The Red Rider
A/N: This is the first time I have included any romantic scenes so hopefully I won't disappoint anyone. Thanks for your reviews on the previous chapter!
The wind was slapping Murtagh's cheeks as Thorn flew towards Ilirea.
We are close, the red dragon whispered in his mind and Murtagh nodded although he desperately hoped they had not arrived too late. He hated coming back to Ilirea, but Nasuada and the rest of the riders were here, needing his help.
The sky was dark, so he had to squint his eyes to make out the outlines of buildings. He could see smoke rising from some of them and his blood run cold.
We are too late again!, he shouted angrily and clenched his fists, looking away.
No. We are not. I cannot see the shadow wyrms but most of the buildings are intact, Thorn said, scanning the area.
Murtagh closed his eyes and tried to extend his consciousness in order to look for potential threats. There were spells placed around Ilirea that prohibited him from looking further in, at first, but after uttering a few spells of his own he slipped easily past their defences and cursed the magicians' incompetence.
We are dealing with sorcerers, shades and shadow wyrms and they didn't think to place more intricate spells?, he asked angrily.
Maybe their spells were weakened after the attack, Thorn added.
Murtagh hmphed and looked inside the minds of the people in Ilirea. Indeed, three shadow wyrms had attacked and there appeared to be riders present as well, but not riders he knew.
He sighed and extended his consciousness further until he found Stoic's mind.
What happened?, he simply asked.
There were shadow wyrms and shades here. It appears there was a dragon and a rider as well, but I cannot be sure. They attacked some buildings, killed some peasants and injured Ingrid but other than that they caused no more damage. They left as soon as we started attacking them, the urgal said.
Thorn landed near the court yard, causing a gush of wind to blow towards the nearby tends and stands. Murtagh encountered Stoic on his way to the castle and the Kull led him to the infirmary.
Ingrid lay on a bed, her head thrusting back as she bit hard on a piece of cloth in her mouth. The elven rider, Findet, was whispering healing words over a deep cut on her thigh but they seemed to have no effect. Black smoke was rising from the cut.
"Spare your energy, rider. Arya and the elves in Elesmira have been trying to heal the dwarf for weeks now with no effect. I doubt you will accomplish anything different since her wound was caused by the shadow wyrms as well" he said and Findet pressed his lips together.
"Now… Tell me again the details of the attack. Was anyone taken? Was there indeed another rider?" Murtagh asked and the two riders relayed to him everything that had occurred.
After they finished, he pressed his back against the stone walls and closed his eyes.
They could have easily done further damage. Why didn't they? Was there something that stopped them or was this simply an intimidation?, Murtagh asked in the dragons' and riders' minds but none had an answer to his question.
He exited the infirmary and walked to Thorn's side. Emotions passed through them, rather than words, a habit they had developed during their time with Galbatorix when both were trying to shield their thoughts from him.
If there was another rider then the situation might be worse than we thought, Thorn said.
Where did the rider appear from? Did one of the stolen eggs hatch? And If yes, is the rider bound by magic to the dragon?, Murtagh asked again, but he did not expect an answer from his dragon.
Murtagh pressed his hand against Thorn's scales and looked up at the towers that extended high. In one of these rooms, Nasuada resided. She could have easily moved to another room since he hadn't seen her for quite some time but he doubted that.
Emotions of comfort radiated through his bond with Thorn.
Someone walked into them, earning the threatening looks of both rider and dragon. The person was obviously drunk as his cheeks were coloured and he held a jag of an alcoholic beverage in his hand.
"Step back" Murtagh said and looked on the ground trying to conceal his face.
The man's expression changed and his eyes grew large in recognition.
"Oh, I know you! You are the brat that sided with Galbatorix during the attack…" he started saying and Murtagh walked forward, ready to utter the words of a deadly spell or draw his sword, but he heard footsteps and he paused.
He is not worth is, Thorn advised.
"How dare you!? This is a rider and a friend! He helped us defeat Galbatorix! You should have more respect!" an icy voice said and the man walked back, terrified.
"I am sorry, my Queen, I did not know… "the man mumbled but she rose her hand in the air in a dismissive manner.
