Family Struggles

Family Struggles

Part 1: Anger

Disclaimer: I don't own Eldest or any of the characters mentioned, they belong to Chrisy P (who should really consider a MurtaghxEragon pairing, hint, hint).

Ok, I'm not exactly sure if this will be a one-shot or two-shot, but I just got this idea and it's been eating my brain so I need to let it out before it makes me fail my upcoming exams! This takes place during the Battle of the Burning Plains (Eldest), where Eragon and Murtagh are fighting. Dedicated to Sussiekitten, love yas girl!

Eragon stared in horror at his friend, who just declared that they were brothers.

"You're lying!" he cried. He remembered Angela's prophecy then and had to painfully admit that it must be true.

Morzan was his father. Murtagh is his brother.

"It is true. We never told each other our mother's names: Selena. The Twins figured it out while digging through your mind. Galbatorix was intrigued when he heard about it." Murtagh replied in the ancient language and smirked.

He walked up to Eragon, the younger boys' eyes wide with fear and shock. He put his lips to Eragon's ear and whispered, "We are the same, Eragon. You can't deny it. And to think we even slept together…"

"You're wrong, we're nothing alike. I don't have a scar anymore!" he growled, ignoring Murtagh's last comment even though his cheeks burned with shame.

Murtagh stepped back, his face livid.

"You'll regret that, little brother." He spat and lifted Zar'roc. Eragon struggled once more against the spell as Murtagh brought the sword down.

"STOP! ERAGON!" a familiar voice yelled from behind Murtagh. Eragon sneaked a glance to see Roran, his hammer hovering high above Murtagh's head.

Murtagh growled and whirled around, ready to strike Roran instead.

"NO! RORAN!" Eragon screamed. The clash of metal on metal made him tremble as the two boys glared at each other over their weapons.

Then Murtagh smirked. "Nice to see you, cousin. Eragon has spoken little of you, yet I know exactly who you are." He said.

Roran's angry and protective look changed to shock and then suspicion.

"Who are you? No cousin of mine, I know for sure." He said.

"Forgive me for not properly introducing myself. I am Murtagh Morzanson, and Eragon is my younger brother. I know you don't believe me, Eragon is still trying to digest it himself, but it is true, our mother's name was Selena. That makes us cousins as well." He explained.

Roran took a step back, glancing at Eragon and the pleading look in his eyes.

"What's going on here? Why are you trying to kill him if you're brothers?" he asked with the suspicious look still in place.

"Because I was ordered to try and capture Eragon and Saphira. Unfortunately, I am Galbatorix's servant." Murtagh spat out the word, disgust clearing showing.

"Roran! You have to stop him! I can't move, he's going to take me to Galbatorix! Help!" Eragon cried out.

Roran moved toward his cousin, but Murtagh got in the way, the tip of Zar'roc pressing lightly against his neck.

"Not so fast, cousin. I have business still with Eragon." He said in a warning tone. Roran glared at him and twitched his hand to swing his hammer around, but Murtagh caught his wrist and then he was suddenly on the ground.

"You're definitely no match for me if Eragon can't even stop me. It would be best if you don't interfere." Murtagh told him and strode over to Eragon.

Roran growled and struggled, but Murtagh had cast a spell on him as well so that he couldn't move. (Work with me people) (1)

Eragon looked helplessly at his cousin and then fearfully yet angrily at his brother. He glared at him, hiding the fear in the darkest recesses of his mind, but he must not have been quick enough- Murtagh smirked again.

"Now what should I do with you, Eragon? You spite me and try to kill me, yet I just can't bring myself to return you to Galbatorix. So what shall I do with you?" something in his eyes made Eragon shudder as his breath hitched.

Murtagh circled around Eragon while the younger kept trying vigorously to break free from his spell. 'He can't possibly be able to hold two people and a dragon, he'll be weak soon, and then I can escape, as well as Roran and Saphira. He won't stand a chance against all three of us, no matter how strong he is.' He thought.

"And then there's Roran. What shall I do with him? He's useless to Galbatorix now, except for bait for you, Eragon. No, that won't do either, why should Ihelp him? Hmmm." He said to himself as he continued circling Eragon.

Eragon continued resisting the spell, but it was to no avail, it wasn't getting weaker or stronger. He finally decided to simply see where fate took him, (what good that'll do).

