Chap 5 Help

Eragon and Luka sat on Eragon's bed hearing Murtagh throw things around in the opposite room and yelling. "WHY IS IT ALWAYS HER?!" Finally Luka had enough. She stormed over to Murtagh's room, Eragon close at her heals. She swung the door open only to duck just in time to avoid being hit by a chair. "GET OUT!!!"

"NO I WON'T!" Luka screamed as she came in, "YOU HAVE BEEN YELLING FOR THE PASSED TWO HOURS AND I AM GOING TO LOSE IT IF YOU CARRY ON!! WHAT WOULD KALI THINK IF SHE FOUND OUT THAT YOU ARE SCREAMING YOUR LUNGS OUT BECAUSE SHE'S SICK??!" She ducked again to avoid a vase.

"SHE'S NOT SICK!" He grabbed a sea-blue box and threw it at her. Instead of avoiding it, she caught the box. Murtagh was just about to throw another object at her when she quickly opened the box. The most beautiful music echoed in the room. Murtagh froze as he heard the music, making the object in his hand fall to the floor. The sounds echoing around the room sounded like the sea and instruments Eragon had never heard before. It sounded sad, yet, at the same time, happy and calming. Murtagh clutched his hair before he fell on his knees. Luka and Eragon heard a sob escape his lips. "Why? Why is it always her?"

Luka bent down. She closed the box and made him look at her, "I know it's not fair, Murtagh. She was always the one to take the blame, always the one who used to sacrifice herself for both of us. But she wouldn't want you to do this, at least not while she's still breathing," she smiled slightly, "While she's alive, there's still hope that she will see the next moon."

Murtagh's eyed widened, "The moon," he whispered. Luka looked at him confused before she smiled. He chuckled slightly, "How could I forget?"

"By not thinking. By wallowing in your self-pity," Luka said gently. She took his hand, "The full moon is tomorrow night. You have to rest if you're going to fly all the way to the Spine in one day."

Murtagh's face fell, "I don't have enough energy. Kali's is nearly unlimited and the cave stops anyone from getting energy from the outside. If I share my life force with her, she won't have enough and I will die if I give her too much. The only thing I can do is store some energy in a jewel and hope."

Eragon was confused but thought for a second. "Not necessarily," Eragon spoke up as he neared them.

Eragon, are you sure? Saphira asked.

Yes. He looked at this hand to the ring his Brom had given him. He took Aren from his finger and held it out to Murtagh. "Take it."

Murtagh shook his head, "No. It was Brom's, your father's. I'm not going to take the energy from that. It belongs to you."

"And I," Eragon opened Murtagh's hand, "Give it to you," he placed the ring in his hand and closed it. "Just give me the ring when you're done."

"No," he tried to give Eragon back the ring.

"Fine," he said but he didn't take the ring, "I'll just follow you and give it to you when you're half dead."

Murtagh looked at Luka. "Keep the ring, Eragon, and don't follow me."

Luka interrupted. "Thorn can't carry two for more than an hour, Murtagh and you know it. Thorn can't take both of you to the Spine. Okapi can't even fly and Shruikan is out of the question as are Hunter, River and Ajax. Saphira is your only choice and she has to agree with you."

I will go but I won't be parted from Eragon again, especially not here, Saphira said to all of them, Eragon gets into trouble, more so when I'm not there, so he either comes or I won't go. I'm sorry Murtagh, but that is the only way I will go.

Murtagh sighed and stared out of the window for a second. He sighed again before looking at Eragon, "Alright...you can come, but you can't ask anything until Kali is alright again."

"Deal."

Murtagh nodded and stood up, "Do you mind saddling Thorn and Saphira?"

"Murtagh! You-"

"Luka, please! The sooner we reach Aquila the better," Murtagh stared at her, "Maybe by tomorrow we will miss the moon. Then she won't have any hope left."

She looked undecided for a moment. "Okay, but I will claim I know nothing of this when Galbatorix finds out and I won't cover up for you. I won't tell them though."

