smiles innocently Ok, so it's been a while, sorry! But, better late then never they say. Umm… yeah. So, not much is going to happen in this chapter, but it's still important. I hope you enjoy it and LEAVE A REVIEW (please)!! Thanks!

Ohh, and my spell check is kinda broken, so I'm sorry for my horrible spelling!

Holly and Misltoe ♥

It took three days for the group to reach Surda, flying lower and slower due to the extra weight. Katrina had taken to flying surprisingly well, unlike Roran, who spent the whole flight to Helgrind with white knuckles and closed eyes.

The sun was just rising and the sky was a tropical shade to pink and yellow. In the distance, Eragon saw the walls surrounding Aberon. He looked over his shoulder and found Katrina asleep in her fiancé's lap. Roran had fallen into a doze and Eragon was happy to see he had gotten over his fear. "Roran." He called over the wind. His cousin jerked awake at the sound of his name. "We're nearing Aberon."

"Don't you ever sleep?" Roran asked, rubbing sleep from his eyes.

Eragon laughed and turned back around. "No."

Eragon, the guards-

Oh! I forgot. Thanks. Now Eragon could feel it, the fear of the soldiers on the wall, watching a dark figure approaching on the twilit horizon. He reached out for the mind of the nearest captain. Captain, it's Eragon Shadeslayer. I'm flying over the Western Wall.

Behind him, Katrina was just waking up. "Why are we up at the crack of dawn?" She yawned.

"Because we're here. Welcome to Surda."

Katrina sat up straight and looked down at the world flying by below. Saphira began to slowly drift downwards and they glided over the Aberon walls. She began a spiraling descent and landed with a heavy thud on the sun baked earth.

Eragon jumped gracefully off the blue dragons back and went help Katrina. Roran slid down Saphira's flanks and nearly fell over as he hit the ground.

"Rider Shadeslayer." Said a voice behind them. Eragon turned to see a servant coming down the steps of King Orrin's castle. The servant bowed once he had reached them. "It is good to see you back safely. Someone has gone to wake Lady Nasuada and tell her of your arrival."

"No, it's alright; we don't want to disturb her. I'll go to her in the morning."

The servant bowed again. "Her lady requested that she be informed as soon as you arrive."

Eragon sighed. "Very well." He said. The Servant guided them through the castle doors an into a beautifully designed entrance hall. The tapestries and other decorations were, admittedly, not unique or extremely expensive, but Eragon preferred it that way. Simple and conservative.

A door on the right opened and Lady Nasuada appeared, tying a dressing gown over her night dress. She looked lively, but the sleep in her eyes gave way that she had just woken up.

"Eragon!" she sighed, satisfied that he was back in one piece.

"Lady Nasuada." Eragon bowed to her, but was cut short when she reached over and gave him a hug. Eragon could tell she had been worried while he was gone, probably afraid his skeleton would be found fifty years latter in Helgrind. Feeling it was his duty to make her feel better, he added, "The Ra'zac won't be bothering us anymore, nor will they be doing Galbatorix's bidding."

"So obviously you were successful." She said with a smile.

"Aye. This is Katrina, Roran's fiancé. Katrina, my liege lord, Lady Nasuada."

The two shook hands, Katrina attempting to stifle a yawn.

"Well, I will have a servant show you to your rooms," She said to Roran and Katrina. She motioned for the sevant who had greeted Eragon, who lead the couple through a hallway on the opposite side of the grand enterance.

"And this arrived from Ellesmera," Nasuada withdrew an envelope with thin, slanted writing on it. "Perhaps we should discuses this in my study." She said as a servant girl walked close by holding sheets and pillows.

Nasuada passed him the letter and beckoned him through the same door through which she had come. Eragon followed, keeping his eyes on the letter, his mind on the hall.

Once they reached Nasuada's study, Eragon noticed Arya leaning against the wall behind the leader of the Varden's desk. She looked alert and awake, fully dressed, and looking just as beautiful as ever. Eragon felt his stomach drop as it always did in the presence of the elven princess.

Orik was also present, though he was slumped in a chair, looking half asleep and still in his night shirt.

"Well," Said Nasuada, closing the door behind herself. She pointed at the letter in Eragon's hands. "That came for you a couple days ago, requesting your return to Ellesmera to complete your training. They wish for you to come as soon as you can."

Eragon scanned over the letter again. "Okay," He replied slowly. "Perhaps in a couple day, if that's alright. After we have some time to rest and resupply."

"Of course. But we have something more pressing to discuss now." Nasuada sat down in the chair behind her desk and leaned forward. "We fear that the imperial army is closing in on Surda. And I'm sure Murtagh would be leading them."

Eragon looked up at the mention of his brothers name, puzzled. "But Murtagh is back in Uru'Baen. I watched him fly off. And besides, I would have seen Thorn on my way here. He's not exactly easy to hide."

"Yes, but you of all people know Murtagh's power. He could easily hide a dragon with magic if he wished, I am sure."

"Yes, it's possible. How did you learn of this?"

"A soldier of Galbatorix." Arya spoke up. "He wished to flee his service to the army, but was caught following us here. He told us that as soon as the army resuppiles in Belatona, and Murtagh returns from reporting to Galbatorix, they will attempt a 'surprise' attack on Aberon."

