Thus it became their custom to fight on cycling nights, which kept them all lean and fit, like a trio of matched blades. With their return to health, Eragon and Ruth began practising magic.
Eragon would do it alone and Ruth would do it with Brom. Murtagh was curious about it and listened quietly whenever Eragon would speak in the ancient language, occasionally asking what a word meant. Despite his interest, Murtagh could not use it.
On the outskirts of Gil'ead they stopped the horses side by side. It had taken them nearly a month to reach it, during which time spring had finally nudged away all remnants of winter. Ruth's face, arms, and what else he saw of her body was now coated in brown freckles. He thought they made her beautiful, but he didn't say anything. Eragon felt himself changing through the journey, he felt a lot stronger and calmer.
From a distance they could see the city was a rough, barbaric place, filled with log houses and yapping dogs. There was a rambling stone fortress at its centre. The air was hazy with blue smoke. The place seemed more like a temporary trading post than a permanent city. Five miles beyond it was the hazy outline of the Isenstar Lake.
They decided to camp two miles from the city, for safety. While their dinner simmered, Ruth said
"If we are all to go into Gil'ead I must create a spell to change my eye colour. People are ridiculously superstitious."
"I'm sure you can figure something out" Eragon said, she probably could; she was a lot more creative than him
"I'm not sure you" Murtagh nodded toward Eragon "should be one to go into Gil'ead"
"Why? I can disguise myself well enough and Dormnad" (The man who will lead Eragon to the Varden for he is an agent for them living in the city) "will want to see my gedwey ignasia as proof that I really am a Rider"
"Perhaps," said Murtagh, "but the Empire wants you much more than me. If I'm captured, I could eventually escape. But if you are taken, they'll drag you to the king, where you'll be put to a slow death by torture - unless you join him. Ruth would either be captured or killed for helping you. Plus, Gil'ead is one of the army's major staging points. Those aren't houses out there; they're barracks. Going in there would be like handing yourself to the king on a gilded platter"
Eragon asked Saphira for her opinion. She wrapped her tail around his legs and lay next to him
You shouldn't ask me; he speaks sense. There are certain words I can give him that will convince Dormnad of his truthfulness. And Murtagh's right; if anyone is to risk capture it should be him or maybe Ruth, because they could live through it
He grimaced I don't like letting them put themselves in danger for us
"Alright, you can go," he said reluctantly "But if anything goes wrong I'm coming for you"
Murtagh opened his mouth to reply but Ruth interrupted "What of me? Or Brom? It's not just you two on this suicide mission"
Eragon looked at her, she seemed irritable, he often forgot about her and usually by accident but he mostly focused on Murtagh.
"Suicide mission?"
"Yes, you're too weak against the Ra'zac and there's no way you can defeat Galbatorix, unless you join the Varden you have no way to win" she said "That's not the point, what should I do, do I go with Murtagh or stay with you? Or look after Brom? He's already very ill and is asleep most the time" she gestured toward the sleeping old man, who she spent most of her time with when he was awake
"I'm too weak to fight the Ra'zac?" Eragon said, a little hurt as he felt a pang of truth in her words but also a small bit of anger bubbled inside of him
I could kill Ra'zac
"Stop defending yourself and answer me!" she said, jabbing a finger at his breastbone "Tell me, what should I do? Or should I just wait until you realise I'm a person too and think of a solution" she gave him a deathly stare
Eragon reached to Saphira for advice, he didn't want to upset Ruth; she was already angry.
What should I do? he asked
I think she should stay behind and if something is to go wrong then she can go, she seems strong enough.
After a short silence "You can stay with me and if something is to go wrong, you can help Murtagh"
She looked at him for a while "Okay," she gave him a ghost of a smile.
Murtagh glanced between the two of them, "Anything else we should sort out before I go?"
"Shouldn't you rest and go tomorrow?" Eragon asked
"Why? The longer we stay here, the greater the chance that we'll be discovered. If Dormnad can take you to the Varden, then he needs to be found as quickly as possible. Neither should remain near Gil'ead for more than a few days"
Again wisdom flies from his mouth, commented Saphira dryly.
She told Eragon what he should tell to Dormnad and, he then relayed it to Murtagh.
"Very well," said Murtagh, adjusting his sword "Unless there's trouble, I'll be back in a couple of hours. Make sure there's some food left for me"
Ruth wished him well then with a wave of his hand, he jumped onto Tornac and rode away. Eragon glanced at Ruth who was adjusting Brom's blanket, making sure it was covering his whole body to keep him from the cold
"How's he been doing?" Eragon asked, concerned for the old man
"Not good" she replied, once she had finished with the blanket she moved back around the fire
"Sorry if I was harsh, but I stand by what I said, you definitely couldn't defeat the Ra'zac."
"What makes you think that?" Eragon snapped, rage began to well within him, he knew the Ra'zac would be a difficult foe but he was sure that with Saphira he could defeat them
"You're slightly stupid, you don't always make the right decisions like with the Urgals and you're not strong enough which was shown in the cathedral" she said, her face blank
Eragon scowled, his pride faltered
"I'm not passing judgement it's just you should get training or help soon, you'll die otherwise" she continued
"That's not true! I could definitely kill the Ra'zac!" he growled, glaring at her
She raised an eyebrow "Could you?"
"Yes" he exclaimed
"Okay" she mumbled, she went to her saddlebag and pulled from it her puzzle ring
"Do you think you could defeat the Ra'zac?" Eragon asked, curiously and in a slightly softer tone
"No" she replied shortly, shaking her head
"Why not?" he thought she was capable but he still hadn't seen her fight before other than when they were sparring
"They're extremely powerful; more powerful than you would think. I am quite strong and I can fend for myself but not against them" she said, without looking up from her puzzle ring
After a quiet pause, Ruth said, looking Eragon in the eye "Saphira mentioned something of an incident at Yauzac, what happened? I have an aunt who lives there"
He frowned, remembering the torrid scene "The Urgals murdered everyone who lived there"
Her eyes grew solemn and her shoulders sank, "Oh"
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Unexpected Ally - Eragon fanfiction
FanfictionRuth was out hunting deer when she came across Saphira outside of Teirm. Soon accompanying Eragon and Brom on their perilous journey, helping and training with them. A big twist soon knots into their lives, will they survive? This is based on the fi...
