AN: So this is quite a long chapter, but I felt I owed you guys something cause I made you wait so long. If you read my profile, you'll discover that I have been out of action, through no fault of my own. Well maybe some of it was my fault...but who's really blaming anybody? Not me, that's for sure. Anyways, enjoy. We're at Chapter 14 now, I guess that means we're really in this for the long haul, eh?
I woke up the next morning feeling surprisingly refreshed, considering the ungodly amount of ale I had consumed the night before. I rolled onto my side in the old, creaky bed, and found myself face-to-face with a sleeping Murtagh. Suddenly, the events of the previous night came flooding back to me and I smiled, contentedly. I lay there for a few more minutes, studying his face properly.
I couldn't help but think that he looked incredibly cute when he was asleep. He looked so peaceful, and younger, somehow...innocent. I sighed and rolled out of bed, landing lightly on my feet.
I strode over to the dingy window and stood, leaning on the sill, looking out at the town. It looked completely different in the light of the early morning, colours were brighter and more vibrant and the streets were buzzing with life.
I felt hands on my waist and spun around with a start. Murtagh smiled down at me and took my face in his hands, kissing me gently.
"Good morning." He murmured, smiling broadly.
"Yes...it is." I replied, turning back to face the window. He stepped towards me, pulling me closer to him and resting his head on my shoulder. We stood for a while, watching the life of the village as it sped by the window-frame.
"What are you thinking?" He asked, kissing my neck, tenderly.
"How easily a person could get lost here." I said, truthfully.
"Do not worry about that. If you get lost, I will find you." He smiled, winking. I rolled my eyes, trying to shrug him off without seeming cold.
"No...I mean it would be a good thing. You and I could blend in here, easily." I explained, spinning around to face him.
"For how long?" He asked, concerned.
"Just until we find what you are looking for."
"I already have." He whispered, kissing the base of my neck and sending a small shiver down my spine. I brushed him off with a laugh and he smiled down at me.
"Get serious. I want to find these people today, Tag." I said, hating that I had to be the sensible one for a change.
"We will, do not worry."
"I never do." I grinned up at him, winking. "But maybe we should get something to eat, the sun is already high in the sky."
"And it will be a pleasant change, not having to catch and cook our own meals. While we are in town, we can dine in style."
"Can we afford that?" I asked, my mind wandering to the pitiful amount of gold in my money pouch. I could have taken more from my father if I had wanted, he certainly had it to spare, but I had felt far too guilty about the situation I had dragged my family into to take such liberties with him.
"Money is no object." He smirked. I frowned, partly in confusion, but also because when he had spoken, I was forcefully reminded of the young men at court, who often flashed and flaunted their wealth in the faces of the less fortunate.
"And how, pray tell, did a humble orphan come across a well of fortune such as to ease his mind of any and all financial cares?" I asked, doing my best to keep my tone light.
"I have worked hard in my past, and have managed to save sufficient funds." He shrugged, but I was still not convinced.
"And you would make light of your earnings? When you have toiled so to come by them?" I asked, raising a sceptical eyebrow.
"Not at all...but I would never begrudge a lady breakfast. I was thinking egg and bacon...not exactly lavish spendings...do you not agree?" He smiled, but I thought I detected a slight falter in his relaxed tone of voice. I told myself I had imagined it, and forced myself to smile back, deciding that I would much rather keep the current, happy mood and be treated to a warm meal than to cause an argument which I, myself, was unsure of.
"Very well. Since you are offering."
We ate at a small Inn nearby, deciding that the one we had stayed in the night before had much to be desired. During the small meal, I had managed to make quick work of four tall glasses of water. I had a terrible thirst, such as I could not remember ever feeling before. I mentioned this to Murtagh and he explained that it was a side effect of the alcohol, and that I was fortunate that this was the only side effect I was feeling that morning.
"But you seem to be fine." I remarked, taking another long gulp. He nodded in agreement.
"I am. And I was not as drunk as you were last night, despite drinking the same as you. I just have a better constitution for it."
"Yes, well, it seems I have no constitution for the stuff. Please never let me drink ale again."
"Do you really think I could affect your decision either way? I have already learned not to interfere when you make your mind up."
