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Eragon smiled as he walked into daylight. It was finally over. Galbatorix was slain. He hurt, in fact every single muscle and bone in his body ached, but he'd never felt better. He silently looked to his Half-Brother Murtagh who was speaking with Nasuada. She seemed to be alright considering the fact she'd suffered nearly 3 weeks of constant torture. He watched in silent astonishment as Nasuada wrapped her arms around Murtagh, who returned the gesture and gave her a kiss on her forehead as she buried her face in his tunic. They pulled away and smiled at each other. Suddenly Murtagh had the same face Eragon had while speaking mentally with Saphira, before he turned to Eragon. He smiled before saying something to Nasuada, and approached Eragon with a smile. "How long have you been standing there Eragon?"

"Long enough to know you and Nasuada are more than just celebrating our victory." Eragon replied with a playful smile. "Thought so. So what now?" Murtagh asked leaning against a wall. "What do you mean?"

"I mean what is our next move, who in blazes is King, and most importantly what's going to happen to Thorn and I?"Murtagh asked counting on his fingers with each question. Eragon shrugged. "No Idea, No clue whatsoever, and I'm not sure." Murtagh chuckled slightly. "Well seems you've got everything figured out. Saphira was right, you are an air head sometimes."

"And when did she call me that?" Eragon asked as he eyed the two dragons lying in the shade of the castle. "Farthen Dúr, Just after you had your first seizure, and I had to put you on her back so we could get you to Angela."

"Ah. Well did she say anything else?"

"Not really, just that she hoped you'd be alright." Eragon smiled as he looked to his Half-Brother. "Those were better times."

"Things will be better now." Murtagh said as Eragon nodded his agreement. "I imagine we'll be having some sort of celebration. Care to join us?" Eragon asked. Before Murtagh could answer, a Foreign, yet very powerful mind entered his own. 'We'd be honored brother of my Rider.' Murtagh smiled as he too heard his Dragon's response. "Guess I can't back out now. Just contact us when you decide to celebrate. I don't think we should stay too long, might cause some issues." Murtagh said as Eragon agreed silently. "Head to Du Weldenvarden. Saphira and I have a home out there. The elves shouldn't give you any problems."

"You sure? That Rider..."

"I'm well aware of Oromis. Look, the elves owe me a favor. If there's any sort of issue, have them contact me, or do it yourself. I doubt you'll have any issues. The guardian of the forest won't allow you to enter if it senses any threat."

"All the same, I'd rather not risk it. Any other ideas?" Eragon thought before finally deciding. "The Spine. Not many go there anymore, probably the safest place for you, besides Du Weldenvarden." Murtagh smiled and pulled Eragon into a hug. "We'll be back as soon as you call. Take care of yourself." Eragon smiled and returned the hug, before Murtagh broke away and mounted his dragon. "See you soon!" Murtagh called as Thorn took off. Eragon smiled and waved as they quickly became smaller and smaller in the sky.

Murtagh smiled as Thorn landed in the spine a few hours later as the sun was just going down. He yawned as he stretched his legs, back, and arms. 'You should try to rest, Rider.' Thorn said as Murtagh removed his saddle. Murtagh yawned again in response. He hadn't realize how tired the battle had made him. Then again he rarely did, he only realized it once either Thorn instructed him to rest or he'd calmed enough to realize how sore and exhausted his body was. "I want to try to wash up first. I feel filthy." Thorn placed his eye directly in front of him. 'Very well, I saw a spring about 1/4 of a mile that way.' Thorn said as Murtagh smiled. "Alright, I'll be back, okay?"