"Thanks, Lukie," Murtagh hugged her.

"Don't call me that!" Luka yelled as he backed away from her.

"Eragon, could you saddle up the dragons?" he asked again. Eragon nodded and left the room.

Murtagh ran to the infirmary and burst in. Thankfully, Nayara wasn't there. Kali was the only one occupying a bed. The poison had stopped spreading as fast as it had with the drug, but it had spread to her lungs in the last five hours. Kali's breathing had turned ragged. She could barely turn her head as Murtagh rushed in. He quickly wrapped her in the blanket Nayara had covered her with and picked her up. As he when down the corridor, he erased the memory of anyone that spotted them.

"Where are we going?" Kali croaked.

"We're going to Aquila. The full moon is tomorrow," he replied simply. He entered the dragon hold and saw that Thorn and Saphira were saddled.

You are both riding on me, Saphira stated as Eragon got on Thorn. We thought it would be best if Kali stayed with you.

Thank you, Saphira, Murtagh replied as he placed Kali in the saddle in front of him.

Hold on. Saphira spread her wings and flew out of the Dragon Tower, Thorn closely following. Saphira let Thorn take the lead and they travelled northwest towards the Toark River and Woadark Lake. It was only midday. They flew on and on, flying fast until the sun started to descend. Murtagh, Kali wants us to land for the night. She says she can't take it anymore and that you should really lower your barriers more. She's too weak to do more than a nudge and you can't feel it.

Alright, Saphira, land. Tell Thorn. Soon, both dragons landed in a huge clearing. Murtagh gently picked Kali off Saphira and lay her down on his blanket.

Eragon started to gather some wood while Murtagh searched for something to eat. Eragon had started a fire by the time he came back with a pair of rabbits. "Eragon, I know that elves don't eat meat but I couldn't find anything else that wasn't poisonous," Murtagh stated as he placed the rabbits by the fire.

Eragon looked sheepish for a moment, "I don't mind."

Murtagh smirked, "Eragon, I always thought you would listen to your teachers. Then again, you did go and do what you wanted most of the time." They both laughed. Eragon started to skin the rabbits and cook them while Murtagh sat by Kali. She had fallen asleep but he could tell she was in pain. Her eyes kept moving under her closed eyelids as if she was having a nightmare. Droplets of sweat were forming on her forehead. He touched it and his hand jerked back by reflex. Her forehead felt like it was on fire.

"Eragon, hand me the water-skin, quickly!" Eragon threw it to him and he quickly ripped his sleeve and drenched it with the water. He quickly placed it on her forehead, not bothering to ring the excess water. The cloth sizzled slightly.

"Why did it do that?" Eragon asked as he walked closer.

"Dragons get higher temperatures than humans. Her fever would have killed her long ago if she wasn't part dragon, but it's still dangerous," Murtagh looked up, his face worried beyond words. "I don't know what to do."

Kali stared to moan, "No, daddy please," she whispered, Eragon thought she sounded panicky, "Please, I didn't go."

Eragon felt something tug his mind violently. Before he could do anything, he was pulled into Kali's memory.

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Kali looked as if she were five, her face and body unmarked. She was standing, scared, in front of Galbatorix, in the throne room. They were the only ones there. Galbatorix looked the same, except his eyes. They were cold, like shards of ice that were internally frozen. He stood up, sword in hand, and walked nearer the five-year-old Kali. The aura surrounding him was menacing. "If you weren't in the market, where were you then?" he said coldly.

Kali looked at her feet and mumbled, "I was with M-Murtagh."

"And what did I tell you about being with him?" he asked.

"To not to," she replied, "But he's my friend."

Galbatorix looked enraged, "What?!" Kali started to back away in fear as he stormed closer to her, "You will never say that again, do you hear me?! He is not your friend and he never will be! He's dangerous!"

