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Visit From The Future
Chapter Five
Capture
Eragon woke both Nathaniel and I before the crack of dawn. I was about to protest and throw vile words at him, that was before I noticed the large mass of hard flesh, that was Urgal attacking Eragon. I felt my hip for my sword, that's when I realized I did not have it. Nathaniel growled a bit before tossing me a small dagger. I looked at him and raised my brows. How was I supposed to fend off hulking monsters with this. But my attention was quickly diverted as about a dozen Urgals charged in from some underbrush. My eyes widened. Eragon had been knocked unconscious. Saphira and Nathaniel were fending off the Urgals that had come in from the sidelines. But I narrowed my gaze to one that was dragging Eragon.
I ran forward dagger in hand and brought it down on him. To my credit the tip of the dagger did make it about a centimeter into the hard flesh of the Urgal, but promptly broke. I squeaked as the monster turned around to face me. He growled low and soft and hit me right in the face. I saw stars, then ethereal darkness.
I awoke to someone washing my face. "Ah, you're awake." Nathaniel stood up and sat down across from me. I groaned. My head felt like a stampede of elephants had trampled over it. Oh wait, it was just an Urgal. "You're going to have an ugly bruise for awhile."
I opened my eyes and looked to the stars. Wait something was missing. "Where's Eragon," I sat up alarmed. I immediately howled in agony and lay down back. Nathaniel was at my side and pouring cool water over my head.
"They took him. The Urgals," Nathaniel scowled.
"We need to rescue him."
"Yes, while you were unconscious Saphira found where they kept prisoners. We decided we would break in and rescue him."
"You have a plan already?"
"Well...I was thinking I would act on instinct."
"Mmm...yes," then I caught what he had said, "You? What about me?"
"You were knocked unconscious by an Urgal, you want to go into the prison where there are dozens of soldiers...with swords?" He asked as if talking to a child.
I gasped, "You pigheaded idiot! I could take care of myself!"
"Oh really?" Nathaniel tossed me a hand and a half sword. I looked at him quizzically. "Let's fight." he took out his own sword. My eyes bulged. I grabbed his sword quickly and cast the spell over it. "You know magic?" Oh, crap. Saphira was flying overhead too emotional to be with us just yet. I had to think on my own.
"My father taught me some when I was little." Nathaniel shrugged. He donned his stance and I mine as we prepared to duel. Something about the way he stood made me think of Murtagh. Murtagh, having been away from him so long my once hatred for him grew tenfold. I shrugged off the surge of emotions and tried to remember what he had taught me. Nathaniel and I began. He moved like a dancer, graceful, yet lethal. I blocked and parried with effort. I ground my teeth trying to turn from the defence to offence. But he wouldn't let me. It was hard to believe he could even see with the thick cloak masking his face. My breathing laboured and he found a weak spot, pressing his sword to my throat.
"You can't even hold out against me," he murmered but like me he was transfixed. Somehow during our duel we had come close to each other. We stood a hair's breadth away from the other. He leaned in an placed a feather light kiss upon my cheek. My whole face heated upon contact. He cleared his throat roughly and abruptly turned away. "We have to travel to Gil'ead. That's...that's where they're holding him."
"Yes," I whispered too red to reply properly. He made me forget about Murtagh and my forced marriage with one peck to my cheek. A flood of emotions sailed through me. How could I feel so close to someone I just met? My grandmother had once told me that everyone in this world had a soul that was closest to only one other. A soul-mate. I smiled a little. When I was younger I had believed in those things. Not anymore. I tossed aside my feelings and put it to hormones.
Nathaniel and I sat across from eachother, the fire separating us. He looked at me from beneath his hood.
"Why do you wear the cloak?" I asked.
"Let's just say I am a wanted man."
"You do not want anyone to recognize you," I murmured. "Have you a dagger?"
He tilted his head to the side but tossed me the dagger anyway. "What are you going to do?"
I smiled at him. I grabbed my long hair began severing it. Nathaniel sputtered. "If we are to go to Gil'ead, i do not want to be held down by this jungle." He laughed. He laughed for the first time since I met him.
