Chapter Seven

Murtagh sat in the wooden chair that was provided in the tent that his brother was recovering in. He noticed the chair was not made to the finest quality since he leaned a little to the left. While he let his younger brother rest, Murtagh took the time to look around at the tent provided for Eragon. It was plain and simple, not much to it at all. There was a desk with a few scrolls on top of it, another chair that was yet again not the finest quality, a cot, and a wash basin. That was all that consisted in the tent. He then he chuckled out loud realizing it was something that Eragon would never throw a fit about his tent, but Murtagh himself, would.

He expected luxury items, since that was what was provided to him always, especially after he became a Rider, but Eragon he was used to not having much growing up on a farm in outskirts of Carvahall. What you had you were grateful for and you worked hard for what you did have. Murtagh sighed, looking up his brother up and down. His mind then went to the days they traveled together, before they knew they were related. How could they not see that they were siblings? They were so alike and yet so different. Of course their upbringings set them apart. He was born and raised in the castle, fully aware of his heritage, and Eragon, raised as an orphan by his aunt and uncle oblivious to his heritage.

Then a flashback struck him. It was the day where he beheaded a Slaver, Eragon protested that what he did was wrong. Thinking on it now made Murtagh feel sick to his stomach and cringe with distaste, because in the end Eragon was right. What he did was wrong, though there was no going back now. He blamed Galbotroix for turning him into his father, but in actuality he was already turning into his father on his own. It was safe to say between Eragon and Murtagh, Eragon was the better one of the two.

Stop those thoughts, Thorn said interrupting Murtagh's thoughts through their mental connection.

You know it to be true, Murtagh responded right back, he was always better than me even before we knew we were related.

I, for one do not think your half bad. Who cares what others think about you?

Thanks Thorn, Murtagh said sarcastically, you are supposed to think that about me though. You come to accept flaws and all.

The best kind of relationship, Thorn said smugly.

How are you and Saphira getting along? For a while Murtagh did not get an answer and was wondering if his dragon all the sudden decided to block his connection with him, which he did often times when Murtagh tried to bring up the blue dragoness.

She is alright, I guess.

Right, Murtagh said not believing his dragon, you like her don't you?

How could I not? Thorn admitted, she is fierce, proud, beautiful, true queen of the skies.

Murtagh could not help but smile as his dragon went on and on about Saphira, sometimes things that like seemed bug him, but feeling his joy through their connection made Murtagh happy for him. He could feel how nervous got when Saphira came around or was mentioned, how he respected her and praised her. He put her on this pedestal and the only thing Murtagh could be is happy.

She would never accept me as a mate though.

Why do you say that? I do not see anything wrong with you.

The things I have done.

Thorn, I am sure that Saphira, like Eragon has moved forward from that.

What if she hasn't? What if I confess everything to her and she turns me down, because of those things.

You are being ridiculous. Besides that is something we all go through Thorn.

Murtagh, there are plenty two legs in the land, but dragons, there is only one.

Talk with her Thorn that is all I can tell you. Tell her your feelings when you are hunting or when the two of you go flying. Thorn made a scoffing noise before re-treating his mind from his riders. He shook his head and smiled to himself again.

Murtagh's smile faded quickly when he noticed his brother starting to thrash around, he immediately grabbed onto Eragon's wrist in hopes of making his snap out of it. "Eragon," Murtagh said but he continued to fight against Murtagh. "Eragon!" Murtagh said forcefully trying to get his brother to wake.

Eragon's eyes snapped open all the sudden and he laid there panting for a couple of seconds before glancing at Murtagh curiously.

"You gave me a fright," Murtagh said sitting back into his chair.

"Sorry," Eragon mumbled. Murtagh noticed how his movements where jerky and he shook slightly.

"Nightmare?"

"My memory is coming back to me, so in a way, yes nightmares," Eragon said sitting up in his cot.

"Do you want to talk?" Murtagh asked concerned for his little brother.

Eragon looked down at his blankets and played with the fabric a little, seeming like he was thinking or just not paying attention to his older brother. He didn't bother making eye contact with him either. "I'm not sure if I am ready to talk about it," he finally said. His voice was faint and it pulled at Murtagh to see him so down.

"Eragon," Murtagh said softly, "know that I am here, if you need me." Eragon glanced at Murtagh and nodded his head.

