Alagaesia wasn't the place it used to be. The people had become divided between those who supported the Empire and those who supported the Varden. Balance between the two powers continuously swayed like the wind, and those caught in the middle were like flimsy blades of grass.

Great battles and weeklong standoffs had been reduced to small brawls between citizens; both sides had wordlessly come to an agreement that if there would be a war, only the final battle would end it. And so Alagaesia was left a sad quiet land. Tension had spread across the entire country in anticipation of the final battle, waiting for the winner and the future of their land.

The corrupted King would see his end, and with it, the oaths sworn to him. Eragon had promised so. A promise was never spoken lightly from a Rider, Alagaesia had hope. And Eragon had Kai, his own hope.

-

"I doubt your assistance is considered much help." A light voice commented from up a wide thick tree. It was spring, pollen and warmth filled the air as birds continuously sang through the longer days. The year's first flowers were sprouting and new children could be heard howling in the distance. Most towns in Alagaesia existed in quiet, but there were some parts of the country where the silence could not reach. There still lived towns where smiles were worn and people still tried to maintain their usual life. There still existed a place where hope was warmly embraced and the grass was stubbornly sturdy.

I don't see you trying to help. A deep strained voice challenged the light one in the tree. The deep voiced individual paused in his efforts to glare with large silver eyes at the lounging young woman. There were places where life continued and where hope fueled a struggle for normalcy. Some people still lived as they had always had; they simply left their fate to the gods.

"What? You want me to slash my sword at them?" She asked raising an eyebrow in the general direction of the voice in her head. "Besides, it's better to watch you scare off the herd than to trouble myself with something like sheep." She laughed as the soft dragon-chuckle echoed in her head. This young woman had found possibly the last remaining place in Alagaesia that refused to let the war depress them. And though she was the definite opposite of normal, she had found comfort with the people.

Yes, they do rather scare easily. The humble male voice agreed. He had been the one to follow her to this last paradise, for they were eternally bound to the very end. An oath had been spoken between the two, and nothing but death would break it.

She slid out of the tree and surveyed the scene as she pushed her light hair out of her face while the slight wind found it necessary to place it back into her eyes. She and Suoh were staying in a small village far away from the chaotic atmosphere caused by the rivaling powers. All the young men of the village had left two months ago to join the Varden, leaving the village smaller then it had ever been. The people were nice and smiled her way. The change in scenery was very much appreciated.

The children of the village enjoyed hanging off of the giant white dragon and twirling around her legs, her and Suoh's daily routine. The town managed as parents and the elderly took care of livestock and fields that kept the village happy, fed and able to smile kindly to their guests. Their fields and animals were the small village's main source of income. To show their loyalty and support, the village only sold to the Varden. Though in truth they only wanted to feed their young boys that had run off to become heroes.

On the warm sunny day a thick fluffy cloud covered the sun as Kai looked out into the cows' large grazing fields, the source of Suoh's relentless requests of assistance were clearly evident as a small herd of sheep wildly stampeded about the cow territory. A few dogs, most of the village children, the herds' owners along with Suoh were unsuccessfully rounding up the sheep and trying to get them back into their own small field.

As it was, the sheep were terribly afraid of Suoh and the children weren't helping as they giggled with glee when the sheep scampered off away from the white beast. Kai stood shielding her eyes from the glaring sun. She was mildly amazed to see none of the fluffy sheep had collapsed in dead faints at the sight of Suoh barreling down the slopping hills chasing them. The sight was quite comical. The dragon's usual grace and sauntering appearance had disappeared in his suppressed frustration with the livestock. Kai easily buried what little pity she took on the dragon under her quiet giggles and airy laughs.

The sheep dogs were mildly frightened by any sudden movements the dragon made, and they found it difficult to pay attention to their master's orders when that beast could simply swallow them at any second. Their yelps of surprise carried up the green hill Kai stood upon where the large tree shaded her from the heat. The dogs' suspicious eyes flashed brightly and their ears flatten, they stubbornly refused to even step near Suoh. Thus, the animals were useless in the chase as much as Suoh himself.

Then there were the handful of gurgling and giggling small children racing up and down the smooth slopes. They only succeeded in running underfoot and scarring the sheep more as Suoh tripped and stumbled about trying very hard not to trample on any of them. The children were most interested in having fun than helping the sheep herder.

In the few months away together, Suoh had grown longer and taller. He was thin and long with huge eagle shaped wings and wise silver eyes. His ears had grown long and protruding resembling an elf's. To Kai he looked like a huge scaled cat. He had not been pleased when she told him so.

At night and when he was feeling lazy he would curl up like an oversized kitten, he would yawn like a cat and stretch like a cat. No matter how many times Kai told him he was unusually feline-esque he would snort (sending light grey smoke everywhere) and say she looked and acted like a dwarf, in indignation. Suoh was too proud of a dragon to accept the fact he very much resembled a large reptilian kitty.