I opened my mouth to respond, but my reply was cut short by a sudden barrage of noise, a shrill scream so loud that I winced at the ringing it left in my ears.
"What's wrong?" Murtagh, asked, with concern.
"That noise...did you not hear it?"
"What noise?" He asked, apparently confused.
"That...nothing." I replied, realising that it must have been inside my head. But that meant it was Obsidian...what if he was in trouble? I had never heard him sound so scared or frantic before. Cold panic crushed down on my chest, and I swallowed the large lump which had risen in my throat.
"Selena...where are you going?" Murtagh grabbed my arm, turning me around to face him with a searching look. Without realising it, I had stood up and made my way swiftly to the door.
"Oh...I...I do not feel very well...I am going back to the Inn."
"What is wrong with you? You are acting very oddly...you just got up to leave without saying anything!" He whispered, seemingly embarrassed by the attention we were drawing from the other patrons.
"I am sorry, but like I said, I feel sick." I replied, edging towards the door again. "I will meet you back at the Inn...sorry..."
"No, I'm coming with you. You can 't go all the way back across town like this." He insisted.
"I'll be fine. Please."
I wrenched my arm out of his grasp with ease and strode out of the door, running as fast as I could to the place where Obsidian had slept. I could not explain how I knew where he was, I just did, and I did not question it. I tore through the streets like lightning, ignoring the burning pain in my chest as I did so.
I ran through the city gates, causing a few of the guards to shout after me in alarm. I ignored their idle threats and kept going, not slowing down until I was at least a few hundred yards into the thick forest, confident that nobody had followed me.
Obsidian! Can you hear me?
For one, heart-stopping moment, he did not answer. I was beginning to think the worst, when his familiar voice answered me.
Katharean...what are you doing? You should not be here...it is not safe. He sounded worried, which only added to my own apprehension.
What happened? Where are you? I demanded, frantically.
I can see you...stay where you are. He replied, calmly. Seconds later, there was a great rush of wind and his large form exploded through the heavy covering of foliage overhead, and the very earth below my feet shook upon his landing.
I rushed forward and wrapped my arms around his thick neck, before standing back to survey him properly.
Wow...you got big, Sid. I remarked, noting that he had almost doubled in size in the last two weeks, for this was the first we had been able to get close to each other since Murtagh had joined us in the woods. He snorted and drew himself up, proudly. I smiled, affectionately, before becoming serious again.
Obsidian, what happened? I heard screaming.
It was not a scream...it was a battle-cry. He replied, shifting uncomfortably.
"Yes, a battle-cry indeed." I replied, aloud, smirking.
Do not speak, Katharean...I fear we are not alone in these woods. He grumbled, sweeping our surroundings as he did so.
OK...so what manner of creature warrants a 'battle-cry' from a dragon?
Another one. He replied, darkly, pawing at the soft ground below him, agitatedly. We stared at each other in silence for a moment, each of us thinking the same things.
Another dragon? Here? But...this is not good. What of the rider? I asked, unable to hide the hope in my voice.
Absent. He was alone.
He? So it was not Saphira. The only other I know of is the young one in service to the King. Did he attack you? I asked, concerned.
No. As soon as he saw me, he left.
So...what? He was a scout?
Precisely.
Then you are right, we are not safe here. We have to leave as soon as possible.
And Murtagh? He asked, and I felt my heart drop at his question.I bit my lip, knowing the decision I would have to make.
We go alone. I said, as coldly as possible, trying to keep my emotions in check, but I could not hide from Obsidian. He looked down at me with sad eyes and nudged my shoulder with his snout, consolingly.
It is for the best. For us and the boy. We would only be placing him in danger, more so than we already have. He assured me. I nodded, blinking back hopeless tears.
Obsidian...how am I supposed to say goodbye to him?
You have to be strong.
I thought that was your job. I smiled through my tears, and I could swear he was smiling back. I better go now, before I lose my nerve.
Very well. I shall wait here for you.
I made my way back to the village, moving slowly this time. When I arrived at the gates, the soldiers interrogated me about my earlier sharp exit, and I calmly explained that my pet cat had bolted out seconds before me, and I could not understand why they had not seen it. It was not the best lie I have ever told, but they seemed to be satisfied with it, enough so to let me pass, anyway.
