Hey guys, so I updated this just a tiny bit. I changed the size of Vardi from the size of Parlim to the size of Beirland and Parlim combined. I did this because I realized that the island would be too small to house Riders after they complete their training who want to live nearby. I'm working on chapter seven, and it will be finished shortly!

Eragon sat in the saddle nestled between Saphira's shoulders, silently watching their surroundings. The constant flapping of Saphira's enormous wings lulled Eragon into a sense of wary relaxation. He extended his consciousness to encompass everything around him, finding only a few birds of prey within his range. As Saphira glided through a cloud, Eragon's wards prevented the freezing water droplets from coming into contact with him or his dragon.

In the five years since Galbatorix had been slain, Eragon had been extremely busy. The first few months he had spent by completing missions for the new monarch, Queen Nasuada. He then decided, with Saphira's agreement, to leave Alagäesia in search of a remote location where he could train new Riders and she could train young dragons in the years to come.

Eragon and Saphira had spent weeks searching for a suitable home, forsaking a small forest to the East of the Edda River as well as a mountain range to the North of said forest. They eventually found a lake that was almost three times the size of Leona Lake, which was fed by several rivers, including the Edda. Eragon decided to name the lake Adurna Maela, which meant "quiet water" in the Ancient Language. Located in the center of the circular lake was an island the size of Parlim and Beirland combined, which Saphira named Vardi, or "protect" in the Ancient Language.

The island rose out of the water like a spire on a cathedral, equivalent in height to the tallest mountains in the Spine. The island was almost completely flat, with only a few trees and shrubs dotting its surface and no animals other than insects and birds inhabiting it. It was on Vardi that Eragon and Saphira decided, with consent from the elves and the Eldunarí, to build their new home.

The construction of the gigantic fortress took the better part of two years to complete. Eragon, Saphira, the elves and the sane Eldunarí all contributed what they could in order to have the building ready for when an egg hatched for the newest Rider. They used stone from the sides of the island, excavating caves that could one day become homes for wild dragons, and wood from the oak trees found in the nearby forest.

It was during the third month of construction that the first wild dragon egg had hatched, bringing an orange female into the world. After consulting with Glaedr and Umaroth, Saphira brought the hatchling to the mountain range that she and Eragon had discovered. The mountains had been bountiful with prey, and several caves were available for the young dragon to use as shelter. Once she returned to Vardi, Saphira laid an egg of her own, one that was pure white and larger than hers had been. After Saphira laid her egg, Eragon - with the guidance of dozens of Eldunarí - placed the spells of bonding upon the egg so that it would only hatch when it's Rider came into contact with it.

During the sixth month of construction, about one year after Eragon defeated the Black King, Eragon sent Blödhgarm back to Alagäesia along with eight eggs destined for Riders. Blödhgarm took a total of two months to bring two eggs to each race that was a part of the pact with the dragons, after which he returned. While Blödhgarm was gone, another female dragon hatched, this one a light bronze, which Saphira also escorted to the nearby mountains.

Six months later, Eragon and Saphira left Vardi to explore more of the uncharted lands around them, leaving the elves to continue working. Eragon had wanted to bring Glaedr, but the old dragon had refused, believing it best that he stay to help bring more Eldunarí back to sanity. Ultimately realizing that he was right, Eragon and Saphira set off, unsure of what they would find.

To the South of Adurna Maela, which was just East of the small forest they came to call Litil Ekar (little oak in the Ancient Language), they discovered what seemed to be an extension of the Beor Mountains. The mountains they found were of the same height, and created a giant ring, larger in diameter than the island of Vroengard. They called the ring of mountains the Du Fells Edoc'sil, or Unconquerable Mountains, on account of their height. The southernmost of these mountains touched the sea, so from there they travelled northeast.

Many miles northeast of the Du Fells Edoc'sil, yet still far southeast of Adurna Maela, the pair discovered a vast grassland that was similar in size to the Hadarac Desert. Here they discovered several tribes of nomadic peoples, who responded in fear whenever Saphira came into view. Also in the grassland, they found vast herds of animals with gray, leathery skin, tusks that were whiter than snow, noses that were opposable and almost as long as their bodies, and enormous ears. The animals grew to be about the size of a house, although a few specimens they saw dwarfed any animal they had ever seen before, excluding old dragons. Using the name of the Ancient Language, Eragon named the animals Drjugr Elefar, or Strong Animals, for he and Saphira agreed that even a dragon might have difficulty killing one of the great beasts.

After traveling for nearly four months, they decided it was time to return to Vardi. Once they arrived at the island, Blödhgarm informed them that finally, almost two years since Galbatorix's death, another egg had hatched for her Rider, only two days before their return. The female had hatched for an Urgal, and Eragon immediately contacted Nasuada and Arya. They quickly decided that the new Rider should train with the elves in Du Weldenvarden with Arya, at least until the fortress was complete.

Eragon and Saphira then dedicated all of their energy into completing their new home. When they completed the frame and the shell of the massive structure, which took the shape of an equal-armed cross with a massive courtyard in the center and towers in the middles of each arm, they decided to devote one arm of the structure to each race bonded to the pact with the dragons. The North arm they devoted to making humans feel at home, making rooms and furniture to appropriate dimensions. They did the same in each other arm, West for Urgals - making rooms and furniture so that even a Kull would be comfortable - South for elves, and East for dwarves.

Six months after their return to Vardi, the fortress was finished. The towers on each arm were connected by buttresses, which grew into a central tower suspended almost 500 feet above the courtyard where all four buttresses met. When asked what he would name it, as it was his design that the builders had followed, Eragon decided to call it Galbagrind, or Big Gate, stating that it would be a gate to the second age of Riders.

The remainder of the five years (which was about two-and-a-half years) Eragon spent amassing the greatest library ever seen. Tomes and scrolls from every race in Alagäesia were sent to Gabagrind, which Eragon collected and put into the bottom floor of the suspended tower. When he wasn't collecting books or flying with Saphira, he was reading. He soon learned both the Urgal and Dwarvish languages, and he learned as much as he could about magic, nature, and other things in the world, such as the Urgal culture, which he only partially understood before.

Now, five years after the death of the king and almost three years after the first dragon hatched for her Rider, Eragon and Saphira awaited their new students eagerly. Accompanying the first Urgal Rider and his dragon was a dwarf Rider, two new elvish Riders, a human Rider, and Arya and Fírnen. Only ten of the wild dragons had not yet hatched, and all of the once-enslaved Eldunarí were once again sane.

So much has changed in such a short time, Eragon said to Saphira through their mental link.

Yes, it has little one, came her reply. You are excited to see her again, aren't you? she asked, sending him a mental image of Arya.

Aye, I am. But I can't let my emotions get in the way of my teachings, he said, somewhat distraught. He wondered how Arya would act towards him when they would see each other later that day.

Well, I for one am happy that I get to see Fírnen again. I wonder if he'll approve of my giving our egg to the new Riders, she thought.

Oh, is this doubt that I'm feeling? Eragon asked teasingly. Without warning, Saphira let out a mighty roar and pulled into a steep dive, angling them towards their room at the top of the central tower. Letting his hands release the spike on her neck, Eragon whooped with joy as Saphira hurtled toward their new home with frightening speed.