Title: Just Stay Strong
Author: LoNnI

Rating: PG 13 (In the middle of T and M, I guess)
Genre: Angst/Fantasy

Spoilers: If you haven't read the books or seen the movie then there will be spoilers here. It is a bit from both :P

Characters: Eragon, Murtagh, Arya, Saphira (Blue dragon), Thorn (Red dragon), Galbatorix, Bolrak (made up dwarf), Auntyrclaug (Green dragon - name means something like "AuntyrLearned" and "claugforest" - will usually be called Auntyr)

Disclaimer: I do not own Eragon or any of the characters in it. It's all Christopher Paolinis characters and places.

Summary: Eragon and Arya has manages to find their way unnoticed into Galbatorix fortress to try to catch up any of his plans. They don't hear any of his plans, but gets something better.

Notes: There will be differences from the book in my story. Many characters will not be mentioned because I will concentrate around the central ones. The rider of the green dragon is just something I decided without knowing who really will be in the third book. Also a note about the communications between the dragons and their riders. I don't know if there is anything saying that a dragon rider can only communicate in his mind with his own dragon and not with others. But in this story I have made it possible to communicate with other dragons. As example Eragon can communicate with Murtagh's dragon, Thorn and Murtagh with let's say Saphira or the green dragon. I make it this way because I need it to work that way lol. But I also made up that they cannot communicate with others dragons unless both allows it. If Eragon wants to share his thoughts to Thorn, but the dragon doesn't want to, it wont work. And dragons together can obviously communicate together of course.

The story has been spellchecked by someone (Thank you!) before posting, but please don't go balistic if there's some mistakes. Let me know what you think, but if you just got shit up your sleeve then leave it please!

Keep holding on
Cause you know we'll make it through
We'll make it through
Just stay strong
Cause you know I'm here for you

1.

Eragon walked silently through the quiet halls, hidden under some clothing he had found in Galbatorix fortress. It was creepy how silent it was. Himself and Arya had split off to go looking for something that could help them in their war against the evil king. The fact that there were only a few guards he had met on so far (who had not paid any attention to him in his disguise) scared him. There was no sign of Galbatorix or Murtagh. His old friend. It always struck Eragon right in the heart thinking of Murtagh. A part of him hated him for his disloyalty, but the biggest part of him couldn't help missing him. Galbatorix had somehow lost the last unhatched green dragon egg some months ago and over the months Eragon wondered if it may have been Murtagh who had sent the egg away. It surprised Eragon greatly to find out that the green dragon hatched for Arya. But it was a good thing. Now they had two of the dragons on their side. Arya had given her dragon the name of Auntyrclaug.

Eragon came to a sudden stop when he heard a soft moan close by. Quietly he continued walking towards the sound, heart in his throat. "This is the second time you come back without anything!" the sudden harsh voice appearing out of nowhere made Eragon gasp for air and he pressed himself against the wall. He knew it was Galbatorix's voice. "Your loyalty to that boy will be your death!" Galbatorix voice made chills run over his arms and he felt tears stinging his eyes as he heard sounds of pain escaping the lips of his friend. "If you think death will be the result of disloyalty..." he paused and Eragon could hear Murtagh breathing through clenched teeth, "... well you're not completely wrong, but it wont be an easy way there. I will force you to watch and feel your dear dragon suffer a slow death. And maybe if we're lucky, you will also see your beloved brother die too" Galbatorix whispered the last words. Murtagh suppressed a scream as something painful washed over him again. Tears were falling freely from Eragons eyes now. It was obvious to him now why Murtagh was doing this. He knew that if it was him being in Galbatorix's hands he would do anything to keep harm away from Saphira.

He stood still a while before he carefully peeked around the corner. He hadn't heard Galbatorix leave, yet there were no sign of him. Slowly he moved a little more and then he could see Murtagh. The dark haired young man was sitting on the floor with his head leaned down. He was obviously in much pain because he was breathing hard and Eragon could see the form of his friend shaking from where he stood. In the dull light Eragon then noticed something dripping from Murtaghs face. His face was hidden by his hair, but it was clearly that the dark marks on the floor were caused by blood that was tipping from his face. Eragon stood unsure of what to do. He knew there was no way he could leave Murtagh alone here now. Although he knew his friend wouldn't want to risk Thorn a brutal death, he knew he had to help him. Eragon listened to his surroundings again, but all he heard was Murtaghs wheezing.

