Eragon slipped into the small village disguised as a traveller, his usual fine elven clothing was replaced with the rough garb of a farm boy, and he smiled at the irony.

Little one, I will wait in the forest, come quickly.

Saphira landed nearby as Eragon slipped between two guards with a flash of gold. Keeping his head down he wove his way between the houses towards the central square, illuminated by the friendly glow of a community campfire which threw his smooth features into sharp relief highlighting the slightly elven appearance with his pointed ears hidden behind his dark hair and slanted brown eyes, these made him more beautiful than any human man but more rugged than any elf.

Eragon took a seat by the flicking light and nodded his thanks to a serving maid. He carefully watched the townsmen and women gather around the light and their faces as they relaxed in the happy atmosphere. This scouting trip had taken him far and wide, searching for men to help the Varden as spies in the Empire or warriors on the battlefield. He marked the small town on a mental map as a potential pace a sought for a place to say.

'Excuse me, is there an inn somewhere?' he asked an old woman sitting in the shadows a bit back from the fire.

'Yes, just around the other side of the square.' She nodded in the general direction and took a long pull at her drink. He shrugged and moved on. With inhumane grace and speed he negotiated the busy square and opened the heavy wooden door.

'Eh, what'd yous want?' a drunken man almost fell off the stool as he tried to stand and confront Eragon.

The rest of the room laughed as a young man picked him up and propped him up in a booth. 'Sorry about him, bad drunk but usually a good man when he's sober.' He wiped his hands on his grubby apron.

'Sorry, m'names Jon, I help run this places, it's my dad's.' Eragon took his hand and shook it but released it when he heard a sharp crack,

'Sorry about that, I am more used to dealing with a plough than hands.' He apologised, the young man smiled and walked over to the bar massaging his hand before picking up a dirty washcloth.

'So, how can I help you?' Jon asked as he wiped down the bench top in a long circular pattern.

'I was hoping you had a room I could rent?' he glanced down at the bar boys repetitive actions.

'Sorry mate, we're full at the moment. The traders have just come through.' The boy smiled apologetically. Eragon shrugged.

'Oh well, I was just hoping I wouldn't have to camp out again, but thanks anyway.' He nodded to the bar boy, sent an amused glance at the town drunk before leaving the warm stuffy room. Eragon reached out with his mind.

Saphira, there's no room here so I'll need you to come get me, I'll camp out with you tonight. He felt her pleasure at this through their bond and sped up his pace and headed out deep into the forest.

He settled down leaning in his familiar position against Saphira's softer underbelly, the glow from the still hot embers warming his bare feet. He wriggled his toes and sighed.

I agree it is nice here.

Their mutual understanding of the relaxing calm that being alone together was pleasant and the warm weather of the summer made for a perfect evening. Both dragon and rider watched amused at a firefly that whizzed around their heads before getting bored and flying away. Nibbling the last bit of meat from the rabbit he had caught for dinner Eragon curled up contentedly against her side and was enveloped in a plain of blue when Saphira covered him with her wing, making a warm and comfortable living tent. Eragon fell asleep pondering what he would do tomorrow and soon rolled over, comfortable and happy.

The next morning he woke with the birds and tapped Saphiras massive foreleg. She opened her wing and blinked sleepily at him with one blue eye.

Good morning little one, she then yawned like a cat, showing off her rows of razor sharp white teeth. He chuckled and stretched, indulging in a yawn himself. Methodically he packed up camp and cleared the sight, making sure that the land bore no signs that anyone had passed through.

'I should go into town today, I will pick up provisions and hopefully some gossip on the movements of the Empire. I might discover something good!' Saphira nodded.

I shall see if I could find somewhere a little bit more appropriate for a dragon if you wish to stay any longer than today and tonight.

Eragon nodded and hugged her wide neck, his arms just meeting on the other side, he laughed at the feeling. 'If you keep growing at that rate I will soon not be able to do that.'

Saphira snorted and a puff of smoke escaped her nose. I shall keep growing, even if I am as big as a mountain I will keep growing.

