The Scroll

Disclaimer: Don't own. Don't sue. Thank you.

Murtagh wonderings revolved around what had happened as he lay there. How could he have allowed Luce to deceive him like that? How could she have done that?

You know, human, that she will do whatever it takes to get what she wants. You yourself have seen what lengths she'll go to, Thorn remarked.

Murtagh looked ahead. Thorn was right. Luce could manipulate or trick if she wanted to. She'd just never done anything on this level.

You mean she's never done anything to you, Thorn corrected him.

Once again, you see the truth, Murtagh replied bitterly. I'm assuming you're as angry at her as I am.

I'm angry, but not as angry as you, Thorn spoke after a pause. She did what she thought she had to do. She chose her freedom and her sister's life over your pride and maybe your life. That's the way it is, human. Accept it.

Oh, that's comforting, Murtagh retorted venomously. Ever the optimist, eh dragon?

Thorn was silent. Murtagh could feel anger and hurt radiating from his dragon.

Thorn, what is wrong? Murtagh asked.

It matters little, the red dragon brushed off.

I am sorry I said that. I was angry, Murtagh continued.

Maybe I am for another reason, Thorn shot back.

Are you ready to tell me? Murtagh asked.

Perhaps later, Thorn responded stubbornly.

You already know what angers me, and it cannot be as embarrassing as that, Murtagh replied.

It's stupid. It doesn't anger me anymore, Thorn retorted.

Just tell me, Murtagh groaned.

No! Thorn yelled vehemently to him, cutting off their mind link. Murtagh rolled over and tried to sleep again. He was more alone now than ever before.

It only made him envy Eragon more. His brother got everything he wanted. He was free, well-loved, on good terms with his dragon, and he had even gotten Arya. He thought he had had Luce, but she had only succeeded in causing him pain.

Eragon walked into the room where Murtagh was. His brother opened his eyes the moment his brother entered.

"So, are they going to kill me?" the red rider inquired bitterly. He didn't need to talk to Eragon right now.

"Not if we can help it," Eragon replied.

"I can't believe she did that," Murtagh muttered half to himself.

"What?" Eragon asked.

Murtagh shook his head. "It's not important."

"Who did what?" Eragon pressed.

"You mean you haven't guessed?" Murtagh shot back.

Eragon had. "What did Luce do?" he asked.

"It doesn't matter," Murtagh sighed.

"Whatever she did, she wouldn't let us kill you," Eragon told him.

"She's a little hypocrite," Murtagh mumbled.

"Maybe," Eragon conceded, "but Vanir and Arya wished to kill you. She stopped them."

Murtagh scowled darkly, but only asked, "What do you intend to do with me?"

"Luce somehow managed to break her oath. She says it's because she swore on her sister's life, and Galbatorix asked her to harm her. She thinks you can break yours," Eragon explained.

"Did she figure this out herself, or did someone help her?" Murtagh questioned.

"She said she had help. I didn't a chance to ask her from whom or what," Eragon replied.

Murtagh stared. "Help seems unlikely right now," he told Eragon.

The younger rider didn't know what to say. Murtagh didn't seem to expect him to respond.

"Tell me if anything happens," was all Murtagh said. Eragon took this as his cue to leave and did so. As he went to close the door, he thought of something.

"You know, Murtagh, she wouldn't let us kill you," Eragon stated, "and I wouldn't have anyway."

Luce was lying on the ground. Her hair was splayed over her face. She stared at the wall. How could she have done that? How?

Iormungr entered the room. He stared down at her.

Why have you not moved? You did what you had to do. You would regret it so much more if you had not, the green dragon told her.

Luce stared up at him.

He won't forgive me, she whispered.

If forgiveness is what you desire, apologize, Iormungr told her. It was the simplest explanation he had.

I don't know how to, Luce muttered.

Iormungr was silent. I have never had to apologize. I cannot help you there, the dragon admitted.

It doesn't matter. He won't accept it, Luce replied forlornly.

What are you afraid of? Iormungr asked.

Luce put her head up. I'm afraid of nothing.

Thorn had told Iormungr it was not wise to force their riders to tell them what they didn't to tell. Luce would have to come to terms with her fears on her own. He also knew she would need help.

He reached out to the mind of the person he thought best suited for the job.

