Sunday, December 2, 2012
Captured Hearts Chapter 12
Chapter 12
MURTAGH
I watched as she slept so peacefully on the big bed. She was so small and fragile compared to the bed with its massive oak carved beams and blue velvet hangings. I felt like the cruelest person on earth, I had taken her away from the land she belonged to, the land that, for a short period of time, I felt I had belonged in too. I kept on looking at her; her pale skin was made paler by the moonlight coming in through the window.
I smoothed the hair on her forehead and felt her stir.
“Hush, go back to sleep.” I soothed, hoping to leave. I knew if she woke, she would have words aplenty for me.
“Who’s there? Murtagh, is that you?” I could hear a sharp edge to her voice. The storm had come and I deserved every word. “How could you, you, son of a-!” She started as my hand clamped down on her mouth before she could get the last word out, the word that was not meant to be said by one such as her. She was too kind and witty to descend to such language, but we are all of us humans and sometimes we must express ourselves in our own ways. This was the scholarly part of me talking and I shoved it aside. I was a man and I still had my pride.
“You may call me anything you like but not that. I was the son of a woman with pride. Whatever I am, do not slander my mother.” I lifted my hand as she stared open-mouthed at me. Then she started to cry. I felt my heart, or whatever was left of it, breaking. Whatever she could have said would not have hurt me more than seeing her break down and cry like this. I felt my knees give way and I knelt at her side, begging her to stop.
“Call me anything you like, just don’t cry, not like this. I cannot take your tears upon my conscience. Stop, please stop!” I heard her quiet herself and looked up at her from my spot on the floor.
“You are not to blame here Murtagh; I can see that plainly even though I can’t see much.” She hiccupped a laugh and I felt a little better.
“I am sorry, I truly am. I could never wish ill upon any female but here I am and I have done ill unto you. I cannot ask for your forgiveness, for I do not deserve it.” She was about to say something more when there was a knock on the door. I went to open it.
A mail clad soldier saluted and said the king needed to see me. I turned and said farewell to Abby and left, my heart as heavy as stone.
As I entered the throne room, I saw him seated there in a chair of black stone with carvings in red, a throne of power. It froze the blood in my veins. He sat there, his face in shadow, wearing a black cloak of velvet.
“Well well well. Here is the poor soft hearted sop they call a dragon rider. You have learned nothing about being cold and cruel, have you? Well, we shall change that shan’t we? As for the matter of Eragon, you have done well in bringing Abby here. She is an asset and a soft hearted asset at that. I shall break her will, or I shall make you do that. You do know the best way to break a maiden’s will, do you not?” he said this with a steely glance over his shoulder, where a serving woman stood cowering in the corner. I felt my cheeks redden and the fire in my soul rise up to roar in my ears as he insulted my manhood.
“To other matters, you did well. We still want Eragon and that other maiden as well. For if we do have Saphira and also Aubree, we can mate both dragons and maybe start a line of dragon riders. You could also help by taking Abby as your partner, but we have time for that. Now, we must prepare to attack the Varden and seize Eragon. Use all your strength and try to capture them. I don’t want them killed. Harmed maybe but not killed. Now, go from my sight! You stink of sorrow and self-pity.”
I turned my back and marched out, head throbbing and eyes stinging. I hated him with every fiber of my being, yet I was bound to him. I could not kill myself or run. I was like a rat in a trap, the cat outside toying with the lock.
‘I am sorry’ I thought as I saddled Thorn. I was glad for the long flight, it would clear my head and if I did catch Eragon and Aubree, Abby would have company. Maybe she would be happy then. I shook my head, stupid dreams. I shot out of the castle with a company of 600 men at my heels to carry out what, unknowingly, would be my last deed for the madman called Galbatorix
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Captured Hearts, Chapter 11
Chapter 11
AUBREE
I woke suddenly as Arya touched my arm. Her eyes were grave in the dawn that prevailed over this alien land. “Wake, we must go. It is not safe here anymore.” Her voice was like water, so clear it almost hurt to hear it. A lot had changed since we had passed through what Eragon had called the Portal. Once we were through, their features had taken on a new look. Eragon and Arya had acquired pointed ears and Arya’s appearance had changed dramatically. Her figure was slimmer and her facial features were angled to a degree to where even I, with my less than normal vision, could tell that Eragon was changed. He was neither elf nor man. I truly understood what he meant when he said he was in a class all by himself.
“Where are we?” I asked, in a slightly slurred voice. I still was half asleep.
“I thought we would end up back in Du Weldinvarden, but it seems not. We are somewhere between Helgrind and Dras-leona. I do not like our position. We must do our best and get out of the Empire as soon as speed will allow.” The names were foreign to me, but that first one had sent shivers up my spine. It sounded evil and horrible.
“How will we get out of here? We don’t have any fast means of transportation unless you packed a car with your supplies.”
“We have a dragon, much more intelligent and beautiful than your earth crawling stink bugs.” commented Arya with a gleam in her eye, “I do hope you are not afraid of heights, Aubree.” I paled a little. Sure, I had flown back and forth every weekend to and from school, but there was a big difference from sitting in a nice padded chair to sitting astride a dragon’s back. I gulped, feeling a knot forming in the pit of my stomach.
“Don’t worry; I was scared my first ride to. I had bruises that have been wiped away, though I still remember the pain. Saphira did not have a saddle back then. I will hold on to you tight so you will not fall. Flying is really an amazing experience, once you get over your fears.” Eragon laid a soothing hand on my arm and I felt a little better. I reminded myself that Abby was in trouble and that we had to get help for her as soon as possible. I swallowed my fear and Eragon helped me as I climbed onto Saphira’s back.
The flight took us about a week. We only stopped to get water and let Saphira rest. On the seventh day we were flying under a cloud that looked like orange and tan vomit, mixed with every other type of foul thing. Two camps lay opposite each other and a river snaked across the land, its waters looked putrid and disgusting. I shuddered. This land had seen much abuse. It made me sad to see that.
We shot down out of the sky like a rocket, which didn’t make my stomach at all happy. I heard shouts from far below and the twang of strings. Arrows flew towards us at an alarming speed, but Eragon raised one hand and stopped them in mid air. He plucked one right from its course and held it out for me to see. It was fletched with beautiful feathers and Eragon tucked it into his pocket.
Landing in a clearing of tents, a man rushed towards us. “Shadeslayer, we apologize for that attack. Our men were afraid it was an enemy.” He went on to say more but Eragon waved him away and said,
“It is no matter. Your men did the right thing. I would have done it as well, were I in their place. Now, where is Lady Nasuada? I must speak to her.”
“She is at her tent talking with Brom.” The man stated. Eragon asked where he could find this tent and Saphira strode through the camp, bringing us to our destination, at last. It was a tent bigger than the surrounding ones and a flag flew at the pinnacle of it. Guards were posted at the flap and they looked us over with critical eyes, noticing my outlandish clothes and our tired expressions.
“We are here to see Nasuada. Tell her Eragon; Arya and a guest are here to see her.” Eragon did not mention my name or where I came from. I wondered why he did this.
We were allowed into the tent. The guards let us in with blank faces and resumed their duties. A flap was released to allow Saphira’s massive head in to view what could happen.
“Eragon, Arya it is good to see you both. Brom just arrived a day ago and has been very unhelpful in letting me know where you went.” A woman with dark skin and almond-shaped eyes peered at us from where she sat on a lavishly carved chair. A steely man sat beside her. He had a tangled beard and a stern face. There were lines --both of laughter and sorrow--on his face.
“Eragon, you have returned sooner than we thought. And who is this maiden you have brought us? You have not introduced us yet.” The man’s face turned toward me, his eyes were like a laser. I could feel them boring into me.
“This is Aubree, she, well she is an outlander of sorts. You know what I mean Brom. We brought her here to meet you, she is very unique.” Eragon went on to relay the rest of what had happened to him and Arya to the two adults. He didn’t mention the portal or the other world. He called our world another land far, far away. He also told of my lineage and of what I was really thought to be.
“So you seem we had to bring her and also to try and figure out what Galbatorix is plotting next. I feel I made the right decision in coming back.” Brom studied him for a long time, then nodded and said,
“Well, what is done is done. This business of kidnapping and rescue will have to be considered later. For now, you are safe. We can do no more for your new friend Abby, Galbatorix will not hurt her. She is too important a pawn, so she is safe for now.” I opened my mouth to protest, my face going red with anger, but I was stopped by a lifted hand from Nasuada.
“I know that this does not sit well with you Aubree, yet you must accept it and be patient. We have other matters to deal with at the present.” She said this in a kind yet firm voice. I felt the sting of tears and did my best to bite them back although one little bugger did escape and trickled down my cheek. I swiftly wiped it away, hoping no one would notice. They did however and Eragon handed me a handkerchief. I took it and wiped my eyes again.
“It is understandable that you are distressed, but you must understand at this point we can do nothing. We must hope for the best that is all we can do.” Brom pronounced this with finality, and I knew for the moment the subject was moot.
“Now, about this lineage of yours… This is very interesting. If none of you mined, I would like to talk to Aubree alone for a time, and then we might glean more from this.” At Brom’s request Nasuada, Arya, and Eragon, who looked a little worried, left the tent. I stood there somewhat awkwardly, with my head hanging and the tears threatening to overwhelm me.
“Now, come here and sit so that we may have a proper conversation.” He beckoned to me and pointed out a stool put to one side. I brought the stool closer to his chair and sat, a sigh escaping my lips.
“I know about where you come from, so there is nothing for you to explain. I am sorry you had to learn about Eragon and our world this way. It is not an easy burden to take upon ones self. I do have some questions for you though, if you don’t mind answering them?” I nodded and waited while he gathered his thoughts.
“First, do you know what being a half-elf means?” I shook my head and looked at him, hoping he would tell me.
“They are very rare and uncommon. Your ancestors must have loved each other dearly to mate. This means you will have a long life and might even live forever. You will probably have magical powers and we will do our best to tutor you in this. You should start to look like an elf soon, though you most likely won’t be as severely altered like Arya. You might end up like Eragon; maybe he can help you a little. He does have the experience and should learn how to teach another. This will be good for him. I would suggest getting different clothes for you; your current ones are a little outlandish and will draw attention to you. I can do nothing for your sight; it is the price your blood paid to have magic. For now, go rest and stay safe. This is all of the advice I can give you.”
I walked out of the tent dazed and a little overwhelmed. All of who I am or was had just been wiped away. Sure, I still had my same outward features, but even those would be altered. I felt at a loss, I was in some strange land that would have only existed in myth or story. I was in all words, dumbfounded.
I saw the sky and the putrid clouds and I felt my knees buckle. An overwhelming dizziness took me and I was plunged into cold darkness. I was barely aware as Eragon caught me and held me. I slipped deeper into the darkness and was lost, for a time, in my own created night of sleep.
AUBREE
I woke suddenly as Arya touched my arm. Her eyes were grave in the dawn that prevailed over this alien land. “Wake, we must go. It is not safe here anymore.” Her voice was like water, so clear it almost hurt to hear it. A lot had changed since we had passed through what Eragon had called the Portal. Once we were through, their features had taken on a new look. Eragon and Arya had acquired pointed ears and Arya’s appearance had changed dramatically. Her figure was slimmer and her facial features were angled to a degree to where even I, with my less than normal vision, could tell that Eragon was changed. He was neither elf nor man. I truly understood what he meant when he said he was in a class all by himself.
“Where are we?” I asked, in a slightly slurred voice. I still was half asleep.
“I thought we would end up back in Du Weldinvarden, but it seems not. We are somewhere between Helgrind and Dras-leona. I do not like our position. We must do our best and get out of the Empire as soon as speed will allow.” The names were foreign to me, but that first one had sent shivers up my spine. It sounded evil and horrible.
“How will we get out of here? We don’t have any fast means of transportation unless you packed a car with your supplies.”
“We have a dragon, much more intelligent and beautiful than your earth crawling stink bugs.” commented Arya with a gleam in her eye, “I do hope you are not afraid of heights, Aubree.” I paled a little. Sure, I had flown back and forth every weekend to and from school, but there was a big difference from sitting in a nice padded chair to sitting astride a dragon’s back. I gulped, feeling a knot forming in the pit of my stomach.
“Don’t worry; I was scared my first ride to. I had bruises that have been wiped away, though I still remember the pain. Saphira did not have a saddle back then. I will hold on to you tight so you will not fall. Flying is really an amazing experience, once you get over your fears.” Eragon laid a soothing hand on my arm and I felt a little better. I reminded myself that Abby was in trouble and that we had to get help for her as soon as possible. I swallowed my fear and Eragon helped me as I climbed onto Saphira’s back.
The flight took us about a week. We only stopped to get water and let Saphira rest. On the seventh day we were flying under a cloud that looked like orange and tan vomit, mixed with every other type of foul thing. Two camps lay opposite each other and a river snaked across the land, its waters looked putrid and disgusting. I shuddered. This land had seen much abuse. It made me sad to see that.
We shot down out of the sky like a rocket, which didn’t make my stomach at all happy. I heard shouts from far below and the twang of strings. Arrows flew towards us at an alarming speed, but Eragon raised one hand and stopped them in mid air. He plucked one right from its course and held it out for me to see. It was fletched with beautiful feathers and Eragon tucked it into his pocket.
Landing in a clearing of tents, a man rushed towards us. “Shadeslayer, we apologize for that attack. Our men were afraid it was an enemy.” He went on to say more but Eragon waved him away and said,
“It is no matter. Your men did the right thing. I would have done it as well, were I in their place. Now, where is Lady Nasuada? I must speak to her.”
“She is at her tent talking with Brom.” The man stated. Eragon asked where he could find this tent and Saphira strode through the camp, bringing us to our destination, at last. It was a tent bigger than the surrounding ones and a flag flew at the pinnacle of it. Guards were posted at the flap and they looked us over with critical eyes, noticing my outlandish clothes and our tired expressions.
“We are here to see Nasuada. Tell her Eragon; Arya and a guest are here to see her.” Eragon did not mention my name or where I came from. I wondered why he did this.
We were allowed into the tent. The guards let us in with blank faces and resumed their duties. A flap was released to allow Saphira’s massive head in to view what could happen.
“Eragon, Arya it is good to see you both. Brom just arrived a day ago and has been very unhelpful in letting me know where you went.” A woman with dark skin and almond-shaped eyes peered at us from where she sat on a lavishly carved chair. A steely man sat beside her. He had a tangled beard and a stern face. There were lines --both of laughter and sorrow--on his face.
“Eragon, you have returned sooner than we thought. And who is this maiden you have brought us? You have not introduced us yet.” The man’s face turned toward me, his eyes were like a laser. I could feel them boring into me.
“This is Aubree, she, well she is an outlander of sorts. You know what I mean Brom. We brought her here to meet you, she is very unique.” Eragon went on to relay the rest of what had happened to him and Arya to the two adults. He didn’t mention the portal or the other world. He called our world another land far, far away. He also told of my lineage and of what I was really thought to be.
“So you seem we had to bring her and also to try and figure out what Galbatorix is plotting next. I feel I made the right decision in coming back.” Brom studied him for a long time, then nodded and said,
“Well, what is done is done. This business of kidnapping and rescue will have to be considered later. For now, you are safe. We can do no more for your new friend Abby, Galbatorix will not hurt her. She is too important a pawn, so she is safe for now.” I opened my mouth to protest, my face going red with anger, but I was stopped by a lifted hand from Nasuada.
