Chapter 51

So here is Chapter 51 everyone! Now before you all start reading, I just wanted to address some concerns in the reviews. First of all thank you to those who asked about my back pains. I've been having lower back issues for the past year and have recently started getting treatment for it since it hurts to sit for any prolonged period of time. It's been getting better lately which is why I have more time to write as of now. Second in regards to update speed, I want to give a definite answer but I've suddenly seemed to hit a randomness factor in my life. I want to update as regularly as I can though. Thirdly, as for plans of writing another spin-off or when TMF will come to an end, I have not thought about such ideas yet. I had wanted to take a break and maybe go back to writing a semi-long sequel to RL but nothing's decided yet. Fourthly, what I wrote in regards to Selena's words last chapter ("Did you love your mother?") was intentional. Fifthly, I'm glad to see that there are those out there who agree with me that the Dauthdaert is too OP for Eragon. And lastly, since I haven't updated in a while in regards to pairing, TMF is strictly ExA, the evolution of Formora's love life is still in the works, and I would never write anything multi-pairing since I just don't see it as a possibility in the Inheritance universe especially in regards to Arya. There are some more things I'd like to address but I'll save it for the A/N at the end since this one has gotten rather lengthy! R&R everyone!

Early morning came with the breaking of the sun over the horizon. The moment the dark sky was lightened by a sliver of orange tinged red, Eragon had no choice but to wake Selena and Murtagh from their slumber. Both mother and son were soundly sleeping, huddled together beneath Eragon's traveling cloaks. Feeling some regret, he reached up to grip Selena by her shoulder gently shaking her awake, mindful of the young boy in her arms. Jostling Murtagh too much would do him more harm than good.

"Selena it is time to wake," said Eragon watching as she murmured in her sleep. After a few more tries his mother finally opened her eyes. She stared up at him blearily a touch of confusion in her expression. He waited knowing that it would take her a few moments to recall last night's events. The moment she did her eyes widened in alarm. Before she could fully panic Eragon continued, "No need to worry. Nothing has happened as of yet. Though I cannot say it will remain that way if we linger in one area too long."

He stood peering into the distance where the main road laid in waiting. News about what'd happened in Morzan's estates would have spread by now. It would be a safe bet to stay away from the main roads where the soldiers patrolled. Beside him, Selena was now in a sitting position with Murtagh on her lap as she tried to gently coax the young child awake.

"It's time to wake up, Murtagh," Selena said softly as her son clung to the front of her tunic, burying his face into the fabric his whimper of disapproval muffled. Eragon watched the younger version of his brother in curiosity trying to connect the little helpless boy before him with the grown man he'd come to know. There was a shift in Murtagh's shirt as Selena caressed his hair revealing an angry red weal that snaked up to his neck.

Eragon's throat suddenly felt dry as he remembered the recent injury that Murtagh suffered at the hands of his drunken father. He would kill Morzan himself had he not promised to leave the remaining Forsworn to his father, Brom. Still seeing Murtagh so helpless made him think of his own past…To think I hated you when I was younger, thought Eragon as he watched Murtagh struggle to wake, I sometimes wonder which one of us suffered more. You or I? Shifting on his feet, Eragon returned to his spot where he'd sat keeping watch. He bent down to his pack to remove his wineskin.

"Here," said Eragon offering the wineskin to Selena as she shifted Murtagh on her lap, the little boy rubbing his eyes with his small hands. "For you and Murtagh."

"Thank you, Er—"

"Gabranth."

He didn't understand why but a part of him didn't want Murtagh to know his real name. It felt undeserving and unfair to the child that Selena was carrying within her. Selena raised a brow at his interruption but did not question his sudden desire to be called by his alias before her son. If Murtagh had heard her call his name last night Eragon doubted he was in a state of mind to recall it given his situation.

She accepted the wineskin gratefully. "Thank you, Gabranth," said Selena, uncorking it to hold to her son's lips, "Have a drink Murtagh, you must be thirsty by now."

But Murtagh didn't drink. Instead, he cowered against Selena turning away from Eragon and trying to make his already small body as tiny as possible. It was a sight that Eragon knew well. He'd seen grown men—warriors of greater stature and experience cower in fear. To see the same in a child brought about a completely different set of feelings. There was no satisfaction in watching Murtagh cower. There was no amusement from it. Instead all Eragon could think of was how lonely his older brother must have been. How lonely and terrifying it must've been for him to have been kept away from his mother.

