I do not own the Inheritance Cycle.
This is not a chapter update but a side story. Some surrounding Selena, Brom, Morzan, Arya (maybe) Eragon different parts of Rose's life, so on and so forth. Some of these will affect the main story itself.
I had fun a lot writing this.
Oh, yes, Muirgheal is pronounced: "Mur-elle"
As always enjoy and tell me what you think.
Aiedail
Selena watched as the fresh blood washed from her hands, threads of crimson flowed into the pale cobalt stream in a swirling dance before vanishing in the current. The small mountain stream felt like ice and her skin was numb from cold. Mountain water, she knew, was always much colder and with the late receding of winter, all the colder. A rather large part of her wondered what would happen if she submerged herself entirely; would the dark emotions she felt numb as well?
She hadn't wanted to kill that man. There was enough blood on her hands, as well as her leathers but she tried to forget about that, however talking him down hadn't worked overly well. He was insistent that she either act or die, and his sudden appearance hadn't helped at all. If anything ruined her otherwise peaceful morning and, now her mood was soured and she would now go without breaking her fast.
Selena scowled and, grabbing the washing stone from the grass, stood up. There was a long way to go yet, if she wanted to reach Gresyni Castle by nightfall. The castle lay little over a league to the north, and already she had running late. Morzan wouldn't be pleased with her, not in the least. She grimaced at the thought of what he might do and dearly hoped, that by some miracle, he and that beast of a dragon would be away.
Wiping her hands on her pants, she walked over to her horse, a young bay stallion, and patting his flanks, looked him over for any injuries. The bay looked at her with doe eyes and knickered when she finished her assessment. He needs a name, she thought as she began to saddle him, one that was worth of him- thus far all the names she came up with did not fit the tender beast.
Once the small encampment was cleared and the horse was burdened with her supplies, she glanced once more at the body of the man. Selena frowned at his crumpled form and muttered a simple spell that set him aflame. The body would burn but at least it would not be scavenged by animals, it was an honor that she did not think he deserved.
Turning away, she commanded the horse into the gallop, not wanting to stick around for the porky smell of roasting flesh that would soon to fill the air. It was something that she debated on every so often, did it smell good or not?
She pushed her horse into a gallop as they reached the trail, and turned down it. The stallion was surefooted and galloped with ease. Its lean muscles stretched under its hide saddle and its creamy coat was soon lathered with sweat as sun gleamed from high above, warming the day. The foliage was still lush and green, though specks of grassland were blistered brown and black with their thrust for precipitation. Birds shrilled their afternoon tidings high above, atop their wooded perches.
Selena lifted her head high, allowing the gale of tepid late summer wind to twist her hair behind her. She grinned widely and let out a loud barking laugh. If only her father could see her now! The old cobbler would be disappointed, of course, and he would be bond to chide her for her unruly behavior before attempting to put her in her place. Selena laughed again at that thought, she was not feeble child she was in Carvahall. No, Selena had grown immensely to the point that if any of Carvahall's villagers had the ill fortune to come across her now, they would hardly recognize the woman that stood before them. Selena entertained herself with this thought, as her mount hastened past the soaring crags of the Spine and into the sparse woodland that lay at its feet.
.
Selena allowed her horse to rest more than twice from its strenuous pace. Once along the banks of an unnamed river, again in a lush green valley of waving grass and another time in the dusk of the evening, not far the twisting turrets of a dark fortress.
A curious mixture of dismay and pleasure coursed through her body leaving her more than discontent. Though Selena was fastened with hastiness to return to the castle that acted seldomly as her home, she frequently dreaded the impending encounter with its landlord. The man who took ownership of this citadel was more of a heartless beast than man. Once Morzan was the objection of her affection now however, after years of suffering his malice, Selena detested her husband and all he stood for. Selena strived to do whatever was within her power to overcome the enchantments that bond her to the monstrous Rider, and though she could overcome much of the binding shackles, Morzan held fast into the one object that Selena could not fight against.