Ardis felt a foreign presence touch her mind. She drew up her barriers, but a voice at last radiated in her mind.

Luce needs you, sister-person, the voice told her.

Iormungr? Ardis asked incredulously.

Yes, now come. She may have locked you out, but that doesn't mean I can't let you in, the dragon replied.

Tell me what happened first, Ardis answered.

Luce was still lying on the floor when the door opened. She looked at the person standing without putting her head up. It was Ardis.

"Why are you here?" she demanded.

"That's a nice way to greet your sister," Ardis remarked.

Luce's mouth dropped open.

"Listen to me," Ardis told her sister.

Luce put her head up a bit. "What do you have to say?" she asked.

"I'm here to say that you should apologize to Murtagh. It's not good for you to be like this," Ardis explained.

"You don't even know what I did to him. There's no point apologizing. He won't forgive me, and he shouldn't," Luce replied forlornly.

"Oh, I know what you did. Iormungr told me directly and without any beating around the bush or insinuating anything," Ardis responded.

"Iormungr," Luce growled.

She asked, and I told, the green dragon replied nonchalantly.

"It's alright, Luce," Ardis told her. "I've seen things since I've been gone."

"What things have you seen?" Luce inquired. Her curiosity seemed to be returning a bit.

Ardis slowly explained about her feelings for Eragon, how he had chosen Arya, and finally about Vanir.

Luce stared at her. Then she shook her head.

"I keep forgetting you're not a child anymore," Luce replied. "I am truly sorry about Eragon. If he can't see anything in you, then he's not worth it."

Ardis smiled brokenly. She wished she could believe that.

Luce sighed, "Maybe he's a good man. Maybe he's worth a lot to you. You can still move on. He chose the elf. That's not your fault."

Ardis smiled slowly at her, "You did what you had to do. Murtagh will understand. He knows you. He's like you."

"Not completely," Luce shook her head.

"Nobody is completely like anybody," Ardis volleyed.

Luce was silent.

"Even if he doesn't forgive you, at least you'll have tried," Ardis stated.

That's what I said, Iormungr put in.

"Get up off the floor and swallow your pride," Ardis told Luce. She offered her sister her hand. Luce gripped her sister's small hand in her own long-fingered one. She stood slowly.

"I will go," she said finally.

Murtagh was sitting up when the door opened slowly. Luce stood in the doorway.

He looked at her for a long minute.

"Why have you come?" he asked finally. His voice was cold.

"I've come to apologize," Luce said after a long moment of silence.

Murtagh took a deep breath. "Why should you apologize for something you don't regret?" he inquired coolly.

"I do regret it," Luce told him.

"You chose your sister and your freedom over me. The choice is made," Murtagh replied.

Luce bit her lip. This cold, uncaring, accepting demeanor was almost more than she could take. She would have rather he be enraged because then she could fight. If he had been yelling, at least she would have known he cared enough to do so.

"I didn't. I wanted for free. There is a way to do it. I found help you could too," Luce responded.

"There is no help for me," Murtagh stated blandly.

"Why do you have no hope?" Luce asked.

Murtagh laughed suddenly. "You are such a hypocrite. You've never had hope. Think about all the things you've said about irony and cruel paradoxes. At least I tried to gain freedom. You never did anything."

"That's not true," Luce hissed, clenching her fists.

Murtagh shook his head.

"I hoped enough to help Ardis leave Urû'baen! I hoped enough to come to the Varden even though I had been their enemy! I hoped enough to try to save myself! I would've run if I could, but you were the one who got that chance," she shouted. She was aware that she had begun to cry. She hated herself for it.

Murtagh got up and put his hands under her chin. She couldn't meet his eyes.

"Weakness becomes you ill, yet I find it a pleasant over your usual attitude. You're always so proud and so strong. I never thought I'd see the day where you had more hope than any other. I never thought I'd see the day where you were weak. I never thought I'd see the day when you would deceive even your greatest friends. I loved you Luce. Maybe I still do, but right now I can't look at you without thinking of what you did," Murtagh whispered to her. He pulled his hands away from her face.

Luce remembered the words of the white raven with a start.

"You'll gain his love and lose it too.

Will he ever forgive you?"