Just like how I was back then, remembered Eragon as he recalled the months in isolation he'd spent under Galbatorix's tutelage. Yet, he'd Saphira to keep him tied down. Apart from Selena, Murtagh had no one. With a worried expression, Selena corked the wineskin setting it to the side before focusing her attention solely on Murtagh.

"What's wrong, Murtagh?" she asked quietly eyes flickering apologetically to Eragon. He shook his head in return. She needn't worry about his feelings. It was only natural that Murtagh was afraid of him. He did not see Eragon's face last night when he was rescued from Morzan's estate. For all Murtagh knew, Eragon could very well be his enemy. That fact that Murtagh was cautious enough to be distrusting was praiseworthy given his situation.

"Who is he?" Murtagh whispered unknowing that Eragon could hear him clearly with his acute hearing from where he stood.

"That man goes by the name of Gabranth. He rescued you last night," Selena explained gesturing to Eragon with a warm smile, urging her son to turn about. When Murtagh didn't immediately reply, she continued, "Do you remember the man in the frightening armor that took you from your room?"

The dark haired boy tentatively nodded, the movement so fractional Eragon would have missed it had he not been so focused on Murtagh.

"Gabranth was wearing it," Selena explained, "He helped me rescue you from the estate. He will be traveling with us to your uncle's village. You needn't be afraid of him."

Murtagh fidgeted, fingers twisting creases into the fabric of Selena's tunic then with great difficulty he turned his head and lifted his gaze to Eragon. Brown eyes met gray as they stared at each other. A split second later, Murtagh was borrowing into his mother's embrace once more. Eragon raised a brow as Selena's lips twitched. He had a feeling that she found his discomfort somewhat amusing as she tried to persuade Murtagh that Eragon was not going to hurt him.

"I apologize, Gabranth," Selena said once it became abundantly clear that Murtagh was not going to welcome Eragon warmly any time soon. "He has a hard time trusting others. He will warm up to you eventually once he spends enough time in your presence."

"Regardless of how he sees me, we need to pack up camp and start traveling towards Carvahall. The faster we distance ourselves from Urû'baen and Morzan's estate, the better," Eragon reached down to grab one of his traveling cloaks, throwing it around his shoulder and pinning it into place with a brooch at the base of his neck. The one Angela gifted him with he left with Selena. "At first, I thought to have us avoid the main roads. Avoiding main roads, however, would cause us to avoid villages as well. With Murtagh traveling with us that would be unwise especially with the threat of his wound harming him and our lack of poultice."

Placing Murtagh on the ground beside the cot, Selena stood and bent to neatly roll the cot up. "There is a village just north of here, if we travel along the main road we should reach it within the hour. It is far removed from Galbatorix's sphere of influence in the capital since there is little to be found there apart from rumors within its local tavern," she handed the rolled up cot to Eragon. He placed it in his pack taking note of Selena's words.

A village with a tavern was a decent enough size to have its own apothecary. There they could find herbs to make a poultice to treat Murtagh's back. Magic would be one way but it wasn't always the most efficient way nor did he think magic could fully heal the injury left behind by Zar'roc. It was his fault for not having asked Angela about any herbs that could have helped Murtagh thought Eragon as he destroyed the remnants of the campfire. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Murtagh gingerly stand gazing about their camping area in wonder.

Has he been outside of Morzan's estate before? The younger version of his older brother toddled about gingerly, keeping close to his mother's side as he explored his surroundings. Checking the rest of his pack to make certain that everything was in order, Eragon tied it to his steed as Selena used some water from his wineskin to wash Murtagh's face looking more affectionate and much like the mother she was as she doted on her son. For a moment as he stood watching them he couldn't help but feel a longing in his heart for his family—his original family. Family is where you return to when you have nowhere to belong…He'd told Selena much the same. Releasing a breath, he made his way over to both mother and son unblinking when Murtagh flinched the moment Eragon's shadow fell over him. Yet he bravely stood his ground holding Selena's hand as he half-hid behind her.

The sight made Eragon pause as he remembered a dark time in which he would hide behind Selena wishing for his mother's protection as Faust approached, a sinister smile on his face and false words of comfort falling from his lips.

"…story in case we come across any patrols," Selena was saying snapping Eragon from his thoughts. She stared at him, waiting expectantly, "What should we say?"

