This is my first inheritance cycle Fanfiction. I kept on reading other people's ones some of which I enjoyed reading others which just wasted my time. The reason being that I enjoyed the cycle and I got pretty annoyed after it ended. Eventually I came to a conclusion that I wanted to make one myself. I'd appreciate constructive criticism but not any nasty comments on how crap my fic is. If you don't like it don't read it. Simple as. Or else tell what to do and how I can make it better.

Anyway… here we go…

Chapter 1

Two hundred years after the incidents in inheritance…

Twenty dragon Riders had come and infiltrated Du Weldenvarden without warning. The elven queen, Arya Dröttning, and her dragon, Firnen, had tried their utmost best to defend the other elves. Although they were powerful they couldn't stand up to the might of twenty or so Riders so they only managed to slay four before the rest of them fled. She and the four other elven Riders did what they could to simply drive them away, but once they realised that these Riders were here only to kill, they decided to extend the same courtesy to them.

Halfway through the battle she had called upon the Riders on the newly established home for the dragons to come and aid them. Eragon had told her that reinforcements would arrive later that week to aid the elves to be rid of the new mysterious Riders and to help them repair the damage that had been done in Du Weldenvarden. Forty dragons along with their bonded beings had been sent by Eragon headed by Blodhgarm on his dragon Sildaghm. Once the remaining 16 rouge Riders saw the thunder of dragons heading towards them they turned around and headed east towards the Spine, burning the forest as they went. Arya had estimated three to four thousand elves slaughtered in the massacre. She had just called upon Eragon to personally come and evaluate the situation. Eragon had replied in the affirmative saying, 'Wiol ono.' For you, and agreed to come with his two current students: Matthias and Maximus, two twins who had been chosen by two orange eggs. He said he would leave after choosing someone to take charge of the remaining dragon Riders at the island Edoc'sil deloi. Unconquerable earth. His response had made her shiver but she rejected the idea that they could possibly be together because of the roles they played in their individual societies. She was a regal queen. The queen of the noblest race in all of Alagaesia. Dröttning of the elves. The fair folk.

But he is the lead Rider and the leader of the most powerful race in Alagaesia. But she pushed her thoughts aside.

The question isn't who you are little one. It is about what you feel about him.

Arya shivered again at being called the same nickname Saphira used for Eragon but tried to push away the thought again.

Fírnen didn't just stop there though. Are you trying to deny that you harbour feelings for him?

'Fírnen, my feelings for him are that of a friend. I told him that at the Agaetí Blödhren and he understood that he shouldn't pursue me any further. So why should I now pursue him?'

Because you love him came Fírnens deep reply into her mind.

No – I – don't. Just because you're a part of my soul that doesn't mean you can make assumptions on my feelings. I don't love him, came Arya's heavy reply. She was beginning to feel angry. But why? What was there to feel angry about?

Yes you do. Being a bonded dragon allows me to see what you dream of while in your elven half sleep. The majority of your dreams show both you and Eragon together outside his tree house, at night stargazing with your head on his chest. I have seen Arya. You deny your own feelings just because you are a queen? Bah! You could ignore them for a time if you wanted to but instead you use it as an excuse to stay away from him even though your heart yearns for him.

By now Arya had a huge lump in her throat and her head was spinning with the information that Fírnen had just provided her with.

Fírnen was about to take off into the smoky sky.

Think about it Arya. You're also restricting me from seeing Saphira.

Then he was gone. Arya couldn't tell whether she was dizzy or the world was spinning at an insane speed around her. She couldn't and couldn't be bothered to even care to try so she decided to fall asleep on the cliff on the rear side of Tialdari hall.

Eragon could now see the Edda River. Saphira had been flying tirelessly across the river. She had finally found a chance to see Fírnen so she had more energy than Eragon could possibly imagine. He had left more or less straight after Arya had given him her message. He had never seen her so scared and vulnerable. He had seen wounds on her face and arms. The first time she contacted him had been for help. The second time was for him to come and survey the damage and who could have caused it. Her eyes had betrayed nothing but he was sure that wasn't the only reason she wanted him to go. The prophecy from Angela had forbidden him from going back to Alagaesia but the witch was probably dead and he couldn't care less about the prophecy.

All I want now is to see Arya again, he thought to himself.

But why? Saphira asked. He could hear the worry in her voice.

Because I love her, he confessed to his partner of heart and mind.

But what if she rejects you like she once did. It will break your heart and that will affect me as bad as yourself. He now understood her fear.

I won't approach her in that manner. He sighed to himself, then continued, she is probably the fairest living being in Alagaesia at the moment. No. I can't let my affection for her interfere with the actual reason she wants me to go.

But little one, what if the actual reason is to be with you, Saphira told him sympathetically.

Saphira, they just went through something harder than when Galbatorix was here in Alagaesia. Why would she send for me just because she wants to be with me? No. It wouldn't make sense.

Maybe it would, Saphira replied.

How?

