Sorry for the long Wait Ladies and Gentleman, but real life is somewhat irritating and distracting sometimes.

Thanks to all for the many reviews and thanks also to my wonderful advisor WendWriter!

All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the authors. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. I do not own the rights or characters to the Eldest Trilogy or to the Lord of the Ring's Trilogy. The eldest Trilogy is the work of Christopher Paolini and the Lord of the Ring's Trilogy is the work of J.R.Tolkein.

Chapter 4

"How long?" Legolas asked. Aragorn guessed the elf knew the answer already, but asked out of some vain hope.

"Not long. He'll choke to death, and be dead inside an hour, probably less," he said

"Is there nothing we can do? Aragorn?" Gimli's voice was gruff.

"This is beyond my skills at healing."

"Legolas?" The dwarf turned to the elf this time.

The wood-elf shook his head. "I know nothing that would help with so a grave injury."

"But I do." All three turned as one to Eragon, still resting against the baggage.

"Can you truly heal him? You said yourself that you needed to rest." asked Aragorn. The ranger sounded hopeful but also doubtful.

"Yes, what would happen if you made a mistake, you could kill him," Interjected Gimli.

"If we don't do anything, he will surely die anyway," put in Legolas.

That made the other two fall silent, as they considered the truth in the elf's words.

Eragon gave an audible wince of pain as forced himself to sit upright. He felt his wounded arm protest at the movement, but it needed to be done. "I can't help him here, but there's a place nearby where I can."

"How far?" asked Legolas.

"A little less than a mile."

"There are no settlements near here; none dare live so close to the black land in these days." It sounded more like a question than a statement to Eragon. The man's dark eyes surveyed him watchfully.

"I have companions nearby, they can help."

He watched the dark haired man digest that bit of information. The man didn't say anything, but Eragon guessed he was was wondering whether to trust him. It occurred to Eragon that he still didn't know who or what any of these people were

"Assuming these companions of yours are still there, and that they can help Boromir, can we risk moving him? It could kill him."

"They're still there, and as your elf friend said, he'll die anyway if we don't do something to help him."

Aragorn saw Legolas stiffen in irritation at being called an "elf friend" but the ranger agreed with the stranger, despite his misgivings. From Legolas's earlier comment, he knew the elf would also agree. Gimli too nodded in agreement at Aragorn's questioning look, though from the dour expression on the dwarf's face, he guessed that he wasn't the only one with unanswered questions.

There was a sharp cracking noise, as Gimli used his axe to trim another branch to the right length. He and Legolas were swiftly constructing a form of bier or stretcher, binding together branches with rope fetched along with the baggage from the boats. The framework was already finished, and now Legolas was winding together a network of smaller springy branches, to form a mattress like cradle.

Aragorn watched the two of them, appreciating the skill with which the work was being done. He had spent the last few minutes keeping a close eye on Boromir, though what good he could do he was uncertain. He had volunteered, partly because both Gimli and Legolas were better and more experienced craftsmen, and partly so that he could keep an eye on Eragon.

The strange elf had gratefully agreed to let Aragorn put a sling on his wounded arm, and was now resting by the doused fire, drinking water. In his defence, he had offered to help, but they had insisted that he rest. Every now and then when Aragorn looked at him, he saw that the elves eyes were open, but slightly unfocussed, as if the Elf was lost in deep thought.

The ranger was closer to the mark than he might have imagined. Eragon was lost in thought, but unknown to Aragorn or the others; he was also in the middle of a conversation with Saphira.

Eragon's POV

"Can you trust them?"

"I don't know."

"How's your arm?"

"Painful." He didn't need to ask how she felt; he felt the pain of her wounded wing every time she moved. It was just one of those things. He thought with wry amusement at the chances of them both being wounded on the same side.

"You shouldn't have run off like that!"

"I know, I've already said I was sorry."

"It was foolish thing to do, what would Oromis think of you?" Eragon grimaced, easily imagining the disappointed look on the face of his teacher.

He didn't bother to answer, and to his relief Saphira fell silent too.

He looked over at Boromir's huddled form for a second, and remembered countless similar in the Varden's camp, on the day after the battle on the burning plains. The wounded had numbered into the hundreds with he and Saphira doing their best to aid the doctors and healers.

His breath caught slightly in his throat as he remembered another cloaked figure, lying ever so still on the blankets he had wrapped her in.

"Has she stirred at all?"

"Not once, she's like she was when we first travelled to Fathen Dur."

He felt the panic rise within him, but Saphira cut him off.

"She's still alive Eragon, I can't explain it, but I can feel her, she's just … quiet."

"Thanks." It was a simple word, but he tried to convey all the gratitude he could across the link joining them.