"About what?" Seeing as he had been distracted by memories of a past long forgotten, he'd missed what she'd said.

Unbothered by his lack of attention, Selena reiterated herself, "As Morzan's Black Hand, I had many missions in which adopting a cover story was the only way to go about my task without discovery. It is often said that the best place to hide is in plain sight. If we are to travel along the main roads, creating a cover story will be for the best especially since you seem certain that Galbatorix's men will be on heightened alert for whatever reason you have yet to divulge."

A cover story…? He glanced between Selena and Murtagh. It was clear that his mother was allowing him to pick whatever he felt most comfortable with. Eragon frowned as the very few options he had to choose from surfaced in his mind. It was obvious that a woman—a normal woman—would not travel in the presence of a man she did not have close relations with. Since Eragon had rounded his features with magic to make him appear more human he could say that he was Selena's brother. The two of them shared similar characteristics more so as mother and son than siblings. The only flaw in the siblings approach was Murtagh. It was strange for a woman, with a son and potentially married, to be traveling with her brother. That left only one viable route to them.

"I shall pose as your husband," said Eragon eventually an odd sense of reluctance pervading his mind. Selena on the other hand nodded understandingly completely at ease with the cover story. "We are moving to the country side where you own a farm, Selena which is not completely a lie. Suffice to say, I believe this will be ample enough explanation if we are asked to explain our reason for traveling if questioned. Do you have any objections?"

"None in the slightest," she smiled, "I had thought of such a cover story but thought it would make you feel uncomfortable."

If only she knew the truth behind her words. Eragon glanced at Murtagh. Being only a child, Eragon doubted that Murtagh would be able to follow along with what was happening. He doubted Murtagh could even comprehend the situation he was in. As if realizing Eragon's unspoken worry, Selena tugged on Murtagh's hand to gain his attention.

"We will be playing a game of pretend with Gabranth, Murtagh," said Selena pointing to Eragon. "Until we get to your uncle's farm, Gabranth will be pretending to be my husband and your father. Can you play along for me?"

Gray eyes darted to Eragon and away followed by a nod of Murtagh's head. Whether he understood what Selena was saying remained to be seen. Having lingered long enough, Eragon went to guide the steeds over handing Selena the reins to her horse. Tucking his wineskin away after it was returned by Selena, Eragon was careful to help his mother onto her horse knowing that she was pregnant with his alternative self, the Eragon belonging to this Alagaësia. When she was settled atop her horse, Eragon turned his attention to Murtagh.

"I am going to lift you onto the saddle with your mother, Murtagh," Eragon explained slowly reaching out with his hands towards the young boy. Careful not to startle him, Eragon gripped Murtagh gently under his arms, lifted him upwards, and placed him onto the saddle in front of Selena. Once he was certain that they were situated comfortably in the saddle with Angela's cloak draped about Selena's shoulders and in turn Murtagh, Eragon climbed onto his own steed. With a tug of his reins, he set off, leading the way towards the main road with Selena following behind.

As expected there were travelers on the main road, merchants and vagabonds alike. They all kept to themselves rarely interacting with others due in part to their innate distrust of strangers something that benefited Eragon greatly. The only thing that bothered him was the lack of patrols on the road. He'd yet to pass a company of soldiers. Either they were concentrated towards the south where Morzan's estate was or Galbatorix had them searching the immediate area of Urû'baen for his missing eggs. It was starting to bother him that everything seemed to be going too smoothly. Then there was also the matter with the Eldunarya. He had Umaroth's promise that they wouldn't interfere until he'd returned to the Varden yet he doubted they could wait for so long.

For the first time in decades, he felt uncertain of what was to happen. There were too many variables that were out of his control—the biggest one being Alagaësia. She was all knowing and powerful, the closest being to a god that he knew of. The only question that remained was whether or not she was benevolent. From his own interactions with her, she appeared kindhearted enough going so far as to acquiescing to his request for a second chance at life despite the price he had to pay for it. Only time would tell with her. Reins tightening in his hands, Eragon sighed. After living for a century, he never felt more pressed for time than he did now.

If only I can speak with Saphira, he thought. The temptation of contacting Saphira in her egg was great. Yet the guilt he would undoubtedly feel if he did so was greater. His grip on the reins tightened even more.

"You are making quite the terrifying expression."