Murtagh stopped in front of Eragon, merely a foot away, and stared into his eyes. Eragon held back a flush as the memories of their sexual encounters flooded through him. Disgust and shame welled up inside him as he realized that he had committed incest, and with another male no less! No one would be happy about that; he would be a dishonor to the Varden and to Alagaesia. They will hate and despise him.

Murtagh abruptly turned and walked over to Roran, still struggling on the ground. Murtagh lifted him up by the arms and stood him up, Roran glaring at him while Murtagh had a rather blank expression.

"You must be angry with Eragon for leaving. He was the one that brought the stone into Carvahall. He was the one who caused the Ra'zac to appear and kill your father. He was the one that made them return for you, and why you lost so many friends. He was the one that made you forsake your home and struggle across the land to get to this place, why so many lives have been disrupted and vanquished. He is the source of your anguish, you know this.

"Katrina was captured because of him." Murtagh said after digging through his thoughts.

While he was speaking, Eragon's eyes widened while Roran's narrowed. The latter boy trembled and glared heatedly first at Murtagh and then at Eragon, who looked at him with horror.

"Don't listen to him! It wasn't my fault! I didn't know!" Eragon cried. With a few words from Murtagh, he could no longer speak, and could only shudder at his next words.

"Help me to punish him for his many misdeeds, and I will let you return to your people."

There was complete silence for a moment as Eragon struggled with all his might to free himself. Roran seemed to actually be contemplating Murtagh's words, for he glared at Eragon and trembled as his emotions overtook him.

It was all too much for him.

Garrow's death, hiding in the Spine and watching the soldiers' destruction of Carvahall while he could do nothing but wait, then Quimby's demise (Birgit got bones!), then the battles and deaths afterwards, Sloan's betrayal and Katrina's capture, and the eventual exodus of the willing villagers of Carvahall into the Spine on their way to Surda. Through many more struggles and toils they finally made it, but Katrina was still lost, Quimby and many others were still dead, and Roran was still furious.

"Fine. But I will not kill him." Roran finally answered and Eragon stopped breathing.

Muted and bound, weak and defenseless, Eragon stared in astonishment as both his brother and cousin turned on him. They walked toward him slowly, but this time he didn't struggle, for he knew it would be useless.

'What are they going to do to me?' he thought fearfully.

Arya scanned the battlefield, but could not find Eragon nor Saphira. She could barely sense him, and what she could sense instilled fear within her. The red dragon and Rider who struck Hrothgar was also nowhere to be found.

'Please tell me he didn't get captured, for if that were so, all hope for Alagaesia will be lost. We will be a fallen people. Eragon, where are you?' she wondered.

Orik trudged up to her, his face contorted with too many emotions. He was breathing hard as his eyes darted about feverishly, sweat rolled off his skin as heat emanated off his flesh. He tightened and untightened his grip on his war axe.

"Where is he? Why hasn't he come back yet?" he asked furiously.

Arya's expression softened as she said in a gentle voice, "I'm not sure, I can barely sense him, something must be wrong."

"What!? That can't be, he must be fighting that…that barzuln far away from here or something." Orik spat. (2)

Arya decided not to respond, in fear of sending the dwarf into madness. She glanced at the horizon where dusk was settling over the bloodied and gray landscape. If Eragon did not return this night, then it would be assumed that he was captured and would not be coming back anytime soon. Preparations would then be made for those unwilling to submit to Galbatorix's control.

'Come back to us, Eragon. Please.' She thought before turning and heading back toward the Varden's camp.

"Where is Roran? He hasn't returned yet. Do you think he was struck down in the battle?" Jeod asked worriedly as he glanced at Horst.

The smith sat silent, staring across the wasteland; searching.

"I'm not sure, maybe he found Eragon, maybe he's dead, or maybe he's wounded. There is no way for us to tell. Until he returns or we know for sure of his whereabouts, we must wait." He said, hiding the fear and anxiety at Roran's fate.

He walked over to his family and held Elain close.

Jeod took one last glance at the land, wringing his hands and pacing near the railing.

Roran carried the still-bound Eragon while Murtagh and Thorn led Saphira deep into the woods. Eragon tried talking with Roran mentally, but he was ignored and, occasionally, glared at.

He gave up and made sure to note the landscape, in case he was able to free himself and return to the Varden.

They stopped in a small clearing large enough for the two dragons. Roran set Eragon down and then helped Murtagh set up camp. Saphira growled the whole time, biting and clawing at Thorn when she could, while he snapped and clawed back.