Kai sighed watching the children start to chase the sheep trying to scare them like Suoh. The hum of cicadas filled the warm air that caressed her cheek as she gazed out wondering if she should interfere. The scene was enough to push anyone into laughter, but she had had enough of that already, pity was starting to overrule her amusement, and of course the fact that the sheep herding escapade had carried on long enough. Such was evident as the owner of the sheep stood atop another hill aguishly holding the top of his head and frowning at the scene, his poor sheep.

She would have to interfere after all.

Kai put her thump and pointer finger in her mouth and whistled shrilly. All the children, dragon, and sheep alike looked to her with a quick whip of heads and muzzles. She let off the quick shrill of noise and cupped her hands around her amused mouth.

"Come on children! Shall we play a game in town?" She yelled across the open grass field. Suoh, you're really not helping. She communicated to the beast with mirth. She heard him chuckle and smiled as the ten or so kids ran toward her on the grass hill near the one lush cherry tree. Suoh slinked along behind them figuring Kai was right. The sheep were getting boring anyway, the children had deemed; Kai should have something entertaining to do. The children rushed up and down the small slopes between Kai and themselves with new glee. They couldn't wait for what she had planned.

Standing with his daughter and two dogs, the owner of the sheep waved his hat to her in his thanks and she waved back, such a normal gesture. Finally he could start to round up the sheep properly. Kai and Suoh really liked this new town; it was small enough so that everyone knew each other and helped without a word to ask for it. The whole village didn't even look like it belonged in Alagaesia with the empire and wars surrounding it. It was somehow separate from the pain around them.

Before the children even made it to her hill a faint bell rang in the small village and the children stopped, pouted in her direction, and then slowly shuffled back into town. Kai silently celebrated to herself and Suoh, she had not an idea of what she would have done with ten kids anyway. Their loss had saved her the misery of entertaining demanding children. The bell in town was struck to round up the children in the village for meals and rang repeatedly for emergencies. The mellow slow chung of the bell suggested it was time to eat. No troubles today and just like every other day in ­­­­­Talamh of Alagaesia.

Kai shrugged to the parade of children apologetically then walked down the hill to join Suoh into town. A family in town had happily taken Kai in to stay in one of their rooms. They were a nice old couple who's only had a son had went off to fight for the Varden like all the other young men in the village. She stayed in his abandoned room. Tiny wood works littered the small book shelves and hand-me-down blankets covered the modest bed.

"Did you eat?" She asked up to Suoh, she was only as tall as up to his knee, and his back arched up to the roof of the houses. And despite his size he easily managed to avoid destroying any of the homes they maneuvered around. He was large in size, but as amble as a cat.

Yes. I caught a large beast in the forest. It had been quite the hunt and rather tasty. He told her weaving through the houses, he was tall but thin, very maneuverable and extremely strong, Kai was proud of him. He'd improved so much since last did battle together. She was extremely proud actually. He hummed his pleasure to her thoughts.

They had practiced flying maneuvers as often as they could, and now Kai didn't have much of a problem with flying anymore. Her stomach had gotten used to sharp altitude changes and toughened up. Kai still wasn't a fan of flying even after all the time she spent with Suoh among the clouds, but she could stand the uncomfortable experience for him.

"Oh, dear there you are." An older woman chastised Kai as she rounded a corner ahead of Suoh. It was the mother of the house she stayed in. "A young man from the Varden is here for you; he has a letter and is to give it to you personally." She sounded excited; the village didn't get much excitement. The villagers still weren't over the fact that Suoh was a dragon, and he was staying with them. In fact, the woman stood frozen captivated by Suoh's massive presence as Kai waited to join her back to her home.

The sky was turning orange and pink as Kai traveled toward the stone house. The woman led Kai through the kitchen door as Suoh peaked in the window. At the large kitchen table was a soldier who looked to have been waiting for a long time. He stood from his chair with her entrance and slapped his booted feet together staring ahead as she approached. He was much taller then her as she stood in front of him.

"Speak." She said slowly, wondering why she had to tell him to. He was treating her like she was a senior officer of his troop. Last she knew, she hadn't joined any army. She sighed; perhaps entwining her fate with the Varden had been a sign up in disguise.

"Lady Nasuada sends greetings and would like to inform that you are needed. More is explained in her letter." He stated evenly and produced a letter holding it out to her. Kai caught him starring at her as she took the letter, she glared at the soldier. She didn't appreciate his curious stares, nor his obvious embarrassment at being caught and flushing across his cheeks.

"Thanks." She said vaguely and turned to the woman of the house; she looked sad but kept a smile on her round face. Kai was happy to see her take the news well; she would hate to leave after the woman had become so fond of her and Suoh. "It appears I will be leaving sooner than expected."

"I'll pack some food for your journey, dear." She said smiling warmly and bustling off into the store room with her skirts in one hand to prepare the preserved food.

"Thank you. You've been very kind." Kai said in the absence of the woman. Without a second glance at the soldier Kai went to the stairs with the idea to pack as she told Suoh they were leaving as soon as possible.

Talamh: Irish for land.