Sorry for the slight inconsistency in the prologue about Aria's history with the books. I wrote the prologue before I wrote the summary. Sorry if this is a bit short. This is the first time I'm writing a fanfiction with a plot. Let me know if the next one should be longer.
Eragon paces inside Nasuada's tent. Saphira sits outside sleeping, though her consciousness touches his from time to time, giving him a glimpse into her dreams. "Eragon we have to decide." Eragon turns to face his sire, who sits back in her chair, her shoulders slumped. "Well we certainly don't have the means to keep them prisoners, but don't you think it's strange how they all just passed out? The girl is a part of this, I just don't know how." Nasuada rubs her hand over her dark face and massages her forehead. "That much is obvious. But we can't keep camp here much longer, if they don't wake soon we'll have to kill them. I'm sorry Eragon, but we can't risk them attacking from the rear." His thoughts race, knowing Nasuada makes sense. Not that he wanted to admit it. "I need some air." Without another word he quickly leaves the tent. Nasuada watches him with a compassionate gaze.
As the cool evening air hits Eragon's face his mood lifts a bit. He nods to Nasuada's twelve guards and makes his way to where Murtagh and the strange girl were being kept. Where did she come from? And how is she connected to Murtagh? Eragon tries to piece the puzzle together, but can't seem to make sense of it all.
He walks past the tents and crosses the wide open space between the official camp and strides up to where the large dragon Thorn continues to sleep. He's still in the crater he made when he fell from the sky. No one could move him except for maybe Saphira, but they decided to just leave him. A tent sits off to the side of the crater and torches keep the darkness away, illuminating the three dozen guards that were tasked with watching over the three sleeping prisoners. As he approaches Eragon senses Blodhgarm inside the tent.
He acknowledges the guards before parting the cloth covering and sees the blue furred elf by the girl, who lies in a cot. Identical to the one that hold Murtagh several feet away. "Any changes?" Eragon asks the elf, who stands from his crouch and turns to face Eragon. His eyes glow slightly in the dimly lit room, neither of them needing much light to see. "I cannot see into either of their minds. We also haven't been able to get close to Thorn, there are countless wards protecting him." Eragon nods and looks between the two prisoners, one a stranger. The other an old friend, who turned out to be his brother. With a respectful bow Blodhgarm exits the tent, leaving Eragon alone.
Eragon looks to the girl, who's short wavy hair fans out from her small tan face. Her small figure barely fills the cot and Eragon wonders if she's even as old as him. As he examines her face, he realizes she's pretty. In a petite, childlike way. Her brow furrows and a moment later Eragon hears her moan. He walks over to her side and watches as her eyes flutter open. "Water" She croaks out and her arms shift slowly, as if it's hard to move. Eragon quickly grabs the water skin from his belt and offers it to the girl. "Here, drink." She sits up slowly and moans. In the barely lit tent she stares at the water skin and looks up at Eragon, confusion clear in her eyes. Eragon uncaps it and places it to her lips. She shifts back a bit when he gets close and watches him with a suspicious gaze. He offers her the skin and this time she takes it and hesitantly lifts it to her lips and takes a long drink. As she drinks he notices her hands are calloused, from what he couldn't tell.
She passes the skin back to Eragon and squints her eyes, trying to see in the dark tent. Eragon notices this and in a whisper summons a light. The tent is suddenly illuminated by a small orb of light that floats at the middle of the tent. The girl starts a bit at the sudden appearance of light and watches it, captivated by the floating orb. While she watches it Eragon reaches out and tries to touch her mind. He's surprised to find a seamless wall shielding her thoughts. He tries to pierce it and watches her for any reaction to his probing. The girl doesn't react to his attacks and Eragon retreats back to his own thoughts. "Are you going to keep staring at me?" Eragon starts when the girl breaks the silence. She turns to face him and pins him with a hard look. One he's surprised someone who looked so innocent and fragile could make. "Sorry, it's just you look strange." Her eyes flick up to his slightly pointed ears before meeting his gaze, a small smile on her lips. "I could say the same about you." Eragon laughs, and shakes his head. "True." The girl swings her legs over the edge of the cot and Eragon notices her strange blue pants that are torn at the knees. She tugs at the bottom of her shirt that is very form fitting and also exposes part of her belly. "Is this the part where you ask me who I am and where I'm from?" Eragon crosses his arms over his chest, remembering that this girl may be an enemy and fights the blush that rises to his cheeks. Afraid she might have caught him staring. He tries to give her a stern look and clears his throat. "Well you did just appear out of nowhere, and are wearing unusual clothing." The girl sighs and runs her hands through her shoulder length hair, causing it to appear even messier. "I'm guessing I'm no longer in Brooklyn?" "Is that your hometown?" Eragon asks. The girl laughs a hollow laugh and shakes her head. "I guess that answers that question." She stands up and sways a bit, dizzy from standing too fast. "Before I go and spill my guts, am I right in assuming you're Eragon Shadeslayer?" He raise his eyebrows in question. "So you've heard of me? That doesn't explain who you are, or how you appeared, or your connection to Galbatorix."
The girl's head snaps up at the mention of the dark king's name. Her brow furrows and she frowns. "What makes you think I'm associated with him?" Eragon shifts in his stance. "Well you appeared in the middle of a battle between me and Murtagh. Plus I can't reach your mind and when you passed out so did Murtagh and his dragon Thorn." The girl's eyes widen and for the first time her eyes roam the tent and land on Murtagh's sleeping form. Her eyes grow wider and are filled with disbelief. "Is that him? Murtagh?" Eragon sees the uncertainty in her face and realizes that she might not be an agent of Galbatorix. He nods, "Yeah, so are you going to tell me your name?" The girl turns and her eyes roam over Eragon's face, as if memorizing it. "It's Aria Peterson. So am I a prisoner?" When she asks she looks him straight in the eye. "Lady Nasuada will want to speak with you, but for now you can't leave this tent. I will have someone bring you food." Eragon walks to the tent door and turns to spare her another glance and sees her watching Murtagh with a guarded look. His mind is confused and as he leaves the tent he reaches out to Saphira, who stirs. "Are you alright little one?" She asks Eragon through their mind link. "Yeah, I just don't know what to make of this new development." Saphira sends him comforting thoughts, which wrap around him like an embrace as he heads towards Nasuada's tent.
