Torn Between Two
Chapter 16
WARNING: Tee hee! i just couldn't leave poor Murtagh all fired up, SO! This chapter has some slash, farther down on the chapter, for those who care. If you don't like the whole "slash" business, why are you still reading my warning?
When Reilyn burst into the tent, soaking wet from the rain, Eragon knew something had gone wrong during her visit with Murtagh.
Why the hell did she even go?
"Rei, what happened?" he asked, getting off the bed. He tried to help her out of the cloak.
"Don't!" she snapped, pulling away from his touch. "Just don't!" She flung the wet cloak to the ground, using her wounded arm.
"Dammit!" she yelled, as the cut broke open and blood flowed down her arm.
It shouldn't have done that, he thought, it's been wrapped.
"Rei!" he snapped. "Where is the bandage? Why is it off of you?"
Her brown eyes met his caramel ones and in hers he saw the reflections of anger, pain, fear, and confusion. She stood, shaking and wild, staring at him.
"Rei," he said quieter, "what happened? Please, don't shut me out."
Reilyn shook her head and started to cry. The sound reminded Eragon of defeat, loneliness, and terror. Gathering up his courage, he walked over to her and stood very still, in front of her.
Let her come to you, he told his body, don't make things worse and push it.
"I-," she hitched, "I don't really know." She shifted nervously and eyed him untrustingly.
What did he do to her?! He felt his anger take a stranglehold on him and fought to repress it.
"Did he hurt you, Rei?" he forced the words to come out evenly.
"No, no," she violently shook her head, "nothing like that! I just, well. . .Er, he--kissed me." She dropped her head and collapsed to her knees, covering her face with her hands and sobbed.
Without a sound, he sank down in front of her, choking back his own sobs.
"Rei," he gasped, "why did he do it?"
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He listened attentively as Reilyn explained what had gone on. Eragon fell silent as she finished the tale, lost in his thoughts and emotions.
"I'm sorry, Eragon," she whispered, wiping her face, "really I am."
"It's not your fault," he touched her knee. "It was a complete misunderstanding, I'm sure."
Are you really? a small voice echoed in his head.
"Eragon, I know how much you care for him! I don't know what I was thinking! Letting him do that!" she wiped furiously at the fresh tears.
"Do what, exactly? Let him look at the wound that he caused in a way?" he asked, sliding closer to her.
"No," she cried harder and tried to move away from him, but Eragon wouldn't let her. He put his hands on her waist and pulled her to him, resting his head against her right cheek.
"Then what, Rei?" he quietly breathed into her neck.
"Eragon," she hitched, "I didn't stop him. . ."
"You just told me you slapped him and left."
"Er. . .," she put her face in his shoulder, "he kissed my neck first. Then. . . . He brushed. . . ." she choked on her tears and didn't finish.
"All right, all right," he whispered, brushing her hair back with his hands.
"I don't know why I didn't stop him! I was stunned at first, frozen in place. . .Please forgive me."
"Oh Reilyn," he laughed lightly, "I'm not mad at you about this." He tilted her head up to look her in her beautiful brown eyes and brushed her fiery locks out of the way.
"Eragon," she mumbled.
"No, let me speak," he smiled and put a finger to her lips. "I'm not very surprised that he did what he did. . .I've seen the way that he looks at you. I've suspected that he-," he swallowed, "feels for you."
"But, Er. . ."
"Not done," he replaced his finger to her mouth. "I'm just shocked you didn't kill him! I'll get over this little incident, really I will, and I'm not mad at you, Rei."
It's Murtagh who I'm pissed at! he thought. But then, I can't really be mad at him for this, can I? Yes, I can. . .and I can take everything out on him, he deserves it!
"Eragon," she whispered.
"Let's not talk about this anymore right now, okay? I want to look at that shoulder and rewrap it. And you look like you need more rest."
She nodded and let him clean and re-bandage her wound. He stared at the long cut and couldn't help but feel that he could have somehow healed it better.
It'll scar, he thought.
He stayed with her in the bed until she fell asleep.
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Murtagh stared at the ceiling of the tent, his hands behind his head, and replayed the whole event over and over. Torturing himself with the images, smells, and the thought of her soft lips.
I really shouldn't have kissed her at all, he scolded himself. No matter how good it felt or how badly I wanted it.
He closed his hazel eyes and rolled onto his side, facing the wall. He heard a guard, most likely Dogon, open the flap and look in, but he didn't bother to look.
Suddenly, a strong hand covered his mouth and another rolled him over. He felt his hips get straddled and his arms get pinned above him. A face was next to his, lips on his ear.
"Don't make a sound!"
Murtagh felt the hand release his mouth and he gasped for air. The figure pinning him sat up and looked into his eyes.
"Eragon?" he gasped.
"How could you do that to her?" Eragon demanded, hitting Murtagh's chest hard, with each word. Tears welled in the young, caramel eyes.