“I know that this does not sit well with you Aubree, yet you must accept it and be patient. We have other matters to deal with at the present.” She said this in a kind yet firm voice. I felt the sting of tears and did my best to bite them back although one little bugger did escape and trickled down my cheek. I swiftly wiped it away, hoping no one would notice. They did however and Eragon handed me a handkerchief. I took it and wiped my eyes again.
“It is understandable that you are distressed, but you must understand at this point we can do nothing. We must hope for the best that is all we can do.” Brom pronounced this with finality, and I knew for the moment the subject was moot.
“Now, about this lineage of yours… This is very interesting. If none of you mined, I would like to talk to Aubree alone for a time, and then we might glean more from this.” At Brom’s request Nasuada, Arya, and Eragon, who looked a little worried, left the tent. I stood there somewhat awkwardly, with my head hanging and the tears threatening to overwhelm me.
“Now, come here and sit so that we may have a proper conversation.” He beckoned to me and pointed out a stool put to one side. I brought the stool closer to his chair and sat, a sigh escaping my lips.
“I know about where you come from, so there is nothing for you to explain. I am sorry you had to learn about Eragon and our world this way. It is not an easy burden to take upon ones self. I do have some questions for you though, if you don’t mind answering them?” I nodded and waited while he gathered his thoughts.
“First, do you know what being a half-elf means?” I shook my head and looked at him, hoping he would tell me.
“They are very rare and uncommon. Your ancestors must have loved each other dearly to mate. This means you will have a long life and might even live forever. You will probably have magical powers and we will do our best to tutor you in this. You should start to look like an elf soon, though you most likely won’t be as severely altered like Arya. You might end up like Eragon; maybe he can help you a little. He does have the experience and should learn how to teach another. This will be good for him. I would suggest getting different clothes for you; your current ones are a little outlandish and will draw attention to you. I can do nothing for your sight; it is the price your blood paid to have magic. For now, go rest and stay safe. This is all of the advice I can give you.”
I walked out of the tent dazed and a little overwhelmed. All of who I am or was had just been wiped away. Sure, I still had my same outward features, but even those would be altered. I felt at a loss, I was in some strange land that would have only existed in myth or story. I was in all words, dumbfounded.
I saw the sky and the putrid clouds and I felt my knees buckle. An overwhelming dizziness took me and I was plunged into cold darkness. I was barely aware as Eragon caught me and held me. I slipped deeper into the darkness and was lost, for a time, in my own created night of sleep.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Captured Hearts, Chapter 10
Chapter 10
ABBY
I didn’t want to wake up; it felt so warm and nice. My head was cushioned on my textbook and I was wearing one of my favorite sweaters. Though someone was calling me and I struggled to think straight.
Then, the foulest smell reached my nostrils. I tried and failed to not gag and felt bile rise in my throat, but I suppressed it with a will of mind I didn’t know I had. I was suddenly plunged into reality. The first thing I noticed was a cold that pervaded everything. I seemed to be lying on stone. My wrists and feet were lashed together, and for once, it did not matter that I could barely see because the darkness was all around. Not just physically, it was also in the air. A creak and groaning of hinges let me know that I had company. “Get the girl and bring her to Galbatorix.” A somewhat familiar voice said.
I felt hands under my arms and then, I was being dragged across a floor. I could barely get to my feet before I was seized and thrown over a shoulder.
All was chaos for me. My senses were not functioning on their normal level of acuity. I felt dizzy and woozy. A stinging pain prevailed over one area of my neck and I couldn’t remember how I’d gotten it, or how I had gotten here, for that matter.
The echoing of feet off walls made me realize that I wasn’t in a familiar place. I heard the sharp sound of feet clicking against something hard, it was stone, I realized with shock. From the sounds of moaning and screams that stabbed the air, I could only guess that I was in a prison or a dungeon.
This knowledge sent a spasm of fear through my stomach. I read about dungeons and what happened in their dark bowels. I imagined the descriptions of torture wracks and iron maidens that made me want to throw up the contents of my belly. I held my nausea at bay; this was not the time for the helpless blind girl to come out. It was time for the detective in me to take over.
I felt a change, as the person holding me went up a set of stairs. I knew they were stairs because every time they stepped, my jaw banged against their back. It was not a comfortable journey, but soon I was set down and my hands were unchained. I was led by the arm into a big hall. The echoing of my feet let me know that I had a long way to go before I reached wherever I was going. This all felt surreal to me. I had read so much about kings and queens and their courts, I never thought I would be part of something that, instead of a lovely dream, was turning into a nightmare.
“Kneel before the king!” I heard a voice command behind me. I decided that my best course of action was to obey, instead of struggling. Let them think I‘m weak and submissive. Then when they don’t expect it, stab them in the back. So many people underestimated the sightless…
I, on the other hand, won’t make that mistake my dear. A cool voice sounded in my head. I went rigid and then accepted this with as much grace as I could muster.
What a very interesting girl you are, Abigail. Murtagh was correct in taking you. For being new to this land and sightless at the same time, you have accepted much. I commend you for that. Now, I am the ruler here and so as you are currently in my land, you obey me. I am not a fool, I will know if you harbor anything from me. Obey and you shall sleep and live in comfort as one of my many guests. If you try to disobey me, the punishment will be swift and irreversible. I am Galbatorix, I am master here! This was all said inside my mind. The force and power behind those simple words was immense. I shuddered to think what he would do to me, if I did go against him. I knew, for now, I was under the eye of a ruler as iron fisted as some of the worst I had read about. He was definitely someone not to mess with!
This had all taken place in a matter of minutes, while silence rained. I was talking to someone in my mind, a feat never heard of. I was in what was most likely a castle, in a land that was beyond myth or legend. My mind was saying it was all just a bad dream, but I knew better.
“Take this maiden to a guest suite and make sure her every wish is granted. Have the seamstresses make her some clothes. The ones she is in now are unsuitable for her.” Galbatorix said all of this in a commanding voice that was obeyed immediately.
I was ushered out of what must have been the throne room, and down a hall. We stopped, and I was led into a room that was most likely ten times bigger than the one I had at home. Home! I had forgotten all about it!
With all that had happened, that had been the furthest thought in my mind. Now I felt tears rush to my eyes, hot and salty. What was my mother thinking? Had they called the police? What had the school told my parents? All of these questions swirled in my head as I was led to a bed; at least I thought it was. Whatever it was, the blanket was soft and I buried my head in it and started to sob.
I was left for awhile, and then I heard the door open and someone rush over to me.
“Oh dear, what has that madman done now? My dear, please sit up, so I may have a look at you.” I did what I was asked and sat up.
“I have been informed of your loss of vision and all of that, so you do not need to go explaining things to me, dear. My name is Stephna; I am your maid and all that. I have seen many girls like you come and go, but I think he means for you to stay. You are an outsider to our ways. They said you came from a far away land. I will not ask questions. I think what you need dear, is a bath. We shall get you all relaxed and comfortable. Then you can have a nice glass of milk, and then off to bed. It is getting late you know, oh dear, I did not mean to offend you. I am sorry if I have.” I liked her immediately, she reminded me of my grandfather’s friend who I called my substitute grandma, and that was comforting in itself.
As she rambled aimlessly, I took a bath and settled into the bed that was so soft; I basically sank into its mattress. As I was drifting off, I wondered if I was going to stay here forever or if I would be rescued. That night, I dreamed of dragons coming down and burning the school, Aubree screaming while running through the inferno to save all of the people who were trapped in it, including me.
ABBY
I didn’t want to wake up; it felt so warm and nice. My head was cushioned on my textbook and I was wearing one of my favorite sweaters. Though someone was calling me and I struggled to think straight.
Then, the foulest smell reached my nostrils. I tried and failed to not gag and felt bile rise in my throat, but I suppressed it with a will of mind I didn’t know I had. I was suddenly plunged into reality. The first thing I noticed was a cold that pervaded everything. I seemed to be lying on stone. My wrists and feet were lashed together, and for once, it did not matter that I could barely see because the darkness was all around. Not just physically, it was also in the air. A creak and groaning of hinges let me know that I had company. “Get the girl and bring her to Galbatorix.” A somewhat familiar voice said.
I felt hands under my arms and then, I was being dragged across a floor. I could barely get to my feet before I was seized and thrown over a shoulder.
All was chaos for me. My senses were not functioning on their normal level of acuity. I felt dizzy and woozy. A stinging pain prevailed over one area of my neck and I couldn’t remember how I’d gotten it, or how I had gotten here, for that matter.
The echoing of feet off walls made me realize that I wasn’t in a familiar place. I heard the sharp sound of feet clicking against something hard, it was stone, I realized with shock. From the sounds of moaning and screams that stabbed the air, I could only guess that I was in a prison or a dungeon.
This knowledge sent a spasm of fear through my stomach. I read about dungeons and what happened in their dark bowels. I imagined the descriptions of torture wracks and iron maidens that made me want to throw up the contents of my belly. I held my nausea at bay; this was not the time for the helpless blind girl to come out. It was time for the detective in me to take over.
I felt a change, as the person holding me went up a set of stairs. I knew they were stairs because every time they stepped, my jaw banged against their back. It was not a comfortable journey, but soon I was set down and my hands were unchained. I was led by the arm into a big hall. The echoing of my feet let me know that I had a long way to go before I reached wherever I was going. This all felt surreal to me. I had read so much about kings and queens and their courts, I never thought I would be part of something that, instead of a lovely dream, was turning into a nightmare.
“Kneel before the king!” I heard a voice command behind me. I decided that my best course of action was to obey, instead of struggling. Let them think I‘m weak and submissive. Then when they don’t expect it, stab them in the back. So many people underestimated the sightless…
I, on the other hand, won’t make that mistake my dear. A cool voice sounded in my head. I went rigid and then accepted this with as much grace as I could muster.
What a very interesting girl you are, Abigail. Murtagh was correct in taking you. For being new to this land and sightless at the same time, you have accepted much. I commend you for that. Now, I am the ruler here and so as you are currently in my land, you obey me. I am not a fool, I will know if you harbor anything from me. Obey and you shall sleep and live in comfort as one of my many guests. If you try to disobey me, the punishment will be swift and irreversible. I am Galbatorix, I am master here! This was all said inside my mind. The force and power behind those simple words was immense. I shuddered to think what he would do to me, if I did go against him. I knew, for now, I was under the eye of a ruler as iron fisted as some of the worst I had read about. He was definitely someone not to mess with!
This had all taken place in a matter of minutes, while silence rained. I was talking to someone in my mind, a feat never heard of. I was in what was most likely a castle, in a land that was beyond myth or legend. My mind was saying it was all just a bad dream, but I knew better.
“Take this maiden to a guest suite and make sure her every wish is granted. Have the seamstresses make her some clothes. The ones she is in now are unsuitable for her.” Galbatorix said all of this in a commanding voice that was obeyed immediately.
I was ushered out of what must have been the throne room, and down a hall. We stopped, and I was led into a room that was most likely ten times bigger than the one I had at home. Home! I had forgotten all about it!
With all that had happened, that had been the furthest thought in my mind. Now I felt tears rush to my eyes, hot and salty. What was my mother thinking? Had they called the police? What had the school told my parents? All of these questions swirled in my head as I was led to a bed; at least I thought it was. Whatever it was, the blanket was soft and I buried my head in it and started to sob.
I was left for awhile, and then I heard the door open and someone rush over to me.
“Oh dear, what has that madman done now? My dear, please sit up, so I may have a look at you.” I did what I was asked and sat up.
“I have been informed of your loss of vision and all of that, so you do not need to go explaining things to me, dear. My name is Stephna; I am your maid and all that. I have seen many girls like you come and go, but I think he means for you to stay. You are an outsider to our ways. They said you came from a far away land. I will not ask questions. I think what you need dear, is a bath. We shall get you all relaxed and comfortable. Then you can have a nice glass of milk, and then off to bed. It is getting late you know, oh dear, I did not mean to offend you. I am sorry if I have.” I liked her immediately, she reminded me of my grandfather’s friend who I called my substitute grandma, and that was comforting in itself.
As she rambled aimlessly, I took a bath and settled into the bed that was so soft; I basically sank into its mattress. As I was drifting off, I wondered if I was going to stay here forever or if I would be rescued. That night, I dreamed of dragons coming down and burning the school, Aubree screaming while running through the inferno to save all of the people who were trapped in it, including me.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Captured Hearts Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Murtagh
I walked swiftly towards Chapmen, a plan forming in my mind. I would take Aubree, and then Eragon would surely follow. I was far from blind to the signs of affection between them; therefore I thought my plan flawless.
“Hello, how can I help you?” it was one of those Dorm workers with brown hair and a pleasant face.
“Can I see Aubree?” I inquired.
“She is not here, but Abby or Arya could tell you where she is.”
I cursed myself mentally, of all the things that could happen! Then, it clicked; I would take Abby simply because she was the next best thing and would probably look better to Galbatorix. My mind made up, I asked, “Could Abby meet me by the tree then outside? She should know where it is.”
“I will ask her.” She left and I walked over to the tree. Just to reassure myself I thought if I could not get Aubree, Abby would do just as well. She came out of the cottage and walked towards me with her cane in her hand.
“Over here Abby, I need to talk to you.”
“What do you need?” Her voice sounded so casual as if nothing were going to happen.
“I need to ask you a question. What do you think of me?” I had a second plan in the works now, woo her, kiss her and incapacitate her.
“Well, I think you are nice, and mysterious.” She had a smile on her face and she stepped closer.
“I think you are nice to, I like you a lot.” I think I was going about it the right way. I had been looking at different relationships throughout the weeks and thought I was headed in the right direction.
“Wow that is surprising, considering how much you haven’t talked to me.” She said this with sarcasm, and I thought fast.
“Well, that is because I am a shy person. I really admire you and I thought maybe if you felt the same that we could, you know, um well, hook up.” I cringed at the last phrase. Thinking I had overdone it and she would see right through my offer.
“I don’t know, I barely know you and….” Her sentence cut off as I rushed over to her and brought my lips to hers. As I kissed her, I took a dart filled with a sleep drug and winding my arms around her, I stuck it in her neck. She gasped and gave a little moan. Arching her back she collapsed and fell into my arms.
I slung her over my shoulder and ran with the speed of an elf out of the grounds of the school. Eragon was going to be stricken when he discovered what I had done. I chuckled a little so I could cover the choked sob that almost escaped my mouth. I was a monster, no doubt about it.
AUBREE
I ran down the hall and called Arya’s name. From a darkened doorway I saw her. Stepping inside, I relayed to her all Eragon had told me and all we had discovered.
“I knew you were different and familiar at the same time but I would never have foreseen this. There is a written spell that will keep all who see it unaware to your leaving, unfortunately we will have to show everyone here and then hope it goes well with us after that, but first we have something much worse on our hands. Abby was taken by Murtagh, I could not stop him I was unaware of it until now. Soon the others will find out and chaos will rain. We must prepare.” As she said this a call came down the hall. I gasped in shock at what came next.
