Chapter Twenty-Four dun dun dun...LOL

I'd like to thank :

Hazelcloud

bellacullen1620

Kitkino86

Suzumehime

FE Frog

For reviewing chapter 23


Chapter Twenty-Four

Reawakening Hope

Estarael felt her blood go cold. Her heart stopped. Murtagh was...Nathan. She felt the tears spring to her eyes. She didn't care she let them fall. Galbatorix in here or not she cared not. Her heart felt like it was being slowly ripped apart. He..he lied to her....Why? She thought he loved her...But this just proved the opposite. No he did not love her. if he did he would have told her from the moment he felt his love for her. She had to admit it was smart telling her a false name from the beginning, so she wouldn't know his identity. But what if he was just acting? What if he didn't love her? He didn't love her...The answer was simple. Pure rage erupted in her. He lied! The fucking bastard lied!

Galbatorix watched in amusement as her sadness turned to boiling rage. The tears that were shed out of hurt now shed with face had become red. She stood up and icily walked out of the room. Galbatorix laughed. His laughter echoing throughout the hall. This was just too much fun!

ooxxoo

Murtagh looked at the bandage on his arm. He smiled. Estarael would have been proud of him. It hurt him though that just as he was about to tell her his identity she....He couldn't complete the sentence it was too much agony. He wiped the tears from his eyes. He would not let that ruin his victory. He was going to..celebrate....he was going to....It was only a matter of seconds before salty tears cascaded down his face. How could he even think for one minute that he would celebrate? She was dead! Gone! Nothing would bring her back and here he was thinking that he should celebrate?! He felt like killing someone. He wanted to go back to war just to let his anger out. He sat on the bed and took in a few deep breaths before he stood up and put on the red tunic that was laid on the chair. He wanted to see Eragon.

ooxxoo

Estarael punched the wall with her fists. Blood covered her knuckles but she paid no heed. She was bitterly angry. He did not love her, not at all. He wanted her dead. Maybe he had even set up the Urgal attack! Maybe he was already working with Galbatorix to get her here! She couldn't help but let the pure anger take control of her actions. She kicked the wall and scarped her arms, sobbing softly. The hurt returned once more. She fell to the ground and hugged herself while crying.

"He doesn't love me...." she whispered.

ooxxoo

Murtagh entered the room Eragon was in and saw his friend sleeping on the bed. He looked innocent, happy even. Murtagh wanted to shake him awake and congratulate him but instead just knelt down beside him and looked at his face. Eragon was the only one close to him now. He might not have been his best friend but he was his only friend and he wasn't too keen on befriending the elf-girl. Murtagh stood up and walked out the door.

"Ah! You are Eragon's friend not so?" A woman with curly hair asked.

"Um...yes...who are you?"

The woman laughed and replied, " I'm sorry, I am so rude! I'm Angela! The fortune-teller."

"Okay...."

"How about I tell your fortune....For free?"

"Umm..." Before Murtagh could protest Angela grabbed his hands and her pupils turned a milky white.

She smiled a couple of times. Then all of a sudden she let go of his hands. A small frown was planted on her face. "You are capable of many things, Murtagh. And your loved one...She hates you about now."

"What?! But she's-"

"Quiet! The Shadeslayer is asleep," she hissed.

Murtagh looked back at Eragon to ensure that he was still asleep. Satisfied he turned back to Angela but she was gone. Murtagh's eyes widened in anger. He needed to find her! She said something about Estarael. Thousands of questions popped into his mind at once. Was she alive? Where was she? Was she hurt? Did she miss him? And what on Earth had she meant when she said 'she hates you about now'? Murtagh's mind raced as he ran down the hallways searching for the strange woman. He wanted- no needed answers.

He almost collided with Nasuada but skidded to a halt in time.

"Murtagh," she said curtly.

"Princess Nasuada," he bowed.

"You fought well today. And you fought for us. My father is pleased. He requested an audience with you as soon as possible."

"Thank you," Murtagh whispered. What bad timing! He followed Nasuada to her father's office and stood outside the door.

"Murtagh you have proven yourself worthy of the Varden's trust. However I want to ask of you one more thing...We would be searching around again for any signs of Urgals or other enemies. So will you join me?"

Murtagh nodded his head vigorously. Anything to keep his mind off of her.

"We do have to wait till the Shadeslayer is better though. Before we set out I would like to see him and congratulate him," Ajihod said in a regal voice.

" Thank My Lord," Murtagh said unsure of how to address Ajihod.

Ajihod chuckled slightly and said, "You may call me Ajihod."

ooxxoo

The moon glimmered while the stars skillfully danced on the black surface of the night sky. Despite her feelings of dred mother nature always found a way to be beautiful. Estarael sat on her knees and played with the hem of her dress. All emotion was gone. No tears, no anger, nothing. She couldn't feel anymore...She was numb. She hated the feeling. Not being able to feel. Oh the irony. She dug her nails in her arms and let a single tear slip. Still no feeling. She closed her tired eyelids and succumbed to sleep in a matter of minutes.

When she woke she felt the burning pain of her back. She was sleeping on the hard floor and her back was at an odd angle. She stood up and stretched. After taking a bath she slipped out to see Galbatorix. She didn't know why but she just wanted to move on. Maybe working for him wasn't such a bad thing... then she would have no time to think of that traitor.

She pushed open the once terrifying doors with ease. She faced the king her face blank of all emotion. She wanted to die...she wanted so badly to jump off a cliff...but he wouldn't let her. So why not live it out...then eventually take it to the extremities and succumb to an everlasting sleep?

"Estarael...you're here early... Ah! Your dragon!" Estarael felt that little bit of hope pipe through her once more at the mention of Icefire. Could it be?

"Icefire..." she whispered.

"Yes. Merithuros! Bring Icefire here!" Merithuros walked out with a struggling baby dragon in her arms. When the dragon saw her it immediately stopped moving. Its eyes opened wide and its jaw hung open.

Estarael!

Estarael suddenly felt all the emotions wash over her. The voice of her loved one evoked such pain and at the same time happiness in her. Icefire!

The dragon leapt into her arms and she hugged him cooing softly. She felt it oddly funny to be holding her baby dragon with the mental age of god knows how much years. She looked at him and nuzzled his nose. Life just threw hope down her path...

ooxxoo

Murtagh ate in silence when suddenly he saw a werecat. His face twisted in confusion but then a voice spoke to him.

Beware Murtagh Morzanson a jagged path is laid out before you. I trust that you would choose your decisions wisely. One thing I would tell you. You would be reunited.

Before Murtagh could respond the werecat disappeared. His heart fluttered and he jumped out of his seat. Beginning yet another search...


It's kind of short I know. And I promised this one early though it isn't that early...heheheh.... But at least you got it reasonably early! LOL. Okay okay, I'm sorry. Anyways I edited Chapter one so you could have a look at it if you want. I added a flat character Martha but she's only important in chapter one. Thx so much for da reviews you guys ;D And to Kitkino86 here is the chapter! Hopefully I have not let you down ;D