This is the next chapter I am going to try and make it longer. I am still open for suggestions and I want everyone to keep in mind that this is my first story.

Do you feel better little one? Saphira said as she tucked her wings in to her sides. The two dipped low over a river. Saphira skimmed the surface for a while and pulled back up.

I feel much better, thanks. Eragon said as they sped back into the sky. For the next 30 minutes they flew together in silence. Every now and then Eragon would say something to Saphira about Murtagh. He was starting to worry about his brother, despite the fact that his brother was on his enemy's side. Eragon knew in his heart that it wasn't true, his brother was being held captive by Galbatorix. Murtagh had probably been beaten when he returned without Eragon or Saphira. Eragon began to feel something close to pity for his sibling.

Saphira could tell that he was thinking about Murtagh. It seemed that Murtagh was all he could think about since the battle.

When do you and Roran plan on leaving for Helgrind?

What? Oh soon. Roran said we should leave this week.

Well I suppose then that we will be needing to pack soon incase he decides to leave sooner than we anticipate. I know that he loves that woman like you loved Arya.

At the mention of Arya, Eragon stiffened. He did love Arya at a time, but that was over now. At least that was what he tolled himself. He had not seen Arya since the battle, but that was only a month or so ago. He needed time away from her. Orik had been chosen to lead the dwarves after Hrothgar died. It began to seem like so long ago that it all happened.

I think we should head back.

Ok.

Eragon and Saphira flew back to Surda in silence.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

The girl with black eyes sat around a fire in her camp, just outside of Surda. She would try to find him the next day, but he was probably more than a days walk away. She wrapped her cloak tightly around herself. It felt as if some one were giving her a tight embrace. She had not felt that in years, only the sting of a whip on her back and the sheer force of impact from the hand of another. There had been no love in her life since her parents died at the hands of the man who she was now loyal to. Her face burned with anger at her own stupidity, she should have known.

She fell into a deep sleep filled with the screams of her mother as she was beaten. She saw a young form of herself being thrust into the hands of the king by a soldier. The king wrestled her into obedience and tolled her to repeat something in a strange language. In that instant she felt darkness engulf her. In another dream she saw a boy with dark hair like hers riding a dragon. He left for some time and came back with a sword that matched his dragon's scales. The king beat him when he returned for not bringing him to the king. She herself brought the boy bandages and saw what the king could do. She knew only to well that same feeling. Now her life was at stake, but she had wanted to die for some time when she lived with the king as his slave. She had to find him or she would die the same way her parents had.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Eragon awoke the next morning to hear his cousin whispering for him to get up. They were going to fight the ra'zac.

Eragon saddled Saphira and put the few provisions that they brought into the saddle bags. Roran immediately climbed onto Saphira and waited for his cousin. Eragon finally manage to finish what he was doing and climbed onto Saphira. A few seconds later they were airborne and flying towards Helgrind.

"How long will it take us to get there?" Roran said impatiently.

"I do not know only Saphira can answer that." Eragon replied.

We should be there in about a day or so. Eragon tolled Roran Saphira's message. Roran grunted in impatience.

The three flew for the rest of the day and made camp in a small clearing outside of Helgrind. Eragon made a fire and set out some of the provisions that they had brought. Roran could not take his eyes off of the huge mound of rock that he knew to be their hide-out. Roran knew that Katrina was in there as well. All he could think about was her, the way she would smile every time that Roran met her in town, and the way she looked the first time he met her.

Eragon could tell that Roran was thinking about her again. His face always lit up when he thought of her. He wished that Arya had shared his feelings, he still felt a little more than friendship for her when he thought about it. Would his face light up like that when he thought of the woman he truly loved?

The three companions found a way into the mound early the next morning. Eragon stood next to Roran in a large cavern. Saphira stood behind the two and surveyed their surroundings. So far no danger presented itself, but, somehow, they felt like they should on their guard. The sound of water dripping from the ceiling was all that broke the silence. In the next two minutes they began to hear clicking from what sounded like a beak. They drew their swords and Saphira stood ready to discharge a mouthful of flames. All went silent for a few seconds, until the cave was lit by a flame from Saphira's mouth. The two ra'zac screamed as their cloaks' caught fire, and began to rip them off to reveal two disgusting grey bodies. Eragon ran forward to one and thrust his sword downward over the ra'zac's head. The ra'zac moved at the last moment and the sword clanged against the floor of the cave. The ra'zac moved toward Eragon with its beak wide open as if he planned to eat Eragon in one bite. Eragon slid to the side as the ra'zac sped past him. The fire from the cloakes went out and Eragon stood in the dark. He could faintly see the outlines of Roran and the ra'zac. Eragon heard a ra'zac scream next to him, and the roar of Saphira. Another jet of flames erupted from her mouth. Eragon saw one ra'zac lying dead on the floor with the marks from Saphira's teeth in his corpse. Roran was fighting the last surviving ra'zac. Eragon rushed over to help, but Roran had already buried his sword in the last creature's stomach. Eragon covered his ears this time when the ra'zac screamed its last few words.