"I know. I just-" Eragon broke off not sure what to say to his brother. "I feel as if I should be handling this… better?" He said unsure of himself, not exactly sure what he was trying to say or what he was feeling.

"I think you are handling it quite well, considering what you been through," Murtagh said reassuringly.

"What about you?" Eragon asked locking his eyes on Murtagh who was unsure of what his brother was getting at.

"What about me?"

"You have been through worse, what I went through- it does not add up to what you have been through."

"It is safe to say that you and I have been to hell and back," Murtagh said with a chuckle. Eraogn looked at him and chuckled as well. "So what did you see?"

Eragon grimaced before responding, "I remember the torture, the pain that was caused by the torture, and I almost remember everything now." When he spoke is voice trembled slightly, he kept his face passive his eyes had no life to them, he was just numb. Though his voice portrayed emotion his face said nothing, and that scared Murtagh of all things. Never once had he seen his brother like this, not even when Brom passed away, who turned out to be Eragon's father.

"Let's not talk about such morbid things right now, shall we?" Murtagh said feeling guilty now for making Eragon talk about things that he did not want to talk about.

Eragon sat up and leaned against the headboard to his cot and gave a weak smile. "I need to get out this cot- out of this tent to be more specific."

"I am not sure if that is wise at the moment, Eragon. You are still recovering, even though your injuries are healed; you have not gained all your strength yet. Give it a couple more days and we will talk about getting out of this tent. Okay?"

"Murtagh, I am not ten-" Eragon was cut off suddenly by Arya who was just entering the tent.

"Kingslayer no, Angela does not want you to be up and at it yet, like Murtagh said give it a couple more days and then we shall see. We spent too much time healing you, and you still have some more healing to go through. There is no need to rush things at the time being."

"Fine," Eragon grumbled.

Come on now, don't you think you guys are being hard on him? Thorn asked his Rider.

No, maybe, a little, Murtagh responded unsure, there is no reason for him to rush though.

Yes, but how would you feel if you were him? He has been recovering for more than two weeks now. The best way to recover is to fly.

Is she hinting at something?

Not hinting, more like ranting about it. I don't blame her or him.

Here is where I am different once again from Eragon. I would enjoy having no responsibilities for a while, while he cannot seem to rest for a single day unless forced to.

"Thorn thinks that we should let him be."

"Thank you Thorn," Eragon said gratefully, "Saphira itches to fly with me, and I too feel anxious to get into the sky again. I am sure that the people also need to see in person that I am alright. If I know men well enough, get a few meads in them and they are making up stories and the next thing you know it, word has spread like wild fire. You can't expect them to believe you without having proof."

"You are right," Murtagh said, "Nasuada has been trying to convince some that the king did not kill you and that you defeating him was not some cover up story that they created."

"Fine," Arya said caving, "I have a few things that I need to attend to, I will see you both later," with that she walked away from the two brothers.

"I'll be there for support," Murtagh said handing Eragon his boots.

"And know that I am grateful for it."

Murtagh helped Eragon take a couple of steps, mainly so Eragon could get used to walking again, when they felt it was time, Murtagh pulled back the tent flap and Eragon stepped out into crisp morning air. Fall was around the corner. The leaves where changing colors, some appearing to be on fire, the grass was covered in frost and there was a chill in the air.

"Shadeslayer!" Someone gasped and Eragon smiled. Within seconds Murtagh was next to his brother ready to help him make his way through the crowd of people that was now forming around them shouting different titles their way. "Kingslayer!" Another shouted. "Shurtgal!" Another would say, and it was like this all the way to Nasuada's tent.

"Thank you," Eragon muttered to Murtagh when they stood before Nausada's tent.

"You're welcome, you look a little faint," Murtagh commented.

"I think I will be fine, once I sit down," Eragon responded weakly. Murtagh shot him a concerned glance.

"Eragon!" Nausada said surprised at seeing the blue rider standing in her tent when she entered.

"What have I missed out on?" Eragon asked curious.

I am currently redoing some chapters, I hate how I have lost sense of where I was going with this story, but I am getting back on track and I am going to stop rushing things. That is why I am redoing the last few chapters I have posted. I also have to say I had another horrible case of writers block and it bugged the hell out of me. Oh well that does not matter, all that matters is that I am back to posting and will try to post every Monday or Tuesday since those are my days off from work.