Fate: An Inheritance Cycle Fan Fiction

((Alright. You guys asked for it! ))
Chapter 3

Annabeth's Story

Once Eragon had left, Annabeth ended her sparring session. She sheathed her sword and walked away from the crowd to Angela's tent to grab her water flask.

She was about to walk into the tent, but she heard Eragon's voice and stopped.

"Annabeth is the daughter of a Forsworn."

"Damn it!" Annabeth thought. "I knew I never should've told him her name!"

"How long have you two known this?" Eragon asked.

"Since yesterday," Annabeth heard Angela say. "After you asked us."

"What are we going to do?"

"The last time we had the child of a Forsworn here, we were betrayed. I don't think we should risk something like that again." Arya said. "We should at least present this to Nasuada. She can decide Annabeth's fate."

Annabeth had started to back away when she heard that. She was in another place where she could die at any moment. She almost burst into tears from her memories of Urû'baen.

"No." Annabeth whispered to herself. "Not again. I need to stay strong."

She then walked into Angela's tent to see Arya, Angela and Eragon staring at her. She ignored their stares and grabbed her water flask.

"What's going on?" Annabeth asked, pretending she hadn't heard anything.

"You tell us." Arya said. "Callistasdaughter."

Annabeth took a drink from her flask, and looked at Arya. "So you know." She said. "What now?"

"We're going to Nasuada. We'll find out there." Angela said.

"Can I just have a moment to explain?" Annabeth asked.

"No." Arya hissed. "You'll get your chance when Nasuada decides."

Annabeth sighed. She could tell the elf didn't like her. "Fine."

With that said, Arya led them to Nasuada's tent.

"You're taking this well." Eragon said to Annabeth.

"This isn't the first time I've been judged because of my mother." Annabeth said quietly. "I'm used to it now."

Eragon nodded. He knew the feeling. When he had thought Morzan was his father, people seemed to treat him differently untill he learned the truth.

"What about you?" She asked. "You seem to be taken this well. The whole 'Child of a Forsworn' thing."

"This isn't the first time this has happened." Eragon said. "I had another friend who was the son of a Forsworn."

"It was Murtagh wasn't it."

Eragon looked at her surprised. "How did you know that?"

Annabeth was silent for a moment. "He mentioned you."

"Mentioned me? Where did you…"

"You'll find out in a few moments." She said, cutting him off. Eragon didn't ask anything else after that.

When they entered Nasuada's tent, she was sitting at her desk looking over a map of Alagaësia. She looked up and smiled at Arya. "What brings you here?" she asked them.

Arya handed her the book she and Eragon were reading. "Do you remember Callista Jocelynsdaughter?"

Nasuada frowned. "Yes. She was one of the Thirteen Forsworn that nearly wiped out the Varden seventeen years ago. Why?"

"Here comes the reveal, and the shock." Annabeth thought.

Arya looked at Annabeth. "We happen to have one of her daughters here."

Nasuada's eyes widened. "You're Annabeth."

Annabeth looked down at the ground, ashamed. "Yes." She said quietly. "And here comes the judging."

Nasuada gave a signal and four soldiers came to her side.

"Wait!" Eragon said. Everyone looked at him. "Give her a minute to explain herself."

"Very well." Nasuada said. She then looked a t Annabeth. "Tell us your story."

Annabeth's eyes shot up. "Thank you." She then cleared her throat, and began her story.

"My mother disappeared a month after my sister and I were born. Her dragon was killed and my father died months beforehand. My twin, Isabelle and I were raised by our grandparents in Urû'baen. They had died the day before we turned fifteen.

"After we turned fifteen, Isabelle had decided that we both get a job. A few weeks later we ended up as servants for Galbatorix. It wasn't the best job in the world, but we survived.

"We continued these jobs for two years. Isabelle became Galbatorix's best servant because of her…. Abilities. I always got in trouble with some of the soldiers because I wouldn't always follow orders. I would get hit a few times, sometimes whipped. That's where most of my scars came from. For months, I was trying to find a way out.

"It wasn't until two months ago I found it. I had a dream one night that a cloaked figure visited me in the servant's quarters and left me a silver stone on my bed. They said, 'Use it well, Annabeth.' The next morning I woke up and saw the stone on my bed.

"I reached out to touch the stone when it cracked, and I realized it was an egg. That was when everything started. On a day where I was relieved from my services, I took my dragon to the forest and had her hide out there in the trees.

