With shaky fingers Eragon lifted the dragon egg before holding it close to his chest in a crushing hug as though he was afraid it would disappear if he did not. Inside his head Saphira was roaring in joy "I can't believe it! Another of my kind lives!" Saphira cried with joy.

Eragon quickly filled the hole before sprinting out of the village with the speed of an elf, he ran gracefully through the woods until he reached a large cave where Saphira had been hiding it. The second he went into the cave Saphira's head nuzzled Eragon's arms and he showed her the egg. She let out a roar of happiness that made all the birds near them flee, Eragon smiled at Saphira, he carefully placed the egg on the floor and Saphira's claws instantly grabbed the egg and placed it near her side protectively. Eragon sat down and leaned against Saphira's side as he gazed at the egg. Unable to believe it was real.

"This changes everything you know." Eragon murmured.

Saphira growled in approval, "indeed, another free dragon. Safe with us, if he hatches so much could change."

"How do you know the egg contains a male?" Eragon asked his dragon.

"Lets just say instinct."

"Now we just have to find his rider."

"True," Saphira looked at the egg downcast, "what if he won't hatch soon? Its not like we can go down the street carrying a dragon egg and let people touch it, the King would be here faster than a Shrrg downs a hare."

Eragon merely smiled as he cradled the egg in his arms, Saphira's tail wrapped around him protectively, "It won't matter, as long as we have each other we can do anything. We can conquer anything."

"As long as we're together," Saphira finished.

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Eragon blearily opened his eyes, the dull light of the sunrise entering his eyes, despite it only dawn his elf-like senses made it look like it was midday, Saphira was still asleep and the egg was still cradled in his arms, Eragon smiled. He got up and headed out of the cave, it would do no good if the villagers saw him emerged from the forest when they had seen him go to his room the night before.

Few people were up and Eragon easily snuck into his room, he washed his face though he did not shave, he had a five o'clock shadow, he could have used magic to get rid of it but he decided to save his energy.

Putting on his cloak Eragon left his room and headed downstairs, there he ate his breakfast before leaving the inn to find something to occupy himself with. The village was small so he decided to visit the blacksmith's shop.

It was a small building, made of rough-cut stone and thatched roof, besides it was the forge.

Ronan was hammering away at a bent sickle that had seen better days. He did not notice Eragon, or Rulf as he knew him enter the forge. He picked up the cherry-red metal with metal tongs before placing it in the stone trough filled with water, when the hot metal hit the water it immediately steamed.

"Hello," Ronan jumped in surprise and dropped the tongs and sickle where they fell in the trough with a splash, he turned around to see Rulf.

"Sorry," Rulf apologized, "I didn't mean to startle you."

"It's fine," Ronan said, "just don't sneak up on me like that."

Rulf chuckled while Ronan retrieved his tongs and sickle, "a good piece that," Rulf complimented as he inspected the sickle. While he was nowhere compared to Rhunön the greatest blacksmith in Alagaësia he was still a good smith, especially at his age.

Ronan grinned at the compliment, "thanks, are you a smith as well?" he asked curiously.

"I've learned from a great master blacksmith, though I doubt I will ever surpass her," it was true. During his time with the elves he had asked Rhunön if he could watch her work, she grumbled about it but didn't say anything. He watched her make masterpiece after masterpiece, it was only when Rhunön crabbily asked what he wanted did he ask. He wanted to learn the ways of the smith.

She was surprised at that, she didn't think that a Dragon Rider would want to be a smith, Eragon explained he had no need to become a master as her where it would take countless decades, he merely asked for advice and some tips. Rhunön had surprisingly agreed, saying that it would do some good if the Dragon Riders were ever established again that their leader could tell the difference between a hammer and a plow. Eragon had taken no offense to that and had eagerly set himself to work. He learned the basics of the art, he learned the best way to heat the metal but still make it durable, he learned how to bend and shape metal, both with magic and tools. When he left the home of the Elves to the Burning Plains his training was put on hold, he doubted he would ever return and see the cranky old elf. While she had always scowl and pointed out flaws and always lectured him, she was still a good teacher. He knew he could not hope to best her in her craft, he doubted anyone could. But he know knew enough of the craft to be considered a master by human terms, all he needed was experience.

