BLANKET WARNINGS: Eragon/Murtagh INCEST and SLASH! If either offends you, I'm sure you know where the back button is. This is a bit darker than some of my usual stuff- this does deal with homophobia, and I tried to portray Eragon as best I could in his situation (In a homophobic world, he has just realized he's gay, and he has been brought up to be homophobic) while still keeping him IC. I hope I succeeded. Since no one knows exactly what goes on in his head, I think it's pretty believable.
BLANKET DISCLAIMER: I don't own Eragon, or Eldest, bookwise. Chris Paolini does. I only own Talc, Krin, Eruka (though I am borrowing a bit from Naruto for Eruka… And yes, I know that's it's spelled 'Iruka' in the show, I changed the spelling), and the other random OCs through the story. The theory in here is mine as well- that Angela's Prophecy could also be taken to mean Murtagh. (I go a bit in-depth on this through the fic. I have a full copy of the theory in my profile.) If anyone steals it without crediting me and I find you, let's just say I won't be very happy.
Italics: dreams, imaginings
(Parentheses): Mind to mind communication (i.e. between Eragon and Saphira) Why parentheses? Because the site won't let me use carrots…
Note: Some of you may have already known this, but I have decided to send review replies via the handy Review Reply button from now on. For those of you who don't have an account on this site or who weren't signed in, your review replies will still be at the end of the chapter! My main reason for this switch? There are simply too many reviews to put the reply to all of them at the end of the chapter, which is a problem I do not mind having in the least! (To give you an idea… I just finished writing 60 review replies. We can all be just as surprised as the authoress now, since she never expected to get so many reviews for one post, especially since she knows she was a cruel and evil person for leaving all her readers with a cliffhanger-type ending for three weeks. She apologizes with her whole heart and soul and promises not to let it happen again.)
So, please enjoy everyone! Hope this was worth waiting 3 weeks! (fingers crossed)
In Dreams VIII, Part D
For a moment, there was only silence. The young leader of the Varden met Murtagh's eyes.
"Come forward, Murtagh." she commanded quietly. Murtagh did as he was bid. "I was informed a half hour ago by Krin that you ran from your guard, after I had given you orders that you were to keep a guard with you at all times. Was there a reason for that?"
Murtagh nodded once.
"Are you going to tell me?"
"I'm sorry." The red Rider looked away from Nasuada in clear refusal.
"If there was a good, compelling reason for your leaving Krin, then your punishment might be lessened. Unless you tell me your reasons, I'll be forced to assume the worst."
Nasuada's voice was still cold, but there was a slight trace of compassion in her tone.
"I'm sorry." Murtagh repeated. "It's a private matter. I can't-"
"You're a traitor and on probation. You have no 'private matters' that cannot be spoken of to Lady Nasuada!" one of the guards snarled, his beefy hand moving to the sword belted at his waist.
Nasuada held up her hand, quietly and authoritatively commanding the guard to stop.
The guard paused, then moved his hand back to his side. He still glared fiercely at Murtagh, as though daring the Rider to try anything while the guard was in the room.
"Then I have no choice. Krin-" Nasuada looked passed Murtagh, over his left shoulder. "-I want you to return Za'roc to the armory."
"I'll do it tonight." the teenager replied, vicious satisfaction coloring his voice. Murtagh felt a pang of loss for his sword, but he knew it was only to be expected. He had as good as told them he was untrustworthy by running from Krin to chase Eragon and such consequences were expected. It wasn't as if he could beg off being punished by saying he was with the blue Rider. That would lead to too many questions about why he had decided to seek out his brother in the first place, which would lead to a question of why Eragon was avoiding him, and so forth.
Nasuada continued.
"Trianna-" The Varden's leader was now glancing behind Murtagh to the right. Surprised, Murtagh turned to see the female magician standing in one of the dark corners of the room.
He hadn't noticed her presence at all, and if she was here, then...
"Yes, My Lady?" Trianna practically purred, smiling triumphantly at the red Rider. Murtagh didn't even need to listen to know what was coming next, and his heart sank.
"Bind his magic."
"With pleasure, My Lady." Trianna stepped away from the wall, moving to stand directly in front of Murtagh.
A familiar pink glow enveloped her hand and she placed her palm over his chest. The red Rider gritted his teeth, bracing himself for the pain he knew was coming as Trianna spoke the words to seal his magic once more.
"Malthinae vanyali."
The cold burn of Trianna's magic quickly spread through Murtagh, just as painful as the first time she had performed the spell on him. The magic twisted through him, locking the red Rider's magic behind an unbreakable wall.
He clenched his jaw, ignoring the pain.