Something inside Kali seemed to snap, "Why?! Just because he's the son of Morzan?!" she yelled back, "Well you know what?! I'm your daughter, the daughter of Galbatorix! That's worse than being Morzan's son!!"

Galbatorix swung his sword at her, aiming at her neck. Kali ducked but the sword caught her temple and the sword slit all the way to her chin. She closed her eyes but didn't make a sound. Galbatorix looked horrified as she straightened and opened her eyes, the blood from the wound dribbling down her cheek. Her eyes were filled with sorrow and betrayal but mostly fierce determination. She stared at him for a second before running out of the throne room. She ran down a different corridor from the one Eragon knew. She kept running and running until she crashed into someone.

"Kali, what happened?" the seven-year-old Murtagh asked. He saw the blood trickling down her cheek and soak her top. Even when she was small, Eragon noticed she wore trousers. "Who did that to you?"

"Not here," she said quietly. She dragged him to one of the rooms in that corridor. Eragon presumed it was Murtagh's room.

"Sit," Murtagh demanded as he pointed to the bed. Kali sat down obediently as Murtagh placed a basing of water on the bedside table. He soaked a cloth in it before gently cleaning her cheek. He placed the cloth back in the water, making the water turn pink. Once the wound was clean, he opened one of the draws and pulled out a small medic bag. He opened it and pulled out a few herbs and a needle and thread. Murtagh started to sew the wound close. "You're lucky you even taught me how to do this," he said quietly as he finished the stitches. He started to make a paste with the herbs.

"It was dad," Kali stated. Murtagh gripped the bowl in his hands tightly until his knuckles turned white. Kali saw what he was doing, "Murtagh, stop."

"I can't help it, Storm," he said. She smiled slightly. Murtagh started to apply the paste over the stitches before he asked, "What are you going to do?"

"I don't know," she replied quietly, "But I'm not staying in the castle. Maybe I'll go to the forest around the city. Like that my father can't catch me and I can still be close to see you. And I'm sure you would give Tornac any excuse to go hunting."

"Well, that's true. Anyway if anyone can escape this castle and Uru'Baen, it would be you. You're number one for being under someone's nose without them knowing it's you," Murtagh smirked.

"I was thinking that maybe if I take enough, Luka and I can stay in the city with the street rats. If not, I'll take Luka out to the forest and we'll live there. I'm not going to let her live on the streets by herself for something that isn't her fault," Kali replied solemnly, "Then again, with the other kids we won't be by ourselves."

"When you find out where you are going to stay, send Marlon," he said. Kali was silent, staring at the window. Murtagh quietly stated, "Don't worry. With you, Luka will be fine. She needs you."

Kali laughed bitterly. "I'm not an adult, Murtagh. I'm five, soon to be on the run from the king and having to take care of a three-year-old. Not that I mind, because Luka is like my little sister that I never had, but it's the fact that her family is going disown her and is going to leave her stranded in the forest alone, just because she's cursed! It's not even a real curse!" she yelled, standing up, "We're the ones that are cursed, having to live like this; everyone wanting to kill us because of our fathers! No child our age should have to feel like this, have to worry every night that you might wake up with a knife in your heart," she said quietly. She looked up at him for a second. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."

"Don't. It's the truth whether we like it or not. Even Miliani used say that we don't act the age we should be because of what we are."

"Our carer was always the one to notice everything. Eyes of a hawk she had," she added quietly, "I miss her."

"So do I," Murtagh replied. They stayed in silence for a second. "Come on, we should start packing your things so you can leave."

They made their way out of the door and down part of the long corridor before stepping into another room. Eragon guessed it was Kali's. They started to look everywhere, putting anything they thought would be useful on the bed. They were almost done when they heard a knock on the door. Murtagh looked at Kali in panic. She held a finger on her lips, telling him to keep quiet. "Who is it?" she called.

"It's me, Tornac," came the reply, "I know Murtagh's in there." Murtagh rushed forward and dragged Tornac in before slamming the door shut again. Tornac looked in his early twenties with brown hair and eyes. He looked around the room quickly. "What's going on in here?"

