Panting Eragon struggled to catch his breath as he leaned against the table set in Nasuada's chambers. Both Arya and the Varden leader watched Eragon as he panted, Saphira shoving her head through the tent flap opening; the cries of the grieving could still be heard, but the Funeral Pyre's had long since burnt out.

"It was a b-b-black dragon." Eragon paused for breath and exhaled thumping a hand hard against his armor. Arya raised an eyebrow and looked past Eragon to Saphira who tilted her head to one side.

"You're positive it was a black dragon? Could Galbatorix be here?" Nasuada paced the length of the tent muttering under her breath. Arya remained silent.

"I don't think it was Galbatorix my liege," Eragon eased himself down into an unoccupied chair and shook his head. The terror inspired by the sight of the black dragon was slowly fading, giving way to clear thinking. "The dragon…it was far too small to be Shurikan, it was only slightly bigger than Saphira really…" Pausing Eragon glanced at Arya who watched him through masked eyes. "This Rider also…I don't know…there was something familiar about them." Eragon shook his head and thought back to the instant in which he first laid eyes upon the black dragon, and the rider that rode on its back. Neither had moved to attack him or Saphira, they just hovered there and watched, until Saphira managed to get a grip on herself and dived back down under the clouds.

For the first time since they arrived back, Arya spoke. "Did this Rider carry a weapon?" Eragon was startled out of his thoughts as he stared at the elf, mind racing back to the encounter. Unable to bring the picture of the actual rider back in his head, he looked to Saphira for help who dipped her head down lower.

The sword the Rider carried, I did not get a get a good look at it, but on the hilt of the weapon was a ruby the size of an egg. Arya merely nodded as she took in the information and gazed off into nothingness her lips thinning into a disapproving line.

"Do you know who this new Rider is Arya?" Nasuada eyed the elf warily who stared at the ground for a moment before focusing her forest green gaze on the dark skinned woman. There was a moment's hesitation and Eragon glimpsed uncertainty in Arya's normally emotionless face. Finally she shook her head, but at Nasuada's insist prodding, she reluctantly began to speak.

"My people…it is whispered among them that nearly a century ago, during the Riders Fall there was an elf who became a shade…" Arya paused a moment, the lines of her eyebrows forming down into a V as she frowned. "The tales often vary, and the Queen made it near impossible to discuss the tale without causing great affront…" Arya paused and gave Eragon a weak smile. "You know as well as I do Eragon how well we elves follow to our rights in order to avoid front." Eragon grimly nodded his thoughts beginning to race with the slight information Arya had given him.

Saphira, did you know that elves can become Shades? Eragon glanced at Saphira who arched her neck and snorted a puff of smoke escaping from her nostrils. He could sense her mixed emotions as she considered the possibility, and not answering Eragon she rolled one of her eyes to focus on Arya who watched them intently.

What was the elves name, and how did they become a Shade? Saphira's question caused Arya to shift nervously and stare at the ground. After a few tense moments the elf began to speak again.

"I do not know the name of the Shade…but the tale is that the elf was not a pureblooded elf…and was shunned from our people by the Queen. I was very young when this was happening, the memories of elves are long, but mine are muddled on this matter." Arya squared her shoulders and her green gaze rose latching onto Eragons. "Elves can become Shades like any other creature tempted by the darkness of evil, but it is rare for an elf to forsake their race and embrace that evil."

"Do we have any reason to fear this…this elf?" Nasuada carefully sat upon her chair adjusting the folds of her mourning skirt.

Again Arya hesitated and Eragon could nearly see the frustration that was pouring off her shoulders. "No…the rumors are unclear, but it is said that the elf does not attack those who did not harm it." Nasuada sighed in apparent relief and visibly relaxed using one toffee colored hand to swipe at the sweat that dripped off her face.

Eragon carefully watched Arya and had to resist the urge to peek into the elf's thoughts and find out what else Arya wasn't saying.