"Do you really think it would have worked if I had stayed with Galbatorix? Do you think it would have worked if we had captured Ardis? You and I both know how much the Foresworn hated each other. Deandra told me that she heard the only woman among them, Den-ner, slept with every single one of the men, and in the end, she was one of the most hated by the group. Ligan and Morzan were once friends, and they hated each other by the time Ligan was killed," Luce whispered. "If I had let Ardis be killed and replaced, I wouldn't have known what to do. I wanted everything, but I had to lose something. I knew I would have lost you no matter what. I decided I had to keep what else I had." She said the last bit as though she were trying and failing to convince herself that she didn't care.

"Thorn said I should have known you would turn on anyone if you thought you had to. He was right. The same force drives us. We do what we must for necessity, and we never stop to think how it would feel if we hurt someone we loved. We think for ourselves first. I can look at you and know what you're going to say, and if I don't understand it, I know I won't before you say it. We're alike, you and I. That dooms it all," Murtagh stated. His voice was flat. He was trying to sound like he didn't care, but yet you knew he did.

"Do you even care about that, Murtagh" Luce challenged.

Murtagh stared at her and contemplated for a long time.

"I do care. I just don't know if caring is enough," Murtagh stated.

"We could try. Nothing in life comes easily. I don't know why I expected this to," Luce said after a moment of silence. "We never even said we loved each other, until just now."

Murtagh thought for a moment. "If all that you wish for comes true, I will forgive you. If I die, I won't forgive you, but I'll understand," he said at last.

"I'll understand if you don't," Luce replied. She left with that.

Nasuada sat in her study, thinking. So much had happened since the riders' returns. Eragon had informed her of Murtagh's capture, and she wasn't sure how to take that. She had been fond of him when he had been at the Varden. That wasn't all. Ardis's capture by Talson had been at terrible blow. He had been a valuable soldier, and she had liked him more than she probably should have. She wondered if it had been her fault that he had been able to give so much information to Galbatorix. She should have had him examined more closely. The more she thought of it, the more she seemed to be at fault.

A knock startled her out of her reverie.

"His majesty, the King Orrin is here," the guards announced.

"He may come in," Nasuada shouted. She looked at herself to make sure she was presentable.

Orrin came in nervously.

"I have heard much," he said at last.

"Have you heard about the red rider?" she inquired.

Orrin nodded. "I have heard that they are going to try and release him from his oath."

"That is true," Nasuada replied.

"Do you believe it can be done?" Orrin pressed.

"Eragon is willing to try. He says the green rider somehow managed to free herself. He also says she think the red rider can be freed," Nasuada explained.

"So you have confidence in Eragon?" Orrin asked.

Nasuada looked up at him. Had she heard jealousy in his voice?

"I suppose I do," she responded with a frown.

"And I suppose you're fond of him," Orrin continued, trying to sound nonchalant.

Nasuada frowned even more. "He's a good friend," she shrugged.

Orrin seemed to look relieved. "Lady Nasuada, I wanted to ask…"

A second knock interrupted the king of Surda. Jarsha was admitted without question.

"Milady, your majesty, people have arrived in the courtyard. They say they have something important to tell you," the boy panted. He had clearly run to them.

"What kind of people?" Orrin questioned. He seemed annoyed at the interruption.

"A group of riders, your majesty. One of them is a boy. He says he's the younger brother of that magician, Bonstan," Jarsha explained nervously.

"Thank you, Jarsha," Nasuada said warmly, sending the boy away. She and Orrin left the study and headed down to the courtyard.

When they got there, a tall man with chestnut hair and brown eyes dismounted from one of the horses. He bowed to the four riders and dragons that weren't locked up. Glaedr took up the whole courtyard. Roran was there as well. The man saw Orrin and Nasuada approaching and bowed to them as well.

"My name is Claudius Tábor. I am the second son of the late Lord-Governor Marcus of Dras Leona. I have brought with me all in Dras Leona. We oppose the king and wish to see him dethroned," the man now identified as Claudius explained.

"What are your reasons for opposing him?" Nasuada inquired.

"He has crippled the once great city of Dras Leona. He let my decadent father rule simply because he did nothing to bother him. Galbatorix has done the same thing to all of Alagaësia. Those are my reasons," Claudius shouted. The group of riders around him cheered in agreement.