Selena sighed angrily and leaned closer to the horse's thick, burly neck urging the creature forth.
It was in the early hours of the humid night, when Selena rounded the corner and crossed under the broad arch of the unbolted gate that led to Morzan's castle. Immediately the saccharine aroma of jasmine and honey filled her senses and she visibly stiffened. Selena listened for the riotous breaths of the large claret monster that offend occupied the front gardens but when none were heard she sat back into the hard saddle. Her back was beginning to ache slightly from the consent pressure.
The horse clopped across the cobblestone bridge and the wild flowers below swayed in the breeze in greeting. Selena steered the tawny horse the small stone stables, waking a bewildered, beady-eyed stableboy from his slumber before bounding across a large garden and into the darkened castle keep.
The estate itself was older than time, with two rounded towers that dizzily soared into the starry heavens. In-between these adjacent towers stood a grand ache made of tanned stone. Twin gates made of festooned dark wood and metal loomed high above Selena's slim figure. The enchanted doors opened to their own accord permitting Selena into the shadowed antechamber.
Selena sprinted noiselessly down the domed halls and leap up a myriad amount of stairways, noticing little, if not nil, of the castle modest décor. She passed through fastened doorways, whispering curtly in the Ancient Language, before halting before a bowed wooden door. Selena stood panting until her heart slowed and only then did she put her hand on the polished door and push it open.
Before her stood Cordelia, a bird-like woman with a thin face and sinewy pale hair tied into an orderly bun, in her dressing gown looking rather shocked. Selena lifted her chin ignoring Cordelia's attire. The nursemaid bobbed her head, like a crow, and curtsied awkwardly.
"My lady," Cordelia shrilled, "you were not expected to be back thus swiftly."
Selena smiled lightly and said, "I am here. Step aside, Cordelia."
Cordelia nodded and stood straight; her knobby arms held behind her back. "My lady, I cannot permit you enter at this time," Selena narrowed her eyes and she saw a flash of fear cross the nursemaid's bony face. "At the very least heed my caveat, my lady. An ill-fated mishap has occurred in your absence."
Selena looked over the nursemaid's shoulder. "What is amiss, Cordelia?" The nursemaid only shifted her stance. Selena's eyes narrowed further. "Say quickly, I do not possess the patience tonight," she snapped.
Cordelia shank away slightly before saying a small rushed tone, "A fortnight ago, Master Morzan returned in quite an ire, he was in an ill state, my lady. Fortune frowned upon Little Mistress that night as she ran across his path." Cordelia shook her head sadly. "In his ailing mind, he threw his sword at the girl. The blade cut clean into her flesh, it was much luck for her be kept from the Void. I do not believe that she should have survived without a great healer. However, my lady, his blade left a rather unseemly scar across her back. I was away at the time, my lady, there was little I could do." She said the last part defensively.
Selena hid her reaction and instead looked blankly into Cordelia's beady eyes.
"Is Morzan here?" Selena asked.
Cordelia shuffled, then said, "No, my lady, he had left unexpectedly in the early hours of last morn."
Selena nodded with relief, at the least she would not have to face the Rider for a time.
"Step aside, Cordelia," Selena repeated in an unemotional tone.
Cordelia gulped and ducked her head before hurrying past Selena. The door shut behind her and Selena rushed to the bedside.
The small painted nursery held little adornment, a plush rug in the middle of the wooden floor, a small chest for the child's simple toys, a large canopied bed; with a curtain made of white lace and ribbon, a large unveiled widow that allowed the moonbeams to polish the flooring, and single glass doll sat at the corner of the room atop an embroidered chair close to the roasting fire. Selena ignored these and made her way to the bed, she pushed away the delicate lace and sat upon the bed, looking down at the small sleeping figure who slept quietly.
Her daughter stirred as the bed dipped, her plump hands reached up from underneath the coverlet to her face where she rubbed her eyes. "Ca..del..ah?" She called out with a yawn.
Selena forced a smile and smoothed the child's silky hair away from her face. Selena leaned her head down and brushed her lips across the girl's forehead.
