A week later, the rider's journey to Mor'ranr was coming to an end, reaching its borders just before sunset.

After conversing with Saphira, Eragon decided that they should land before the final stretch of Du Weldenvarden, Signaling the others to follow, the group landed and dismounted after a hard their long journey and walked towards his comrads.

"We will camp here for the night…" Eragon began, and seeing the anticipation for the others to see old friends, if they were indeed still around, he hurried to continue "Im not doubting you or your dragons endurance, and I know they wont admit they are tired…" he grinned, followed by all dragons letting out a snort of flame, "but we also have a long distance to fly, some farther than others, so get we will rest, and again we will leave at first light."

With that Eragon turned to Saphira to unsaddle her, a look indifference and saying "that was merely my warm up, I could fly us back to Aiedail without breaking a sweat"

"Of that I have no doubt my dear one, but unfortunately, my stamina is not so good, we've barely slept in the last three days, and frankly I'm surprised you aren't already asleep"

With another snort she countered, "you're losing your endurance old man."

However thirty minutes later, just as Eragon had finished pitching his tent and beginning a fire, he heard something almost resembling a recurring growl, as he looked over, he found out it was Saphira, already asleep and snoring!

"Losing my endurance indeed" he thought to himself as he made for sleep himself.

Again rising early, they began their flights to Ellsmera and Surda,they, after mentally going over their missions one last Riders named each group Reona's, meaning 'reaper's' consisting of four dragons, and their riders, a tad gruesome, but riders weren't poets, they were warriors and peace keepers, and each reona was to contact and assist each race, and the others to scout Surda.

Eragons first stop though, was the elven city Ellesmera, the place where he had learned the magic he needed to defeat Galbatorix, the dragons who changed him into what he was now at the Agaetí Blödhren, and the woman he still was in love with to this day.

The flight there was flown in silence by all, not until drawing nearer to the borders did Eragon speak a tad nervously, 'Are you ready to see them again Saphira?'

There was a moment of of hesitation that did not go unnoticed, "Of course I am Eragon,why wouldn't I be?" he waited for her to finish after a pause, "but it has been a very, very long time, will our feelings be mutual?"

Eragon hated to admit it, but she had a point, Arya may have changed to the point of not knowing him anymore, He held on to his hope, but also prepared himself to be turned away. "We shall see Saphira, we shall see"

There was a commotion and panic around the city as 4 gigantic, beautiful dragons descended into the only clearing big enough for them all to fit. As elves got over their panic and started filing out of their homes and halls, Eragon mental sent his command to his riders.

"Riders dismount!'

The elves kept their distance, as they should have, until they parted as the queen herself appeared with a look of complete utter disbelief and surprise, which she quickly hid behind a blank mask. "Welcome Shur'tugalar, and of course Lead Rider Eragon King killer, I must say we are surprised to see all of you so soon, especially yourself… Eragon." She finished with a look he couldn't decipher.

Saphira snorted and sarcastically adding "o no don't bother saying hello to me at all Arya Dröttning, Ill just sit back over here out of the way"

Of course in no way could Saphira ever go unnoticed, Arya let a slight smile through, "Ah my Apologizes Great One, of course it is good to see you as well." With Fírnen landing immediately beside her and facing the united dragons, scattering the elves out of the way and earning the green dragon glares. "And I do say Firnen agrees."

Firnen didn't speak a word, but let out a tremendous roar, which was drowned out by his Riders dragon and Saphira responding in kind. As Firnen stared at Saphira, Eragon assumed they were speaking amongst themselves, or saving words until the others dispersed.

Eragon's grin turned into serious amusement as he noticed the elves continued stares. "Ah yes, well with the news of the unknown enemy rampaging around the country sides, and already taking Surda, we decided not to lose anytime, and came immediately."

"As I can see, let us not tally here then, I'm sure you all are tired and hungry from your journey.." she was interrupted by the land slide sound of the Dragons stomachs rumbling, though I'm sure his companions were mixed in amongst them as well. She continued " please let us show you where you will be staying, and we will follow with a banquet in the hall, Saphira, we have a vast amount of sheep in the valley a mile from here, you and the dragons are welcome fly there if you wish to feast."

Saphira mentally commented with a "I hate sheep, their wool gets stuck in my teeth every time and.." continued to rant before taking off, making a few elves take a step back from misunderstood grumbling, "Thank you Drottning, we shall go immediately" with that she shot into the air followed by the other dragons.

Several hours later, after finishing unpacking gear at their dwelling, the Riders made their way to the feast. The tables were covered with foods of every kind, even surprisingly, meat, in respect of the two human riders that were with him, which pleased him.

Eragon reached out his mind to find Arya's, a surprised look flashed by her face before recognizing him and letting him in,

"Arya, I would be pleased if you would meet me at my quarters after you are done with your duties here, have much to discuss"

"Very well Rider" – she responded slowly, seemingly thinking about her answer.

Not an hour later after excusing themselves, there was a knock on Eragons door. "Come in" he answered, breath increasing for reasons that made no sense yet, and she appeared in the doorway, In simple clothes, her whole queen persona gone, and no crown on her head. She stood there for several minutes that seemed to drag out, before finally entering, closing the door, and sitting on the seat he set out for her.