"I have my own reasons," a woman with black hair and blue eyes put in, climbing off her horse. "I was a member of the Varden years ago. I went to the court of the king to spy. His eyes fell upon me, and he made me his wife. Ajihad and I decided to use this opportunity to produce an heir to rule in place of Galbatorix. My plans were discovered, and I was sentenced to death. Then I was saved." The woman's eyes and expression changed suddenly.

A male voice emitted from her. It said, "I sense my old sword's presence. Oromis-elda, would you be as kind as to let me have it back?"

Oromis' grey eyes widened. He dropped to his knees. He rose quickly again and pulled the orange sheath from his robes.

The woman drew the orange blade without any difficulty.
"I don't understand," Oromis stated.

The woman's shoulders drooped. The male voice began quietly, "When Galbatorix killed me, I refused to let my spirit go to the Vault of Souls. I kept it bound to my shelter on Utgard. I hoped someday I might be able to find someone from the Varden with whom I could share a conscious. It was not until Siloa escaped her executioner long enough to come close to my dwelling. I saved her life, and we have helped the Varden secretly ever since." All who had never heard Vrael speak realized who shared Siloa's body.

Eragon, Ardis, and Luce threw themselves on the ground before the rider's old leader. The dragons bowed their heads. Orrin and Nasuada followed suit.

Vrael shook his head. "I will be the leader for only a little while more. If and when Galbatorix is vanquished, Eragon shall become leader as he is the first of this new generation."

All slowly rose. Vrael fixed his grey-eyed gaze on Luce. "If you give me some instructions, I will go to Murtagh and see if I can find a loophole. That boy had some important information for you all."

Siloa./Vrael strode out of the courtyard after Nasuada told Jarsha to give them instructions.

Murtagh heard the third knock on his door of that day. A tall, black-haired woman opened the door. Her grey eyes surveyed the room. An orange blade hung from her hip. She opened her mouth and spoke. The voice disturbed Murtagh, as it was distinctly masculine.

"I am Vrael, in the body of Siloa. I am sure you have heard of my host before," the person spoke.

Murtagh stared. He remembered reading a little about Vrael. The elf's eyes had been described in detail, and this person's eyes fit that description.

The person explained the story of all that had happened. Vrael finished by saying, "And so I hope to release you. Tell me what your oath was."

"Thorn and I both swore to serve the rightful king of Alagaësia in every way, to obey his every command, and to never harm him," Murtagh stated darkly.

Vrael's grey eyes lit up. " 'Rightful king?' That's certainly a matter of point of view. Do you really believe Galbatorix is the rightful king, Murtagh?" he asked.

"He is the only I know who can be called king besides perhaps the Tábors, and I would rather serve even Galbatorix," Murtagh replied.

"There is another with the right to the throne," Vrael told him.

"Who?" Murtagh inquired, intrigued for the first time this conversation.

"You, your brother, and your cousin are all descended from King Palancar. You know who that is, I presume?"
Murtagh nodded.

Vrael continued, "Roran is the true heir, as he is the son of Garrow, who was older than Selena."

Murtagh considered what had been said. He did not wish to swear to a man he'd never met, but he wished to be free of Galbatorix as well.

This Roran would probably give us more freedom than Galbatorix, Thorn remarked.

So you've decided to stop arguing with me? Murtagh quirked.

I apologize. I let my emotion get the better of me, Thorn replied, sounding ashamed.

As did I, Murtagh responded.

"Where is this Roran?" Murtagh asked Vrael after he and Thorn finished apologizing and discussing the situation. "We will accept these terms."

"He is in the courtyard. Come with me, and I will take you to him," Vrael answered.

Eragon and the others sat in the courtyard. Claudius and his riders had gone with Orrin and Nasuada to find lodgings. Derek had told them that Murtagh was necessary to begin. When Murtagh, Thorn, and Siloa/Vrael approached, the boy handed the scroll to Eragon.

"Read it aloud," Derek suggested.

Eragon turned to Murtagh and asked, "How have you broken your oath?"

Murtagh said nothing. Vrael spoke up, "He swore fealty to the rightful king. The rightful king is your cousin."

Roran drew in his breath. How could he be king? He was just a poor farmboy. He had done so little. Then he remembered all he had done for Carvahall. At the time, he had just been doing what he thought he had to do. Still, he asked, "Are you sure?"

"You and your cousins are the last living descendents of King Palancar. Of that I am sure," Vrael replied.

