Curse of the Phoenix

Ch.46 -Sudden Change

Iara~

Eragon came back down the stairs within moments, holding a small mirror. He handed it to Marumen. Marumen took it without hesitation and gazed into the glass.

"Aww, man...I don't even know how to fix them! I look like someone dumped salt in my eyes!"

"It's not that bad." I said. "It'll go away eventually."

"Are you so sure, Iara?" Eragon asked. I looked up at him. "How hard did you bang your head when you fell?"

"I didn't hit my head at all, I grabbed a branch and held on."

"Then your theory is wrong. Nothing struck you, but look in the mirror." I had a sickening feeling as to what he meant. I snatched it out of Marumen's hands and looked.

"What?!" I shrieked. "I didn't even hit my head! I don't want stupid bloody eyes! They look like strawberries!" And they did. The red with the green looked odd, and quite bad in my opinion.

"Aww, they'll get better eventually. See how I feel!" Marumen mocked.

"Oh just shut up!"

"You didn't get punched in the face!"

"I fell into a tree!"

"Both of you stop it, now." Eragon said. "I have no idea why your eyes are red, but we can figure it out later. Right now, you both can just stay down here for the rest of the night. I have no idea what's going on myself. Do you guys want to talk to the others?"

"Of course! It's been a week or so since we've talked." I said. The thought of speaking to Dru about it made me feel a little better.

"Eventually I'll get you each your own mirror so you can use the spell yourself."

"I've used it with a puddle before." Marumen said. "But the rippled messed it up."

"Exactly." Eragon replied. "Stay here and don't kill each other." I didn't know whether to take his last statement as a joke or a warning. I decided to take it as a joke. He went back up the stairs to get something. I didn't know what, but I continued to look in the mirror at my eyes. I took great pride in my appearance, and the fact that I had suddenly changed, without warning or pain, unsettled me.

"So what do we do about the bird?" Marumen asked.

"I have no idea. But the fact that both of us saw it makes me wonder if the others saw it too. We could try asking."

"How, through a puddle?" He mocked. I studied the mirror.

"How about right now?" I said. I close my eyes as I concentrated on magic. I concentrated on Mikael's face. Then I spoke. "Draumr kopa." The surface of the mirror shimmered, before showing me a blank wall. Wooden, but all I could see. Everything else was darkness. I sighed then ended the spell.

"He's sleeping or something. We can try again later."

I heard returning steps on the stairs. I set the mirror down on the table and went into the kitchen. I grabbed a few cups. I wasn't in the mood for water, but I had picked up a recipe for strawberry tea from Luna. It was actually really good. Just some water, strawberries, and a spell or two. I sang quietly to myself as I made the tea. It ended up a light pink color, with a smell of summer.

I went back out into the dining hall, and both Eragon and Marumen were at the table, talking quietly. At my approach they looked up. I set down the pitcher and sat next to Marumen.

"Thank you." Marumen said.

"Its fine. I wanted some too." The strawberry tea was a silent sign to Eragon. I only drank some when I needed to calm myself down, or if I couldn't sleep. Marumen couldn't tell. As far as he knew, I wanted a treat. Inside I was terrified. If Marumen knew that he would panic. He was easier to be around when he was calm. Eragon knew that as well.

I got a wooden cup and took a sip. It tasted amazing. But I didn't want to send myself to sleep, so I set the cup back down and waited for someone to start speaking. Neither of them did, so I began.

"I tried scrying Mikael. All it got was a blank. Nothing."

"Did you try anyone else?" Eragon asked.

"No. But it's late, they may just be sleeping. We could try again tomorrow."

"Do your eyes hurt at all?" I waited a moment to make sure.

"No, not at all. I just have a little headache, that's it."

"Marumen?" Eragon asked.

"Same. Only I don't have a headache. My nose hurts."

"Why do you keep bringing that up?"

"Hey, I'm not kidding! Its like...burning...oww..." He set his head down on the table and moaned. Now that I thought about it, my head began to burn. A lot.

"Argh..." I filled the cup farther and drank the entire thing. Marumen got the idea and did the same, then went back and downed another cup. I didn't want to have another, because I knew what would happen. One cup already had me on the verge of collapsing. Marumen was swaying in his seat. I was surprised he hadn't passed out already.

The burning in my mouth was relieved temporarily. Then it started again. I shrieked and got to my feet, then ran into the kitchen, not bothering to grab a cup as I scooped the water in my mouth using my hands. The icy temperature dulled the feeling for a moment. Then it returned.

I heard the screech of wood on stone as Marumen fell from his chair. So the tea finally went to his head, and he passed out. I just couldn't get enough water.. no matter how much I drank. My stomach was beginning to hurt but I didn't stop. I didn't stop for a single breath either. Eragon walked in, and was at my side. He pulled me back and onto the stone. Water spilled out of my mouth, tinged red.

I struggled and tried to break free of his grip so I could drink more. Eragon pinned me down.

"Iara stop you're going to hurt yourself!"

"Then make it stop! Make it stop! The fire!" I shrieked and shook. I couldn't control it. I..I bit him. I bit his arm, filled my mouth with his blood. He yelled and let me go, then I rushed forward towards the water. He wrapped his hands around me again, and this time with a grip of iron. I suddenly had a feeling of extreme fear. He gently placed his hand on my temple.

"Eragon.." I groaned.

"You're going to be okay. I promise. Forgive me." He whispered. Then I knew what he was doing. Magic was more effective if you were in physical or mental contact with the person or animal you were casting magic upon. One of our first lessons.

"Atra ono stydja!" And then darkness clouded my vision. I went limp, and he laid me down upon the stone.