An- First I can't believe how many people like this story! I was expecting like two reviews and I got so many. I can't say how much this means to me. To everyone who reviewed, this is for you!

This is so late because I have been grounded. I failed a test with a 55. This is why I hate science. Terrible isn't it? I not supposed to touch anything electronic until April but here I am! Please forgive me!

Warnings- The same as last chapter, with incest and slash. Flames will be ignored.

Disclaimer: I do not own Eragon nor am I affiliated with the trilogy in anyway.

Eragon lay in his room early in the morning still contemplating Thorn's words. Pinkish light had just begun to shine through the window. After experiencing a guilty sleep brought on by Thorn, Eragon had awoken extremely early. He couldn't help but began to think of Saphira. She always knew exactly what to do.

Murtagh was a headache. He never seemed to understand the logic in saying what you mean. It was made more aggravating by the fact that Murtagh seemed to enjoy playing the mind games. Everything the man did was a conundrum and for Eragon it was impossible to figure out. The strange thing was Eragon wasn't sure why he wanted to.

Eragon's thoughts were then interrupted by a faint noise, much like footsteps, approach the room.

Upon hearing the movement reach the door, Eragon immediately stilled and closed his eyes. Slowing his breathing he was the perfect model of a sleeping person. He only hoped his visitor had friendly intent.

Eragon heard the familiar tapping of footsteps as they approached the bed followed by a pressure as someone sat down beside him. Eragon resisted the urge to flinch as a hand reached out and ruffled his hair and began lightly running their fingers through it.

"It's been awhile since I could be anywhere near you without you trying to kill me Eragon. You can be very aggressive when your upset. Too bad you aren't always this cooperative. It would be a pleasant change in pace for once."

Murtagh?

Murtagh was still playing with his hair. Eragon resisted the urge to try and break Murtagh's hand. Who in the hell did Murtagh think he was?

"You know, yesterday I really was just trying to help. I guess I deserved the whole traitor insult though. Didn't I say I wasn't going to visit you again? I can never seem to do as I am supposed to when it comes to you eh, Eragon?"

Eragon felt another wave of guilt hit about yesterday. Mentally forcing the thoughts away he focused once more on his act of sleeping.

"That's why Galbatorix has been so kind lately I guess. I finally captured you. You wouldn't believe how much trouble I went through to make sure you didn't end up in the dungeons. Galbatorix actually listened in the end which is really surprising. I think he wants us to be brotherly. It would make for less tension in the future."

Murtagh's hand was getting daring now and was brushing Eragon's hair from his face. Eragon almost let out a growl.

"This is really pathetic you know. Here I am talking to an unconscious person as if they were my private confidant. Not only that, but, has that but the person I'm talking to just recently told me how much he hates me. I guess I really am crazy. I'll be back later. Maybe you'll be conscious next time. If I'm really lucky you won't try and kill me."

Murtagh's hand brushed through Eragon's hair one more time before it was removed. The next sound Eragon heard was the sound of retreating footsteps and the closing of a door.

When he was sure Murtagh had left, Eragon found himself torn between conflicting emotions. He still hated Murtagh make no mistakes about that yet at the same time he was confused.

He was dumbfounded on the recent events. Why did Murtagh do that? Did he still think they were friends? Eragon scoffed at the thought. That would be the day. No matter how much time had passed the betrayal still stung like a fresh wound.

He had thought Murtagh dead and then when he saw him again, Murtagh was on the wrong side of the battle. Eragon could still hear the taunting words of that day as well as the bitterness and hatred he had felt. The more he lingered on it the tougher his resolve became. No matter the situation or how hard Murtagh tried, he would never be forgiven but could Eragon get over it and put it in the past? Eragon wasn't so sure.

After awhile of thinking Eragon came to a decision. He would not forgive Murtagh and he couldn't attempt to get along, but he had decided before he escaped, he would cast away his confusion even of it meant trying to understand Murtagh. He had done so with enemies before and he would do so now.

