Sorry everyone. I messed up because I had two chapters that were the same and I skipped one. Thanks to anime4ever for notifying me!

The Stranger

After a really huge dinner, Lady Nasuada wanted to see Eragon and Saphira-alone. A guard approached them and told them they were supposed to be at her tent soon afterwards. They made their way towards it.

That was a good dinner, Saphira transmitted her thoughts to Eragon, but they didn't have any roast lamb tonight. Eragon laughed out loud, then sobering when he thought of Oromis and Glaedr. He felt Saphira probe into his thoughts and she became sad and quiet too.

Murtagh and Thorn were the ones who killed them. Eragon thought, unbearably angry.

You knew it they weren't the ones. It was Galbotorix. He felt a burst of anger and fury from his blue dragon. Murderer…assassin…he killed so many…tortured innocent people…and the image of all the egg shells! She reared on her hind legs and sent a blue flame fifty feet into the sky.

Yes, I feel the same fury. Eragon replied, gritting his teeth. A guard standing outside Nasuada's tent hurried towards them.

"Lady Nasuada has been waiting for quite a while," the guard said, "It seems to me that she has something really important to say." He escorted Eragon and Saphira to the tent. The guard resumed his protective position and Eragon went in.

"Sorry, my lady, we were late," Eragon said, bowing. Saphira pushed her nose and eyes through the tent flap.

"It's fine. I was a bit impatient, but that's all," she replied. She was standing in front of a desk with a large map on it. Eragon moved closer and peered at the map.

"What is this map for?" Eragon asked, feeling stupid. Saphira snorted.

Look at it! She huffed. Eragon scrutinized the map, but made no sense of the circles and the X's and the lines going to Galbotorix's capital. He scratched his head awkwardly.

"Better cast a spell so no one will eavesdrop on us," Lady Nasuada sighed. In response, Eragon muttered a spell, using the ancient language, under his breath. Soon they couldn't hear anything.

"That's better."

"What are those circles and X's for?"

"These?" Nasuada absentmindedly pointed at some random spots. "The circles are the cities that we have captured so far, and the X's are the ones that Galbotorix still commands. The elves and us have only captured a few villages and two main cities so far. That's nowhere near Galbotorix's reign."

"We must not rush ourselves. Before we take more cities, we should become stronger."

"Precisely my point. They have two dragons with dragon riders, and they both are stronger than you." Eragon was speechless. He opened his mouth to speak, but Nasuada waved him off.

"However, we have managed to turn the odds around," she interrupted, walking over to a corner of the tent. "I want you two to pledge in the ancient language that you two will not say a word to anyone about I'm going to show you." Eragon nodded and said the phrase out loud, while Saphira just transmitted her thoughts to Lady Nasuada herself. She smiled and took a round thing that was covered in cloth out of a hidden place. She placed it on the table and pulled the cloth off, revealing what was inside. Eragon gasped, shocked, and Saphira jerked her head back in surprise.

Laying on the table was a green dragon egg. Eragon stared at it, wondering how they got it out of Galbotorix's grasp. Saphira was speechless too, but he could feel her joy vibrating throughout him.

"You may have been wondering about how the Varden has got the only dragon egg into our hands from Galbotorix's. We have had secret magicians and spies that have been working throughout the castle for a long time. I summoned them to find the place where this last green egg was kept and steal it, giving it to us. After the task was done, I told them to leave the castle and return to us."

Did any of them survive? Nasuada shook her head.

"In fact, none of them lived long enough to see the day when the new dragon and Dragon Rider would emerge. They were all caught and killed, but not before they transported it to us. However, Galbotorix did not know they were working for the Varden, because I made sure of that. Therefore, he has no idea where the egg is now." Saphira ducked her head.

That is a sad ending, but it was to help end Galbotorix's reign. They did what they were supposed to do. Saphira thought to Eragon.

Yes, and let's respect them.

"In the meantime, have you ever seen any new and unfamiliar people around here?" Lady Nasuada asked.

