Shur'tugal Chapter 2: The Unexpected Companion, an inheritance cycle fanfic

Disclaimer: I do not own the Inheritance cycle. Christopher Paolini owns everything...well, Arya owns Eragon but that's not the point...

Author's note: Thanks to those people who reviewed and added this story to their Alert and Favorites. You really made me happy. Btw, thanks to Pie in the Face and to Kewl Imp for correcting my mistake about the size of Glaedr's Eldunari. I fixed it now. ^^ Now, for the second chapter...

Chapter II: The Unexpected Companion

Eragon and Arya stepped inside Nausada's pavilion after her guards announced their arrival and Saphira's head poked in after them. Everyone was already there – Nasuada was sitting at the other end of the room, four of the Nighthawks hovering behind her; King Orrin was occupying the seat at her left and at his other side sat Jormundur. Lady Lorana and her son, Icarus, were also present, sitting two seats away from Nasuada's right; Narheim, commander of the dwarven troops, Nar Garzhvog, the Urgal chief, Trianna, the head spellcaster of Du Vrangr Gata, Fadawar, and the Council of Elders were there as well. Fadawar's arms were still covered in bandages like Nasuada. Their wounds from the Trial of the Long Knives haven't completely healed yet.

"Ah! Eragon, Saphira, Arya! You're just in time," Nasuada said as she jestured to Eragon and Arya to take the seats on her right. "Please take your seats that we may be able to start our meeting now."

Arya bowed her head slightly in response and Eragon said, "

Arya bowed her head slightly in response and Eragon said, "Yes, My Lady." He took the empty seat at Nasuada's right while Arya sat on his other side.

"Now," Nasuada started when everyone was seated. "I want to be sure that we are ready before we make plans on capturing Bellatona. Narheim, do you have any news from King Orrin?"

"Indeed, Lady Nasuada," replied Narheim. "A messenger arrived yesterday and told me that the King and the army already left the city of Dauth and are marching towards us as we speak. I believe they will be joining us in a few more days."

"That is good news. I will be expecting them to join our upcoming battle in Bellatona. How about the Du Vrangr Gata? Were you able to replicate the spell that Galbatorix used on his men so that they may not feel any pain?"

"We think so, Your Majesty," Trianna answered. "But we are not entirely sure for we need to test our spells and we require volunteers to do that."

"I see," said Nasuada, eyes focused on Trianna. There was a moment of pause and then she spoke. "Very well. Jormundur, I want you to gather all of our soldiers and I want you to ask them if they are willing to be like the men-who-feel-no-pain. Explain the situation clearly to them. It is highly possible that they may not like the idea – I, myself do not like it as well – but this may be the only way to defeat the Empire's army."

"Yes, my lady," Jormundur bowed.

"And I would have to ask you to do the same with your men, Lord Icarus and Lady Lorana, King Orrin, Nar Garzhvog."

"I will tell them myself, Lady Nasuada," said Icarus. King Orrin nodded his head.

"You can on us, Lady Nightstalker," grunted Nar Garzhvog.

"Thank you. I want regular reports to me about the tasks I have assigned to you. I will call for another meeting once everyone is ready. We shall march to Bellatona soon, there is no point delaying it. The sooner we attack, the better since they won't have the time to prepare. That is all I have to say. You may all go. Eragon, Saphira, and Arya, please stay. I wish to discuss another matter with you."

One by one, the people who attended the meeting began to leaving after giving their respects to Nasuada, Eragon, Arya, and Saphira. King Orrin was the last person to leave and he seemed very reluctant when he did. It was clear that he wanted to stay and listen to what Nasuada had to say to Eragon, Saphira, and Arya, but Saphira's glare and growl made him scurry out of Nasuada's tent. When all of them were gone, Nasuada let out a sigh of relief.

"You saved me the trouble of convincing Orrin to leave us alone, Saphira," said Nasuada. "I'm not sure if I could even convince him to."

Being a 20-foot creature with massive fangs has a lot of advantages, too. You must realize that, Nasuada, Saphira joked. They all laughed.

"But we have to be vigilant," said Arya. "We don't want our conversation to fall into the wrong ears." She closed her eyes and intoned: "Atra nosu waise vardo fra eld hornya…it is safe to speak now."

"Thank you, Arya," Nasuada smiled. But her smile slowly faded and her tone suddenly became grave. "Has Glaedr contacted you, Eragon?"

"No, not yet," Eragon said sadly. "He still hasn't recovered."

Nasuada stood up and began pacing around the tent. "Have you tried talking to him?"

We haven't, said Saphira. We dare not disturb him from mourning his loss. Eragon and I decided that we should let him calm down on his own.

"I understand, but our time is very limited. What if it takes him years, decades to recover? We cannot wait that long for him."

Give Glaedr more time, Nasuada, said Saphira. Glaedr has lived for many, many centuries and he has been with Oromis all his life. The bond between a dragon and his rider is deeper than any bond that can exist between humans or elves or dwarves or any race. Eragon and I are connected mentally and emotionally. Try to imagine how Glaedr feels right now that his companion whom he shared all of his memories and feelings with is no longer there to be with him."

"One of the loneliest moments in my life was when I was left behind in Dras-Leona and had to travel on foot for days without Saphira," Eragon added.

But your loneliness was short-lived, Saphira said, withdrawing from Arya and Nasuada's minds so that Eragon was the one one who heard it. I believe you met Arya on your way back to the Varden. The emotions you've felt then were far from lonely if I can recall them correctly…

Eragon turned a deep shade of red. Saphira!

Nasuada looked from the blushing Eragon to Saphira who appeared to be smirking, aware of the silent exchange between the two. She just shook her head in confusion.

"Alright, I understand," she said. "I will not force you to bother Glaedr. But we must face the fact that we have very little time. What do you plan to do, Eragon, now that you know how to defeat Galbatorix?"

"Saphira and I thought about it and the solutions we came up with are –"

– to separate Galbatorix from the Eldunarya as far as possible or –

"– to look for other Eldunarya that are not in Galbatorix's possession."

The first option seems to be too far-fetched because for us to be able to do that –

"We have to be face to face with Galbatorix. We believe that he always keeps the Eldunarya with him at all times –"

– Except for those he gave to Murtagh –

"Stop!" exclaimed Nasuada. "Okay, I get it. You don't have to do a duet." Eragon grinned at this. He and Saphira did it again without realizing it. "So you are going to look for the other Eldunarya?" Nasuada continued. "I assume you know where to look for them."

Eragon gulped. "Ah…well, about that…we have no idea where to look, actually…"

"What?!" Nasuada almost shouted. "What are you going to do if you don't know where to loo—"

"That is what I want to talk to you about, Lady Nasuada," Arya interjected. Eragon, Saphira, and Nasuada stared at her. They were taken aback by the sudden interruption, especially by Arya.

"What is it, Ambassador?" asked Nasuada.

Arya's eyes found Eragon's. "I would like to help Eragon look for the Eldunarya."

You know what I want. *wink* REVIEW!!!