The Truth About Lies (An Inheritance Cycle Fanfiction)

For the Love of a Princess

It is as the princess said, he continued in his deep, rumbling tones, we will find a way. Otherwise she will. I sent him a feeling of closure and he knew I was finished talking about this subject. It was painful enough to think about Tabatha, and all of the hurt we have caused one another, but the fact that her father was constantly in my head only made it worse. The king took a special kind of sick pleasure in watching me squirm when he tortured me with images of her. Sometimes, he'd force me into visions of him torturing her mercilessly, as I stood helplessly by, unable to move. Those were the worst times, and I could only bear it and not say a word. If I ever did try to protest, he would hurt Thorn, attacking him with his sick and twisted mind, and that I could not bear. I loved Tabatha, but Thorn was another part of my soul. We were linked; when he felt pain, so did I, and we had to do whatever it took to protect each other.

As I continued staring over the wall, I looked through Thorn's eyes and saw Tabatha standing there at the edge of the camp, her violet-scaled dragon standing nearby. And there was a man with them, coming from the north... That bastard! It was that slimy count that had tried to steal her away from me in Urû'baen. Thorn growled next to me as I withdrew from the sight and pounded a clenched fist angrily against the stone.

What in the hell is he doing here? I protested hotly.

I would assume he has come to win back the princess's affections, Thorn replied. I glared at him out of the corner of my eye.

You're not helping, I grumbled. He rolled his shoulders in a sort of dragon-shrug and ruffled his wings softly. I watched them for another minute before Tabatha mounted her dragon and they soared off towards a grove of trees on the outer edge of Leona Lake. Where could she be going?

Perhaps he was unsuccessful... Thorn interjected. I could only hope that he was right. I suddenly realized there was a mounting pressure at the base of my skull, and it slowly turned into a dull throbbing.

He's coming! I cried, scrambling to block any memories of Tabatha that I could. I knew it would not hold for long, but I had to try. And then a blazing pain erupted behind my eyes and I cried out. Thorn let out a groan as well, burying his scaled head into taloned paws. Stay strong, Thorn, I whispered before Galbatorix's mind appeared in full force.

Rider! he snapped forcefully, sending little shockwaves of pain all over my head. What have you to report?

Not much, Your Majesty. The rebels have not made any advance in several days, and our forces should be mustered to attack in two days.

Two days! he roared. I wanted those rebels obliterated a week ago. What's taking so long!

There has been a sickness amongst the men, I replied stoically, hoping this would be his only gripe. It's taken them some time to recuperate. Without our full force, I did not want to risk attacking the Varden in open combat.

That's what your dragon is for, boy! Burn them all to a crisp and be done with it, he growled threateningly.

Yes, Your Grace. It will be done. I remained silent, hoping he would simply leave, but the presence of his mind remained there, stabbing me with sharp pains. The longer he stayed there silently, the more my fear grew.

There's something you're hiding from me, he spat venomously, his tone like the sharp edge of a knife. I tried to prepare myself for the onslaught of pain that was to come, but I could not have prepared myself for the depth of his fury. He tore through my mind, battering at my protective walls until they crumbled and fell, releasing my memories to his waiting, greedy hands. I cried, for the pain and for the betrayal. Every memory of Tabatha I had locked away was laid out there for his prying eyes. He laughed with scorn when he saw the memory of me kissing her in the grove to get her to shut her stupid, beautiful mouth. He twisted my mind with pain when he saw me giving her the bracelet, the one my mother had taught me to make. And he took delight in my pain at the memory of seeing her with him, that stupid Count Evander. I sank to my knees upon the stone wall, burying my face into my hands and screaming, trying with all of my might to stop him. When he found the memory of the glimpse I'd caught of her purple dragon, he stopped dead in his tracks. The pain suddenly stopped and I knew that this was only the calm before the storm. Thorn was trying to lend me some of his strength, but I knew that Galbatorix was twisting his mind as well. We were caught.

She...has a...DRAGON! he roared, his fury unlike what I had ever seen. He began to stab my mind over and over again, relentless in his pursuit to cause me harm, the pain welling right behind my eyes until I could take it no longer. An inhuman scream ripped from my throat, piercing the night air. Thorn cried out right along with me, and I crawled over to him, the pain keeping me from staying on my feet.

"STOOOOOOOP!" I screamed aloud, reaching for Thorn's scaly paw. His mind filled mine with pain, and I wept for how helpless we both were. I held onto one of his gleaming, black talons and squeezed, gritting my teeth against the pain. The nails of my other hand dug into my palm, drawing blood that traced across my skin and dripped onto the stone floor, stark splashes of crimson against the gray. The attack lasted for another moment until it suddenly ceased. My eyes flew open as the tears flowed freely down my cheeks, my chest wracked with sobs. Thorn moaned long and mournfully. "I'm sorry," I wept, burying my face into his side. "I'm so sorry, Thorn. I'm so sorry."

You have seen nothing yet, Rider. You will pay for keeping this from me, and so will your dragon, Galbatorix's serpentine voice hissed in my head, deceptively calm. As soon as those rebels are defeated and they slink back to their caves with their tails between their legs, I want you back to the citadel. Is that understood?

Yes, master, I replied weakly, crying into the stone floor beneath me. He had caught us, and there was nothing I could have done to stop him. When his mind suddenly withdrew from mine and Thorn's, I felt an immense pressure being lifted off my chest. I let out a sigh and rubbed my face viciously with the back of my hand. He had gotten us.

I am sorry, young one, Thorn cried weakly, his voice strained after the ordeal. I tried to resist him, but...

Do not apologize, Thorn, I cut him off, not unkindly. I could not resist him any more than you could. I just wish Tabatha had never come here. Then, at least, she could have remained hidden, and safe. Now I cannot guarantee her safety.

We never could, Thorn replied morosely. I knew he was right, but part of me was still trying to protect her. But once she had become a Rider, there was no protecting her anymore. Galbatorix knew her secret, and there was nothing I could do to stop him.