Eragon scuffed his boot in the mud as he trudged back to the farm. He had changed his mind several times after his first decision to follow the stranger. It was only after several minutes he finally decided to actually collect the deer besides as a result of his indecision he had lost the stranger. This weighed heavy on his mind as he shouldered the stag and continued his solitary trek home. The trek had been solitary much like his hunt and the only person he had seen in three days had been the stranger. This had left him more than a little starved for company and a drink.
He looked up as he reached the gate and pushed it open, turned around and latched it. He sped up eager to arrive home and get the bloody stag off his shoulder because .this stag had been eating way too many leaves. Eragon smiled wryly as he spotted Roran's shovel propped up on the fence gleaming silver Roran washed and cleaned his tools religiously. Unlike himself as Eragon was wont to leave his tools dirty and squirrelled away in some nook or cranny, a habit Garrow had tried and mostly failed to break.
Entering the room he ducked under the low door frame in order to avoid dislodging the deer that was slung across his shoulder. Turning away from the door he tossed the deer on to the table and turned around. Hearing a dry cough he whipped back round to the table and spotted sitting down with an amused smile on his face...the stranger. He was dressed in a fine wine red tunic, a more discreet brown cloak propped around his chair and a hand and a half sword hung at his waist skimming the floorboards.
Who are you Eragon said confused and more than a little bit nervous by the strangers reappearance in his house. He didn't remember Garrow mentioning that he had family coming and the stranger couldn't have followed him...could he. His fingers clutched his hunting knife nervously and his eyes flickered to the doorways. "Garrow?" He called nervously.
"He's fetching Roran," the stranger answered ignoring the first question.
Eragon nodded it made sense Roran would probably be in Carvahall and either drinking or courting Katrina. Personally Eragon thought he probably was drinking given that he spent a large proportion of the time there, that being said Eragon himself probably spent too long there as well. Eragon though privately hoped they were both almost home as he hated small talk. "So.." He said awkwardly.
"I'm Murtagh," the stranger volunteered. He was probably picking up on the awkward pause Eragon presumed.
"Eragon," Eragon said smiling. Eragon then heard footsteps and low voices and turned to the door. Two men walked through one was elderly in his late forties minimum with greying hair. His frame was bent from years of hard labour and the youth on his side towered over him. Roran, the youth resembled a Eragon in his colouring with the same brown hair and brown eyes that were common in Carvahall. However his build was different as he was far more muscular and a few inches taller than his cousin.
"Oh Eragon your home" Garrow said
"I had noticed," Eragon said dryly.
"Eragon enough of that wit, get the carcass off the table and Roran please get out," Garrow said turning to the tall broad shouldered man behind him
Eragon watched Roran's face go from normal to a bright red before Roran exploded. "You drag me away from my tankard because there is important news and now you send me out how's that bloody far," Eragon smirked at Roran he had definitely been drinking.
"Fine," Garrow said lifting his hands appeasingly. "I can't think of a better way to put this but Selena, my sister is Murtagh's mother,"
Eragon nodded for a moment before almost realising what he had actually said. "So Murtagh is my brother?" He asked. This was so cool he thought mind a buzzing he had a brother. Did he know their parents? How old was he? Did he know why he had been abandoned in Carvahall? Suddenly Eragon knew exactly where they had to go next.
"Yeah," Murtagh said smiling.
"Cousin," Roran said rushing over an giving him a massive bear hug.
He was a bit drunk though Eragon thought so that partially explained the hug. Eragon waited until Roran released a cussing Murtagh "We need to give you a proper Carvahall welcome,"
"What," Murtagh said confused
The two cousins exchanged an evil smile
"We need to visit the tavern ,"
AN so here the next chapter is sorry for the long wait but despite having the holidays i have been really busy and my sister who was meant to beta has been studying so she didn't so if you spot any errors please tell me. And read and review :)