Hey everyone. I forgot to mention…whoever is voted to die won't die. One of the other people will. It's a cruel twist, I know, but don't worry, you'll thank me later. Trust me.

Eragon

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Chapter 9:

Transformation

Eragon woke up to a bright Sun, and a light wind. Arya sat by the stream, cross-legged, no doubt meditating. Saphira looked down at him and said, Morning sleepy head.

He chuckled and rubbed his eyes. He sat up and rolled his shoulders. And how are you?

I feel well. I forgot to tell you, Glaedr spoke to me yesterday.

He did?! What did he say?

He told me that he needs a few more days and he will be…ready. He will be able to teach us before we take Uru' Baen.

Okay. He stood up and walked over to Arya. He sat next to her and watched as she embraced the minds of everything around her. Her face was beautifully highlighted by the Sun and her eyes were closed in silent meditation. Her hands were on her knees and her mouth and face wore a contented expression.

"Good morning. You're finally awake." She said suddenly.

"Aye. Are you hungry? I know of a few bushes that hold some delicious looking berries." She looked at him with bright eyes.

"I would love some." She stated simply. Eragon stood up and walked through a number of shrubs, and stepped over a patch of lichen. Animals were absolutely everywhere. They hid in dens to stay away from their predators and they populated the trees, trying to stay on high ground. He could feel numerous consciousnesses dwelling in the canopy of leaves above him and also in the bushes. He soon arrived at the spot where the berries were located and bent down to start picking. He collected only a handful when they were blasted out of his hand by a deep rumbling that shook the ground. He soon heard a dull thumping. Oh no.

He dashed through the underbrush and leaped over an especially tall thorn bush. He crashed through the plants, snapping innumerable branches as he ran through them. Birds cawed indignantly as he sprinted through the plants below and all the other animals scattered; terribly afraid of him. He slid to a stop at their camp and was horrified to find his fears were true.

Murtagh walked towards him and raised his hands to chest level. "I don't want to hurt any of you. I was sent here to capture you and I decided to take you up on your offer." Thorn nodded his head and grunted his agreement. Saphira eyed him with contempt and growled, kneading the ground with her talons. Arya stood with balled fists on the bank of the stream, her eyes drilling into Murtagh's back.

Eragon sighed; He doesn't look like he's trying to fool us in any way. "Okay…I've contacted the elves; they should be here within a few minutes." Sure enough, in six minutes they arrived, and when they did, they all adopted looks of scorn, shock, and surprise. "It's okay," Eragon explained, "They're not going to harm anyone. We need to put all of our magic into the spell I'm about to tell you about, because it is the only way to free him of Galbatorix. We're going to change him like I was at the Blood-Oath Celebration."

"That's preposterous, you can't do that! It would be tampering with the balance of nature! And to top it off, only the ancient dragons would be able to do that! It would drain us! And besides, he wouldn't have the least idea of how to use his abilities!" Blodhgarm objected.

"Trust me." Eragon replied calmly. Blodhgarm reluctantly agreed. He told them to form a ring around Murtagh with the dragons behind them. Eragon educated them in the spell he had formed and its structure. They repeated Eragon's incantation and, when they did, Murtagh began to squirm and twitch. He began to groan and he eventually started to yell. Their voices laced together and formed a spell so strong, Eragon doubted even Galbatorix could match its strength. The dragons fed them with their strength, and when they began to become tired, they all fed off of Murtagh.

After an hour-and-a-half of spell-weaving everyone was close to collapsing. Murtagh was writhing on the ground, scrabbling at his back. He already resembled an elf, but his scar wasn't gone. We can't keep this up much longer! He became worried but as he thought that, the magic began to fade. Murtagh stopped rolling on the ground, and Eragon felt utterly exhausted. Another minute of that would've killed us all. He crawled to an apple tree and picked all of them off. He kept three and ate and then passed the rest out. He pulled seven loaves of sourdough bread out of his saddlebags and passed everyone half a loaf.

Although he hated doing it, he killed a flock of geese that were flying in the sky. He caught them all with his reflexes at his aid and handed half to Saphira and half to Thorn. They rumbled their appreciation and began eating ravenously. When everyone was done he walked over to Murtagh who was still lying on the ground. Tears streaked his face and he was quivering. He quickly got some water and poured it between Murtagh's lips. He stirred and opened his eyes, fixing them on Eragon. "Thank…you." He managed to get out. He sat by Murtagh, giving him some of his bread and trying to get him to feel better.

Thorn slowly dragged himself over to Murtagh's body and said, Thank you brother-of-my-Rider. You have freed us of the King's wrath. We are both in your debt. Eragon looked back at the elves. Everyone looked extremely tired and they soon fell asleep. Even though he was fatigued and yearning for some sleep, Eragon kept watch over Murtagh, as did Thorn and at dusk Murtagh woke.

The first thing he said was, "I-I feel…better. I feel the animals and I see everything with perfect clarity. I hear a squirrel chattering a mile away and I feel the smallest movements through the ground and I am…changed." His voice grew in happiness and volume until he was almost shouting his delight to the sky. He looked at Eragon. Tears came to his eyes as he said, "Thank you brother. Thorn and I have our freedom now and we will serve the Varden with all our strength. Nothing can sway us now, for we are unbeatable." He smiled and winced because he was sore from his transformation. Eragon helped him up and Saphira opened one of her blue eyes. Ah, you are well. I still feel derision towards you, but I am glad to call you friends and allies.

We feel remorseful and are ashamed of what we've done. I hope you will forgive us, for we were also ordered against our will. Murtagh nodded.

"May I?" He asked Saphira. She blinked twice and then nodded. If there was anyway we could earn respite for our actions and repay you, it would please us to no end.

Help us destroy the Empire and you will be fully and fondly forgiven.

Thank you both, he replied. Eragon and Murtagh began talking while Thorn and Saphira held a conversation of their own. They had to cut their discussions short however, because all of them were really drained. They all soon fell asleep, satisfied by the day's events.

Eragon had happy dreams until the wee hours of the morning. He groaned and spoke in his sleep. He tossed and turned and was covered in cold sweat. It was a horrible dream.

He sat on a marble floor with a black sword right in front of his face. "You will tell me your true name, or I will force it out of you. I hope you enjoy torture." The man laughed a ruthless and powerful laugh. A laugh that could freeze blood and chill bones. It was a cruel perverse laugh, like that of a hyena. He stared at the hooded figure that sat upon the golden throne with a look of hate and resentment.

"Never." He replied, and then the figure stood, towering over everyone else in the room. He immediately became serious and started speaking in a grave voice.

"I will guess then." He declared.

"Not a chance." And then he murmured something low and said, "Deyja." He then fell to the ground, dead.

He then woke violently, crying uncontrollably. He heard Arya awaken also, startled by his outburst. She walked over to him quickly and asked, "What happened? Are you alright?"

"I'm…I'm fine. Just a bad dream." He subdued his tears and was reduced to gasping sobs. Arya looked at him worriedly and then put her hand over his and held him. He looked at her gratefully and soon returned to normal. Saphira had been behind them the whole time, hoping that he was alright. They both stood up and returned to their sleeping quarters and Saphira said, Oh little one. She put a wing over him and hugged him close to comfort him. It was a still a few hours before the Sun rose so he went to sleep still pondering his vision.