Chapter 1

The Varden camp was eerily quiet. For just winning the war, ending the reign of terror of Galbotrix the camp was quiet. New folk lore's were made telling the story of how Eragon Shadeslayer and his majestic blue dragon, Saphira bravely ended the terror. "Well I heard that Argetlam," an older man said to another man while they drank their mead. Roran shook his head as he walked by. He was growing tired over the stories that people where telling, once upon a time he would have listened to them, might even believed a few, but right now, he didn't believe any of them.

Roran made his way around the camp running into the citizens of Carvahall. "Roran, how goes it?" Horst asked. Roran looked at him gloomy, the black smith knew how it was going, but I guess he was just being polite.

"Just…" Roran started to say, but he could not finish. He was happy the war was finally over, they did not have to suffer no more under Galbotrix's control, but a part of him could not join the celebrations. He couldn't bring himself to do it.

Not too far from his tent that he shared with his wife, Katrina, laid his cousin, Eragon in a coma. The price Eragon paid for showing his bravery by facing the king. Eragon's body was covered with bruises, burn marks, cuts, blisters you name it. It was obvious that Eragon put up a fight and you could tell the king had grown rather aggravated with the younger Rider. Roran wanted to believe Eragon would be alright, but it has been a week and he had not stirred once. His dragon, Saphira, was just as worried as anyone else about her Riders condition.

Horst looked at Roran with concern, "I am not good at comforting people," Horst began to say rather awkwardly, "but have faith, Eragon will pull through." I gave him a curt nod and kicked a small pebble with my boot.

Katrina made her way over to Roran giving him a small smile, "come on, I know it is eating at you," Katrina said taking Roran's hand and guiding him toward the tent where his cousin was being treated. Katrina pulled the tent flap back and ushered Roran to go ahead. He pushed forward taking a few shaky steps.

To be honest, he had not gone to see his cousin yet; it was another thing he could bring himself to do, besides joining in on the celebrations. "It might be wild, but I heard talking to someone when they are in a coma helps bring them back," Katrina said softly.

Roran looked back at his wife and smiled at her; it was not a warm smile nor was it a cold smile. Katrina shrugged her shoulders, she was just happy with the smile she had received. She and Roran both have not spoken to each other much after the war was over. Katrina tried to comfort Roran, but he just put up a wall not allowing anyone in, then the news of his cousin, made things not so much better for the young couple.

"Do you want to be alone?" Katrina asked her husband. It had been such a long time since she had last heard his voice. Nowadays all he did was nod his head or shake his head to answer any questions that were asked.

"No," Roran finally said to her. His voice was quiet, faint almost, most likely due to the lack of use. Roran looked back at Katrina and she gave him a weak smile, she took slow steps toward her husband. "I can't believe someone could do this to someone else," Roran said in disbelief as he scanned his cousin.

Eragon's breath came in short gasp, as if he was struggling to breathe. There were obvious signs of torture his arms were covered in burn marks, cuts and bruises. His face was covered in bruises of all sorts of different colors, one eye was swollen shut completely and there were more cuts. Roran did not want to know what else his brother endured, but at the same time he wanted to know. Besides Roran, Katrina stifled a gasp and she quickly covered her mouth.

"I'm sorry Katrina, I should not have made you stay with me," Roran said apologizing.

"No, no, don't be sorry," Katrina said holding onto Roran's waist. She buried her copper hair into Roran's side and let a few tears fall freely. Roran wrapped an arm around her small shoulders and squeezed lightly. "I have always viewed him as my younger brother," Katrina confessed. Roran glanced down at his wife and gave her a weak smile. "He just has this strange effect on people, I am not sure how to describe it, but, oh I don't know!" Katrina exclaimed breaking away from Roran.

It was true though, Eragon had a strange effect on people. He was probably the most unselfish person, he put his family and friends first while he put himself last. He even abandoned his duties to help Roran rescue Katrina from Helgrind, where the Ra'Zac held her prisoner after capturing her in Carvahall.

Roran found a wooden chair in the corner of the tent and pulled it close to his cousin's bedside and sat down. Katrina rubbed his back, "I am going to give you alone time," she whispered in his ear, she kissed him on the top of the head and walked out of the tent. Roran turned his attention back to Eragon and watched him sleep.

"I feel strange for doing this," Roran said aloud awkwardly, "but Katrina told me to try this. She said that if you talked to someone who was in a coma that it could bring them back," he explained. "Eragon, I don't know where to begin. I am so thankful for you; after all you did rid the whole Alagesia of a great evil, but not only that, when you had other things to do you dropped everything to help me rescue Katrina. I am sure you did it, because you held yourself responsible for the death of our father's death, but I am so grateful. I don't know how I will ever repay you for helping me get her back." Roran sat there for a while, a tear sliding down his cheek he watched the tear fall on his lap.

"Damn it, Eragon. I wish that you would just wake up. The war is done and over and most people are waiting for you to wake so we can truly celebrate our victory, so you can celebrate your victory that you deserve." Roran grabbed Eragon's hand that was almost lifeless. "Please, wake up," Roran pleaded. He fought back more tears as they theartened to pour. He rose from his chair and walked away from the cot. He glanced back at Eragon one more time, before exiting the tent.

"Roran," Elaine said walking towards Roran, "please join us for dinner," she continued now walking besides him. He flashed a smile and gestured of her to lead the way. "It is good to see you smile again," Elaine commented.

"I keep trying to tell myself that Eragon is going to be alright," he responded.

"He will. It will take time, but he will be alright in the end." Elaine smiled and walked toward the kitchen and Roran went to the living room to talk to the others.

"Roran," someone said, "do you know what happened to the Red Rider after the battle?" Albrech asked.

"I have no idea, I haven't been to any meetings since the battle ended, but I suspect I will be attending one here soon, we were ordered to take a couple days to rest."

"How is Eragon?" Baldor asked sitting down in a chair near the fireplace.

"He hasn't stirred, a few wounds have healed, but it is going to be a slow healing process, or at least that is what I think," Roran responded.

So I practically gutted what I had originally written and I hope you guys enjoy it. I am thinking that my style of writing has changed over the year, but that could be that I have not written in a year, so leave me reviews on what you guys think!

Courtney Abigail