"Nay, little cricket," Selena murmured.
The child's eyes opened wide and she turned to the face her mother wincing at the movement. She blinked once in disbelief before her dark eyes widened and a wide grin spread across her small face. "Mamma?" the child asked.
"Hello, cricket," she said.
The girl's smile widened and she untangled herself from her blankets, crawling her way into her mother's lap. Selena embraced her child gently as the child returned the embrace, resting her head against the child's knotted hair. Selena rubbed the child's small back, feeling a long twisting scar beneath her nightdress. Vehemence unlike anything she had felt before gripped a hold of Selena and she hissed out a breath startling the girl she held.
They stayed like this for a long moment listening to each other's breathing. Soon the child began to tug on Selena's braids and the mother knew it was time to let her daughter go. Selena loosened her hold allowing the child to rest in her lap. The child leaned against her torso cradling a loosened braid in her hands and she began twisting the ends of the hair together. Selena watched in silent humor as the child's face twisted in frustration, suddenly she sighed and dropped the braid looking up at her mother's face worriedly.
"What's wrong?" Selena asked. The girl tilted her head to the side but did not answer. "Muirgheal?" Selena asked after a long moment.
"You hurt?" Muirgheal lifted her hand to Selena's forehead and lightly touched her temple.
"No, little cricket, I'm not injured."
Muirgheal nodded, pulling herself up onto her knees causing Selena to wince as the child's bony knees jabbed into her thighs. The child ran her finger over her mother's pinned hair before she yawned and leaned back looking perplexed.
"Who?" Muirgheal yawned.
Selena frowned, she was not going to answer that.
"It's time you go back to sleep, cricket," her daughter promptly began to protest but Selena cut her off. "I will be here when you wake."
The child nodded and crawled back under her coverlet too tired to argue any farther. Selena leaned down and kissed the girl's forehead as her eyes closed. The mother stayed until she was certain Muirgheal had found sleep once more then she left, closing the door softly behind her.
Selena rushed past the halls once more, eager to find fresh air to clear her mind. Eager to see the stars in the darkened heavens, and to smell the crisp night air that was bound to clear her mind.
.
She was in the gardens running her hands over the silken petals of a red rose when a grunt interrupted her musings.
"Don't be mutilating my hard work, lady," a gruff voice said.
Selena looked up and smiled softly. "I shan't."
The man nodded his blue eyes gleaming in the moonlight. He step closer and said in a softer voice, "You are back early. Is something amiss?"
Selena shook her head. "Nay," she whispered. "I have missed you."
Brom grunted.
They stood for a short moment in silence, watchful for unwanted eyes.
"Come now, let us talk in private." Selena said.
The two of them walked past the garden of roses, lavender, and dianthus side-by-side with their hands brushing.
Brom looked no different than he had when she first met him, well over two years ago. In the guise of Donet the poor gardener, he had dark ruddy hair and a tanned complexion, a sharp disfigured face sheltered by a grizzly beard that went well past a stumped neck to the chest of a dumpy robust torso. In this way Brom walked with a slight limp on his left side.
"I healed Muirgheal the best I could without risking exposure," Brom said after a long silence.
"I cannot thank you enough," Selena said at the ground. "It will be a scar that shall last all her life."
"Aye, it will." Brom said. The man looked up into the star filled heavens before heaving a sigh. Selena looked over at him slightly startled. Brom caught her eye and pointed to the east at the brightest star. "See that," he said softly, "the Elves call it Aiedail, the dawn star. Each night Aiedail shines brightly knowing that there will be a new dawn whether or not we will it. Perhaps like the night passed, this will too, and there will be a day when we no longer have to hide, and the girl can be healed in full."
Brom met her gaze and nodded.
Selena smiled slightly and grasped his hand her own and held fast, looking above at Aiedail. She was sure at the moment a new dawn would break and it would be better than the last. In this new age, Selena hoped, much would be able to heal the sins of their past.
