Traveling Dangers
A/n Ok guys this is my first Eragon fic so be nice. I've kinda combined the movie and the book and then changed events to match what I needed. The only thing that is really different is I have Murtagh and Eragon traveling to the Vardan together after Brom died but no Arya. Who needs her? Anyway I have an idea for a second chapter but I need reviews before I start writing so please do! Enjoy!
Rain poured down in droves on the two riders that sped through the countryside on horseback. Thunder and lightning clashed in an awesome display above them as they rode on. One rider pulled his white horse to a stop and the other followed suit on his black stead.
"It's getting really bad! We should make camp!" The first rider shouted over the roar of the torrential rain, his sandy blond hair plastered to his head. The other, slightly older rider, nodded.
"There is a clearing not far ahead I think. We can stop there." He shouted back. They rode to the clearing and dismounted their horses, teathing them to a tree.
"Eragon, you might want to call Saphira. Even a dragon can get hit by lightning." The rider dressed in black said. Eragon smiled and telepathically called his dragon through the bond they shared and moments later she landed with a whoosh.
'Well at least Murtagh has the sense to call me in.' She said haughtily.
'Ha ha.'
Murtagh and Eragon tried to start a fire, with Murtagh standing over Eragon holding a blanket stretched over them and Eragon trying to light the fire.
"Why am I the tent pole?" Murtagh asked grumpily. Eragon tried not to laugh at his friend's predicament and answered,
"Because you're taller." Murtagh glared at him and Eragon looked back innocently. A moment later they both burst into laughter.
"Brisingr." Eragon said between laughs and a fire sparked to life. However, it was extinguished a moment later because the rain had finally soaked through the blanket. Both young men groaned and cursed at their terrible luck. Saphira shook her large head and moved closer to her angry companions. She extended one massive wing over them to provide a roof. Once the two boys realized they were no longer getting wet they looked up to see the blue wing stretched over them. They again chuckled but this time because they hadn't thought of that themselves.
Eragon lit another fire and he and Murtagh ate a meal of dried meat from their packs. After they ate and warmed up they extinguished the fire and Saphira closed her wing all the way around them, creating a warm dome. Eragon lay close to her belly and Murtagh settled close to her wing.
Morning arrived and Saphira left her two human companions so that she could go hunt. The rain had stopped and it was a bright sunny morning. About an hour after dawn the boys woke up, cleaned out camp, and sparred a little. After days of travel and sparring together neither one was any closer to beating the other.
"I'll call Saphira and then we can go." Eragon stated and Murtagh tightened the saddle of his horse.
'Saphira? Where are you?'
'I'm a few miles away.'
'Well we're about to leave camp.'
'All right. I…Eragon! Urgals are coming your way! Fast!'
"Murtagh! Urgals are coming!" Eragon warned as he drew Zar'roc from its sheath.
Murtagh drew his own sword and just in time. An Urgal jumped out of the foliage but only to be cut down by Murtagh's sword. And the fight was on. Eragon and Murtagh parried, slashed, and blocked their enemies. They were two of the best fighters in all of Alagaësia but they were greatly out numbered. It must have been a small troop of Urgals for their sheer size. It was all the two companions could do to keep the enemy away and many times they had to cover each other.
Murtagh cut the horses loose so that they could find a way to escape since the humans were surrounded. They were starting to get desperate and Eragon began to use magic but was quickly getting tired. Saphira showed up and started swooping down to attack the enemy, either by dropping boulders or using her razor sharp talons. The Urgals tried to shoot her but she flew evasively. Eragon looked up to make sure she was safe but the moment cost him. An Urgal took aim at him with it's powerful bow.
"Eragon!"
'Eragon!' Both Murtagh and Saphira yell at the same time.
Murtagh quickly got to Eragon and pushed the younger boy down as he stepped in front of him. The arrow pierced Murtagh through the shoulder. The dark haired boy screamed as pain erupted though his entire body. White lights dance briefly in front of his eyes before clearing.