Finally, minutes later, Trianna was finished. She stepped away from Murtagh, nodding respectfully to Nasuada before turning and walking out of the room.
"Murtagh."
The red Rider turned back to the young leader, face carefully neutral and not betraying the pain he could still feel coursing through his body from the sealing magic.
"I don't give out many chances. This is your last chance. Do you understand?"
Murtagh nodded.
Nasuada studied him for a moment more, then dismissed him to go back to his room with Krin following closely behind.
Insert Line
The silence between the teenager and the Rider was stiff and tense. Murtagh could feel Krin's eye boring holes into his back, alert for any untoward or suspicious movements.
The walk back to Murtagh's room seemed to take longer than the red Rider remembered, but it may have just been the unfriendly presence behind him.
He nearly stumbled as an unexpected foot connected with his heel. Straightening, he glanced backwards to meet cold green eyes.
"Walk faster." Krin commanded flatly, kicking Murtagh's other heel. "We don't have all night to get back."
Murtagh briefly considered responding, but that wouldn't help his situation any. He mentally sighed and faced forward again, but didn't move any faster.
Krin kicked him again.
"Move."
Murtagh ignored the demand, the entrance to his room now in sight. He winced slightly as he paused to turn in front of the open door, Krin's foot connecting harder just a bit higher on his leg.
He walked into his room, noticing everything was just as he had left it. His eyes landed on Za'roc, and he had taken two steps towards the sword when a hand shot out and grabbed his cloak from behind.
"You're not allowed to touch it anymore." Krin said triumphantly, yanking the red Rider back by the cloak and walking passed him to pick up the weapon. He held it as though it was something disgusting, holding it lightly in his hands.
Murtagh looked away, unfastening his cloak and hanging it on the peg by the door. He could feel Krin's eyes watching him again before he turned around, but he ignored the glare.
The red Rider moved towards his bed, laying down on the flat surface and folding his arms behind his head. Krin remained silent, watching him, and Murtagh didn't speak.
The silence thickened and quickly became suffocating and oppressive. Cloth rustled as Krin shifted slightly, then the guard 'hmph'd and walked over to the wall opposite Murtagh's bed and sat, facing the red Rider.
The silence dragged on for several more minutes, and finally Murtagh broke it.
"Aren't you going to leave? You have to return that to the armory, don't you?" Murtagh asked neutrally, turning just his head and nodding slightly to indicate Za'roc. Krin snarled in response.
"It can wait until the next guard comes by. I'm not letting you anywhere near the armory and I'm not leaving you here by yourself."
Krin's voice was filled with a venom the red Rider hadn't heard since he was first imprisoned by the Varden.
It was only to be expected though, Murtagh thought as he turned his head to stare at the ceiling. What little trust and respect he had earned from the green-eyed boy had been shattered when he ran after his brother. It was almost funny how he hadn't realized the progress he had made until all his work had been undone.
Even with all the setbacks and the reinstatement of the no weapons and no magic policy, he wouldn't have done anything differently. Given the chance to repeat tonight, it would have gone the exact same way.
A small, secret smile played over his lips as he recalled the finer points of his conversation with his brother.
If only he had more time with the blue Rider... if only Eragon would stop being so stubborn and just accept it...
But what if Eragon really did believe that love between them was wrong and disgusting?
'"Men can't love other men- it's just not possible. It's sick, and it's wrong -"'
His smile faded as the words rang in his head. He had been so certain earlier that Eragon hadn't truly meant a single hateful word, but what if he was fooling himself because the red Rider wanted to believe he had a chance? If he was seeing something that wasn't truly there...
'"I hate you."'
He swallowed, mentally shaking himself.
Those words, at least, were a lie. If the blue Rider really hated him, then why save him from execution in the first place? Why go through all the trouble of freeing him from Galbatorix's hold?
Perhaps the reason was simply their newly-discovered family tie, but if that was the case...
'"You're not a brother to me."'
And most importantly...
Eragon hadn't resisted.
Murtagh barely fought the urge to put a finger to his lips, still aware of the two green eyes staring at him hatefully.
The red Rider had been so close, so temptingly close... he was certain Eragon could have pushed him away, but for that moment Eragon had not resisted him at all.
Soft warmth spread through him at the memory, recalling just how wonderful it was to be able to feel Eragon so close...
Murtagh wasn't aware his smile had returned until Krin's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"What are you smiling about?" the teen demanded, scowling as he tightened his grip on Za'roc.
"Nothing." Murtagh replied evenly. He didn't look at the other teen, slightly annoyed at having been taken from his memories.
"Like I'll believe that." Krin muttered. From the corner of his eye, Murtagh could see Krin open his mouth again to speak when a knock on the doorframe interrupted them.
