AN: This month Broken turns 5 years old! I can't beleive it. It doesn't seem like that long ago I was driving home from seeing the Eragon movie opening night and the idea for this story just popped into my head. I want to take this time and thank all of my readers. You guys mean the world to me. Thanks for sticking with this story for so long :)

One more thing. I've got a little question for you guys. Mainly because I'm bored, but also because I'm curious- If Broken were ever made into a movie (which would be awesome but obviously won't happen lol) which actors/actresses would you cast & for what part? I already have certain actors/actresses I picture as I'm writing, but I'm always interested in hearing how other people see my characters :)

The next morning, Alianna, Murtagh, Eragon, and Thorn were getting ready to leave. But before they did, Alianna took Murtagh aside and asked him if he'd had a chance to tell Eragon about the two of them being brothers. Murtagh admitted that he hadn't He thought that Eragon had a lot to take in already and wanted to wait until they made their next stop to tell him.

Alianna understood Murtagh's reasoning, but she still thought he should tell him right away.

"Tell me what?" Eragon asked as he approached them.

Murtagh glanced at Alianna, then at Eragon and said. "We should get going."

Alianna and Murtagh prepared their horses. While they did this, Eragon looked at them strangely.

"I don't understand. Why can't we just ride on Thorn? We could reach Surda much sooner."

Murtagh explained to him that despite his size, Thorn was still very young and was not quite strong enough to carry that many people in addition to their supplies.

Alianna chimed in. "Plus, I don't know if I could handle it. The last time I rode on Thorn… let's just say it did not go well."

Eragon nodded. "I understand. I remember the first time I rode Saphira. It takes some getting use to."

When Eragon finished talking, Murtagh helped Alianna onto her horse and then climbed onto his own. After going over their travel plans for the day one last time, they all departed. Thorn had taken off a few minutes before them.

Despite not having a horse or Saphira, both of whom were back in Surda, Eragon assured Alianna and Murtagh that he could keep up. Apparently he had been even the speed of an elf, in addition to everything else he received during the blood oath celebration.

"If only we were all so lucky." Alianna thought.

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The three of them traveled for hours, stopping only to rest the horses and eat. By late afternoon they made camp just outside the village of Furnost.

As Alianna got off of her horse, a few dull pains shot up her bad leg. She winced, which did not go unnoticed by Murtagh and Eragon. She told them both that she was fine, but they weren't convinced.

"You should have waited until I could help you off of her." Murtagh said. His voice was filled with concern.

"You worry too much." Alianna replied as she sat down on a blanket that Murtagh had laid out. Murtagh sat down next to her.

Eragon walked over. "I couldn't help but notice you limping ever since we first met. Are you alright? What happened?"

Alianna couldn't help but notice the look Murtagh gave Eragon. It was as if to warn him not to continue these questions any further.

"Murtagh, it's fine." Alianna said softly. She looked up at Eragon and began to tell him about how, on the night her and Murtagh had tried to escape the first time, she had fallen off her horse while she was being captured.

Alianna had come a long way since then. While she still walked with a slight limp, the pain only occurred now every so often.

"Perhaps I could help." Eragon told her.

Alianna thanked him for his offer, but told him it wouldn't do much good. Murtagh had tried several times to heal her leg, but all he had been able to do was reduce the pain for a couple of hours.

"At least let me try."

Alianna could tell Eragon was concerned as well. Maybe he still felt bad about what had happened between them the night before. This might be his way of making it up to her. She finally gave in and told him yes.

Eragon sat down next to Alianna and began to mutter some words in the ancient language. Most of which she recognized, but a few words were new to her.

After a few minutes, Eragon stopped and asked her if it worked. Alianna could no longer feel the pain, but she didn't want to get her hopes up. She stood on her feet and began taking a few steps. Sure enough, she was still limping.

Alianna could see the disappointed look on Eragon's face. "It's alright. I appreciate that you tried. It means a lot."

"I thought it would work." Maybe once we get to Surda, someone in the Varden will be able to help."

"They might. And even if they can't, it doesn't matter. This is just a part of who I am."

Eragon nodded, seeming to understand. He went over and helped Murtagh set up a few things.