"Kali's leaving," Murtagh stated as Kali was busy putting the things she needed in a bag. "She's going to help Luka but she might not leave the city. If she does, we've agreed that she will stay near the forest."

"What?! And how will you escape the castle, Kali? Both of you know, as well as I do that every gate has at least four guards and that any magic can be detected by Galbatorix. How are you going to take care of Luka? You are only five."

"Don't you think I know that, Tornac?!" she exploded. She turned around and let him take a good look at her face. The scar was covered by the paste but he could tell what lay underneath it. "I know I'm five! I know Luka is three! But, damn it, I am not going to let her die in the forest nor am I going to let my father carry on slicing me to pieces! I have bloody had it with him! I can hunt for myself and take care of myself and Luka, just as I have been doing for the past year and a half with the Street Rats! While I'm free from my father, I can help Luka; if I don't, she will die," she whispered fiercely, "She's like my sister, Tornac and the street rats can only do so much for her. If I'm there, they won't go hungry and I'm with my family."

Tornac looked at them both for a second, "Alright, fine. But totally disagree with you running, Kali. I know Murtagh would want to go with you but that is something I can't let happen. He is under my care until the king says otherwise. I wish you luck, though. And if by any chance you do go to the street rats, make sure to tell us. We'll visit you and I'm sure Murtagh wouldn't mind being with everyone either."

"Thank you, Tornac," she said solemnly. Murtagh helped Kali pack as Tornac walked out the door. Outside the sky was darkening quickly.

"You should go," Murtagh stated as he opened the window, "Now, before your father calls for you."

"Thank you, Murtagh, for helping me," Kali said quietly. She was quiet for a moment, "My father will find out soon. He will be sending soldiers out to the city thinking I won't get far. It will be a while before I can come back. I'll have to hide whilst they search everywhere."

"Where are you going to hide?" he asked.

"I was thinking the Spine. I can get there fast, even with Luka, and after the army vanished in there I doubt father will willingly send more to find me." Outside, a bell struck, "I have to go." She climbed up on the window ledge before she turned back to look at Murtagh. She smiled before quickly kissing him and jumping off the ledge.

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Everything swirled in black before Eragon found himself in the forest again. He held his head as he felt a sudden headache. Beside him, Murtagh did the same. After a few moments of silence Murtagh asked, "How much did you see?"

Eragon looked at him for a second then at Kali's shivering form, "From the argument to the kiss," he replied quietly.

Murtagh move closer to Kali. "She never told me what the argument was about," he said as he stroked her soaking wet hair while holding her hand, "And now I know why. It was my fault. I was the one that told her to come with me to the market!" Murtagh sounded on the verge of hysteria.

"Murtagh, that must have been fourteen years ago! If anything, it was Galbatorix's fault! He was the one that did it to her!" Eragon exclaimed.

"Yes, but if I hadn't told her to come with me to the market, we wouldn't have been spotted, then Galbatorix wouldn't have found out. So it is my fault."

"But whether or not it was you who asked her to go to the market, no father should do that to a child."

"Yet, they do what they want," Murtagh replied, looking at her, "They turn their own children into something they hate. Kali and I have always been close for that reason. We've been turned into something we never wanted. Nonetheless she never hated me for what I was, for what I am. We love each other. I love her too much to lose her now. I've lost her too many times before. We never cared what happened as long as we were together. I can't lose her, Eragon. I can't. We need to get to Aquila and quickly so I know that she'll be alright."

You won't lose her, Murtagh, Saphira stated, We will go now if you choose to. If you feel that we need to hurry, then we will.

"Then we go. I need her to be alright before I can do anything." Murtagh picked Kali up while Eragon doused the fire. They quickly mounted the dragons and flew into the air.

The sky was illuminated by the almost-full moon making Saphira and Thorn see clearer. They carried on flying northwest all night. Eragon fell asleep in Thorn's saddle. Murtagh was dozing, half his mind on holding Kali and keeping her from falling, the other half slowly dragging him to sleep.