Yes, we have seen two.

"Were they wearing a black cloak with a bit of silver, black boots, and black gloves?" she asked again.

"Yes."

"Did one of them have spiky blondish hair?"

Yes. We saw him in an unknown forest. Eragon glared at his dragon. It was he who actually discovered the guy, but he just let it be.

"He came to us and asked if there were any creatures roaming around that were either black and had yellow eyes, or were colorful and had this kind of symbol on them." She pointed to a heart that was outlined in red and had thorns in its black center. "He said they were called Heartless, and if there were any that appeared, he would come around often."

"Hmm…last time we saw him he was just trying to get leaves off of his cloak," Eragon commented, "I didn't know he actually came to camp. Is he working with Galbotorix?"

"When I asked him if he was, he said that he had no clue who Galbotorix was. I had a couple of magicians dig into his mind, and they reported that he really didn't know who Galbotorix was."

I think he's safe, but it seems to me that he came from another world. Why would he appear with weird creatures called the Heartless? Saphira stated.

"I do not know," Nasuada replied. She started speaking again, but a scream drowned out the rest of her words. She grabbed Eragon's arm.

"Quick! We need to see what's going on! Saphira, we need your help!" Eragon pulled out Brisingr and ran outside along Saphira and Lady Nasuada. The guards got into a protective circle around the leader of the Varden while Eragon took off toward the site of the scream, with Saphira flying overhead.

They approached a woman who was being attacked by black creatures with yellow beady eyes. "That's exactly what Lady Nasuada told us about. The Heartless!" Eragon yelled. He jumped into the swarm and cut away at the unending attackers. He managed to get the woman to safety, but he still had to fend them off. Saphira, I need help! They won't stop coming! Saphira, in response, sent a jet of flame down onto the dark spot. When she stopped, none of the Heartless were left. But just as Eragon relaxed, some started popping up again from the ground.

"Come on! Give me a break!" Eragon shouted, as he got ready for battle again. Just then, he saw a figure slash open all the Heartless and did a cool aerial attack on the last one. When he landed, facing away from them, Eragon and Saphira saw that it was the same boy from the forest, with the spiky blondish hair and the same cloak. The sapphire dragon landed and they both moved towards the boy. He turned around.

"Needed some help there, huh?" He said, grinning. Saphira leaned forward and sniffed him suspiciously.

What's your name? She said directly into his head. The stranger stared at her.

"I didn't know dragons could talk…" When Saphira snorted, he said quickly, "Look, I've never met a dragon besides those I read in books!"

It's alright. In fact, I think you are quite funny. How did you get rid of all the Heartless? Even Eragon here couldn't, she said.

"So this is Eragon? I have heard much about you from Nasuada. Then you must be the famous Saphira," he nodded to the dragon. She flapped her wings in pleasure. "In fact, I have had a lot of training from fighting Heartless. When I first knew I had this power, I started destroying them. They are evil monsters."

Eragon smiled. "Well, I'm glad you helped us out. What is your name?"

"I'm Roxas," he said.

Well, Roxas, nice to meet you. Saphira bowed to him. Eragon stared at her in surprise. She never bowed to anyone else before. What was so special about this Roxas that impresses her? Roxas bowed back in a respectful manner.

"I'm glad we're all friends now," Roxas said, "but can you show me to Nasuada? I have important things to discuss with her."

"Sure," Eragon said, leading the way to her tent. As usual, the guards were standing outside, but this time they would not let them enter.

"Who is that young boy that is with you?" one of the guards asked, smiling crookedly.

"He is a friend. Let us enter!" Eragon replied harshly.

"No. We do not know who he is, Shadeslayer," another guard replied. After he said it, Saphira bared her fangs and let out a tremendous roar.

"Okay, okay, we'll let you pass," both guards said, trembling. Saphira roared again, in triumph, scaring the guards again, making Eragon and Roxas laugh as they entered the tent.

I'm not going to have any comedy right now because I am really busy. See ya'll later!