A/N: Sorry for taking sooo long with the update. I know it has been a long time, and I sincerely thank everyone who followed this fic. I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations, and I am in the process of editing all my hand written chapters, so the following updates may take even more time. Be patient! and R/R. lol.


The morning sun made its grand entrance with ruby red rays sprawling across the light blue sky. The red rays streamed into the cell, startling its occupants into wakefulness. Eragon was the first to wake. Seeing that Arya have not waken, he took the chance to look at her carefully. Dark, onyx hair spilled over her shoulders, contrasting greatly with her pale skin. Her lips were slightly parted, making her look adorable. Eragon could not help but to sigh. What is happening to him ow? First, he got caught by Galbatorix. Now he is falling in love with Arya, the elf woman whom he don't even know.

'You do,' a voice deep down inside replied. He did not reply as Arya awakens. Her cat-like eyes opened slowly, revealing her emerald green eyes.

"Eragon?" she asked.

"Arya," he responded, not taking his eyes off her, "how are you feeling?" he asked.

"My wounds…" she murmured, looking at her arm in wonder, "you healed them?" she asked, questions burning in her eyes.

"Yes. Does that displease you?" he asked, puzzled.

"No, merely confused. Why did you heal me?" Arya replied, puzzled.

"No sane person would not have healed the. Your wounds are deep, I used a lot of energy healing you. After all, who lets their friends get injured?" Eragon replied, blushing.

Arya ducked her head and blued, "you treat me too well, Eragon," she muttered.

They both sat in an awkward silence.

"Arya," he began hesitantly.

Arya looked up into his eyes, "yes?"

'her voice, it is so enchanting,' he thought.

'You've fallen in love with her, haven't you?' came Saphira's voice suddenly.

'Yes. Wait. How did you know?' Eragon asked, puzzled.

'I can hear you, you dolt.'

Eragon winced, as Saphira growled in his mind.

"Eragon, are you alright?" Arya asked suddenly, breaking him for his thoughts.

He smiled at her, "Yes, Arya, I'm just pondering over some matters," he replied. He frowned, contemplating whether to try escape from this hellhole today.

'is this a good time?' he asked Saphira, frowning slightly.

'Hmm-um… good day as any,' she replied, before falling silent.

Unconvinced, Eragon severed the mental contact with Saphira. Turning to Arya, he asked, "Do you feel alright?"

Arya looked at him sharply, worried, "what are you planning, Eragon?" she asked.

"Do you think you have enough strength to last till we are at the Varden?" he asked, seemingly ignoring her question.

"You are going to try o escape, aren't you?" she demanded, a fire burning in her eyes. Eragon nodded silently.

"Then I'll help you in anyway I can," Arya finished.

"Do you have a plan?" Eragon asked.

Arya shrugged in return. "I know how to get us out of here, but that's all I can do. Can you try to unlock us with magic?" she asked, "I'm afraid the drugs they gave me seemed to be much stronger than yours."

Eragon nodded. "Yes, I think so. We'll wait till nightfall. No one can see us that easily then."

Arya nodded, "nightfall then."

The day passed quickly. Surprisingly, Durza did not enter the cell at all, leaving them in relative peace. Soon, nightfall arrived. Eragon quietly shook Arya awake from her slumber. "it's time," he whispered, standing up.

Arya was instantly awake, "can you unlock us?" she whispered in return, nodding to their chains.

Eragon nodded. Muttering a few words in the ancient language, the locks sprung open and Arya disengaged herself from the chains, beside her, Eragon did the same.

"Jierda!" Eragon cried, pointing at the door. The door broke into tiny splinters of wood, leaving a gaping hole.

"Come on!" Eragon hissed, gesturing at her to hurry up.

Arya nodded and sprinted after him. Together, they ran swiftly down the corridors, communicating in their minds.

'Right!' Arya yelled into Eragon's mind as they reached a fork. Eragon gave her a swift nod and turned right. Eragon momentarily disappeared through a door, appearing moments later with a brown, cloth wrapped parcel. Arya skidded to a halt, waiting for Eragon. When he appeared, he shot her a look with said "I'll explain everything later". Arya nodded, before taking off again. They ran through the labyrinth of twisting corridors, almost crashing into some Urgals on guard duty at times, soon emerging into the daylight.

"We made it," Arya breathed, looking around, wide-eyed.

Eragon nodded breathlessly, 'Saphira? Are you near?' he asked.

'Where are you?' came the irritable reply.

Eragon chuckled lightly, 'At the gates, outside of Urabaen'

'I'm near. I should be there in a few minutes,' she replied, before severing the contact. Arya glanced curiously at Eragon.

"Saphira's flying here to pick us up. She would be here soon. Will you be alright?" Eragon asked, "you seem a little pale."

