Disclaimer: Do I need one? Just look at my other chapters if you really need to see one. I'm not Paolini. I just made a mini disclaimer, didn't I? Oh well…

A/N: Thanks for your reviews! In this chapter, the action will pick up a little, so it's not just all dialogue. And if you have a fear of snakes (like I do. My friends and I just call it "snakeophobia since we don't know the proper name for it), I'm going to caution you that there is a small mention of one in a later section. Just skip over it once you reach it if you have that fear. I'll put a warning in front of and behind it so you know. Anyway, I've seen that a concern has been raised that I'm going to make this into a romance story. Well, since I'm not big on romance myself, I'm not going to turn it into one. The only thing is that there's going to be slight romance later in the story, but it's not going to be the main point of the story. So, no one worry, okay? Thanks! Here's chapter four. I think I made it pretty long, so enjoy!

Ch. 4: Trouble in Melian

Thorn flew over the landscape, feeling a great weight leave his Rider as they got farther and farther from Uru'baen. The red dragon smiled to himself. It had been a long time since he had felt Murtagh this happy…

We will be safe for now, Murtagh. Thorn told him.

Thank you, Thorn. Murtagh replied with a smile.

The one you really have to thank is Aianna. She's the one who freed me and helped you to escape. I think she's grown fond of you…

Murtagh glanced back at Aianna, who was looking down on Uru'baen with an unreadable expression on her face. "What's wrong?" he asked with concern.

Aianna looked up at him when she heard him address her. "I'm just thinking…" she answered quietly.

Murtagh looked at her worriedly, his eyes silently urging her to continue. The elf sighed as she looked away from him again. "I'm thinking about what Aie has become." Aianna muttered without much feeling. "Galbatorix kidnapped us when he raided our village when we where young. Ever since then, he manipulated our minds, twisting us to do his will. Aie was always more eager to do what he wanted, but I didn't want to as much. I was forced to do some things of course, but it was reluctantly. I just wanted to get out of there. Now, our difference has torn us apart…"

Murtagh looked at her with sympathy, placing his hand on her shoulder in a comforting way. "It's all right, Aianna." he assured her. "You did the right thing. Everything will be fine."

Aianna looked back at him, then smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Murtagh…"

I hate to break up your conversation, Thorn suddenly said, glancing back at them, but I thought I'd inform you that we're going to need materials, even though we're going to be meeting with Eragon soon.

Which town is nearest? Murtagh asked.

Thorn looked down on the landscape beneath them, trying to see where they were. I believe the closest town is Melian… the red dragon answered.

"Melian?" Aianna asked after Murtagh relayed the information to her. "That's a town that is against Galbatorix and the Empire, right?"

"We don't have much of a choice, Aianna." Murtagh replied. "We need supplies. We'll land there with Thorn a little ways away, get what we need, and get back out again. We don't even have to tell anyone our names. It will be that quick."

Aianna sighed and slowly nodded. "All right." she muttered. "If that's what we have to do, we'll do it. Let's just get in and out as soon as possible."

Xxxxxxxxxx

"Thorn, stay here." Murtagh said. "We'll have a better chance of being known if you're with us."

The red dragon growled angrily. Murtagh, what if something happens? Thorn asked. I won't be able to get to you fast enough.

We'll be fine, Thorn. Murtagh answered as reassuringly as he could, running his hand along the scales on the top of Thorn's head. You know I'll call if there's danger.

Thorn growled again, this time with worry, as he rubbed his head up against his Rider. Be careful. he warned.

Murtagh smiled up at him as if to say, "I will". Then, he turned to Aianna. "Let's go." he told her as he began to walk to the edge of the forest. Aianna glanced back at Thorn, then quickly followed Murtagh. Thorn watched them with concern, praying that for once, nothing would go wrong.

Xxxxxxxxxx

"All right. I think we have all of the extra arrows we're going to need, and now all we have to move on to is food and medical supplies." Murtagh commented as he put the arrows away.

Aianna nodded. "If we each concentrate on one of them, we'll get done faster." she told him.

Murtagh grinned admiringly. "Good idea." he agreed. "You get the medical supplies, and I'll get enough food and water to last us."

"Where should we meet?" Aianna asked. "It's a good plan, but I think we should go back to Thorn together."

The Rider looked around, scanning everything. Then, his dark eyes landed on a large, granite, flower-shaped fountain. A small waterfall was coming from the center of the flower while smaller strands were falling from the many petals. It was beautiful.

"How about there?" Murtagh suggested, pointing at it. "That's an easy enough place to remember."

