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Disclaimer: I do not own The Inheritance Cycle or any of its characters, although it would be absolutely amazing if I did!! Lol. Now, on with Chapter 6!!
Murtagh woke the next morning with the sun beating down on his face. He rose awkwardly and looked at the camp around him. The fire was naught but a few small embers that smouldered slightly, and the rabbits that he had caught the night before were gone as well as the berries he had foraged for Zyana. Only then did he realise he was alone in the camp and thought he would take the time he had alone to bathe in a nearby river.
The cool water was refreshing and Murtagh found he wanted nothing more but to stay where he was, but, after washing, noticed he had been away for too long and wondered if the others had returned to the camp yet. Reluctantly getting out of the water and drying himself off, he made his way back to the camp where he found Zyana and Thorn in the clearing. Zyana was filling Thorns saddle bags with food and clothing speaking to him softly. Thorn hummed quietly and Murtagh wondered what she had said to his dragon. As he approached Zyana turned around and flashed him a brilliant smile. "Good morning Murtagh. What a glorious day it is!" She said, happiness radiating from her every pore.
Murtagh looked at her with a confused expression which made Zyana let out her bell like laugh in earnest. He smiled at her and asked, "My, what has you in such a good mood today, Zyana?" She shrugged. "I have been in that godforsaken place that the king calls a home for the past eleven years, and have been waiting for a chance to escape since the day after I had arrived. You and Eragon come along and I have my freedom a week later, and I don't mind saying it feels brilliant!" Her smile widened after each word until her mouth could stretch no further. "This land is so beautiful. I had forgotten about how blue the sky can be, and how green the grass. It is just so amazing."
Murtagh nodded in agreement. "Indeed, freedom makes you see things in a completely different light. Everything changes for the better."
Zyana's bright blue eyes looked around again. "I'm going to go for a walk. Saphira is off hunting and I have no idea where Eragon is. I'll be back before its time to leave." She said to Murtagh who didn't argue. All he wanted to do was spend time with his dragon. He walked up to Thorn and laid a hand on his shoulder. Thorn hummed.
I have missed you child. It seems like it has been more than a week that we have been separated.
I missed you too Thorn. Murtagh said ignoring the irritating name Thorn gave him. But it was worth it. We not only found one egg, but two. I just wonder who they will hatch for.
That is the question isn't it. Thorn said absentmindedly.
For a time, the pair just sat there, unmoving, enjoying each other's company. It was Murtagh who first broke the silence. So, what was Zyana saying to you before that made you so happy?
Thorn lifted his head slightly. Not much. He gave the dragon equivalent of a shrug. She was just complimenting my scales, my flying abilities, you know. Murtagh shook his head. He was so vain when it came to compliments. I like her. She was so good to help you and Eragon find the eggs. Imagine the trouble you would have gotten into if she hadn't found you. Most of the week that has passed I had to do everything in my power to stop Saphira from flying over the walls and searching for Eragon. She was under the impression he gets into trouble whenever she's not around. The big dragon shook his head. She has barely let Eragon out of her sight since. Murtagh laughed, thinking that the bright blue dragon was probably right.
Seconds later, Eragon entered the clearing with a flushed expression on his face. "By the Gods, Saphira is driving me to insanity! She has not let me out of her sight since yesterday and, as much as I love her, I need some time to myself." There was a beating of wings and Saphira landed next to Eragon. Do not run away from me little one. I am much bigger then you, and you cannot hide. If you would just come hunting with me voluntarily, we wouldn't have to go through all this. She projected her thoughts so Murtagh and thorn could hear as well. Murtagh was almost blue in the face from trying to suppress his laughter and was, once again, thankful he had a male dragon. Eragon glared at him and turned to Saphira. "I don't like going hunting with you, Saphira. Last time you made me go I suffered from several broken bones and a very nasty bump on the head. I think I would be safer if I stayed here." Saphira growled, but reluctantly agreed remembering the last time when Eragon somhow kept getting in the way. Eragon sighed with relief. "Take Thorn with you. You both need your strength and Murtagh can stay with me. I will call you at the first sign of trouble." Eragon persisted and Saphira shared silent words with Thorn before the two quickly leapt into the air and flew out of sight.
"Thank the gods she is gone. Getting away from her is really quite exhausting." Eragon sighed sitting down on a log. Murtagh went and sat besides his brother, still trying to contain his laughter. Eragon glared at him before asking where Zyana had gone. Murtagh shrugged. "She said she was going for a walk and that she'd be back before it is time to leave." Eragon nodded.
"I just can't wait to be home again, back in the presence of good friends."
"Oh? And what am I? Just the boring old know it all who no one likes?" Murtagh asked with fake horror. Eragon smiled. "You know what I mean. Nasuada, Orik..." He trailed off absentmindedly.
