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Visit From The Future
Chapter Six
False Facades
The darkening sky was one indication that a storm was brewing in Merithuros' mind. Yes, she would reclaim what was lost to her father, King Galbatorix. She would rule Alagaesia and there would be no one to stop her. Blood pounded within her veins thinking about sitting atop the throne and being in control. She smiled a smile that could only be truly achieved by those who had menace in their heart.
Step one of her plan, get rid of the heir and her dragon.
Estarael was already in the past and with virtually no way to escape, all she had to do was get rid of Icefire. She pulled a sharp knife from her blue cloak and cut deeply into her gedwey ignasia. Pain shot through her, but she ground her teeth holding it in. Blood, shimmering with silver from her Rider insignia dripped into a cup, mixing with the blood from Estarael. Said blood was also retrieved from the princess's gedwey ignasia.
When all of her blood was evenly mixed with the princess's she held the cup to her lips and swallowed the blood. The filthy taste filled her mouth but she held it down with utmost care. He eyes though immediately darted to one of her servants who stared at her wide eyed. Merithuros laughed, no cackled almost. Her silver hair begun to take the colour of Estarael's and her entire form changed to fit exactly what Estarael looked like.
"Come," she whispered. But it wasn't Merithuros who spoke it was Estarael, an illusion anyway. The sevant trembled as she paced toward her mistress. "Did you see anything just now?"
"N-no ma'am," The servant was close to tears.
"Tut tut, dishonesty will get you no where," Merithuros sang.
"Please!"
Merithuros muttered the ancient language and ice began to form along the old woman's arm. She cried out in pain as the ice cut into her flesh. Merithuros walked forward and with a jab from her palm broke off the woman's left wrist. Merithuros snickered as the woman bellowed.
She sat on her makeshift throne in her hideout and enjoyed the show.
Murtagh groaned in agitation. Two weeks had passed and there was no sign of the princess.
We would find her, not to worry. We should more worry about Icefire. He's killing himself over this.
It must be extremely hard for him. I...I don't know what's going on Thorn, but I feel like I know Estarael.
Thorn hummed. Was there something he wasn't letting on. Murtagh growled.
Thorn if there's someth-
There's nothing I know that you don't. Now I'm going to see Icefire. Thorn flew off.
Murtagh felt anger rise into his system and course through his veins like molten lava. Nothing made sense anymore, but he was determined to get to the bottom of it all. His eyes drifted to the storm brewing outside. Saphira had flown to Uru'baen last week, leaving Eragon in Ellesmera with the elves. She had wanted to see Thorn. Murtgah thought with relief that she arrived before the storm. Icefire flew threw his thoughts. He was the last dragon to hatch so...he didn't have a mate, not until maybe Saphira and Thorn mated. And added to that his rider had now gone awol. Murtagh winced. No doubt the dragon would be feeling as down and more so than he. So despite the storm he headed out in search of Icefire.
Merithuros laughed at the ice statue before her. She called forth another servant to remove it. She rocked back in her seat her mind reeling. She sensed her dragon and opened her mind.
Merithuros, tell me, what is going on now?
The heir is gone, and we have to capture the dragon, that shouldn't be too hard.
Aye you disguised as yet?
Yes, and I must say, the princess has dreadful hair.
Her dragon, Mortalitas laughed. I am on my way.
Merithuros tapped her fingers in a steady rhythm. Capturing the dragon would be easily accomplished what with his rider gone. She played with her hair and sighed waiting for her dragon to arrive.
It was not long before Merithuros was mounted on Mortalitas, who with the aid of a spell from Merithuros had taken on the appearance of Icefire. They soared through the skies, Merithuros smiling as the wind knotted her hair. It exhilarated her, cleared her mind and prepared her mentally and physically for what awaited her.
Icefire trudged along the river bank his heart hurting dreadfully. It felt as if his rider had died and he was to perish, yet that did not happen. She was alive yet. But he couldn't find her, he felt helpless. He could only imagine what was happening to her at the very moment. He hoped and prayed that she was not in grave danger. That thought scared him and angered him both. The fright, because he couldn't bear anything happening to her and the anger, at himself, that he would not be able to protect life decided hit held no meaning and depression clung to him like dead fungus. He let out a mighty roar and looked desperately at his reflection. Sad eyes stared back at himself. He remembered a time when she was carefree and jumped into the river with him jumping in behind.
