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Success

Eragon sighed and looked back over his shoulder. Arya and Firnen were out of sight now but he could somehow still sense them. When he asked Saphira, she said that she could as well. After a few more minutes, they landed in front of Nasuada's residence and Eragon slid to the ground.

"Eragon," Nasuada said. "What are you doing here?"

"There's been a change of plans," Eragon said. "I'm not leaving."

"Really?" Nasuada asked. "So, where are you going to put the eggs?"

"I'm not," Eragon said. "Murtagh took them in my place."

"You let Murtagh leave?" Nasuada asked icily. "Why?"

"Because for once, I was being selfish," Eragon said.

"Selfish?" Nasuada asked. "What does...Arya?"

"Yes," Eragon said.

"That's great!" Nasuada said. "But, then, what's wrong?"

"I can't feel her," Eragon said.

Nasuada stared at him for a moment then rolled her eyes and said, "Men."

"Not like that," Eragon said. "I mean that me and Saphira could sense her and Firnen on the way here but now we can't. We're worried."

"What?" Nasuada asked. "How can you sense them?"

"I'm not sure and I'm not sure I want to," Eragon said.

"The 'How' may be just as important as why you can't," Nasuada said.

"What does that mean?" Eragon asked.

"I mean, did she tell you her true name?" Nasuada asked.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Eragon asked.

"If you know someone's true name, you can sometimes sense that person," Nasuada said.

"Why would we be unable to now?" Eragon asked.

"Three possibilities," Nasuada said. "First, you're too far away."

"How far?" Eragon asked.

"Half of Alagaesia," Nasuada said.

"She was only a few miles away," Eragon said. "Please tell me the others aren't too bad."

"One would be that the name is no longer hers," Nasuada said. "The last, is that she's dead."

Eragon paled considerably then turned and climbed onto Saphira.

"Time to move," Eragon said.

"I'm coming with you," Nasuada said.

She climbed on behind Eragon and Eragon flew to the place he had left his friends. there was no sign of them but a moment later, he saw a line of green fire farther away. He followed and realized that the fire was creating a trail. He followed and after about three hours they finally reached an island isolated from the mainland but big enough that it would take a long time to search it. Luckily, Eragon and Saphira could sense Arya and Firnen now.

"We're almost there!" Eragon shouted over the wind. "Are we going to have to fight anything?"

"Why are you asking me?" Nasuada shouted back. "You know as much as me!"

"I can smell something unpleasant," Saphira said. "The last time I smelled it was in Helgrind."

Eragon's blood ran cold but he told Saphira to move faster. They landed on top of a huge plateau that was barren and perfectly flat. It was about a mile across and perfectly round. Arya was kneeling in the center, bound and gagged but Firnen was nowhere to be found. They could sense him but couldn't see where he was.

Eragon slid to the ground and ran over to Arya. The moment he had untied her and removed the gag she said one word.

"Trap!" Arya said.

Just then, a Lethrblaka rose up beside the plateau holding Firnen by its feet. A Ra'zac dropped to the plateau and charged at Eragon. Eragon smirked and drew his sword. He froze for half a second when the Ra'zac drew a black rider's sword but then he began to fight it. At first it held its own but after a moment, Eragon smashed its sword aside and slashed at it. Unfortunately, the Lethrblaka threw Firnen at the same time and Eragon barely managed to avoid getting crushed and had to let the Ra'zac live.

Eragon stood just as Saphira crashed into the Lethrblaka and smashed it into the side of the plateau then tumbled to the ground with it, slashing and biting at every inch of its flesh. The Ra'zac retrieved his sword then shot at Eragon again. When it reached him, Eragon blocked a stab and the Ra'zac kicked him in the chest. Arya jumped up and swung at him but he knocked her blade aside easily and drove his sword through her chest. Then he pulled it out and leapt off of the plateau. The Lethrblaka caught him and carried him away. Saphira landed on the plateau a moment later nursing an injured foreleg.

