everythingloveandanimated

[everythingloveandanimated]

“Never give up on something that you can’t go a day without thinking about.”

— Winston Churchill

[everythingloveandanimated]

Okay this is SOOOOOOO out of character, but this idea has been knocking at my door all day like an annoying salesman!

Eragon is trying to convince people of Murtagh’s good character and that he is worth giving a chance. However, he is becoming increasingly frustrated at people’s refusal, even though he understands why people aren’t willing to give Murtagh a chance. (Bro’s got quite a bit of VIP blood on his hands)

Murtagh, who has told Eragon that people are more likely to threaten him with violence or imprisonment than let him speak, initially has the attitude of “do you believe me now?”.

Some of it is in the tone of someone who got tired of making the same point. “I told you this was going to happen.” Probably throws in a reminder that Eragon accused him of being a spy or an assassin when he revealed his parentage.

Then as Eragon gets more frustrated both at people and at the fact that this treatment isn’t new for Murtagh, Murtagh’s attitudes get a bit more colorful

Appreciation for Eragon’s faith in him

Slight sense of pride in proving Eragon right about this. He’s not GLAD that it’s happening. A part of him wishes Eragon could be proven right if only to end his status as an outcast.

Slight amusement at how angry Eragon is getting

Moves to trying to assure Eragon that this treatment isn’t something new and that he’s been dealing with his whole life.

That does nothing to calm Eragon down. “This isn’t something you should be used to!!! Unless you did something you haven’t told me yet, you didn’t do anything wrong prior to being Galbatorix’s rider!!!”

Please ignore the poll. I accidentally put it on the post and couldn’t get rid of it.

[everythingloveandanimated]

You made some really good points. Thanks for answering.

Though I think Murtagh was worried that, even if he did open up his mind at the Varden and Ajihad heard that he had swore fealty to Galbatorix, Ajihad would be even less willing to give him a chance. Regardless of the fact that he ran away. So it wouldn’t be a acquittal, but there would definitely be a lot more gravity in Ajihad’s decision to let Murtagh fight on the side of the Varden at the end of the first book.

And yes, it is amusing to think of Murtagh being so fed up with people accusing him he just throws his memories at Roran (not immediately. Tensions have to be high and Roran has to say something that really strikes in Murtagh’s core.) Tis on my list of fanfics to write.

(Re: tags I too am very interested to see how these two go from enemies to friends. There is definitely going to be a lot of cousin squabbling. and at least one fist fight.

Oh gosh! Murtagh has to tell Uvek why his honor is questioned! Very much looking forward to that conversation! Fully expecting Uvek to be understanding of Murtagh, but might encourage him to make amends with those he has harmed? Whether he encourages this or not, I have a feeling he assures Murtagh that he does not regret his blood bond with him.)

I hope in Murtagh 2, Roran will mention how Murtagh attacked the Varden on his wedding day

[everythingloveandanimated]

@dia-viller do you think things will ever get to the point where Murtagh has to force Roran to see his memories of his enslavement?

Basically Murtagh tries to verbally explain how things were for him and Thorn, and the situation that he was in, but Roran still isn’t budging. Still blames him for attacking Eragon and the Varden, still doesn’t trust him as far as he throw him. The accusations and vitriol or getting under Murtagh’s skin worse than usual. So, Murtagh takes drastic measures and makes Roran live through the highlights of their torture just to knock him off his high horse. also to get it through Roran’s thick skull that Murtagh hated what he was doing and the situation he was in.

I hope in Murtagh 2, Roran will mention how Murtagh attacked the Varden on his wedding day

[everythingloveandanimated]

Oh, I am fully expecting that to come up too!

Murtagh: please tell me we didn’t interrupt the ceremony.

Roran: no. just the preparations.

Murtagh gives an expression of relief.

I hope in Murtagh 2, Roran will mention how Murtagh attacked the Varden on his wedding day

[everythingloveandanimated]

ISMIRA (and Siblings): they get absolutely SHOWERED in Christmas presents from their dragon riders uncles and other extended family.

Handcrafted figurines of horses and other farm animals. Figures of Saphira, Thorn, and Firnen (with fireproof spells on them, courtesy of Uncle Murtagh). Sweet Dried fruit goodies from the capitol. A small package of imported chocolates.

A book of folk tales and legends from the different races of Alagaesia. Uncle Eragon’s atlas/encyclopedia of Alagaesia.

