The Rider's Daughter

Chapter 7

Selena woke with a start. Her heart was pounding and a cold sweat beaded her brow. She sat up and rubbed her before she peered into the darkness of her room. She tried to remember her dream, but in the process of waking up, she ended up forgetting what startled her in the first place. With a sigh, she lifted the covers and jumped out of the bed, her feet hitting the cold stone floor. She grabbed her robe and slipped it on and headed towards her balcony.

The cool breeze of the night relaxed her nerves. There was a bright half moon out that night and the millions of stars could be seen in the clear sky. Selena gazed at the beautiful scenery for a long time before she felt her tiredness seep in. As she stood there, she was thinking about her past, something she often wondered about, especially at night when the rest of the castle was asleep and she was able to be alone to ponder such things. She thought about her father, Murtagh, and they way they never get along, she thought about her deceased mother and how she is rarely mentioned, and, she thought about her Uncle Eragon who tried to murder her when she was a baby and has been dead for seventeen years. She sighed. She never understood what compelled her question her past, all she knew was that she felt empty inside and never quite fit in at the palace. "There must be something more," she said out loud before she even realized she had said anything. The sound of distant chirping of crickets was the only response she received.

Selena groaned, she did not want to wake up. Her maids opened the window shades sending in the bright light from the sun. Her room suddenly felt warmer, but she still refused to get up. She felt someone's hands grab her shoulders and a heard a familiar voice telling her to wake up. Finally giving in, Selena opened her eyes and looked up into Bridgette's face. Bridgette was her governess. She was strict at times, but otherwise, she was nice and acted more of a mother than a teacher.

"Come now, out of bed. I've let you sleep in as long as possible, but now you must get up. You have a busy day today."

Selena groaned again and sat up. She stretched out her arms and yawned before pulling off the covers and getting up. Her maid, Clair laid out an outfit on the bed for her to wear that day.

"Clair, the yellow dress? You know I hate that one. I want to wear blue today."

"I'm sorry, miss, but your farther wants you to wear yellow today. " Clair said this with a curtsy.

"I want to wear blue, so put that back. I don't care what my father wants me to wear. Why does he care?"

"Please don't argue with me, miss, I am only following orders."

"Argue? I wouldn't dare argue with you, Clair, I am arguing against my father."

"Selena, wear the yellow dress. Stop trying to provoke your father, it's unladylike." Bridgette said, sternly.

Selena grumbled, but argued no more. Bridgette always had the final say in such matters. She slipped on the yellow dress and black shoes, had Clair put up her hair, and left her bedroom with Bridgette.

She scooped up her dress and descended a stairwell heading to her father's study. Bridgette walked in front of her leading the way. They walked down a long corridor before turning right walking down another hallway. At the end, there was the door to her father's study. Bridgette knocked on the hardwood door, the sound dancing off the walls of the hallway in an echo. Within a few moments, the door was opened by one of Murtagh's servants. With a movement of his hand and a bow, he ushered Bridgette and Selena inside. Murtagh was busy looking over some documents, but set them down when he heard his daughter enter.

"Bridgette, James, you are dismissed," Murtagh said with a wave of his hand. They bowed and left leaving Selena alone with her father.

"You wanted to see me?" Selena asked out of habit.

"Yes," Murtagh stood up and walked around his desk towards her. "You look beautiful," he smiled. "But, you always look beautiful."

"Thank you? What is it that you want to talk to me about?" Selena was already bored and just wanted him to get to the point instead of beating around the bush. She hated her father and never wanted to stand in his presence any longer than she had to.

"I want to discuss your 18th birthday."

"Oh, really?" Selena asked with sarcasm.

"Don't take that tone with me, young lady, I am your father, show me some respect." He took a deep breath to calm himself before continuing on. "Next week you will be recognized as a woman, and I want that day to be special for you. I received nothing when I became a man, but I want you to have a glorious time."

Oh, suddenly he cares about me having fun. Geez, what a jerk. I can't believe I'm related to him!

"Look, you don't have to trouble yourself. I don't want a huge party. Can't I just have a private party with my…" She was going to say "friends," but stopped when she remembered that she had no real friends.

"Selena, this is not an occasion to be modest about. Your coming out is a big deal. Soon, I will have to find you a suitable husband. I can't do that until have been recognized as a woman, you know that."

No! He mentioned marriage! What am I to do? I feel like I am suffocating and no one seems to care. Why? Why do I have to suffer with an intolerable father. I hate him. He knows nothing about me. Yet, he is my father, if I appease him, my life will be easier. So, here goes.

"Father, please, don't mention marriage quite yet. I am still young yet. Let's just continue on with my birthday plans."

"Very well, but Selena, a man wants to marry a young woman. But, we can discuss that later. Now, about your party, I was thinking that we should have a masquerade. This way, you can dress up and hide your face until you are revealed in full as a woman. How do you like that?"

A masquerade? Wow, I hate to admit it, but that does actually sound incredible. Yet, if only I had someone to share the night with. Oh well.

"That sounds, wonderful, father. Did you come up with that?"

Murtagh stared at his daughter curiously. He noticed her sudden change in temperament and wondered at it, but said nothing glad that she was obeying him. "No, in all honesty, the King came up with that."

Selena gaped in astonishment. King Galbatorix was not a man who typically arranged special occasions unless it dealt with himself, so naturally, she found it rather odd that he should come up with an idea for her party. "Really, well give him my gratitude."

"You can give it to him yourself, he wishes to see you this afternoon."

What? The King wants to see me? Why? Now I know what Bridgette meant when she said that I had a busy day.

"Oh, I see. Anyways, is that all you wanted to talk to me about?"

"Yes, for the most part."

"Ah, there is more?" Ugh, I just want to leave!

"Yes, look, the King and I have some important…important business in the west wing of the castle. See to it that you stay clear from the west wing."

"Of course." She curtsied.

"Right. Well, I must get back to work." Instead of returning to his desk, Murtagh walked up to his daughter, took her hands in his, and kissed her brow. "I love you."

Selena went rigid. What is he doing kissing me as if he truly cared for me? Ugh, it's revolting.

"I love you too, father." With that, she parted from her father and ran to find Bridgette.