Murtagh smiled at his brother, knowing he was thinking of Arya. "You have feelings for Arya, do you not?" Eragon's expression quickly changed to that of complete surprise. "Wh... What on earth are you talking about Murtagh?" Murtagh smiled. "Don't try to hide it. It is completely obvious to everyone. Have you told her?" Eragon averted his eyes. "Yes." "And...?" Murtagh persisted.
Eragon sighed. "She'll not have me. She is an elf and I'm a human. I'm beginning to see that it wouldn't work even if she returned my feelings."
"That is ridiculous Eragon. It would work. You could make it work. Neither of you age and it is clear she has feelings for you too, she just doesn't realise it yet." Murtagh said, watching Eragon's eyes widen. "What makes you think that, Murtagh?" He asked looking his brother in the eye.
"I see the way she looks at you. I see the way she smiles when you enter a room. It's not hard to get." He said shaking his head at his brother's thickness. The smile on Eragon's face grew wide. "You really think so?" "Would I be saying it if I thought otherwise?" Murtagh said with a small smile. Silence enveloped the camp until footsteps were heard entering the camp. Murtagh looked up and saw Zyana.
"I'm not too late?" she asked. "Not at all. Thorn and Saphira are off hunting. They should be back soon, then we can get going." Eragon said, still smiling. Zyana flashed him a confused smile, but took a seat on a stone and played with a loose strand of her hair. Soon after, Eragon groaned, causing both Murtagh and Zyana to look up at him worriedly. "The dragons are coming back. Apparently I've been out of Saphira's view for too long." Eragon said sarcastically. Murtagh smiled at Zyana who raised her eyebrows slightly. He quickly looked toward the sky where he could see the red and blue figures that were making their way towards them.
Murtagh stood and Eragon followed to go and meet their dragons. After the pair landed, Saphira picked Eragon off the ground and placed him in her saddle saying it was time they flew. Murtagh agreed, getting into his own dragon's saddle. Zyana looked up at him and he smiled at her.
"Not afraid of heights are we Zyana?" He teased. She gave him a glare and got into the saddle in front of Murtagh. "I will have you know Murtagh, that I am scared of no... whoa!" Thorn had taken off right in the middle of her speech chasing Saphira who was already almost out of sight. Murtagh chuckled loudly making Zyana turn to give him a glare, but she lost her grip on the saddle and almost fell out of it. Murtagh caught her and tightened the stirrups around her legs.
"Th... Thank you Murtagh," she stammered quickly before turning her head away from him and looking straight ahead. Murtagh smiled. "Anytime Zyana." They travelled in silence until they finally caught up to Eragon and Saphira. Murtagh looked over at his brother, who was deep in conversation with his dragon. Eragon rolled his eyes after some time, and Saphira growled slightly. Zyana saw the exchange and looked at them briefly, an eyebrow raised slightly but then changed the subject to the eggs that they carried, and what they would do with them when they got to the Varden.
After much debating, they decided that it was better if the green egg was passed through the Varden, waiting patiently to see if it would hatch. It was the purple egg that caused more deliberation amongst them, however. They knew that it they couldn't pass it through the Varden like the green egg because the glow it possessed drew people to it, and the more greedy individuals would be tempted to take it and keep it for themselves. They also knew that they couldn't hide it away either, else how would they get it to hatch? They decided to leave the decision to Nasuada and see what she thought they should do with it.
Eragon then flew ahead with Saphira, deciding they would patrol to see if there were any townships that they needed to avoid, leaving Thorn, Murtagh and Zyana alone. Thorn shut off his thoughts to Murtagh to concentrate on flying, so Murtagh and Zyana had privacy to talk. They spoke at great lengths about meaningless topics, which then led on to Murtagh's history. He told her everything, and he was surprised to find Zyana was easy to talk to. She never interrupted when he spoke and listened intently to what he had to say. After some time, Murtagh changed the subject.
"I feel as if you know everything about me, but I know nothing of you. Where were you from before you came to the Empire?" Zyana sighed. She knew the subject of her history would come up sooner or later, and she decided to tell the truth. Well, enough of the truth.
"I... I came to the empire as a small child. I was about seven at the time. My mother left me in the care of her midwife, Nyzala, who was a kindly old woman with bright eyes. I don't remember much of her because around a year after our arrival, she was sent away on an errand. She didn't tell me much of it; it was secret business that was incredibly important, but before she left, she promised me that she would return with news of my mother, but I haven't seen her since." She sighed. "I always wonder what has happened to her, and my mother. It feels like so long since I had seen either of them."