Eragon was sitting against a tree, his joints stiff and sore, his head throbbing in pain and his strength failing with each passing second. After a while he began slipping in and out of consciousness- no more than a few seconds, but enough for Murtagh to notice.

The red Rider strode over to him and knelt down beside him. Eragon glanced at him and couldn't look away, Murtagh's hazel eyes bore into his. They sat there for a moment, staring at each other, until Eragon felt the magic slipping away from him. He was able to speak, but his movement was still restricted, although not as much as before.

"Swear in the Ancient Language that you will not try to escape." Murtagh told him.

A pained expression crossed Eragon's face. "You can't make me do that, Murtagh." He said hoarsely.

"Actually, I can, I would just rather wait to torture you. Swear it, brother. I will return you to the Varden when we are finished, but not before. I swear." He repeated it in the ancient language; all of it.

Eragon gulped and glanced at Roran. 'I can get him to help me if I word this properly.' He thought and then swore the correct phrase. He held back a rueful smile as he thought about how elves did the same thing. He was truly becoming his destiny.

Murtagh seemed a bit unsatisfied, although Eragon wasn't sure if it was because he wasn't fighting or he caught the meaning behind the wording, or if it was something else completely.

Roran glanced over at them and Murtagh stood, fully releasing Eragon. The boy let out a sigh of relief escape him and then stretched, popping his muscles. He stood and wobbled a little, but then continued stretching, glancing at his captors- his family, he realized with a pang- and then slowly walked toward them.

Roran motioned for him to sit and then handed him some food, a bowl in his own hand while Murtagh was getting himself some food as well.

Looking warily at it, he took a small sip of the soup, although he could not tell if it was poisoned or not. 'They will do with me what they want.' He thought finally with a resigned sigh and ate the soup.

Murtagh smirked slightly while Roran glared at the ground. Eragon kept sneaking looks at his cousin, remembering their earlier encounter and the look in his eyes at that time.

'He can't possibly blame me for Garrow's death; he's as much my father as his! Even if I somehow caused the Ra'zac to come I didn't know and it was certainly not my intention for him to be killed! Anything that occurred afterwards was definitely not my fault either.' He thought sourly.

They were all silent as they ate, until finally Roran and Murtagh nodded to each other and turned toward Eragon, who had just gotten finished with his meal. He gulped and tensed, watching their every move like a cornered wolf.

It was dark, the moon was rising, lighting their movements while the fire they built flickered, causing shadows to dance and trees to become distorted.

Thorn got up and nudged Saphira, who protested and fought as he prodded her away from them and into the woods.

With a quick movement, all three boys stood; Eragon turned to run after Saphira but Roran grabbed him and pulled him down. Murtagh held down his arms while he struggled, and Roran held down his legs.

Saphira roared her protest so that all of Alagaesia would hear, but then was silenced.

"What are you going to do to me?! I didn't cause Garrow's death! I didn't know what the stone was! I was just trying to help!" Eragon yelled and thrashed about wildly.

"I don't care, Eragon, you should have known better than to bring that blasted thing out of the Spine! Because of you, my father is dead, my fiancé has been kidnapped, a number of people have been killed, and Carvahall is no more! You fled and left us to fend for ourselves against the Empire and the Ra'zac! While you were visiting with dwarves and elves we were dying!" Roran yelled back.

"I didn't know what was going on! I didn't flee; I was trying to protect you! Brom and I were hunting the Ra'zac, and suddenly I was thrown into the legacy of the Dragon Riders! I didn't have a choice! I still don't!" Eragon told him.

"You could have come back! You could have at least tried to help us instead of being a selfish coward!" Roran spat.

Murtagh watched the exchange, knowing that Roran needed to vent out his rage before they got started, else things would go too far and Eragon would end up getting seriously injured.

He had no intention of really hurting Eragon, he simply wanted to have fun, but he knew that Eragon would not willingly do what eh wanted to do. He knew that he and Roran had a unique bond; he found Eragon's feelings for his cousin and discerned that they were not merely "friends".

"I wasn't running like a coward I was tracking my uncle's killers! Everything hasn't been sunshine and butterflies for me as well, Roran! My uncle was killed, my mentor was killed, I had to fight a Shade, I had to fight Urgals, I saved Arya, princess of the elves, from dying while racing against time, and I was nearly killed by the Kull while pounding on the gates of the Varden!" Eragon screamed, breathing hard and glaring at his cousin.