"A month later, my dragon had grown and revealed to me that is was a female. I named her Stardust, because when she flew at night, she looked like a shooting star. That was also how she was able to keep away from soldiers. She flew at night, and hid in the mountains.

"One day I was approached by a soldier. He questioned me about why I always left the castle and ran off to the woods. I didn't answer him, which resulted in me getting hit. It was that night, I decided to leave.

"Isabelle knew how badly I wanted to leave and that night she helped me escape. Using her abilities, she found a door way that led out of the castle. I fled, but somehow, the soldiers knew of my plans. They started chasing after me. I told Star to fly ahead of me and to make sure she stayed out of sight.

"After a few days, I'd lost the soldiers. I don't remember much after that. I do remember Stardust telling me something, and then I ended up here. I haven't been able to contact Star since."

When she finished, Nasuada looked at her. "Now tell me this Annabeth," she said. "Do you wish to bring down Galbatorix?"

Annabeth was silent for a moment. But then she spoke in the Ancient Language.

"Yes."

Nasuada smiled. "Very well then. From this moment forward Annabeth; you serve as a Rider for the Varden. Eragon will be your mentor."

She then looked at Eragon. "Do you object to this?"

Eragon looked at Annabeth, then at Nasuada. Annabeth looked at him as if to say that she wanted him to train her.

After a few moments, he said,"No. I do not object."

"Good. Annabeth, you start training tomorrow" Nasuada said. She returned to her map, and then looked up at them again. "You are dismissed."

"Where will I be staying?" Annabeth asked.

"With me." Angela said, before Nasuada could say a word.

With that said, everyone left the tent. Eragon stopped Annabeth when they were outside.

"You still didn't explain about Murtagh." He said.

Annabeth turned and looked him in the eyes. Her eyes seemed to grow darker. "Some things are just better left unsaid Eragon."

She then turned away and walked with Angela, leaving Eragon to ponder her words.

"What do you think she meant by that?" Eragon asked Saphira

"I don't know, but i can tell you she isn't telling us everything."

"i think so too." He agreed. "I definatly want to know more about her."

Saphira smiled.

"What?" Eragon asked.

"Oh nothing." Saphira said, dismissing the conversation.

She didn't know much about human affections, but she knew one thing.

Eragon was going to be spending a lot of time with Annabeth.




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((A note to anybody that participates in my Eragon RP, this Fan Fiction does not reflect that RP in any way.))

Chapter 4

Training

Annabeth stood in a dark room lit only by the moonlight shining through a barred window. She could hear a female voice whispering words to herself. A door opened, and light poured into the room. The woman sitting on the floor put an arm up to shield her eyes. Annabeth recognized the woman the minute the light came in.

It was her sister, Isabelle.

Isabelle didn't look at all like Annabeth. She had blonde hair and brown eyes. From stories Annabeth had heard, Isabelle got her looks from her father, and Annabeth got hers from her mother.

Annabeth turned to see a man enter the room, which she could now tell was a prison cell.

"Isabelle, we need to talk." The man said. He had black hair, and grey eyes. Annabeth recognized this man as well and the moment she realized who it was anger and hate filled her heart.

"I have nothing to say to you Murtagh." Isabelle said. "I told you already, I don't know what happened to Annabeth."

"I think you're lying." Murtagh said. "And so does Galbatorix. We both know about your magic, and we both know you know something about Annabeth's disappearance. You might as well tell me know. Galbatorix plans on interrogating you soon, and if you don't cooperate with him, things will only get worse for you."

"I don't give a damn what you do to me." Isabelle shot back. "Do what you wish."

"Let me handle this, Murtagh." Another voice said. Murtagh moved to the side and a cloaked figure entered the cell. He raised his hand and whispered, "Jierda."

There was a loud snapping sound, and Isabelle screamed in pain. She cursed loudly, and Annabeth could tell that it was the Ancient Language. She knew very little of it though, and couldn't tell what Isabelle said.

Annabeth wanted to run and help her twin. she wanted to force the same pain her sister was enduring on the cloaked man. tears filled Annabeth's eyes, for she knew she could do none of these things. Isabelle was on her own.

"Where is she!" the man hissed.

"I don't know!" Isabelle cried. "I honestly don't know."

"You do know you little liar! Tell me know or else."