He felt her sigh, "I'll see you soon little one, take care."

His connection with her subsided into the background, though he could still sense her. It was just that he could no longer tell what she was thinking. He felt his arm throb with pain again even though he had not moved, and guessed she must have shifted.

He began to rise to his feet, for the elf and dwarf had clearly finished their work. The pair of them placed the bier next to the wounded man, whose name was apparently Boromir. Staggering slightly but swiftly recovering his balance, he watched the man spread a thick padding of clothes over the bier, piling up of cloaks and other clothes to make a soft mattress. With infinite care the three then lifted the wounded man onto the bier. Mercifully he was still unconscious, for the pain must have been terrible and he still gave a groan of agony. Working swiftly the three wrapped coverings around him, presumably to hold him in place as much to keep him warm.

Legolas's POV

Once Boromir was loaded onto the stretcher, the three companions hurriedly began to collect together their possessions. Aragorn and Legolas would be unable to carry much, for they would need to carry the stretcher. Legolas in any case had few possessions save for a small bag, which looped over his shoulder on a sling. At Aragorn's suggestion, the three of them decided to cache the packs they had brought up to the clearing in a thick and leafy bush on the far side of the clearing from where they had kindled their fire. As they hurriedly transferred the goods to this temporary hiding place, Legolas saw Eragon walk purposefully towards the far end of the clearing. As he had already deposited his load, the elf decided to follow, wary of this powerful stranger.

To his relief the stranger did not go far, coming to a halt in a patch of deep shadow, still a good few metres from the tree line. He seemed to be scanning the ground, apparently searching for something. As Legolas drew near, he saw that here too lay the corpses of slain orcs. The stranger made a small noise, a satisfied sound, and heading into a patch of deeper shade. He only walked a few paces, before bending down on one knee, and awkwardly reaching for something that Legolas could not see.

As Legolas caught up, he saw to his surprise that the grass all around them was burnt. The ground was scorched to bare earth, as if there had been a great fire or lightning had struck. Indeed, the elf's acute senses could still detect the scent of burning, along with some foul reek like overdone meat. It was then that he saw it, another corpse, a vast Uruk, clad in dark armour. Or at least, it had been once. The armour was blackened and torn; the flesh seared a ghastly shade of red and black. It might have been his imagination, but it seemed that the body still smoked slightly, as if it were a meal that had been overcooked.

Legolas stepped back in horror, gazing at the twisted and blackened form. The face, such as remained, was twisted into a terrible mask of agony, the features still daubed with paint in the shape of a ghastly hand. He heard Eragon walk up beside him and he turned to the stranger in wonder and alarm. There was a long arrow in the strange elf's hands, presumably the object that he had been searching for. It was beautiful, clearly Elven work, but the shaft was scorched and the arrowhead missing.

The stranger considered it for a moment, and then carefully slipped it carefully into his quiver, which Legolas saw contained many similar, if unburnt arrows. Legolas looked into his brown eyes, and asked the question that had puzzled him ever since he had first laid eyes on this strange elf.

"Who are you? How do you wield this power? You appear one of the firstborn, and yet your features are also akin to those of the race of men."

The stranger considered him, confusion evident on his features. Legolas had spoken in Sindharin, the tongue common to all elves, and yet this elf did not understand it. Even more confused, Legolas repeated his statement, this time in the common tongue.

The elf looked thoughtful, as if considering how to answer. After a few seconds he replied.

"I am not an elf, although I do look like one. I have already told you my name, though you have not told me yours. As for my 'power', that is a matter for another discussion. Come, we must hurry or your friend will not survive!"

With that, the stranger hurried over to where Aragorn and Gimli stood waiting for them. Legolas followed his mind racing. If this Eragon was no elf, then what was he? He clearly knew of elves, had recognised and addressed Legolas as one. Legolas could find no answer. As for the rest of his questions, the stranger had been decidedly evasive, turning Legolas's question back on the elf with ease.

Putting aside these questions for the time being, Legolas took his place at the far end of the bier. Together he and Aragorn lifted it off the ground. It held firm, a tribute to the two craftsmen's skill.

With a nod to Aragorn, Eragon set of across the clearing, and the two bearers followed him, while Gimli, heavily laden with a bag of provisions, brought up the rear.

Brushing aside the hundredth branch from his path, Eragon continued his journey uphill. Behind him he could hear the sounds of deep breathing, as the two bearers manoeuvred the bier over yet another awkward patch of ground. Further beyond that he could hear the clinking of metal as Gimli followed them.

They were nearing their destination, something he was grateful for, for the pain in his arm had started to take its toll. While it had only taken a few minutes for him to reach the clearing from where he had left Saphira earlier, this time, with a wounded man on a stretcher slowing them down, it was taking quite a lot longer. Gratefully he felt the ground begin to flatten off, which meant that they had reached the woody plateau north of the clearing where he and Saphira had landed.