"Strange girl. Need help?" I sighed. My arms were already aching. He came over to me and gently took my hair. "Better than all that hacking you were doing." He cut my hair easily and gently so that it cut in a straight line.
"Hmm...Nathaniel did you happen to be a hairdresser before all of this?" I smiled. He shook his head. He took my face in his hand and bent down. I swallowed the lump in my throat. My blood boiled in anticipation for what he was about to do. Oh god how I wanted him to kiss me quickly.I couldn't wait. I lifted my head and met his lips. I gasped as sensations I had never felt before surged through my veins. His tongue took the opportunity and entered my mouth. I whimpered. He grabbed the back of my head and crushed my face even closer to his. My hand had somehow found its way to his chest where I felt his heartbeat matching mine.
In mere seconds a loud thump separated us. Saphira had landed and eyed us with curiosity. Nathaniel crawled away quickly and his prescence left my being, leaving me with the cold empty feeling I had before.
"We travel to Gil'ead in the morning, you should get some sleep," he muttered crawling to his side of the fire and laying down. I sighed. I began playing with my fingers but when I looked up I caught him staring at me. He smiled softly and I smiled in return. The warm feeling returned.
We had been traveling for about three hours. My throat was dry and my stomach empty. The blazing sun was unbearable even though we were barely in the Hadarc desert. We needed to get Eragon. And if I had studied correctly for history, he was to rescue Arya as well. Nathanile had said nothing more about me going with him to rescue Eragon so I hoped he had changed his mind. Saphira was flying ahead of us since merchants and mercenaries passed by once in a while.
Nathaniel had been more friendly toward me and every chance we had we shared a kiss. It was hard to describe how you could fall so hard for someone within two weeks. It was inexplicable, miraculously so. My heart felt as if it were on fire every time he cast his smoldering gaze upon me.
Little one, you are adept in the use of magic?
Yes, my parents made me train days and nights.
Hmm...since your sword fighting skills are not up to par, if need be and you are in a horrid situation you may use it.
Yes.
My thoughts drifted back to home, to Icefire and eventually Murtagh. I knew that I shouldn't be thinking about Nathaniel like I was, but I couldn't help it. Yet Nathaniel reminded me of Murtagh in so many ways. But being forced into marriage was no easy thing and Murtgah had acted all but nonchalant. Had he even cared about how I was feeling being thrust into all of this? My emotions must have played out on my face for Nathaniel asked, "Estarael are you okay?"
"Mm, yes."
"Great, we'll be in the heart of Gil'ead in about a half hour, you want to stop for a break?"
"I want to...But we should push ahead, for Eragon." He nodded solemnly with thin lips.
"You're still not going in there."
I huffed. "What?"
"You can't use your sword! What if something happens and I'm not there to save you?" He growled.
"I can use magic!"
"How much without killing yourself from too much?"
"Enough to get out of a situation."
Nathaniel looked away for a minute deep in thought. "Fine, but stay with me," he muttered. He rode ahead and I could tell he was all but happy. I sighed and held on to the reins of Eragon's horse.
Before long Nathaniel and I were disguised as guards and entering the prison walls. My heart thumped. Never had I been in such a place before.
The walls were covered in green and the ceiling had water marks on them. The whole atmosphere of the prison seemed to be pressing down on me. It was hard to breathe also as the air was thick and heavy. As we walked along the corridors we passed cells holding different kinds of people. One man had no arms and hung from his cell as if dazed. Another man sneered at us his teeth all crooked and several bite marks apparent on his face. I shuddered to even know what had done that to him. To avoid suspicion Nathaniel had dressed me as a man.
Nathaniel and I were at the back of the group of guards so when the opportunity arose we cut through a corridor to the side, effectively getting away from the soldiers.
"We need to find Eragon, we should split up," I whispered to Nathaniel, the soldiers had somehow allowed him to pass even with the cloak over himself and he had a fake beard on.
He narrowed his gaze at me, "That would be the day, you're not getting out of my sight." I steamed.
We turned a corner and that's when we spotted Eragon. He had just defeated about five soldiers.
"Eragon!" Nathaniel yelled.