Clothes and age appropriate jewelry.

Sets of child sized gardening tools to help their parents in the garden.

LOTS OF CHRISTMAS HUGS!!!

IC characters christmas morning?

Absolutely. Sorry I took so long!

ERAGON: (Opens one single gift) immediately in tears. Carries it around for weeks. The whole gift-opening process is like this. Gifts never go under appreciated with this guy.

ARYA: *Receives new bow from Arngor* *stares* It is a kind gesture. *proceeds to spend all of her free time shooting new bow.*

NASUADA: Is very calm and composed, is the one handing out gifts, is a “quiet gratitude” person. Will hug everyone who gave a gift gently and will offer cocoa.

MURTAGH: Is sent way more gifts than he expected, tries to downplay them all as just “playing roles” and “gestures” but actually is very warmed by them. He loves everything he was given and is a very sweet boy. Everything he gets is placed with incredible gentleness in its new home in his room.

ORIK: is loaded with Apple Cider and cinnamon treats. Desperately wants more axes for his axe collection. Is a little kid around a Christmas Tree. Spends every moment with his wife and makes sure Eragon gets a good-morning mirror-Skype on Christmas. They talked for way longer than they thought they did.

RORAN: Gets his kids and wife SO many gifts. And I mean SO many. And, one singular gift TO him will leave him cackling all day long

OROMIS: Is confused but trying his best to understand why the tree got dressed this morning

BROM: Enjoying some hot chocolate and watching Eragon, Murtagh, and Arya beat each other with sticks. Secretly bought everyone gifts. Dad vibes.

GARROW: sick of all these damn kids.

ISLANZADÍ: Is SO extra. Covered the entirety of Tialdarí Hall top to bottom in the most punch-you-in-the-face-and-leave-you-blind-as-a-Palancar-butcher Christmas decorations you’ve ever seen

FÍRNEN: excited puppy 🐶 there is no breathing only buzzing

THORN: Is actually given many gifts and comes as close to crying out of pure gratitude as a dragon can. He melts into his pile of items and sleeps with them. There may or may not be poorly-knitted-but-knitted-with-love stuffed animals from Eragon and Saphira in that pile that Nasuada suggested.

SAPHIRA: Does not need gifts because she is the greatest gift of all. Eats all of the food Eragon cooks for her regardless because she “doesn’t want to hurt his feelings.” (She loves the food.)

GLAEDR: I desire a nap

UVEK: GOOD TURKEY. GOOD JAM. GOOD MURDER WEAPONS. *wrestles Murtagh*

BLÖDHGARM AND THE ELVES AND OTHERS OF ARNGOR*piled with miscellaneous objects by Eragon until only their eyes are visible because he has no one else to actively show love and affection to so they have to accept it* ShAdeslayeR-

GARZHVOG: 🥩

[everythingloveandanimated]

For the fellow Wayne Family Adventure fans and readers out there!

[everythingloveandanimated]

“Give yourself credit for the days you’ve made it when you thought you couldn’t.”

— cwote

[everythingloveandanimated]

“Just because you’re angry doesn’t mean you have the right to be cruel.”

— Unknown

[everythingloveandanimated]

Okay I REALLY HATE that I’m thinking about this.

At some point in a future book, Murtagh and Thorn confront the Eldunarí for not intervening more in Murtagh’s life. The two come to the conclusion that Murtagh was written off and abandoned by them and by extension, Thorn was too for hatching for Murtagh. Neither of them are happy about this.

Eragon and Saphira, if feasible Arya and Firnen, are present when this goes down.

Saphira is frustrated because Murtagh played a big part in saving her, Eragon and Arya and went to the Varden even though it was dangerous for him. Arya and Eragon agree that it shows poor thanks for Murtagh’s help.

The Eldunarí defend themselves saying the wanted to see how alike Murtagh would be to Morzan. Murtagh all but demands to know what evidence, in full context of any given situation supports the assumption that he’s like his father.

His treason was forced, he’s shown regret at killing Hrothgar, he spared Eragon and Saphira at great cost to him and Thorn. He’s protected younglings, is willing to forge relationships with souls of other races. He has proven himself to be brave, noble, and a man of his word. He doesn’t delight in cruelty…

Thorn invites them to look into his soul and when they have, Thorn points out that he hatched for Murtagh, and is surprised, though does understand their distrust for Murtagh, that they aren’t willing to trust his judgement on Murtagh’s character through his hatching.

