Eesh, I've forgotten so much about this story! I'm so sorry! Anyways, story time!
Something was not right, that much was certain. Was he not in his room? No, this bed was defiantly his. Were all limbs attached. Yes, and the one arm slightly sore. Ah yes, he knows what it is.
"Why are you two in my room?" Murtagh grumbled from underneath his covers. Sarah and Nathan stopped chatting and looked over at him.
"I'm so sorry Lord Murtagh! Did we wake you?" Sarah apologized, jumping to her feet from her spot by the fireplace.
"You two are as loud as a pair of chatty finches. Of course you woke me up!" Murtagh complained, throwing off the covers and sitting up. "And don't call me 'lord'; there is no need for it." He added. Sarah nodded.
"Sarah and I were coming to get you at the same time, but we decided not to disturb you when we saw you were still asleep." Nathan piped up from the floor. Murtagh noted that the boy was clutching one of the books the princess had given him.
"What did you want me for?" he asked.
"I wanted to see if you could help me with my chores. Mum really packed them on today." Nathan said, getting to his feet. Before Murtagh could reply however, Sarah spoke up.
"Nathaniel! Those are your chores! Do them yourself and leave Murtagh be!" she said sternly. Nathan stuck his tongue out at her then left. Murtagh snorted and started to get out of bed.
"Thanks for that, now if you could just-" He was cut off and Sarah shoved him back down on the bed.
"Give me your arm." She demanded. Murtagh sighed and held it out for her to see.
"It seems to be healing nicely." She said, running her fingers over his slashed skin.
"Just don't do it again and you will be fine." Sarah gave him a small smile. "You promise you aren't going to hurt yourself again, right?" Murtagh looked up at her. He was shocked to see that her mood seemed to have, once again, changed. Her eyes were filled was concern.
"Please! Don't do it again Murtagh!" she pleaded when he didn't answer. He looked away; the hurt in her eyes was too much.
"Why do you care? You don't even know me." he muttered.
"Does a person have to know another person to be aloud to care about them?" she said coldly. "That the problem with everyone now a days! They know people are getting killed out there, but they don't give a damn because 'They don't know those people'. Then by the time it becomes the people they know who are hurting, it's too late!" Sarah moved away from Murtagh and looked out the window. He frowned at her. Was she right?
"Fine, I promise I won't hurt myself anymore." He said. Sarah spun around and gave him a dazzling smile. Would he ever be able to get used to this girl's mood swings?
"That's great! Now just keep that promise and you will be golden! Bye now! I have chores to do!" She waved at him and quickly left the room.
Murtagh sat in the back of the palace library, staring at the shelves with a blank stare on his face. He had been in the same spot for at least a couple hours and his stomach was protesting to the lack of attention he was giving it. He didn't really care. A thousand thoughts were whirling through his head so fast, Murtagh could barely keep up with them.
I am a monster, I have to be. I mean, I killed that boy in cold blood. But soldiers kill others everyday, it is their job. Are they monsters too? Yes. Wait, no! Some are good men. They have families. They care for others. Or do they? How many soldiers do I actually know? Oh whatever, who cares. No one. Sarah was right! No one cares anymore. I care about others though. Does that make me any less horrible?
He stopped his ponderings and looked down to the knife he was holding in his hand. His promise to Sarah shot through his brain instantly, but could he keep it? It had been so easy to let his pain and confusion fall away from him in his blood; why not do it again? Because you promised Sarah you wouldn't. You will keep your promise to her because you care about her. You care about Nathan and Tornac too; what would they say if they knew what you wanted to do right now? The voice in the back of Murtagh's head sneered. Murtagh closed his eyes tightly. He didn't want to know what they would say. Whatever it was, it wouldn't be good.
Very suddenly, Murtagh was hit with a wave of nausea. He doubled over, dropping the knife to the floor. His eyes started to water as the nausea turned to a searing pain in his gut.
What's this, my son being weak again?
Murtagh wretched at the sound of his father's voice in his head. The content of his stomach, which wasn't much, leapt out of his throat. When he had finished heaving, Murtagh tried to stand but found his limbs had gone completely useless. He fell back down. His vision blured, and his gut on fire, Murtagh tried to give a cry for help.
