murtagh-thorn

[murtagh-thorn]

Can’t stop thinking about making Murtagh a home cooked meal after reading in his book that he’s not a big fan of cooking himself. Just picturing him getting so excited when you hand him his plate that he forgets all his courtly trained manners for a minute and is just gobbling it down giving you the biggest heart eyes, thanking you profusely, and telling you how delicious it is.

[murtagh-thorn]

It’s been a long time since I read the Inheritance Cycle (halfway through Murtagh right now) and I know we’re told a few times Murtagh looks like his father. But I don’t remember if we’re told who Eragon looks like, like if he actually looks more like a young Brom vs Selena (although I’m sure he has some resemblance to her).

But I lowkey love the idea of Murtagh actually looking more like his mom than people - or even he himself - thinks. I know the book describes Murtagh when we first meet him with “dark eyes,” but it seems like there’s always a debate between if he has brown or grey eyes. I would love someone like Katie McGrath as a face cast for Selena and a side by side showing that while Murtagh does resemble his dad, he actually looks a lot like his mom.

[murtagh-thorn]

Question: would having a scewed negative view of yourself or multiple insecurities, or things like being neurodivergent or struggling with several negative core beliefs due to trauma, impact your ability to figure it out your own true name? The narrative seems to tell us multiple times that not knowing your own true name could be dangerous and a kink in your armor, but what if your view of yourself is so screwed or you don’t know who you are to where you literally CAN’T figure it out?

[murtagh-thorn]

Question: would having a scewed negative view of yourself or multiple insecurities, or things like being neurodivergent or struggling with several negative core beliefs due to trauma, impact your ability to figure it out your own true name? The narrative seems to tell us multiple times that not knowing your own true name could be dangerous and a kink in your armor, but what if your view of yourself is so screwed or you don’t know who you are to where you literally CAN’T figure it out?

[murtagh-thorn]

Can’t help thinking about what it would be like to struggle with mental illness or neurodivergence or developmental trauma that maybe causes some negative schemas/thought patterns while having a dragon also privy to all that. What would happen to the dragon? What would they think of all that and how would they handle it? Especially if, like in my previous post about being unable to sus out your own true name, they had a pretty firm grasp on who they were and had an overall positive view of themselves? What if the rider felt really bad about their dragon being subjected to how loud/“negative” their head is and just kept feeling guilty and apologizing? Would this eventually create problems between dragon and rider where they’re sort of stuck with this mental bond, but starting not to like each other, or would they try and support and heal them as much as they could?

[murtagh-thorn]

Question: would having a scewed negative view of yourself or multiple insecurities, or things like being neurodivergent or struggling with several negative core beliefs due to trauma, impact your ability to figure it out your own true name? The narrative seems to tell us multiple times that not knowing your own true name could be dangerous and a kink in your armor, but what if your view of yourself is so screwed or you don’t know who you are to where you literally CAN’T figure it out?

[murtagh-thorn]

It’s been a long time since I read the Inheritance Cycle (halfway through Murtagh right now) and I know we’re told a few times Murtagh looks like his father. But I don’t remember if we’re told who Eragon looks like, like if he actually looks more like a young Brom vs Selena (although I’m sure he has some resemblance to her).

But I lowkey love the idea of Murtagh actually looking more like his mom than people - or even he himself - thinks. I know the book describes Murtagh when we first meet him with “dark eyes,” but it seems like there’s always a debate between if he has brown or grey eyes. I would love someone like Katie McGrath as a face cast for Selena and a side by side showing that while Murtagh does resemble his dad, he actually looks a lot like his mom.

[murtagh-thorn]

Just a psa for fic writers who use the “trauma bond” tag, please make sure you’re using it correctly. A trauma bond is not two people who experience similar trauma and bond over it. It’s a carefully curated, manipulative bond between abuser and victim to keep the victim coming back because of the addictive highs and lows that come with abuse.

If you want to tag two characters bonding over shared trauma, a good substitute tag would be “bonding over shared trauma.” Trauma bonding is, by definition, an abusive relationship and may steer people who have experienced it away from your fic. Please spread the word and happy writing!