"I don't…."

"Jierda!" the man shouted again.

Isabelle's words were cut off by her screams. Annabeth winced and burst into tears. In her mind she screamed out Isabelle's name, and found herself screaming it physically as well.

Murtagh grabbed the man's arm and pulled it away from Isabelle. The man quickly spun around and smacked Murtagh across the face, sending him to the ground.

"You know better than to do that boy!" The man growled. He then turned to Isabelle. "And as for you, don't think that this is over. You will tell me what I want to know, even if I have to break every bone in your body to get it from you."

The man turned and walked away. "Murtagh, come."

Murtagh jumped up and followed the man out of the cell. The door closed, and was bolted shut from the outside.

When they left, Isabelle burst into tears.

Annabeth got down next to her, even though she knew Isabelle couldn't see her.

She touched her twin's tear streaked face. "I'm sorry you have to go through this." She whispered, tears falling to the floor. "I swear I'll come rescue you, and I'll make that man pay for this. I swear on my life."

Isabelle looked up as if she heard Annabeth's words, she opened her mouth to speak, but then a bright light flashed, and Annabeth awoke.

Annabeth came to Eragon that morning ready to begin her training Nasuada had told her to start on. The only thing she brought with her was her sword.

Eragon had noticed that the circles under her eyes had grown darker. "Are you getting enough sleep?" he asked.

Annabeth nodded. "I'm fine. Just had a rough night last night."

Eragon drooped the conversation, but he wasn't convinced. "She's not telling me everything."

"Maybe you need to gain her trust first." Saphira suggested.

"Maybe." The, out loud, Eragon said to Annabeth, "Alright then, let's get started. How much of the Ancient Language do you know?"

"I know a little bit. My sister taught me some of it in case I needed it."

"What did she teach you?"

"She taught me break and lightning. I also know that phrase you told me the other night."

"That's a pretty good start." Eragon said. "Can you pronounce them correctly?"

Annabeth shrugged. "I honestly don't know. I can say 'I am a Rider and friend' correctly, because I kept repeating it after my dream."

"Alright. Follow me."

He led her outside to the training ground. There were a few straw dummies set up. "Try hitting those with the spells Isabelle taught you. If you can say the correctly, we'll move on. If not, I'll help you."

Annabeth walked over to one of the dummies, and took a deep breath. She shot out her right hand, and said, "Jierda!"

The wooden stand the dummy said on shattered, as did the wooden frame of the dummy. Straw blasted through the air and landed in Eragon's hair. Annabeth laughed at this.

"Very good." Eragon said brushing the straw away. "A bit of a mess, but good. Try the other spell."

Annabeth walked over to the second dummy, and stood a few feet away from it. She brought up her and again and said, "Kveykva!"

Stream of lightning shot from her palm and struck the dummy. The smell of burning straw filled the air.

"She's a good fighter, and a good magic user." Eragon thought.

The force from her spell was so great, that Annabeth was knocked to the ground a few seconds after casting it. The lightning stopped as her concentration broke.

Eragon ran over to help her up. "That was good." He said when she was back on her feet. "But next time, don't put so much energy into it. Are you alight?"

Annabeth nodded wearily. "That last spell drained me."

Eragon took her hand that had her gedwey ignasia, and slowly gave her some of his own energy.

"There." Eragon said after a few minutes. "Feel better?"

She nodded. "Thank you."

"No problem." Eragon said, letting go of her hand. "Just focus on the amount of energy you put in a spell. if you use too much, you could end up knocking yourself unconscious, or killing youself."

"Good to know." Annabeth said. "Last thing i want is to end up dead trying to fix my hair."

Eragon laughed at this, and so did Annabeth. Saphira was smiling at Eragon, and she winked at him.

"What?" Eragon asked.

Saphira's smiled widened. "Oh nothing. just continue on with the lesson."

"Quit doing that!"

"Doing what?" she asked innocently.

Eragon was silent for a moment. "I... i honestly don't know. but you know what you're doing. just stop it."

Through their connection, Eragon could hear Saphira laughing, even after he and Annabeth stopped.

"I swear, you're starting to annoy me." Eragon said.

"Now what kinda of a dragon would i be if i didn't annoy my Rider every once in a while?"

Eragon didn't answer her. After he had picked up the shattered bits of training dummy, he walked with Annabeth back to his tent to continue their session.