We are missing the point of the situation Eragon. The young rider flinched when Saphira spoke and turned to gaze at his friend. The dragons sapphire scales glittered as she slithered farther into the tent. We are not thinking about the dragon…

Of course! Eragon turned back to Arya and shoved himself out of his chair. "Where did the black dragon come from then?" Arya stared at Eragon in clear surprise, her mouth opening then closing before finally she turned her helpless gaze to Nasuada who seemed equally stunned. "You elves always talk about the fall of the Riders, and how Galbatorix has the last three dragon eggs…Saphira hatched as did Thorn, now from what we know, the eggs were blue, red, and green. How does this rider have a black dragon when the only black dragon alive is Shurikan?" Eragon waited and watched the elf who appeared to have no answer, she gestured helplessly and Nasuada seemed to choke.

Maybe there are other dragons that have yet to be killed? Saphira again spoke up and her tongue flicked out of her mouth before disappearing between her serrated fangs. Eragon could sense the bubbling excitement and hope that filled the blue dragon at the possibility of another dragon, one who was not too old for her and who was not controlled by darkness.

Arya shook her head in mute denial and gripped the hilt of her sword so tightly Eragon feared it would snap off. "Is it possible Arya?" Nasuada said slowly rising from her seat. "Maybe this dragon is not evil at all, it could be an ally!"

"NO!" Arya shouted and Eragon immediately stepped back, hand instinctively dropping to the hilt of his borrowed sword. "The Queen told us they were all gone, that rider is a shade, an abomination!" The elf began to pace and gesture wildly. "She would have told us…she wouldn't allow…" Quite suddenly Arya stopped her pacing and her anger was gone as quickly as it came. Dropping to the ground Arya sat, her long legs crossing and she put her head in her hands. "So many strange thoughts…what's happening to me?" The desperation in her voice filled Eragon with pity and he stepped towards the elf but stopped at her raised hand. "My queen told us that all the Dragons are dead, this does not make any sense, I don't understand what is happening in our world today, I feel thin, my mind seems about to break in half. I need time to think about this." Arya slowly gained her feet, and raises her chin imperiously, her slender frame was rigid. "Pardon me Nasuada." With the slightest of bows the elf stalked away, slipping past Saphira who turned slightly to watch her go.

Eragon watched after Arya his mind reeling with her abrupt emotional changes before he glanced at Nasuada who was slouching in her chair. The Varden leader looked at Eragon with confused eyes before she gestured him away. Stuttering the rider took a step back before he turned and slipped out of the tent, glancing back once to see Nasuada put her face in her hands and rub her temples.

What is going on here Saphira? Saphira's answer was only a low rumbling hum.

With barely a sound the ebony dragon touched down on the spearing sandstone rock and carefully folded his velvety wings. With the grace of the elves his rider slipped off his back and down his leg, their long black cloak rustling in the gentle blowing wind. A sigh escaped the rider and they rubbed the pommel of their sword, their fingers lingering on the giant inset ruby. Both Dragon and rider looked to the east, back towards the camp of the Varden, and the new rider Eragon Shadeslayer and his own sapphire dragon, Saphira.

What do you wish to do Jade? The black dragon's voice rumbled as he slipped off the rock and curled up on the hard packed earth, netting the ground with his claws to crumble it into soft dirt. His rider made no answer, but carefully sat on the sandstone, still rubbing the sword.

"Was your flight successful?" Both rider and dragon jerked at the sound of the musical voice and turned to watch one of their many companions walk towards them. The new elf smiled easily, her white tail moving back and forth in an easy motion as she walked. A fur bracelet covered her right wrist and even more thick white wolf fur covered her legs to just below the knee. Her easy going smile displayed sharp canines that seemed to nearly glisten in the waning light.

"Our flight wasn't as successful as I would have liked, no Kaerian, but we did see this new rider, and the Varden's camp. The elven spell casters should arrive soon, we can make our move then." The animal like elf nodded and gently patted the black dragon on his shoulder, as she too looked in the direction of the Varden.

"Are you ready to see her again, Jade?" The one named Jade didn't answer, but instead slipped off the rock to land lightly on the hard ground. Barely the rider shook her head no, and walked past Kaerian, heading towards her tent to finalize her plans. Pausing, she turned her head to look back at the wolf elf who watched her no longer smiling.

"The queen of the elves will pay for all the pain she has caused me, and Arya will know the truth."