Roran narrowed his eyes and spoke low and dark, "I don't have your powers, Eragon, and yet I had to lead a couple hundred people through the Spine. I killed people, Sloan has sworn a blood feud with me and ahs denied Katrina her dowry and inheritance. If I ever get her back from the Ra'zac, we will have to start from scratch. Some of the villagers of Carvahall hate both you and me because of what ahs happened. If you hadn't have brought that stone out of the Spine, none of this would have happened. Quimby and the rest would be alive, and Nolfavrell wouldn't have blood on his hands. We would have a home and Sloan might have been more accepting of me as his daughter's suitor."

Eragon knew that to reply with anger would lead them nowhere, and yet he felt that his cousin didn't understand the fact that he had suffered as well. He glared at him and then softened his gaze before looking away.

Roran was panting, and when Eragon looked away and didn't answer he looked up at Murtagh and then got up. Eragon glanced at him as he walked away and into the woods.

He tried to get up as well but Murtagh still held him down. He looked up, anger in his eyes, at his newfound brother who gave him a knowing look.

"Let me go." Eragon stated.

"No." Murtagh replied.

Eragon swore and glared at the night sky and the twinkling stars it held, cursing everyone and everything to hell and back.

Murtagh glanced over his shoulder and then swung around so that he straddled Eragon, pinning his arms to the ground, who gasped and started to protest but was cut short by Murtagh's mouth covering his own.

His eyes widened and then fluttered close, although he did not return the kiss. Murtagh's tongue pried open his lips, much against Eragon's will, and probed around inside his mouth. The younger squirmed and moved his head, breaking free. He glared at Murtagh out of the corner of his eye while the older boy smirked.

"Come on, Eragon, you know you missed me. You know you want me." He whispered huskily in his ear.

Eragon shuddered and continued glaring at him.

"I missed my friend, but now that he is back, I resent and despise him. I want nothing from you except freedom." He growled.

Murtagh chuckled. "I don't know why you lie when I can easily see the answers in your eyes and hear them on your tongue. You cannot hide your feelings, Rider, not even from me. Stop fighting it." He said.

Eragon continued to glare and said nothing.

Murtagh nuzzled his neck while Eragon tensed, then he started nibbling, when Eragon still didn't respond, he started biting him along his neck and jaw, and then down his chest.

"Stop." Eragon said through clenched teeth.

"You don't want me to." Murtagh murmured and then bit hard on Eragon's nipple (They had taken off his armor and shirt when they reached the camp). The boy screamed and hissed in pain.

A twig snapped in the underbrush as Roran burst into the clearing. Murtagh sat up (still straddling Eragon) and watched Roran who went from a shocked expression to a disgusted one…and then to one that looked closely to jealousy and protectiveness.

"Get off of him." he said in a threatening tone, taking a step forward.

"You can have your fun later, Roran. I've waited long enough." Murtagh answered in a threatening tone as well.

Roran flushed red and took another step forward.

"I said get off, I will not let you rape my cousin." He said darkly.

"Then leave." Murtagh replied just as darkly. Eragon's breathing increased in speed.

Roran reached for his hammer but it flew away from him and into the woods near Murtagh and Eragon.

"Remember, I have magic and you don't. I'm also stronger than you. You agreed to this, don't back out now." Murtagh said coldly. 'Besides, I told you I wouldn't hurt him. He wants this; he just doesn't want to admit it. Look into his eyes and you'll see.' He added.

Roran snorted but then nodded.

"Do with him what you will then, but I'm not staying to watch. Call me when you're done." He said.

Eragon gasped as his eyes widened. "Roran!" he cried out as his cousin walked away again. He couldn't believe that he would let Murtagh do this to him. 'He really has changed then…and it's all my fault.' He thought sadly and frowned.

He was startled out of his reverie as a finger stroked his cheek. He looked up to see Murtagh, a longing within his eyes.

"I missed you. When I was returned to Galbatorix, and he punished me for running away, I thought about you to keep myself sane. Not having you was torture enough, and he used that to my disadvantage. Bringing you back with me is such a tempting offer, but then I don't want you to fall under Galbatorix's control. What can I do, then?" he asked quietly, still stroking Eragon's cheek.

"Come to the Varden with me." He answered, but even as he said it he knew Murtagh would never be able to return to the Varden. He would be killed for treason by the Varden as well as the dwarves. Even if one accepted him, the other would still be hateful and they would never be in peace.