“No one go out of the cottage, we need to take a head check. The boys and girls from all the other cottages will be coming over here for a little party.” It was Valdine, the other house parent. What she actually said was that someone was missing and that they were getting all the cottages up here until they figured out what was going on. Abby was taken by that slimy, evil, boy. If I had my way, he would live to regret it. I was brought back to reality by Arya’s voice.
“I will show or read the letter to the cottage parents and/ or all who are there. It will put them in a trance for a half hour, and then all will return to normal. We must be gone by that time... I will instruct them to bring this missive to yours and Abby’s parents which hopefully will work. This spell will have no effect once your parents see you, so we must leave immediately.” Arya shoved me out and grabbed a piece of paper and started to write. I ran down to my room thinking of what to bring.
Most of my clothes were jeans and shirts, except for some of my more eccentric stuff. See, I was into medieval things and so I had gathered odds and ends in the last few years.
I went to my closet and opened it. All I really had was a cloak made of soft fleece with a hood, and a circlet or two. Most of my stuff was at home. I brought this because we had put on a play earlier that year. I tied the cloak and started for Arya’s bedroom.
“Is that all you are going to take?” Arya gave me a critical look.
“Should I bring anything else? I didn’t think that I would need my cell phone or walkman with me.” She smiled and showed me the letter. It was words in some language and some in ours. My eyes were glued to it, when she said.
“Everyone who reads or hears this will see or hear it in your language. The words are powerful. They will wipe any memory of you away and if they knew you well enough, make some excuse why you are not there. Though once you appear again, all that will fall and the spell will not work. Now, we must go and see if it works.”
“What! Have you not done this before?” I was starting to break under the pressure of it all.
“No, this is a little different than the usual magic of our race. Elves usually weave spells through song, so this will be a first for me. I made this up on the spot.”
“Oh, great! Just wonderful! Well, I am glad you have so much confidence in yourself!” I muttered this, but unfortunately, she heard.
“I want to help and this is not the normal way of things, so I am doing my best to acclimate. Please bear with me.” I smiled but felt my stomach tighten into a knot.
We walked down the hall. Everyone was there and Eragon met us at the entrance to the packed living room. He looked worried and shocked.
“He would have taken you Aubree if not for you coming to see me. It is all my fault, I am so sorry! I should have never come here!” he rambled.
“No, don’t say that! If you hadn’t, I would have never found out about my past and who I am. We’ll get Abby back.” I said this with as much assurance as I could muster. Our conversation was interrupted by Arya making her way to the front.
“Hello everyone. Could I have your attention please?” All eyes turned to her and she started to talk in a familiar yet foreign, language. All who were there were captured by the spell. I stuffed my fingers in my ears and waited until she finished unplugging them.
We hastily left the paper on the counter and without a backwards glance, went to the door. What we didn’t know was, at that point Mitchell came out of the staff bathroom just as the door closed behind us.
“Well, that was pulled off nicely. Good job Arya!”I said this with sarcasm. We were moving to the end of the driveway, when a crunch came from behind us.
“Darn!” it was Mitchell and he looked like he had just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
“What in the world are you doing here?” Eragon hissed venomously, before I could utter a sound.
“I want to know the same thing.” He retorted. Mitchell could be so annoying that sometimes, all I wanted to do was ring his neck.
“Listen Mitchell,” I said, finally finding my voice, “I really don’t want to hurt you. Go back to Chapmen and play dumb, it shouldn’t be too hard for you. Forget we were ever here, or we will toss you in the trash.” I invented this last part, glancing at the blue square bin with interest.
“Nice try Aubree! I’m not falling for…” he stopped speaking, once Eragons fist connected with the back of his head, knocking him out cold.
“This will all just be a fuzzy memory.” Eragon said, trying to disguise the glee in his voice. With that, he heaved Mitchell into the bin.
Without a backward glance, we left to go save Abby and figure out who I was.
Murtagh
I walked swiftly towards Chapmen, a plan forming in my mind. I would take Aubree, and then Eragon would surely follow. I was far from blind to the signs of affection between them; therefore I thought my plan flawless.
“Hello, how can I help you?” it was one of those Dorm workers with brown hair and a pleasant face.
“Can I see Aubree?” I inquired.
“She is not here, but Abby or Arya could tell you where she is.”
I cursed myself mentally, of all the things that could happen! Then, it clicked; I would take Abby simply because she was the next best thing and would probably look better to Galbatorix. My mind made up, I asked, “Could Abby meet me by the tree then outside? She should know where it is.”
“I will ask her.” She left and I walked over to the tree. Just to reassure myself I thought if I could not get Aubree, Abby would do just as well. She came out of the cottage and walked towards me with her cane in her hand.
“Over here Abby, I need to talk to you.”
“What do you need?” Her voice sounded so casual as if nothing were going to happen.
“I need to ask you a question. What do you think of me?” I had a second plan in the works now, woo her, kiss her and incapacitate her.
“Well, I think you are nice, and mysterious.” She had a smile on her face and she stepped closer.
“I think you are nice to, I like you a lot.” I think I was going about it the right way. I had been looking at different relationships throughout the weeks and thought I was headed in the right direction.
“Wow that is surprising, considering how much you haven’t talked to me.” She said this with sarcasm, and I thought fast.
“Well, that is because I am a shy person. I really admire you and I thought maybe if you felt the same that we could, you know, um well, hook up.” I cringed at the last phrase. Thinking I had overdone it and she would see right through my offer.
“I don’t know, I barely know you and….” Her sentence cut off as I rushed over to her and brought my lips to hers. As I kissed her, I took a dart filled with a sleep drug and winding my arms around her, I stuck it in her neck. She gasped and gave a little moan. Arching her back she collapsed and fell into my arms.
I slung her over my shoulder and ran with the speed of an elf out of the grounds of the school. Eragon was going to be stricken when he discovered what I had done. I chuckled a little so I could cover the choked sob that almost escaped my mouth. I was a monster, no doubt about it.
AUBREE
I ran down the hall and called Arya’s name. From a darkened doorway I saw her. Stepping inside, I relayed to her all Eragon had told me and all we had discovered.
“I knew you were different and familiar at the same time but I would never have foreseen this. There is a written spell that will keep all who see it unaware to your leaving, unfortunately we will have to show everyone here and then hope it goes well with us after that, but first we have something much worse on our hands. Abby was taken by Murtagh, I could not stop him I was unaware of it until now. Soon the others will find out and chaos will rain. We must prepare.” As she said this a call came down the hall. I gasped in shock at what came next.
“No one go out of the cottage, we need to take a head check. The boys and girls from all the other cottages will be coming over here for a little party.” It was Valdine, the other house parent. What she actually said was that someone was missing and that they were getting all the cottages up here until they figured out what was going on. Abby was taken by that slimy, evil, boy. If I had my way, he would live to regret it. I was brought back to reality by Arya’s voice.
“I will show or read the letter to the cottage parents and/ or all who are there. It will put them in a trance for a half hour, and then all will return to normal. We must be gone by that time... I will instruct them to bring this missive to yours and Abby’s parents which hopefully will work. This spell will have no effect once your parents see you, so we must leave immediately.” Arya shoved me out and grabbed a piece of paper and started to write. I ran down to my room thinking of what to bring.
Most of my clothes were jeans and shirts, except for some of my more eccentric stuff. See, I was into medieval things and so I had gathered odds and ends in the last few years.
I went to my closet and opened it. All I really had was a cloak made of soft fleece with a hood, and a circlet or two. Most of my stuff was at home. I brought this because we had put on a play earlier that year. I tied the cloak and started for Arya’s bedroom.
“Is that all you are going to take?” Arya gave me a critical look.
“Should I bring anything else? I didn’t think that I would need my cell phone or walkman with me.” She smiled and showed me the letter. It was words in some language and some in ours. My eyes were glued to it, when she said.
“Everyone who reads or hears this will see or hear it in your language. The words are powerful. They will wipe any memory of you away and if they knew you well enough, make some excuse why you are not there. Though once you appear again, all that will fall and the spell will not work. Now, we must go and see if it works.”
“What! Have you not done this before?” I was starting to break under the pressure of it all.
“No, this is a little different than the usual magic of our race. Elves usually weave spells through song, so this will be a first for me. I made this up on the spot.”
“Oh, great! Just wonderful! Well, I am glad you have so much confidence in yourself!” I muttered this, but unfortunately, she heard.
“I want to help and this is not the normal way of things, so I am doing my best to acclimate. Please bear with me.” I smiled but felt my stomach tighten into a knot.
We walked down the hall. Everyone was there and Eragon met us at the entrance to the packed living room. He looked worried and shocked.
“He would have taken you Aubree if not for you coming to see me. It is all my fault, I am so sorry! I should have never come here!” he rambled.
“No, don’t say that! If you hadn’t, I would have never found out about my past and who I am. We’ll get Abby back.” I said this with as much assurance as I could muster. Our conversation was interrupted by Arya making her way to the front.
“Hello everyone. Could I have your attention please?” All eyes turned to her and she started to talk in a familiar yet foreign, language. All who were there were captured by the spell. I stuffed my fingers in my ears and waited until she finished unplugging them.
We hastily left the paper on the counter and without a backwards glance, went to the door. What we didn’t know was, at that point Mitchell came out of the staff bathroom just as the door closed behind us.
“Well, that was pulled off nicely. Good job Arya!”I said this with sarcasm. We were moving to the end of the driveway, when a crunch came from behind us.
“Darn!” it was Mitchell and he looked like he had just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
“What in the world are you doing here?” Eragon hissed venomously, before I could utter a sound.
“I want to know the same thing.” He retorted. Mitchell could be so annoying that sometimes, all I wanted to do was ring his neck.
“Listen Mitchell,” I said, finally finding my voice, “I really don’t want to hurt you. Go back to Chapmen and play dumb, it shouldn’t be too hard for you. Forget we were ever here, or we will toss you in the trash.” I invented this last part, glancing at the blue square bin with interest.
“Nice try Aubree! I’m not falling for…” he stopped speaking, once Eragons fist connected with the back of his head, knocking him out cold.
“This will all just be a fuzzy memory.” Eragon said, trying to disguise the glee in his voice. With that, he heaved Mitchell into the bin.
Without a backward glance, we left to go save Abby and figure out who I was.
Captured Hearts Chapter 8
Chapter 8
AUBREE
I walked down the hall, hearing the sounds of students on their way to the cottages. I however took a different way, walking down the long haul enjoying the silence. I looked at the wall adorned with few pictures with plain stretches interspersed. It was very quiet down this way. I took this route because it was a faster way to my cottage and I like being alone sometimes.
I suddenly felt a tightening in my chest. I could barely breathe all of a sudden and staggered to a wall and slid to the ground gasping. I felt as though someone had just clamped a hand over my heart and lungs. I started to scoot down the hall on my butt, trying to get away from the feeling. Then, just as suddenly, I was released. Crawling to my feet I slowly walked along the wall, half trailing, and half leaning against it.
At the end of the wall I stopped, there were voices. Not casual voices, but the kind that raised the little hairs on your neck. I felt a shiver run through my body and I felt the spread of goose bumps as something inside me stirred. Something until this very second I did not know was there, a wilder part. It scared the crap out of me! I shuddered inwardly as a tingle of electric power vibrated lightly over my skin.
“Come with me and I won’t hurt anyone. I mean what I say Eragon, I have no choice, either you come quietly or people--especially the ones you care about--will get hurt.”
“How long has it been, two months since you burned that village outside of Surda? I thought you were dead and then you appear whole and well, with a dragon and Galbatorix as your liege lord! I will not just throw away all I and you have fought for, or used to anyway. I cannot do what you ask.” Eragon’s statement was swollen with anger and hatred.
“You have no inkling of what it is like being controlled by that man. Thorn’s and my true names were discovered and I had no choice. You have no idea what kind of living death my life have been these past months! I ask only once more, and then you are responsible for what happens next. Come with me or risk Galbatorix’s wrath!” At first Murtagh’s voice was as loud as thunder, but at the end it became as quiet and deadly as ice.
I didn’t want to hear more, what I’d listened to already was making my head spin. Just in case I was being fooled with, I glanced around the wall, and stumbled back. What I saw would be in some fanciful novel, but it was real.
Eragon was encased in a shimmering half orb that was silver while Murtagh held a fire ball in his hand casually flicking it this way and that in between his fingers. “Who’s there, I swear I heard someone.” Murtagh said looking suspiciously around.
I ran for all I was worth. Dodging left and right like a rabbit, I slid into Mrs. Gatley’s room. I dashed over to the door that led to the outside and opened it. Coming into the sunlight, I slowly started to walk to Chapmen, trying desperately to slow my heart and smooth whatever expression I had on my face into a bland smile. It was like wrestling with all five of my younger sisters but I finally managed it. I was passing the doors I usually would have gone out of when they opened to reveal Eragon followed by Murtagh.
“Hey guys, what are you doing out here? I thought everyone had gone.” I did my best to plaster a smile on my face and didn’t think I succeeded.
“Oh, Aubree, I thought you were a ghost. You look pale, are you feeling well?” Eragon asked in a concerned voice.
“Yes, I guess it’s just the Irish blood, being a red head automatically means you always have pale skin.” I choked out a laugh then stopped because Murtagh was looking at me strangely. Did he know it was me who had heard him threaten Eragon?
“You did not see anyone run by this way, did you?” he asked in a voice edged with ice.
“Um, no. Just looking for someone. I came from the nurse. She thought I was too white too so she took my temp. Geez, everyone is so paranoid around here. I mean first Abby, then Robin the nurse, and now you. I hope it’s not a germ of any sort I really couldn’t handle a threat to my life, I mean health.” I felt my palms start to sweat and wiped them on the sides of my jeans. “Well, better be going, Gatley gave us a load of homework. All the teachers are loading up since Exams are coming up. Just hope I don’t drown in the work load.”
“Are you sure you haven’t seen anyone come pass this way at all?” Murtagh asked again, a note of doubtfulness ringing in his voice. I nodded the affirmative and quickly walked off feeling his eyes on my back until I reached the cottage and was let in by Autumn.
“What took you so long? You know Thursday is always your laundry day and you need to get a head start, since you are leaving tomorrow.” I sighed and went down the hall to grab my basket piled with my dirty clothes.
After dinner and an hour of drying and folding clothes, I made up my mind and went to Hall Cottage. I knocked on the door and waited. Sandy opened the door with her usual serine smile. I smiled back, Sandy was awesome. She was like a fourth Grandma (since I already have two grandmas and one great grandma.)
“Hey, is Eragon here?”
“Yes, he and Israel are doing something in the computer lab.” I shifted on my feet and started to lose my resolve, when Eragon appeared out of nowhere.
“Hello again Aubree, can I help you?” his eyes searched mine. Even though I couldn’t see his face clearly, I could feel his gaze. It was just some sixth sense of mine, I guess.
“Well, um, can, can I talk to you, alone?” I felt my blush creep over my cheeks. I knew I was redder than a beat. I knew this because one time, a staff person caught me taking extra “necessities” from my backpack. Later she said that I had the reddest blush she ever saw.
“Is that fine with you Sandy?”
“Yes, just be back before 9:30.”
“Alright.”