Where are you youngling? He asked desperate to hear her voice.
"Icefire! Help! Help me!" His ears lifted and his heart soared. Was that her angelic voice? It was! And she was calling for help!
Estarael!
No answer. His mind clouded with confusion that she didn't respond. But he needed to find her.
"Icefire!" there it was again. He followed her voice and there she was. But he stared back at his Estarael...and himself. Confusion webbed within him.
Estarael? Bt all too suddenly he couldn't move. Estarael was muttering the ancient language and his entire body became paralyzed. He couldn't reach out to anything with his mind, not even tghe ants that dwelled beneath the Earth. Panic welled and he fought to gain control mentally, but nothing responded.
"It would be a while before you could move dear dragon," Estarael whispered. And like a harsh slap to the face he realized that this wasn't Estarael but some imposter. His heart felt it, yet when he heard her voice previously he was so overcome he had not stopped to think about anything, a trap the least.
I am sorry...a voice whispered in his mind like an oasis. But he couldn't hear or think anymore, and all he knew was darkness.
Merithuros and Mortalitas had carried the silver dragon back to their hideout and had him shackled and bound. They were now landing back at the castle and a swarm of servants, guards and other people Merithuros did not care about crowded around them.
The king and queen looked down from atop the castle, and when the queen spotted her daughter she cried out and fainted. Merithuros tried to hold back her laughter. Act like Estarael.
"Princess Estarael!" People cried. The king stood rooted to the spot his mouth unsmiling. Merithuros smiled and flew up to greet her 'parents.' Putting on her best act, she filled her eyes with tears and fell to their knees. She noted with satisfaction that the king's eyebrows rose slightly.
"Mother! Father! Please forgive me! I was so atrocious. The thought of marriage confused me so much that I just needed to get away, surely you must understand," the king's eyes softened slightly but the queen fell to her knees beside her daughter and hugged her.
"We forgive you dear and your father and I are sorry, just don't ever scare us like that ever again," Merithuros wanted to choke with laugher and crawl about the ground but she held her facade.
"I have made up my mind, for the good of my people and my land I would marry Murtagh Morzansson," She smiled.
The queen clapped in delight and her father smiled. "Speaking of Murtagh Morzansson," the king interjected looking at the arrival of Murtagh. He ran forward and lifted Estarael in his arms...and immediately dropped her with a sputter. She smiled wickedly.
"Yes, my soon to be husband," she laughed and to Murtagh she whispered, "Very sexy husband." He had gone scarlet and his eyebrows shot to the heavens. He looked at her sideways wondering what had gotten into her. His heart however thumped in delight. Why? He had no idea.
"How about the two of you go for a walk after Estarael has freshened up, then we all could have dinner together in the dining hall," the king proposed.
"Certainly father," Estarael bowed graciously.
Merithuros...be careful.
What do you mean?
Act like her.
Merithuros clenched her teeth as the servant led her to her quarters to get a bath and change of clothes.
Murtagh waited patiently at Estarael's door. What had gotten into her? She was acting different...strange. She would have never called him...sexy or treat her parents in such a way. But before he had time to think further about it, she emerged from behind her doors and his mouth fell. She looked as beautiful as ever. he coughed and took her arm.
"How about we head to Milk and Cookies?" Murtagh asked. Merithuros raised her eyebrow in question, leading Murtagh to think that maybe she was confused as to how he knew about it. "Um...Icefire told me...something, that you liked Milk and cookies, how about we head to the kitchens?" Maybe she was offended that he knew of her hiding place. Well, he thought, she would tell him in time.
Merithuros nodded, still pondering Milk and Cookies, he had meant something different. However she brushed it aside for something so trivial as what? Milk and Cookies, would have no ill effect on her.
They strode to the kitchens in silence each pondering totally different thoughts. Murtagh looked at her sidelong and sighed, something seemed off. He would ask Thorn later.
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