Alianna decided that now would be a good time to go down to the river and wash some of their clothes. It had been awhile, plus it would give Murtagh and Eragon time to talk alone. She exchanged a quick glance with Murtagh as she walked away with a pile of clothes in her arms. A minute later, she could hear his voice coming from behind her.

"Eragon, there's something I need to tell you."

Please let this go well.

Alianna finally reached the river and began washing the clothes. As usual, Thorn was hovering nearby. The task was simple, but it kept Alianna busy for a while. It helped take her mind off things.

Just as she was finishing up, she heard shouting from a distance. Thorn let out a low growl.

Thor, what is it?

Murtagh just told him.

So much for things going well.

Alianna got up and made her way back to camp. The clothes she could get later. Right now all that mattered was getting to Murtagh and Eragon. All the way there she hoped that they weren't saying or doing something that they would regret later.

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"No, it can't be true!" Eragon exclaimed.

As she approached them, Alianna could see the look on Eragon's face. It wasn't exactly what she would call angry, but a mixture of both shock and disbelief.

Murtagh warned her to stay back. Alianna knew that Eragon probably wouldn't hurt her, but she also knew that Murtagh didn't want to take any chances.

"You're lying Murtagh."

Murtagh repeated what he had said, only this time in the ancient language. He told Eragon that his mother was Selena as well. Galbatorix had made the connection after the Twins had revealed to him what they had found when they read Eragon's mind.

Only after all this did Eragon finally believe Murtagh.

"So that means…" Eragon said, he seemed to be afraid to finish the sentence.

Murtagh finished it for him. "Morzan is my father as well as yours."

Eragon sat down on the ground, trying to take everything in.

Murtagh walked over to him and smiled slightly. "I told you we were alike."

"That's not true!" Eragon replied. "I don't have that scar on my back anymore."

Alianna did not know whether or not Eragon meant to be hurtful with what he said. She looked at Murtagh and could tell, even though he would never admit it, he was upset.

How dare he! Alianna thought.

Eragon had been lucky enough to be healed magically. Murtagh still had his scar and while it had gotten better over the years, Alianna knew that it still pained him from time to time. It was on the tip of her tongue to say something to Eragon, but she didn't.

Realizing that they all needed some time to cool down, Alianna suggested that Murtagh walk down with her to the river to get their clothes. Murtagh wasn't sure at first, but he ultimately agreed.

"We won't be gone long." Alianna told Eragon.

Eragon wouldn't speak or look at them, he simply nodded his head.

As Alianna and Murtagh walked away, Alianna glanced back quickly and then spoke. "Is he angry?"

"At us?" Murtagh asked. "I can't get into his mind. But from what I can tell, no."

"Do you think he'll leave?" All this time Alianna thought that their plan might work. Now she wasn't sure.

"Alianna, he promised he would help us. We're his family. He just needs some time to process this. Imagine if you were him."

He had a point. Alianna didn't know how she would react if she found out news as big as that.

It didn't take them long to reach the river and retrieve their clothes. When Alianna and Murtagh got back to camp, Eragon still did not speak to them. This lasted for the rest of the day.

It wasn't until the next morning that Eragon finally broke his silence. Alianna had woken up early, before Murtagh even, and found him with what appeared to be some sort of puzzle made up of small rings. He put it down when he saw Alianna approaching.

"Did I wake you?" he asked.

"You didn't." Alianna replied as she sat down next to him. "I see you're talking again."

"Yes. I want to apologize for last night. How I reacted, what I said… I didn't mean it."

"I know you didn't. I probably would've reacted the same way."

"Morzan's my father. I just can't believe that…"

"That his blood runs through your veins?"

"Exactly."

"I can relate. You and Murtagh aren't the only ones with an evil father."

"I doubt he was as evil as Morzan."

Alianna thought for a moment. She had to choose her words carefully. "You're right. He's not as evil. He's worse."

"Is? You mean he's still alive?"

"Very much so."

"Does he work for Galbatorix?"

"No."

Alianna began to feel a little bad. But it wasn't as if she was lying to Eragon. She was telling him the truth. She just chose to leave certain details out for the time being.