He then took a deep breath and quietly ran over to his friend. When he was close enough he kneeled and took a firm hold on Murtagh's shoulder with one hand and covered his mouth with the other. Murtagh was taken by surprise and tried automatically to get Eragon away, but had no powers left in him to do much. "Murtagh..." Eragon felt how his friend... brother... stopped shaking under his hand. Slowly Murtagh turned to look at him and his eyes turned huge. The blood that was covering the floor was coming from Murtagh's mouth and Eragon could feel his hand being covered in it. It was alot of blood. He bit his lips and felt his anger rising. There was no way Murtagh did this as a voulenteer. "How can you let him do this because of some names..." Eragon asked, not expecting an answer. "Thorn..." mumbled as he pushed Eragon's hand away and spat out more blood. Eragon could see blue marks around his neck now, obviously from Galbatorix's hands. "I am not letting you do this!" Eragon hoisted Murtagh up, his heart breaking as he then noticed how badly Galbatorix had punished him. He was hardly conscious and had problems standing. "Go away..." Murtagh tried to get away, but to no use.

"Eragon!" Eragon through his heart was about to explode as Arya rounded the corner. She gasped when she saw him and Murtagh. "What are you doing!" she hurried over to them, staring at Murtagh. "We can't leave him! Galbatorix did this to him because he returned without any of us!" Eragon's voice was shaking with anger. Arya carefully touched Murtaghs face, feeling the heat and the blood on her hands. "Galbatorix is no good to him! He is being forced. Arya! Please! Please help me!" Eragon was begging now. Arya was struggling to decide, but after some thinking she nodded quickly. "Come!" she hurried back through from where she came from. Yeah, thanks for the help, Eragon mumbled to himself as he dragged Murtagh with him. "Please try to walk" Eragon urged his brother. "I can't leave" Murtagh hissed as Eragon pulled him through a door leading out. "What did you do to them?" Eragon asked Arya as he eyed two of Galbatorix's men lying on the floor. "You don't want to know" Arya said short. "Get Saphira here" she ended while she called for her own. Saphira! Hurry! Will you carry two? Eragon fell to the ground as Murtagh suddenly vanished from his grip. He turned around and saw Murtagh leaning against a tree. "Listen!" Murtagh hissed as he fought to keep consciousness to him. "You're just making it worse..." he coughed and dropped to his knees. Two? What have you done now? Auntyr can carry Arya... Saphira's voice popped into Eragons head as she landed just outside the forest soon followed by the beautiful green dragon. Murtagh... What are you doing, Eragon! Saphira hurried over to them. Eragon quickly gave her the same reason as he had given to Arya.Eragon ignored Murtagh's protests and hauled him up. Saphira looked at Arya for any kind of response, but both females were out of words. We'll talk about it later the blue dragon said stubbornly.

By the time Saphira and Auntyrclaug landed by the roots of a mountain, the sun was about to rise on the other side of the valley. Murtagh was unconsciouss and the dragons were tired. Eragon had just lifted Murtagh down from Saphiras' back when a loud roar shook the ground. "Thorn!" Arya yelled as she saw the red dragon coming after them. Saphira do something! Eragons' mind screamed. He knew Thorn was going to attack them unless Saphira told him what was going on. The blue dragon jumped into the sky to meet the red one. Anxiously Eragon watched as the two dragons communicated before they came down to them. Thorn looked furious and Eragon slowly backed away with Murtagh in his arms. What do you want from us? Eragon was surprised to hear a male voice in his head. He understood at once that it belonged to Thorn. Galbatorix. He's torturing you... Why do you keep doing this to yourselves? Eragon asked the red dragon. Thorn made a humming sound as he touched his unconsciouss rider with his huge nose. We have no choice. My rider has already told you this! He keeps his oath for the sake of mine and I keep mine to protect him. Unfortunately I am not doing a very good job... He told Thorn that he had to stay just for now. Thorn watched his rider before accepting it and watched as Eragon carried Murtagh to their camp. "Don't let anyone know that Murtagh is here. The same with you Thorn" Eragon said and looked at Arya and she nodded in respond.

No bashing please! There'll be more chapters of course ;)