And I am back… don't anyone worry, I haven't died yet. Thanks again for those who read and reviewed, I am in your debt.

Well the author's note is very short this chapter, yes you all can sigh in relief, so I hope this chapter is one you will enjoy.

Small Reunions and The Final Test

"So what is the decision of the Riders'?" Arya asked, looking happier then she had the day before. Again Fírnen was by her side, but his eyes were shut and he seemed asleep.

"They enthusiastically agreed to return to Alagaesia for the Agaetí Blödhren." He said, a smile breaking across his face despite his exhaustion. He hadn't slept well the night before, Jaltin's birthing being worse then he and the others had expected. "Also a number of the wild dragons will be joining us along with Blödhgarm. Sorrel and Jaltin will remain behind though. Jaltin delivered eight eggs last night and is completely exhausted, but both she and the eggs are in remarkable health, despite some minor complications."

"Wonderful!" Arya said, clapping her hands together once, causing Fírnen to open one of his eyes with a soft growl. He soon closed it again and went back to napping. "That is just wonderful. I will spread the word. When will you be setting out?"

"Within a fortnight." He said, mentally wishing the days away. Now that he knew that they were actually going, he was impatient for that day to be here, but alas, he had other responsibilities that could not be ignored, "At the end of this week I will lead Sorrel and Rumis through the final stage of apprenticeship and hopefully they will become full fledged riders. I have faith they will handle it with more grace than others before them had. The week after that will be spent preparing the riders and dragons for the flight there. It will be arduous for the younger dragons, but they are determined to do it."

"I'm sure they will do fine." Arya said, suddenly looking off to the side, talking to someone in a hushed tone, so low Eragon could not hear. Fírnen lifted his head and huffed, obviously annoyed that his nap was being disturbed. Eragon silently chuckled at the look on his face, then returned his attention when Arya cleared her throat. "Since that is taken care of, there is someone here that wants to speak to you Eragon. So, if you will give us a moment, Fírnen and I will get out of their way. And if this is the last I hear from you before you set out, then safe travels to you and the others."

He bowed his head and the mirror went blank. It didn't show his reflection, it just turned black, like a sheet had been thrown over it, and he could have sworn he could hear noises on the other side. A growl confirmed his suspicion and then the blackness disappeared and there, looking back at him, was his brother, Murtagh and the blood-red form of Thorn. Eragon was so shocked that he couldn't do anything more than gape. He hadn't heard any news of them since they flew off after the battle of Urû'baen.

"Well are you going to say something or stand there looking like you lost the only wits you were born with?" Murtagh said, a smile forming on his face. A grating sound came from Thorn and Eragon guessed that he was laughing. They both had changed little since they last saw them, save Thorn's size. Murtagh's hair was about the same length it was the first time they met and his eyes were bright with mirth. His face was more angled, a result of the bond, and Eragon was sure that if he could see them, his ears would be slightly pointed. Thorn was huge. Eragon could only see part of his head, but was sure the dragon was roughly the same size Glaedr had been.

"I'm not sure what to say." Eragon said, truly not able to think of anything. It had been so long since he had seen the two of them that he had thought they were lost to the void. To see them now was like seeing Brom or Oromis again; he hoped his mind wasn't playing tricks on him. Beside him, Saphira sniffed at the glass and growled at Thorn, a questioning sound that Eragon could have gotten even if he wasn't reading her thoughts; she wished to know if it was her imagination at work or if they were really there. Thorn answered her in turn and sniffed at the glass as well. Murtagh patted his scaly head and smiled at Saphira, his face bright and open, not at all like he had been when he left them before the sea of nettles. He seems happy. Better than before. Thorn looks better too. Saphira said and he could not help but agree, repeating her words aloud. "You seem happy."

"We are. More happy then we had ever hoped to be. Thorn yearns to meet you properly this time, as the last time you met his mind was still clouded and confused, and he cannot wait for you to get here. A sentiment I share." He said, hooking his hands in his belt, a belt that was weaponless. That fact did not escape Eragon's notice.

"You're not wearing Zar'roc." He said, surprised. "Did you loose it?"

"Zar'roc no longer. Nay, I still have it. Since I was here, I asked Rhünon if she could remove its sigil and replace it. She readily agreed and I named it Durnskiln, which is from the language of an indigenous tribe of people I met in my travels in the north. It means 'Life-changer'," he said, stepping to the side to retrieve it from out of view. When he returned he held it up so that Eragon could see the new symbol placed on the wine-red sheath, knowing there was an identical one on the sword itself. Eragon didn't recognize the symbol and guessed it was from the language Murtagh spoke of.

"You named it well." He said, watching him strap it to his belt. There was a reluctance on Murtagh's face, as if he didn't really want to wear the weapon, but did so out of habit, or duty. "So, how went your travels?"