For the rest of the morning, Eragon taught her everything in the Ancient Language that he knew. She wrote it out on a piece of parchment so she could memorize them and practice.

By the afternoon, Eragon decided to end their session. "You are doing really well. i don't think I've met a faster learner."

Annabeth smiled. "Thank you."

She was about to leave, but Eragon stopped her. "There's one more thing. I want to know how you beat me yesterday."

"I've just had years of practice. My Grandfather taught me a few things, then I picked up some other pointers from a friend in Urû'baen."

"I'd like to watch you fight." Eragon said. "If you don't mind."

"I don't." Annabeth said smiling.

Once they were back outside, Annabeth unsheathed her sword and started attacking the last dummy.

Her attacks were both fast and powerful. Her fighting style seemed very familiar to Eragon, but he could remember where he'd seen it.

Saphira's thoughts interrupted his own.

"I like her." she said "She's got attitude, and power. She's a very interesting woman."

"Everything about her seems very familiar to me." Eragon thought. "I just can't think of where I've seen it."

"Maybe you like her so much; you want to think she seems familiar." Saphira said.

"Shut up you. I don't like her... Well not like that at least. i just met her for God sake!" Eragon said.

"Then why do you keep smiling at her? and why is it for the past two days all that you've been think about is her?"

"She is not all that I've been thinking about!" Eragon protested.

"Yes she is!" Saphira said. "In fact, you're thinking about her still. even as we speak."

Eragon ignored her. "What is with her?" he thought to himself.

He turned away from her and looked back at Annabeth. Her hair was covered in straw and she was still attacking the dummy.

With a single swing of her sword, the dummy lost its head, and she ended her battle.

It was then that Eragon remembered where he had seen her fighting style. His eyes widened from the shock of realization.

"Saphira!" He shouted in his mind.

"What?"

"Annabeth. She… she fights like Murtagh!"




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Chapter 5

A Plan of Action

The next day, Nasuada had called for a meeting with the Du Vrangr Gata, and others in the Varden. The group consisted of Trianna, Roran, Arya, and Angela, Eragon, Annabeth, and a few generals.

Eragon noticed that Annabeth looked more exhausted than before. He was concerned, for he feared she was not getting enough sleep, whether it is because of studying or any other reason. He was going to ask her about it, but Nasuada had started the meeting the moment they entered.

"As most of you know, we have another rider among us, though she has no dragon…."

"That's not true." Annabeth said. "I have a dragon. I just don't know where she is. I've been unable to contact her since I got here."

"Oh, that's right." Nasuada said. "Sorry."

Annabeth nodded. It was her way of basically saying "Continue on."

"Well, as we all know, Galbatorix will want to track down Annabeth here and try to get her on his side. She has already sworn fealty to the Varden. We must come up with a plan before he does. We need an idea, which is why I've called all of you here."

"Isn't there a way we could steal the remaining egg from Galbatorix?" Roran asked. "I know we've considered this before, but it wouldn't hurt to think about it."

Trianna laughed. "Do you realize how difficult that would be? Galbatorix must have that thing locked up where no one but him could find it. and it's not like we can walk up to the castle and demand it. this option is out of the question."

Through out the meeting, Annabeth was thinking of what to do. Roran's idea made sense, but Trianna was also correct. Galbatorix did have the egg locked up, and few people knew where it was hidden. "It would be hard to steal the egg, but it's not impossible."

Suddenly, Annabeth remembered something. Isabelle had become a favorite of Galbatorix's and he had shown her things that he wouldn't even show to his dragon. Isabelle had mentioned something of a secret vault deep in the castle….

Annabeth stood up. "I think Roran has the right idea." She said. everyone turned and looked at her. she swallowed hard, and continued. "It does seem difficult to steal the egg, but I'm sure it's not impossible."

Trianna glared at her. "Great." Annabeth thought. "Someone else who doesn't like me."

"And what do you suggest we do?" Trianna asked.

"I… I suggest that I go to Urû'baen and sneak back into the castle. I could steal the egg and bring it back here."

"Do you even know where the egg is?" Nasuada asked.

"I think I have an idea on where it might be. My sister mentioned a vault somewhere in the castle. If I were to go, I would start there. If it's not there, I could look elsewhere. I know my way around the castle. I know I could do this."

"It can't be that easy." Arya said. "If it were, any of us could do it."

