Wyrda
Ch. 3
(Farthen Dur, Dragonhold)
Phoenix woke up to find that Eragon and Saphira were gone. She got up slowly and began to walk around, loosening up her muscles. She noticed that night had fallen.
Where did they go?
Eragon went to the library and Saphira went to fly around, Aiedail told her. Her stomach rumbled. Orik brought food for you, to regain your strength.
She spotted a plate of food next to her bed. Phoenix sat down on the bed and ate hurriedly.
How long have I been asleep? She asked the dragon.
Awhile now. I was starting to worry, the dragon told her.
I'm touched, Phoenix said, with a touch of sarcasm in her voice.
Must you be like that when I'm truly being sincere, Aiedail told her.
Sorry, she said feebly. Phoenix finished eating by the time Saphira returned from hunting. Phoenix climbed on top of Aiedail and told Saphira, Don't leave any bones lying around, please.
Without waiting for a response, Aiedail spread open his large wings and flew to the bottom. The fires of the many villagers could be seen. The dragon landed gracefully. His piercing eyes looking at Phoenix as she slid off of him.
What? She asked.
Nothing, he said airily.
Right. I'm going to have a talk with Murtagh.
Do you think that is wise? He asked.
Probably not, she told him. Phoenix checked her long, thin silver daggers in her boots and added before leaving, But it's the right thing to do.
(Murtagh Quarter's)
"Wow, nice place," Phoenix commented, letting her presence be known.
She saw Murtagh laying lazily on his bed, eating a large plate of food. He didn't even bother looking up at her. But merely said, "Don't you people ever knock?"
Phoenix grinned and told him, "Only when we feel like it."
Murtagh looked up at this and grinned broadly.
"You are the one Eragon told me about?" Murtagh stated. He got up from the bed and crossed the room, straightening out his clothes.
"You are Murtagh, son of Morzan?" she asked, before he could introduce himself.
"Please don't hold that against me, Dragon Rider," he told her, his grin fading somewhat.
"I won't. As long as you don't judge me of my father," she told him. She took in a deep breathe before telling him, "I am Phoenix, daughter of Brom."
"Brom?" Murtagh spoke softly, too shocked by this news. When she did not answer, he said, "Eragon didn't tell me Brom had a daughter."
Phoenix crossed her arms in front of her. "Well, I should hope not. He swore he wouldn't tell anyone." When she noticed Murtagh's eye line was not at eyelevel, she raised her eyebrow humorously and added, "Murtagh, you staring."
He lifted his gaze and grinned once more.
"Not staring. Admiring," he told her as he circled her.
She sighed, "What now?"
"Eragon told me he once teased you as children for your heavy weight," he told her. "But you are nothing but fit and beautiful."
Phoenix grinned at his comment.
"Flattery will get you everywhere," she told him.
Murtagh had finished 'examining' her and faced her once more.
"How is Arya?" he asked, settling himself down on the bed again and motioning him to sit beside him, but she shook her head.
"I haven't checked in yet. I've only just recovered," Phoenix said. "Unfortunately, I cannot stay long. I wanted to come and introduce myself properly. Good night, Murtagh."
"Good night, Dragon Rider," he gave a short bow.
She returned it before leaving.
(Library)
Phoenix entered the large room. Every candle was lit and it gave off a warm, romantic feel to the room. Eragon sat in a large chair at the long table that was placed in the middle of the room.
She walked slowly, desperately trying not to make a sound. Phoenix crept up behind him and placed both hands on each of his strong shoulders. He looked up casually from his book at her familiar warm touch.
Phoenix circled around and leaned against the table, half sitting, and folded her arms. Eragon's eyes shifted to the table, or rather, what was resting on the table. She noticed this too.
"Not you too!" she said.
"What me too?" he asked, trying not to look at her backside, instead, looking at her beautiful featured face.
"Your friend, Murtagh, had a wandering eye, as well," she told him and added, 'I think he's interested in me."
Eragon put the book down on the table, abandoning it altogether and looked at her squarely in her gray eyes..
"Do I have competition now?" he asked, his mouth twitching in half amusement and half annoyance.
"I don't know. Do I?" she shot back, equally amused and annoyed.
"Wha--?"
Phoenix cut him off, "I sensed the link between the two of you as I was healing Arya."
She couldn't bare to look in his eyes any longer and looked away, almost shamefully. There was a long silence, the two Riders lost in thought. Until Phoenix got up abruptly and said, "I can't handle this right now. My father was right: you are distracting me."
With that she left him, tears streaming down her cheeks, unseen to Eragon as she moved past him.
Nearly everyone was in bed. It appeared that Eragon and herself were the only ones up at this time of night. She made her way to the training area outside. It would be empty by now and it would help clear her head and think logically. But she was interrupted by a healer.
"Arya is requesting you, Madame Dragon Rider," she said, bowing slightly.
Honestly, what was with all of the bowing. She was a Rider, not royalty! She thought.
"Alright," Phoenix sighed. "Is anything wrong?"
"She is fine. She would like to talk with you,"
"Thank you," Phoenix made her way to where Arya was being kept as she recovered.
(Farthen Dur)
"You should not be up and about yet," Arya told the other woman.
"Neither should you," The Dragon Rider retorted, with a small smile.
Arya grinned back. Phoenix made her way over to the chair that was next to the bed. She sat and folded her arms on her lap, looking at the elf.
"You had the poison in you for weeks. You were almost dead when they brought you," Phoenix told her.
"Thank you, my friend,"
Arya's words stung Phoenix. She was ashamed to think that the elf lying in front of her would be of any competition for Eragon's heart. Phoenix wasn't even sure that Arya felt anything for Eragon other than respect. Renewed tears threatened to surface.
"What are friends for?" she grinned, trying to keep her voice steady. Phoenix got up from the seat. "We both need to rest. I'll come back and see how you are in the morning."
"Only if Ajihad doesn't keep you busy," Arya said, slumping down, back into bed.
(Dragonhold)
Aiedail waited until they reached the dragonhold before asking, You have been crying, haven't you?
Don't worry about it, she told him.
Phoenix went over to the bed that Eragon and her shared. She shifted her blankets and pillow over a little. Leaving a nice gap in between the two.
I knew I didn't like that boy, he said.
Eragon has upset you? Saphira asked.
Let me hit him, the male dragon said.
No!
I could accidentally hit him with my wing. You know I can pretend he was in the way while I lifted off.
No! she said more firmly.
Oh, fine, Aiedail snorted and a small puff of smoke erupted from his nose.
Phoenix covered her body with the warm blanket and rested her head comfortably on the pillow and succumbed to sleep once more.
To be continued . . .
(A/N: I finally got Eldest and I'm gonna read it this week. Just thought I'd let you all know, one fan to another.)