Eragon considered the reliability of the information. "Well, Saphira and I will scout the surrounding lands in the morning. If there is any sign of an army, you will know right away."

"Thank you, Eragon." said Nasuada. "And now about your guard to Ellesmera. Arya, Orik, would you like to travel with Eragon again?"

Arya stood up straight and looked at Eragon with her piercing green eyes. Eragon looked away, unsure why. "Yes, I suppose I could go again. Though I don't think I will be staying long. I must return here and help."

Eragon nodded, still unable to look here in the eye. "And what say you, Orik?" Nasuada asked the dwarf.

Orik let out a loud snore. Clearly he had fallen back asleep during their conversation.

"Orik?" Nasuada said, a little more forcefully.

The dwarf jerked awake and looked around. "What- What were we saying. Are we going to war again? But we just got out of one!"

Nasuada chuckled. "No, Orik. I was merely asking if you wished to accompany Eragon to Du Weldenvarden again."

"Oh," He said, rubbing sleep from his eyes. "Of course." Then he frowned. "Do I have to ride that winged beast again?"

"Unless you want to get there three months later." Joked Eragon. "Well, if that is all, may I go?"

"Yes, go and get some rest."

Eragon bowed to her and was about to leave when, Eragon, tell her!

Tell her what?

About the other dragon and rider. The one I told you about.

Eragon had almost forgotten his argument with Saphira back in the forest. He sighed. Saphira? Must we-

Eragon, just tell her! What harm can it bring?

He sighed again. Saphira-

Please! Just mention it.

Fine. "milady, Saphira wishes me to tell you about this- dream- she had."

IT WASN'T A DREAM!!

He winced at the force in her voice. "Okay, it wasn't a dream, but a - er- vision."

Nasuada looked at him with a puzzled expression and he shrugged, but continued telling all Saphira had told him. By the time he finished his story, light was creeping through the high window.

Everyone was silent. Orik was now wide awake and Arya and Nasuada were both staring at him. It was Nasuada who finally broke the silence. "Another dragon and rider?" She asked, puzzled and confused, "But, we would have know if there was a new rider, wouldn't we?"

"Those were my thoughts exactly, but Saphira is forcefully on the subject. She, er, wants to go and look for them." Eragon said with exasperation in his voice.

Silence again, but this time it was Arya who interrupted it. "Could you explain to me the rider again? Was it male or female?"

Eragon thought back to Saphira's description. "Female, with blonde hair."

Arya looked thoughtful for a moment, and then asked another question. "And the dragon? What did it look like?"

"Umm-"Eragon couldn't remember the dragon for some reason. Had Saphira not described him?

Grey. Saphira answered. He was grey. And older then me and Thorn, though younger than-

"So he was male?" Arya interrupted while Eragon scolded Saphira in his mind for her carelessness of almost divulging Ormis.

"Yes." The rider said with a hint of confusion on his voice. Why was she taking such a great interest in their appearances?

Then suddenly, to Eragon's surprise, Arya smiled. A smile that nearly melted him though he tried to ignore it. Laughing lightly, the elf said, "Tell Saphira she is wasting her time dueling on this dream."

But it's not a dream, Arya. Saphira said aloud.

"Oh, but it is. The rider you speak of is called Arrmani Shur'tugal. The Spirit Rider."

"Spirit Rider?" Eragon asked, hoping for a better explanation.

"Arrmani Shur'tugal is a – mythological rider. She haunts the dreams of Riders and their dragons, tempting them. Testing their loyalties and their boundaries. Some Riders have fallen to her, one example you know quite well is Galbatorix. She questioned how far he would go to gain power, and he answered.

"It's a natural part of being a dragon and Rider. Every pair is visited by her and her dragon, at least once in the beginning of their training. It is not surprising she came to you, to test your allegiance to the Varden."

Saphira sighed, torn between wanting to take heed to Arya's advice and her loyalty to her race. But it was just so real. She said quietly to Eragon.

I'm sorry, but the story was a bit unrealistic. It's good we asked about it before making rash decisions.

She was silent for a minute, then repeated, But it was so real. Too real.

Just let it go, please, Saphira.

Suddenly Eragon felt a spark of stubbornness pass through their connection. Would YOU let it go if one of the last members of your race was dieing?

"Eragon, I was hoping that you could scout the surrounding lands for any signs of imperial troops." Nasuada interrupted their silent argument. "The last thing we need is a surprise attack."

"Of course, My Lady." Replied Eragon, relived to escape Saphira's accusations. "We will do it right away." He bowed to her while explaining to his dragon; our priority is to Nasuada and the Varden. If we find any hard evidence proving Arrmani Shur'tugal is real, then after we finish our task we can ask to search for them.

He knew the stubborn blue dragon still stuck to her belief, but she did not reply. Eragon turned to leave, but Nasuada stopped him. "Oh, and please get some rest before you go. You look dead on your feet. Did you sleep at all on the rescue mission?"

Eragon laughed before answering, "No, I don't sleep at all."

A/N

Okay, well, it didn't come out exactly how I planned it, but now you know who the other rider is. Please give me a review, just to show me that you want the story to continue. Or even for criticism! I'm open either way.

Till next time then!

Holly and Misltoe