The Truth About Lies (An Inheritance Cycle Fanfiction)

Tabatha's POV

The next morning, a small voice whispering my name woke me from my slumber."Tabatha," it came again. Slowly, I opened my eyes to see an angelic face surrounded by a halo of blonde curls above me.

"Isabelle!" I cried out, jumping out of my cot and wrapping my arms around her.

"Tabby! Oh, I'm so glad you're back! How I have missed you!" she replied, returning my hug in earnest. I pulled away from the hug to examine her. My gods, how she had changed. Gone was the fullness of youth; it had been replaced by the leanness of a warrior. And it looked very good on her.

"You look wonderful, Isabelle," I said, sitting on the cot and motioning for her to sit beside me. "What has happened? You look so different."

"Ah, much has happened," she said softly, musing about the past. "I found myself staying close to Braeden. He was so kind to me after you left. And we'd already spent so much time there already; it only made sense to stay. He taught me how to handle a sword and ride a horse. I can never thank him enough for the kindness he has shown me." I nodded slightly; those months we spent in Surda seemed like an eternity ago. I watched her for a moment before coming to a realization.

"Are you sure it was Braeden you were staying close to?" I asked quietly, a small smile playing upon my face.

"Oh, Tabatha," Isabelle whispered, her face beaming. "Miles...I think I've fallen in love with him. He's just so...wonderful. I don't even understand it myself. "

She looked so happy. There was no way I could tell her what had happened last night. "Do you know if he feels the same about you?" I asked. There was nothing I wanted more than for her to be happy. She deserved it, after the sadness she has suffered in her life.

"I'm not sure," she replied softly, a small blush creeping into her cheeks. "We've talked...a lot. And sometimes I feel like he loves me too. But other times, he seems so...distant. Like something is pulling him away, and he can't get away from it."

"Have you ever asked him about it?" I said.

"Never outright, no. He doesn't take hints very well," she laughed. I laughed at that too, because I knew how true that was. Murtagh was the same way...

"Perhaps you should just ask him," I suggested.

"Oh, no, I don't think that's a very good idea," she said, shaking her head sadly. "Not that you're back now."

"What do you mean?" I asked, forcing her to look at me.

"Oh, Tabatha, I am not so naïve as to believe that he isn't in love with you. Nearly every man is in love with you..." This last part she added quietly.

"Isabelle...I...I don't like him like that...there's nothing..." She cut me off quickly.

"It doesn't matter," she said with a smile. "I'll find some way..." She trailed off into her own thoughts before coming back to me a few moments later. "Anyways, I best be going. I'll talk to you later though, all right?"

I nodded, putting on a fake smile and watching her leave. Dear gods, what have I done? It seems that, no matter what, I always end up hurting those closest to me. Sometimes I wish I had stayed in Carvahall and waited out the soldiers and the Ra'zac, and sometimes...oh gods, sometimes I just wish I'd never been born. Maybe things would have been better...

'Tabatha, stop it!' Amera cut in. 'Listen to what you are saying!' Her great, violet head suddenly stuck into the tent. 'You have a destiny to fulfill, and a great one at that. It is your duty to do that, and rid the world of your father's evil.'