Aianna followed his gaze, and then nodded when she saw it. "All right." she said, turning back to him. "We'll meet there as soon as we're done."

"See you shortly." Murtagh told her, watching as she disappeared into the crowd. Slowly, his nerves began to settle. Maybe nothing would go wrong…

xxxxxxxxxx

Aianna soon found the shop that sold herbs and other medical supplies, and she cautiously entered. An aurora of many different smells greeted her in the dim lighting, mainly from the many plants and potions that lined the walls and littered the floor around the room. The elf maneuvered her way through the maze of potted plants and other objects that she didn't know the names of as she slowly approached the counter.

snake section

She cringed when she saw a human skull resting by a bag full of coins, a live snake smoothly and slowly sliding through the empty eye sockets. Its black scales shimmered slightly as it passed the light coming from a small candle next to it, casting dark shadows onto the wall as it danced. Aianna's face paled as she backed away from the counter. She had always had a fear of snakes…

end of snake section

Suddenly, she cried out and whirled around when a wrinkled hand landed on her shoulder. An old woman, hunched over and leaning heavily on a dragon-headed shaped cane, was staring back at her, her dark blue eyes surprisingly clear. Each deep line that ran along her face seemed to tell its own story of her life. Around her neck hung a shriveled shrunken head. When she saw the elf's dark eyes on it, the woman smiled, showing two rows of many missing or broken yellowed teeth.

"It's to keep away evil spirits." she explained to a startled Aianna, turning to walk to the counter. "Come, girl. We don't have all day."

second snake section

Aianna slowly and cautiously followed her, looking warily down on the skull with the snake in it. The old woman noticed her gaze.

"Don't worry, dearie," she said, "he won't hurt you." She smirked when she saw the elf calm down slightly. "Unless of course he bites you. Then, he's deadly."

end of second snake section

Aianna screamed and moved to the side of the counter away from the snake, and the woman laughed. "Now, how may I help you?" she asked.

"I was wondering if you could get these items for me, Ma'am." Aianna answered shakily, pulling out a folded up piece of paper and handing it to her.

"Please, call me Agatha." the woman said with a smile as she took the paper in one of her bony hands. "All of my friends do. Well, actually, everyone does since that's my name."

"All right then, Agatha." Aianna repeated while the woman laughed. "Could you get these items for me? I am short on time."

"These are very basic items." Agatha commented, looking the list over as she unfolded it. "Simple to find. I'll have my assistant get them for you." The old woman turned to a closed door that the elf hadn't noticed before, and it opened. She stood in front of the crack so no one else could see into the room and handed the paper to an unseen person. All Aianna could see were a pair of golden yellow eyes before the door was shut again. Before Agatha could turn around, Aianna quickly looked around at the store, hoping not to arouse suspicion. Her eyes widened when she saw a large skull that must have belonged to a dragon resting on the floor against the wall in the back of the store.

The old woman studied Aianna as she looked at the skull in wonder, and her own gaze faltered slightly when she looked at it herself. But then, she turned back to her customer. "You are such a pretty thing." Agatha commented, catching the elf by surprise. "Do you have that certain someone who is precious to you?"

"What, me? Uh, no." Aianna replied quickly, automatically tightening the band that held her long black hair back. She was flustered by the old woman's words, and rightly so. No one had ever called her beautiful before, and even she didn't consider herself to be. The word just didn't seem to fit her…

The haunting sound of the woman's laughter echoed throughout the small, dank room. "With your looks, dear, you'll soon find someone to spend the rest of your life with." Agatha assured her. "Now, why is a young girl like yourself getting items like these? Are you alone?"

"No." Aianna answered nervously. "I'm traveling with one of my… friends. We're on our way to meet with his brother, and we thought that we'd stop to get some medicinal supplies in case we need it."

Agatha was silent, almost as if she was deep in thought. Aianna squirmed a little under her inquisitive gaze, feeling uncomfortable. What was taking her assistant so long to get the herbs if they were so simple to find?

"Your name is Aianna, is it not?" Agatha suddenly asked in an almost demanding way. "A dark servant of King Galbatorix himself?"

Aianna gasped, completely caught off guard by the question. But then, tears filled her eyes as she shook her head defiantly. "No. No! I'm not like that anymore!" How did this woman know who she was? No matter what the answer was, it terrified her.

"It is all right, dear child." Agatha said, looking at her with sympathy. "I know of what has occurred as of late. The Dark One has returned, and your heart has softened because of another; Murtagh, son of the Traitor."

The elf flushed slightly with embarrassment, and she cast her black eyes down to the dusty floor. She gasped and moved quickly to the side when she saw a small spider scuttle past her.

