Chapter the fourth!

For several weeks, Aviella served as Murtagh's nurse, trying to see why he wouldn't wake up. There seemed no reason why he wouldn't wake up. Although when they tried to get into his mind, to see what was wrong, they couldn't get in. Thorn didn't know the problem either, only that he had passed out, supposedly because of his wounds, and hadn't woken since. Thorn could get into his mind, but nothing seemed off. So Aviella just made sure his body had strength and did her weaving just outside the cave he was in. Thorn had recovered quickly, and he was ready to join in training. Since Aviella had taken up most of the cooking, she had figured out a way to help the dragons learn to control their fire. They had to control how hot, and how much fire they breathed, onto the cook firepit so that Aviella could cook. It gave the dragons extra control over their fire, and helped them over all.

The eldurnari still hadn't spoken to Eragon.

One day, Aviella came running into Eragon's quarters. He looked up, annoyed. He had been writing a poem to pass the time, and her entrance had made him forget a particularly good line. Two words were all she spoke. "He's awake."

Instantly he stood and followed her to where Thorn and Murtagh were staying. As soon as he walked in, Eragon relaxed. Murtagh was awake, sitting on his cushion, blankets around him, a cup of broth in his hand. He blinked and nodded to Eragon when he walked in.

"Greetings Murtagh. How are you feeling?" Eragon asked.

Murtagh cleared his throat and spoke, his voice rough, "I feel better, better than I've felt in a long time actually. I thank you and Aviella for that. But I do want to know, how long have I been unconscious?"

Aviella glanced at Eragon before answering, "several weeks, about eightish."

They watched as he mouthed the words 'eight weeks'.

He tried to stand, saying, "I thank you for helping me, but we really need to go. Now."

Aviella stopped him from getting up, he still wasn't fully recovered enough to stand. Then she said, "Okay, we healed you, and we very well could have abandoned you or worse. At least let us know what's going on, we've helped you before, we'll help you again."

Murtagh hesitated, but Aviella had developed the demeanor of a mother bear, not to be denied. Then he finally said, "I… owe a debt, I suppose. I went into one of the areas where the eldurnari warned us not to go, on accident, and ended up bargaining for Thorn's and my own life. I got them to let us go, but we owe them a lot of money. That, and a blood debt. We were trying to see what we could find in the woods, and I was going in disguise, to try to earn some gold. Then, someone discovered who I was, and told everyone they could find. Thorn had to rescue me, and we both were injured. It was that old elf outpost on the river this place is on. Ceris. The next thing I knew, I was here."

"Who is it that you owe money to?" Eragon asked after a moment.

"The only urgal king, his name cannot be spoken without his knowledge. Some type of magic. The only way I would be able to get out of debt other than pay it, would be to kill him. In the urgal tradition established by him, I can have up to three people to fight with me, but he gets four or five. I was going to try to defeat him, if I couldn't get enough gold soon enough."

They were all silent for a moment. Then Aviella spoke up, "Why don't we help him Eragon?" (Eragon had instructed her to use his first name, not comfortable with ebrithil, or teacher, because of his inexperience.)

"Because if we did, I could cause a war. I have ties in all races, if I seem to declare war on one, a massive war would follow. We just finished up one war, I am not anxious to start another one."

"But we could ask other urgals if they like this 'king' and then if they don't, we take him out, no more problem. Plus, technically, a rider and their dragon is one entity, so we could fight as three pairs, Murtagh and Thorn, as one, you and Saphira, that's two, and Naille and me to round out three."

"There are several flaws in your logic. I refuse to join you; also, I am never to return to Alagaesia. You both know that."

Aviella sighed and said, "I really thought you figured this out a long time ago. All that means is that you won't die in Alagaesia; that is all never to return means. It doesn't say when, just that when you die you wont be in Alagaesia. That's it."

Eragon started. He never thought of it that way. Hope filled him, now maybe he could see his home and family again. But just as quickly, he hid his expression behind a mask. Yes, maybe it was possible, but he wouldn't go to fight. He would accompany them, but that was all.

"I will go only to observe. That is, if you still wish to go."

Aviella smiled. She had won. As usual. But, hey, it could be good for her to get a lesson in the politics and other such things in Alagaesia, things she couldn't see in Vokmor. He looked forward to spending time with Murtagh again, as they were half brothers and they hadn't met in peace for a while.

Murtagh grinned crookedly, "I suppose I knew that you would work it out. I suppose it is settled then. But first, I would like to know what you've been up to."

So Eragon and Aviella told him what had happened, and though Aviella was more powerful than Eragon for now, she would weaken with the new moon, and return to full strength with the full moon. Power surges, she called them. Then they introduced the new dragon, who, Aviella informed them, had finally decided on a name, but wouldn't tell them what it was. Exasperating, that dragon. Also, that morning, Naille had breathed fire.

Murtagh was a good listener, and as soon as the tale was finished, he said, "now my turn, as soon as Thorn and I left Eragon on the hill…."

next update you get to hear what Murtagh has been up to! thank you again to allllll of my reviewers, and i am totally open to any suggestions. i am still waiting to hear if you want me to get Murtagh and Nasuada together or not. please review!

lightningkid333: hows this? She may be a little more powerful than him during the full moon, but she is weaker during the new moon. still going to make her more like Angela! just havent done it yet.

okay peace out peoples!