Pain and Love: Forever Entwined
Chapter 10
Eragon, no! Please Eragon! Don't! the voice begged in his sleep.
It was Lady Nasuada. Eragon was with the Varden, but he was attacking them, killing the innocent people.
"No!" he rasped, opening his eyes.
Pain seared in his head as the light filled the room and he felt ill. He shut his eyes, the throb in his brain growing worse by the second, and his mouth tasted like sour grapes. He held his head, the movement agonizing in itself, and fought the urge to be sick.
His body ached all over from sleeping in a chair and he yearned for Murtagh's soft bed, but first--he lurched to the bathroom. He felt a little relief after he got sick, his head still throbbed and his mouth tasted worse, but he could move without wanting to die. He shuffled to the bedroom, wincing and blocking the light from his eyes, and looked for something to get the taste out of his mouth. The only things at his disposal were grapes or more wine. Grapes sounded disgusting and wine sounded worse, but he grabbed the bottle and rinsed, then gargled with the sweet liquid--spitting it out.
"Eragon?" Murtagh mumbled.
"Sadly," he sighed, crawling into the bed.
"Wine isn't so fun the next day, is it?" the elder teen smirked, covering Eragon with some of the blankets.
"That stuff is made by demons," he muttered, snuggling into the strong chest.
Murtagh laughed quietly, kissing his hair, and stroking his back. Eragon noticed that the chest he was curled against was bare, but he wore the pants from the celebration still, and felt worry and anger.
What's he done to Rei!? he thought, sitting up and looking over to the girl.
"Eragon?" Murtagh stroked his stomach. "Are you going to be ill again?"
"What did you do to her?" he snipped, glaring into the hazel eyes.
"Eragon, what are you-," realization dawned on the pale face. "Er, I didn't do anything like that! What would possess you to even fathom that idea?"
"We'd all been drinking," he growled.
"Er," Murtagh laughed, sitting up with him. "You were the only one of us who drank too much. Rei had a goblet and a half, I paced myself. . .I would never do whatever it is you're thinking. . ."
"Are you telling me the truth, Murtagh?" he whispered, feeling his face burn. "You didn't. . .force her into-?"
"No, I did not do anything of the sort! Eragon, I actually had to stop myself last night! I know she's not ready for that, so does she," Murtagh said, cupping Eragon's face.
"I'm sorry. . ." he mumbled. "I guess the wine. . ."
Murtagh pulled him into a strong embrace, kissing his neck, and his temple. Eragon still ached from the night before, but hugged the older boy as hard as he could.
Wine clouds the judgement, Little one, Saphira whispered. Turns the wisest of men into the biggest of fools. . .
His dragon's voice, though a whisper, sent white-hot needles into his mind. He winced and spoke to her as quickly as possible.
Saphira, no- - -talking- - -hurts- - too much. . .
Rest, Little one, she said before closing him off.
"Eragon, lay down," Murtagh was saying. "It will help your hangover. . ."
"I'm sorry, Murtagh. . .I should know better than to think such things. . . ." he murmured.
"Kiss me and all will be forgiven," Murtagh smiled.
Eragon smirked and kissed the older boy, moving and straddling the older boy in an attempt to take more control. They battled for dominance, Murtagh winning quickly and easily, and Eragon heard a pained groan from the pale teen. He pulled back, panting, and looked at the eldest.
"I told you," Murtagh panted. "I had to stop myself. I'm sore enough to prove it."
"Noble Murtagh," he smiled, kissing the teen.
"Sore Murtagh," he moaned. "Eragon, I swear if you're just teasing me-." Eragon's lips stopped his threat.
Eragon let his hand explore the strong body beneath him, caressing muscled chest, stomach, and thighs as he kissed Murtagh. The older boy silence a moan and arched up into the touch, casting a concerned look to the sleeping Reilyn. Eragon looked as well, making sure that she was asleep, and continued on.
"Eragon," Murtagh panted, eyes slipping shut. "Don't stop, but don't wake her either."
"You're the one making all the noise," he smirked, trailing kisses down the exposed torso.
Murtagh uttered an impatient growl as Eragon kissed and nipped above the pant line, arching up. Eragon snickered, biting the boy hard, and Murtagh groaned loudly. He smiled and prevented his partner from waiting any longer.
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Murtagh pulled him close and nuzzled his neck, clearly relieved and very pleased. Eragon smiled, closing his eyes, and felt Murtagh nip him lightly, snickering.
"We're back to just 'Noble Murtagh'," he laughed.
"Hmm," Eragon sighed, moving closer to the warm body.
The wine was still making his head ache, but it had improved some. He wanted to sleep it off, but Murtagh's strong arm moved around him, his rough hand slipping under his shirt. The older teen kissed his neck, moving up to his ear, and Eragon sighed loudly.
"Er?" Murtagh whispered, warm hand rubbing his stomach. "How's your head?"
"Still aches. . .why?" he murmured, feeling really sleepy.