Eragon blinked at Selena's words as she rode beside him, arms encircled about Murtagh. The two of them were riding at a steady pace mindful of Murtagh's wound. Any rough traveling would only cause to harm the young boy. Murtagh was staring straight ahead but from the way he was fidgeting Eragon had little doubt in his mind that Murtagh had not missed his apparent terrifying expression.

"My apologies," Eragon replied quietly. "I find myself contemplating memories best left forgotten."

"Would you like to speak about it?"

He raised a brow at her. Had he not just said that they were best left forgotten? At his look, Selena shrugged lightly, "Sometimes the best remedy to allay our demons is to speak of them. I would know better than anyone," she said, "Though if you do not want to, it is not my place to pry. I only wished to know more about you that is all."

"What is there to know about me?" It was a rhetorical question one that he didn't expect Selena to answer.

"Quite much from what I can tell," said Selena. She paused for a moment considering her words before speaking, "Brom speaks highly of you despite your differences regarding Formora. Whenever the topic of the Varden comes up, he holds you in the highest regards. From what he told me, the two of you did not part on the best of terms."

"We did not," confirmed Eragon remembering the heated argument they had regarding Formora's freedom and activities about the Varden and how Eragon was overstepping his bounds by protecting their sworn enemy. "Though the argument is years past. I doubt Brom is as childish as to let such a memory bother him after so long a time."

An expression that was a cross between remorse and apologetic passed over Selena's face as she contemplated his words. For a long time, the sound of hooves against the dirt filled the silence as Selena gathered herself. She looked shaken but for what reason, Eragon did not know. "Working alongside Formora gives rise to a bitterness in him that he has trouble letting go of. I believe deep in Brom's heart he yearns to forgive her but the hurt he has felt at her hands and the hands of her once comrades run too deep. If I may ask, what made you forgive her?"

Strange that Selena was asking such a personal question from him. Stranger yet that he did not feel bothered answering her in the slightest. "I told you before, some people do things for all the wrong reasons," said Eragon eyes trained ahead as he remembered their conversation years earlier when his mother had been sent to assassinate him, "Formora was no different…And decades earlier, the same could be said for me."

"Truly?" Selena questioned, surprised by his quiet admission.

"When I was younger, I was filled with rage and to a greater extent vengeance. My childhood was a very dark and cold time in my life," confessed Eragon remembering the cold cell that he stayed in whenever he was rebellious in regards to Faust and Galbatorix, "Much of my anger was directed at my father. One misunderstanding led to a decade's worth of frustration and hurt. When I met him once more, I would have most likely done something I would have regretted had it not been for the people important to me to guide me along the way. The only difference with Formora is that she has no one to guide her. As far as she was concerned, the entire world must have abandoned her. If I can be someone that can help Formora find herself once more, than I can withstand any criticism necessary to do so. And I can find it in myself to forgive her just as I was forgiven."

Selena made a soft sound in the back of her throat as she gazed up at the sky, "Were it all leaders were like you perhaps the world would not be so frightening a place to live in."

"I question the world that you envision," said Eragon dryly. He would most likely throttle someone if they were in any form like him. "Why ask about Formora?"

There was no immediate response to his question as Selena remained quiet atop her saddle aware of her son peering curiously around them with his wide eyes. Eragon could only imagine one reason as to why Selena would speak about Formora. "Are you afraid you are undeserving of Brom's love?"

She flinched. So even you have such worries, thought Eragon feeling a sense of kinship with his mother. He had his own reservations about his relationship with Arya in this world. Though he doubt he would ever confide in another person about it. This was a surprising new side to his mother that he did not know about until now. He never assumed that Selena would have any insecurities in regards to her love for Brom and his for her. To love an enemy surely was a brave and reckless thing for her to do. Eragon's eyes darted to Murtagh. Brom, who was so filled with hatred for Morzan, in his original time had come to love Murtagh as his own son.

To love your enemy…to love the son of your enemy…and to love the man who killed your father as if he were your own…

It was strange the more he tried to give his family dynamics more thought. He almost wanted to laugh over how worried his mother was when he knew for a fact that everything about their family was going to be fine.

"Whatever guilt you feel for Formora, you need not project it onto yourself. The two of you are inherently different from each other," said Eragon perishing any budding thoughts that could be destructive to Selena's mental fortitude. He had to be careful since her emotions were heightened due in part to her being with child.

