Did I do a bad job last chapter? I only got one review. Did I do something you didn't like? But I am extremely grateful to Restrained. Freedom for reviewing.

Shoutout to

Restrained. Freedom: Thank you! Saphira can't bend her pride can she lol? And I didn't want Murtagh to be evil. It isn't his fault that he got recaptured by the Twins or that he served Galbatorix. So I'm not going to make him a villain.

Now then my fabulous viewers! To chapter 2 and beyond!

Eragon felt his dragon's wings pulse beneath him. The noon day sun felt warm on his face and the north wind embodied both dragon and Rider. To Saphira, she felt as if she were shimmering like a beautiful sapphire gleaming for all to see. All and all, it felt as if this tranquility would outlast Galbatorix's reign.

Unfortunately, fate has a truly cruel way of showing humor.

A roar of a dragon shattered the silence that had befallen the Varden encampment. And it had not come from Saphira. Eragon and his elven guards, with their enchanted hearing heard the noise first. At the beginning, it sounded like a fly buzzing around their ears. But then, soon enough, it came to sound like a steady beat. It was a dragon's wings.

A bloody-red spec appeared from the distance. But with blinding speed, the rebels realized it was the ruby dragon Thorn, with his rider Murtagh. Panic overwhelmed the soldiers, as they were unprepared for another aerial attack. When Nasuada stepped outside her tent, she immediately took charge.

"Stand your ground!" She shouted with great authority in her voice. "Prepare your stations soldiers!"

The Nighthawks, with their calm demeanor, were the first to carry out their liege lord's orders. They drew their weapons. The humans with their swords, elves with their handcrafted bows, dwarves with their hammers and shields, and the Urgals with axes and any other blood shedding weapon.

Saphira dived to the ground like a swooping hawk, landing with grace. She dusted herself off and started to run her claws through the earth. Eragon wondered what had happened to condone her behavior.

Saphira, what is the matter? He asked the partner of his heart.

Something is unsettling about this attack. There are no can't-feel-twolegs or any of the Eggbreaker's army. What has inspired friend-enemy-Murtagh and ruby-red-Thorn to attack without help? What has boosted their confidence?

At this time, Saphira rang true. There were no Laughing Dead or Empire soldiers to be seen. Eragon thought in silence, what has Murtagh got up his sleeve?

As soon as he thought about it, Thorn had made his way over the encampment. From his enhanced vision, he saw his half brother unsheathe Zar'roc. Being weary, he also brought out his sword. Brisingr seemed to gleam, as if the thought of battle was pleasing to it.

"The time has come Brother!" Murtagh shouted above the wind, which seemed to pick up as the dragon and Rider made their way over to the Varden. "It is time for you to come home!"

Rolling his eyes, Eragon jumped onto Saphira's back, strapping himself to the saddle. "You'll have to kill me first Murtagh!" With that, Eragon flashed his beloved sword into the air, with a cry of "Brisingr!"

Flames engulfed the blade, transforming it into a weapon of deadly grace and beauty. Saphira launched herself into the air, thoughts of tearing Thorn to pieces.

Her main cause was the death of their masters. Once Eragon felt the depths of the familiar sadness that Oromis had fallen, he released his hold on the emotion. It would only distract him.

Glaedr's Eldunarí was still in his saddle bag, containing the mind of the great golden dragon. Even though he had not spoken, Eragon knew that Glaedr would approve of Saphira's plans.

As if in sync, the dragon made contact with both dragon and Rider.

I feel uneasy that both of the Eggbreaker's slaves come without assistance. He even holds few Eldunarí. But I will lend my energy to dispatch these two. Glaedr spoke.

Eragon first felt the power streaming into his limbs, but also felt the deeply seeded hatred his master felt for both Murtagh and Thorn. Saphira even seemed worried about her master's feelings.

But Glaedr just ignored them both; he just remained focused on instructing them like they were in a training exercise. His steady calmness settled Eragon's nerves.

Eragon-finiarel, remember, you must understand him. You know Murtagh as well as he knows you. Use that to your advantage. With that spoken, the great dragon left both his student's to their thoughts.

With a roar that shook the earth from Helgrind to Carvahall, Saphira tackled into Thorn. She bit at his neck and clawed at his belly, all the while chanting For Master Oromis! Master Glaedr!

Thorn kicked away from her, using his hind legs to push her. He tried to knock Eragon off by hitting him with his tail. But Thorn forgot about his missing five feet from his tail. When Eragon saw it, the stump looked exactly like Glaedr's missing foreleg.

Murtagh held Zar'roc straight toward Eragon's throat. With a yell, both he and his dragon dove beneath Saphira, planning to get the upper hand from below. But the blue dragon got into a nose dive and made it to the ground. Before her feet could even touch the earth, Eragon leapt from his dragon's back and before Thorn. Murtagh slid down the ruby dragon's side. As soon as Murtagh stood opposite of his half brother, both dragons flew into the air. They were attacking from the sky while their Riders fought on the ground.

Murtagh muttered a few phrases in the Ancient Language and the Varden soldiers that tried to approach were knocked backwards. Eragon seemed to know that the dragons had been included in the spell. When the Shadeslayer turned to face the red rider, Murtagh gave a smirk.

"Just so we do not have any annoyances." Murtagh said simply.

"Glad to see that you care." Eragon muttered under his breath.

Launching himself, Murtagh began their dispute once again.

Using the Way of Knowing, Eragon proved to match Murtagh at last. Even without help! Whenever Murtagh struck, he parried. When he tried to dodge, gave him a good hit. But even as Eragon had improved since their last confrontation, so had his half brother. Both of the siblings proved to be evenly matched.

To Eragon, what was really minutes seemed like hours. Eventually, both of them started to feel fatigue. Their dragons in the air couldn't lend them energy as they were too busy fighting.

"There is one thing I don't understand Murtagh." Eragon snapped, sweat dripping off into his eye. He pushed the red rider away so he could wipe it away.

Murtagh had a savage grin on his face, for what did he have to fear. To him, Eragon stood no chance for what he had prepared to do.

"Then speak Brother, who am I to stop you." Murtagh asked sarcasm in his voice.

"Are you sure that you can defeat the Varden by yourself?" Eragon retorted.

Murtagh actually started to laugh. He actually laughed at him! The feeling of anger tried working its way into his body, like a parasite. Eragon calmed himself, not letting his emotions control him.

Finally Murtagh stopped, pulling away from Eragon so quickly it surprised him. A giant thud on the ground and he realized the dragons had also stopped.

"Thorn, we've had our fun, don't you think? Now it's time to bring these two where they belong." Murtagh nodded to his dragon, and then he shouted.

"Malthinae!"

At once, Eragon stiffened and found he couldn't move. He was frozen in place, like a statue. Mustering enough strength, he saw Saphira in a similar position. She was in mid-roar, her sharp fangs bared in a terrifying snarl. But she was also frozen.

Eragon, realizing how vulnerable he was for the taking, tried to think of words of the Ancient Language. But he couldn't speak. And then he knew, he had lost.

But strangely enough, Murtagh and even Thorn seemed to hold regret, if not for a moment. He walked over to Eragon, hurt plain in his face. As if he were the victim of this war, which in a way, he was. He spoke to them in a hushed whisper.

"Brother, Saphira, please forgive us."

Then, regaining his angry scowl, he shouted into the hushed air.

"Slytha!"

Then for Eragon and Saphira, their world slipped away. For the Varden, they just lost the war.

I hope this chapter was good. Review please!

Review Question: Who do you think was in control of Murtagh? Himself or Galbatorix?