'And when you are that big, stopping Galbatorix will be as easy as squashing a fly!' he was amused at the though of a giant Saphira squishing the evil rider-king of the Empire with one huge foot. 'But for now we must be content with helping the people of the Empire who wish to fight join the Varden.'

The smile faded from his face, enrolling people into this rebellion was a difficult task, the point to which betrayers would conceal themselves was high and Eragon could not dare reveal himself as a rider for risk of his life.

With a final stroke Rider and Dragon separated, each heading their own way for the day. Reluctantly Eragon closed their mental link and took himself to his liar's place, a place he kept inside of his head that he could slip in and out of, keeping his real identity a secret and stay that way even under interrogation.

The mask he wore today was that of Kerren, a traveller who was sympathetic for the Varden cause, though not a member himself, born in a tiny desert settling. Eragon had fabricated the guise to appear to be an unremarkable man of few talents other than those required to live as he needed, and having metal access to the most remarkable mind of a dragon was not something Traveller Kerren would have.

Ambling back into town he past the village then doubled back, coming at it from the same direction as the day before. He walked down the main road, filled with young children, chasing chickens and playing with wooden swords, men and women walking to the market held in the town square, he followed the crowds, the rough woollen coat blending in with the clothing of the villagers. The market place was rowdy and disordered. Bright colours of cloth, flashes of sun reflecting of jewellery and the shouts of men, hawking their goods made for a noisy but happy environment that was uncommon in the bleak Empire. Eragon grinned and made his way to a small woman who was selling hot cherry pies, a favourite from his childhood. Buying one he made small talk.

'Well, I haven't seen a scene like this in years!' he grinned and watched the loud parade of human life.

'We try, with the Empire the way it is, its nice to have a little fun every now and again, and let our hair down.' She smiled and served another customer.

He set off again, making friends with the young men and charming the young ladies, making them blush and giggle. By noon he had learned little but that the Empire had increased the bounty on his head and was still searching for Roran. Thorn and Murtagh were sent out on patrol but only whispers of a new dragon rider had reached the little town, safe from the tumult of the rest of the Empire by the almost unpassable moat of the spine, only two caravans of Traders came through each year and they were well worn people. The men wore daggers and swords with familiarity and the woman were hard, some also trained with weapons. He continued into the boisterous celebration and past a small wagon laden with gypsy wares, a young girl stood nearby, her head held high and a long sword hung from one hip over her red skirt. Eragon approached the colourful wagon knowing gypsies were traders that no one trusted, often thieves and mercenaries. Before Eragon reached the girl a youth from the village ran past and lobbed a tomato at the caravan, the girl ducked it lazily.,

'Demon child!' the youth shouted before running into the crowd and disappearing. She scowled at his back and turned to Eragon.

She fixed him with a stare that made him shiver for even he, one who had seen things some would never dream of was transfixed by the unnatural colour of her eyes, like the witch-child Elva her irises were a colour none should be. This child's were black as pitch, no difference between the colour of her eyes and the centre. He swallowed, Many villages practiced strange religions and occasionally a child born defected or abnormal was abandoned as a demon-child, one who was believed to be a host of a demon sent by evil spirits to ravish the land, the youth had called the girl a demon and Eragon warranted a guess that that was had happened to her. Abandoned from birth by something out of her control, such as her eye colour, taken in by a passing gypsy troupe and raised by them.

'I was just look-' the excuse fell silent when for the first time he glanced at the wares on sale, at the back in a shadow lay a large mottled black stone, polished smooth and oval in shape. Eyes wide he glanced at the gypsy girl and swallowed his throat dry.

'Where did you get that?'

--

A/N

ok, i know i haven't done anything on this is ages but stay with me-- Jax () has helped me with the storyline,

and now i actually have one i might start actually writing this story in conjunction with my other one! i've redone some of it (the gypsy girl mostly) please any feedback is really

really needed, i would love it if you just let me know if you read it, and if its any good!

xxx

Bella

P.S read my other story, Twilight

This is How The Story Ends, by Bellarina girl and Jax Creation