The Truth About Lies (An Inheritance Cycle Fanfiction)

Life came to a screeching halt. Darkness weighed heavily on my mind, and I didn't know what I was doing anymore. Everything seemed to be so pointless. Why am I even still here? My days bled into one another, and I lost all track of time. Isabelle would bring me meals periodically—which I would begrudgingly eat—but she was the only one I would allow to enter. Eragon came at least three times a day to pound on the door and call for me to come out. But I ignored him. Angela came a couple of times, as did Gregorio, but I barred them as well. Arya even came once, but after I'd screamed at her to never come back, she stayed away. I ignored them all. They could say nothing that would give me any comfort. There was no one I wanted to see...no one except Murtagh.

And then Eragon came to me, as he usually did, and he said something that made me change my mind. "Tabby," he said softly from the other side of the door, "I know that this is probably just another feeble attempt to get you to come out, but I'm going to try anyways. I have to... I know that you are grieving for Murtagh, but he was my friend too. I miss him just as much as you do. What I'm trying to say is: mourning isn't going to bring him back. We have to accept what's happened and move on. I know this must be hard to hear, but I have to say it." He paused to let his words sink in. And although I hated to admit it, Eragon was right. All I was doing was harboring the pain and letting it get worse until it swallowed me completely.

I pushed against the door, leaning my head where I knew he was. How could we be so close and yet so distant from each other? "Eragon..." I whispered, my heart aching for the way things used to be.

"I'm leaving, Tabby," he suddenly blurted out. "I'm going to Ellesmera to finish my training with the elves." He paused again. "I want you to come with me, Tabatha."

I felt my breath catch in my throat and a stunned silence replaced the mournful one that had presided for the past few days. I pulled on the handle, flinging the door open and catching him quite unawares. "What?" I demanded hotly.

"Tabatha," he breathed, eyes going wide. "Oh, thank the gods." His voice sounded relieved, and I saw his body relax.

"What do you mean you're going to Ellesmera?" I repeated.

"Tabatha, I need to finish my training. There's so much that Saphira and I don't know. If we ever hope to win this war against your father, I must learn," he explained slowly. I pondered what he was saying, and new that he was right. But that didn't explain the other statement he had made.

"Why do you want me to come with you?" I asked warily.

"You're my best friend, Tabby. Why wouldn't I?" I gazed at him sadly for a moment before heaving a sigh.

"You don't understand, do you?" I asked bitterly, feeling sadness and pity and despair all at the same time. "Do you know what would happen if I went into the heart of the elven civilization? Me? I've only just gotten the Varden to trust me. Can you even fathom how long it would take to convince the elves of my trustworthiness? Years, perhaps. No... Eragon, I cannot go with you." I watched as my words sank in and his face fell.

"You're right," he said, completely dejected. "It isn't safe."