Arya flinched, "it's nothing much, Eragon," she muttered, moving back slightly, slightly fearful that he would discover her secret.

"Let me see your wrist, Arya," Eragon demanded, his suspicions raised.

Arya paled and took an involuntary step back, clutching the said wrist close to her. "Please, Eragon. Don't," she pleaded, looking at him imploringly.

Eragon ignored her and pulled her arm to him. Turning it face up, it revealed multitudes of cuts around her wrists. Some of them were old and faded, while some looked as though as it was less than a day old.

He looked up at Arya, trying to meet her eyes, and failing which, he pressed a hand against her cheek. "Why, Arya?" he asked gently. He watched silently as Arya looked to the ground, her lips drawn tightly together. Sighing, he knew that she would not be speaking of the matter for quite some time. Letting his hand fall, he sighed, "never mind, Arya," as Saphira came into view.

'Get on,' Saphira muttered, flapping her wings to stay in the air; as there was no space for her to land on the ledge. Eragon nodded, and leaped onto Saphira's back, extending an arm to Arya as she hopped on too, catching her nimbly.

Arya blushed heavily as Eragon caught her by the waist. Shifting, she settled herself in front of Eragon, closing her eyes as his masculine scent wafted around her.

The shock of flying soon wore off, and Arya began to enjoy the flight. Eragon smiled gently when he saw that she was finally relaxing and letting the barriers that she constructed around herself drop.

'You really love her, don't you?' Saphira asked gently.

Eragon let a small smile slip through, 'yes,' he replied, 'she's the most wonderful woman, Saphira. You won't believe how strong she is…' he trailed off, not wanting to go there.

In front of him, Arya's eyelids were drooping. The lack of food made her exhausted, and coupled with their rapid escape from Urabaen, Arya was ready to collapse. She sat in the saddle, slumped against Eragon's chest, her breaths coming in slow, steady rhythms.

Eragon sighed in bliss, laying his head on Arya's, tucking her head under his chin. They sat like that for the rest of the journey; Arya sleeping, while Eragon stayed awake to ward off all possible dangers. After almost four hours of flying, Saphira started to descent. Eragon instinctively knew that that must mean that she was tired. After all, Saphira had been travelling since the morning.

He glanced down at the woman that lay in his arms. He had never noticed how dark her hair is, he thought dreamily, as he stared into the night sky.

Arya, was in fact having a very enjoyable dream, when Saphira pulled into a sharp dive. Even in her sleep, she hugged Eragon tighter, as the tree lines came into view.

As they landed, Eragon slid off Saphira and motioned for Arya to do the same. She nodded, sliding down clumsily.

"Are you all right?" he asked, concerned.

Arya nodded in reply, but didn't say anything more. Se watched as Eragon nodded grimly, before saying, "let me heal your wrist."

Arya paled, though she forced herself to place her arm on Eragon's lap. Eragon flipped the said arm over to reveal her wrist. With a few well chosen words, he healed her wrist, leaving no scar behind. Arya shut her eyes, as though as she was praying for divine guidance.

"Don't do it again Arya," Eragon murmured. Arya sighed, "Wiol Ono," she murmured at last.

Eragon sighed at that, some how; he just knew that she would say that. "Please, Arya. Don't do this again; I'm begging you as a friend. Please."

Arya nodded, looking at Eragon in the eye. "I won't do it again. I promise."

Eragon nodded, before standing up to collect some fire wood, leaving Arya seated there, arms around her knees. She watched as Eragon collected the wood, remaining silent as he cried, "Bringsir."

"Come over, Arya," Eragon gestured from where he had the fire going. Arya nodded and scooted over to his side. She shivered slightly as the cold wind blew against her back, chilling her.

"Are you cold?" Eragon asked, noticing her shiver. At her answering nod, he took off his cloak and threw it over her shoulders. "Thank you," she murmured, leaning against Eragon's shoulder.

Eragon looked down at her, watching her quietly as she began to speak. "I'm scared, Eragon." She whispered, looking up at Eragon.

"Scared of what, Arya?" he whispered, drawing her close. "I'm scared of Durza, Eragon. Who knows what he would do when he finds out that we've escaped. Don't let him get me again, Eragon, please." Arya begged, looking up at Eragon, tears flooding her emerald eyes.

Eragon nodded and hugged Arya tightly, though still slightly puzzled at the display of emotion from the normally stoic elf. "Don't worry, I won't" he whispered at last.

They fell into a deep slumber after a while, oblivious to all around them; with Saphira keeping watch. Far away in the darkness, a red-haired man clenched his hands in anger and howled; while in the dark woods, pairs of glowing red eyes snapped open.