The squeak of overstuffed cushions ruffled the quiet air inside the large double doors, which happened to be protected by two very large men with spears and armed with thick swords. Heads turned and whispers broke out. Kai stood still as dozens of eyes swept her form, they judged her, compared her to the stories they'd heard, and compared her to what they remembered from the battle field in the Burning Plains. The meeting room had a thick rich smell of old wood and sweat. The furniture was filled with large people holding brimming goblets of creamy liquid, other seats were refreshingly empty, and even more space was filled by taller thin people standing or leaning against book shelves, but all were watching Kai. In return Kai had eyes for only one person in the crowded room.

Nasuada was perched on the only desk in the room holding a warm stare with the silver haired young woman standing next to her sworn Rider. Her face was paler than Kai had remembered and her clothes were a bit more used but just as extravagant. The age change evident on the Leader's face made Kai realize how long she had been gone. Kai's memory only suggested Suoh and she had been gone months, but Nasuada's face said differently. Peculiar. Kai thought. Something that hadn't changed was the woman standing behind Nasuada's shoulder glaring at Kai unhappy with her arrival. Kai would never understand that woman or why Nasuada could put up with her as long as she had. Kai seemed to remember her names was something like Trinity or some other nonsense…

"Welcome back, Kai." Nasuada smiled. Her memories of Kai were held fondly. Kai had been quiet, speaking only when necessary and always shrouded in mystery. Though through all of the observations Nasuada had made, she knew Kai's words were deliberate. Every syllable from her mouth was binding and true. Nasuada felt she could always find the truth from Kai, she wouldn't lie. Four striving years had passed, and yet there the amazing sword wielder stood, not a day older than when she remembered seeing her last.

Nasuada finally diverted her eyes to Eragon as he stood uncomfortable with the deafening whispering yet completely silent room. That boy had barely aged as well, she realized observing him as he refused to look away from the window across the room until the stuffy room calmed down and allowed him and Kai to take seats. It was painfully obvious that the main source of Eragon's unease was Kai herself.

"Lady." Kai inclined her head in greeting.

"Please, take a seat you two. Welcome back as well, Eragon." Kai silently dissected the tone the Leader had used when speaking to Eragon with interest as Eragon nodded to his lady. The sentence implied Eragon had been difficult with them before, perhaps leaving the room to gather his thoughts and get some air before he returned. And surprisingly he had returned with Kai.

Kai smoothly glided toward a seat between a side table and a rather twiggy woman in layers of lace and silk. It was a wonder the woman didn't pass out of heat stroke. Kai watched Eragon cover the distance from the closing doors to an empty corner in three impatient strokes. He momentarily met her eyes before quickly looking to Nasuada instead. He became uncharacteristically self conscience as soon as he realized Kai had been watching him. He patted his hair nervously before Nasuada turned her voice to address the entire room.

"May we begin now?" She proposed. A wave of gruff grunts and tired nods of approval ceased the intense quiet and lack of movement. An important meeting was underway. Kai wondered at Nasuada's talent for predicting when she would return from her travels. Nasuada had gathered everyone needed for the meeting just before Kai had landed in Surda. It must have been a sign for Nasuada's great leading abilities.

--

Dragon's are a queer species. They have minds and intelligence far beyond human belief, and yet a form that possessed incredible power in the shape of beautiful monsters capable of the most devastating of disasters and destruction. And as Alagaesia lay in the wake of war, the silent before the storm, one dragon pondered whether or not he should release his most devastating powers just only to relieve himself of the suffocating frustration a certain non-human had blanketed him in. Citrus blossoms and the lingering sent of recently overturned soil filled Suoh's nose with a powerful odor. His sense of smell was also beyond human capability to imagine; he could also count and identify every insect around him as he lay dozing in the warm sun. He had looked relaxed enough. But another dragon, high above the orange orchard and lounging in her own room provided by the Varden, knew better. Just as her senses were as advanced as Suoh's, she clearly observed his tense muscles and clenched jaw through one falsely tired eye.

Saphira was curled up in one of the three dragon towers the Kingdom of Surda had. The other two towers were visible enough, only half obscured by another tower of the castle or hazy through the heat. Her tower was very spacious and circular, as if meant for a much larger dragon. A large portion of the walls had been removed for her convenience of easy departure and entrance. Thin tall windows still covered the remaining wall, one of which Saphira found herself looking though with a lazy eye to watch Eragon and Kai emerge into another tower.