Curious and a bit confused, the red Rider pushed himself into a sitting position to see who was at the door. The shuffling of cloth against stone informed him that Krin was now standing, but he didn't glance over to confirm.
"Eruka?" he heard Krin ask, confused. "What are you doing here? I didn't think the guard was supposed to change for another hour-"
"Nasuada has asked me to come early. You've been doing a good job and deserve a break, so I will stand guard." Eruka replied smoothly with an odd grin decorating his features. The guard's voice sent shivers up Murtagh's spine, the same dull sparks of recognition he always felt around the man growing stronger. He knew this man, but from where?
The memory was just barely out of his reach...
"Lady Nasuada sent you?" Krin asked, suspicion suddenly lacing his tone. The teenager took a tiny step back from Eruka, tossing Za'roc gently aside as his hand drifted towards his own sword. The noise Za'roc made while hitting the ground sounded oddly loud in the tense air, and Murtagh barely resisted shooting an annoyed look at Krin for treating the weapon like that.
There was an extra emphasis on Nasuada's title when Krin spoke, and the red Rider couldn't figure out why until he realized the omission in Eruka's sentence.
Eruka didn't respond, instead turning to shut the door. The click of the lock sent alarm bells ringing through Murtagh's head and he pushed himself to his feet, studying Eruka warily.
The older guard turned back and regarded the two others in the small room calmly.
"I had hoped I'd be able to hide a bit longer, but I can't take that risk now that your memory might return. My King will be most pleased when I return with his favorite servant back under his control, especially now that he is getting ready to strike." Eruka told them conversationally, an oily smile that did not suit him stretching his lips. "Very pleased."
Realization dawned on Murtagh and Krin at the same moment.
"Your... King?" Krin asked, grabbing his sword with a suddenly shaking hand. Shock was naked on his face for a bare moment before anger overrode the emotion. "Then- You're-!"
Murtagh emotion's mirrored Krin's and the red Rider took a few steps forward to stand beside the teen with a cold look on his face. Krin shifted away, but the red Rider ignored it. His memory was returning now, but slowly. Still, he could piece together enough and recall enough to know where this man had come from- where Murtagh had seen him.
In Galbatorix's castle.
"One of Galbatorix's men, aren't you? You're how he knew to attack that castle the Varden were at- isn't that right?" Murtagh demanded, the question rhetorical.
Eruka nodded anyway, seemingly unbothered by the deduction.
"Correct. I guess you haven't fully remembered yet, boy, but with those fools feasting outside, now is the best time to make my move." Eruka turned a pitying gaze upon Krin. "You should have left when I told you."
Something was nagging at the back of Murtagh's mind like a particularly persistent itch- there was something important he couldn't quite recall about the man before him, but what? Something crucial… A feeling in his gut warning him that there was more to the situation…
He scoured his memory, but it eluded him, dancing just beyond his reach and slipping through his fingers.
"Your move?" Krin demanded, pointedly ignoring Eruka's last sentence and drawing his sword. He held it steadily, business end aimed at the man. "I don't think so. I'm going to stop you right here. I don't care what you think you'll do, I won't let you."
Eruka chuckled mirthlessly. More sparks of memory ignited in the red Rider's mind, but there was still something missing…
"What do you think you can do? Especially against me..."
Slowly, Eruka's hand came up, palm facing outward. Krin's confusion was almost palpable, but the action lent the last spark needed to trigger Murtagh's memory.
Shock hit him hard as words hidden in his memory rapidly began to surface, Eruka's voice ringing through his head.
'"He won't remember anything if he drinks this, King Galbatorix-"'
'"Malthinae-"'
'"The ritual will definitely be a success-"'
'"I shall be more than enough help to perform the rite, Your Majesty-"'
'"My King, it worked. The boy is now yours to control-"'
Hazel eyes widened as the faintest, familiar white glow began around Eruka's fingertips. Murtagh quickly turned his focus to Krin, mouth open to warn the teen. He heard Eruka's amused chuckle as he turned, the spy having apparently noticed Murtagh's realization.
Keeping an eye on the steadily brightening white glow, the red Rider spoke.
"Krin, listen to me-" Murtagh said, not bothering to keep his voice down as Eruka would hear anyway- the quarters were too close to allow whispering. Besides, it hardly mattered that the old 'guard' knew that Murtagh remembered. The red Rider wasn't going to be Eruka's first target- the traitor wanted him alive. Krin, however, wasn't so lucky, the teen being expendable in the eyes of Galbatorix.
He kept one eye on Eruka as he spoke, not liking the cocky grin the other man was now sporting. Murtagh grabbed Krin's arm, but the green-eyed teen pulled away with a jerk.
"Don't touch me." Krin snarled, turning his head to face Murtagh for one crucial second.
