The Truth About Lies (An Inheritance Cycle Fanfiction)

The Battle Under Farthen Dur

"I wonder when they'll figure out we've been able to talk this whole time," I mused quietly as I sat by the vent. It had been several days-so many that I'd lost count-since we came to this wretched place. Eragon had come to visit a few more times, but everything just felt awkward with him now since he'd kissed me. The more that I thought about it, the more uncomfortable I became. Eragon was like my brother... But Murtagh had been encouraging me to go along with the ruse that we were together.

"I'm sure they have already realized it," he replied, flipping the page of a book he was reading. He'd been given books of his own from the library. All in all, we were actually being treated quite well, for being prisoners. "They just know they can't do anything about it."

"I suppose... They probably think we're conspiring against them." He scoffed slightly. We sat in silence for another few moments, stewing on our own thoughts.

"Murtagh?" I finally said, unable to keep my thoughts to myself any longer. He snapped the book shut and waited for me to continue. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything," he responded dryly. I had noticed that ever since I'd told him that Eragon had kissed me, he'd grown strangely distant.

"Well, I was just wondering... Do you..." I hesitated, embarrassed that I was even asking. "Do you like me?"

"Do I like you?" he asked incredulously. "In what way?"

"Um...in the way...that Eragon does. As more than just a friend." He fell silent, and my heart dropped into my stomach. I shouldn't have even asked! This is ridiculous! I don't know why I bothered in the first place.

"Tabatha-"

"Never mind, I don't know why I brought it up. It was silly of me," I said, trying my hardest to make my tone sound dismissive.

"You are a good friend, Tabatha... But-"

"I said nevermind, Murtagh." There were tears coming to my eyes, and I couldn't understand why. All I knew was I didn't want to talk about this anymore. "It's clear to me now that when you kissed me it really didn't mean anything after all. Let's just drop it..."

He sighed heavily on the other side of the wall, but he didn't say anything else. Suddenly, the door to my cell burst open, slamming against the stone wall and causing me to jump. Gregorio came running into the room, a look of utter panic on his face.

"Gregorio!" I exclaimed, jumping up. "What is it? What's wrong?" I heard Murtagh get up as well.

"There are Kull in the tunnels," he exclaimed breathlessly.

"Gods be damned!" Murtagh cursed from his cell.

"What? How can that be?" I asked.

"I don't know. But they're going to be here soon." He was breaking out in a cold sweat and looking about the room.

"What are we going to do?" He looked at me in wide-eyed wonder.

"What else can we do? We have to fight!" he yelled, throwing his hands out to the side. I heard Murtagh beat against the wall.

"You have to let me out, Gregorio," I said, quickly switching into battle mode. His eyes widened even more.

"What? I can't! I won't!" he argued.

"Yes, you will," I stated firmly. "I'm a better fighter than most of the men you have here, and you're going to need all the help you can get. Can you get my sword? And Murtagh's as well; he's a great fighter." Gregorio stared at me open-mouthed for a moment. "There's no use arguing, and I won't back down. You said yourself that you trusted me. Please, you have to help. Why else would you have come here to tell me?"