"That's not necessarily true." Annabeth said. "I was a servant there, as I've said before, and I could easily get past the guards there as opposed to you because I was a servant. Not everyone in the castle knows that I ran away. Galbatorix had to keep from some people or else everyone in Alagaësia would know that there's a new rider siding with the Varden."

"She has a point." Roran said. "But it's not up to us."

Everyone turned to Nasuada to see what her decision would be. After a few minutes of thinking, she looked at Annabeth again. "Someone must go with you. I can't send you on this mission alone."

Eragon stood up. "I'll go."

Nasuada looked up at him. "Eragon, I would advise against that. The Varden needs you here."

"But if Annabeth were to leave, she would be defenseless. She knows little of the Ancient Language, has no dragon with her, and is barely getting enough sleep as it is. She needs all the training she can get, and I am the one who was appointed to mentor her."

After a few moments of silence, Nasuada finally said. "Alright. You'll leave tonight. If you do not find the egg return straight here. Am I clear?"

"Yes ma'am." Annabeth and Eragon said in unison. They then looked at each other and smiled, and then they quickly looked way, remembering that others were staring at them.

Saphira didn't need to be in the tent to see what happened. "Once again, I was right." She said to herself. "I need to start getting used to this."

After the meeting, Annabeth walked to Angela's tent to grab what little she had brought with her, her sword and her water flask.

When she entered the tent, Angela was standing next to Annabeth's bed packing a bag.

Angela's Werecat, Solembum padded over to Annabeth, sat down in front of her and stared at her with his dark green eyes.

Angela looked up and smiled at Annabeth. "He likes you."

Annabeth knelt down and scratched Solembum's head. he purred for a few seconds, but then he looked at Annabeth again, then ran out of the tent.

"Apparently he doesn't like me that much." Annabeth said.

"Oh don't take it personally." Angela said, going back to her packing. "He has some things to take care of. Werecat business."

"What are you packing? I only brought two things."

"I'm giving you a few things."

"Like…?"

"A few healing elixirs, some extra clothes, and I have a few coins for you in case you need them."

"Um… Thanks." Annabeth said. "But, why are you doing this?"

Angela looked up, and smiled. "Never look a gifted horse in the mouth, Dear." Then she laughed.

When Eragon returned to his tent, he began to pack his bag as well. Saphira snaked her head into his tent, and watched him.

"So, how did the meeting go?" she asked.

"It went fine. Why?"

"You and Annabeth seem to be getting along quite well. You also seem to be spending a lot of time with her."

"Saphira, you and I have talked about this. I don't like Annabeth like that. She and I are just becoming good friends."

"I'm just saying that it seems like…" She paused. "Angela's cat is here."

"Werecat!" Another mind said. "I'm a werecat!"

"Cat. Werecat. Makes no difference to me. If they irritate me, they all taste the same."

"Saphira!" Eragon said.

"It's alright, Eragon." Solembum said. "She couldn't eat me even if she tried. Angela would turn her into a frog."

"She wouldn't dare!" Saphira growled.

"Wanna bet?" Solembum challenged. Saphira didn't reply.

"Why are you here?" Eragon asked.

"I've come to talk to you about the girl rider."

"What about her?"

"I looked into her mind. She has a very complex past. One that is full of pain and suffering. Both her own suffering and the suffering of others. I've come to warn you. Do not question her. She will tell you what you wish to know in time."

"Um… Thank you, Solembum. But why are you telling me this?"

"Because you care."

Before Eragon could ask him what he meant, the werecat had left. "He and Angela are both insane." Saphira said.

"I think we've already established that." Eragon pointed out with a smile.

"I wonder what he meant by 'because you care.'" Saphira said.

Eragon could tell where this conversation was going, and he immediately ended it. "I don't like her like that." He continued to think.

When he finally finished packing, he walked outside. The sun was setting, and the sky had turned orange. With Saphira walking beside him, he walked to the main gat that led out of Feinster and into the Spine.

"It's good to be able to go back." Eragon thought.

Saphira agreed.

"So, are you guys ready to go?"

Eragon turned and saw Annabeth standing next to him. She had changed from her tattered dress into a blue tunic and brown leggings. She still wore the same worn brown boots, but her hair was pulled back so that it was out of her face.

"Yeah." Eragon said. "We're ready."