The Eldunarí say they couldn’t be sure. Anything could happen to make Murtagh into the ruthless monster that his father was.

Murtagh shares that he’s only ruthless against opponents who threaten or harm what is precious to him or what he deems as worthy of his protection. He, backed up by Eragon, then accuses them of writing him off and abandoning him to suffer in Galbatorix’s court because of things he didn’t do.

Things get heated and then the bomb is dropped. If Murtagh proved to be a threat the their safety and the future of the dragons and Riders, the Eldunarí would strip Thorn of his name.

Shock echoes around the room before anger explodes. Murtagh is LIVID!!! Thorn recoils in fear before baring his teeth but his bite has fear in it since he knows that act of the dragon’s can’t be undone. Saphira, Eragon and Arya take the Red Pair’s side. Calling the act uncalled for and cruel given what the two of them had been through.

Saphira and Arya scold the Eldunarí saying that their threat spits in the face of the lives that Murtagh has saved, including their own. They add that stripping Thorn of his name would irrevocably turn Murtagh against them. Saphira vows to protect her brethren from their callous cruelty.

Eragon is reeling that the Eldunarí would do something so cruel when the number of dragons and riders is already so small. They watched Murtagh and Thorn suffer, did nothing to save Murtagh from the Twins when they had done so much to aid Eragon. They gave Murtagh and Thorn a compliance test after Galbatorix was defeated. Failed to aid them against Bachel (if there was anything they could do in the first place). Now they threaten to banish the name of dragon who hatched when/because his chosen rider was a captive of their greatest foe?!?! (Beep) that!

Eragon puts his foot down at that.

Murtagh and Thorn, Arya and Saphira and Eragon are still fuming from the encounter. Underneath Murtagh’s rage is a fear that the Eldunarí could make good on their threat. Murtagh doesn’t know where their line is. He won’t attack them until they strike first, and even then he hopes he can overpower them before Thorn’s name is erased.

Eragon, Saphira and Arya are appalled and disappointed (and some level of ashamed and embarrassed?) by the Eldunarí. Arya points out that if Thorn’s name was erased and Murtagh attacked them, it would give them an excuse to eliminate Murtagh so they wouldn’t have to worry about him anymore. Privately, she questions the history of riders that she’s known her whole life

Eragon is seething that they would dare harm his family member like this… and then it dawns on him. They had to know Galbatorix would want Eragon in his clutches for being a free dragon rider. They had to have known what kind of forces he would send to Carvahall to retrieve him and Saphira. They had to have known… and they did nothing to protect what was precious to Eragon. Not his uncle and childhood home, not the people of Carvahall, not even Murtagh who needed protection far more than Eragon did. A sudden terrible realization hits him… if all of this is true they didn’t care about Roran either! Even worse… did Selena die because the Eldunarí didn’t want to run the risk of her secret being revealed and Eragon being found. Did they turn a blind eye to her when she got sick? Was it punishment for marrying Morzan and giving him a son even though she had ultimately sided with Brom and had borne Eragon?

It is acknowledged that it’s not outside the realm of possibility. This is too far for Eragon. The Eldunarí meddling to save themselves has cost him most of his family, his loved ones, the leaders he respected and has damaged the relationships with the family he still has.

Eragon breaks down and eventually comes to the conclusion that, like Murtagh before him, he can reclaim his life and autonomy.

As punishment, all the Eldunarí on display are placed in the pocket in the wall with the corrupted Eldunarí. Eragon decrees he will not bring them out until their brethren are healed. He changes the magic on the pocket so that the Eldunarí combined can’t escape. He deems it a lesson in caring for others.

That night Murtagh and Thorn flee. Through lingering panic, Murtagh asks Thorn to say his true name, which he does. Murtagh asks him to repeat it several times until Thorn says it like a mantra lulling Murtagh to sleep.

The green and blue pairs find the red pair.

Eragon apologizes to Murtagh and Thorn for initially siding with the Eldunarí, and that he couldn’t stop Murtagh from being taken by the Twins, and he’s sorry for leaving in the first place instead of waiting for them to return so they could clear their names together.

Arya apologizes for not being able to save Murtagh and thus condemning him and Thorn to months of grueling torment and slavery. She vows to make up for her failure.