With his conscious appeased and his mind made up Eragon turned on side and tried to catch up on the sleep that had evaded him the night before. When Murtagh did come again he would begin his plan.

Murtagh wore a slight smirk as he exited Eragon's room. He knew the other boy had been awake the whole time. It was hard not to notice the slight growl as Murtagh had played with Eragon's hair. He also knew that the only way to get Eragon to listen was under strange circumstances. Either way, Murtagh had gotten his point across.

Murtagh had come to a conclusion. If he was overly friendly with Eragon then Eragon would push him away. Yet if he was cold to Eragon he wouldn't get anywhere. To deal with Eragon, he needed to allow Eragon the upper hand.

But before that he had to earn a margin of Eragon's trust. He was filled with a new determination that was evoked by a hope that he and Eragon could be together. He literally had eternity to make it work and he was.

Murtagh could remember when he first be began to accept his feelings for Eragon. They had been traveling and it had been unbelievably cold and Saphira had flown off to scout.

Flashback

Murtagh shuddered as a particularly cold blast of air rushed past him. It was freezing and despite being extremely close to the fire and wearing there warmest clothing, Eragon and Murtagh still could not escape the icy temperature. Eragon had gone to sleep to escape the cold and Murtagh took watch.

Eragon sneezed in his sleep and unconsciously rolled closer to the fire. It was clear that the cold was getting to him. Murtagh who had been sitting on the opposite side of the fire rose and moved closer to Eragon.

Eragon looked stunning in the firelight. His hair fell in all the right casting shadows upon his face in a captivating way. Slowly and unsure of himself Murtagh moved even closer to Eragon his heart thumping in his ears.

Eragon shuddered again and Murtagh gave into instinct and lay next to the boy, pulling Eragon against his chest. If anyone asked he could always say it was for body heat, but that was just an excuse. He knew in truth that he was holding the boy for is own selfish desires.

Despite the still blistering cold, Murtagh felt a warmth coursing through him. Eragon had that effect on him. He could lie there like that for eternity leaving earthly cares behind.

Why was he feeling like this? Eragon had a way of making him question his own logic and doubt himself. This infatuation with Eragon was shocking. At first Murtagh assumed it was a keen interest in the boy. A curiosity. Yet the more he began to learn about Eragon the more intense the feeling grew. What was this feeling that was bordering on obsession?

He couldn't place a name on it because that would mean he cared. If he cared then it would only serve to complicate the issue. But with Eragon lying there he was happy. He could forget everything and focus only on Eragon.

Eragon let out a small moan and cuddled closer to Murtagh. It was a nice stable feeling that Murtagh had been denied for his childhood. He would love to make a new life with Eragon away from all the pursuers and the battles. He and Eragon could be happy.

But that too raised many questions. Would Eragon accept him? Did Eragon even feel the same way? Would Eragon be disgusted and reject him? It was too much to risk. A chance to live his life with Eragon compared to risking never being close to Eragon again.

Murtagh didn't think he could take rejection. The pain of knowing your most important person had pushed you away was too much to bear. Murtagh shook away the thoughts. He was acting emotional and that wouldn't get him anywhere.

Eragon stirred in his sleep and Murtagh felt the flutter of eyelashes against his skin as Eragon drifted to consciousness.

"Murtagh what are you doing?" came the groggy question, Eragon's voice made husky by sleep.

Murtagh felt his face flush with embarrassment. "It's really c-cold so uh I'm using you for uh body heat. You didn't seem l-l-like you would mind so…"

Eragon grabbed him tighter and murmured "S'okay I was cold anyway. Next time give me a heads up m'kay."

It was obvious the boy was still tired but before Murtagh could let Eragon fall asleep he had to know something.

"Eragon what are we? Are we friends or something else?" Murtagh hoped that didn't sound as bad as he thought it did.