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Both Eragon and Murtagh were jolted awake when both dragons landed. The dragons were panting harshly. We need to rest, said Saphira.

Rest, both of you. We are here, Murtagh stated. He looked around for a second before dismounting. He lifted Kali off the saddle. The sun told them it was just after noon. They were on the edge of a giant meadow, the Woadark Lake on their right. In front of them a mountain grew, blocking the way for any travellers. Other mountains gathered behind it. Eragon stood beside him.

"Where are we?"

"We are at the entrance to Aquila," Murtagh stated. He held the unconscious Kali tighter as he started to walk towards the mountains flat face. Eragon followed him. Once they reached the flat rock of the mountain, Murtagh yelled, "PATEFACIO PORTA, MEUS EVERTO!!"

Eragon heard the sound of stone moving. Before them, the flat rock face cracked in the middle and swung inwards slowly, like a door. Murtagh quickly walked in, with Eragon closely following. The tunnel was dark, only illuminated by the torches hanging on the walls. Eragon felt a chill go down his spine and the ominous feeling of eyes following him. He was just about to ask Murtagh if he should wait with Saphira when the stone doors slammed shut behind them.

"Eragon, put your hood up," Murtagh said quietly. He did as he was told and carried on following Murtagh quietly down the corridors he when through. After walking for ten minutes they reached a cave. There was no way out except for the way they had come. A dead-end. "FARO!" Silence met his call.

"Quisnam goes illic?!" Eragon jumped slightly. The male voice echoed all around the cave. He couldn't tell where the voice came from.

"Is est ego, Murtagh," Murtagh replied. Kali shifted slightly in his arms.

A man appeared out of the shadows from their right. His hood hid his face but grey eyes glittered in the darkness. He looked at Murtagh before spotting Eragon. "Meus rex rgis, vos teneo pariter ut ego ut is mos non capimini amo," the man stated gravely.

"Should quisquam res, is est meus frater. Sit hic quoniam ego fides him quod ego teneo is mos operor haud vulnero," Murtagh hissed. Then he said quietly, "Faro, Kali postulo succurro. Is has been virus per thorns quod nullus of humanus teneo of a rememdium. Ego teneo Lisa can operor quispiam quod is mos planto Kali vel macero. Vita - quod –soul vinculum est solus res ego can recordor iuvo Kali superstes." Faro looked at Kali in Murtagh's arms. Her breaths were becoming few and far apart and even more ragged. Her eyes were moving sightlessly under her eyelids. "Faro, please," Murtagh begged, "Everyone always offered Kali help and she always turned it down but she continued to help others. The one time she needs help, are you going to help her? Or will you let her die?" Murtagh sounded on the verge of tears.

"PATEFACIO PORTA!!"

"Thank you," Murtagh whispered as the cave wall behind Faro started to open.

"Of course, my king. Lisa would be in the werewolf territory. With the full moon and all..." he trailed off. "I'll send her a message with a falcon. You should go to her home. She'll be there as soon as she hears."

"Thank you, again." Murtagh rushed through the doors. They stepped into a huge clearing. "Eragon, we have to run. Use your elven speed." Before Eragon could protest, Murtagh sped off at a run. He was even faster than an elf. Eragon followed, trying to catch up with him but just managed to keep sight of him. He ran after him for fifteen minutes until Murtagh stopped by a tree.

"Murtagh!!" A woman came running towards them. She looked exactly like Nayara. She looked at Kali in his arms. "Good god!" she said horrified, "Take her inside!" She pulled at a vine and the bark of the trunk peeled away revealing an entrance. They went inside quickly. Murtagh quickly lowered the shivering Kali on the bed. Her eyes flew open. Kali started to cough, spitting out blood. She tried to get up. "Hold her down!

Murtagh quickly grabbed Kali and pushed her back down. "It started in her back."