I walked as fast as I could, without running. He was there every step of the way. I suddenly stopped and turned down the side of Old Main, it was growing late and the sun was sinking down. This side of the building was thick with shadows. I turned to him and for a moment thought I caught a flash of blue in the darkening sky. I shook off the paranoia, and opened my mouth to speak. I was stopped though by a probing thing. It was like something was trying to work its way into my mind. My mental reflexes took over and I felt my mind close and seal itself. This all seemed to happen in a flash. I noticed that Eragon winced.
“I need to know something Eragon, I don’t want lies or excuses, and I want truths. I think we have known each other long enough to at least have that.” I said this with a tremble in my voice.
“I did not think Murtagh was lying when he said that there was someone listening in, but I did not think it might have been you.” He just kept on looking at me while he said this.
“I deserve to know why he wants you to go with him to this Galbatorix guy. That is, if you think my life of any importance.” I lifted my chin a little while pronouncing this. He seemed to draw within himself and silence rained for a while. I stood there waiting; I had the patience to not bother him. Then he seemed to come out of his shell.
“What do you wish to know about me?”
“I want to know what you are exactly.”
“I am a human, well that is…..” his sentence withered away suddenly, as a second flash of blue struck down towards us. I stumbled back not knowing what to expect. What I saw was something out of novels. A gigantic dragon stood there flashing in the faint red glow of the setting sun. . Its scales glittered in the dim light and its eyes were sapphire blue.
“Not it, her. this is Saphira, my dragon. Saphira, this is Aubree.” An overwhelming power seemed to engulf me in liquid flame.
“Hello little Hatchling, Eragon has told me much of you. I have deemed that you can be trusted, we will share our secret. You must share this with no one.” Her voice was a rumble of power and force; the statement had no room for argument. I nodded my head in agreement.
“I am Eragon, Dragon Rider, and Shadeslayer. I was sent here on a test by my mentors with Arya Drotningu. In my land, we are up against an evil king who seeks to rule all of Alagaesia and all in it. I am here seeking help, I am soon returning, so that I may aid in the cause. Murtagh is an evil rider, he is under Galbatorix’s rule. I must warn you because he threatens you and all that I have met, but I think he will mainly come after you, since I, well since I care for you.” These last words were said with a blush and a little moan of pain following it.
“Why is this bad? Am I a horrible person?”
“I care for you Aubree, maybe even love. I did not think I did, but after what Murtagh said, I realized I do, but I cannot bear this because I will live much longer than you. I was altered by the dragons of old and even though you cannot see it now, I am no human, neither any race. I am something different.” There was an undercurrent of sorrow in his voice. It caused a wave of sadness and sympathy. I also had butterflies in my stomach, he cared for me, maybe even loved me!
“I am sorry such feelings cause you pain. I would never hurt you Eragon, I think I feel something for you too. I will never tell anyone about this. I am sorry for your aloneness and sorry I can do nothing to help you.”
“Well, you can do something.” Saphira let out a grumble and a flickering flame lit in her nostrils. I felt a hardening in my mind and then acquiescence. What in all that is good and holy was going on between them? I had the feeling that they could communicate with their minds, and as Eragon stepped toward me, I had a bad feeling.
“Now, you must stand very still and relax your body and mind. I am doing this to figure something out. You are different from others in this world. I wasn’t sure, but Saphira even says that there is something different about you. I am going to probe your mind and origins, to see what I can find. I will only do this with your permission.”
“I agree, because I have been feeling things lately that are beyond my control. I want to know who I am.” I uttered this with a finality that surprised even me. Eragon stood closer to me and pressed his three fingers on my forehead. I was plunged into darkness.
Then it was replaced by a scene. A woman in a long dress of late eighteen hundreds type, stood in a vibrant forest. Lush green plants and trees so tall they had no end, I thought. She started to sing and walk, her red hair flashing in the brief splatters of sunlight. A man suddenly appeared before her. He had jet black hair from which pointed ears peeked and green eyes. She stopped in front of him smiling, and reaching for him. He picked her up and spun her around, laughing as he put her down. Then he covered her mouth with his.
Another flash and the same woman were in a dark room. She was sweating and her face was screwed up in pain. A woman stood at the end of the bed. The red haired woman screamed and the other woman pulled out a squalling baby.
The scene changed and it was the red haired woman again. She was walking with a teenage girl with black hair and pointed ears. The woman was trying to soothe her and then it went black.
The next scene was the girl with black hair much older. she lay on a bed, her pointed ears gone. A girl lay crying at her side.
“I did this for you Leona, you are the mother of a new race. Only the girls of our family will carry it on. The next will come at a time of need. Now I am going, marry well and keep the blood and secret pure and safe.” It ended and I fell to the ground and blacked out for good.
I woke to his face inches from mine. “Are you alright?”
“I, I don’t know. I just feel weird, that’s all.” I took a second to see if I was truly alright. Nothing was broken, nothing except what had just happened. That was just wrong.
“What in the hell just happened with us and, and that whatever it was? It wasn’t real, was it? Just tell me that everything that has happened this afternoon is a dream, and I will believe you.” I knew I would.
“I cannot say that it was a dream. I think it was a vision. One that might explain who you are. that man in the first scene was an elf. I think what happened was he mated with the woman. She must be a distant family member, a grandmother or great grandmother. What she said about them creating a new race, I think it was true that it only passed on through the female line. You must be the first female after. That means you are half or more than half elf. You are a rarity like me.” He made this statement with a little hint of giddiness in his voice.
“I am not an elf! For one I don’t have pointed ears, I don’t have magic, and I can barely see for crying out loud! Plus none of my sisters have this and there are five.”
I said this last with a bit of hysterics. I was abnormal, maybe even a freak to most.
“That might be a side affect or something. Since you were the first female, it must just be in you, your sister’s blood didn’t take to the magic like yours did. I need to take you with me, Brom and Oromis will be able to understand this. Go back to your dorm, pack what you might need. Then find Arya and have her help you write a letter to your family. They will need to be put under a spell so that they will not be suspicious. Then meet me in the alley outside of hall.” He said this with a note of urgency in his voice. He pushed me toward the sidewalk and I started to run back to my cottage and call for Arya.
AUBREE
I walked down the hall, hearing the sounds of students on their way to the cottages. I however took a different way, walking down the long haul enjoying the silence. I looked at the wall adorned with few pictures with plain stretches interspersed. It was very quiet down this way. I took this route because it was a faster way to my cottage and I like being alone sometimes.
I suddenly felt a tightening in my chest. I could barely breathe all of a sudden and staggered to a wall and slid to the ground gasping. I felt as though someone had just clamped a hand over my heart and lungs. I started to scoot down the hall on my butt, trying to get away from the feeling. Then, just as suddenly, I was released. Crawling to my feet I slowly walked along the wall, half trailing, and half leaning against it.
At the end of the wall I stopped, there were voices. Not casual voices, but the kind that raised the little hairs on your neck. I felt a shiver run through my body and I felt the spread of goose bumps as something inside me stirred. Something until this very second I did not know was there, a wilder part. It scared the crap out of me! I shuddered inwardly as a tingle of electric power vibrated lightly over my skin.
“Come with me and I won’t hurt anyone. I mean what I say Eragon, I have no choice, either you come quietly or people--especially the ones you care about--will get hurt.”
“How long has it been, two months since you burned that village outside of Surda? I thought you were dead and then you appear whole and well, with a dragon and Galbatorix as your liege lord! I will not just throw away all I and you have fought for, or used to anyway. I cannot do what you ask.” Eragon’s statement was swollen with anger and hatred.
“You have no inkling of what it is like being controlled by that man. Thorn’s and my true names were discovered and I had no choice. You have no idea what kind of living death my life have been these past months! I ask only once more, and then you are responsible for what happens next. Come with me or risk Galbatorix’s wrath!” At first Murtagh’s voice was as loud as thunder, but at the end it became as quiet and deadly as ice.
I didn’t want to hear more, what I’d listened to already was making my head spin. Just in case I was being fooled with, I glanced around the wall, and stumbled back. What I saw would be in some fanciful novel, but it was real.
Eragon was encased in a shimmering half orb that was silver while Murtagh held a fire ball in his hand casually flicking it this way and that in between his fingers. “Who’s there, I swear I heard someone.” Murtagh said looking suspiciously around.
I ran for all I was worth. Dodging left and right like a rabbit, I slid into Mrs. Gatley’s room. I dashed over to the door that led to the outside and opened it. Coming into the sunlight, I slowly started to walk to Chapmen, trying desperately to slow my heart and smooth whatever expression I had on my face into a bland smile. It was like wrestling with all five of my younger sisters but I finally managed it. I was passing the doors I usually would have gone out of when they opened to reveal Eragon followed by Murtagh.
“Hey guys, what are you doing out here? I thought everyone had gone.” I did my best to plaster a smile on my face and didn’t think I succeeded.
“Oh, Aubree, I thought you were a ghost. You look pale, are you feeling well?” Eragon asked in a concerned voice.
“Yes, I guess it’s just the Irish blood, being a red head automatically means you always have pale skin.” I choked out a laugh then stopped because Murtagh was looking at me strangely. Did he know it was me who had heard him threaten Eragon?
“You did not see anyone run by this way, did you?” he asked in a voice edged with ice.
“Um, no. Just looking for someone. I came from the nurse. She thought I was too white too so she took my temp. Geez, everyone is so paranoid around here. I mean first Abby, then Robin the nurse, and now you. I hope it’s not a germ of any sort I really couldn’t handle a threat to my life, I mean health.” I felt my palms start to sweat and wiped them on the sides of my jeans. “Well, better be going, Gatley gave us a load of homework. All the teachers are loading up since Exams are coming up. Just hope I don’t drown in the work load.”
“Are you sure you haven’t seen anyone come pass this way at all?” Murtagh asked again, a note of doubtfulness ringing in his voice. I nodded the affirmative and quickly walked off feeling his eyes on my back until I reached the cottage and was let in by Autumn.
“What took you so long? You know Thursday is always your laundry day and you need to get a head start, since you are leaving tomorrow.” I sighed and went down the hall to grab my basket piled with my dirty clothes.
After dinner and an hour of drying and folding clothes, I made up my mind and went to Hall Cottage. I knocked on the door and waited. Sandy opened the door with her usual serine smile. I smiled back, Sandy was awesome. She was like a fourth Grandma (since I already have two grandmas and one great grandma.)
“Hey, is Eragon here?”
“Yes, he and Israel are doing something in the computer lab.” I shifted on my feet and started to lose my resolve, when Eragon appeared out of nowhere.
“Hello again Aubree, can I help you?” his eyes searched mine. Even though I couldn’t see his face clearly, I could feel his gaze. It was just some sixth sense of mine, I guess.
“Well, um, can, can I talk to you, alone?” I felt my blush creep over my cheeks. I knew I was redder than a beat. I knew this because one time, a staff person caught me taking extra “necessities” from my backpack. Later she said that I had the reddest blush she ever saw.
“Is that fine with you Sandy?”
“Yes, just be back before 9:30.”
“Alright.”
I walked as fast as I could, without running. He was there every step of the way. I suddenly stopped and turned down the side of Old Main, it was growing late and the sun was sinking down. This side of the building was thick with shadows. I turned to him and for a moment thought I caught a flash of blue in the darkening sky. I shook off the paranoia, and opened my mouth to speak. I was stopped though by a probing thing. It was like something was trying to work its way into my mind. My mental reflexes took over and I felt my mind close and seal itself. This all seemed to happen in a flash. I noticed that Eragon winced.
“I need to know something Eragon, I don’t want lies or excuses, and I want truths. I think we have known each other long enough to at least have that.” I said this with a tremble in my voice.
“I did not think Murtagh was lying when he said that there was someone listening in, but I did not think it might have been you.” He just kept on looking at me while he said this.
“I deserve to know why he wants you to go with him to this Galbatorix guy. That is, if you think my life of any importance.” I lifted my chin a little while pronouncing this. He seemed to draw within himself and silence rained for a while. I stood there waiting; I had the patience to not bother him. Then he seemed to come out of his shell.
“What do you wish to know about me?”
“I want to know what you are exactly.”
“I am a human, well that is…..” his sentence withered away suddenly, as a second flash of blue struck down towards us. I stumbled back not knowing what to expect. What I saw was something out of novels. A gigantic dragon stood there flashing in the faint red glow of the setting sun. . Its scales glittered in the dim light and its eyes were sapphire blue.
“Not it, her. this is Saphira, my dragon. Saphira, this is Aubree.” An overwhelming power seemed to engulf me in liquid flame.
“Hello little Hatchling, Eragon has told me much of you. I have deemed that you can be trusted, we will share our secret. You must share this with no one.” Her voice was a rumble of power and force; the statement had no room for argument. I nodded my head in agreement.
“I am Eragon, Dragon Rider, and Shadeslayer. I was sent here on a test by my mentors with Arya Drotningu. In my land, we are up against an evil king who seeks to rule all of Alagaesia and all in it. I am here seeking help, I am soon returning, so that I may aid in the cause. Murtagh is an evil rider, he is under Galbatorix’s rule. I must warn you because he threatens you and all that I have met, but I think he will mainly come after you, since I, well since I care for you.” These last words were said with a blush and a little moan of pain following it.
“Why is this bad? Am I a horrible person?”
“I care for you Aubree, maybe even love. I did not think I did, but after what Murtagh said, I realized I do, but I cannot bear this because I will live much longer than you. I was altered by the dragons of old and even though you cannot see it now, I am no human, neither any race. I am something different.” There was an undercurrent of sorrow in his voice. It caused a wave of sadness and sympathy. I also had butterflies in my stomach, he cared for me, maybe even loved me!
“I am sorry such feelings cause you pain. I would never hurt you Eragon, I think I feel something for you too. I will never tell anyone about this. I am sorry for your aloneness and sorry I can do nothing to help you.”
“Well, you can do something.” Saphira let out a grumble and a flickering flame lit in her nostrils. I felt a hardening in my mind and then acquiescence. What in all that is good and holy was going on between them? I had the feeling that they could communicate with their minds, and as Eragon stepped toward me, I had a bad feeling.
“Now, you must stand very still and relax your body and mind. I am doing this to figure something out. You are different from others in this world. I wasn’t sure, but Saphira even says that there is something different about you. I am going to probe your mind and origins, to see what I can find. I will only do this with your permission.”
“I agree, because I have been feeling things lately that are beyond my control. I want to know who I am.” I uttered this with a finality that surprised even me. Eragon stood closer to me and pressed his three fingers on my forehead. I was plunged into darkness.
Then it was replaced by a scene. A woman in a long dress of late eighteen hundreds type, stood in a vibrant forest. Lush green plants and trees so tall they had no end, I thought. She started to sing and walk, her red hair flashing in the brief splatters of sunlight. A man suddenly appeared before her. He had jet black hair from which pointed ears peeked and green eyes. She stopped in front of him smiling, and reaching for him. He picked her up and spun her around, laughing as he put her down. Then he covered her mouth with his.
Another flash and the same woman were in a dark room. She was sweating and her face was screwed up in pain. A woman stood at the end of the bed. The red haired woman screamed and the other woman pulled out a squalling baby.
The scene changed and it was the red haired woman again. She was walking with a teenage girl with black hair and pointed ears. The woman was trying to soothe her and then it went black.