You're pathetic. His father's voice said again. Suddenly, everything went dark, and Murtagh knew no more.
The first thing Murtagh noticed when he awoke was his stomach was no longer screaming in agony. In fact, he felt rather good physically. He slowly opened his grey eyes. He was in the hospital part of the palace. He jumped slightly when he felt a finger press into his cut arm. He looked at the nurse indignantly, but stopped when he saw who was next to her. Mandy. Murtagh gulped.
"These are not fresh." The nurse said. "But they are self induced. As was that little episode you experienced in the library." Murtagh tore his eyes away from Mandy, who was looking at his wrist with a horror struck expression on her face, to the nurse.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"The mind is a very powerful thing boy. Not many people realize exactly how much power it has over the body. Considering the recent events in your life, and the cuts on your wrist, I can only guess you have been thinking very ani-self thoughts recently." She said. Murtagh said nothing.
"Well, for whatever reason, since you stopped cutting yourself but didn't stop thinking self hating thoughts, your mind took matters into its own hands. The pain and sickness you experienced was caused by your own brain." Murtagh sat there, trying to comprehend this when Mandy gave a strangled sob. Murtagh looked over at her, alarm on his face. Before he could say anything however, she ran away from his bead and out of the room. The nurse sighed and began to turn away.
"Wait." Murtagh said. She stopped and looked at him, an eyebrow raised.
"Who brought me up here?" Murtagh asked.
"The princess. She was going through the library when she heard your cry. She brought you up here." Murtagh raised his eyebrows.
"That's what I thought. That girl is stronger then she looks." With that, the nurse turned on her heal and left. Murtagh shut his eyes and leaned back into his pillow. He had done this to himself. Despite his promise to Sarah, he had hurt himself. It was unintentional, but it had happened. When was this ever going to end?
Yes, I know I didn't update all summer. What can I say? I forgot about the story. I really need to work on writing longer chapters. Aw well. Hey, did you know you can actually make yourself sick by thinking you are sick? So what Murtagh did can actually happen. Sorta. Anywase, only one more chappy in this age frame. What on earth is going to happen next?
xLzM- Your review made me realize I should really update this story. Thanks for that!
ElizabethAnneRiddlie- Update soon…..ya I don't really do that.
Wulfeh- I'm not sure I pulled off the angst very well in this Chapeter. Yes, Sarah is nice! I figured Murtagh needed more friends. ;) Thanks for that compliment! I'm honored you think so!
Jeeves1729- No, he is not going to end up with Sarah! She's too kind hearted for him. Her sensitive little heart would break into a thousand little pieces if she was in love with him!
00mrdragon00- I hope you are still enjoying it!
Megilinder- Sarah is awesome. I'm glad I put her in here!
-Bista- Ya, Sarah is gona be around for a long time.
Alsdssg- Sarah needs to continuously snap Murtagh out of it. She is gona be a good friend of his after this is all over. She is kinda this innocent loving girl, but she isn't ignorant of the wrongs going on in the world. That is what I love about her.
Destiny's Daughter- Yes, Murtagh is going to fall in love with someone. It is not gona happen in this story though. That is planned for the sequel (if I ever get there). Three guesses who it is. ;)
C.T. Eleczko- I'm sorry you didn't like it. It was necessary. Murtagh has been through so much pain in his life, it was about time he snapped. I know cutting is something people don't particularly like to discuss, but it does happen, and it happens for a reason. Murtagh had plenty of reason.
MISS MURDER 5- Do I get a cookie?
Tiger Priestess- Haha, Sarah doesn't like him that way! Aw well. Who wouldn't hit on Murtagh, honestly? The dude is hhhaaawwwwwttttt!
Spottedstar106- As you can tell, I update slow. Sorry about that!
The Cookie Thief- Murtagh's emotions are becoming a lot stronger as you can tell. They are taking over his body!! Oh no, will he survive? Duh. He has to. Well at least until the third book when Chris will probably kill him off.