--

Kai had bound herself to Nasuada four years ago. She wasn't surprised when the Lady broke the news of the impending final battle. Kai was only glad it would be one more fight to end it all, to declare the winner and to change Alagaesia. The meeting had proceeded to their funding of their battle. Much of the larger people crammed into their chairs partook in that conversation. Kai found out that Nasuada got most of her money from making lace with magic. Not too conventional, but very genius in idea and money apparently.

Later, those large people that barely fit into their seats were dismissed, and talk of battle tactic broke out. Kai was relied on for most of the advice as the people who had been at the back of the room stepped forward with all sorts of maps and small items to place on them.

Still tired from her trip, Kai yawned as she gazed over a certain map a very tall balding man had brought out. Nasuada caught her yawn and cut their meeting short asking Eragon to show Kai to her room.

Instead of the small homely room Kai had expected, Eragon showed her to a room that felt more like a giant bubble. The walk up had been a laborious winding hike made worse by a weird silence between her and the Varden Rider. The walls leading to her door were carved deeply with swirling lines that boggled the mind. She had to divert her eyes and focus on the steps so not to trip or fall.

Ahead of her, Eragon stopped his trek up the winding and confusing hall to stand before her door. A very small door. Kai looked at it skeptically as Eragon talked reasonably with the doorknob. The door swung open smoothly under his fingers, but Kai had fair reason to assume she wouldn't be so successful on her own.

The sight within the door made her forget about the winding stairs and tricky doorknob. They'd given her Rider's quarters. The long stairwell suddenly made sense; being tired was really hindering her reasoning skills. The room was huge and circular. Nearly half of the wall was missing to allow easy dragon access and the remaining wall was littered with disgustingly pretty stained glass. Kai had to wonder where exactly she was expected to change her clothing. A small, but elaborate, bed was dedicated to her with deep red and gold colors coinciding with the stained glass and mosaic tiled floor. Thick silky looking curtains hung open around the four posted bed and similar pieces of fabric hung from the ceiling leading away from a very high up gigantic lantern. Smaller ones stood on metal crafted posts around her small part of the room.

"Thank you, Eragon. It's all very nice, more than I expected." Kai said stifling another yawn. She walked toward the bed lifting her one small bag over her head and dropped it near the dark wooden frame. Eragon watched her circle the bed carefully examining her accommodations. He watched her run her fingers over the dark lanterns and across the only table in the room. He stood by the door aware that she hadn't invited him in. He only watched her from afar cross the gigantic space, heard her shallow almost silent footsteps echo off the tall ceiling. "Have you been here this whole time?" Her voice easily carried across the room.

"I left for a while, but not long." Eragon answered. He had gone with his cousin on a trip of revenge and rescue. But that was all done with. He was in a larger fight now, he was protecting more than his family now. He had a country to think of.

"I was gone for a long time." Kai said looking out at the horizon rather than at him. "I hadn't realized until I saw Nasuada. She's older." She crossed her arms tightening her shirt across her back. "But you are not. You're the same, Eragon." Eragon found it hard not to trace her silhouette against the sky; her form was rather tall for how thin she was. Her hair reflected the sun like water and her stance was easy and non-threatening, but somehow her posture still could not hide how dangerous she was.

"I don't look older, but I've changed." He said leaning against the open door. "If you don't mind, Saphira and I had something planned for tonight." He said pushing off the door and looking ready to apologetically leave.

"Have you found your peace, Eragon?" Kai asked finally turning and looking at him. She'd used his name. Eragon paused his departure and stared at her. "I said you haven't changed, but your eyes are different." Kai knew something had plagued Eragon last she saw him, she only wished he'd finally found a middle ground.

The last time Eragon had seen Kai, he had been upset with the fact that his uncle's killers were still at large. And now he was passed that, they were taken care of, and his uncle had been avenged. Eragon wondered how Kai could know he'd resolved something so personal just by looking at his eyes.

"I've found peace." He assured her. His lips twitched in interest as he grabbed the doorknob ready to leave again. There was always more to Kai. He'd seen inside her head, but still she amazed him. Little by little he'd figure her out, until then he would enjoy her mysterious company. "Goodnight, Kai."

"Goodnight, Argetlam."