A/N: Unlike my first story, this is a work-in-progress. I finished two chapters, but now I have major writers' block. So, if after reading these first two chapters anyone has any suggestions, please let me know!

Enjoy!

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Eragon sat in his tent, his head in his hands. He was alone; Roran was talking with Nasuada about what would become of the people of Carvahall and Saphira, sensing that he wanted to be left alone, was surveying the area to make sure the enemy was truly gone. So Eragon was alone, trying t piece together everything that had happened. Murtagh is alive! He couldn't believe it, not after the months he had spent mourning the loss of his friend, his love. But there Murtagh had been, atop a red dragon. Thorn, Murtagh said his name was. And he was Murtagh's. Murtagh is a Rider, just like me. But he's with Galbatorix. That was the hardest part. Accepting that Murtagh had betrayed him. Not Murtagh. Not after the way he expressed his hatred for the Empire, for his father who had helped destroy the Riders. Now Murtagh was becoming the very thing he hated.

With that thought, Eragon let out a cry of anger, which then turned into a sob. Soon Eragon was crying uncontrollably. He tried to be quiet so nobody would hear him, but still he sobbed. He was crying so hard and was so caught up in his pain that he didn't hear someone enter.

"Eragon?"

Eragon looked up and saw Roran standing by the tent flap.

"Eragon, are you okay? What's wrong?"

Eragon didn't answer, couldn't answer. He just stared at Roran, who hadn't moved from his spot by the tent opening.

"Eragon?" Roran whispered and started to walk towards him.

"You won't understand. You couldn't possibly understand," he whispered back.

"You won't know that until you tell me what's going on. So tell me."

Eragon sighed. "Alright, but don't interrupt. If I stop, I may not want to finish." Roran nodded and Eragon started his story.

"It all started a few days after Brom had died…" Eragon told Roran everything that had happened to him and Murtagh up to that point, talking slowly and quietly, staring at the ground at his feet. He couldn't look at Roran; he was afraid of how his cousin would react.

"And it turned out that Murtagh was alive the whole time! But now he's with Galbatorix. He says he was forced into it, but I don't believe that." Eragon finished and looked up at Roran to see his reaction. At first he looked shocked, but then his expression softened.

"Eragon," he began softly, "I'm sorry."

Eragon was surprised at this. "What?"

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry something like this happened to you, especially at a time like this. Some horrible things have happened to you, and you've handled them better than I think I could have."

"I had to. If I didn't, things would have turned out worse than they are. I had to stay strong. If I fell apart, then the Varden could've. I'm one of the few things holding them together. You think I'm okay with everything?" Now Eragon's anger came through. "I'm sick of everyone depending on me! No one ever stops to think that I might be affected by this! They think that because I am a Rider, I can handle everything!" He broke off and stormed across the tent.

"Eragon."

"What?" he snapped.

"Eragon, I think you're wrong. It's not that they don't care if you're affected. It's that you don't let them see that it's affecting you, so they assume you're okay. Maybe if you showed some feeling instead of being like a rock, they would understand you better. I wouldn't have known what was wrong if you hadn't told me."

Eragon opened his mouth to say something, but Roran stopped him. "I'm not saying you have to tell them everything. I'm not even saying you have to tell everyone. But I'm sure if you talked to Nasuada or Arya, they would understand. And I think they should know what you've just told me."

"I can't tell them any if that! I only told you because I knew you wouldn't care! They will. They'll reject me. I'll be an outcast."

"How do you know?"

"What do you mean? You know how most people would react if they knew!"

"Ah, but there's your answer. They're not most people."

Eragon sighed; he knew Roran was right. He walked back to where Roran stood and asked, "Will you come with me? It might make it easier."

"Of course," was the reply. He smiled at Eragon and together they walked out of the tent.