When that was said, the gates slowly began to open. The sky was growing darker now, and soon night would fall.

Without looking back, Eragon, Annabeth, and Saphira left the city behind, and had set foot once again in the Spine.




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((I just want to say that i had some help from a friend on FanFiction.net on the past couple of chapters. She is the most amazing editor EVAR! Just wanted to give credit where credit was due,. ))

Chapter Seven

The Things Left Unsaid

"Keep your back straight," Murtagh instructed. "Don't over extend your arm, you'll hurt yourself. That's it! Just like that! Keep it up."

Annabeth was panting heavily and beads of sweat rolled down her face. Every muscle in her body was begging for rest. Murtagh had been teaching her sword fighting for over a month now and she was beginning to wish she never brought up the subject.

Almost a week after Murtagh had helped Annabeth in the kitchens; she had decided to improve on her fighting skills. Murtagh had gladly agreed to help her.

Everyday, when Annabeth was relieved from her duties, they would train for hours until Murtagh decided to stop. Some of the other servants began to gossip about the two, but Annabeth didn't care.

"Let them talk," She had thought. "It's not like they have anything better to do."

Over the time they spent together Annabeth and Murtagh had formed a close friendship, though to the servants it seemed like something more. When they weren't training, they would talk about their lives. Annabeth had learned more about him than anyone else in the castle ever would.

She learned about his father, and how much Murtagh had hated him growing up. She'd learned about the time he spent in the Varden, fighting alongside the famous Dragon Rider, Eragon. She'd also learned something no one but Galbatorix, Eragon and Murtagh himself knew: Murtagh and Eragon were brothers.

The subject seemed to bother Murtagh, and Annabeth could tell that he wasn't always giving her the full story.

But today, when Murtagh ended the lesson, Annabeth didn't stay to talk. She had started out for the woods, but Murtagh stopped her by grabbing her arm.

"Annabeth, is something wrong?" he asked, a mixture of concern and curiosity etched into those normally emotionless features.

Annabeth looked at him over her shoulder. "No. why?"

"Well, it's just that… I've noticed you going into the forest a lot lately. I was just wondering why."

Annabeth's eyes widened. She'd been caught.

"I… I just want to be alone sometimes. That's all." She stuttered.

From the way he looked at her, Annabeth could tell that he wasn't convinced. But he let go of her arm.

"You're not telling me everything," he accused, crossing his arms over his chest.

Her eyes narrowed. "Neither are you." She shot back.

Before he could say anything else, Annabeth took off for the woods.

"Annabeth! Wait!" Murtagh shouted after her, but she was too far away for him to do anything.

When she felt like she was safe, Annabeth opened up her mind and called Stardust. "Star, I think we've been caught. Murtagh started asking questions. We need to be ready tonight!"

"Alright," Stardust responded. "I'll meet you by the cliffs."

"Stay out of sight, and be careful!"

"You be careful, little one."

Suddenly, Annabeth heard a stick crack behind her and Murtagh calling her name. She gasped and spun around.

"Annabeth!"

"Annabeth?" Eragon asked, seeing her spacing out.

Annabeth shook her head, snapping herself back into reality. "I'm sorry. What were you saying?"

Eragon looked at her, his eyes full of concern. "Are you alright? Is something bothering you?"

"I'm fine." She insisted. "I'm just… remembering something…. something from Urû'baen."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded. "What were you saying again?"

Eragon paused for a moment. "I don't remember it now."

Annabeth couldn't help it, she burst out laughing, and he joined in after a moment.

"I'm sorry about spacing out earlier." Annabeth said a minute later. "It's just… Thing's haven't been the same since I left Urû'baen. There have been a lot of things on my mind, and they seem to get worse when I sleep. That's why I've been looking so tired. I haven't really been able to sleep."

"What happened in Urû'baen, Annabeth?" Eragon asked. "What happened that was so bad?"

Annabeth stopped, and closed her eyes to stop herself from crying, wondering if she should tell him or not.

"I made friends with the wrong person," she spoke in a low voice, "and now Isabelle is paying the price for it."

Eragon stood there, and waited patiently. He knew she had more to say.