Agatha's eyes brightened up when she saw this action. "Ah, so I see that there is someone who has captured your heart." When the elf didn't respond, her expression darkened. "I am afraid to say that he will not live to see the end of his father's curse, or the end of this war."

The elderly woman turned to a small bowl of water that was near her, and she sprinkled some gold powder into it. Aianna leaned over the bowl with mounting fear to look into it, watching as a picture slowly began to form. When it was complete, the elf gasped.

She saw Murtagh's pale face reflected in the water, his black hair falling over his closed eyes and greatly contrasting with his skin. The picture soon changed a little, and she saw herself hugging his lifeless body, tears streaming from her eyes. Next to her was Eragon, pulling Murtagh's red blade from his limp hand and angrily running toward a shadowed figure, not bothering to keep back the tears that were escaping.

The picture was about to change again, but a small drop of water fell into the bowl and made the images disappear. Agatha looked up from the water and saw that Aianna was shaking while she cried silently. The old woman slowly hobbled to the other side of the counter where she was standing and placed her hand comfortingly on her shoulder. Aianna tried wiping her tears away, feeling embarrassed that she was crying in front of a complete stranger. But more tears kept falling, and she finally gave up on trying to hold them back.

"It's all right, child." Agatha muttered comfortingly, beginning to rub her back when she felt it beginning to rise and fall rapidly under her hand. "Not everything is set in stone. This future may be changed."

Aianna looked up at the woman, her tear-filled eyes hopeful. "Really?" she asked. "Do you mean that?"

"I do, dear." Agatha answered sincerely, continuing to rub her back. "If you truly love him, you will not lose hope."

The elf nodded her gratitude and smiled, taking a deep breath and wiping her tears away. Then, Agatha looked up when the door opened a crack, a gray hand holding out a bag full of items.

With speed that seemed to be too fast for her, Agatha rushed to the door, grabbed the bag and shut the door again, setting the items on the counter. "Here you are, dear." she said, opening the bag of coins that was near the skull. "You can pay now."

Aianna blinked a few times to keep her tears at bay, reaching into her bag and putting four gold coins into the woman's purse. Then, she picked up the bag with the herbs in it and prepared to walk out, but the old woman stopped her. "Hold on, child. I want you to have this." Agatha said, reaching behind the counter and bringing out a cup. Then, she took it with her into the back room, and she came back a minute later. The content of the cup was steaming, and it gave off the odor of freshly brewed tea. "Chamomile tea." she told her, handing the cup to the elf. "It will help to calm you down."

"Thank you, Agatha." Aianna said, taking a sip as she walked to the door and went out onto the street. "Goodbye."

"Good luck, child." Agatha called after her sadly as the door shut. "Good luck."

Xxxxxxxxxx

"Thank you." Murtagh said as he took the bagged food and water while giving the man behind the counter some gold coins. The man went through them, making sure that it was the right amount. When he was sure that it was, he nodded and put the money in a small bag.

"Have a good day, Sir." the man said, nodding.

"You too." Murtagh replied, nodding back as he began to walk toward the door. The man who owned the store's eyes suddenly gleamed dangerously.

"Oh, Sir? One more thing."

"Yes?" Murtagh asked, stopping and turning around to look back at him. Suddenly, a forceful wind hit him and sent him back, slamming him into the wall behind him. He fell to the ground, feeling dazed from the impact. Before he could do a thing, the shop owner ran to him with abnormal speed and was standing over him. Then, Murtagh's hands flew to his neck when an invisible force tightened around it, making him unable to breathe.

"Where is your dragon, Rider?" the man demanded. "Or should I say, Murtagh."

Murtagh's eyes widened in horror as he struggled to breathe. "I… I'm not going… to tell you…" he managed to choke out.

Thorn! he thought desperately.

The man's deep blue eyes flared angrily, and Murtagh cried out when the force around his neck tightened, causing him to lose consciousness. The shop owner glared down on the unconscious Rider, his eyes gleaming maliciously as his black hair shifted a little and revealed a pointed ear. "I will not allow a servant of the Empire to do harm to our village again." he muttered. "Your end will be a great victory for us, since Galbatorix will lose his greatest soldier. And I will be considered a hero when I end your life!"

A/N: I hope you liked it! Two vital characters were introduced in this chapter, so I hopefully, you'll be able to keep track. Just to make it simple… Vital character # 1: Agatha. She will be very important later. Vital character # 2: the nameless elf shopkeeper. Even though I have yet to name him, he will also be very important later. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this. This is the longest chapter in this story so far, I think… Please review! Thanks!!