The next scene was the girl with black hair much older. she lay on a bed, her pointed ears gone. A girl lay crying at her side.
“I did this for you Leona, you are the mother of a new race. Only the girls of our family will carry it on. The next will come at a time of need. Now I am going, marry well and keep the blood and secret pure and safe.” It ended and I fell to the ground and blacked out for good.
I woke to his face inches from mine. “Are you alright?”
“I, I don’t know. I just feel weird, that’s all.” I took a second to see if I was truly alright. Nothing was broken, nothing except what had just happened. That was just wrong.
“What in the hell just happened with us and, and that whatever it was? It wasn’t real, was it? Just tell me that everything that has happened this afternoon is a dream, and I will believe you.” I knew I would.
“I cannot say that it was a dream. I think it was a vision. One that might explain who you are. that man in the first scene was an elf. I think what happened was he mated with the woman. She must be a distant family member, a grandmother or great grandmother. What she said about them creating a new race, I think it was true that it only passed on through the female line. You must be the first female after. That means you are half or more than half elf. You are a rarity like me.” He made this statement with a little hint of giddiness in his voice.
“I am not an elf! For one I don’t have pointed ears, I don’t have magic, and I can barely see for crying out loud! Plus none of my sisters have this and there are five.”
I said this last with a bit of hysterics. I was abnormal, maybe even a freak to most.
“That might be a side affect or something. Since you were the first female, it must just be in you, your sister’s blood didn’t take to the magic like yours did. I need to take you with me, Brom and Oromis will be able to understand this. Go back to your dorm, pack what you might need. Then find Arya and have her help you write a letter to your family. They will need to be put under a spell so that they will not be suspicious. Then meet me in the alley outside of hall.” He said this with a note of urgency in his voice. He pushed me toward the sidewalk and I started to run back to my cottage and call for Arya.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Captured Hearts, Chapter 7
Chapter 7
MURTAGH
I closed my eyes and concentrated on nothing in particular. Concentrating on nothing was one thing I tried to do often. I did this to try and escape the living hell that had always been my life.
Though there was a time or two of peace and friendship, but not anymore. Not since my master and sovereign Galbatorix had stolen me out of Farthun Dur. Not since Thorn hatched for me and he found our secret names. I feared I would never know freedom and happiness again. That was why I concentrated so hard on nothing to stop the agony of my life and pretend that I was just another human being, well I tried, but never truly succeeded.
It had been a few months since my arrival at Uru-ben and I was allowed into the vault where the eggs were kept. Ever since Brom had stolen one a hundred or odd years ago, Galbatorix has kept them locked up tighter than the crown jewels. There were two, a red one and a green one. I looked at the red one and picked it up. It felt warm in my hand and I traced the white veins of it with my index finger.
Such a mighty beast would spring up from this one day. If it was allowed to grow without war and stress as a wild dragon it would eventually be the size of a hill. I marveled at such a wonder, and then heard a throat clearing behind me.
“So I see you like one of them, maybe it will hatch for you and then you also will be a Rider, like your little brother.” Galbatorix’s voice was oiled with eloquence and poise, yet I knew from experience that it had the sting of a whip, when it wanted.
“I don’t know. I do not think I would like to be a Rider, toc much power can corrupt a person, you know.” I knew what my words meant to him and tensed for the attack. I knew he would not attack with might, but with the mind-bending power he had honed these last hundred years.
“Are you trying to make a point Murtagh? Because if you are, you should be very careful with what you try to make a point of. I am the master of this land and all its inhabitants, whether you like it or not, I own you. I could crush you so easily; it would only take a blink of an eye!” Galbatorix spoke with venom, his voice becoming a deadly hiss.
‘Then why don’t you do it! I thought, not like you care for me or anything’.
I did not speak it allowed, I knew his answer. He would say, “Because I need you too much, for such a death would only reprove what I have already done to other, more powerful men than you.” I scoffed; all he wanted was to make my life worse, nothing more.
Suddenly the egg started to slip from my grip. It fell to the ground, and rolled. Rolled. Cracks appeared on it and then it splintered to pieces. In its stead there sat a creature, red as the sunset. It unfurled its wings and there it stood before us. The hatchling stared up at me, its eyes red and beautiful. I reached forward to touch it and a flash of pain spread through my body. I jerked my hand back. There on the palm was an iridescent circle that glowed.
“Well, it seems my lad; you are going to be one anyway.” Galbatorix said, with a gleeful smile stretching across his horrible count enounce.
I named him Thorn, because if Galbatorix had anything to do with it, he would be just that. I did not like to see him at first, for it reminded me what would happen soon. I would be forced to go into battle with Eragon and possibly kill him.
Months passed by and I was forced to learn evil spells, spells that made my blood run cold with fear and lust at the same time, There was a part of me that reveled in the power. I did my best to keep that part as far away as I could from the surface. I did not want him to know I secretly liked what he taught me. Then the strangest thing happened, Thorn grew faster than I thought possible for a dragon. Then Galbatorix gave me my first and hardest mission.
“I have found out that Eragon has gone into another realm, there he will be vulnerable and not supervised as well. You are to go and find him. Either capture him or capture someone to draw him here. If all else fails, kill him.”
That’s when everything I knew about this world I was born in changed and I fell into a new reality. There were more worlds and realms than I had ever thought possible.
After the shock wore off, I went to do what I was bid. So now, here I was at a school for sightless halfwits and I did my best to not kill myself so that I would not have to go through this song and dance of nightmarish evil that haunted my waking dreams. I sighed, giving up on the concentration, and went out of my room in the dorm that they house the older youth in and walked numbly through the noise and blaring sound.
My opinion of this school so far was of boredom and idiocy. Though this afternoon had changed it a little. I had bumped into one very irregular girl today. She had curly brown hair that was short and framed her face. She obviously could not see very well, yet she had a keen intuition. She automatically assumed I was with Eragon or had something to do with him. Then after that, I saw the same girl again, except this time she was with another and they were singing at the top of their lungs. I knew they were singing in jest but the carelessness made me a bit jealous and just the fact that those two would never see the world in full. Yet, I felt no true pity for them, Galbatorix’s magic had, it seemed made me unable to feel much at all. I now seemed to view the world and all its inhabitants with cold cynicism. I do not like this; it gives me chills to think I am beyond caring
MURTAGH
I closed my eyes and concentrated on nothing in particular. Concentrating on nothing was one thing I tried to do often. I did this to try and escape the living hell that had always been my life.
Though there was a time or two of peace and friendship, but not anymore. Not since my master and sovereign Galbatorix had stolen me out of Farthun Dur. Not since Thorn hatched for me and he found our secret names. I feared I would never know freedom and happiness again. That was why I concentrated so hard on nothing to stop the agony of my life and pretend that I was just another human being, well I tried, but never truly succeeded.
It had been a few months since my arrival at Uru-ben and I was allowed into the vault where the eggs were kept. Ever since Brom had stolen one a hundred or odd years ago, Galbatorix has kept them locked up tighter than the crown jewels. There were two, a red one and a green one. I looked at the red one and picked it up. It felt warm in my hand and I traced the white veins of it with my index finger.
Such a mighty beast would spring up from this one day. If it was allowed to grow without war and stress as a wild dragon it would eventually be the size of a hill. I marveled at such a wonder, and then heard a throat clearing behind me.
“So I see you like one of them, maybe it will hatch for you and then you also will be a Rider, like your little brother.” Galbatorix’s voice was oiled with eloquence and poise, yet I knew from experience that it had the sting of a whip, when it wanted.
“I don’t know. I do not think I would like to be a Rider, toc much power can corrupt a person, you know.” I knew what my words meant to him and tensed for the attack. I knew he would not attack with might, but with the mind-bending power he had honed these last hundred years.
“Are you trying to make a point Murtagh? Because if you are, you should be very careful with what you try to make a point of. I am the master of this land and all its inhabitants, whether you like it or not, I own you. I could crush you so easily; it would only take a blink of an eye!” Galbatorix spoke with venom, his voice becoming a deadly hiss.
‘Then why don’t you do it! I thought, not like you care for me or anything’.
I did not speak it allowed, I knew his answer. He would say, “Because I need you too much, for such a death would only reprove what I have already done to other, more powerful men than you.” I scoffed; all he wanted was to make my life worse, nothing more.
Suddenly the egg started to slip from my grip. It fell to the ground, and rolled. Rolled. Cracks appeared on it and then it splintered to pieces. In its stead there sat a creature, red as the sunset. It unfurled its wings and there it stood before us. The hatchling stared up at me, its eyes red and beautiful. I reached forward to touch it and a flash of pain spread through my body. I jerked my hand back. There on the palm was an iridescent circle that glowed.
“Well, it seems my lad; you are going to be one anyway.” Galbatorix said, with a gleeful smile stretching across his horrible count enounce.
I named him Thorn, because if Galbatorix had anything to do with it, he would be just that. I did not like to see him at first, for it reminded me what would happen soon. I would be forced to go into battle with Eragon and possibly kill him.
Months passed by and I was forced to learn evil spells, spells that made my blood run cold with fear and lust at the same time, There was a part of me that reveled in the power. I did my best to keep that part as far away as I could from the surface. I did not want him to know I secretly liked what he taught me. Then the strangest thing happened, Thorn grew faster than I thought possible for a dragon. Then Galbatorix gave me my first and hardest mission.
“I have found out that Eragon has gone into another realm, there he will be vulnerable and not supervised as well. You are to go and find him. Either capture him or capture someone to draw him here. If all else fails, kill him.”
That’s when everything I knew about this world I was born in changed and I fell into a new reality. There were more worlds and realms than I had ever thought possible.
After the shock wore off, I went to do what I was bid. So now, here I was at a school for sightless halfwits and I did my best to not kill myself so that I would not have to go through this song and dance of nightmarish evil that haunted my waking dreams. I sighed, giving up on the concentration, and went out of my room in the dorm that they house the older youth in and walked numbly through the noise and blaring sound.
My opinion of this school so far was of boredom and idiocy. Though this afternoon had changed it a little. I had bumped into one very irregular girl today. She had curly brown hair that was short and framed her face. She obviously could not see very well, yet she had a keen intuition. She automatically assumed I was with Eragon or had something to do with him. Then after that, I saw the same girl again, except this time she was with another and they were singing at the top of their lungs. I knew they were singing in jest but the carelessness made me a bit jealous and just the fact that those two would never see the world in full. Yet, I felt no true pity for them, Galbatorix’s magic had, it seemed made me unable to feel much at all. I now seemed to view the world and all its inhabitants with cold cynicism. I do not like this; it gives me chills to think I am beyond caring
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Captured Hearts, Chapter 6
Chapter Six
ABBY
It was a week later that something drastic happened. I was walking along the hall going To Mr. Buckmier's class when I bumped into someone rather hard. I managed to drop my bag and sputtered an incoherent apology.
"Sorry..." I finally could talk without making a fool of myself.
"Quite alright." said an amused male voice. I felt my face burn with embarrassment and cursed myself mentally to stop running into people. I thought while I was at it I'd better introducing myself for future reference.
When he wasn't forthcoming, I said "My name is Abby. I'm sorry for running into you." I trailed off.
"I am Murtagh." he answered promptly. It took me only a second to realize that Murtagh must be connected to Eragon in some way.
"Do you know Eragon?" I blurted. Wrong move. Even though I can't see anything, I can tell when someone's demeanor changes. So I was surprised when he didn't answer. I felt the wind as he stalked past me and was gone. My first thought after he was gone was what is up with this guy? He seemed alright before I talked about... So he was connected to Eragon! I knew it. And what was up with this guy! He didn't even offer to pick up my fallen books!
! That evening I got all the insight I needed from the object of my friend's recent infatuation. It was after dinner when Eragon cornered me outside. "We need to talk." he said not unkindly, but there was an underlying note of concern in his voice. I felt a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. I finally made up my mind to take the innocent card.
“About what?” I asked, trying to keep the knowing note out of my voice.
“I have known you long enough Abigail, plus Aubree told me you were a horrible liar and she was right.” My cheeks burning, I mumbled an incoherent response.
“So, Aubree tells me you literally ran into a stranger today and that his name was Murtagh.” My sinking feeling was confirmed as he spoke the fateful words that came next. “I don’t think you should make an effort to get to know him, he is not the sort that you would like.”
A bubble of anger rose as he finished his declaration. “And how do you know whether he is my sort? You barely know me and my sort. And who are you to tell me what to do?”
I could sense the change that must have come over Eragon. I could almost picture the red flush coming over his cheeks and tensed for the reply I knew was coming.
“I know more about Murtagh than I would like and I know more than you would care to know. I have seen things that your eyes would shrivel and die to see, do not rebuke my opinion!” His voice rang with the authority of thunder. I felt my hands shaking and for the first time wondered why Aubree had picked him. Was he the same way with her?
I heard quick footsteps behind us and recognized Arya’s pace. “What is going on here?” She snapped at Eragon.
“Nothing Arya, just talking to Abby.” He tried to sound nonchalant, but failed miserably.
“It most certainly didn’t sound like nothing!” She said with a hint of annoyance.
“Well, she and Murtagh bumped into one another, and I was just warning her to stay away from him. Though she seems to think otherwise.” He said this with a chill in his voice.
“If that is what it is, then I say that you should let her find out for herself, as she deems your words unjustified.” I listened to this and felt glad that Arya had stepped in. I noticed that the atmosphere was a lot calmer now and Eragon seemed resigned to Arya’s judgment.
I decided to back out now and go find Aubree to tell her what had transpired.
ABBY
It was a week later that something drastic happened. I was walking along the hall going To Mr. Buckmier's class when I bumped into someone rather hard. I managed to drop my bag and sputtered an incoherent apology.
"Sorry..." I finally could talk without making a fool of myself.
"Quite alright." said an amused male voice. I felt my face burn with embarrassment and cursed myself mentally to stop running into people. I thought while I was at it I'd better introducing myself for future reference.
When he wasn't forthcoming, I said "My name is Abby. I'm sorry for running into you." I trailed off.
"I am Murtagh." he answered promptly. It took me only a second to realize that Murtagh must be connected to Eragon in some way.
"Do you know Eragon?" I blurted. Wrong move. Even though I can't see anything, I can tell when someone's demeanor changes. So I was surprised when he didn't answer. I felt the wind as he stalked past me and was gone. My first thought after he was gone was what is up with this guy? He seemed alright before I talked about... So he was connected to Eragon! I knew it. And what was up with this guy! He didn't even offer to pick up my fallen books!
! That evening I got all the insight I needed from the object of my friend's recent infatuation. It was after dinner when Eragon cornered me outside. "We need to talk." he said not unkindly, but there was an underlying note of concern in his voice. I felt a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. I finally made up my mind to take the innocent card.
“About what?” I asked, trying to keep the knowing note out of my voice.
“I have known you long enough Abigail, plus Aubree told me you were a horrible liar and she was right.” My cheeks burning, I mumbled an incoherent response.
“So, Aubree tells me you literally ran into a stranger today and that his name was Murtagh.” My sinking feeling was confirmed as he spoke the fateful words that came next. “I don’t think you should make an effort to get to know him, he is not the sort that you would like.”