Eragon stood and looked wide-eyed at him but the older boy continued to fight which spurred him into action. Eragon kept an eye on Murtagh as they continued to battle and the other boy was beginning to falter. Saphira watched out for him as well but Eragon knew they needed to get away.
'Saphira can you carry us both?'
'I can try.'
Eragon made his way over to Saphira and climbed into her saddle. The great dragon then grabbed Murtagh as gently as she could and took off. She forced herself to fly a few miles away from the battle but after a while she had to land. She found a suitable place and laid Murtagh down gently before landing herself.
Murtagh fell to his knees and gasped for breath. His whole body felt as though it were on fire and someone kept twisting a dagger in his shoulder. Eragon quickly jumped off of Saphira's back and ran to his friend's side.
"Murtagh! Can you hear me?"
"Of course I can hear you." Murtagh answer in an agitated voice, which Eragon instantly knew was to hide the pain. The arrow had gone completely through and Murtagh was sweating heavily do to the strain. He was breathing heavily and glanced sideways at Eragon.
"It has to come out." He said.
Eragon nodded and broke off the tip of the arrow. Murtagh winced as the wound was jostled. Eragon gave Murtagh a strip of leather to bite on, then gripped the shaft of the arrow.
"I'm sorry my friend." He said then pulled the arrow out.
Murtagh let out a muffled scream and squeezed his eyes shut to try to keep the tears at bay. Eragon ripped off pieces of his shirt to press against the entry and exit holes to stop the blood flow. Murtagh was fighting back a whimper. It hurt so bad!
'Eragon look.'
Eragon whipped around, expecting to see more Urgals, but was pleasantly surprised to see their horses. 'Finally some luck.' He thought.
"Hold on Murtagh. I'm going to get some supplies."
Eragon went and rummaged through the saddlebags looking for anything useful. He found the healing supplies and then hurried back to Murtagh who was by now very pale.
"Are you still with me Murtagh?"
Murtagh sluggishly opened his eyes and said, "Barely."
"I wish I could use magic but I'm too weak from the battle."
"S'alright… Rider. Just bandage me and let me sleep." Eragon did just that, as gently and securely as possible. After he was finished he undid the bedrolls and helped Murtagh to his. The older boy promptly fell asleep. Eragon laid down in his own bedroll, which was diagonal from Murtagh's, and stared into the fire. Saphira came over and lay down next to the two humans with her tail wrapped around Murtagh and her head around Eragon who leaned back against her neck.
'What are you thinking about, little one?'
'Why would Murtagh do that! Why would he jump in front of me?'
'Perhaps he thought he was saving the only good Dragon Rider there is?' Saphira suggested.
'I don't want anyone sacrificing themselves for me.' Eragon said darkly. He then settled back against Saphira and went to sleep. The dragon settled her wing over her two hatchlings and went to sleep herself.
The next morning Saphira went out to hunt and scout while Eragon checked on Murtagh. To the Riders dismay, the other man seemed to be running a fever.
"Murtagh? I need you to wake up." Eragon said, gently shaking the wounded man.
"Huh?" Murtagh grumbled, slowly prying his eyes open. When he did Eragon saw a brief flash of panic go through the other man until he realized were he was and whom he was with.
"What is it Eragon?" He said slightly agitated as he closed his eyes again.
"How do you feel?" Murtagh cracked one eye open.
"I feel great Eragon. How do you feel this fine morning?" Eragon smirked.
"I'm serious Murtagh. I need to know how you feel."
"My shoulder is obviously killing me, my head hurts, and I'm sick to my stomach. Does that help you?"
"I need to see you're shoulder." Eragon said regretfully as he began to undo the bandage. Murtagh winced but allowed him to continue. Eragon's stomach dropped as he saw that the wound at turned an ugly yellow color. The young rider went and found the disregarded tip of the arrow. He could have kicked himself as he realized it was poisoned. He went back to Murtagh and said,
"Weis Hein." The wound closed slightly and the color improved barely but it did not fully heal.