In that moment, Eruka acted.
"Jierda. Malthinae stenr." Words of the Ancient Language- magic- poured from the spy.
The sorcerer.
White flashed through the room for a split second, Krin just having enough time to turn back to Eruka and see the blast of white-colored magic racing towards him. Krin was hit square in the chest and several inches into the air before being stopped by the solid stone wall.
Murtagh watched, stunned, as the stone around Krin shifted and changed, slithering over the dazed teen like snakes and solidifying only after stretching over the dark-haired boy's body to bind him quite firmly to the wall.
It took Krin several more moments to come out of his daze, blinking stupidly at the restraints before finally beginning to struggle to free himself.
It was a lost cause, and after another minute, Krin stopped to glare hatefully at Eruka.
"You bastard!"
"Hljödhr." Eruka replied neutrally. Krin's mouth opened again, but no sound came out.
The red Rider turned his attention back to the sorcerer, one eye scanning the floor for Za'roc to judge his chances of grabbing the sword before being hit with a blast of powerful magic.
He spied the familiar sheath just beyond his reach and he glanced between the weapon and his opponent. Without magic, Za'roc was his best bet of subduing Eruka and hopefully turning him over to Nasuada for her judgement. Hand to hand was out, as Eruka would have no qualms about using his magic against the currently magic-less Rider.
Murtagh knew he was decently fast, but in such close quarters it would be a near thing. His eyes darted from Eruka to Za'roc, then quickly back as he made some quick mental calculations.
He would probably be able to pick up Za'roc before Eruka got a shot off. Probably. He tensed his muscles, preparing to lunge for the sword with one eye on Eruka.
Surprisingly, the spy's aim wasn't trained on the Rider, even though Eruka was staring directly at Murtagh.
It didn't take a genius to figure out the sorcerer's plan.
"I wouldn't go for the sword." Eruka warned him. "Make one move towards it, Rider, and I'll make his death hurt. If you do as I tell you, I'll make his death quick. If I decide that you've done a particularly good job with following my orders, I might let him walk out of here just a few memories light."
Hazel eyes shot back to Krin, green eyes meeting his furiously as blame was placed heavily on the Rider's shoulders. Behind that anger, however, Murtagh could see fear creeping in and taking root.
Krin may not have been Murtagh's favorite person, but he couldn't just disregard the teen's life. He had taken more than enough from the other already, however indirectly. There was enough Varden blood on his hands, and even if he did use the second it would take Eruka to kill Krin to attack the spy, how would he explain what had happened to Nasuada?
To Eragon?
Eruka would have to move his arm eventually, or at the very least his focus would shift. That second would be all Murtagh needed, and until he had that opening it would be easy enough to pretend to go along with what he was told.
He just had to make sure that he would have an opening before something irreversible happened.
"Fine."
TBC…
A/N: Hope you all enjoyed! I will try to get the next chapter out on time… really, really sorry if this chapter was disappointing, but I tried?
Ancient Language:
Malthinae- 'bind'
Jierda- 'break' or 'hit'
Malthinae stenr- 'bind' and 'stone', or 'stone bind'
Hljödhr- 'silent'
Reviews Replies for Everyone Without An Account Or Was Not Signed In (Henceforth this section shall simply be termed Review Replies)
Sirana – So sorry I haven't updated in three weeks! Unintentional, I assure you. So glad you enjoyed, and very glad to know you could 'see' the scene in your head. That means I did it right! Stories with that level of description are always better because you can 'see' the action instead of simply reading it. Again, sorry I haven't updated in forever- did the chapter make up for that, at least a little?
Novicewriter – Aw, shucks. Thanks- so glad you enjoyed! I wish more people wrote slash too, but… ah well, at least there are some pretty decent EraMur slash fics out there! I'm sorry about not updating for three weeks!
Xokobio – Glad you liked! A lot of people have threatened Eragon with bodily harm, oddly enough. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing- I'm very sorry about not posting for three weeks, but I promise that won't happen again.
Pantherontherun – Happy you enjoyed! I'm sorry about not updating quickly, but I don't think such a wait will be necessary for next chapter!
Alouette Vladislova – First off, cool name! Can't say I ever heard anything like it, but it's interesting because of that! You have a good point, by the way, a very good point… still, Eragon wasn't exactly keeping an eye on Murtagh, and how was Nasuada to know that Murtagh was with Eragon when Murtagh won't admit to it? Krin may have seen them both leave at the same time, but that doesn't mean they were together. Still, very interesting and thought-provoking point! I see I must be on my toes… Thank you so much- very, VERY happy you're enjoying the story, and very, VERY sorry I haven't updated in 3 weeks.