Torn Between Two

Chapter 12

Warning: Fluffy stuff…..don't like then don't read.

Murtagh ate his meal in silence, thinking of what had happened just hours ago.

Eragon, he smiled, had looked at me. He shuddered in pleasure as he remembered how the brunette had allowed him to gaze at his body.

"What're you smiling about?" Dogon demanded from across the fire.

"The snake illusion," he lied.

"Was pretty funny," Dogon chuckled, stretching his arms above his head.

"I wonder if that'll teach Tolan," Jierden snickered.

"Doubt it," Dogon said. "Where are Miss Reilyn and Rider Eragon anyway?"

"Reporting to Lady Nasuada, I think. . . No, wait. Checking the dragons. Why?"

"I'm gonna see if one of them will take the first watch, so we can get some rest."

Murtagh froze at the though. He knew that they weren't going to bother setting up the tents or putting him in the cage tonight, so that meant-

We're sleeping in the open, on the ground, he whined inwardly.

"Tired are we?" Reilyn said, appearing behind the two guards.

"Miss Reilyn!" both men yelled, jumping up and bowing.

"And Eragon," she said, looking up in the sky.

Murtagh did exactly as the guards, he craned his neck and watched the young boy on his dragon. He circled twice, giving Saphira and Thorn enough time to slow to proper landing speed.

Thorn! Murtagh almost cried when he saw his magnificent ruby dragon.

"Would you like to see him before we turn in?" Reilyn asked, walking to him

"Could I?" Murtagh asked, blinking to clear the tears.

"Of course," she smiled and untied his lead from the post they had pounded in the ground, just for him.

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This isn't what I instructed! Thorn roared in her head as she led Murtagh to see him.

The ruby beast roared out loud, startling everyone, save for Reilyn and Murtagh. He lowered his head and snapped his jaws inches from her unflinching face.

How DARE you disobey me!

"Thorn!" Murtagh yelled from her side. "That is enough!"

Reilyn watched as the proud beast settled down immediately at the sound of his Rider's voice.

Are you sure this is a good idea? Saphira asked.

Yes, it'll be fine, Reilyn said, checking Murtagh's wrists to be sure they were secure.

Saphira walked up behind her as the young man touched his dragons neck lovingly. Both watched as he cried and put his head against his beast.

Well, Saphira said, Thorn has been missing Murtagh.

Reilyn nodded and smiled as she heard the red dragon rumble happily in his chest.

"Rei!" Eragon called, jogging up. He stopped and watched Murtagh and Thorn, then looked at her with raised eyebrows. He shrugged and went on. "It's time to turn in. I talked Dogon into taking the first shift and I'll take the second. Could you secure Murtagh to the post? I'm going to get our bed made and some extra blankets."

"Sure, I can do that."

"Thank you," Eragon said and looked at the pale boy one last time.

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Murtagh had been very reluctant to leave his dragon when Reilyn told him to say goodnight.

"Look," she whispered harshly, "I'm risking more than you could imagine just y doing this."

Murtagh buried his face in the neck of his dragon, tears on his cheeks.

"Goodnight, Thorn," he sobbed. He wiped furiously at his face and straightened up.

"Now, come one," she grabbed the lead, "it's time for rest."

Murtagh followed her the short distance to the "camp" with his head hung low, fighting to compose his emotions. He let his lead be tied to the post, giving him enough room to lie down on the ground comfortably, but that was just about it. He couldn't sit up very far when he tried and rolling over wasn't even an option.

He squeezed his eyes shut and felt himself start to drift, the sounds of the snoring Jierden hypnotizing. He didn't bother to see who was guarding him, figuring it was most likely Reilyn or Dogon.

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A hand over his mouth woke him. Murtagh struggled, but found himself pinned.

"Shh! Be still!" a familiar voice commanded into his ear.

Murtagh quickly stopped struggling and breathed through his nose.

Forest. . . he thought, sniffing. Eragon?!

"Murtagh," the voice said, lovingly stroking his face.

"Eragon?" he gasped, trying to see in the dark.

"SHHH!" the person commanded. "You'll wake someone!"

I'm dreaming, he thought, closing his eyes. I've got to be dreaming.

He clenched his jaw as he felt the hands move from him face, to his neck, his chest.

"Eragon?" he breathed, beginning to struggle again.

"Murtagh, stop," the boy voice said. "Keep you eyes closed and don't struggle."

"Am I dreaming?"

Murtagh didn't receive the answer he was expecting and sighed as lips grazed his. His bound wrists were moved above his head.

What if it's not Eragon? I'm suddenly not too sure about this.

"Murtagh," a shaking voice whispered in his ear, "I've missed you. . ."

He felt the boy who had pinned him sit up and Murtagh opened his eyes.

It was indeed Eragon who was sitting on his hips, the brunette had his hands to his face and was shaking violently.

He always was so sensitive, Murtagh thought. He moved his arms from above his head and chewed at the knots, freeing himself.

"Eragon," he whispered, touching the boys face. He cursed the lead when it prevented him from sitting up.

The brunette slowly pulled his hands from his face and stared at Murtagh with caramel eyes. Murtagh felt his heart leap when Eragon closed his eyes and turned his face into the hand.

"I've missed you too," Murtagh whispered, "come here, I want to kiss you."

He pulled the young boy to him, pressing his lips to Eragon's. The younger Rider ran his fingers through Murtagh's hair and broke the kiss, quickly moving to the neck. Murtagh shifted and panted against Eragon's shoulder as the boy bit his neck. Sinking his teeth into the soft shoulder and growling when Eragon ran his hands up and under his shirt.

"I love you," Eragon said, raising himself from Murtagh.

Murtagh answered him by grabbing the front of his shirt and yanking the boy to him. He kissed the soft lips eagerly, even nipping them, and flicked his tongue out, asking permission to deepen the kiss. Murtagh smiled as he was granted entrance, grabbing a handful of the brunette hair, and fighting with Eragon's mouth for dominance.

He moaned into Eragon's mouth as the boy bit his lower lip hard enough to draw blood and arched his body into the younger boy.

Oh god! I've missed this! Missed him!

Murtagh hissed at the loss of contact when the boy sat up again. He tried to follow, only to be choked by the lead. Eragon giggled, covering his mouth to stifle the noise.

"You find this funny?" he growled, shifting his hips. Eragon wasn't exactly in the most comfortable spot.

"Not so much funny," Eragon smiled, running his hands under the shirt, "as convenient." He pushed Murtagh's shirt up to his neck.

Murtagh closed his eyes as the boy's lips touched his pale chest. He groaned and shifted as the boy's mouth teased him, nipping here and licking there. He bit back on his voice when the boy reached his stomach, but lurched into him.

"Should I stop?" Eragon asked, worried.

"Don't you dare!" Murtagh hissed. "I can manage."

"I've known that for some time now, Murtagh," the brunette smiled and kissed his side.

Murtagh sighed and let everything else but the feel of Eragon's lip and teeth fade out, losing himself to the young man.