The trio and their dragons agree that they need to find a way to undo the memory erasing spells and stripping of names spell of the Dragons. The blue and green pairs promise to do their best to protect Murtagh and Thorn and affirm Thorn’s value and choice in his rider.

[everythingloveandanimated]

Murtagh probably doesn’t like thinking about that moment either. One minute, he’s in the thick of battle against the oldest rider and dragon in existence, the next he’s choking on his own tongue, getting a violently push out of the front seat of his consciousness, getting tied up and thrown in the backseat of his mind watching while Galbatorix controls him.

It was probably also a terrible experience for Thorn too. Being connected to his rider, and then all of a sudden, their slave master intrudes on their bond. Could Thorn feel Murtagh at all? Was there a piece of Murtagh’s mind that Thorn could still feel? Was Murtagh trying to keep control of his emotions and not panic? Could Murtagh do something to keep Thorn calm? “I’m still here, don’t worry. We just need to ride this out until he’s done.”

Eldunari had their personal beef with Murtagh

[everythingloveandanimated]

Other than being the son of a Forsworn, and being an instrument in the slaying of Oromis and Glaedr, what other reasons would they have? (Genuinely curious)

Eldunari had their personal beef with Murtagh

[everythingloveandanimated]

Murtagh's flash bang spell is worded and translated as thus:

Vindr thrysta un lijothsa athaerum -> Compress the air and gather light.

Prior to this he was contemplating modifying the spell that he used to shield Thorn from people's eyes. That spell works by "thickening the air underneath [Thorn's] body so that it bent the light around him, similar to how a lens of polished glass might." pg 300

Here's the thing though, if he's trying to "gather light from a large area... and concentrate it on a single spot, to use in place of a lantern or to store it for later need" (pg 301) , why would he want the air to be compressed?

[everythingloveandanimated]

Prevtag: too long

🤦‍♀️

Jason, you better start running. And save all your data on an encrypted hard drive. Hide it somewhere safe…. And make a duplicate to booby trap to throw Mr. Ace Detective off

Robin!Tim: You can't make everyone like you. You're not Nightwing.

Red Hood!Jason: What? Not everyone likes Nightwing.

Tim: Who doesn't?

Jason: Well-

Tim: Names, now. Give me their names.

[everythingloveandanimated]

How long does it take Jason to realize that he’s giving Tim a hit-list? And that the self preserving option will be to exclude his own name from that list?

Robin!Tim: You can't make everyone like you. You're not Nightwing.

Red Hood!Jason: What? Not everyone likes Nightwing.

Tim: Who doesn't?

Jason: Well-

Tim: Names, now. Give me their names.

[everythingloveandanimated]

Thanks for sharing this!

Oof

I just realized something and I’m so mad it took me this long to figure it out. Varian’s anger at the end of the season one finale was always so LARGE and incredible, he was willing to kill people out of rage and it was so much more than we’d ever seen from him.

And then I’m sitting here talking to @ajoyfultrashcollection and it hits me. Varian is grieving. Varian has been in the grieving process since he found his father in the amber. Varian would like to hope Quirin’s still alive in there, but Varian is terrified that he isn’t, that he’s dead, and Varian is grieving his parent.

Varian’s anger makes so much more sense, he’s on the third stage of grieving. He’s a kid working through the trauma of being the reason his father is possibly gone for good. 

Shock, Denial, Anger. 

[everythingloveandanimated]

it's no wonder we get upset when someone critiques our art. It's no wonder everyone wants to be able to say "there's no such thing as good or bad, it's whatever you want."

because in art school the first thing they teach you is "learn how to really observe what you see. Now re-create it on paper." That's still-life drawing. Thats color theory. How can I learn what something IS so that I can more effectively COMMUNICATE that?

When someone comes along at tells you "what's wrong with the hands?" Or "oh cool drawing, what is it?" They're sort of indirectly pointing out the fact that you were either wrong about the thing you were observing—you didn't see it clearly—or you're bad at explaining it.

Nobody likes to be told they're wrong. Nobody likes to be told they sound stupid.

But like get over it. The point of communication is to benefit both parties. Therefore the point of art is to benefit your audience. If only you understand it, it's useless.

So if they don’t understand what you’re saying with your art, swallow your pride, don’t get precious about it, and make 100% sure that you were right about what you were saying, and you couldn’t have said it any more clearly or compellingly—before you get offended and run into the arms of “art is whatever you want it to be.”