'Very well. If you need me, call me. In the meantime, I'll try to hunt us some fresh meat.' At that Murtagh's stomach growled loudly. "Stay safe okay Thorn?" Murtagh called as he walked away. 'You as well 'Tagh.' Thorn replied as he took off. Murtagh made the trek to the spring without incident. The path was formed out of flat rock formations. As he arived he gingerly stripped off his tunic, as fresh lashmarks throbbed across his back. He and Thorn had a rather unspoken bond about this. They never talked about the King's punishments unless the other was ready to do so. He hadn't even told Thorn he'd been whipped for refusing to torture Nasuada during her imprisonment. He stripped off his remaining clothing and waded into the waist deep water. Surprisingly it was quite warm. "Seems this is a hot spring, Thorn." He felt some Proudness and happiness radiate from his dragon. 'I'm glad my friend. You deserve a warm bath to ease away your aches.Excuse me. There's a buck nearby.'Murtagh felt a flash of joy across the link as Thorn dived and extinguished the deer's life. Murtagh went about washing his body, and enjoying the warm water as the pain in his back dulled to a minor throb. 'I managed to catch 2, Rider. Are you nearly done with your bath?' Thorn asked as Murtagh climbed out of the spring. "Yes, I'm done Thorn. I just have to dress." Murtagh replied as he pulled on his breeches, tunic, and pants. He picked up his boots and walked back to where he'd last seen Thorn. The rocks were still warm from the sunlight under his bare feet. He approached the clearing to see Thorn was lying there already eating one of the deer. He approached the other killed buck and sat down. As usual Thorn had already skinned the deer meant for Murtagh and eaten the entrails. It never failed to impress Murtagh. Thorn would use his teeth and claws with such precision it was almost as though an expert butcher had skinned, cleaned, and gutted the kill. He took his dagger and cut off a number of small strips from the shoulder of the deer. Next he placed them into a small pan over the campfire pit Thorn had built, along with some Cider and vinigar he'd taken from the castle. Next he removed the other shoulder and seasoned it with salt, pepper, and a few herbs and seasonings before impailing it on a metal rod and placing it too over the campfire. He continued his work until half the deer's body had been cured. "You want the rest?" He asked knowing the answer already. Within seconds the remaining carcass was swallowed by Thorn, and Murtagh had various cooked Venison meals within the next few hours. He took the small strips from the now cool pan and coated them in salt, before setting them out to dry. He spoke a few words of the Ancient Language to prevent any spoilage of the meats and grabbed the shoulder off the rod and cut it into fourths. He took one chunk of the meat and ate as Thorn went about cleaning his claws and maw of the deer's blood.

'That was quite a delicious meal.' Thorn said as Murtagh finished his second helping of Venison. Murtagh nodded his agreement as sleep began to overtake him. 'Come here Murtagh, let us rest.' Thorn said raising his wing. Murtagh sleepily crawled under and opened the saddlebag to pull out a blanket. He then layed against Thorn's stomach, covered himself with the blanket, and fell fast asleep. Thorn smiled and gently gripped the blanket and pulling it away. He then gently gripped his Rider's tunic in his maw. He couldn't count how many times his rider had been either too weak or too tired to undress himself. Gently he pulled the red fabric off baring his Rider's chest, before beginning to replace the blanket only to stop as he saw new, yet all too familiar scabs crossing his Rider's already scarred back. 'Oh Murtagh. Why don't you ever tell me?' He growled softly as he examined each lash. He knew Murtagh didn't want him to worry, and had been keeping something from him the last week. Silently he counted each lash. '70? Dear one what did you do?' Gently he covered the sleeping Rider's body and layed down. As sleep began to take him a final thought entered his mind ' I'll ask him why tomorrow.' The next morning, Murtagh awoke and crawled out from under Thorn's wing. He smiled as he watched Thorn sleep, before checking on The strips of Deer jerky he'd set out the night before. They'd dried well, and he took a few strips and ate some as he walked to a nearby cliff. He sat on a rock as the sun began to rise over the valley. He smiled as the sun slowly lit every inch of the valley and the Mountain as well. 'Sleep well?' Thorn asked as he finally woke up."Best sleep I've had since we were enslaved."