A new era.

[Emiryal ♕]

Murtagh had left Uru'baen shortly after Galbatorix had fallen and the Varden had gained control. He was glad to see the mad king fall, he had managed to aid Eragon against Galbatorix to some degree. Though it had been difficult with his oaths to do so. But he was free of them now, that was a strange thought. He had never really been free before at least not for long. Even so he hadn't felt welcome among the Varden after what he'd done, even if his half brother was among them.

So he and Thorn had traveled to the edges of the land and visited Vroenguard. They had almost decided to keep going and leave the land completely but he wasn't one to give up so easily. Thorn had urged him to stay and try to make things right. So it was in Vroenguard, the old home of the riders that they had received a message. He wasn't sure who it was from, but he suspected Eragon. No one else really had reason to contact him.

They now flew towards Uru'bean, Thorn flew high enough that Murtagh couldn't see the city through the clouds. The dragon had done so intentionally so his rider wouldn't have to see it. But at this height it was cold enough that Murtagh had to use wards to protect himself from the elements. Eventually Thorn began to descend circling above the city as he did so. Murtagh shuttered at the sight of it. Uru'baen held no good memories for him, he didn't want to go back even if Morzan and Galbatorix no longer lived.

"The Varden won't enslave us," Thorn told him. "And if they wanted us dead they would've sent Eragon or some other rider after us by now."

Murtagh nodded. "I know I just don't like this place," he said. "Neither do I," Thorn said. The large dragon landed in front of the gates to the castle. No sooner had they landed then a few guards came over. Murtagh flinched expecting an attack, but none came. The captain of that guard unit came closer. "He's waiting for you in the orchard," the guard said and bowed slightly, something that confused Murtagh. He wasn't second in command of the Empire any more. He was unaware of the Varden's intention to make him part of the council yet.

Thorn took off before Murtagh could reply and flew to the royal orchards behind the castle. Murtagh caught a glimpse of blue in the orchard and couldn't help but smile a little. Of course it had been Eragon who sent him the message, and the meeting spot was probably intentionally outside of the castle for Murtagh's sake. Thorn landed in the opening by Saphira and Murtagh got off his back. He left Zar'roc was on Thorn's saddle to show he meant his half brother no harm. "Eragon?" he asked. "Why did you want us to come here?"

[Emiryal ♕]

Quetzal

[Quetzal]

After the battle, Eragon and Saphira had sought for Murtagh and Thorn among the others who had been forced into their oaths to the Empire. By the time they found anyone who knew anything, the information had been that they were too late; the pair had been seen flying away as soon as the Varden victory was certain. He didn't blame them. A lot of people in he knew would have done some cruel things had they seen them. Indeed there was still little trust for the Empire's Champion among the general populous, however many times he insisted his half-brother and the red dragon had only served Galbatorix through force. He and Saphira did not go after him, because for one they had a lot of work to do, and for another they imagined anyone would need a good deal of alone time to compose themselves after such a horrendous ordeal.

Eventually the time came to end Murtagh and Thorn's time away from the rest of the world. The council had been formed and he knew from fighting them that the pair were perfect for the position of Captain of the Guard. It had taken some persuading but eventually it had been agreed. In his message he had not mentioned anything of a new council, thinking that might overwhelm him or seem like a trap.

Nervously he stood in the courtyard next to Saphira. He was dressed smartly but not formally, Brisingr in Saphira's saddle for the same reason Murtagh left Zar'roc on Thorn's. He had not had the chance to talk properly with Murtagh since they had first arrived at the Varden so long ago, before he had been kidnapped, before he had even been a Rider. He had been a good man then, and there was goodness in him now, but he must be different in so many other ways. Doing terrible deeds, feeling guilty, being hated, then spending a couple of months alone with his dragon where a lot of wallowing in his feelings must have gone on could have shaped him in any number of ways.