"I don't know how to heal this." He said desperately.
"Don't worry about it Rider. You must get to the Varden." Eragon nodded.
"Yes I do. But not without you." Murtagh seemed surprised by that statement.
'Saphire? How much do you know about poisons?'
'I know of some plants that can be used. Why?'
'Murtagh is poisoned.'
'I'm on my way.' A few minutes later Saphira landed with a growl.
'Let me see the arrow." She said. Eragon complied and brought her the broken tip. Saphira smelt of it then exhaled violently releasing a fine line of smoke.
'We are lucky. It is a simple poison. We ca give him an herb that will counter it but not completely alleviate it's affects.'
'Will he live?'
'Yes. If we give it to him immediately.'
'Tell me how to find it.' Saphira described the plant to Eragon who went out to look for it while the dragon watched over Murtagh. Eragon came back ten minutes later with a handful of the medicinal herb and asked Saphira,
'What do I do now?' She instructed him to pound some of it into a paste and sprinkle the rest into water. Eragon had Murtagh drink the water then applied the paste to both sides of the wound.
'That should take care of anything deadly but there will still be some affects and he will be weak for a few days.'
'We still need to keep moving.' Eragon woke Murtagh and helped him to his horse after explaining that they had to keep going. The dark haired boy slumped forward in the saddle and Eragon led both horses as they rode. They rode most of the day until right before nightfall when Eragon decided to stop. Murtagh pushed away the younger boys attempts to help and he climbed off the horse himself. However he didn't make it far before he was forced to sit down. Eragon just made camp around him, knowing that it was useless to try to help or move him.
Saphira brought them a deer, which Eragon skinned, cooked, and ate. Murtagh only managed to eat a little and even that made him sick to his stomach. They went to bed but Saphira woke Eragon in the middle of the night.
"Eragon. Something is wrong with Murtagh."
Eragon opened his eyes sleepily and looked over at his friend. He was alarmed to find the other man tossing and turned as well as being covered in sweat. Eragon went over and put a hand on the sick mans shoulder and was dismayed when Murtagh flinched away violently and began to mumble as his mind was caught in fevered dreams.
"No! M'sorry. Please!" He said things like this on and off for the next few minutes as Eragon tried in vain to wake him. Eragon went to wet a cloth to put on Murtagh's forehead in an attempt to bring the fever down when his friend said something that made him stop in his tracks.
"Ma? Don't leave, Ma! Please!" Eragon felt his heart twist. His mother had left him too? Eragon went over and placed the damp cloth on Murtagh's clammy forehead.
"We are more alike than I thought my friend." Eragon said to the unconscious form. Suddenly Murtagh jerked and grabbed his stomach, rolling himself into a ball from pain.
"Murtagh! 'Saphira what's wrong with him?'
'I'm afraid it's just the poison working it's way through his body, little one.' Saphira said, coming closer.
Eragon felt so helpless. It reminded him of a time when Roran, his cousin, had been sick. The young Eragon had been scared to death Roran would die and there would be nothing he could have done. Thankfully Roran had gotten better and Eragon hoped that would be the case again.
"You're not alone Murtagh. I'm here." Eragon said putting his had on his friends shoulder.
Murtagh groaned and fidgeted through the night, but Eragon's presence seemed to calm him. Eragon stayed by his friends side all night with his hand on the other mans shoulder so that he could make sure Murtagh was breathing. About an hour before dawn Eragon's head began to droop to his chest. Just as the sun was beginning to rise, giving everything a reddish-orange glow, Saphira nudged Eragon's mind.
'He's waking.' She said happily. Eragon was awake instantly, looking down at Murtagh who was beginning to stir. The dark haired boy forced his eyes open then blinked a few times to clear his vision. He looked to his left and saw Eragon and Saphira above him.