Murtagh patted her shoulder. "I can't believe all the time I had spent in the castle and not seen you around." Zyana shrugged. "I wasn't really allowed to converse with anyone. As a servant, you have to keep your head down and not draw any attention to yourself."
"So, your mother." Murtagh began again. "Did you ever really know her?"
"Yes, I did. She was beautiful, with her long hair and shining eyes. She was the envy of every woman and every man wanted to win her affections." She smiled at the memory. "The only reason that she gave me up was because her name became well known amongst the empire and times became dangerous. She went and hid for a time, I'm not sure where exactly, but it must have been somewhere secluded, because still the king has failed to find her."
Murtagh nodded his understanding, finding Zyana's history interesting.
"Do you have any other relatives that you know of? You know, like brothers or sisters, aunts, uncles. Anything like that?"
"I have a half sister. She is a few years older than me, but we got along well. Growing up, she was my best friend, and I miss her terribly." She sighed. "I just hope that they are away from Galbatorix, and safe from the empire." Murtagh grabbed her shoulder and squeezed it gently. "I'm sure that they are fine wherever they are." Zyana turned and smiled at him, then looked in front of them once again. They travelled in silence for some time until they saw the bright blue dragoness coming back their way. When they were close enough, Eragon began to tell them that they had nearly reached their destination.
"A few more hours at the most and we will be there. It feels so good to be out of the empire and on the last stretch home." He said with a smile.
Yes, and what's more, we have successfully gotten the eggs away from our enemies and they don't even realise it. Saphira projected her thoughts to all those present, with a slight chuckle. Eragon beamed.
"I can't wait to see the looks on Nasuada and Arya's face when we tell them about the second egg." He continued excitedly. Zyana stiffened slightly, earning a glance from Murtagh.
"Did you just say Arya?" She asked Eragon. He stared back at her with a confused expression on his face. "Yes. Why?" He asked. Zyana shook her head. "No reason. I thought you said something else." She was silent for the rest of the journey, while Eragon and Murtagh talked eagerly about the success of the journey and who the eggs would hatch for. Within a few hours, the Varden's tents came into view and both Saphira and Thorn roared triumphantly getting the peoples attention. At first, their expressions were that of fear, but then realising that it was Thorn and Saphira, they began to cheer loudly. Below them, they could see Nasuada standing in the clearing where the dragons were to land. Her expression was that of complete happiness at seeing the dragons and their riders, but when she saw a third figure on Thorn, she began to wonder who they had brought back and for what reason.
After the dragons landed, Eragon jumped out of the saddle and ran towards Nasuada, while Murtagh helped Zyana down and presented her to the Varden leader. "Nasuada, this is Zyana." He said gesturing towards the woman next to him who bowed her head. "It is wonderful to finally meet you my lady. I have heard great things about your leadership." Nasuada raised an eyebrow, studying the girl before her intently. "Indeed. Well, I think an important conference is in order. You have to forgive me, I was not expecting you so soon. Meet me in my tent in ten minutes and we will begin." She said before turning and striding elegantly towards her tent. The dragon riders stared after her before being greeted by the many people of the Varden who were all asking different questions about the mission. Pushing through the crowd, they finally made it to Nasuada's tent. Murtagh noticed she had made the entrance bigger to accommodate for the dragons, and he smiled to himself at the thought that she may have to again in the near future for two more dragons.
The three entered the tent and greeted Nasuada once more. She invited them to sit and bade Murtagh and Eragon tell Thorn and Saphira to go hunt, and that they would fill them in later. The dragons flew off almost instantly, happy to be back in their own hunting grounds. When Zyana took her seat, she noticed that there was still one vacant and wondered who it would belong to. She didn't have time to dwell, because she was being formally introduced to Nasuada and Murtagh began telling the story of how they met. Nasuada studied her for a long moment then said, "It is an honour indeed to meet you Zyana. I look forward to hearing more of the mission when the meeting begins. But we are still waiting for..."
"Sorry I'm late." Nasuada was cut off by Arya who entered the tent hurriedly, still fixing the buttons on her tunic. "I came as soon as I heard. I was..." She trailed off as she caught sight of Zyana. The two stared at each other with the same blank expressions on their faces neither looking away. Nasuada, Eragon and Murtagh stared at the pair with questioning eyes. "Is there a problem Arya?" Nasuada asked after a short amount of time, but the elf ignored her.
"Is that you Zyana?" Her green eyes were searching the other woman's face intently, and Zyana rose to her feet. "It is you!" Arya gasped and ran over to the woman and embraced her laughing, which Zyana happily returned.
"Arya! It has been so long." Zyana said, excitedly.
"Indeed it has. We have much catching up to do." Arya said, a wide smile plastered on her face.
So... There you go. I hope you liked it. Please tell me in a review. :)