He stood up a little straighter when he caught the first glimpse of a man being led to him with a glitter of red scales. Despite his nerves he smiled too, then saw his half-brother had a similar expression. He almost felt like hugging him but that might be a bit much. He offered a handshake instead, feeling awkward and unsure like the boy he had been the last time they met as friends. "Murtagh. Thorn. It's so good to see you." His heart swelled to finally be here and not be enemies any more, just as he had hoped they would be firm friends when they had first met. Saphira reached out with her mind slowly and deliberately. She had never dared reach out to his or Thorn's minds before since they joined the Empire. She and Eragon had never even heard Thorn's voice before.

"It's been far too long. We wanted to see you because after all this time we missed you dearly and couldn't wait to finally meet without being enemies," there was a good deal of emotion in Saphira's usually cool and rational voice.

Eragon nodded. "Well, partially. The main reason is an official one. I don't know how much you heard away from everyone, but we've formed a council to govern Alagaesia together. No one will rule alone so we may better avoid tyrants like Galbatorix gaining control. On that council, I'm the representative for the Riders. And we'd like you and Thorn to be our Captain of the Guard." His heart pounded. He had no idea how Murtagh would react to the news.

[Emiryal ♕]

Murtagh took Eragon's hand and shook it. Feeling Saphira's mind he and Thorn instinctively blocked her out. He'd always guarded his mind well and after Galbatorix broke that he was more vigilant than ever. "It's just Saphira," Thorn told Murtagh. "We have nothing to fear from them."

Murtagh glanced and Thorn as he felt his dragon's defenses melt away. He still kept his own mind guarded though Thorn conveyed to him what Saphira said. "It's good to see both of you. I'm glad we aren't enemies any more," Thorn replied speaking to both Saphira and Eragon. "Please forgive Murtagh, he isn't ready to open his mind to anyone yet. He's been through much at the hands of Morzan and Galbatorix."

The young rider frowned a little at what Thorn said but it was true. Thorn was kinder than him or so it seemed but the dragon hadn't had the full lifetime of misery that he had. What Thorn had gone through with him wasn't good either though.

Murtagh didn't say anything at all for a few long moments, he looked stunned. Thorn was watching Murtagh. "I have heard of the council," he said. Almost everyone in Alagasia knew of it by now. "But...why us? After all Thorn and I did? Why would the council trust us to join them. It might not be wise for use to join Eragon, we have a bad reputation as it is, we'd only hurt the council by being part of it because of that."

[Quetzal]

Saphira was delighted to finally make contact with Thorn after all this time. The two Riders being half-brothers, she felt as if the dragons should get along. She felt a little thrill at hearing his voice for the first time. It was good to at last hear him speak for himself rather than guessing his personality and thoughts from his actions. "That's understandable. We won't hurt either of you, and our minds are open to contact. We've wanted to meet you properly, Thorn, and see Murtagh as a friend again for so long," she said, she and Eragon leaving their minds guarded but open to communication to show they had no ill intent. It was strange to her to be talking to the red dragon like this when in the past they had only met to fight. She used to tear at those scales every time she saw them but now they were still and peaceful.

Eragon understood Murtagh's wariness too, thinking of how he might act had he been forced over to the Empire. The news clearly shocked him. He must have thought he was in for punishment and a life of exile, nothing good. Many of the Empire were. Those that had not been captured to have justice dealt to them were in exile, by order or by necessity, never able to show their faces in Alagaesia again for what they did during the civil war.

"Your bad reputation is exactly why the council will help you. People will see you really were held against your will, and you'll have a chance to ease grudges by repairing damage you helped make," he didn't know how guilty Murtagh felt about his actions. Whether he felt terrible or blamed his captors rather than himself. "Your appointment caused the biggest controversy, I'll admit, but it was still agreed in the majority to have you on the council. We all know you were bound by your oath, it was just how much of what you did was willing that was debated. All that aside, you were the most qualified, and accounting for it we thought you were still trustworthy. Obviously you'll have a lot to prove but you have skills the rest of us can't match. We can do our best to let word spread you were bound, especially now others enslaved by the same oath have returned to tell people in their home villages of what that was like, but a lot will be up to you," he explained. He hoped Murtagh would at least give the position a try. It was a far better option in his mind than wandering and wallowing. Letting bad feelings stew.