"Where?" Murtagh asked trying to get up. Eragon forced him back down and said,
"You're safe. The arrow was poisoned but you're ok now."
"How?" Murtagh only seemed able to get one word out at a time.
"Saphira helped me learn how to heal the poison. You're going to be ok." Murtagh seemed surprised, as if he didn't expect anyone to go through that much trouble for him.
"Th, Thank you, Eragon." Eragon smiled.
"No problem. Anything for a friend. I'm glad you're going to be alright Murtagh." Murtagh smiled tentatively.
'I'm glad too. I owe you both of our lives.' Saphira said projecting her thoughts so that both boys could hear her. She nuzzled Murtagh in the chest, which made the boy laugh. Eragon smiled too as he realized that every thing was going to be fine.
"You rest Murtagh. We'll see if you're well enough to leave tomorrow."
"I can travel now." Murtagh stated trying to get up but a wave of dizziness forced him back down.
"Perhaps we should wail till tomorrow?" He said
"Wise choice. Not that Saphira would have let you leave anyway." Eragon said wryly. The blue dragon growled in affirmation.
"Thank you for your concern lady Dragon, and for both of your help."
"No thanks are needed. Just rest." Murtagh feel asleep again, only this time to much more peaceful slumber. They stayed at camp for the rest of the day with Eragon and Saphira taking turns watching over their wounded friend. Murtagh got his appetite back and ate a good chunk of deer meat for dinner. After that he and Eragon settled into sleep as Saphira kept watch.
Eragon woke early the next morning and began clearing out camp knowing that Murtagh would want to leave and that they needed to get to the Vardan. While he was putting everything on the horses, Murtagh awoke and sat up. His shoulder was sore and he had a bit of a headache, but other than that he felt fine. He stood and began rolling up his bed mat when Eragon turned around.
"Hey! How are you feeling?"
"Better. Can we leave now?" Eragon laughed.
"Yeah. Lets go." The two mounted their horses and Saphira took to the air and they were off. The friends on horse back rode lightly for most of the day till around five when they slowed to just a walk. They rode in silence for a few minutes until Eragon could hold his questions in any longer.
"Murtagh can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Why, why did you…get in front of that arrow?"
Murtagh sighed and looked away. When he looked back again he wore a serious expression.
"I told you about my father and where I grew up. I had to be careful of what I said, where I went, and what I did. My, father," The word was wrenched from his throat as if it burned to say. "was prone to fits of anger, as was the king the few times I saw him. My mother tried to tell me that there was once a time that Morzan hadn't always been bad, that there was a time when he was kind, but I didn't believe her. I loved my mother very much but she wasn't always there for me and she was blinded by love of my father. She left once when I was young. I begged her not to go but she did and was gone for a year. She wasn't even there when I got my scar." Murtagh's eyes were glazed in memory.
Eragon didn't say anything because he was so caught up in this rare glimpse of his usually reserved friend's past.
"She was never the same when she came back and it became even more lonely at the palace. After she…died my father became unbearable and then he too was killed. I couldn't stay there with the king so I ran away. I was never accepted any were for a number of reasons, so I just wandered." He paused and looked straight at Eragon.
"You were the first friend I ever had. And definitely the first person who didn't try to kill or capture me once they learned who I was. I guess I…I wanted to protect the only friend I have." Eragon was speechless for a moment. He couldn't imagine a life like that, where you had to hide who you were and to live alone.
"I am honored to be your friend Murtagh. I care not who your father was. You have proven yourself a loyal, trustworthy friend that I am lucky to have. I only hope I can be as good a friend to you." Eragon said sincerely.
"I could ask for no better." Murtagh said smiling. Eragon smiled back at his friend.
They rode on in companionable silence with Saphira gliding above them as they went toward the Vardan and whatever fate awaited them.
End