Eragon turned and his face lit up. "You're here! Come on we have to rescue Arya."
"Arya?" Nathaniel questioned.
"The elf from my dreams."
"Eragon! We have to get out of here, we are making a mistake!" But Eragon seemed to hear none of it. He ran forward to the last cell. Nathaniel sighed and ran after him. I decided to follow. In the cell lay the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes on.
"She's beautiful!" Nathaniel muttered. But I heard him of course. Who was I compared to such a goddess. I felt my heart ache.
"There's a Shade here, we must hurry!"
"A Shade?" Nathaniel looked horrified.
"I'll keep guard outside," I muttered though I was positive neither heard me.
As I stepped outside I sighed. Soft murmurs could be heard from inside. I rubbed my arms from the cold. My breath came out in small puffs. I kept my posts well looking left and right for soldiers. But nothing could prepare me for the icy cold hands that wrapped around my neck. I coughed and gasped my feet I wished to gasp.
Saphira!
Hang on little one.
Eragon and Nathaniel came bursting through the lifted his sword and with a roar smashed into the shade. But nothing happened. The Shade growled and dropped me to the floor. I sucked in as much air as I could, coughing and sputtering as I did so.
The Shade looked toward Eragon and let out a low chuckle. "So Rider, you found the elf. I'll strike you a deal, you duel me and win and I let you escape with the elf." I stared up at both the Shade and Eragon my eyes widening. Eragon stood no match against a Shade! Nathaniel and I could only stare helplessly at Eragon and the Shade.
The Shade made the first move on the attack at once. He moved with incredible speed slashing left and right, sometimes up and down. Several times the sword missed Eragon's body by a hair's breadth. I held my breath and stared helplessly. That's when I noticed Nathaniel held a bow and arrow in his arms. He raised the bow and as the Shade held the tip of the arrow too Eragon's throat Nathaniel released the arrow. It hit the Shade straight between his eyes. The Shade let go of Eragon and cried in filled the room and the Shade disappeared.
"Nathaniel! You killed him!" Eragon laughed.
"Mm...I'm not so sure...Let's just get out of here, call Saphira."
The roof rumbled and creaked. Shambles fell and dust poured from the years it had been there. I covered my face and coughed. It was Saphira. We all mounted and before I knew it we were up and over the prison.
"Thank God we're out of there," I whispered to myself.
Throughout the entire ride Eragon stared at the elf, whereas Nathaniel stared at me, though of a totally different emotion. He was livid, I could tell. He didn't say anything for the entire ride back to our campsite, but his stoic posture and bent head spoke in volumes.
When we landed Nathaniel grasped my arm and pulled me. He muttered something to Eragon about going for a walk, but I doubted that the young rider heard or saw anything other than the beautiful elf before him.
We walked til we were out of earshot. Nathaniel had found a tall tree. "What were you doing?" He growled into my ear, pushing me up against the tree. I gasped as his hot breath caressed my skin. I swallowed thickly.
"I-I do not know what you speak of."
"Like bloody hell! I told you to not move away from me! That Shade could have killed you in seconds!"
"I told you I was going to keep guard but you were too captivated by the elf to hear me!"
"Is that what all of this is about? Jealousy?" He asked quietly.
"What? I am not jealo-" I was effectively cut off by his wonderful lips. I couldn't resist. I moved my lips with his and moaned in delight as for the second time that day his tongue did marvellous things to me. I clutched to his chest to get a sense of balance.
"Do you still think I find that elf better than you?" he whispered.
"I-I do not know, I'm still dazed after that kiss." I smiled. I stared at his cloak and moved my hand to push it back but he recoiled.,
"No, Estarael..."
"Why won't you let me see you?Do you not trust me?"
"I'm just not ready! Just give me some more time."
I sighed.
"Estarael, I...I feel as if I've known you far longer than the two weeks we've spent together."
"I know what you mean, I feel as if...I'm...in love," I whispered afraid of his reaction. His body hummed next to mine.
"As do I," he whispered against my lips.
"Mm...since you're not ready to remove your cloak you could make it up to me with a kiss..."
He smirked, "That I could do m'lady."
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