Chapter Text
Morzan ran it all over again. He went back, deeply into his very soul to remember what happened.
The lighting touch sent a shiver up his thin arm, making him fall over. It was painful, as if someone just struck every nerve he had hidden in his flesh.
But he couldn't be happier. Joy bubbled up in him, lifting up a smile as he stared in awe at the little creature that was before him.
He couldn't really well understand if the dragon was covered in blood from the hatching, or if that really was his natural colour. He hoped so. The scales were shining like lava, and its horns— they were very small, but he the kid was pretty sure they could have pierced any kind of material. And his eyes! Oh, they were full of spark!
Morzan chuckled and got on his knees. He was a bit hesitant at touching it again, but he still managed to open his arms, and the creature crawled boldly on his lap. This time it didn't burn and he could take a sigh of relief.
It— oh, what a shame to call such a majestic being 'It'. They deserved a name, he thought.
So he sat there, on his heels, caressing gently his new partner, until a word came up in his brain. It was perfect.
With a wide smirk, he opened his mouth, and moved his tongue, forming the letters.
He spoke the name.
So why, WHY did the memory end there? Why couldn't he just remember what he said that fateful day? That simple, little word— it was enough to make him tear up.
Morzan held tighter the snout of his old partner, grabbing his scales, not caring if the sharp surface cut his palms, because he needed to feel something, anything. Another sob shook him, but it wasn't sadness that flooded his body.
No, it was a heart wrenching rage that boiled up in his chest like a soup of frustration.
Who was pulling every bit of his brain, who was daring to pinch every one of his hair, who was messing with his mind? Who, in the whole world, could ever do something like that?
“Morzan!”
For the first time that day, some sort of silence settled in him. A reflective moment, if you will, that almost distracted him from the screaming that was going on inside his him.
Morzan slowly looked up to a figure that was running towards him.
Galbatorix looked horrified. He never saw him with his eyes so wide and surely never saw him sweating like a pig, breathing heavily. He knelt down next to the Forsworn, grabbing his shoulder. “Morzan. What is happening?” He murmured.
He stared at him, his gaze veiled with something not so easily recognisible. He looked at the hand on his shoulder, then at his dragon (could he call him such? A creature with nothing but rage was maybe not rage itself?), then back to his leader, and he started to laugh.
It was a crooked noise, it just sounded wrong, as if someone was stabbing him as he chuckled.
“What's...— oh, you would know, wouldn't you?” He frowned. “Right!? You did this, huh!?” This time he yelled, and before the other could have a reaction, he jumped on him, his hands tightening around his throat.
“Say it! Say it! You did this! It's all your fault!” He cried out.
Galbatorix almost choked. Almost, because before Morzan's hands could grip him nicely, he grabbed his wrists and somehow controlled the force of the attack. Still, his eyes were snapping everywhere in panic and confusion. “No!” He wheezed. “I— don't know... What's going on!” He was not as scared by the choking as he was by Morzan's face. There was something new to it. He couldn't recognise it. His expression was full of hatred, his eyes deep with— was it sadness? Desperation? Love?
Whatever it was, it was clear it wasn't going to get washed away with pretty words.
So Galbatorix swore what he said in the Ancient Language.
The grip loosened slowly, unlike Morzan's breath. He swallowed hard, hurting his throat, and got up, swinging like a drunken. Oh, he was sure no amount of wine could fill that void now.
He stumbled over the nameless dragon, his odd eyes narrowed.
“Tell me his name.” He hissed.
In the meantime, Galbatorix caught his breath and sat up, moving very carefully. “Your partner? Why?...” He didn't receive an answer, so he opened his mouth, and moved his tongue, but only a prolonged, unsure sound came out. “Uh... It's... Well...” Why did it slip out of his mind so cunningly?
It couldn't be just a normal memory void, if Morzan also asked for it.
Someone interfered with their minds.
And he knew exactly who was responsible.
In that particular moment though, his hate for The Order was softer, and the man was more focused on how Morzan would react to his ignorance.
The Forsworn' chest was now moving in a softer way, hurting less his lungs. “Why won't he talk to me?” He murmured, staring in the big, languid red eye. “Is he stupid? Why won't he tell me his name? Why won't he DO SOMETHING?” He raised his voice, and kicked the dragon's claw. “Do something, for fuck's sake! C'mon, c'mon! I'll fucking kill you if you don't move right now!” A tear traced his flushed cheek.
Galbatorix cursed and jumped on his feet, grabbing Morzan to drag him further away. The dragon growled lowly and also backed off after the attack.
Holding the taller man was quite the challenge, since along with the yelling, he was kicking and squirming like an animal in a cage.
“Calm down! Morzan, it's alright, it'll be fine, you— calm down now! Come, come..” He slowly lowered him on his knees, to then pull him in his arms.
Morzan tried to get away. “Stop it! Do not try to use my tears to drown me! Stop it, shut up, shut up, you should all die!” He growled, his vision blurred irritating him even more.
He didn't answer. He just held him to his chest and kept caressing him, whispering sweet words, until his love's movements grew tired, and he ended up sobbing against his shoulder, digging all the nails he had in his arms. His breath was ragged again, and this time he couldn't stop the flow of the tears, it was as if there was a hole and in soul and now what it contained was pouring out of his eyes.
He was babbling nonsense, repeating from time to time something as ’It's not fair’ and ’Help him’.
Galbatorix' caresses were mechanical. He was staring at Morzan as if he were wrapped in a memory, an old one, a little constant flame that now was getting bigger and bigger, enveloping his heart.
He swallowed and wiped his wet eyes against Morzan's hair. “Shh, shh, you're not alone. You're not alone, I'm right here and I'll help you.” It was odd. He never thought he'd repeat what he wished he heard that day, not once. And yet there he was, comforting his love, his everything, because once again, he failed to protect.
He kissed his head, and whispered some words in the Ancient Language.
Morzan sighed, and his eyes slowly closed, until he fell in a sleep without dreams.
Galbatorix' shoulder were shook by a sob. He hugged the other tightly, as if he were a safe line, and cried into his hair.
He only looked into the dragon's eyes once.
There was no spark.