He wasn't quite sure how they would react when they first encountered Saphira, which was worrying him. In all honesty he hadn't thought that far ahead, and this potentially serious problem had only occurred to him after they had already set off. She had already reassured him twice that she would not make any threatening moves, but he was still concerned.

He only hoped that they wouldn't do anything stupid. Neither Saphira or himself wished harm to these people, and neither of them were really in a fit state for a fight. It was of some small comfort that when the pair of them had originally set out earlier that day, she had insisted on wearing her armour. At the time he had disagreed with her decision, for on a long journey the heavy metal plates would tire her needlessly, but now he took comfort in the fact. She might be less manoeuvrable than usual, but the armour would help keep her safe should anything go wrong. And then there was the matter of who she was protecting. His fears about the safety of the third member of their party rose once again within him, involuntarily making him clench his hands tightly, causing another painful throb in his arm. He winced as the pain slowly subsided, and tried to think clearly.

Aragorn's POV

Aragorn gave a small sigh of relief as the ground began to level off, until they were walking across a narrow wooded plateau high on the slopes of Amon Hen. The trees were still thick around them, but the flatter ground made things much easier. With a clatter and clashing of metal on metal, he heard Gimli running to catch up with them, the dwarf's armour sounded as loud as a blacksmiths forge in the quiet of the forest. And it was very quiet, even the dull roaring of the Rauros seemed only a murmur here, high above the racing waters.

They walked under the tree canopy, their shadows long in the late afternoon light; their feet crunching softly on dead wood and twigs. The trees were thick here, tall and closely packed, although now and then they crossed a clearing, where fallen trees meant the sun shone brightly.

He judged a little over a half hour had passed since they had left the clearing, when Eragon stopped in front of him and turned to face them. His face was inscrutable; but Aragorn would have sworn he saw of look of worry on his face before he composed himself.

"I feel that I should warn you about something. Neither of my companions will harm you, or have any desire to do so. I want you to know that my bringing you is a matter of trust. You know my name, and who I serve, but I know nothing about you, save for the name of your wounded companion. I believe I can trust you, but be warned, if you try to harm me or any of my companions, you won't leave this place alive!" He gaze intently at Aragorn.

Aragorn did not hesitate for long. "You have my word Eragon, that I will do no harm to you or any of your companions!"

"And you have my word also," called Legolas from behind him.

Gimli walked forward to stand by his side, fingering his axe. Aragorn guessed the dwarf was simply thinking, unaware of what his fingers were doing. Unfortunately he saw Eragon's eyes narrow slightly, and saw him tense slightly.

Thankfully just then the dwarf prevented any further misunderstanding and spoke. "You have my oath as well." The dwarf paused for a moment, then added "but I warn you, any tricks and you'll suffer this dwarf's anger."

To Aragorn's relief, Eragon actually smiled slightly at that. "It seems that dwarfs don't change much, wherever you go. Very well master dwarf, I will hold you to your oath."

Gimli nodded, and followed the stranger towards a particularly thick patch of trees. They were tall, with thick bushes growing beneath them, shielding whatever was inside from view. Eragon led them unerringly towards a thinner section of foliage, slipping through it with no sign he had ever been there. Gimli followed holding back a branch to allow the bier easier access.

As they passed deeper through the bushes, Aragorn saw signs that something large had passed through this area of woodland not long previously. Broken branches were everywhere, and glancing up he caught sight of a number of others still attached to trees. They hung drunkenly, as if from the passage of some vast animal. The leaves had yet to curl or brown, showing this had happened very recently. Growing light up ahead told him they were coming to yet another clearing, presumably Eragon's destination. The nearer they got, the more the damage increased. Despite Eragon's words, Aragorn began to become concerned, and glancing ahead he saw that Gimli's hand was once again on his axe shaft.

Suddenly the woods rolled back on either side, and they were walking into the clearing. Gimli stopped suddenly, and stood as still as a stone. Legolas, his view blocked, saw Aragorn stiffen and stop abruptly. The ranger stood tall, as motionless and silent as one of the Argonath, his hands frozen upon the handles of the bier.

Gimli's POV

Gimli stood stock still, his hand frozen on his axe hilt, his heart pounding like it had in that last desperate flight from Moria. His eyes were fixed on the enormous shape at the opposite end of the small clearing, his brain frozen in horror and fear. A line of ivory spikes ran down a long back. Sheets of armour gleamed in the dying light of the sun. And a pair of bright sapphire eyes surveyed him with an intelligence that he had never imagined he would see in any beast.

