The Truth About Lies (An Inheritance Cycle Fanfiction)

Of Love and War

And then I ran.

I ran without really looking where I was going; I just knew I had to get away. The white tents rushed by in a blur, forming a sort of tunnel in my vision. When I couldn't run any longer, I found myself outside my tent. At least my instincts were still functioning properly, even though my heart had taken control of my head.

'Do you need me to come to you?' Amera asked, worry coloring her voice.

'No, I'm fine,' I lied. 'I just need to rest. You stay and have a good time.' Without waiting for her response, I withdrew from the mental contact and sealed myself off, throwing up my iron hard barriers and plopping down on my cot. Can I never escape his memory? Will I be doomed to carry Murtagh's ghost around with me forever? With a heavy sigh, I dimmed the lantern using my magic, leaving the tent awash in a soft, orange glow. It was relaxing to sit here in silence. But, as with most things in my life, I was never allowed a moment of peace.

"Tabatha," I heard him say. My eyes remained closed, hoping that if I ignored him he would simply leave. After another moment or two of silence, he still had not left. So, I reluctantly opened my eyes to look up at him. He stood uncertainly near the entrance to the tent, his eyes wide with some emotion I could not place. Was it fear? Anxiety?

"Miles..." I said, my thoughts running in a hundred different directions. "What part of 'leave me alone' do you not understand?"

"I think I deserve an answer to the way you have treated me."

Perhaps he was right. If I could just explain it to him... "Oh, Miles," I muttered through the darkness, "it is not a simple answer."

"I don't have anywhere else to be."

"You haven't done anything. It's just that... You look and act so much like the man I love... The man I love and can never have; it's just too painful for me to be around you. Every time I look at you, I can only think of him."

"So... it really isn't me at all?" he asked in confusion.

"No, Miles, it's him. Whenever I'm with you, it's almost like he's here. I can't stand it." I was trying desperately to choke back the tears that threatened to spill over.

A tumult of emotion crossed his face before he nodded. "Very well," he said softly, "then I shall never bother you again, Lady Tabatha. I apologize for the inconvenience I have caused you." He bowed stiffly, clicked his heels, and then strode out of the tent, throwing the flap aside in his anger. When he was finally gone, I breathed a sigh of relief. It felt as though a great pressure had been lifted off my shoulders.

***

Miles' POV

The night air pressed in around me, making my head feel as though it was going to explode. She was, quite possibly, the most infuriating girl I'd ever met. So why did I continue to torture myself in this way? It's obvious she carries no regard for me, neither as a man nor a friend. Not even an ally! She will have nothing to do with me... So why do I keep trying?

I stalked angrily through the camp back to the tent that Father and I shared, and when I threw the flap aside I quite startled Isabelle. She was there, folding clothes and storing them in our trunks. It seemed to bring her peace to help us with little mundane activities, so Father allowed her to stay.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I didn't think you would be back until much later." She quickly stored the pile of clothes she was holding in the trunk.

"My apologies," I mumbled, running a hand through my hair and sighing heavily. "I did not mean to startle you." She stood there awkwardly wringing her hands and looking at the dirt floor, trying to avoid making any eye contact with me. Was I really so disgusting to the female sex?

"I'll just go," she said quietly, hurrying towards the exit. I wasn't sure what came over me—perhaps it was a desire to push the thought of Tabatha from my mind—but I reached out and grabbed her by the arm. Father had been teaching her to handle a sword, and she'd become quite good at it, but she was still a small thing, barely taller than my shoulder. I looked over at her and saw that she was trembling, still staring anywhere but at me.

"Don't," I said firmly, pulling on her arm so she'd be forced to look at me. Her dark eyes were opened wide, and I thought I could just see tears forming there. "Are you afraid of me?" She shook her head slightly, drawing her hands up to her chest. Suddenly, I felt the need to kiss her...

Swooping down to her height, I pressed my lips against hers forcefully, pulling her into my chest and lacing my fingers through her blonde hair. She melted against me with a soft whimper. I had known for a while the feelings she had for me. It was time to act upon those feelings. She didn't even resist when I guided her over to the bed and began to unlace the back of her dress. It fell to the floor in a crumpled heap, and I had not one thought of Tabatha.