A bubble of anger rose as he finished his declaration. “And how do you know whether he is my sort? You barely know me and my sort. And who are you to tell me what to do?”
I could sense the change that must have come over Eragon. I could almost picture the red flush coming over his cheeks and tensed for the reply I knew was coming.
“I know more about Murtagh than I would like and I know more than you would care to know. I have seen things that your eyes would shrivel and die to see, do not rebuke my opinion!” His voice rang with the authority of thunder. I felt my hands shaking and for the first time wondered why Aubree had picked him. Was he the same way with her?
I heard quick footsteps behind us and recognized Arya’s pace. “What is going on here?” She snapped at Eragon.
“Nothing Arya, just talking to Abby.” He tried to sound nonchalant, but failed miserably.
“It most certainly didn’t sound like nothing!” She said with a hint of annoyance.
“Well, she and Murtagh bumped into one another, and I was just warning her to stay away from him. Though she seems to think otherwise.” He said this with a chill in his voice.
“If that is what it is, then I say that you should let her find out for herself, as she deems your words unjustified.” I listened to this and felt glad that Arya had stepped in. I noticed that the atmosphere was a lot calmer now and Eragon seemed resigned to Arya’s judgment.
I decided to back out now and go find Aubree to tell her what had transpired.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Captured Hearts, Chapter 5
Chapter 5
ARYA
As I meandered down the hall listening half heartedly to
Abby’s chatter, I thought of all the events that had brought Eragon and I to this place. My musings were interrupted as a deep male voice issued out of a room.
“Thought boys were not allowed down this hall,” I commented.
That’s when Jackie appeared. “Jaws are talking too much.” She complained.
“Is that the name of the boy in your room?” I asked.
“No, it’s not a boy! It’s a voice that comes out of my computer; it talks to me and tells what is on the screen.”
I vaguely understood what she meant. I did not inquire any further, wishing to go back outside and explore the new campus. Hopefully Eragon would be busy elsewhere. His affection was sweet, but I did not feel inclined to return it. For one thing, I was much older than he and I could not bear to fall in love with a mortal, Dragon Rider or not.
“So Arya, where do you and Eragon come from?” Abby asked, suddenly catching me off guard.
“We live far, far away from here. Aland few know about.”” I answered slowly making sure that I did not disclose too much.
“Why did you come here then?”
“We have personal reasons for being here.” I said, not wanting to sound rude, but also making it clear I did not desire to continue that line of questioning. There was an awkward pause and I did not know what to do.
Then, I thought of singing. I loved to sing sometimes and if I was inspired I would make up my own lyrics. I felt inspired, by some whim to sing about Du Weldenvardin.
World of green leaves and life
Sung from trees of old
Born of love, Born of song
Ever growing, ever knowing
Sing to me oh love of my heart
And never from this land depart
I felt the melody in me. I had not sung in so long. The desire burned in the back of my mind.
“Wow, that, that was really good! I’ve never heard anyone sing so pure and true, but did you just make up those lyrics or were they from a song? You sang with such depth. Where did you learn to do that?” The hail storm of questions caught me off guard and I wished she would stop asking me. It was getting harder and harder to avoid answering.
I hastily made up an excuse for going to my bedroom saying I suddenly felt tired, which was not far from the truth. I went to my bed covered with the blanket given to me. There were multiple sheets and coverings and the frame was a sad dead thing. It lacked the magic of song that my kin put into making wooden things. Unlike humans we do not chop and hack out our furniture. It sickened me a little to see how the wood had been treated.
I then went to my wooden wardrobe. Again, I noticed the sadness of such a death. Opening the door I looked at my possessions again. There were my cloak and my usual clothes. I ached to be in them again. These clothes that I had purchased were unfamiliar and did not feel right on my skin. I scolded myself for being so petty and complaining about everything. This mission was important and I needed to stay focused and not dwell on my discomforts, no matter how they bothered me. Sighing, I turned and decided to find Eragon and make sure he hadn’t gotten into much trouble. But first, I decided to lie down. I was somehow over come with tiredness, a rarity with me but still elves are not meant to travel through time portals and come out full and rested.
ERAGON
I Followed Aubree as she led me about the campus explaining the cottages to me but also telling me a little student background.
I listened halfheartedly and thought about all the strange things here. They spoke the same language, but it was different too. For one thing, they seemed to shorten words and it was a dialect of its own. I wondered at this and realized I would have to pick it up quickly and soon if I wanted Arya and I to remain inconspicuous among these humans. Some more sensitive part of my mind told me that there were more to these youth than their sight impairment. A sense of depth and even power resided in a few of them.
I thought of my early days, when I could barely move a pebble from my hand. I felt a kinship in a way to this certain group of people. They were a bit off their rockers at times, but who wasn’t? I wondered where Saphira was at this moment. I felt the absence of her presence always and wanted to find her. My thoughts were interrupted by Aubree’s voice.
“Eragon, are you even listening to me?” Her eyes were deep brown, a little light on the outside and darker on the rim and near the pupil. They reminded me of warm days, but they had a determined look in them. If she had to, she would fight for what she cared about. I thought of Katrina and Nasuada, yet she was different.
“Forgive me; I was not being very attentive to what you were saying. I think I have too much on my mind. It’s not your fault.” As I apologized her feet seemed to stumble and she started to fall. I reflexively caught and steadied her on her feet. Right then I noticed that her skin was very pale like some of the elves I had seen in Du Weldinvarden. I wondered at what her lineage was like and if she had some magical blood in her.
“Ugh, I can’t seem to do anything without stumbling over something, including myself. Anyways, what is on your mind? I like to help people and a lot of them come to me to talk.” She said this in a soft lilting way that was like a groom coaxing a troubled horse to be calm.
“I don’t think you would like to be troubled with my worries and cares for they are many and heavy. I scarcely know what to do with them.” I did not mean to give so much away but there was something that made me trust her. I don’t know what it was, the look in her eyes, the way she seemed to listen to my every word as if it mattered to her, that my feelings mattered to her.
“Well, if you ever need someone to talk to, I am always here.” With that she said goodbye and went inside. I then went to my assigned cottage and late into the night I was still thinking about what she said. I know that after we left this world our appearances would return to normal. For now I was glad to lead a somewhat normal life for a little while. I could forget who I was, and be someone else.
ARYA
As I meandered down the hall listening half heartedly to
Abby’s chatter, I thought of all the events that had brought Eragon and I to this place. My musings were interrupted as a deep male voice issued out of a room.
“Thought boys were not allowed down this hall,” I commented.
That’s when Jackie appeared. “Jaws are talking too much.” She complained.
“Is that the name of the boy in your room?” I asked.
“No, it’s not a boy! It’s a voice that comes out of my computer; it talks to me and tells what is on the screen.”
I vaguely understood what she meant. I did not inquire any further, wishing to go back outside and explore the new campus. Hopefully Eragon would be busy elsewhere. His affection was sweet, but I did not feel inclined to return it. For one thing, I was much older than he and I could not bear to fall in love with a mortal, Dragon Rider or not.
“So Arya, where do you and Eragon come from?” Abby asked, suddenly catching me off guard.
“We live far, far away from here. Aland few know about.”” I answered slowly making sure that I did not disclose too much.
“Why did you come here then?”
“We have personal reasons for being here.” I said, not wanting to sound rude, but also making it clear I did not desire to continue that line of questioning. There was an awkward pause and I did not know what to do.
Then, I thought of singing. I loved to sing sometimes and if I was inspired I would make up my own lyrics. I felt inspired, by some whim to sing about Du Weldenvardin.
World of green leaves and life
Sung from trees of old
Born of love, Born of song
Ever growing, ever knowing
Sing to me oh love of my heart
And never from this land depart
I felt the melody in me. I had not sung in so long. The desire burned in the back of my mind.
“Wow, that, that was really good! I’ve never heard anyone sing so pure and true, but did you just make up those lyrics or were they from a song? You sang with such depth. Where did you learn to do that?” The hail storm of questions caught me off guard and I wished she would stop asking me. It was getting harder and harder to avoid answering.
I hastily made up an excuse for going to my bedroom saying I suddenly felt tired, which was not far from the truth. I went to my bed covered with the blanket given to me. There were multiple sheets and coverings and the frame was a sad dead thing. It lacked the magic of song that my kin put into making wooden things. Unlike humans we do not chop and hack out our furniture. It sickened me a little to see how the wood had been treated.
I then went to my wooden wardrobe. Again, I noticed the sadness of such a death. Opening the door I looked at my possessions again. There were my cloak and my usual clothes. I ached to be in them again. These clothes that I had purchased were unfamiliar and did not feel right on my skin. I scolded myself for being so petty and complaining about everything. This mission was important and I needed to stay focused and not dwell on my discomforts, no matter how they bothered me. Sighing, I turned and decided to find Eragon and make sure he hadn’t gotten into much trouble. But first, I decided to lie down. I was somehow over come with tiredness, a rarity with me but still elves are not meant to travel through time portals and come out full and rested.
ERAGON
I Followed Aubree as she led me about the campus explaining the cottages to me but also telling me a little student background.
I listened halfheartedly and thought about all the strange things here. They spoke the same language, but it was different too. For one thing, they seemed to shorten words and it was a dialect of its own. I wondered at this and realized I would have to pick it up quickly and soon if I wanted Arya and I to remain inconspicuous among these humans. Some more sensitive part of my mind told me that there were more to these youth than their sight impairment. A sense of depth and even power resided in a few of them.
I thought of my early days, when I could barely move a pebble from my hand. I felt a kinship in a way to this certain group of people. They were a bit off their rockers at times, but who wasn’t? I wondered where Saphira was at this moment. I felt the absence of her presence always and wanted to find her. My thoughts were interrupted by Aubree’s voice.
“Eragon, are you even listening to me?” Her eyes were deep brown, a little light on the outside and darker on the rim and near the pupil. They reminded me of warm days, but they had a determined look in them. If she had to, she would fight for what she cared about. I thought of Katrina and Nasuada, yet she was different.
“Forgive me; I was not being very attentive to what you were saying. I think I have too much on my mind. It’s not your fault.” As I apologized her feet seemed to stumble and she started to fall. I reflexively caught and steadied her on her feet. Right then I noticed that her skin was very pale like some of the elves I had seen in Du Weldinvarden. I wondered at what her lineage was like and if she had some magical blood in her.
“Ugh, I can’t seem to do anything without stumbling over something, including myself. Anyways, what is on your mind? I like to help people and a lot of them come to me to talk.” She said this in a soft lilting way that was like a groom coaxing a troubled horse to be calm.
“I don’t think you would like to be troubled with my worries and cares for they are many and heavy. I scarcely know what to do with them.” I did not mean to give so much away but there was something that made me trust her. I don’t know what it was, the look in her eyes, the way she seemed to listen to my every word as if it mattered to her, that my feelings mattered to her.
“Well, if you ever need someone to talk to, I am always here.” With that she said goodbye and went inside. I then went to my assigned cottage and late into the night I was still thinking about what she said. I know that after we left this world our appearances would return to normal. For now I was glad to lead a somewhat normal life for a little while. I could forget who I was, and be someone else.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Captured Hearts, Chapters 4-5 Out Take, By Whitewolf819
Out take
Aubree
“So what’s crackin?” He said with his IPod in his hand and an earphone in his ear, probably listening to heavy metal or something funny and perverted.
“Not much, this by the way is Eragon.” I said leading Izzie over to him, and they shook hands.
“Hello.” Eragon said.
“Yo.” Izzie said, smiling.
“What is that strange thing you are carrying?” Eragon asked pointing at Izzie’s IPod.
“It’s called an IPod, it stores and plays music, and it holds 80 gigs which is probably around 20000 songs.” He said.
“Is that all it does?” Eragon asked, examining it closely.
“No, it plays video too, and a whole bunch of shit I don’t much care for.” He said.
Izzie clicked the wheel a bunch of times and turned on the light. He moved around in the menus a little, and played a little bit of a movie. It looked like it was from Ace Venchura. He clicked some more, and turned off the light.
“See?” he said smiling.
“What was that?” Eragon asked.
“Um video? Where are you from?” Izzie asked with an eyebrow raised questioningly.
Eragon leaned over and whispered something in Izzie’s ear.
Izzie
The strange guy from who knows what time leaned over and whispered: “Aligasia.”
I whispered back “why are you telling me? It seems that you want to keep it secret.”
“There is strong magic emanating from you. Maybe you could help me?” he whispered back.
“I can try.” I whispered, and I motioned for him to follow me.
“Hey guys? We’ll be back.” I turned and took Eragon behind Old Main.
“What kind of help do you seek?” I asked facing him.
“It depends on what you are capable of doing.” He said.
I shot a twenty foot flame up in to the sky from my pointer finger, and looked at Eragon.
“That is barely scratching the surface of what I can do.” I said.
“What else can you do?” he asked with an astonished look on his face.
I turned my middle finger in to a very sharp dagger, and I turned the flame in to a flaming sword.
“There’s a lot of stuff I can do. I can change in two different things, turn things in to something else, change the weather, and a lot of other stuff I can’t think of at the moment.” I said smiling and putting my hand back to normal.
“Very few people know I can do that kind of stuff.” I said, “So please keep it quiet."
Aubree
“So what’s crackin?” He said with his IPod in his hand and an earphone in his ear, probably listening to heavy metal or something funny and perverted.
“Not much, this by the way is Eragon.” I said leading Izzie over to him, and they shook hands.
“Hello.” Eragon said.
“Yo.” Izzie said, smiling.
“What is that strange thing you are carrying?” Eragon asked pointing at Izzie’s IPod.
“It’s called an IPod, it stores and plays music, and it holds 80 gigs which is probably around 20000 songs.” He said.
“Is that all it does?” Eragon asked, examining it closely.
“No, it plays video too, and a whole bunch of shit I don’t much care for.” He said.
Izzie clicked the wheel a bunch of times and turned on the light. He moved around in the menus a little, and played a little bit of a movie. It looked like it was from Ace Venchura. He clicked some more, and turned off the light.
“See?” he said smiling.
“What was that?” Eragon asked.
“Um video? Where are you from?” Izzie asked with an eyebrow raised questioningly.
Eragon leaned over and whispered something in Izzie’s ear.
Izzie
The strange guy from who knows what time leaned over and whispered: “Aligasia.”
I whispered back “why are you telling me? It seems that you want to keep it secret.”
“There is strong magic emanating from you. Maybe you could help me?” he whispered back.
“I can try.” I whispered, and I motioned for him to follow me.
“Hey guys? We’ll be back.” I turned and took Eragon behind Old Main.
“What kind of help do you seek?” I asked facing him.
“It depends on what you are capable of doing.” He said.
I shot a twenty foot flame up in to the sky from my pointer finger, and looked at Eragon.
“That is barely scratching the surface of what I can do.” I said.
“What else can you do?” he asked with an astonished look on his face.
I turned my middle finger in to a very sharp dagger, and I turned the flame in to a flaming sword.
“There’s a lot of stuff I can do. I can change in two different things, turn things in to something else, change the weather, and a lot of other stuff I can’t think of at the moment.” I said smiling and putting my hand back to normal.
“Very few people know I can do that kind of stuff.” I said, “So please keep it quiet."
