Hi again! {:)

Fang thanks for your comment, I really apreciate it, and I am going to keep on writing.

If Spell checked this about 60 times so it should be ok...

ANYWAY this is my forst real chapter and as always criticism is alrways appreciated (as long as it's constructive)

Enjoy!

The Lost Hearts; Chapter two:

Spies come in all shapes and sizes:

Even as the sun rose, Eragon was already up waiting on the ramparts, looking over the land. Carn, Roran's comrade in arms, approached him and noticed his fierce expression. One that had not been seen in days Carn thought, but then dismissed it almost immediately. It was not for him to judge Eragon, as his task was neither pleasant nor easy.

'How're you feeling sir?' Carn asked noticing how tightly Eragon's muscles were held, as if he were about to jump from the edge.

'I am fine, thank you,' Eragon coldly replied remaining stiff, but seconds later he softened and looked at Carn, 'Sorry, I'm just...' Eragon struggled to find the right words as his mind contemplated uselessly what he was feeling. 'Tense?' Carn said helpfully.

'Aye,' Eragon shifted his gaze to the horizon again, 'Carn?'

'Yes?'

'What do you think Galbatorix fears?'

It was such a strange question it caught Carn off guard, 'I'm not sure I understand, Eragon'.

'I didn't think you would, don't worry,' Eragon shrugged, 'I am in the strangest mood this morning. I was just wondering...' and he drifted into silence as he watched the small figure approaching across the plains...

'...If Galbatorix ever felt pain like this...'

One thought remained in Saphira's head

Nasuda's new tent should be bigger.

Since they had moved to Feinster Nasuda's old tent had been replaced. This tent was larger, designed so Saphira could fit inside completely, but the designer had not contemplated her fast growth. The small-two-legs were fine but she could never fit, and with the Urgals and Nasuda's guard now included in these meetings, the entire tent grew hotter than the-lazy-fire-star in the sky, and it bothered her. She really needed to stretch her wings and get away from all the small-minded-humans, but Eragon had refused to ride with her since...

Ahhh... Saphira thought remembering Eragon's sorrow on that night...

Forcing herself to pay attention to the meeting she watched as Arya entered and suppressed a growl. This turn of events was not Arya's fault, but that didn't stop her from stiffening with anger.

'Arya,' Nasuda had noticed her entrance, 'What news have you brought from your people?' Saphira noticed how Eragon tensed when Arya's name was spoken, and made a note to do something to quell her hatchling's unease. 'The news from our spies is most troubling, especially seeing as these elves could not have lied. They saw Galbatorix's troops heading west away from their posts and towards Tierm, though I cannot foresee what they seek. I saw similar troops heading in the opposite direction as if to pass through the Hadarac Desert, but their intentions remain just as mysterious'. 'Why is this so distressing?' Nasuda asked, clearly puzzled but Saphira had already figured out why.

Because it is not like Galbatorix to do this, she noted spreading her thoughts through the tent's occupants, and it is so off course from his previous tactics, that it both surprises and puzzles you. Also, as we cannot think of anything of interest to Galbatorix in these areas, it can only mean he is going to either attack us from the sides or is looking for something, and as both are heading far away from us he can only be searching for a place or object.

Arya nodded, 'As you say, Saphira we have no idea what this object could be, so the smartest thing to do would be to send a spy undercover in one of these sets of troops and try to glean the most information we can on their goal'.

The second she said this Nasuda visibly relaxed.

'That makes sense,' she said, 'and I think I have the perfect candidate,' she added grinning, 'Regardless, this meeting must draw to a close as I have urgent matters to attend to'. Saphira suddenly had a flash of inspiration. Arya she said inside the elf's mind with a vicious smile, would you fly with me, Eragon has not done so in a while.

Arya looked surprised and doubtful, and Eragon looked red-in-the-face furious. SAPHIRA, DON'T YOU DARE! He began to mentally shout before she blocked him out.

The idea had come to her from Eragon's thought from long ago 'you cannot argue with a dragon' and so no matter how wily-clever Arya tried to avoid Eragon she could not avoid or defy Saphira. 'Yes I shall, of course Brightscales,' she muttered before leaving the room at a run. Saphira finally let her and Eragon's thoughts merge. What in Angvard's name to you think you are doing? He fumed do you want to drive me and Arya further apart? She's going to think I put you up to this... he tottered off, his cheeks flushed with red.