"They were remarkable." He said, his face lighting up again. "Thorn and I have seen so many wonders. Lights that streak across the sky for days without ceasing, and trees so large, they dwarf those of Du Weldenvarden by three. They could house a number of dragons in one of their trunks, for they are all hollow on the inside. I have met so many people Eragon. Many don't even share our language. It was something, us learning how to communicate with them, but we did, and we learned so much!

"But no dragons. Not once did we come across a person who had seen a dragon before. The yearning in our hearts to set eyes upon another of Thorn's kind grew until we could think of nothing else. That was when we knew it was time to return to Alagaesia; that the hurt we had endured was behind us and no longer part of us. We are whole again, and feel better then we have ever felt. It has taken longer then we thought, but we are happy Eragon. And we wish to take you up on your offer to live with you on your island."

"We would happily have you." Eragon said, instantly liking the idea. He wanted to spend hours talking with the two of them, getting to know who they had become. "I cannot wait to hear the tales of your adventures."

"Nor can I wait to hear about the dragons and riders. I have met the four who have set up on Edoc'sil. They are great riders, even if one of them wanted to tear my heart out." he said, a faint smile touching his lips. "But I cannot blame her. After what I did, it was only right. Do not worry Eragon, I can see it on your face. Kellif and I have settled our differences. She cannot forgive, but it was a long time ago and she can understand, and that is all I want."

"But you are okay, truly okay?"

"Better than okay." Murtagh said, meeting Thorn's eye as the red dragon huffed and nodded, his snout almost knocking into the table the mirror sat on. "We are different, and that is the greatest thing that has ever happened to us. And it is all because of you. Thank you Eragon. I couldn't lower myself to tell you the last time we were together, but I can now. Thank you for the sacrifices you made to free Alagaesia. Thank you for freeing us."

Eragon could have sworn that he saw a streak of moisture fall down Murtagh's face, but he had to have been mistaken. After all, Murtagh didn't cry. He wouldn't. Would he?

The week after his announcement was hectic. The elves and apprentices were busy with lessons and preparations for the long flight to Alagaesia. Eragon spent many hours with the oldest of his students, preparing them for the test they were about to receive. He spoke with them for many hours about their long stay on the island and what they would do when their training was complete.

"I wish to stay here if that is permissible." Sorrel said on the day before their final test. "Too many years have passed since I left Alagaesia. I wouldn't recognize it anymore. My mother and grandparents are gone from this world and my siblings as well. Two generations have passed since I was chosen by Jaltin. This is my home now. You and the other riders are my only family."

You will always be welcome here daughter of Ismira. Saphira said, tousling their hair with her hot breath. Eragon agreed, turning to the dark-headed rider at her side. Rumis was but three years older than Sorrel and was chosen within the same year as her. They had been close their whole lives and it did not escape his attention that there was more between them then just friendship. "What of you Rumis? What are your plans?"

"The same. I really didn't have a life before Ília Skulblakar. I was an orphan who lived at a common house in Dras Leona. I had no family before here. Now everyone here is a member of my family; even Reznargh is family." Rumis said, naming the only Urgal rider on the island.

Dawn came, crisp and clear, and from the edge of the forest strode Eragon and Saphira. They made their way toward the four apprentices that stood at the doors of the Keeping House- a name given to the living quarters by the wild dragons that lived in the mountains. A saddle was strapped onto Saphira's back and, after a century of disuse, Brisingr was strapped to Eragon's hip, the sapphire on the pommel catching the early morning light. His students stared at the sword with awe, for none of them had ever seen a sword so finely crafted save the two that hung on the wall in their master's study.

Without ceremony, Eragon took his students through the city, talking to them about their lessons and quizzing them on everything they had learned since they first arrived on the island. As they passed the giant statue of the first dragon and rider, they stopped, and Eragon told them again the story of the first dragon rider. He then bowed to the statue and continued on until they came to the open field they used for combat. He then turned facing them and drew his sword, the iridescent blue shimmering as if it were on fire. He stood there, the sword tip pointed toward the ground and began speaking.

"A long time ago some one told me something of great importance. It has been the driving force in my life ever since. I thought about it when I was in battle and when I fought the king of old. I used it outside of battle to help me determine the character of the people around me. His words were thus: 'You must learn to see what you are looking at.' I didn't understand him when he first spoke this to me. I do now. And now I pass it on to you, the way he taught me." He said, staring at his students. He then lifted his sword, "Sorrel, draw your sword and meet me in battle."

Name Pronunciations:

Bellui- bell-oo-ee

Mithrim- Mee-thrim

Kellif- kell-if

Aretha- air-ith-uh

Redick- Red-ick

Yülqa- Yule-kah

Telíf- Tell-eef

Maëna- May-na

Jaltin- yall-ten (yall sounds like call)

Sorrel- Sore-ul

Rumis- Rue-miss

Valdr- vall-duhr (Vall sounds like Ball)

Reznargh- rez-narg (rez rhymes with pez)

Translations:

Brisingr- fire

Zar'roc- Misery

Durnskiln- Life-changer (not of the Ancient Language)