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Captured Hearts,Chapter 4
Chapter 4
AUBREE
I stared at him beside me at the dinner table. Abby had informed me that there was something odd about the new students while I was in my room trying out the new garb I had purchased. They did not look too odd to me, but then I was not the detective that she was. They both had strange accents but that was not too abnormal.
Dinner ended and as we put our plates into the dishwasher, Jillian asked for quiet.
“Victoria Stillwell is on tonight, who wants to watch it?”
There was a collective groan from the room and only one or two cheers. “Hasty escape time,” whispered Abby and we all filed out the door. I winked at autumn and she nodded back.
The evening was cool and refreshing. Eragon pointed at one of the school’s form of amusements and asked, “What is that?”
I gave him a funny look and thought ‘note to self, Abby was right.’
“That, my friend, is a tire swing. You sit on it and people push you. It is a lot of fun.”
“Can I try?” he asked mockingly.
I gave my most evil smile. “Sure, if you’re not scared.”
“Aubree, I don’t know if this is such a good idea…” Abby trailed off as she realized my plan.
Eragon hoisted himself onto the tire swing, sitting the wrong way.
“You’re not supposed to sit on it like that.” I commented.
“Just get on with it.” He growled.
“It’s your funeral, or should I say, your manhood’s funeral.”
He hastily changed his seat to a more comfortable one.
I grabbed the chains and started to spin him around me, then I pulled on one particular chain and then let go. I moved as fast as I could to get out of the way. I heard a whoop behind me as I tripped and landed face first in the grass. I pushed myself up on my elbows and looked to see Arya staring worriedly at me.
“Are you all right?” Eragon called from the spinning tire swing.
“She’s fine, she trips all the time, and she is one of the most klutz’s people I know.” Abby yelled to Eragon.
“Thanks Abby,” I muttered.
As I got up from the ground, Autumn’s voice floated from the cottage.
“Abby, come do your laundry and bring Arya with you, so you can show her how it’s done.”
“Well, you heard her, let’s go inside, and see you guys later.” Abby groaned.
That’s when I saw Desi making a daisy crown in the grass. “Hey, so that’s where you ran off to, cool crown. Oh, and by the way Eragon, this is Desi. She is one of my friends along with Abby.”
“Yes, I saw her earlier, sitting at our table. Nice to meet you.”
Then, I heard a voice calling from the sidewalk. “Hey, is that you guys over there?”
I knew without having to look who the voice belonged to. It was the voice of one of the most perverted boys on campus, Israel Gonzalez. I was about to rush Eragon away, but it was too late. He was already headed our way. Even though Izzie was one of my many friends I was dubious about how Eragon would react to the kinds of jokes he cracked. Eragon looked like one of those well brought up boys who never really encountered the ways of the perverted world of teenage guys.
“Hey! What’s crackin down here in psycho-ville?” He inquired with a sardonic smile. I fought the impulse to punch him in the arm. I held back because I knew that it wouldn’t make any difference. I then proceeded to introduce Eragon to Izzie.
“Nothing much. Hey Izzie, meet Eragon. He’s just fresh out of the real world and he brought a friend. her name is Arya. Sorry though, she and Abby had to do their laundry.”
“Oh, that’s okay; I’ll do her laundry any day.” Izzie pronounced this with a grin that had way to much pleasure written across it to be clean minded. I could not stop a fist from connecting with his arm and made it as hard as possible. His jokes were funny in a sick and sadistic way that showed he spent way too much time with his head in the gutter. Boys will be boys no matter if they’re sighted or so blind that they could barely see the nose in front of their face.
“Now Izzie, you are gonna have to explain that one to Dezi, cause you guys are sorta dating. And plus who’s laundry are you going to do exactly?” I decided that I did not want that question answered and hastily made my escape plan.
“Well, anyway, I need to go. I have my sanity to keep and you and Dezi need a little alone time to reconstruct the little mess you just made. Besides, Eragon needs a real tour of the campus not some hoity toity staff thing, if you catch my meanin.”
“Oh, Great, thanks a whole darn much, Aubree. Now he is going to go on and on with fantasies about us alone.” Dezi said this with false anger. She never got angry with Izzie or if she did, it was for a good reason.
I took Eragon’s hand and led him away. I knew by the end of this week he would not be the same person, or at least he wouldn’t be so ignorant about the perverted world that most of the school lived in. I at least did my best to try to keep a handle on my thoughts and actions. I was not someone to give my heart up easily. I had learned my lesson long ago.
AUBREE
I stared at him beside me at the dinner table. Abby had informed me that there was something odd about the new students while I was in my room trying out the new garb I had purchased. They did not look too odd to me, but then I was not the detective that she was. They both had strange accents but that was not too abnormal.
Dinner ended and as we put our plates into the dishwasher, Jillian asked for quiet.
“Victoria Stillwell is on tonight, who wants to watch it?”
There was a collective groan from the room and only one or two cheers. “Hasty escape time,” whispered Abby and we all filed out the door. I winked at autumn and she nodded back.
The evening was cool and refreshing. Eragon pointed at one of the school’s form of amusements and asked, “What is that?”
I gave him a funny look and thought ‘note to self, Abby was right.’
“That, my friend, is a tire swing. You sit on it and people push you. It is a lot of fun.”
“Can I try?” he asked mockingly.
I gave my most evil smile. “Sure, if you’re not scared.”
“Aubree, I don’t know if this is such a good idea…” Abby trailed off as she realized my plan.
Eragon hoisted himself onto the tire swing, sitting the wrong way.
“You’re not supposed to sit on it like that.” I commented.
“Just get on with it.” He growled.
“It’s your funeral, or should I say, your manhood’s funeral.”
He hastily changed his seat to a more comfortable one.
I grabbed the chains and started to spin him around me, then I pulled on one particular chain and then let go. I moved as fast as I could to get out of the way. I heard a whoop behind me as I tripped and landed face first in the grass. I pushed myself up on my elbows and looked to see Arya staring worriedly at me.
“Are you all right?” Eragon called from the spinning tire swing.
“She’s fine, she trips all the time, and she is one of the most klutz’s people I know.” Abby yelled to Eragon.
“Thanks Abby,” I muttered.
As I got up from the ground, Autumn’s voice floated from the cottage.
“Abby, come do your laundry and bring Arya with you, so you can show her how it’s done.”
“Well, you heard her, let’s go inside, and see you guys later.” Abby groaned.
That’s when I saw Desi making a daisy crown in the grass. “Hey, so that’s where you ran off to, cool crown. Oh, and by the way Eragon, this is Desi. She is one of my friends along with Abby.”
“Yes, I saw her earlier, sitting at our table. Nice to meet you.”
Then, I heard a voice calling from the sidewalk. “Hey, is that you guys over there?”
I knew without having to look who the voice belonged to. It was the voice of one of the most perverted boys on campus, Israel Gonzalez. I was about to rush Eragon away, but it was too late. He was already headed our way. Even though Izzie was one of my many friends I was dubious about how Eragon would react to the kinds of jokes he cracked. Eragon looked like one of those well brought up boys who never really encountered the ways of the perverted world of teenage guys.
“Hey! What’s crackin down here in psycho-ville?” He inquired with a sardonic smile. I fought the impulse to punch him in the arm. I held back because I knew that it wouldn’t make any difference. I then proceeded to introduce Eragon to Izzie.
“Nothing much. Hey Izzie, meet Eragon. He’s just fresh out of the real world and he brought a friend. her name is Arya. Sorry though, she and Abby had to do their laundry.”
“Oh, that’s okay; I’ll do her laundry any day.” Izzie pronounced this with a grin that had way to much pleasure written across it to be clean minded. I could not stop a fist from connecting with his arm and made it as hard as possible. His jokes were funny in a sick and sadistic way that showed he spent way too much time with his head in the gutter. Boys will be boys no matter if they’re sighted or so blind that they could barely see the nose in front of their face.
“Now Izzie, you are gonna have to explain that one to Dezi, cause you guys are sorta dating. And plus who’s laundry are you going to do exactly?” I decided that I did not want that question answered and hastily made my escape plan.
“Well, anyway, I need to go. I have my sanity to keep and you and Dezi need a little alone time to reconstruct the little mess you just made. Besides, Eragon needs a real tour of the campus not some hoity toity staff thing, if you catch my meanin.”
“Oh, Great, thanks a whole darn much, Aubree. Now he is going to go on and on with fantasies about us alone.” Dezi said this with false anger. She never got angry with Izzie or if she did, it was for a good reason.
I took Eragon’s hand and led him away. I knew by the end of this week he would not be the same person, or at least he wouldn’t be so ignorant about the perverted world that most of the school lived in. I at least did my best to try to keep a handle on my thoughts and actions. I was not someone to give my heart up easily. I had learned my lesson long ago.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Captured Hearts, Chapter 3
Chapter 3
ERAGON
I stood outside of the forbidden hall waiting for Arya and the girl, Abby to return. I got bored and decided to go sit in one of the weird table chairs. I surreptitiously studied my surroundings or at least what I could see of them. Everything looked so fragile and alien. Boxes with strange buttons and lights sat on a low shelf. My mentors had said that these were computers. What use they served, I didn’t know. One of the supposed sane girls bumped into me and introduced herself.
“Hi?”
“Hello.”
“Who are you?”
“I am Eragon. Who are you?”
“Jackie, Cool name, I’ve never heard a name like that. So where do you live?”
“Um, here for now.”
“Well yeah, everyone lives here for the week what about the weekend.”
My mind raced to answer her question somewhat truthfully. What had that one woman said? “Oh, we are not too sure we will stay with two different families and switch back and forth between them.”
“So it’s like foreign exchange, that’s cool. My friend Li Qin is from China, she is here for a year or more.”
“I met her, very interesting character.”
Our conversation ceased as Arya, Abby, and another girl came down the hall. This girl had the most exquisitely colored hair. Even compared to the other two her hair was her most dominant feature.
“Eragon, this is Aubree,” Abby announced.
“Nice to meet you,” I said
“You to,” she murmured smiling.
“Now that that’s over with, I am going to go do my homework before dinner.” Exclaimed Jacki.
I heaved a sigh as Jackie disappeared into the forbidden hall.
“Are you okay?” asked Abby in a concerned voice.
“Yes, just glad to not be bombarded with questions I cannot answer very well.”
“Well, that’s Jackie for you,” Abby commented. Silence rained for a couple of minutes. Then from within the long haul a shriek was heard.
“TIME FOR DINNER!!!!!”
I think I jumped about five feet in the air and stumbled into Aubree.
“Sorry about that.” I apologized.
I noticed that she had grabbed my arm to steady both of us. She let go with her cheeks burning. I turned to see Arya staring at us, a smirk on her face.
“Who in all goodness was that?” she asked in a bewildered tone.
“Oh, that was just Kelsey. She is the loudest around here. You do not want to see her when she is hyper.” Autumn commented.
“Warning noted we will not cross paths with her when she is hyper. I responded quickly.
“Dinner is ready, first come first serve.” Autumn called.
We all lined up and were given plates with some kind of meat sauce over a biscuit, and some sort of salad.
“Just the salad please.” asked Arya, her usual politeness ever present.
“Come sit with us!” called Aubree and Abby from a nearby table.
We walked over and sat at a round table made of some hard material, definitely not wood. Our table was most likely the quietest. Only Abby, Aubree, Jackie and a new girl who had brown hair talked. The new girl spoke in low tones.
At another table, the noise was close to unbearable. A girl with fiery red hair was talking animatedly with another who looked to be not really hearing her. How she could manage this I did not know. Some other girls just sat and ate their food mechanically, as if they were in their own worlds.
Arya leaned over to my ear. “Why did Brom send us here of all places, it makes no sense. There are better things we could be doing.”
I looked around quickly to make sure no one was listening and spoke in a whisper, “My guess is as good as yours, but there must be a good reason. Brom would not send us to such a perilous world for a laugh."
ERAGON
I stood outside of the forbidden hall waiting for Arya and the girl, Abby to return. I got bored and decided to go sit in one of the weird table chairs. I surreptitiously studied my surroundings or at least what I could see of them. Everything looked so fragile and alien. Boxes with strange buttons and lights sat on a low shelf. My mentors had said that these were computers. What use they served, I didn’t know. One of the supposed sane girls bumped into me and introduced herself.
“Hi?”
“Hello.”
“Who are you?”
“I am Eragon. Who are you?”
“Jackie, Cool name, I’ve never heard a name like that. So where do you live?”
“Um, here for now.”
“Well yeah, everyone lives here for the week what about the weekend.”
My mind raced to answer her question somewhat truthfully. What had that one woman said? “Oh, we are not too sure we will stay with two different families and switch back and forth between them.”
“So it’s like foreign exchange, that’s cool. My friend Li Qin is from China, she is here for a year or more.”
“I met her, very interesting character.”
Our conversation ceased as Arya, Abby, and another girl came down the hall. This girl had the most exquisitely colored hair. Even compared to the other two her hair was her most dominant feature.
“Eragon, this is Aubree,” Abby announced.
“Nice to meet you,” I said
“You to,” she murmured smiling.
“Now that that’s over with, I am going to go do my homework before dinner.” Exclaimed Jacki.
I heaved a sigh as Jackie disappeared into the forbidden hall.
“Are you okay?” asked Abby in a concerned voice.
“Yes, just glad to not be bombarded with questions I cannot answer very well.”
“Well, that’s Jackie for you,” Abby commented. Silence rained for a couple of minutes. Then from within the long haul a shriek was heard.
“TIME FOR DINNER!!!!!”
I think I jumped about five feet in the air and stumbled into Aubree.
“Sorry about that.” I apologized.
I noticed that she had grabbed my arm to steady both of us. She let go with her cheeks burning. I turned to see Arya staring at us, a smirk on her face.
“Who in all goodness was that?” she asked in a bewildered tone.
“Oh, that was just Kelsey. She is the loudest around here. You do not want to see her when she is hyper.” Autumn commented.
“Warning noted we will not cross paths with her when she is hyper. I responded quickly.
“Dinner is ready, first come first serve.” Autumn called.
We all lined up and were given plates with some kind of meat sauce over a biscuit, and some sort of salad.
“Just the salad please.” asked Arya, her usual politeness ever present.
“Come sit with us!” called Aubree and Abby from a nearby table.
We walked over and sat at a round table made of some hard material, definitely not wood. Our table was most likely the quietest. Only Abby, Aubree, Jackie and a new girl who had brown hair talked. The new girl spoke in low tones.
At another table, the noise was close to unbearable. A girl with fiery red hair was talking animatedly with another who looked to be not really hearing her. How she could manage this I did not know. Some other girls just sat and ate their food mechanically, as if they were in their own worlds.
Arya leaned over to my ear. “Why did Brom send us here of all places, it makes no sense. There are better things we could be doing.”
I looked around quickly to make sure no one was listening and spoke in a whisper, “My guess is as good as yours, but there must be a good reason. Brom would not send us to such a perilous world for a laugh."
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Captured Hearts, Chapter 2
Chapter 2
I didn't realize what Eragon meant until we got back to the cottage after school was out. I rang the bell to get someone to answer the door. Eventually, Autumn answered the door with her customary "Hi Abby.”