[murtagh-thorn]

I just read your post about Murtagh and Thorn and their PTSD. I hope that you'll be able to handle the rest of the book, and please, stay safe!

Thank you! I’m handling it ok, it’s just really hitting me in the feels cus I’ve been where Murtagh and Thorn currently are (about halfway through the book, right after they’ve left Gil’ead). I did receive warning that the second half gets very dark as well.

[murtagh-thorn]

I seriously need to talk with someone (feel free to DM or reblog) about how in the Murtagh book, Murtagh and Thorn are just (understandably) showing such classic PTSD responses to things and are so anxiously attached to each other while being extremely avoidantly attached with everyone else, and they’re both having nightmares and flashbacks and just all of the things that I also did immediately after getting out of a bad situation. And as someone with CPTSD, like I struggled so much with all of the same things for years until I started trauma therapy and they’re just reminding me so much of little, unhealed me and it’s making me so sad for them (I’m literally crying as I type this) but also reinforcing this idea of why continuing the trauma therapy is so important and just. Fuck man. This is really hitting me in the feels. I really, really hope they find some healing.

[murtagh-thorn]

Murtagh book spoilers under the cut:

Read through the part where Murtagh is taken by Lyreth and Thorn tries to save him, but extreme PTSD/claustrophobia kicks in and he just goes on a rampage, then struggles with flashbacks while trying to go through the trees with Murtagh after. This poor baby, like I just wanna give them both the best, home cooked meal and wrap them in blankets (I will steal a million blankets to fit Thorn, idc) and just. Jesus. These poor guys. I really hope they can both get to a point of healing.

[murtagh-thorn]

Murtagh and Eragon

[murtagh-thorn]

Yeeessss I need

Murtagh book spoilers below the cut:

Murtagh has rescued Silna and reunited her with Carabel and then got teary when she gave him a kiss and said thank you and I just. Y’all. This man. He and his soft spot and immediate love for kids is gonna kill me.

[murtagh-thorn]

Might write a fic about this at some point, but just thinking about befriending Murtagh, getting to a point where he really trusts you (and is maybe starting to fall for you), then hugging him really tight for the first time. Maybe you were both separated in a dangerous situation and you’re so relieved he’s ok, you just jump on him. For a minute, he isn’t sure what to do - it’s been decades since someone hugged him. But eventually, he slowly wraps his arms around you and then just sinks into you as he realizes how nice this feels and doesn’t wanna let go, then makes a habit of hugging you every time he sees you and holding on extra long every time and I just ashdhsjlsksjdjsjsksjdhdh

[murtagh-thorn]

Murtagh book spoilers below the cut:

Murtagh has rescued Silna and reunited her with Carabel and then got teary when she gave him a kiss and said thank you and I just. Y’all. This man. He and his soft spot and immediate love for kids is gonna kill me.

[murtagh-thorn]

Murtagh livetweets (livereads?)/spoilers below the cut:

Murtagh just joined the guard and is about to sneak into the catacombs. His yearning to be accepted as part of a group and a family has me all ashakskdjjxhdhdhd. And Esvar is so sweet and innocent, he better not die (lowkey hope we see him again).

And the bit before that where he got mugged and told the one man “be a better father,” was giving the guy’s kids coin, was about to go to war for Essie when he thought maybe her parents were abusing her and that’s what caused her scar, his intense need to save the werecat child, and his inner monologue before about how he’d only consider having children (aka not against it, only wants specific conditions, so maybe that is something he wants on a deeper level?) if he could give them all the material things and emotional support they needed to thrive and have a safe space? His soft spot for kids is genuinely just making me love his character and complexities even more.

Also Thorn repeatedly suggesting that he’d feel better if he got laid is hilarious lmao

[murtagh-thorn]

Murtagh book spoilers below the cut:

It’s been a little slow going because I just finished a second bout of pneumonia and have been mostly sleeping and playing Stardew 😓 but Murtagh just met with the werecat and is about to start the process of trying to rescue their young. I feel so bad about what he’ll probably have to do to Oromis’ grave.

His immediate “I have to help them” when mentally comparing what the young werecat is going through to what he went through at Galbatorix’s hands and how Thorn claws the ground over and over when he’s anxious really made me 😭