"Go back to your chambers and if you have any respect for your Queen or for the people in Alagaesia you will refrain from spreading tales" Nasuada warned.
Murtagh watched the exchange silently. The Queen was in the court yard with her usual parade of guards and magicians who formed a protective circle around her. She turned her gaze on him, a set of black mesmerizing eyes and momentarily he was lost of words.
"Red Rider. We expected an earlier arrival" Nasuada said.
Murtagh bowed on the ground and tried to keep his face expressionless.
"My Queen. I was in Elesmira, assisting with another matter at the time. I take it none of your counsellors, magicians and guards were hurt?" he asked with a flicker of hope.
"No. They are all in quite good health as far as I know" she replied.
Shame. It wouldn't have been too bad if a few of the counsellors had unexpectedly perished, Murtagh said in Thorn's mind and he tried to hide a smile.
"Splendid news" he said in irony and moved forward, making a failed attempt at smiling. Nasuada's calculating gaze held his own and he was certain that she knew exactly what he was thinking about.
"There is a room prepared for you to rest tonight, near the riders" Nasuada added and Murtagh looked at her once again, trying to understand if there was a hidden meaning in her words. There appeared to be none.
"I appreciate the offer but I intend to rest at the outskirts of Ilirea tonight, since I want to investigate further the attacks of the shadow wyrms" he simply said and the Queen appeared both relieved and disappointed at his comment.
"Very well, then. If you find anything, please inform me as soon as possible" she said.
"Of course, my Queen" he replied and bowed once more as Nasuada and her court walked back to the castle.
You handled this well, Thorn observed and blinked.
Years of practise, Murtagh replied as he climbed onto his dragon.
Are we leaving so soon?
Yes, I do not want people to think that I am here longer than I should be.
Of course, Thorn said in a mischievous manner as emotions passed through them and Murtagh allowed himself to smile.
…..
Nasuada fixed her long skirts as she walked in a fast pace back to her chambers. A messenger boy run to her direction and she paused, the guards and magicians around her, forming a block.
She looked at her parade in an annoyed manner, but said nothing.
"Jormundur has asked for a council meeting tomorrow morning" the boy said.
Nasuada nodded.
"Tell him to meet me in the main Hall and relay the message to the rest of the counsellors and riders as well" she whispered and quickly wrote and signed the parchment of paper that one of the guards passed to her.
She kneeled forward to give the letters to the boy, but a guard stepped in front. The boy took a few steps backwards, an alarmed expression on his face.
"In the name of Unulukuna, he is just a boy!" she shouted angrily and pushed the guards back, giving the letters to the boy. The messenger swallowed, took the letters, turned back and run to the stairs.
Nasuada sighed.
How old was the boy? Twelve, thirteen? Was he older than…?
"My Queen, we are doing this for your safety. Only last month someone poisoned your wine and half a year ago someone shot an arrow to your head. If I also include the attacks of the last five years…" the guard started but she held a hand in the air.
"Then you would never stop. I have not forgotten" Nasuada said angrily and sighed again as they reached her chambers.
She looked at her parade and she shook her head aggressively.
"A Queen needs privacy. I am going to enter my chambers now and my maid Farica will be there. You have all put protective spells around her mind and I doubt the girl who has been my servant for more than twenty years will cause any danger. I will be safe" she said and opened her doors.
"But my Queen…." one of the magicians started.
"No" she said and slammed the door to their faces. She hid a secret smile and then exhaled loudly.
Her long skirts dragged behind her. They were unnecessarily heavy but the weather was growing colder. She caught a glimpse of her reflection in the mirrors and her eyebrows pulled together in surprise. That, however, only intensified the wrinkles on her forehead and corners of her lips. Nasuada turned her gaze away from the mirror and started undressing.
She removed her head band first, as it had been tight, tighter than usual. Her hair fell loose on her shoulders and she let out another breath of air in relief. Then she started pulling the straps of her corset.
Farica should have been here to do this for her, as she did every night and every morning, but she had dismissed the maid for the night. The straps were surprisingly loose and she was glad for that, as she did not have much experience with untying corsets.