It was a dragon, an enormous dragon, a dragon armoured with plate, a dragon, wearing a saddle? That strange fact seemed to shake him, and he found he had control of his limbs once more. He backed away sharply, and heard a hiss of breath as Legolas caught sight of it. He darted a quick glance at Aragorn, to see the ranger staring at the dragon with a looked of mixed horror and amazement on his face. After what seemed minutes, but was perhaps only seconds, the ranger backed away too, lowering the bier to the ground and drawing his sword. Gimli did not understand what he was doing, they should surely run; only a fool would stay here.

Aragorn did not move further, only stood there, watching. Legolas stood beside him, eyes wide, and his bow still on his shoulder. The Dragon did not move. It seemed to be surveying them with the same intensity that they were surveying it. He felt it's eyes come to rest on him once more, and without meaning too felt himself flinch. Then the Dragon did an amazing thing, it slowly dipped it's armoured head, in a clear gesture of peace and welcome. He heard Legolas give a soft cry of wonder. Gimli was taken aback. Dragons, as far as he knew did not behave like this. He had heard often the tales from his father and the other surviving companions of Thorin, knew of the arrogance and pride of Smaug.

He heard Eragon off to one side let out a sigh, but of what he was uncertain. Then the strange elf spoke, "Do not be alarmed, this is Saphira, one of my companions."

The dragon, 'Saphira' turned to look at Eragon for a moment, as if to speak. After a moment, the elf nodded, as if in response to words, and then replied in a strange and flowing tongue.

Eragon stepped between them and the Dragon and spoke loudly. "She means you no harm, as i promised and she has told me so. If you wish for me to help your companion as I promised, then trust me and bring him here. We do not have much time."

Eragon's POV

Eragon watched the three of them. Their reaction to the sight of Saphira had gone much as he expected. It was nothing new to the pair of them; they had experienced it many a time before. The man had looked scared, but had held his ground. The Elf, once he had caught sight of Saphira, had reacted much in the same way Elf's always did around her. The Dwarf's reaction had been the most violent, and he had seen the knuckles on the axe haft tighten until the knuckles turned white.

He had caught an un-suppressed feeling of deep hatred and anger from the warrior, far more than ever he had felt before. Could the Dwarfs have suffered more with Dragons in this land, wherever it was? Saphira had noticed it too, and had wisely bowed her head to the thee of them in reassurance. That was surprising, for she had refused to bow even to Hrothgar, the king of the dwarfs previously. It was a mark of how much the pair of them had grown up since their time in Ellesméra that she would be prepared to even act in such a way.

As he watched, the tall dark haired man stepped forward, gesturing for the others to remain with their wounded companion. To his credit he didn't flinch as he walked right up to Saphira and stopped only a few meters from her. He could feel her approval as she gazed at the man, green eyes meeting Sapphire.

Aragorn's POV

As Aragorn walked up to the dragon, he could feel his heart pounding slightly. Eragon stepped sideways to allow him past, and Aragorn shot him a glance. The elf looked thoughtful, but not concerned. This reassured Aragorn a little more, and the ranger clamping down hard on his instinctive feelings to run, strode forward slowly until he was only a few metres from the Dragon's head.

He saw it survey him. No not 'it' he realised, for Eragon had said 'her'. It was a female dragon. She looked at him now, a pair of amazingly bright sapphire eyes, watching him with obvious intelligence. She lay on her side to him; her wings folded against her body, back curving slightly, her body forming a rough circle. As he drew nearer, he saw what the shadows had previously hidden. She wore actual armour, plates of worked metal, which he saw with wonder had golden inlay worked into the surface. He saw too that she was resting her right forelimb, the one facing him, very gingerly on the ground, as if not wanting to put weight on it. He saw that the armour along her belly near the limb was bent and scratched, stained with earth. Combined with the damage to the treetops and the deep gouges he could now see in the ground, he guessed she was hurt, probably on landing.

He looked into her eyes again, remembering what he had heard of the wisdom of dragons. The intelligence he saw there seemed to confirm what he had heard. The intensity of her gaze reminded him painfully of Gandalf. He remembered many a long conversation over a pipe , when the wizard had gazed thoughtfully at him just like that, while making up his mind about something or other. On one of those occaisions, deep in some dell of old Arnor, or some glade of the old forest, the Wizard had told him of the quest of Thorin and Bilbo, and the fall of Smaug. As he stared into the dragon's eyes, to his wonder and shock he felt a voice speak inside his mind.

"Well met stranger, my name is Saphira Bjartskullar, daughter of Vervada."

End of chapter 4

Yes I know I'm a bastard, it's a horrible cliff-hanger, but there you go! Hope you enjoy. It might be a while until the next update, as I have exam revision to do! Now

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