"Flip her around." Kali was turned around, her back exposed to all of them. Eragon knew that she had scars but didn't expect what he saw. There was barely any skin that was unmarked. The whip scars crisscrossed everywhere and looked like she had been given more than a few thousand lashes. Branding marks covered her shoulder blades and her left side looked like the skin had been ripped apart by stones. He could just make out a tattoo spiralling upwards from her hip. The wound from the thorns hadn't healed and the poison was leaking from the wound.

"She will be very weak, Murtagh. If she doesn't have enough energy she'll die even before the moon rises. You can't afford to lose your energy if you are going to do the life-and soul sharing," Lisa explained.

"Murtagh, use your energy now and you can use the ring later," Eragon stated.

Murtagh looked at Lisa, then at the ring and finally to Kali. "I'll use the ring," he whispered.

"You need to hold her down. She will try to stop me and it will cause a lot of pain for her. You need to feed her your energy while I take out the poison," said Lisa as she placed her hands over the wound.

Kali tried to struggle out of Murtagh's grip but he was too strong for her in her weak state. Lisa started to chant in a language Eragon didn't know. It sounded like the language Murtagh had used with Faro. Kali started to scream and struggle against Murtagh. He held her down forcefully but he looked like he wanted to do anything but that. The poison was slowly disappearing from her back, but Kali didn't stop screaming. After a few minutes she stopped struggling, too weak to move. She whimpered, "Murtagh."

"It's ok," he said comfortingly. He held one of her hands, "You're going to be fine. Lisa's nearly done. You'll be fine." She whimpered again as Lisa pressed down on the wound before sealing it.

"How do you feel, Kali?" Lisa asked.

"Weak, dizzy, nauseated. Take your pick," Kali said.

"Well, you're defiantly back to yourself," Lisa stated. She turned to Murtagh, "She needs to rest. And so do you if you're going to do the live-and-soul sharing. If anything happens, you had better tell me. Don't let her get up."

"Can I turn at least?" Kali asked weakly.

"Yes." Murtagh helped Kali turn around and lay her down on her back. "I'll be with the werewolves." She turned and bumped into Eragon, "Excuse me, Shadeslayer."

Eragon looked at her as she left. Once the tree had sealed itself, he turned to face them both. "I'm confused. Or mad. I can't tell which. Mind explaining?"

Kali looked at Murtagh for a second. "It's a complicated story to tell, Eragon," she stated, "But I can show you instead." Eragon nodded. "Do you want to see too?" she asked Murtagh.

"If it's alright with you," he said quietly.

Kali nodded. "Some things will come out black because it will either be explained later or something that Murtagh and I should keep to ourselves. Is that alright?"

"I guess." Eragon felt Kali's mind brush against his before the darkness swirled and let him see in Kali's memories.

N/A: Review, please!

1. Open the gate my demons = patefacio porta meus everto

2. Who goes there? = Quisnam goes illic?

3. It is I, Murtagh = Is est ego Murtagh

4. My king, you know as well as I that this will not be taken likely= Meus rex rgis , vos teneo pariter ut ego ut is mos non capimini amo

5. Should anyone object, this is my brother. He is here because I trust him and I know he will do no harm. Faro, Kali needs help. She has been poisoned by thorns and none of the humans know of a cure. I know Lisa can do something and it will make Kali even weaker. The life-and –soul bond is the only thing I can think of to help Kali survive. =

Should quisquam res, is est meus frater. Sit hic quoniam ego fides him quod ego teneo is mos operor haud vulnero. Faro, Kali postulo succurro. Is has been virus per thorns quod nullus of humanus teneo of a rememdium. Ego teneo Lisa can operor quispiam quod is mos planto Kali vel macero. Vita - quod –soul vinculum est solus res ego can recordor iuvo Kali superstes.

It's Latin. I didn't know what language and 90% of the average population know little or none of the language so I thought I might as well use it. I got it from the internet so don't kill me!!