It was then I realized more people were in the front room than normal. I recognized Mrs. Mowry's voice. I wondered why on earth she'd be here, but was soon enlightened. A smooth female voice answered Mrs. Mowry. "Thank you for your hospitality." My interest was piqued. This must be Eragon's "companion" he had spoken about. My questions were soon answered by Mrs. Mowry who must have spotted me.
"Abby? Can you come over for a second?" I stepped over. "This is Arya, she's with Eragon." Mrs. Mowry informed, by way of introduction. I put out my hand in the general direction I thought Arya might be and found her hand. It was smooth and cool and she gripped firmly.
"It is a pleasure to meet you." she said carefully releasing my hand. We lapsed into silence and as it didn’t look like she was going to start off I asked, "So what grade are you in?”
"I am in the tenth grade." she answered without a flaw to her smooth wording. I wondered who her parents were; I couldn't imagine another smooth velvet voice like hers. My analysis of Arya was interrupted by the arrival of someone.
"Oh good, you found the place." said Eragon's voice from right beside Arya. It must have startled her too because she snapped an intelligible sound of annoyance.
"Don't do that!" she finally snapped.
"Sorry!” he responded. She muttered something that sounded suspiciously like "idiot.”
"I am not an idiot!" he said hotly. I listened as they fought with interest. What were they, really? From the sound of things, they were together, but I couldn't be sure and I wasn't about to ask one of them for fear of being perceived as a nosy snoot...
I was interrupted yet again by the doorbell right over my head. "Oww!" I yelled on reflex. I heard Jackie come in and go to the kitchen. I was about to leave when I heard Autumn say “Jackie, Jackie, Jackie!” very loudly.
She of course responded with “Autumn, Autumn, Autumn!” equally as loud. Even if it was strange, it did accomplish one thing. I realized the fight that was previously going on behind me had ceased. I felt a tap on my shoulder and I heard Eragon lean over and whisper in my ear.
“Are those two sane?”
I chuckled and replied. “Yes, it’s just one of those weird blind school things, you’ll get used to it.”
Autumn walked over to us and said, “Abby, can you show Arya to her room please? Dinner will be in 15 minutes.”
I agreed and turned in the direction to the hall while Automn turned to Eragon.
“Eragon, I know this is your first day here so if you are more comfortable staying nears someone you know, and then you can eat with us.” Autumn invited.
“He doesn’t have to.” said Arya earnestly.
“If that would be all right with you I would prefer to have dinner to meet more people and stay near Arya.” Was his swift answer.
Well, that answered the relationship question. Even so, I still wondered why they were so close and why they had come to the blind school together.
I didn't realize what Eragon meant until we got back to the cottage after school was out. I rang the bell to get someone to answer the door. Eventually, Autumn answered the door with her customary "Hi Abby.”
It was then I realized more people were in the front room than normal. I recognized Mrs. Mowry's voice. I wondered why on earth she'd be here, but was soon enlightened. A smooth female voice answered Mrs. Mowry. "Thank you for your hospitality." My interest was piqued. This must be Eragon's "companion" he had spoken about. My questions were soon answered by Mrs. Mowry who must have spotted me.
"Abby? Can you come over for a second?" I stepped over. "This is Arya, she's with Eragon." Mrs. Mowry informed, by way of introduction. I put out my hand in the general direction I thought Arya might be and found her hand. It was smooth and cool and she gripped firmly.
"It is a pleasure to meet you." she said carefully releasing my hand. We lapsed into silence and as it didn’t look like she was going to start off I asked, "So what grade are you in?”
"I am in the tenth grade." she answered without a flaw to her smooth wording. I wondered who her parents were; I couldn't imagine another smooth velvet voice like hers. My analysis of Arya was interrupted by the arrival of someone.
"Oh good, you found the place." said Eragon's voice from right beside Arya. It must have startled her too because she snapped an intelligible sound of annoyance.
"Don't do that!" she finally snapped.
"Sorry!” he responded. She muttered something that sounded suspiciously like "idiot.”
"I am not an idiot!" he said hotly. I listened as they fought with interest. What were they, really? From the sound of things, they were together, but I couldn't be sure and I wasn't about to ask one of them for fear of being perceived as a nosy snoot...
I was interrupted yet again by the doorbell right over my head. "Oww!" I yelled on reflex. I heard Jackie come in and go to the kitchen. I was about to leave when I heard Autumn say “Jackie, Jackie, Jackie!” very loudly.
She of course responded with “Autumn, Autumn, Autumn!” equally as loud. Even if it was strange, it did accomplish one thing. I realized the fight that was previously going on behind me had ceased. I felt a tap on my shoulder and I heard Eragon lean over and whisper in my ear.
“Are those two sane?”
I chuckled and replied. “Yes, it’s just one of those weird blind school things, you’ll get used to it.”
Autumn walked over to us and said, “Abby, can you show Arya to her room please? Dinner will be in 15 minutes.”
I agreed and turned in the direction to the hall while Automn turned to Eragon.
“Eragon, I know this is your first day here so if you are more comfortable staying nears someone you know, and then you can eat with us.” Autumn invited.
“He doesn’t have to.” said Arya earnestly.
“If that would be all right with you I would prefer to have dinner to meet more people and stay near Arya.” Was his swift answer.
Well, that answered the relationship question. Even so, I still wondered why they were so close and why they had come to the blind school together.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Captured Hearts, Chapter One
Captured Hearts
By Abbyforth
With help from
Azuru99 and Dark Phionix
Chapter 1
ABBY
"Today class," said Mrs. Tate, "I have a few announcements before you start your blogs.”
"Oh my!" said Li Qin (AKA Rebecca) loudly.
"Let her talk!" Andy mumbled.
"Thank you Andy." said Mrs. Tate pretending she hadn’t been interrupted. "We are going to have a new member in class."
"Who?" asked Jillian. I knew she would already be thinking of ways she could "befriend" the new student. Then I realized we didn't even know the gender of the student.
"His name is Eragon." Oh great. I could see it now, Jillian trying to hit on Eragon. My musings were interrupted by the door opening. The voice of Mrs. Mowry said "This is your English class."
She turned to us and said, "Guys, this is Eragon. He is new here so please make him welcome.”
"Hey Eragon!" said Rebecca enthusiastically. When he spoke, it was with a strange accent that I couldn't place.
"Thank you." Those two words bounced around the room in the silence that followed.
"The rest of the period we will introduce ourselves and talk." said Mrs. Tate.
"Yay!” Rebecca cheered. We went around the room starting with Jillian.
"Hey, I'm Jillian Quigley and I live in Seattle. I love animals and Victoria Stillwell is my idle!" she said happily.
"Don't worry," I cut in swiftly before she got going, "you don't have to know who Victoria Stillwell is. She makes us watch it in the cottage." I tried to sound reassuring. Andy went next.
"Hey, what’s up? I'm Andy and I want to be a rapper." he mumbled. So far Eragon had said not a word. Rebecca went next.
"Hey, I'm Rebecca or Li Qin, I'm from China. I like listening to music and playing in band!" Still no response. What was up with this guy? I seriously hoped Tyler could get a response out of him and I was glad he was the next to go.
"Hey, I'm Tyler. I'm the Student Council President so don't hesitate to ask me any questions.”
"Thank you Tyler, I will most likely seek you out for any questions we may have." He finally said smoothly. What was up with the way he spoke? It was like he was from another time or something. I shrugged it off as it was at last, my turn.
"Hey, I'm Abby. I like reading and writing and listening to music. I live in Chapman Cottage so if you have any questions about the campus, you can come to me.”
"Thank you. I will pass what you said along to my companion." He spoke carefully as if he didn't want to give too much away. I vowed right then and there I would get to the bottom of this.
By Abbyforth
With help from
Azuru99 and Dark Phionix
Chapter 1
ABBY
"Today class," said Mrs. Tate, "I have a few announcements before you start your blogs.”
"Oh my!" said Li Qin (AKA Rebecca) loudly.
"Let her talk!" Andy mumbled.
"Thank you Andy." said Mrs. Tate pretending she hadn’t been interrupted. "We are going to have a new member in class."
"Who?" asked Jillian. I knew she would already be thinking of ways she could "befriend" the new student. Then I realized we didn't even know the gender of the student.
"His name is Eragon." Oh great. I could see it now, Jillian trying to hit on Eragon. My musings were interrupted by the door opening. The voice of Mrs. Mowry said "This is your English class."
She turned to us and said, "Guys, this is Eragon. He is new here so please make him welcome.”
"Hey Eragon!" said Rebecca enthusiastically. When he spoke, it was with a strange accent that I couldn't place.
"Thank you." Those two words bounced around the room in the silence that followed.
"The rest of the period we will introduce ourselves and talk." said Mrs. Tate.
"Yay!” Rebecca cheered. We went around the room starting with Jillian.
"Hey, I'm Jillian Quigley and I live in Seattle. I love animals and Victoria Stillwell is my idle!" she said happily.
"Don't worry," I cut in swiftly before she got going, "you don't have to know who Victoria Stillwell is. She makes us watch it in the cottage." I tried to sound reassuring. Andy went next.
"Hey, what’s up? I'm Andy and I want to be a rapper." he mumbled. So far Eragon had said not a word. Rebecca went next.
"Hey, I'm Rebecca or Li Qin, I'm from China. I like listening to music and playing in band!" Still no response. What was up with this guy? I seriously hoped Tyler could get a response out of him and I was glad he was the next to go.
"Hey, I'm Tyler. I'm the Student Council President so don't hesitate to ask me any questions.”
"Thank you Tyler, I will most likely seek you out for any questions we may have." He finally said smoothly. What was up with the way he spoke? It was like he was from another time or something. I shrugged it off as it was at last, my turn.
"Hey, I'm Abby. I like reading and writing and listening to music. I live in Chapman Cottage so if you have any questions about the campus, you can come to me.”
"Thank you. I will pass what you said along to my companion." He spoke carefully as if he didn't want to give too much away. I vowed right then and there I would get to the bottom of this.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Captured Hearts, Prologue
Hi!
This story is on my FFN account, but is not quite as updated. I will post the whole thing, then when I post new chapters, I will post them here as well as
fanfiction.net
I'm only going to post the information for this story once.
Title: Captured Hearts
Author(s): Abbyforth, DarkPhionix, Azuru99
Outtakes written by: Whitewolf819
Rating on ff.net: T
Fandom: Inheritance Cyce
Pairings: Murtagh/Abby, Eragon/Aubree, Arya/? Saphira/Thorn
Full summary: This takes place during Eldest. At the end of Eragon's training, Brom and Oromis give him and Arya one last test/mission. In this they will lose part of their sight and most of their powers. They are sent to a school for the blind where there are supposed people who could help them in the struggle to come. As they fight to figure out why they were sent there, they encounter modern marvels, teenage life at its weirdest, and a way of living that is both insightful and chaotic to experience. In this story you will see into the lives and perspectives of not just Eragon and Arya, but also people with real life visual problems and how they are just like you. This is a good story with lots of humor and maybe a kiss or two, depending on what you call a kiss. I don't know if tears will be shed, but maybe, you will get a new look at Arya and Eragon from our point of view.
Prologue
It was the last day. Eragon and Arya stood waiting for Brom and Oromis's orders to go and hopefully, enjoy the last day they would stay in Du Weldinvardin. There were rumors whispered that Nasuada was preparing for battle. Rumors most likely, but still both were anxious to see the truth for themselves. Brom and Oromis appeared out of the house Oromis lived in.
"We have decided to send you both on one last test. This is made to see if you can truly work as a team with both Arya and Saphira in unfamiliar terrain and culture. You might also find some recruits to help our cause. This people have magic within, even though they do not know this. You have two months to fulfill this mission and come back or all is lost, I fear." Oromis said this in a mild tone, although the statement was a shock for both Arya and Eragon.
"Where is this place, and what great people live there that are more qualified than our own?" asked Eragon.
"Not where exactly but when, this is a separate dimension from our world and in some ways more advanced in others they are less so. We are sending you to the 21st century to a land called America. You will be losing some of your sight and power to be more inconspicuous. Both of you will have physical transfermations, for in their world you are things of story and mith. Many a magical and mysttical being has wandered into their realm unprotected, and they were slaughtered, or hid away, and few rarely have lived on into this age of the race you will be sent to. Be wary for Galbatorix may know of such portals and guess at what is going on. May the stars watch over you, you leave immediately."
Enjoy, and happy reading!
This story is on my FFN account, but is not quite as updated. I will post the whole thing, then when I post new chapters, I will post them here as well as
fanfiction.net
I'm only going to post the information for this story once.
Title: Captured Hearts
Author(s): Abbyforth, DarkPhionix, Azuru99
Outtakes written by: Whitewolf819
Rating on ff.net: T
Fandom: Inheritance Cyce
Pairings: Murtagh/Abby, Eragon/Aubree, Arya/? Saphira/Thorn
Full summary: This takes place during Eldest. At the end of Eragon's training, Brom and Oromis give him and Arya one last test/mission. In this they will lose part of their sight and most of their powers. They are sent to a school for the blind where there are supposed people who could help them in the struggle to come. As they fight to figure out why they were sent there, they encounter modern marvels, teenage life at its weirdest, and a way of living that is both insightful and chaotic to experience. In this story you will see into the lives and perspectives of not just Eragon and Arya, but also people with real life visual problems and how they are just like you. This is a good story with lots of humor and maybe a kiss or two, depending on what you call a kiss. I don't know if tears will be shed, but maybe, you will get a new look at Arya and Eragon from our point of view.
Prologue
It was the last day. Eragon and Arya stood waiting for Brom and Oromis's orders to go and hopefully, enjoy the last day they would stay in Du Weldinvardin. There were rumors whispered that Nasuada was preparing for battle. Rumors most likely, but still both were anxious to see the truth for themselves. Brom and Oromis appeared out of the house Oromis lived in.
"We have decided to send you both on one last test. This is made to see if you can truly work as a team with both Arya and Saphira in unfamiliar terrain and culture. You might also find some recruits to help our cause. This people have magic within, even though they do not know this. You have two months to fulfill this mission and come back or all is lost, I fear." Oromis said this in a mild tone, although the statement was a shock for both Arya and Eragon.
"Where is this place, and what great people live there that are more qualified than our own?" asked Eragon.
"Not where exactly but when, this is a separate dimension from our world and in some ways more advanced in others they are less so. We are sending you to the 21st century to a land called America. You will be losing some of your sight and power to be more inconspicuous. Both of you will have physical transfermations, for in their world you are things of story and mith. Many a magical and mysttical being has wandered into their realm unprotected, and they were slaughtered, or hid away, and few rarely have lived on into this age of the race you will be sent to. Be wary for Galbatorix may know of such portals and guess at what is going on. May the stars watch over you, you leave immediately."
Enjoy, and happy reading!
Hi Everyone!
I'm creating this blog to post my writing. I hope it get's read. I will be posting some things I posted in my old blog, just so you know!
I'll have a piece up later today!
For now, check out my fanfiction.net account, which is
http://www.fanfiction.net/~abbyforth
Have a good day everyone, and happy writing!
Abby
I'll have a piece up later today!
For now, check out my fanfiction.net account, which is
http://www.fanfiction.net/~abbyforth
Have a good day everyone, and happy writing!
Abby
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