"How are we different?" Selena demanded, brown eyes narrowed. Eragon's eyes widened slightly surprised by her outburst. From the way the words tumbled from her lips, he had a feeling she'd asked this question more than once.

"You were blinded by love and she by her own whims."

"Is not love but a whim?"

He wondered that himself at times. "What do you think?" He replied, answering her question with his own.

"That I wish I knew the answer," Selena murmured as a caravan passed them barely glancing their way as their cart pulled ahead. In the length of them since they'd first met, Eragon was surprised by how much his mother had changed.

"You have changed since we first met," Eragon observed eyes narrowing as he peered at the outline of the village in the distance. It wasn't much farther.

"I wonder about that myself," Selena smiled, her attention turning to the excited child in her arms. Seemingly forgetting about his caution in Eragon's presence, Murtagh was twisting about in the front of the saddle looking every which way. Murtagh was most definitely a most important factor in Selena's change. He brought out a side of her that Morzan never could with his cruelty. Love by admiration was but merely a shallow love compared to maternal love. It was a strange feeling thought Eragon as he rode beside Selena and Murtagh to see his family and acknowledge that they weren't truly his but loving them all the same.

"Tell me about yourself, Gabranth," Selena said after a lull in their conversation, the village they were headed to not far off in the distance now. He could clearly see the distinct shapes and sizes of the wooden houses. "It is unfair how you seem to know so much about me and I so little of you."

The only person who truly knew of his past and history in this world was Angela. Not even Arya who was the closest person to him knew of his real identity. Lately it had been worrying him with the convergence drawing close. His deceptions ran too deep for there not to be any consequential backlash from it. Eragon wasn't even sure if there was a way to tell them the truth behind his history anymore.

"What do you want to know?" He could at least try to give her half-truths if anything.

"What of your family? You spoke briefly about your mother and father, did you have any siblings?"

"I used to have an older brother and a younger sister," Eragon answered when he didn't make to elaborate anymore, Selena raised a brow to which Eragon responded, "I only lived with them for a brief time. There is not much else I can tell you."

Brown eyes tinged with sorrow at the tidbit of information, Selena pursed her lips her curiosity gone. The rest of the journey to the village was done in silence. Eragon had diverted his attention to the travelers around them while Selena focused hers on Murtagh explaining things to the young boy in low tones whenever something caught his attention.

The village was a small village as Eragon suspected but not small enough to be inconsequential to their journey north. Upon entering the village, Eragon dismounted from his steed keeping the reins tight in his hands before accepting the reins of Selena's steed so that he could guide them through the shoddy wooden houses. It was also a precaution. Were any danger to befall them, Selena and Murtagh could escape by horse while he covered for them. He glanced about. The apothecary was on the outskirts of the village. It was a small wooden house with boarded windows, a tattered sign for travels to identify it by hanging from the roof with the use of metal clippings.

"Here," said Eragon once Selena had dismounted and settled Murtagh on the ground beside her. He pulled out a pouch of crowns handing it to her, "Go purchase the herbs and several flasks for Murtagh's poultice."

Nodding, she took the pouch turning her attention to Murtagh. Selena placed her hands on his shoulders, guiding him to Eragon's side, "I have to go purchase some important herbs from this shop, Murtagh. Wait out here with Grabanth for me, please?"

Framing her request as a question, Selena affectionately patted Murtagh on the top of his head as the young boy hesitantly nodded moving to stand at Eragon's side at the behest of his mother. With a brief smile at them Selena disappeared into the shop, the cloak Angela had given him billowing behind her. With her gone, an awkward silence descended upon Eragon and Murtagh, the former at a lost on how to treat the younger version of his older brother and the latter still weary of him. They stood there together, side by side, watching as the villagers went about their day setting up stalls and opening up shops. One stall in particular captured Murtagh's attention. It was a small food stall that sold both meats and produce for cooking as well as their own cooked food. Eragon studied Murtagh as the young boy stared at the stall, transparently hungry but not daring to ask.

Eragon's eyes darted to the horses. Finding a post to tie their reins about, he murmured to them in the ancient language to stay put until he came to fetch them. Then for good measure Eragon tied the reins in an intricate knot that most humans would be unable to untangle. Satisfied that their steeds were secured and within his line of vision, Eragon's gaze flickered back to Murtagh.

"Are you hungry?" he asked Murtagh breaking the silence between them. Murtagh glanced up at him, gray eyes wide before nodding marginally.