Ronan's father had entered the forge when he spoke, "hmm well we could do well with another smith around, 'course I'll start you out with small things, can' have yeh be lying bout your skill, we can't afford mistakes, but if you prove your good then you're welcome to work here until you leave."

Eragon nodded his head, "I'd be happy to help," he shook hands with Avor.

For the next couple of days Eragon found himself in the forge, Avor was impressed by Eragon's skill, he could tell that Rulf was telling the truth about his skill, probably underestimated himself. Ronan enjoyed having Rulf in the forge, it was usually only himself and his brother and father. His brother rarely ever talked and his father was usually too busy, so he liked having a fresh face around the forge. Rulf was like him in a sense, both were good-natured people with kind hearts and seemed to always find trouble. The days spent in the forge, instead of just tonelessly hammering away in silence, Ronan heard of more tales that Rulf knew. He would always ask for certain ones. The Dragon Riders.

Rulf knew many tales of the Dragon Riders, one time Ronan had asked Rulf where he knew them. Rulf had set down his hammer as he gazed at the smoldering embers of the fire, "I learned most of them from a storyteller from my own village. He taught me so much and made me into the person I am today. He was like a father to me."

Ronan hadn't asked again, he knew not to pry. But he was a naturally curious person and had asked Rulf of the places he had seen.

Rulf had apparently been everywhere, from the north of the Empire to the south. He had even been to the desert, when Ronan had asked what the desert was like Rulf had laughed and said "hot and there never seems to be any water."

Eragon had spent several weeks in Ursür. He had grown to like it here. But he had to leave soon to meet Murtagh. So one day Eragon had announced he had to visit a friend in Therinsford, but he would come back.

Eragon had decided, much to Saphira's displeasure, to leave the egg in the cave. When she demanded to know why he explained that Thorn and Murtagh could sense the egg and would no doubt be forced by Galbatorix's spells to capture the egg. Saphira had reluctantly agreed and the two had placed their most powerful wards and spells on the cave and the egg so no one could find it.

The two flew high above the clouds until they saw a small village below them, Eragon stretched out his mind looking for Murtagh.

A strand of though brushed against his. He instantly recognized it as Murtagh's. "Come Eragon," Murtagh's voices spoke in his head before an image of where he was. It was a large clearing in the Spine. They found the place easy, it wasn't that hard to find Thorn's distinctive red hide in the greenery. As they landed Thorn turned his head toward them, Murtagh was leaning against him. A couple of bags were at his feet. Murtagh broke into a grin, "Eragon!" he yelled as he ran towards Eragon who had jumped off of Saphira and gave him a hug, Eragon returned the hug and smiled at his older brother as they broke apart.

Saphira and Thorn sniffed each other warily but seemed to open up to each other.

"I suppose you can't stay for too long?" Eragon said.

Murtagh nodded, "aye me and Thorn are to head up north to help the army fight the elves."

Eragon's eyes widened, "The Elves are now actively fighting!"

"Yes, they've cause quite a headache for our dear King." Murtagh grinned, "its pretty funny to seem him scowl at everything, his temper is pretty awful. He asked as where you had gone after the battle, I told him in the ancient language that you had fled and I could not follow you due to the Varden coming. It was true, you did flee the Varden and they did attack me. He never even checked my mind."

Eragon smiled, "seems he is growing arrogant and thinks you won't betray him if you could. I think I know of a way to release you from his bonds."

Murtagh looked at his fellow Rider with large eyes, Thorn swerved his head towards Eragon.

Eragon explained how if a person changes enough their True Name would change as well, completely breaking the bonds of servitude Galbatorix had placed on Murtagh and Thorn. "I'm sorry I did not tell you the last time our paths crossed," Eragon said, "I was to confused at the time."

Murtagh sighed, "It would do no good Eragon, the King possibly knows of this and has spells to alert him if our names ever change."

"But by then you would be long gone… At least try it." Eragon smiled, "I would like to have an older brother I get to annoy, that what little brothers do."

Murtagh laughed, "ay that is true, but I fear that time is not now, here I believe you would want this." He grabbed one of the bags and pulled out a sheath.