He didn't know where to start, and either she didn't either, or she wanted him to speak first. So he broke the silence with a simple, "How are things?" o real original eragon, he thought to himself.

Still no emotion showing her face she answered "As well as expected I assume, being queen has It's perks, and its drawbacks of couse, and this confusion surrounding the country side isn't helping."

She deliberately misinterpreted his question, reluctantly Eragon went along with it, "I can imagine, leading, teaching and training with the riders every day is close to the same, and draining enough, luckily there are not more problems over there aside from an argument from time to time."

She replied simply to his words, "I can imagine." Which was annoying to say the least.

He reached out for Saphira, to get her thoughts on this, and help because he was still tongue tied, though Saphiras mind was cut off as soon as he touched it, he had to smile, she was probably..busy..with Fírnen.

"what amuses you so?" Arya asked with a puzzled look

"Saphira, she isn't answering me, and I figured out why" he finished still with a small chuckle.

That brought a smile to her face "Ah I had wondered, but dragons will be dragons"

"That they will.." he lead off

"So how are the Riders getting along, and if it not too forward, what has happened to you and Saphira, there is no doubt to anyone's eyes that you look and feel…different?" she continued

"They have, and continue to exceed my expectations, the ones that came in with me aren't even my oldest students, though still 'riders' in every sense of the word, but you never stop learning" he finished

"How true that is…" she started with a strange look in her eye "Ive noticed Saphira has grown quite a lot, and you yourself have seemed to have…" she started again thinking he was dodging the second question

Thinking over his words carefully, Eragon began, "Well the short answer is 200 years of training, practicing new magic, and learning from the Eldunari, has helped with that, however the detailed explanation, I'm afraid will require Saphira here as well."

Arya nodded and stood abruptly, "Care for a walk?"

Considering her reasoning, Eragon agreed, "Yes of course, please, lead the way" and with that followed the queen out of his door.

They came to a clearing, and fortunately, the night was beautiful, a full moon, and stars crystal clear. As the two stopped to sit, Eragon decided to surprise her while sending out his magic to sprout bushels of a variety of flowers around himself and Arya.

Arya looked at him slowly "Eragon…they are...wait how.." she stopped and narrowed her eyes, asking sternly "how did you grow these with no words?"

Starting in surprise at the venom in her words, Eragon started "with magic of course…using my mind for something this trivial is quite…"

Arya cut him off with something between a growl and exasperation "are you out of your MIND!? That can kill you quicker than a blade Eragon!..You shouldn't…"

Eragon then cut her off "Arya, the Eldunari know more than you can imagine, it took a lot of practice, and it takes a lot of self-control, but I had time for such things. You will understand better at the explanation I promised you once Saphira joins us" he finished

She opened her mouth to argue, then shut it and finished with a simple "As you wish Kingkiller "

"Arya.." Eragon began, bothered by her quick change of attitude

"It is fine!" she hastily responded, then added a bit bluntly, and a tad shyly "but I do thank you, they are very beautiful"

Letting go a mental sigh, Eragon answered with just a modest nod, and finally heard Saphira, chuckling at their argument.

"o NOW you answer!" he replied with a little heat

"I will not apologize! You were doing fine on your own and.I was…occupied" Eragons dragon added quickly

Now it was his turn to chuckle, "Care to explain?"

Saphira sent a mental growl through their link and closed off her mind to him. Quickly adding "and get on with it already! She wants to know how you feel and so do you!" then closed her mind again before he could answer.

Hesitantly, using his dragon as the excuse he began "So Saphira wants to know, have you a mate now days?"

Glancing side long at him she replied "o its Saphira wants to know!?"

Shrugging cautiously Eragon reluctantly agreed, feeling like a youngling, "okay well maybe I was curious as well.."

"Then ask me directly next time, do not use Saphira as an escape goat!" she interrupted

Gulping, he could only nod, and after some silence he edged her on "So…."

She made an irritated sigh, "I don't believe I will make it so easy on you. I will answer your questions when I see fit"

Exasperated, and feeling it quite unfair, he could do nothing but agree to her terms, "very well Arya Drottning"

Not wanting her to leave on such a note, Eragon brought up another question he had not gotten an answer to, "Arya, when and why was Alagaesia's named changed?.

Gathering her thoughts, Arya answered "It was only changed in the last 10 years, the Human leaders thought it a good idea to change Its name to reflect this new age of Dragons and peace that has lasted for so long. Does it bother you that it is no longer called what you grew up knowing?"

Eragon absorbed that information, and reflected before answering "Nay, change is neither good nor bad, and sometimes needed. Also this change allowed me to return."

Surprise and then realization appeared in Arya's eyes before saying quietly," Angela's prophecy…I had forgotten"

Nodding to her, they both turned in sync to view the beauty of the land, the racing thoughts of both of them unknown to the other, and simply enjoyed the company of each other until the sounds of their Dragon made them get up.

Facing each other, Arya broke the silence with "I am glad you have returned Eragon, Atra du evarinya"

Smiling slightly Eragon continued, "As am I Arya, Atra esterni ono thelduin" before both set off for the night, anticipating the day to come.