Eragon figured as much. Having missed breakfast, Murtagh was no doubt feeling the pangs of hunger. Slowly, Eragon held his hand out for Murtagh to take wanting for the most part to keep his brother close by. A tiny hand slipped into Eragon's as Murtagh accepted his offer. For some reason Eragon's lips twitched almost as if he were going to smile. Strange indeed how children could so easily move others. There was an innocence to them that was near impossible to find elsewhere.

"Good morning," Eragon greeted the middle aged man running the stall. He was a tall, gruff looking man with a sturdy build. The muscles in his arms told Eragon that he was a farmer who tended to the fields daily mostly likely pulling along a plough.

A gruff response greeted him in return. "'Morning to you," the owner eyed Eragon and Murtagh, "You and your boy travelers?"

"Yes," said Eragon perusing the food available. "My wife and I decided to move to the country where she owns a plot of land for us to farm."

There didn't seem to be much that Murtagh could eat given that a child's teeth weren't as strong as an adult's. He compared the fruits looking for ones that Murtagh could easily bite into. Settling for peaches, Eragon purchased three of them as well as some freshly cooked meat skewered on a slim wooden stick. Handing over the single crown to pay for the purchase, Eragon led Murtagh to where the horses were tied handing him the meat for him to eat.

"Careful of the skewer," Eragon advised point to the wooden stick as he handed the food to the eager child. As Murtagh ate the meat, Eragon tucked two of the three peaches away into his pack, folding them in a thin cloth as he did so. The third one he ate for himself. While Murtagh was busy eating, Eragon's eyes darted to and fro checking every crevice and corner for any signs of danger whether they be Galbatorix's soldiers, the Ra'zac, Durza, or perhaps even Morzan.

His thoughts wandered to the Galbatorix. Had he found out yet? Galbatorix spoke to the eggs daily, his grandiose dream of the Order being reborn with him as the new leader motivating him to spend hours on end communicating with the unborn dragons in their eggs. Perhaps it was too early? The sun had not reached its peak in the sky yet. For all he knew Galbatorix could still be slumbering without any knowledge of the theft of his most precious assets. The idea almost made Eragon smirk. It was satisfying to know that he was able to outmaneuver Galbatorix.

Taking another bite of his peach, he glanced up at the space above his head. The eggs were hidden there using the same spell as the one Umaroth taught him in his original life. He wanted to see how they were but traveling together with Selena would not allow that. He'd have to wait a little longer. Up ahead near the outskirts of the village, a commotion caught Eragon's eye. He stiffened at the sight of armor and the crest of the Empire stitched into red cloth.

Galbatorix's men.

Beside him, Murtagh having finished his meat and was currently poking at the ground with the skewer immediately trembled dropping the wooden stick as the soldiers neared their location causing quite the stir with their boisterous arrival. Murtagh instinctively dodged behind Eragon, hiding his smaller frame with Eragon's large one, shaky hands gripping at the leg of Eragon's breeches.

Eragon for the most part continued to eat his peach as he studied the soldiers. His sensitive ears were able to hear what they were saying as they passed door to door harassing the villages to pay their taxes.

"As citizens of the Empire, it is your duty to the Crown to pay your taxes!" the lead soldier, the captain, declared as his company of ten nodded, their eyes set on their new prey. "Failure to do so will be considered an act of rebellion and can be punishable by death!"

How sickening, Eragon silently sneered as he watched them rough up the villagers. They were dressed as soldiers but they acted as bandits ready to pillage the village of their goods. Still, hearing that they were only here to collect taxes relieved Eragon slightly. Had Galbatorix been alerted of his stolen eggs, he would have had them chasing after the unknown thief. A scream tore through the air. Behind him Murtagh whimpered hugging himself to Eragon's right leg as he hide underneath his cloak.

"Let my daughter go! We already paid our taxes this month!" A man wearing worn clothing yelled as he tried to tug his daughter, a pretty young woman with blonde hair, out of the grasp of one of the soldiers.

"The fee was increased," the captain said overlooking the way his men were treating the villagers. "The king decrees ten more crowns in the name of the Empire! If you do not have the means to pay the tariff then we will have to take due compensation!"

The fact that the captain could say something so ludicrous with such a serious face was in of itself impressive. Ten crowns? He doubted a villager could even amass such an amount in a month's time. Finishing the rest of his peach, he studied the decent sized seed in his hand. A few meters away, the father was on his knees after receiving a heavy handed blow to the gut by the soldier's companion. His daughter continued to struggle, looking helplessly about to the other villagers. No one dared move to help her not even the strong statured man whom Eragon had bought from moments earlier.