The sheath was beautiful, an aquamarine blue, only a couple tints lighter than Saphira's, when Murtagh tossed the sheath to him he grabbed the pummel of the sword. The gem on the pummel was a light blue sapphire. Eragon could feel the stored energy inside it. It felt familiar. He unsheathed the sword and his breath was taken as he gazed at the beautiful sword. Like the sheath it was aquamarine blue, it seemed to shine in the sunlight, it was a beautiful weapon. The blade was a long sword but seemed to be more elegant than any of the few Riders blades he had seen. As he held it in his hand, he could instantly feel the familiarity of the blade, as though he had been using that blade for his entire life. He twirled it in his hand, it could be used one handed or two handed, as he went through some forms of sword techniques he swung around with all of his strength and watched with fascination he saw the blade easily cut through a sapling.

"I take it you are pleased with it?" Murtagh asked as he watched Eragon continue swinging his sword like a master.

"Its amazing! It's as though it was made for me!" Eragon exclaimed, "what's the name of the sword?"

Murtagh gestured towards the hilt of the sword. Eragon inspected the hilt and saw a small rune. It said Undbitr.

Eragon's heart fluttered, he knew of this sword. He had known his wielder.

"…This is Brom's sword."

"Yes… the blade belonged to Brom… It was also the blade that killed our father." Murtagh smiled, "I thought you would want it, neither of us really liked daddy dearest, eh? Brom was like a father to you, he was a better man than my father, even though I only knew him shortly. It was pretty hard to smuggle it out, that sword is one of Galbatorix's favorites, a memento of defeating Brom. Though of course he didn't know Brom was alive until the Raz'ac found you two."

"Murtagh…" Eragon said unable to believe the lengths his brother had gone to get the sword.

Murtagh grinned, "don't stand there with your mouth open like an idiot."

Eragon scowled while Murtagh just laughed, "okay okay, calm down. Here's something I thought you would want. This bag is enchanted so that they can't get into your head until you open the bag and actually touch one." He grabbed one of the bags and tossed it at Eragon. It was surprisingly heavy, even with Eragon's elf strength. Eragon unzipped the bag and put his hand in it. He immediately fell to the ground clutching his head in pain as multiple screaming voices entered his head. All screamed of nonsense and insanity. Murtagh quickly zipped the bag up, the voices stopped and Eragon slowly got up again.

"What, what was that!"

Murtagh looked at the bag with a slight amount of pity, "the reason why Galbatorix is so powerful."

Eragon heard his heartbeat thud as his world seemed to do a 180. "What!"

"I can't tell you what they are due to my damned oaths, Saphira knows."

Eragon whipped his head towards the blue dragon who looked away ashamed, "Saphira!"

"Eragon I do not have time to explain, the only reason I managed to get this to you is because he has so many, I can tell him I gave them to some magicians during the battle with the Elves. There's another bag of them, I also have enough coins to provide for you, when its safe and your sure no one is around you can open the bags. Saphira can explain what they are as you head back to wherever you live now. There are some other things in there as well. But I want to give you this." Murtagh produced a large scroll from Thorn's saddlebags.

Murtagh sat down and Eragon followed, Murtagh unrolled the scroll and spread it on the ground so the two humans and dragons could see. It was a map of the Empire, but it had many circles in different places on the map along with information. Eragon noticed a circle in Teirm. It said "High Mage Carvic, Eldunarí 12."

"Eldunarì? Doesn't that mean heart of hearts? What are those?" Eragon asked in confusion.

"This map contains all the knowledge I know on people who have some, it is your choice to get them or not. They'd help you a lot, of course there's the small part that they are insane."

"What!"

"Oh calm down I bet you can help cure them."

"Murtagh…"

"You'll figure it out, course they could make you insane as well."

Eragon glared at the dark-haired man, he sighed, "fine I'll see what I can do with these… heart of hearts. Saphira you need to explain."

Murtagh quickly rolled up the map and gave it to Eragon, "well I must be off! You know places to see, people to meet, you know." Eragon gave his brother a handshake before both dragons headed off towards their own destination. As Eragon looked back at Thorn's retreating form he thought with forlorn that he and Saphira were flying to freedom. While Murtagh and Thorn flew towards slavery. He vowed to free them. People would do anything for their family after all.

"Saphira…" Eragon's voice echoed through the mental contact "Explain… Now."

Brom's sword, imagine it blue. resources/_wsb_548x446_