Chapter 17

Life is like a sail boat,

On a wild, murderous sea

Of course the easy answer is,

To cling on, and try to flee

When life is like a sailboat

And time is like a sea

The answers never simple

So why not come? Join me

I am the deep end

In that sea

A living death

So come join me

I am impossible

And yet the only answer

Logic defies me

Come. Join. Me

~O~

Eragon was cold. He was shaking, shivering rubbing his arms, but the chill was from within him. It was released from his bones and squirmed through his veins, his muscles, his skin…

He noticed Arya's worried looks and went red. What an awful time to go red. What was wrong with him? Surely there were more important matters! His heart fluttered as he remembered the conversation they had had before. 'do you still not love me?' hammer on the nail. It was a horrible nail though. All bent and rusty, never reliable on the best of times and they were not in the best of times.

He looked around the cave. You all want to die?

There were too many agreements at once. Eragon fell to his knees and bashed his head against the rock.

"Stop it! You're hurting him" Arya squealed- indeed, actual squealing- and put her hand on Eragons shoulder. The voices ceased. Eragon slowly sat back up. And there is NO one who wants to live?

This is not life; this is torture the ash grey replied.

Are you all under Galbatorix power?

Not exactly. He can take our power, but he does not know where we are and cannot search through our memories as he does with our relatives.

What about thorn? He was not sure why he asked the question. What about Thorn? He was a traitor. A disappointment to all riders and dragons…

He is a prisoner

Murtagh…?

He is a slave

Eragon withdrew from the Eldanuri to think. What was he to do?

If he killed Murtagh and Thorn he would have it etched into his conscience in a painful and never leaving way, if he kept them alive they would surely kill him and Saphira. What am I going to do at all?

One thing was clear, they were not going to get anywhere if they stayed in the cave.

~O~

Nasuada glared at Murtagh.

"And you couldn't…!" she cried again and stopped midsentence, again as she had done with the last few attempts.

"You should have been…"

Murtagh waited patiently for the angered woman to calm down. Then he repeated for the 3rd time, "I can only tell you what I saw"

That he had done and at eye level with Nasuada which had annoyed her the most. To emphasize the fact that he was slightly taller than the girl he had lowered his head in an intimidating manner, gazed straight into her eyes and told her about her traitor of a spy.

The spy she had trusted with her life. The spy who had told her about both the shields and that Galbatorix himself had planned on showing himself in the town of Urû'baen when the time came. The spy who had lied and because of whom Eragon, Arya, Blodgharm and Elva were now in mortal danger.

"What are you going to do now?" Murtagh asked with unacceptable curiosity.

"What are YOU going to do now?" She returned and paced up and down as far as she could in her pavilion. The guards were with her inside, she had not wanted any risks, even though the man had sworn in the ancient language.

"You tell me, what AM I going to do now?"

"Stop that!" she scowled at him and wiped her brow. She continued pacing. There had to be a solution, there was always a solution, she just had to plan a few steps ahead of her opponent. However she had a very cunning one this time.

"I'll do the only thing I can…" she muttered. Murtagh raised his eyebrows expectantly. Did he think he was to be trusted?

"Well, I'll leave you to it," He announced rather unexpectedly. He stretched his legs stiffly.

Nasuada glanced at him. "Excuse me?"

~O~

Arya leant against the rock and held the orange Eldanuri.

Little and green

Arya bolted upright. The orange Eldanuri had said it, she was sure.

Green and little

Arya stroked it and asked it what it meant.

Little and green

Arya frowned. That was not the answer she had been hoping for. Carefully she put the stone down. It was perfect timing, for just that moment Eragon re-emerged from his thoughts and hopped on to his feet from a kneeling position.

"We're leaving"

"Where to?" She already knew the answer and Eragon knew that she knew. That is why he just cocked his head in the direction of the castle and started running.

"Do you have a plan?"

Eragon stayed quiet for a while then he looked her straight in the face and admitted confidently "no"

Arya blinked at him.

"Yet your still going in?"

Eragon smiled "Aye"

"Is that wise?"

"no"

"Tree…"

"What?"

Eragon hit the tree the same time Arya sighed. Farm boy. Cute. Flutter. Damn it!

I know…short, but it was a nice place to stop, it's late (in my country) and I am missing the Sherlock Holmes movie my friend lent me, so, as usual I hope you enjoyed it, thank you for the reviews:

OneTripMaggie; patience!

R.F: I only just realised you have the same initials as my mum…(giggles) anyways, well, wouldn't u I mean after ATLEAST 3000 years I'm positive you would be bored if you were a ROCK…thing…err…yeah…

Jam; well, that's a little harsh, but that is not how I meant to emphasize it, I was actually trying to find a solution to 'speak ur name…When all seems lost" but yes…I suppose the rock is a little unoriginal, sorry, won't change it, It fits and I had that planned from the very beginning!