once Julia had herself under control she stepped back, "I would never hurt Eragon or any Dragon Rider. But maybe I should have stayed in Gil'ead."
Murtagh shook his head and softly said, "No Julia. Don't let some old senile woman do this to you. You know what I think? I think this Madame Emily was so confused that she thought it was the time of Galbatorix's betrayal, and she assumed you to be Galbatorix…or one of the other Forsworn. She's no reason to be upset, or to consider leaving us. You're like a sister to Eragon and I know he wouldn't go on this journey without you."
Julia thought about Murtagh's reasoning and realized that he had a point. Maybe the lady was really confused and had mistaken Julia for someone else. Whatever it may be, she wasn't going to let it ruin her time with Murtagh and Eragon. She smiled at Murtagh and told him that he was probably right.
Julia was about to make her way back to Eragon, when Murtagh told her to wait. He opened the large bag in which he had the supplies, and pulled out a thin sword covered in a silver sheath. The sheath was covered in diamond shaped rubies. He pulled the sword out and handed, both the sword and sheath to Julia, "So you won't have to fight with a stick anymore."
Julia studied the sword in awe. It had a sharp thin blade, and was fairly light. The handle was covered in red rubies and the end of the handle was shaped into the head of a dragon. Julia was speechless…this sword must have cost a fortune.
Before she could say anything Murtagh had walked out of the forest and made his way toward the clearing where Eragon was hiding. Julia jogged to catch up with him, "Murtagh…I don't know what to say. It's…it's beautiful! Thank you, but I'd like to pay you back for it. It must have cost a lot."
Julia rummaged in her dress pocket for the few coins she still had and tried to hand them to Murtagh. He chuckled and pushed her hand away, "I don't want your money. Don't worry about it... It's a gift." Julia thanked him several more times on the way back to Eragon.
When they got to the clearing, Eragon wanted to know the details of what happened. Murtagh spoke, but he made sure to leave out the entire fortune teller part, for which Julia was grateful. She didn't necessarily mean to keep it from Eragon; she just didn't want to talk about it anymore.
Julia fastened her new sword to around her waist and got Murtagh's attention, "How does it look?" she asked while spinning around.
Murtagh softly said, "Beautiful…"
Julia smiled and walked over to Tornac. This time she managed to get on by herself.
Murtagh got on behind her and positioned his arm around her waist. He couldn't help but notice how smooth the skin on her hands felt on his arm and the way her hair would brush against his face. Murtagh hated to admit it, but he had grown fond of Julia. He kept telling himself that she was just a child and that he wanted nothing to happen between the two of them…but deep down he knew that he was lying to himself.
AUTHORS NOTE: Yea, yea…I know, sort of cheesy... (But I'm a girl…and I like cheesy romances :p.) Review and let me know what you guys think! I always enjoy hearing a reader's opinion. And if anything in my story doesn't make sense, or if you notice a lot of spelling errors somewhere, let me know. I'll do my best to fix it and/or clear it up. Hope you liked it! New chapter will be here soon…but the more you review the faster it'll be up :p.