Eragon knelt beside Arya but didn't bother trying to heal her. She had already passed. Firnen was laying a short distance away also lifeless. Eragon took a deep breath and he and Saphira both agreed on a single course of action. Eragon placed his right hand on Arya's forehead and spoke the one spell no one had ever succeeded at. The spell was a revival spell. his hand burned then his entire body as the spell drained his strength. Within seconds he had a splitting headache worse than any he had ever experienced. Saphira began to give him energy but within seconds, she too was out. Finally the spell stopped but Eragon collapsed the moment it did.

Eragon groaned and opened his eyes. He looked around and immediately recognized the hospital in Ellesmera. The simple fact that he was alive both relieved him and told him that Arya couldn't be. No sooner had he come to that conclusion, did Arya walk through the door and freeze seeing that he was awake.

"Arya," Eragon croaked, his voice hoarse.

The effort of talking alone made his head explode into pain. He laid his head back on the pillow resisting the urge to throw up.

"You're awake," Arya said walking over and sitting down. "Do you have any idea how risky that was?"

"I know that I shouldn't be alive right now," Eragon said.

"That's right," Arya said. "You should be dead. We both should be. Never in history has there been a single person that has succeeded at reviving someone who was dead."

"I did," Eragon said smiling. "And you have no idea how happy I am about it."

"So am I," Arya said smiling. "Thank you."

"Anytime," Eragon said. "But hopefully not for a few more years so that my head will stop hurting. How long was I out?"

"A few weeks," Arya said. "Murtagh and I went after the Ra'zac with our dragons. the Ra'zac itself got away but the Lethrblaka wasn't so lucky."

"Murtagh's back?" Eragon asked.

"He was," Arya said. "He left again once the Ra'zac got away."

Eragon nodded then looked around. There were several vases of flowers and a few letters.

"What are those?" Arya asked.

"Letters," Arya said. "Although, I've taken to calling them get well soon notes."

"I'm guessing that's about all they say?" Eragon asked.

"Yes," Arya said.

Eragon nodded and a few elves came in. They used magic to try to heal him but the most they did was tire themselves out.

"If you get me my belt and ring I'll be fine," Eragon said.

Arya nodded and brought the items back a short while later. Eragon removed all of the energy from them and transferred the majority to Saphira who was in about the same condition. The energy was enough to get them up and about but not enough to get rid of their headaches.

"Much better," Eragon said standing.

Luckily he was still wearing his clothes. The Elves had used magic to clean him up everyday, according to Arya, so he didn't smell like he hadn't bathed in weeks.

"I'm hungry," Eragon said.

"Good," Arya said opening the front door of the castle to reveal all of Ellesmera waiting with baskets of food.

"Wow," Eragon said. "I would have figured they'd be more concerned about Saphira."

"If you die so does she," Arya reminded him.

"That make me feel so much better," Eragon said.

Arya smiled and slid her hand into his. The elves instantly erupted into cheers. Eragon smiled slightly to himself. At least he knew that he had plenty of supporters. Arya led him to his seat then sat beside him in the queen's chair. He realized with a sense of both pride and a slight mix of embarrassment and surprise, that he was sitting in the king's chair. A few elves joined them and the rest served them then left. Everyone ate and Eragon was surprised when everyone else, except Arya, ate more than him. When everyone was finished, Arya dismissed them along with the servants.

"So," Arya said sitting on the table so she could look him in the eye. "Do you like the chair?"

"It's comfortable but I don't think I should be sitting in the king's chair," Eragon said. "I'm not a king. I'm barely a peasant."

"In human culture maybe," Arya said. "The fact that we're together makes you king in elven culture."

"Oh," Eragon said.

"Don't worry," Arya said. "You only have to do political stuff if I'm ill or worse."

"Oh," Eragon said relieved.

"So, should we stick to just elven culture or do you want to have a human wedding?" Arya asked.

Eragon was pretty sure he would have choked if he was eating or drinking.

"T-that's...um...up to you," Eragon said.

Arya smiled then switched to sitting in his lap. She laid her head on his shoulder and smiled.

"Okay," Arya said. "We'll have a human wedding. I've always loved the idea of choosing one person to be with for the rest of your life. Of course, that's a slightly larger commitment when you're practically immortal."

"Just a little," Eragon said grinning.

Arya sighed contentedly and wrapped her arms around his waist hugging him. He hugged her back and they stayed like that right up until the entire table exploded.

THE END

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