Eragon dropped to his knees before his cousin. In the Ancient Language, he said, "I, Eragon Shadeslayer, do humbly pledge myself to Roran Stronghammer, King of the Empire. I swear to defend, obey, and protect him as is my duty as a rider."

Murtagh knelt as well. "I have never met you before," he began, "but you have freed me from my oath. For this alone, I am willing to serve you."

Roran knew not what to say. Eragon noticed his discomfort and read the scroll Derek had given him.

"The Warders,

"I have been gathering information about the black one for quite some time. I have discovered a terrible plan of his. He intends to resurrect the Foresworn for a year through a process called Líf fra Andlát. It involves a blood sacrifice from a relative of the one being resurrected and a host for the person's to spirit. The host works best dead.

"There is more. I have discovered a way to combat this evil. It is through a process called, 'Walker, Bringer, Opener.' It will open the Vault of Souls, which is located on the center of Vroengard, if done properly. The Walker is the only being who can walk in death and life. He can pass through Kuthian and come back to life. He can also take others who live with him. These must be the Opener and the Bringer. The Opener must use his true name to open Kuthian to the dead. The Bringer's role is the last and most terrible. They must provide the thing the dead need to survive for a time among the living: blood.

"Galbatorix had the late Walker, Morzan. He also had the Bringer, a girl named Cora. She was the original rider of his black dragon. Brom was the Opener, so Galbatorix could not complete this ritual because Brom would have nothing to do with him. The false king killed his dragon in revenge.

"Instead, Morzan walked Cora into death and killed her in Galbatorix's name. This gave the king great power because he has the connection to the dead. He had Morzan sacrifice three other Bringers and his power increased because of this.

"I know the identities of the Walker and the Opener. The Walker is Murtagh, son of Morzan through Selena. The Opener is Eragon, son of Brom through Selena."

Eragon stopped reading when he got to that part. Why had this man, Bonstan, thought he was Brom's son? It made no sense. Morzan was his father. Murtagh had said so himself. Murtagh too looked shocked. Luce and Ardis were both staring at him open-mouthed. Oromis' forehead was wrinkled, as though he were thinking hard.

You yourself said you can say what you think to be true even if it is not true in the Ancient Language, Saphira remarked.

How could Brom be my father? Eragon protested.

You are like him. Oromis said so. Brom himself said so, Saphira continued.

Eragon thought more.

"Did you know my mother?"

"Enough to miss her when she was gone."

The words of Brom echoed in his head. Was it possible? If so, how had Bonstan known the truth?

He and Brom were great friends, a sarcastic voice put in.

Eragon turned and saw Solembum sitting there.

It is the truth, the werecat continued. You know, Argetlam, you should be careful of subtle minds like my own. They could slip through your defenses so quickly.

Murtagh spoke first, "We still lack the Bringer."

"You do not," an all too familiar voice spoke up. "I am here."

Everyone turned and saw Elva standing there. Her purple eyes looked as haunted as ever.

Slight cliffy. Next chapter will likely be a filler with some traveling. There might be a little bit happening on Vroengard. I hope you liked this one. I'm sorry it took so long to come up. (That didn't sound right.) Anyway, my excuses are: homework, writer's block, homecoming dance, and a slow internet that kept me from posting this last night.

Uh. I got Fergielicious stuck in my head again. At least I like the song.

Anyway, I hope I did this right. That scene between Murtagh and Luce was hard to write. I hope it didn't suck, though it probably did. I'm gonna do the vote again.

Murtagh/Thorn

Shruikan

Eragon/Saphira

Siloa/Vrael

Nasuada

Here are the review response. (I got nine, two more than I requested. Yay!)

Parnagan: Thanks. Nasuada will have a big part in the final battle though. She's going to get to kill somebody even if it's not Galbatorix.

American Crow: Thanks.

Lost My Password: That's why Shruikan was on the ballot.

Desired-Moonlight: Ditto.

Frosted-Pink: That was first planned in chapter twelve.

Teenchic2004: Thanks. I don't know how I came up with the human/dragons, but I did. I don't want Roran to kill Birgit. I'll probably have Katrina talk her around in the next chapter. Thanks for the idea.

Vixen Hood: That's exactly why all those people are on the ballot.

Amantine: Thanks. Ditto.

Silvershadowkittie: Thanks. Ditto.