Chapter 1: Renewal

Eragon awoke with a start. Every time he fell into slumber, he would dream of Oromis dying. Eragon could not get the image of a sword going across his masters body out of his head. Eragon could not stop remembering the despair and fear that Glaedr was feeling at that moment. He had been experiencing these dreams for several nights now. Eragon sat up on his bed, he decided to quit trying to sleep. It was still very early in the morning and the golden sun was just beginning to peak over the horizon. He could hear birds singing their love songs in the background for it was mating season. Hearing those songs heightened his sense of being alone. He still loved Arya very deeply and it pained him to not be with her. Every moment being without her was like having a knife thrust through his heart. Eragon thought back to when he relayed the news of Oromis' death to Arya, to when she looked to him for comfort. His heart beat three times as fast when she embraced him, just the touch of her sent shivers up his entire body. Then the sound of the birds brought him back to reality.

How can they be so happy when there is so much darkness in the world? He wondered.

He decided to take a bath since it has been a while when he did it last, and he wanted to get off the grime of war from his body. He got a fresh tunic and leggings from his tent and walked towards the ocean. Saphira was still asleep and he wanted to keep it that way. Eragon wanted to be alone with his thoughts at the moment. He reached the shore and removed his shirt and pants. He walked into the water and let the coldness of it refresh his body. After fully washing his body he got out of the water, the wind blowing on his body made it even colder. He quickly put on his clothes, he then sensed through their link that Saphira had awoken. He walked back to his tent and put on the belt of beloth the wise with brisingr at his hips.

"Do you want to fly today?" He asked Saphira

"I would love to little one, it would give us a chance to forget the past for a while"

He hopped on the back of Saphira and with her powerful legs she jumped into the air and was off. The wind blowing through his hair made him feel at peace. It he was like this nothing could touch him. He was free from all responsibilities, politics, and heartache. Eragon and Saphira spent another two hours just flying above enjoying each others presence. Then Eragon sensed someone trying to enter his mind. He threw up a wall of defense wile trying to become aware of who was trying to attack him. Suddenly he realized it was Arya and immediately let her enter his mind.

"Nasuada wishes to speak with you, everyone is gathering in her tent. You should come quickly because it seems urgent."

With that she left his mind. Resentfully Saphira dived down from the clouds towards the Varden's camp. Above Feinster you could see all the damage that had occurred. Many houses lay in ruins with the ruble out on the streets. When he got closer he could see the fire marks that were left when Saphira was attacking her enemies with the deadly flame. The villagers below looked up and ran towards their houses, they sill blamed him for the attack. Eragon lingered on the feeling of hatred he had for causing the pain of innocent people-just like him-who were trying to live a normal life. He could relate to being thrust into a world of war without knowing what they were supposed to do. Then he left the thought fade from his memory for he had more important things coming ahead.

Saphira landed outside Lady Nasuada's tent and Eragon slid off her to the ground. She had grown a few inches since Eragon was at Farthen dur, which made the fall from her even further. As Eragon came closer to the tent the Nighthawks proclaimed "Eragon Shadeslayer would like to gain entrance," Eragon heard a muffled voice say back "let him in." The voice sounded tired and he could tell that she too was having trouble sleeping. As he walked in everyone stared at him. They were sitting around a big circular table with one seat left which was next to Arya. He sat down and slightly smiled at her. She just looked at him with a look of confusion. Then Nasuada spoke up, "Thank you all for coming, I wish to speak of what are next move is going to be in this war." Eragon despised these meetings, he just wanted the war to be over so he could live in peace, but with Galbatorix alive that would never happen.

Again she spoke up saying "the time is ripe for us to attack Belatona, Galbatorix just lost two cities and will be regrouping. Murtagh was injured in his battle and will likely not be in any battle coming up soon. Let us not put this opportunity to waste, we cannot wait for Galbatorix to get stronger for that means more deaths for us"

Eragon was repulsed by the idea of another battle so soon after the last one. Yet he had to agree with Nasuada, what she said was true. He only wished Oromis was still here to guide them. Then he felt a pang of guilt inside him, he forgot that there would be a funeral for Oromis. He felt so because he thought little about his master after he died. No matter what he would not allow himself to miss the funeral of his master, and his friend.

"Lady Nasuada," he said, "I would like to request to leave the Varden for a few days."

"Why is that?" she answered.

" I would like to attend my master Oromis' funeral, it should be held soon, for it is customary for the elves to wait five days so everyone who wants to attend has the chance. Seeing that it has been three days since he died, that means we only have two left and we would have to leave immediately in order to make it there on time."

Nasuada seemed frustrated with how much Eragon managed to get involved with. Finally she agreed to let him go as long as he promised to return back as soon as possible.

Before anyone could say anything else Arya asked "may I go as well? I have the responsibility as an elf to attend, he was as much of my master as he was to Eragon." Hearing this brought joy to Eragon's heart. He would enjoy being alone with just Saphira and Arya.

"Yes you may go, I expected you too. Now go and get ready, the more time you waste here the longer it is we have to wait" she said to both of them.

Eragon stood up and walked out of the tent with Arya right behind him. Saphira was already waiting for Eragon so they could go back to their tent and pack for the trip. Eragon turned to Arya and said "we will be ready in about 2 hours, Saphira and I will meet you at your tent then." He smiled at her again and climbed onto Saphira's back. He did not look back to notice Arya smiling as well.

Saphira landed on the ground with a big thud. Her massive claws left indents on the ground, Eragon slid off and started walking towards his tent.

"You should pack lightly Eragon, that way I will be able to fly faster"

"I will Saphira, you should go hunt now. I can sense your hunger and we wont have time on our trip."

"I will little one, I love you," after that she jumped into the sky and was heading south to the herd of deer.

"I love you too Saphira." Watching her fly away was the most beautiful sight he has ever seen. The light reflected off her scales and made her shine like the most magnificent sapphire in all of Alagaesia. He was in awe that out of all the people, he was the one fortunate enough to be experiencing all of this.

No farmers have ever been able say that they found a dragon egg and had it hatch for them, train with their father and dragon rider, evade the Empire and then get captured at Gil'ead. Then to escape that and rescue an elf, outrun the Empire to the Varden and partake in the first battle between the Empire and dwarves for at least one hundred years, then to kill a shade and become one of four to do so, to travel to the capital of the elves; Ellesmera, to train with another dragon and his rider, be transformed into an elf as a gift from the dragons, lead the Varden in their first battle at the burning plains, help elect a new dwarf king, survive an assassination attempt, see a dwarven God, learn the secret of Galbatorix's strength, help make a riders sword, help kill another shade, and witness the death of their master.

At that moment Eragon realized that he was blessed beyond belief. He was able to get through all of that without dying. He realized why he is doing this. Why he is going through all this trouble to kill Galbatorix. He was wiping away the darkness that had filled this land for so long. No longer should people be afraid of Urgals. No longer shall the dwarves have to hide in the mountains. No longer shall the elves need wards to protect their forest. For when Eragon finished, all of those things would be obsolete. With that thought fresh in his mind he went inside his tent to pack his things.