Rya: Daughter of the King

Disclaimer: I do not own any Eragon or Eldest characters. No amount of the ancient language can change that.

Author's Note: The last chapter. evil laughing

Chapter Seventeen: Life’s a War

The presence of Galbatorix raised Murtagh's hand and arm that held Zar'roc, and though he tried with all his might to fight it, his arm was brought back and the blood-red blade was plunged through the chest of his beloved Rya. Once this was accomplished, the presence disappeared, for it had finished its task.

Murtagh looked down where his sword had pierced her armor. It had actually gone in so far that the hilt was touching the cloth that covered the chain mail and metal covering.

"Murtagh!" Screamed Eragon, almost dropping his cousin in the attempt to get over to his brother and Rya faster. He could see at least five inches of Zar'roc protruding out of Rya's back, dripping with crimson liquid that belonged to her. It mixed with the water and mud that surrounded them; staining the ground. The rain seemed to let up a little during all this, giving more visibility. "Rya!"

Rya looked up at Murtagh; her hands moved over his that were holding the sword. A look of astonishment crossed her face, like she couldn't believe what just happened.

Murtagh just stood there in amazement, water dripping down his face, until finally he took a small step back and pulled Zar'roc slowly out. He watched as Rya's hands moved to the bloody hole in her armor and her knees buckled.

"Murtagh! Do something!" Eragon cried; his voice echoing through the empty field. "Help her!"

Rya closed her eyes to the pain. Murtagh wouldn't do this; it had to all be a horrible dream. He promised not to kill her, but there he was, his sword dripping with her own blood. She couldn't feel anything anymore. The princess let the blackness drip over her vision and overcome her mind.

Eragon had gotten close enough to where he could put his cousin on the ground and get to Rya's side as she toppled to the ground. He swore loudly at Murtagh as he ripped the stained cloth and through the armor and mail with magic. "Dammit, Murtagh, do something!"

Murtagh seemed to snap out of a trance. "Eragon," he said calmly; bending down beside Rya. "Go get Arya and Angela, we need a trained healer here now."

"Are you crazy? I'll never get there in time!" Said Eragon.

"Yes, you will," Murtagh said just as Thorn landed behind them. "Ride Thorn,"

Eragon glanced at his brother, then at Rya, then back at the red dragon. He seemed to understand; and with a nod, he jumped up and ran toward Thorn.

Murtagh looked down at Rya's bloodstained undershirt. The hole in the fabric still spewed blood, and Murtagh, not worrying anymore about what Rya would think, he pressed both his hands to the wound.

Roran, recovering from the swordfight, crawled up beside Murtagh and Rya. "Is there anything I can do?" He asked.

"Yes," Murtagh lifted Rya gently off the ground and out of the red mud. "Do you have an extra cloth or something?"

Looking around, Roran finally ripped off the sleeve to his shirt. "Now what?"

"Press it to the wound until somebody gets here. We can't let her die,"

"Why don't you just use magic?"

"Well, that's a little complicated. Just like when the shade Durza cut open Eragon's back. I can't heal... we need someone who's sure of their healing skills for this. If I attempt to heal this, it might turn out horribly wrong and she might die anyway. I wouldn't know what I'm doing if I try, and if she did survive and something went wrong, I would never be able to forgive myself."

"You love her, don't you?"

Murtagh snapped his head up and gave Roran a questioning look. "What in the name of Alaglaesia made you think that?"

"It reminds me of how I feel about my Katrina, my... um, bride-to-be."

"Oh," Murtagh said; nodding slowly. "We aren't that... close,"

"Really?"

"Not yet,"

"Not--?"

Just then, a loud roar interrupted their conversation. "Saphira!" Murtagh cried, "And Thorn!"

Roran looked up at the two dragons as they landed. Arya was the first one off Saphira, running toward the two guys that held Rya. The rain was letting up and the sun had started to peek through the clouds in places.

She knelt with her knees under Rya's head. "I need both of you to give me a little bit of space," she said, her voice harsh, yet calm. Roran nodded and walked slowly toward his cousin who was talking with Angela in between the two dragons.

Murtagh looked up at Arya; reluctant to leave. She gave him a gentle smile, "I'll do the best I can, Murtagh, don't worry." Murtagh stood slowly and walked behind Roran.

By the time they arrived at Eragon and Angela, they were done conversing and Angela headed off toward Arya and Rya.

"What do we do now?" Murtagh asked Eragon.

Eragon looked around as Roran watched Angela unfold a tent from her bag and covered the scene. "Well, I think we should set up a couple of tents for now. I don't know how long this is going to last so we might as well get some sleep."

"What about that battle that was going on?" Asked Roran.

"The Empire's army scattered as soon as Galbatorix was killed. In other words, it's over,"

Roran and Murtagh exchanged looks. "Well, shall we... uh, set up the tents?" Roran mentioned quietly. Murtagh took one last look back at the tent that hid the view of Rya, Angela, and Arya and sighed.

M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M

It was a fitful night for Murtagh as he tossed and turned in his cot. Many times Eragon had to come in and wake him up to tell him that he was talking in his sleep. Angela and Arya didn't come out of the tent until the sun crossed the horizon.

Murtagh, of course, was the first one up and ready after the two women entered. Eragon groggily woke his cousin and they got dressed.

Before Murtagh entered Rya's tent, Eragon stopped him. "Murtagh, can I talk to you before you go in there?"