"Three months ago, Murtagh had helped me out of a situation with two drunken soldiers. He and I had become friends that moment, and it became stronger of the course of two months," she took a breath, clearly trying to control her voice, to control her thoughts, to control herself. "He taught me how to fight, and he opened up to me. I opened up to him as well, which I know realize was stupid. I didn't think any of it would get to Galbatorix…"

She trailed off, and finally let the tears fall. She was tired of holding them back. She was tired of hiding everything. It was time to let it all out – the truth, the tears, everything…

"What did you tell him Annabeth?" Eragon asked softly.

"Everything." She replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "I told him my strengths, my weaknesses, my fears, my dreams. And I was stupid enough to tell him some of Isabelle's personal things. I don't know what came over me. I felt like I could tell him anything. That was my mistake."

She stopped. Tears were flowing down her face now. Eragon took her hand gently.

"Look," he said, "you don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

She looked at him. "Yes I do." She said. "I'm tired of hiding things, Eragon. I'm tired of running away from my feelings. I have to tell you, or I can never be myself again."

"We can pick this up again tonight if you want." He suggested.

She squeezed his hand.

"Thank you." She whispered, her voice sounding hurt and broken, and yet grateful and sincere at the same time. "Thank you, so much."

They had stopped later that night. Saphira had gone off hunting, leaving Eragon and Annabeth alone to talk.

They sat near a small campfire, which Annabeth kept poking at with a stick. She needed something to keep her mind occupied until she was ready to talk.

After a few moments, her stick was consumed by the flames. She couldn't avoid it now. She had no choice but to talk. She looked up at Eragon and into his deep brown eyes.

"Alright," She said, "Let's get this over with."

Eragon remained quiet, something she was thankful for.

She cleared her throat, and began, "Like I said, I made the mistake of befriending Murtagh. This is where I learned how to fight, where I learned about what Galbatorix really was, and where I learned about you. He told me everything about you. Where you were from, how you two met, and he told me that…" She hesitated for a moment, now sure if she should say it or how Eragon would react to this. She clearly remembered Murtagh's resistance to this subject.

Annabeth glanced at Eragon. His face was unreadable, but he nodded for her to continue. She took a breath, "H-he told me that you two were brothers."

"Half brothers, actually," Eragon corrected. "He and I share a mother."

"Selena." Annabeth murmured.

"Yes."

"Well anyway, you remember how I told you people had grown suspicious about me always going into the woods. You also remember how I said a soldier started questioning me?"

"That 'soldier' was Murtagh, wasn't it?" Eragon questioned.

Annabeth nodded sadly, her mind going back to that moment. "He followed me into the woods on my last day in Urû'baen. Luckily, Stardust wasn't there. I'd told her to meet me at the cliffs that night so we could escape. He overheard my conversation…" she paused again. "I think I should just show you what happened."

Slowly, she held out her hand with the Gedwey Ignasia to him.

Eragon stared at her outstretched hand for a few moments before reaching out to hold it, his own Gedwey Ignasia glowing as his hand neared hers.

Her hand was tingling and she nearly pulled it away, but it felt good to her. It felt… right, as if it was meant to be. Without another moment of hesitation, the two clasped hands.

After a moment, Eragon's mind was flooded with her memory.

"Star, I think we've been caught. Murtagh started asking questions. We need to be ready tonight!"

"Alright." Stardust responded. "I'll meet you by the cliffs."

"Stay out of sight, and be careful!"

"You be careful, little one."

Suddenly, Annabeth heard a stick crack behind her and Murtagh calling her name. She gasped and spun around.

"Annabeth!"

Murtagh was a few feet behind her, but she didn't move. When he finally caught up to her, his eyes were fixed into a glare that pierced her heart.

"You lied to me." he hissed. "I heard you talking to someone, but only heard the last half of the conversation. You've been meeting someone out here. Who were you talking to?"

Annabeth didn't respond.

"Answer me!" he didn't shout, but his voice held a hidden threat in it, "Who were you talking to? And why have you been coming here so much?"

She remained silent.

"Annabeth, answer me right now or so help me God, I'll…"

"You'll what?" Annabeth questioned. "Anything you do will make you no different than Galbatorix or the rest of his men. It'll just make you the same paranoid, overreacting, dictator! It'll make you like Morzan!"

As usual, Annabeth didn't know when to shut up. Out of the anger and rage that was building inside of him, Murtagh lashed out, and smacked Annabeth across the face, sending her to the ground. She fell hard on the ground, pain breaking out in many parts of her body due to the impact. A sharp rock dug into her arm, breaking the skin. Annabeth stared at the deep gash, blood was oozing out of it.