There was a tug on his breeches as Eragon broke the seed in his hand into meticulous pieces. He glanced down to find Murtagh staring up at him, gray eyes overflowing with tears and lips trembling. His complexion was so pale that he looked ready to faint.

"Help her," he begged, brows furrowing when another shrill cry pierced the air followed by raucous laughter. "L-l-like you did for me…p-p-p-please."

A myriad of emotions came crashing down on Eragon as Murtagh's words pierce him straight to the heart. He was angry that a child as young as Murtagh understood the cruelty of the world they lived in. He was bewildered that he felt so strongly moved at the sight of Murtagh's distress. And most of all, he had the strongest urge to silence the screaming, crying, and laughing all at once. Calming himself least he do something he'd regret, Eragon picked up one of pieces of the peach seed in his right hand pinching it between his thumb and forefinger. He stared at the soldiers watching as they laughed, taunted, and jeered at the girl and her father while their captain merely stood to the side allowing such improper conduct.

"Don't worry, we'll find your daughter proper work in the capital, a pretty face like hers has plenty of—!"

Eragon flicked his right wrist forward as the soldier taunted the girl's father. The seed piece in his hand disappeared. He watched in satisfaction as the soldier blinked in surprise, the words dying abruptly in his mouth as his face steadily began to turn red with effort. Releasing the blonde haired woman who instantly took to her father's side, the man clutched at his throat coughing and spluttering.

"What's the matter?" One of their companion's cried moving to help the choking soldier.

Eragon smirked as he gazed at the rest of the seed pieces in his hand. He had three left. Picking up another one, his eyes landed on the soldier at the rear of the company. The man was staring at his choking comrade with his mouth slightly agape. With another flick of his wrist, Eragon watched in satisfaction as the seed piece went flying into the soldier's mouth causing him to splutter as it was lodged in his throat. Soon a third soldier was choking, inciting much chaos within the ranks of the small company as they tried to ascertain what was exactly happening. The last seed piece Eragon had saved specifically for the captain.

"What are you fools doing?" The man was yelling, disgusted with the way the three choking soldiers were on their hands and knees trying to cough up the seed piece that was blocking their airway. "Get a hold of yourself and stand to your feet!"

When none of them made to do so, the captain glared at them face turning red out of anger and embarrassment. "I ordered you to your feet!" He yelled kicking the nearest soldier in the side which only served to do more harm than good as the man grabbed at his throat. Tossing the last seed piece into the air, Eragon flicked his wrist one last time watching with great pleasure as the captain stuttered to a halt, mouth opening and closing rapidly. It was with great pleasure that Eragon watched the four grown men cough and splutter hitting their chests with clenched fists as they tried to cough up the peach seed pieces. Unknowing of the cause of the sudden choking in their ranks, the soldiers were quick to turn tail and retreat dragging their mysteriously ailing comrades with them. The villagers could only stare at their retreating backs in a daze uncertain as to what had happened to have chased them off. The moment they were gone, he turned to Murtagh who was still hiding under his cloak.

"They left, Murtagh," said Eragon drawing his cloak back to show Murtagh that the soldiers had indeed departed. The young boy peered around his leg, his face red and tearstained. Verifying that the soldiers were gone, Murtagh drew away from Eragon murmuring soft words of gratitude. Seeing how pitiful Murtagh looked, Eragon knelt and with a part of his cloak began to wipe away Murtagh's tears.

"You should not cry over the sight of them," Eragon told him though not unkind, "Do not let them have the satisfaction of seeing your tears. People like them tend to enjoy other's suffering…And also, you need not hide behind me for as long as I am with you, I shall always protect you."

Patting Murtagh on the head, Eragon stood when he heard Selena calling for him. Hurrying out of the apothecary shop, his mother rushed over hands filled with a sack containing all sorts of herbs as well as empty glass flasks. "Murtagh, Gabranth!" she breathed in relief, "I heard the screams from inside the shop and was worried something had happened to the both of you. I would have left immediately but the owner was quite insistent in having me peruse her selection of rare herbs."