Suddenly, she heard a noise and she turned her gaze to the curtains of her windows. Her window doors were open and air was rushing to her room, making the curtains dance. She walked forward and closed the doors, pressing her back against them.
It's just the wind, she told herself and momentarily there was indeed silence and she closed her eyes.
Then, another noise sounded and she snapped her eyes open, turning to the direction where it had come from.
The man behind the curtains walked forward and smiled at her.
"You should not be here" she warned.
Murtagh's hair fell in front of his eyes and he looked on the ground. Then he hmphed.
"If you thought I wouldn't come, then why did you dismiss your maid and deny access to your guards?" he asked her and she opened her mouth to reply, but no words came.
When she didn't give him an answer he took a few more steps forward and put his arms around her in a tight embrace.
"When I heard the wyrms had found their way into Ilirea I was terrified. I thought I was going to lose you" he whispered in her ear.
She allowed herself to be lost in the moment, as the familiar aroma of Murtagh clouded her thoughts. But then she moved backwards and shook her head.
"Someone might hear. The guards are outside, my magicians might sense you…" she started but he quickly whispered some words and waved his hand in the air.
"There. Now, no one can hear anything that happens inside the room and I have already made sure that none of the magicians know I am here. Which reminds me. You surround yourself with the most useless of idiots, sometimes! Getting inside the city was too easy, both in physical and mental terms" he said and Nasuada smiled.
"You are a rider, of course it is easy" she replied and he smiled back to her and then clasped her into another tight embrace, with her back against his front body.
"I am a rider and yet I cannot extinguish the threats that loom over Alagaesia. This says a lot about our enemies. Raise your boundaries ten times higher! If the enemy attacks again, what you have now, will not be enough" he warned and exhaled loudly on her shoulder.
His breath was hot and it shot a warming sensation throughout her body. She turned her head and looked at him. He returned her gaze, with his own darker one which held many promises.
He kneeled down and gently brushed his lips against her throat, trailing a path to her lips. Nasuada allowed herself to enjoy the kiss and then she pushed him back and shook her head.
"We can't start this Murtagh, not again. If someone finds out, then…" she started, but he pressed his finger on her lips.
"Then your position as Queen will be questioned, the balance in Alagaesia will be disturbed and this is something that would not benefit anyone right now. Apart from some of your counsellors, that is. Such a shame they didn't die tonight" Mustagh said in a melancholic tone and Nasuada smiled.
"It is not just my position that will be threatened Murtagh. If someone finds out… If someone finds out then they will want to dig further and if they do, then they will find her… "she continued and Murtagh stepped back, a dark shadow clouding his features.
This was a subject they did not discuss often and for good reason. It caused both of them great pain.
Nasuada swallowed.
"I only wish we could have sparred her the grief" she whispered.
"The sooner these monsters are gone, the safer she will be. Do no worry, at the moment she is in the safest place she could be, far away from the dark powers here" Murtagh said and looked in the distance.
"But still, she has ties to them. I guess she takes after you, in that respect" Nasuada said smiling and caressing his left palm, where the half circle symbol resided.
"Me? I am nothing but a small rodent when I compare myself to your power! I hear she has your strategical and political skills as well" he said in a teasing manner and that made her smile.
"I just hope she is not sent here. At least, not now" she said and sighed, pressing her palms on top of her hips. There were a few more scars present there, to add to the existing ones on the inside of her arms and battle wounds.
"She won't be. She is still too young" Murtagh said, holding her gaze and she nodded.
They both then heard a knock on the door.
"Your Majesty, open the door!" one of the guards shouted. "Your maid, Farica, was found in the corridors!"
Nasuada walked further away from Murtagh, while he stared at the door in a calculating manner.
"I can make the doors unbreakable if you want" he offered but she shook her head.
He sighed in disappointment.
"Until, next time then" he promised and gave her a quick kiss.
Nasuada watched as he disappeared into the darkness and the doors to her chambers opened.
Until next time, red rider.
A/N: Rise of The Dragons will be paused for the next few weeks. I will definitely update after the 18th of December and maybe I will manage to post another chapter before this date! Don't forget to leave reviews, follow/fav!