"We're whatever you want us to be" Eragon said sleepily before allowing himself to doze back off. Eragon had no idea how that had sounded to Murtagh. Murtagh thought his heart was about to burst.

Murtagh smiled and gave the boy a tight squeeze before allowing himself to fall asleep as well. He would find away for them to be happy. He knew he would.

The next morning when Eragon wasn't looking, Murtagh could have sworn Saphira gave him a knowing look before he heard a soft voice in his head saying, "As long as you make him happy you have my permission. Don't mess up Murtagh." It was both her consent and a warning.

End Flashback

That was it! The answer to his problem! If Saphira already knew how he felt about Eragon then perhaps she could help. That is if she didn't hate him at the current point in time. Murtagh made up his mind to see her before changing his direction from his own room to Saphira's. He was begining torm a plan and was determed to make it work. For Eragon and for himself.

Thorn flapped his wings as he flew around the castle. His thoughts began to drift toward the blue dragon Saphira. The reason he had decided to meet her at first was because they were the last of there kind. When they had met at the Burning Plains he had been pleasantly surprised. She was strong as he had expected but he was shocked by her beauty. Saphira was majestic.

He had not had time to dwell on it then but to say the least, he was intrigued. The next time they met there had been no battle only an exchange of words between their riders. This time he was able to truly see her.

She had not been covered in dirt and blood as with the previous encounter and she look even more regal then before. It was a bewitching beauty that sent away his reservations. His usual tough nature melted away when she was near and was replaced by a insatiable urge to make her smile.

Now that Thorn had a chance to meet her and carry out a conversation it was official. He wanted to get to know her better and to spend more time with her.

Saphira had a quirky sense of humor and a sharp tongue. Those only made him admire her all the more. The interesting thing was despite the tension between their riders she seemed to bear him no ill-will. In fact if he didn't know better, he would say she knew the entirety of the situation. Murtagh was loath to tell even him and Thorn did not discover Murtagh's feelings for Eragon until Murtagh was caught after a rather embarrassing dream.

Speaking of Eragon, Thorn hoped his words had there proper effect. After all, Murtagh would never admit that Eragon had hurt him so Thorn saw it as a responsibility to ensure that Eragon knew. Thorn had no issue with the boy but thought he needed to wake up and smell reality. Really Murtagh was more obvious than what Thorn had thought possible when speaking about Eragon.

Then an idea hit him. If Saphira really did know the truth about Murtagh then perhaps she could help them get together. Those two were so thick that a divine signal couldn't point them in the right direction. Perhaps what is needed is a draconic one instead?

Thorn felt himself smirk. Besides if it meant he could spend more time with Saphira then it was even better. A perfect win-win situation. Now if only everything could be that simple.

A plan was forming in Thorn's head and it was growing. If he could pull everyone's strings in just the right way he was sure it would work out. For his rider and himself he had to convince Saphira to help them.

Line

Galbatorix sat languidly upon his throne a small smirk across his lips. Everything was working according to plan. Murtagh following his orders, the Varden had been scattered like rats and he had the only female dragon in his possession as well as her rider. Things couldn't be better. All of the world was and he wodot stop until it was.

At this rate his rule would be solidified and new glorious age of dragon riders could commence free from the manipulation of the corrupt elves. His ambitions were being to be fulfilled and there was no one left to challenge them. Galbatorix had achevied all he set out to his plans were drawing to a close.

There was only one more pawn to fall into place before everything would come to fruition. Murtagh and Eragon. He would allow Murtagh his moment of happiness. Galbatorix would not interfere with Murtagh's plans at the moment. But, when they least expected it Galbatorix was prepared to strike.

Okay I know for the long wait this isn't really that good but this was the best I could do while I was grounded understand? Once again please forgive me. I am already secretly working on the next chapter when my family aren't around or when I'm in school and I will try to update at least once every 5 to 8 days.

Anyway I hope someone enjoyed this and I will see you guys soon. Read and Review.