"It was nothing you needed to worry over," dismissed Eragon as he tied the sack to Selena's horse as she crouched to embrace Murtagh, lifting him up in her arms. "Some soldiers thought it amusing to cause a stir here while masking their intentions behind the front of collecting taxes. I took care of them. I doubt their captain would be eager to make a return any time soon if at all. Did you buy everything that was necessary for Murtagh's poultice?"

"Yes," she nodded adjusting her son on her hip, "I can start making it as soon as we leave. I'll need a little bit of water, however."

"There should be a stream nearby. Villages tend to be located near some source of water," Eragon replied untying the reins of their steeds from the post he'd tied them to earlier. He led Selena's horse over to her, placing the reins in her free hand. He reached for Murtagh, "Let me hold him for you."

To Selena's surprise, Murtagh willingly reached for Eragon allowing him to take him from his mother's embrace, his earlier distrust of Eragon completely gone. Selena stared between Eragon and Murtagh unmoving as she took in the sight of her son who had grown up isolated from those around him willingly trusting in a man whom he'd just recently met. Eyes shining with what Eragon suspected as tears, Selena pulled herself up onto her saddle. She cleared her throat slightly once she was situated. Her hands reached automatically for her son. Allowing her to lift Murtagh from his arms onto the saddle, Eragon was about to guide their steeds out of the village when a soft hand gripped his keeping him in place.

He waited, staring at Selena with a questioning look. The only thing she said was a heartfelt, "Thank you."

Unable to find an adequate reply to properly meet her words filled with sincerity, Eragon settled for a gentle squeeze of her hand. It was enough for Selena released him allowing him to focus on guiding them outside of the village and onto the main road. As he did so, he couldn't help but glance back at the villagers who were still crowded together in the small square at the center of the wooden houses. He could only wonder what would become of them if the soldiers returned and he wasn't there. When they were out on the main road, Eragon mounted his steed and they were off venturing northwards once more stopping only briefly for Selena to make the poultice for Murtagh's and applying it to his injury. Once Murtagh's back injury was treated, the three of them took to the roads once more trying to cover as much ground as they could before night fell.

"Eragon."

He blinked turning to Selena. He would have reprimanded her for using his real name but when he caught sight of Murtagh sleeping in his mother's arms as he sat astride the saddle, he lost all reason to. "What is it?" Eragon asked.

"Nothing," she stared ahead, a soft smile on her face as they rode side by side. He watched her taking in the sight of his mother staring at the horizon in the distance, the locks of brown hair that'd escaped her ponytail billowing in the slight breeze behind her. "I just wanted to call your name…that was all."

His throat tightened as he gripped the reins in his hands even harder. Selena would never know how much of a profound affect her words had on him. For it was his mother that had always been there to remind him of who he truly was not who he thought himself to be. Even in a different world, his mother was still the same—always there to call his real name. The corner of his lips pulled upwards slightly as they continued down the road alongside each other. Ahead of them the road stretched onwards as the sun steadily grew lower in the sky.

So this chapter was basically filler in my opinion. I'm trying to keep events paced but hopefully they won't go too slowly. I, too, would like to see Eragon reunited with Arya despite the struggles he might have to face when that time comes. I think my main objective in this chapter was to focus on the dynamics of Eragon's family that really wasn't in the original books or in RL. I believe CP made Eragon's family dynamics too complex but left a lot of the details out which kind of makes the entire family drama 1D. I wasn't able to explore much family interaction in RL so I want to make up for it here in TMF. Hopefully, you guys enjoyed it. In regards to the reviews, there was only one more thing I wanted to address. Someone asked about the status of this story, I'm not abandoning it and I, hopefully, won't be on hiatus. The moment I started writing this story, I already had the beginning and ending planned out. And I don't really do any brainstorming before hand, I usually write by sitting down at my computer and typing whatever comes to mind so there really isn't a pre-planning process involved in any of the chapters to be honest. So my not updating isn't because I've run out of ideas or anything, it's usually because of external factors such as life or something or another. In any case, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! See you all next time!

P.S. I pre-ordered the Collector's Edition of FFXV, any one excited for that? Though I'm kind of bummed out that Persona 5 has yet to have a released date announced now that Square Enix has revealed FFXV's release date.

P.P.S. Out of curiosity, I'd ended up writing a one-shot of Eragon and Formora just to see how their relationship would be portrayed were they mates...I have to say that Formora can definitely give Arya a run for her money. Though I felt guilty to my inner ExA romantic the moment I was done.