The elder rider glanced to the entrance of the tent, then to Eragon. "Sure,"

Eragon took Murtagh away from the camp site and toward the bogs and the down the river. He turned his head and looked at Murtagh while they were walking.

"I don't want anyone to hear our conversation." He replied when Murtagh asked why they were going so far away. "This is personal,"

They stopped a couple hundred yards away from the ocean and sat on a small rocky hill facing the ocean.

"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Asked Murtagh after a long silence.

Eragon looked over at his brother and sighed. "Murtagh... we're brothers, right?"

"Uh, right,"

"I want us to get closer now that Galbatorix is gone, and obviously Rya will have to take the throne. You with me so far?"

"Yes,"

"Well, I... I've seen the way you--"

"Whoa, whoa, I know where this is going," Murtagh said with a small grin.

"You do?"

"Yeah, it's about Rya, right?"

"I guess,"

"I don't know exactly what you're going to ask, so keep talking."

Eragon looked at Murtagh and shook his head. "I'm not going to beat around the bush with this one; I'm going to come right out and say it."

"Fine with me,"

"I think I might love her, Murtagh. I don't know what you think about it, and I don't know what you know about her, but if it's true what I think that you think… then this might come between us."

"If you don't want it to, it won't," Murtagh muttered; looking away from his brother. "I do love her, Eragon, but she doesn't love me. If she likes you that way, then that’s good for you. If she doesn't, then we're both heartbroken, but at least one isn't more than the other."

There was a long silence before Murtagh spoke again. "Well, is that it? I'm not exactly feeling the greatest right now."

"I know, I think I would too if I had almost killed someone I loved." Eragon wished as soon as the words left his mouth that he hadn't said anything.

Murtagh stood without another word and started back to the camp. So it's true, brother, life's a war...

M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M

Murtagh entered Rya's tent as silently as he could. "Rya?" He whispered.

"I'm fine, Murtagh, you don't have to whisper." Came the surprisingly loud reply from Rya. This made Murtagh smile.

"Are you sure--?"

"Yes!" Rya said; her voice cracking in the process.

Murtagh pulled up a small stool that was beside the bed and sat down. "How do you feel?"

"How do I feel? I feel like I've just had a run in with a sword and lost."

Murtagh snickered. "You did,"

Rya snapped her head toward him; a look of confusion crossing her face. "What were you thinking? You nearly killed me!" She exclaimed; her elbow flying under her so she could get in his face.

The other rider almost fell backward off the stood with surprise. "What...? It... it wasn't my fault!"

"Wasn't your fault! The sword was in your hand, Murtagh!"

"It was your father, Rya, Galbatorix was there; he made me!"

"My father was dead!"

"Well, obviously he wasn't, because he took control of my mind!"

Rya scowled and fell back onto the cot again. Neither of them talked for the rest of the time that Murtagh was there, and finally Eragon came back and poked his head in.

"Hello," he said; grinning at Murtagh and Rya. Murtagh sighed and walked out of the tent, shaking his heat at his brother at all the way.

"What was that all about?" Rya asked Eragon when Murtagh was gone.

"It's a long story,"

"You'd better go after him,"

Eragon waited for a minute before ducking out and walking in the opposite direction that Murtagh went. He didn't want to face his brother again about the same topic... and he was sure that his big mouth couldn't help the situation any. It just might be best to leave it as it is.

M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M-M

Murtagh jogged toward Thorn, wanting to get out of there quickly.

What is it; why are you in such a hurry? Asked Thorn as Murtagh threw the saddle in the crick of the crimson dragon's neck and expertly tightened the leather straps.

Murtagh never answered, but heaved himself into the slightly worn saddle and secured himself. Right before he told Thorn where to go, he was interrupted by another voice.

"Murtagh? Where are you going?" The innocent voice asked.

The male rider twisted in the leather ties to get a look at who it was even though he pretty much already knew. Rya stood there; hands on hips and an eyebrow raised in curiosity.

"Away from here," he replied quietly.

"Why?"

He looked at her from his perch and thought. Why was he going to go away? "I... I don't know,"

"Then why don't you get down from there and take what's coming to you like a man, Murtagh? Don't run,"

Murtagh clenched his teeth. What was coming to him? What did she mean by that? He slowly reached down and started to undo the leather straps that held his legs in.

The girl has wonderful persuasion skills, observed Thorn.

Yes, yes, we all know that, snapped Murtagh while swiftly running his fingers in and out of the bands.

But I think it works the best on you,

Murtagh's fingers stumbled in the leather. What?

Yes, you heard what I said,

Thorn's rider ignored the rest of his comments while he finished. Murtagh hesitantly climbed down and turned around. Rya was right there when he did, surprising him.

Instead of doing what Murtagh thought that she would do, which, in fact, was punch him square in the face, she pulled him closer. Seconds later, their lips met in a kiss. Murtagh, still surprised, tried to take a step backward and his back ran right into Thorn's side. When he finally realized what was happening, he kissed her back.

This was a dream come true. But stories don't always have happy endings...

That's it. I really hope you liked it. I have decided to do a sequel, so that's why I made it a slight cliffhanger. I don't know when it'll be coming out, but I can guarantee that it's gonna be this summer. Thank you to all my faithful reviewers! I love you all! Until the next story, peeps! Peace!

KARATEZLA