Well you better go tell her that isn't the case then, Saphira remarked nonplussed, in the mean time it is a ripe occasion for me to take a nap in preparation for tonight's flight. 'GAAAH' Eragon yelled as he left the room, leaving Saphira to chuckle herself to sleep.

Nasuda sighed as she left the room, and finally showed how very tired she was feeling. The Varden required every minute of her attention, so she had no time to pursue her own devices. Orrin she thought is the lucky one. He didn't have to look after the welfare of an entire army, and spend every waking moment planning. Of course these thoughts were the product of her sleep deprived mind, not any genuine feelings for Orrin. It had often occurred to her, that if their duties were shared, as man... and wife...

NO! She quickly admonished. As she had no true feelings for him it would be wrong to use him to reduce her burden. But how tempting the idea was...

'Lady Nasuda?'

She turned to quickly see Blödhgarm entering through the flap. She quickly cut off her sense of smell, but not before traces of his musk broke through. Mmmmm... She thought as she imagined him and her... in a mountain glade... alone...

And then her fantasies were gone. 'What h-have you to say?' she stuttered fighting the urge to blush.

'I was merely going to ask where Eragon went, as I can find no trace of him anywhere'

'...oh...' muttered Nasuda, abandoning the wish that he had come to see her. I should not be thinking these thoughts in the first place she scolded herself mentally, 'No I do not know, I would search out Saphira'

'Thank you Nasuda Elda,' He muttered as he left, and Nasuda wondered what he had meant.

And then she was lost in the recent information presented before her, feeling she was playing a deadly game of chess, but couldn't even see the board.

What is he up to now...?

Eragon was thinking as he ran to catch up with Arya. What should he say? Should he carry on his suit, or would he be a coward again. His feelings made up his mind. I refuse to give in... I-I care about her too much, he thought bolstering his resolve, and she hasn't fully answered my question... Eragon's heart raced as he caught up with Arya. 'Arya Elda?' He said quietly, bringing her to a halt, 'I wish to let you know that Saphira's... suggestion, was not of my invention, but I wish we could talk later?'

'Eragon I-I... I can't talk right now,' she mumbled and, after a moment, she replied more forcefully, 'And don't follow me!'

Eragon let her go, unable to stop watching her until she left his view, but then he smiled;

This was not end of discussion.

Saphira had her plans...

He had his

Roran looked up as Nasuda entered his quarters. 'My lady,' he exclaimed and bowed deeply. I wonder what she's doing here; I hope I have not done anything wrong.

Nasuda, noticing his stress, smiled to show she had no quarrel with him and said, 'No need to look so terrified, I have merely come to give you your next assignment'.

'My Unit you mean?'

'No stronghammer, this task is for you alone,' she said, leaving him confused. She quickly filled him in on the information from the recent meeting and then said, 'Stronghammer, I am going to give you possibly the most important orders of your life. You shall be the spy inside the enemies' ranks. Do you accept?'

Then for the first time Roran noticed Katrina watching. If he agreed, he might not be there for her departure or more importantly his child's birth, and he could tell she knew this. He also knew she already knew his answer and would stand by him through fire and storm.

Then again he knew that already.

'What say you Roran?'

'You can count on me lady Nasuda.'

Arya flopped onto her bed face first and groaned, which was unusual for her. She had never, EVER felt this way.

'Life is SO unfair...' she began but abruptly stopped, realizing how petty that would sound, as many were in a worse position than her.

This thought however, did not particularly help.

What was happening to her?

Why had she'd been captured and tortured by Durza?

Why had Fäolin died?

A few tears escaped, but abruptly she remembered the most wonderful, and terrible of her worries:

Why had Eragon bothered to rescue her?

Why had he left his beliefs behind to save her?

And why couldn't she stop thinking of him? His face after she had told him she had to leave.

He's my friend. That's the ONLY reason she thought. And she knew it was true.

The thing that bothered her was...

She heard a knock on the door.

So what do you think?

I really wanna know so press that button

Oh I LOVE cliffies.

The next one will be up soon!

Archangel360