During the war, Arya Dröttning enjoyed your presence. Right from our first arrival at Du Weldenvarden. She used to take you nearly every day after your training and show you the elven city. Or have you forgotten? She even sometimes asked Oromis to give you a reprieve from your training with the scar you had from Durza. Or have you forgotten that too? Or did you also forget when she ran into the empire to go and find you after you forced me to leave you at helgrind? She has feelings for you Eragon. Don't ever think anything different. She may not show it but I know she has an affection towards you.

But I am a whole century younger than her. She said that the age was an obsta-

Saphira cut him off, Eragon! How could you even think that? You have seen and experienced things that even the most veteran elves haven't. Don't ever let an elf tell you that you're too young to do something.

Thank you Saphira, what would I do without you?

Be dead. We are two centuries away from when you were a hatchling little one. Don't forget that time will never stop.

'Master! I can see the forest edge!' Maximus called out to him.

'Yes. I can see it.'

What do you think Fírnen is doing? Saphira asked.

Probably waiting to bow down before you like the majestic dragon you are. Eragon replied sarcastically.

Yes. He'd better. He felt her rumble beneath him in amusement.

I never actually noticed how much you've grown. You're nearly as tall as Utgard.

Am I?

Yes.

Don't lie to me.

Ok fine you're taller than Utgard.

That's better.

They both began to laugh as they made their way towards the lake Eldor. They were still in the air when they saw the sight he thought he would never see. Most of the forest beyond was on fire. All the way to Ellesméra. Eragon couldn't breathe. The sight was terrifying. Although he had been living with Riders ever since he left Alagaesia, he hadn't thought that they were capable of doing this.

'Master… what happened here?' Matthias asked in a low voice which he only heard because of his acute hearing.

'I- I- don't know.'

'What will we do?'

'We'll go and investigate, like Arya Dröttning asked us to.'

'Will we not help?'

'Yes… if she lets us. She likes to be independent a lot of the time. And that's one of the things that I like about her. Her independence.' And he dazed off.

Saphira cleared her throat to grab his attention and he snapped out of his trance. He noticed Maximus and Matthias look at him in an awkward way and he cursed himself, realising that he had been thinking aloud.

'Well don't just gawp at me! Sunrise! Sunset! Land next to the forest and clarify with Gilderien the wise that we mean no harm. If he attacks you do not engage him in a duel. He will kill you without any second thoughts. If he attacks you, run. OK?

'Yes master,' they both replied in unison, before their dragons took them down to the forest floor.

Whatever happened here was dangerous Eragon. We shouldn't take it lightly.

Yes Saphira I know. I just hope Arya is OK. I don't know what I would do if I found out that something happened to her.

Same with me in Fírnens case.

I'm so desperate to find out.

Master! Gilderien has allowed us to enter Du Weldenvarden. Matthias told him in his mind.

Meet me at Ellesméra. Saphira is faster than you two so we will go on ahead and see you at the city.

Yes Master! They replied at once.

Shall we pick up the pace?

Yes Saphira. To Ellesméra.

One hour later, Saphira was approaching the ruined city of Ellesméra. He told her to head straight towards Tialdari hall because he suspected Arya to be there. All he wanted was to see her safe. However, as they approached Tialdari hall, he saw, on the cliff to the west of the hall, a small lone figure. As he further focused his eyes on the figure he saw Arya, but she wasn't standing. Panic gripped the very core of Eragon's soul. Was she dead?

Saphira.

Yes little one?

Fly towards the cliffs on the west of Tialdari hall. I think I can see Arya.

As you wish…

Saphira then changed her course and flew close to the ground so Eragon could dismount without her having to land. After he was sure that he would land OK, he jumped off of Saphira and began to silently make his way towards Arya's limp body. He saw that she was breathing slowly. He let loose a sigh of relief. He fell to his knees next to her sleeping body. He saw scars and wounds all over her body, mainly on her hands and arms. He immediately started to heal her body as best as he could.

'Waise heill,' he whispered under his breath. He had no intention to wake her up, although he had forgotten the itchy feeling a person received when being healed with magic. Arya began to stir in her sleep and slowly opened her eyes. Just as he finished healing her did he realise how beautiful the elf in front of him was. However, he couldn't look at her beauty now. The elven queen had just woken up from her sleep.

Arya dreamed about Eragon in her sleep until she began to feel an itchy sensation crawl across her body. She opened her eyes slowly and saw Eragon sitting there, in front of her. Just as she opened them, she closed them again. She had dreamed about waking up to see Eragon so many times. This one would be no different. Or so she thought until he heard him stand up. Her eyes shot open and widened as Eragon began to bow with his hand twisted. He then brought his two fingers up to his lips to initiate the traditional elven greeting.

'Atra ester-'he began but didn't get a chance to finish.

Aaaand that is the end of the first chapter. More than two thousand words. Damn that was long. So the next chapter will be of Eragon meeting Arya face to face for the first time. Please leave a review. Like I mentioned before, constructive criticism will be appreciated, not bulljack comments to annoy me.

Anyway, thank you for taking the time to read my fanfiction. Some of the chapters will be longer than others but if nobody wants to tell me what I may be doing wrong then I will assume it is perfect and keep writing the way I am.