Annabeth looked up at him, and glared. "I'm sure your father would be very proud of you at the moment, son of Morzan." she spat.

Rage boiled within Murtagh and for a millisecond Annabeth feared him. The pain from her wound was blinding her, and seeing Murtagh, her closest friend towering over her in rage hurt her even more. She could not keep the tears at bay any longer. They spilled out, running down her cheeks.

The anger and the darkness left Murtagh's eyes as he realized what he did. "Annabeth, I…"

Before he could say anything, Annabeth was up on her feet. She stumbled a few steps, but gathering all her energy she ran away from him. Far, far away from him… She headed towards the castle, tears flooding down her cheeks, blood spilling down her arm, her heart aching due to the loss of her dearest friend. She ran with all her might, not looking back once.

The memory ended and Annabeth dropped her hand.

"That night, Isabelle had helped me escape. My second mistake was leaving her behind. Galbatorix caught her in the act, and is now holding her prisoner. I didn't tell her where I was going though, and that is why she is paying the price. Galbatorix had been interrogating her, and hasn't liked her answers."

Pain flashed in her eyes. Eragon took her hand again in a comforting way. She seemed to relax at his touch, and the pain slowly ebbed away from her features.

"What about that night at the cliffs?" Eragon asked.

"Oh." Annabeth said, remembering his dream. "Well, it didn't exactly happen the way you saw it. What happened was that I ran into Murtagh again at the cliffs. He and Thorn were waiting for me. He tried to apologize, and tried to get me to go back with him.

"I felt Star's presence the whole time, and I had this insane idea. I told her to wait at the bottom of the cliffs for me. When I was ready, I leapt off the cliff and Stardust caught me on her back. From there, we flew into the Spine. Then I ended up in Feinster. Whatever happened in between, I don't know."

She looked up to the sky, praying she would see the Star she was looking for. Nothing. Sighing, she let go of Eragon's hand.

His hand had stopped glowing, and the tingling in hers was gone.

"You do realize that idea was totally insane and reckless right?" Eragon asked her. "Jumping off the cliff I mean."

Annabeth smiled at him. "Yep. And there's still a lot of Insanity and recklessness to go around. So get used to it."

"Great." He said sarcastically. "As if I didn't have enough of Saphira's lectures about how I should try and stay away from trouble, and how I was a careless, silly boy doing things without planning."

"I just wanted you to be prepared." Annabeth said her eyes wide with mock-seriousness.

"Thanks for the warning," he rolled his eyes.

"No problem."

There was an awkward silence after that. Neither of them could even think of what to say.

After learning more about, Eragon was beginning to wonder if Saphira had been right. What if he did feel that way about her?

"I don't" he continued to tell himself.

But then again, he did enjoy the time he spent with her, and yes he did think about her a lot.

"But that doesn't mean anything." He continued to argue with himself.

Of course it didn't. So what if he was deeply entranced with her eyes… How the seemed to light up when she smiled, or how beautiful they looked….

Eragon shook his head, hoping to clear it of these useless thoughts.

And there was that whole issue of him just meeting her. They've only known each other for a few days.

A few minutes later, Eragon found himself wondering what Annabeth had felt.

"Stop it." He told himself. "Focus on why we're out here. Not her."

Across from him, Annabeth lay down and closed her eyes.

Saphira returned a few minutes later, to find Annabeth fast asleep and Eragon staring into the fire, deep in thought.

"How was the hunting?" Eragon asked, turning to look at her.

"It could hardly be considered a hunt. It was almost too easy!" Saphira replied. "How was your time with Annabeth?"

Eragon repeated everything Annabeth had told him. Saphira seemed only slightly surprised.

"I expected some of that," She said. "But jumping off of a cliff? That was just insane and reckless." She finished incredulously.

Eragon smiled. "Thanks exactly what I told her."

"So it went well."

"Yes, it did."

For the rest of the night, Eragon let Annabeth sleep and kept watch. Saphira had decided to not tease him about Annabeth for once, which gave him at least one night of peace.

While he kept watch, Eragon stared into the endless blackness above him. The moon was full, and lighting the sky like a beacon. Suddenly, a silver light flashed in the sky. It was a shooting star.

Eragon didn't think much of it at first. But little did he know, he'd be seeing a lot of that star in the future.




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