Just as the scream died out, two more, much larger creatures appeared. Saphira lunged

forward at them as Eragon ran over to her side. Roran had already left to search

for Katrina.

Eragon and Saphira fought together as one like they had in the burning planes. Eragon could feel claws slashing through his side and roared in pain as Saphira did the same. Saphira felt as if she were slashing the beasts with a sword instead of her own claws as Eragon felt he was using claws when he slashed into the legs of the creatures. This continued until the last beast was gasping for air past the river of blood that ran out of its mouth. The blood pooled at the feet of Eragon and Saphira, as the two stood and watched it die. They wanted it to suffer for what it had done to his cousin, and yet the pain he felt from the creature was too much. Eragon stepped forward towards the beast with his sword drawn. When he reached it, he pierced the creatures heart with his blade and watched at the blood stopped flowing out through its mouth and the eyelids flicker closed, never to open again.

Eragon wiped his sword clean of blood on the singed cloaks worn by the ra'zac. He sheathed his sword and looked around the cave, realizing that his cousin was missing.

Saphira have you seen Roran, I can't find find him.

I have not seen him since he killed the ra'zac. I will help you look for him if you want, but he can't have gotten far.

Eragon thanked his companion and set off in search of his cousin. He did not have to search very long for Roran's face soon materialized from the gloom of the cave, stained with tears. He held in his hand a piece of cloth from Katrina's dress, stained with blood.

"I couldn't find her, she's gone." Roran said with a shaking voice. "Can't you try and see her like you did at the battle, please."

"I would always try for you. You are family, but I cannot guarantee that this will have a happy out come." Eragon said as he climbed onto Saphira's back. He pulled Roran on and strapped both their legs into the saddle.

When the three were back at the camp they had made the previous night Eragon poured some water into a bowl and watched as the water began to reflect an image of Katrina in a cell with a man. The cell looked as if it were from Gilead. That is where she is. But who was this man? Eragon thought hard on the subject for awhile until he realized that this was Murtagh. He looked different, like he had been through something terrible. But they had all been through terrible things lately.

"Katrina is being held in Gilead"

"Well then we should get going, you tolled me of what happened to the elf there."

"Roran be reasonable, we all need healing and rest. The soonest we could leave would be next week." Eragon said as he rolled out a blanket.

"What? How can you expect me to wait to rescue the woman I love?" Roran said.

Eragon tried to block out everything else that his cousin said to him. He was busy healing Saphira's wounds. Once he had finished he stood up and explained to Roran that they would return to Surda in the morning. Eragon tuned out the argument that his cousin made as he drifted off to sleep.

That night Eragon had a dream about his brother, Murtagh. In the dream, Murtagh came before Galbatorix with only the sword of his father in his grasp. The king looked furious when he heard that Eragon and Saphira escaped. Murtagh was then beaten severely, and taken to a room where he sat shaking, in pain. A girl with black eyes entered the room and began to put herbs on the various wounds that his brother received. The girl looked as if she had seen nothing but sadness for her entire life .She looked as if she had seen things that no one should have to see, like the death of a loved one at the hands of and enemy.

When Eragon awoke he quickly set about packing and eating his small breakfast. Roran did not speak at all as he packed and stabbed at his breakfast.

Maybe we should just go to Gilead.

We all need rest, and the rest of Carvahal should know as well as Nasuada.

Your cousin really loves her, I don't think that you should prolong his suffering.

I have not made him suffer in any way, Saphira.

Eragon and Saphira did not talk to each other until the end of their trip back to Surda. Roran did not speak either, even when Saphira spoke directly to him to ask about Katrina.

The trip ended in the court yard. They were all weary and wished only to find their rooms and fall asleep on soft beds. Eragon found his room and immediately fell asleep. He had the same dream that nigh, about Murtagh and the girl. This time he saw that the two were friends, and she was a slave for the king. It seemed that they were each others' only friend. He felt sadness for his brother and the strange girl.

Ok so it's still short but I need name suggestions so I can't go far enough. Please R&R me I really appreciate it. Also please don't lose interest it is getting better all the time.