"What?" he asked, dumbfounded.
"You know damn well what!"
"Eragon," he started, then it hit him.
He knows!
"Don't try to lie to me, Murtagh!" the Blue Rider hissed, pulling Murtagh up by his shirt front.
"I couldn't stop myself, Eragon! I lost complete control of my body! My mind wasn't clear!"
Eragon didn't even cross my thoughts! Murtagh realized, stunned and ashamed. I never thought about how this could hurt him. . .us.
"I thought women bored you! I thought you told me that you loved me! I believed you when you told me that! And when you said I was the only one for you! But now I see you're just a liar! Like everyone said." Eragon beat weakly on Murtagh's chest, the tears draining his strength.
"Eragon," Murtagh whispered, trying to soothe the teen.
"No!" he yelled, punching Murtagh in the face. Apparently, anger was quickly replacing the sorrow.
"Era-gon!" Murtagh yelled, grabbing the boy's fists and sitting up, pulling the brunette to him and pinning him with his own body.
"Let me go!" Eragon sobbed against him, struggling and trying to pull away.
"No," he held the boy closer, "no."
"Bastard!" Eragon growled and sank his teeth into Murtagh's shoulder, drawing blood immediately.
Murtagh was in awe. Eragon had never been this violent towards him, besides in battle. The change was frightening.
"Eragon!" he barked. "Stop biting me!"
The brunette released the shoulder quickly, only to pin Murtagh down by the throat. The strong hands closed off Murtagh's air and he choked, he grabbed the boy's wrists and rolling, reversing the pin.
"Get the hell off of me!" Eragon growled, fighting the older boy hard.
"No," Murtagh said, "not until you get control of yourself."
Eragon bucked, throwing Murtagh off balance, and scrambled back to pinning the older. His chest heaved and sweat was forming on his brow, his eyes had a new light in them, and he kept clenching and unclenching his jaw.
Well, this is certainly different, Murtagh thought, exciting. But I can't risk the mission. . .Father would be furious with me for not following orders. . . Forget it, just one more time, then I'll distance myself.
Murtagh used his strength and flipped them back over, reclaiming control. When Eragon struggled, he pinned harder, getting closer to the boys face. They stared at each other for a long time, panting. Murtagh smiled and put his face closer to the young boy, just out of reach of the boy's lips. Eragon turned his head with a disgusted growl, but Murtagh felt his breathing pick up.
He lowered his face and ran his tongue up the salty neck, hearing Eragon gasp, and nibbled the ear lobe when he got to it. Eragon moaned and squirmed under him. Murtagh didn't grant him the ability to move and sank his teeth into the neck, growling as he did.
"Murtagh," Eragon gasped, trying to move.
Murtagh let go of the boy's neck and stared at his face, panting heavy. Eragon turned and faced him, trying to kiss the older boy. Murtagh smiled and pulled his head back, staying just out of the young man's reach, enjoying the torture.
"Murtagh, don't tease me!" Eragon whined in a needy tone.
Murtagh smiled wider and then savagely kissed the young brunette, burying his hands in the boy's hair, pulling him closer. He had always liked being the one in control and he was going to take full advantage of this moment. He released the boy's pinned wrists and shoved up the shirt, drawing a groan out of the young one.
Maybe he isn't as gentle and sensitive as I thought.
When Eragon tried to pull Murtagh back up for a kiss, he growled and pinned the boy back down, staring hard into the caramel eyes. Fear showed itself in the young Rider, so Murtagh smirked and licked the side of his face, showing he wasn't really going to harm the boy.
"Take your shirt off, Eragon," he panted, sitting up to release the buckles on his vest. The boy complied, quickly stripping the shirt off, revealing his strong tanned chest. Murtagh stared at the unmarked skin, envying him briefly. When his own vest and undershirt had been thrown to the floor, he saw Eragon eye the scars on his pale chest, reaching up to touch them. Murtagh pinned his arms and bit the boy's chest, leaving a nice red mark.
"Don't touch," he smirked.
Eragon whimpered and shifted under him, nodding his head. Murtagh continued moving over the brunette, biting and licking everywhere he felt deserved it. He kissed the soft mouth hard, biting the lower lip, and quickly moved to the neck again. He rather enjoyed hearing the gasps from the young boy as his teeth sank into the flesh, but he enjoyed his power trip more.
"Maybe I should stop?" he whispered, smiling at the pleading whimpers from his partner. "I don't know. . ." he played with the belt on Eragon's pants, "you don't seem to be enjoying this."
"Please, Murtagh," Eragon begged, staring at him with caramel eyes.
Murtagh grinned and kissed just above the pant line, pulling another moan out of Eragon.
"Then again, maybe I won't stop," he laughed, moving to finish what had started long ago. He needed this more than Eragon anyway. Reilyn danced in his mind and he shoved the thought away, it was Eragon's turn for his attention.