"Just curious," the man snickered, trailing down his neck. "You should sleep it off."
"I'm trying to do just that!" Eragon smirked.
"Oh, is something stopping you?" Murtagh breathed, strong hand moving up Eragon's stomach and to his chest.
"More like someone," he panted, backing into the man.
"Mmmm," lips met the back of his neck. "Do you want them to stop? So you can rest?"
Eragon whined as the elder kissed his neck, unfastening the buttons on his shirt with one expert hand, and heard Reilyn stir in her sleep. Murtagh froze how he was, smiling into Eragon's neck, waiting to see if she had been woken up. The girl mumbled something and rolled away from them.
"Is she awake?" Eragon whispered.
"Not really. . .But I think she knows what we're up to," Murtagh snickered.
"Why do you say that?"
"She just said to 'keep Eragon quite'," he kissed his neck. "She's trying to sleep."
"Murtagh!" he gasped, rolling to face the teen.
"What?" he asked innocently. "She knows about us, it's not some big secret in this room. Just as you know about her and I. . ."
"But. . ." he whispered, torn between himself and his wants. "It's weird. . .awkward. . .Don't you-?"
Murtagh strong kiss cut him off, answering his question. Apparently, the eldest wasn't embarrassed about having Rei right there, not like Eragon was--had been. The older teen stripped the white shirt from Eragon's body, throwing it somewhere, and the expert hand unlaced the pants.
"Shhh! Eragon, don't wake her," Murtagh teased.
"I can't help it!" he hissed, arching up into him.
"Well, I think I have a cure for that," the older smiled, kissing him and silencing his sounds with his mouth.
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Murtagh watched Eragon as the young teen slept, slowly tracing the well trained stomach, and placed a soft kiss on his mouth. He lay back, hands laced together behind his head, and grinned. He still couldn't get over the fact that here he was, rough and noble Murtagh (son of Morzan and loyal to the King), in his room with the one thing he thought he'd never have since his mother's death: love.
He closed his eyes, taking time to remember his mother, calling up her image. Her soft, hazel eyes, long dark brown hair, and her gentle smile. Her light, airy voice as it sang him to sleep or as she spoke to him. . .
'Now, young Prince, you must be noble with the person of your heart. Never push them into anything uncomfortable. . .' her voice and the conversation came back to him.
'Mother, how will I know when I've found the one of my heart? What if. . .it's more than one. . .and one is of the same sex as me?' even at five, he knew he liked both men and women--so did his mother.
'Well, my sweet, if you're lucky--which you are--you will find two people of your heart, and they will both love you very much!' she tousled his raven hair.
'Would you care, Mother? If I love both?'
'Never, you are my precious baby boy! My enchanting Prince! I would consider you more blessed than the rest of the land if you found two to love you and share your heart with! You would have more than most ever get. . .'
'How will I know when I find them? Or the one. . .?'
'Look, Murtagh,' she pointed him to the direction of the Bleeding Heart and the Moon Beam (they were in the garden).
'What, Mother? All I see is your favorite flower and the Moon Beam. . .'
'Those two flowers will fall into the hands of those who are meant to share your heart,' she smiled, pulling him onto her lap.
'Really, Mother? That is how I will know? For certain?'
'Yes, Murtagh, my Prince. That is how you will know for certain when you have found them. And when you do, you be sure to be noble and patient, and never, ever let them go!' her voice faded as he opened his eyes.
"I am, Mother," he murmured. "I'm staying patient and more noble than ever. . .I'll never let these two go."
"Murtagh?" Reilyn murmured, touching his side and making him jump.
How long has she been awake? Watching me. . .?
"Hmm?" he looked over to her.
Her red hair caught the sunlight and seemed to burn blood-red, her pale skin glowing like a precious gem, and he gazed at her in awe. A thought had presented itself to him, one he should have seen long ago, but somehow missed.
My god! The flowers. . .not only did they each pick one, but they are like the flowers! Eragon the Blue Rider, Reilyn--with her hair the color of the Bleeding Heart. . . .Oh, Mother! You were so very correct!
"What was she--your mother--like?" the girl whispered.
He rolled to face her, feeling nervous. He had never spoken to anyone but Thorn about his mother, it was too painful for him. He took a deep breath, trying to focus his thoughts.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, looking away from him. "You don't have to talk about her. . .I know how you must feel when you think of her. . ."
"Reilyn," he kissed her nose, "what's on your mind? There's something else bothering you isn't there?"
She sat up abruptly, facing the stone wall, her head hanging. She hugged herself and shivered. Murtagh sat up and inched closer, not pushing it, but let his hands rest on her waist. She sank back into him, tears on her face, and wrapped his arms around her, holding his hands after. He gently nuzzled her neck, holding her close, and did his best to comfort her.
"Last night. . .I had a memory. . .or dream. . ." she paused, taking a breath. "I started to remember things about my parents that I never knew. . .Who they were, who I am, why they were killed, and why I'm so damn important to your father and the King. . ."