Kids Again

Summary: When one of Murtagh's attempts on magic goes wrong, he has to pay the ultimate price. Babysit Eragon until a suitable cure is found. R&R please.

A/N: Nothing belongs to me, except for the plot. cries Based off another fanfic to which I forgot the name of, but I credit here anyways.

Murtagh's hair was sticking up at odd angles, and his eyes looked tired, yet they shone bright. "This better work," he muttered to himself and then he began to mutter the spell, the hand with his Gedway Ignasia stuck out above a bowl filled with water. He slowly began to mutter his revised spell when all of a sudden-

CRASH!!!

Eragon stumbled over the big elephants leg and then swore angrily. Why on earth had his idiotic brother placed that mouldy old thing in front of his room? It couldn't be because he actually liked it. Murtagh's taste might be awful, but at least he could distinguish something that belonged to the forest from an actual piece to put in your room. Kicking it away irritably, he pushed open the door and began to scream delightedly like a maniac.

"MURTAGH! GUESS WHAT I-" His words were cut off as Murtagh glared murderously at him, then completed his spell. However, the words that he spoke were quite different. Even Murtagh himself couldn't figure out what he said. But whatever had happened, it was bad. Really bad.

A few crashes, a couple booms and a few more bangs later, the blue smoke cleared. Then the pink, then the green and then finally the wet haze of mist disappeared. Murtagh knew from the start that this wasn't good. Of course, he could have instantly made the smoke and mist disappear, but he seemed to have been paralyzed with shock at what had happened.

A brown haired and brown eyed five year old gazed curiously up at a shocked looking Murtagh. The dark-haired Rider took a moment to register what had happened, then sunk to the floor in a dead faint.

Eragon had somehow become a five year old again.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT WAS AN ACCIDENT?!" Arya screamed furiously at a cowering Murtagh. She had heard the noises and then ascended two levels of the Vol Turin to find a five year old Eragon poking Murtagh in the ribs, in apparent curiosity. Within seconds she had revived the offender and proceeded to scream her guts out at him.

"Please, I swear! I didn't do ANYTHING!" Murtagh pleaded. Arya glowered at him, then sunk into one of the chairs in the room. It was the hardest one there and it didn't exactly help her current mood.

One of our most valuable Riders has been turned into a five year old! If Galbatorix hears about this...nevermind that! What if the Elves hear about this!? He'll be the laughing stock for ages! No one will take him or his abilities seriously! her mind worked furiously for a solution to the predicament at hand.

Eragon gazed impatiently at the two grown-ups. One of them, a pretty woman, was screaming her guts out a dark-haired man. Crawling quietly up to Arya, he tugged the hem of her dress and smiled up at her.

"Whatcha doin'?" he asked. Arya started then looked down at Eragon. His dark eyes sparkled up at her and she felt herself smiling in spite of all that had happened.

"Awww...you're so cute." she cooed. A sick-looking Murtagh looked from her and Eragon.

"You're kidding, right?" he asked incredulously. Arya's mind clicked and finally, she figured out the answer. She turned towards a bewildered looking Murtagh and began to explain.

"Okay. Apparently, we have a problem." she began calmly. Murtagh snorted impatiently. Arya threw him a disgusted look and continued. "Eragon seems to have somehow aged, in reverse. The first thing we need to do to fix this, is to hide him."

Murtagh was puzzled. "Why?" he asked.

"Because if someone finds out about him, it'll be hard to explain what happened. The Elves defenitely wouldn't understand, and we can't risk them not trusting Eragon or taking him seriously. So, tell NO ONE." she glared up at Murtagh. "I want you to swear to me in the Ancient language that you will not tell anyone. Go on. No loopholes either." Murtagh rolled his eyes and swore. "Good," she said, nodding approvingly. "Next, he will need sufficient living quarters while I attempt at finding a cure. This place seems fine. I'll bring down some of Eragon's stuff down here and then a few more items and you'll be doing great.

"On the subject of those whom we can tell. We'll need to inform Saphira. She's his dragon after all." at this point she looked down at Eragon, who continued to gaze at her sweetly. "She'll probably mother him to death. Oh, and she'll fit here, so we can move her here too. You'll need help handling him."

Murtagh recoiled. "What?" he asked. "Are you telling me that I'll be the one looking after the brat?" he asked, his eyes wide. "No. NO WAY! I REFUSE TO TAKE CARE OF SOME FIVE YEAR OLD KID!"

Arya's temper boiled. "IT'S YOUR OWN FAULT, DUMMY!" she screamed in retaliation. "YOU'LL TAKE CARE OF HIM OR ELSE I WILL MAKE YOU SORRY!" Murtagh fell silent at the threat. Elves weren't to be crossed, he knew that by now.

After calming down sufficiently, she glared once more at him and continued with her instructions. "I'll also need to tell Angela and Nasuada. Nasuada will aid us in the secret, I know that. Angela will help you search the Library every day for some traces of a cure. I'm warning you, find one, or else I WILL follow through with that threat." At her murderous stare, Murtagh shut his mouth and fell silent. "I'll bring up everything you need. If anyone asks, I'll tell that we sent Eragon to the Elves for training. Meanwhile, I'll look through some old Elvish texts for something about aging magic. Are those instructions clear?"

Murtagh nodded mutely. "Good, now I need you to swear a few more oaths for me, in the Ancient language. AND NO LOOPHOLES." she added the last bit warningly. Murtagh sighed, then swore to look after Eragon properly, then help Angela and Arya in finding a cure and to guard his secret. After nodding approvingly, she left the Eragon and Murtagh alone. She needed to speak with Nasuada and Angela in private. Arya turned to Eragon, but instead, saw no one.

Eragon had disappeared.

A/N: DUN, DUN, DUN!!! Yeah. First chapter, and Eragon's already causing trouble! You may press the purple button now:) Criticism and comments are greatly appreciated!

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