Murtagh shook his head. "They'll never accept me. Besides, I killed Hrothgar, Orik and the other dwarves will forever hate me. No, I must return to Galbatorix." He said.

Eragon's gaze softened slightly as a piteous look overcame his features.

"So I will have this night, possibly the last unless you will let me keep you a few days, and then I will have to go back. We will fight each other, and either one of us will die or Galbatorix will be destroyed once and for all." Murtagh continued and stared into Eragon's eyes.

There was silence between them for a moment while Murtagh waited for Eragon's response. Then finally: "I cannot deny you, brother."

Murtagh smiled and then kissed him again, running his hands over his chest while Eragon entwined his fingers in his hair, returning the kiss wholeheartedly this time. He moaned when Murtagh found one of his pleasure spots, and again as Murtagh licked and nibbled on his neck and down onto his chest again, massaging Eragon's nipple with his tongue this time.

Eragon fumbled with Murtagh's shirt and finally got it off as the memory of their first time came back to him.

-Flashback-

It was sometime after Brom had died, and Eragon had been depressed the entire day. Saphira was off hunting for the night, for it was too risky for her during the day. They skipped sparring because Eragon wasn't in the mood.

He was lying down, staring at the sky; it was a cold night despite the blanket he had draped over himself. Murtagh laid down beside him on his bedroll and stared at the sky in silence with him.

Then the older boy sat up on his elbow. "Eragon." He murmured.

Eragon glanced over but said nothing. Murtagh softened his voice. "Eragon."

"What?" the boy replied irritably.

Murtagh frowned. "You can't keep brooding over his death, you know." he said.

"It's none of your business, just leave me alone." Eragon snapped.

Murtagh scooted closer. "Let me cheer you up." He suggested. They had gotten close, closer then friends, and had been hinting at each other that whole week.

Eragon furrowed his eyebrows and turned to him. "How?" he asked doubtingly.

Murtagh smiled and scooted closer, Eragon abruptly sat up on his elbow as well, looking warily at the other.

"Close your eyes." Murtagh said. Eragon frowned deeper.

"Why?" he asked.

"Just do it, trust me." Murtagh replied huskily, looking into the other boy's eyes. Eragon soon complied and Murtagh took a deep breath before kissing him on the lips.

Eragon gasped and fell back, eyes wide and cheeks red. Murtagh chuckled and Eragon flushed a deeper red.

"Did I startle you? I'm sorry. I just thought…never mind." Murtagh stammered and went to turn around, but Eragon caught his arm.

His expression held pleading and longing, with lust and the yearning to forget his troubles in his eyes. Murtagh cupped his cheek and kissed him again, then slowly lay down together.

-End Flashback-

The memory made him blush, and he kissed Murtagh again after he successfully took his shirt off. Murtagh slid his hand underneath Eragon's pants and he twitched at the cold touch, but then relaxed as Murtagh slid his pants off. Eragon ran his hands down Murtagh's back and over his hips before also taking the other's pants off.

They stopped and looked into each other's eyes before they continued underneath the burning brightly stars…

When they were done, Eragon soon fell asleep in Murtagh's arms. Murtagh called Roran back with his mind and moments later the boy appeared. He slowly made his way over to them, the fire was out and it was dark. Roran laid his bedroll on the other side of Eragon.

"You didn't force yourself upon him or hurt him?" he asked.

"No, he was willing." Murtagh replied.

"Good." Roran said and put his arm around his cousin and drew him towards him.

Murtagh frowned and pulled Eragon back. Roran glared at him and pried his hands off of Eragon's sleeping form and yanked him away.

"Hey!"

"You had your way with him, it is only fair." Roran simply said. Murtagh grumbled an incoherent response and turned over, his back towards them. Roran smirked and stroked Eragon, who stirred slightly, shifting slightly against Roran. Roran put his arm back around him and buried his face in his neck before falling asleep.

Murtagh soon drifted off into sleep while the stars watched over them.

-Author's Note: This is only part 1, there will be another part coming so look out! Please tell me what you think; they'll be torturing poor 'Agon next chappy so if you have any ideas feel free to tell me.

1) Don't yell or flame at me, I realize that not even Murtagh can bind two humans and a dragon, but for the purposes of this fic, he can.

2) Barzuln is a dwarven word meant for cursing someone with multiple misfortunes

Please remember to review, thanks!-