When I reached the Inn, it was to find the room Murtagh and I had slept in mercifully empty. I breathed a small sigh of relief, and set about packing my belongings back into my travel pack, thinking that it was some constellation that I would no longer have to heave the heavy bag around with me any longer, although the thought did little to lift my spirits. I was just about to throw the bag over my shoulder when a voice from the doorway made me freeze.
"You're leaving." It wasn't a question. I turned around slowly to face Murtagh, and saw him leaning casually against the door-frame.
"I have to." I whispered. He narrowed his eyes slightly, and I hated that I was the reason behind the hurt expression on his face.
"No you don't. You don't have to do anything." He replied, bitterly.
"Yes. I do. Murtagh, if I stay, things will only get worse." I tried to explain, but I could not find the words.
"Worse than what? I thought things had been going rather well until you ran off this morning."
"I am being hunted, Tag."
"Don't call me that." He spat, angrily. I felt as though he had punched me in the stomach. In my heart, I knew he was just hurt. I had expected some anger from him...but I was not prepared for it. I swallowed the lump in my throat and continued as best as I could, though my voice shook with every word I spoke, promising tears.
"I am being hunted, and sooner or later, the people who are hunting me are going to catch up to me. When that happens, I do not want to drag you down with me."
"Please do not insult my intelligence. Everything you have ever done, you have only ever done for yourself." He said, lowly, narrowing his eyes.
"Murtagh, that...that's not true..." I gasped, choking back tears.
"Is it not? Let us review, shall we? Your father tried to make you marry, like any other normal girl your age, and you refused. Why? Because you did not want to marry. You ran away from home, stole money from the man who raised you and kept you for eighteen years. Why? Because you did not want to do what you were told, like a spoiled child. And now, you are leaving, because you do not want to stay. So, please, do not try and make this about me, Selena. This is about you, just like everything else."
I knew that he was trying to make me upset, and it might have worked...if what he was saying was true. But I knew differently. I did not want to marry for my own sake, that much was true, and perhaps I had been selfish. But the rest...I left home because of my love for Obsidian, and to ensure the safety of the people I loved. And I was leaving now for much the same reasons.
Of course, I could not tell Murtagh that, not after he had told me what he really thought of me. I looked up, calmly, into his anger-filled eyes, doing my very best to feel nothing.
"Are you so blinded by your anger that you cannot see the truth? I thought you were smarter than that, Murtagh."
My reply stunned him temporarily into silence, and I sighed and slung my pack over my shoulder, shaking my head.
"Goodbye, Murtagh. Have a nice life." I said, quietly, brushing past him to leave. As I did so, he grabbed my bare forearm, gently, pulling me towards him. He kissed me, tenderly, and I cursed the Fates that I could not stay with him. My hands found his and he snaked his fingers through mine. We broke apart, each of us blinking back tears, and he brought our hands up between our chests.
"Look...see how we fit together? Please...stay with me."
"I cannot."
He looked deep into my eyes with his own piercing, dark orbs, as though searching for an answer to some unasked question. I blinked, slowly, and he kissed me again, lightly.
"I understand." He whispered. "Whenever you are alone, just look at your hands...see where mine fit, perfectly, and know I am thinking of you."
I let out a dry sob, closing my eyes, and he kissed my forehead, squeezing my hands tightly. Through the pain and the grief, I frowned as I felt something rough brush against the skin of my palm, causing it to tingle unpleasantly. I opened my eyes and prised our hands apart, searching for the source of the sensation.
I gasped when I saw what it was I had felt, and Murtagh retracted his hand instantly, but it was too late. I had already seen his gedwey ignasia.
AN: To be continued...I know, I know, you hate me right now, but I'll try and update soon...which may be harder than it sounds as I'm currently in the God awful process of flat hunting. Ever tried to find a nice, clean, affordable two-bedroom flat in the centre of Dundee? I don't recommend it. Anyway, reviews are always welcome, you know the drill, I don't proof-read, cos I'm an ass like that. :)
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