Andlátkyn; Vandr Sanses unin Alagaësia

The Price of Mercy

The revelation of Dream's apparent Zelda addiction coming to light was cut short by the ragged, bony and shockingly eyeless human shifting in his cell, torn eyelids fluttering. Crusted blood chafed the already open sores on his wrists as he writhed in his cuffs. He sat up slightly upon hearing Roran's hammer slamming into the hinges of Katrina's door.
"Who is it? Who's there?"
Eragon prepared himself to kill the man before him.
Wait.

He paused, somewhat grateful as he waited for Dream.
Do we really need to.. kill him? He's just a helpless, blind, chained man.
He betrayed Carvahall, Dream. Murdered Byrd, and snitched to the Ra'zac about Saphira's egg. He deserves death.
He's chained and helpless! Is this really right?
It's justice. He murdered coldly and betrayed his people. He's just a mortal.
You shouldn't demean him for his race! He's Katrina's father!
Dream is right on that front..
What do you suggest we do? Let him walk free? Would you do that to Roran? He will be executed for his crimes if we return him and your argument would be meaningless.

"What do you want?" Barked the weak, emancipated human. "I already told you everything I know!"
Eragon winced at this, readying himself to kill the man with but just a word.

Eragon, please. You are a Rider, but you cannot be executioner too.
We can't haul him back to the Varden for a proper trial, what plan do you have?
You're suggesting we take his life for convenience!
I'm saying we don't have any other viable options. It's not like we can safely teleport without bodies.
Nightmare, are you throwing away morality?
There is no good morality in war, Dream. Not that I would ever be a good example of it, either.
Fine. Fine! Perhaps there's nothing perfect, but if you refuse to be conscionable, then I will insist. If we are one, then let me be your conscience. We shouldn't do this.
Would you let him rot here in Helgrind instead?
There's another way! This isn't like the field of battle, we have a choice to be better than this.

There was a moment as Nightmare considered this, albeit frustrated as he sensed Eragon agreeing with Dream.
I cannot help but remember Torkenbrand. He was helpless before Murtagh and unable to defend himself when he was slain. I will take Dream's side in this: I will not kill a defenseless man outside of battle if I have a choice otherwise.

"Eragon!" Roran called, now holding the door. "Give me a hand here! I don't want it to fall on her."
With only a slight tremble, Eragon held up his hand and whispered. "Slytha."
The man- they understood his name was Sloan- fell asleep before them.
What are you planning then, you three? Saphira asked from afar.
Wait until we're together again. I'll explain then.
Explain what? Neither you or Dream have a plan.
We will soon enough.

Eragon arrived beside Roran.
"What was in there?" Asked the mortal man.
"Sloan." He took up a hold on the door, then lied. "He's dead."
Roran's eyes went wide. "How?"
"Looks like they broke his neck."
Roran stared for a moment, then grunted.
"It's better that way, I suppose. Ready? One, two, three-"
Both of them lurched as they lifted the large door away, tossing it aside where the entire passage let out thunderous booms in response to the heavy iron clattering away.

They then burst into the dismal space left alight with a single wax. Katrina was huddling in the corner.
"Leave me alone, you toothless bastards! I-" She froze, recognizing Roran.
She was pale from lack of sunlight, smeared in filth from the dingy room hardly bigger than a closet, yet the wonderment and radiant joy that spread across her face was so tender when she recognized her love. She slowly rose to her feet, touching a shaky hand to his cheek.
"You came."
"I came."

He laughed then, ending in a trembling sob as he embraced her into his arms, cradling her to his chest as she stood there, both in their own little world for a long minute.