Onto chapter 7: one very loaded chapter.

!REVAMPED!


Chapter 7: Will and Won't

CHLOE

It hadn't been exactly easy to convince her mother that there really was no other option than for her oldest daughter who she barely considered an adult woman to join a cause that would require her in it's front lines in war, and to just accept that Chloe was indeed a Dragon Rider. While Viviana hadn't said so in so many words—she had shot them all a withering glare and strode out of the room—Chloe knew that the battle had been won. But she hadn't felt satisfied. If anything, the argument had left her cold. She turned to Eragon, who didn't look too happy, either. He seemed conflicted.

"I suppose I will contact Nasuada now," Eragon said.

"Wait!" Chloe yelped, shifting the shifting the hatchling on her shoulders. He was beginning to become heavy. "Look, I will totally learn whatever you want me to for the—the Varden and as a rider, but could we at least hold up on the oath swearing?" Chloe asked. She saw Eragon frown, and quickly rushed to explain herself.

"It's not that I'm changing my mind, it's just that it occurred to me that it's important for my little guy to get his two cents in as well." Chloe said. "I mean, I know I'd be only swearing for myself, but it would impact him too, right? And it's not like I'm going anywhere. Dragon hold, with it's only entrance guarded by Saphira and all." She added. Eragon looked a little impressed, if not slightly proud.

"I understand and respect your decision. I'm glad you are already beginning to think about your dragon in such a way. Every choice you make will impact it just as much as it does you," Eragon said in approval, and Chloe nearly sighed in relief. She felt as though she had just dodged a bullet. Arya cocked her head slightly to the side as she watched her.

"You referred to the hatchling as male. How do you know?" she asked, and Chloe offered her half smile.

"Thorn, actually. Dragon's a bit of a jerk, but he reached out to him and then told me the news," Chloe explained. Her smile faded as Arya's eyes slanted further. She stepped forward, and Chloe had to bite the inside of her cheeks to keep from quaking in fear at the fierce look she was receiving.

"I will only say this: your actions were not responsible nor intelligent. However, as much as I find myself wishing to time and time again, I cannot change the past. I can only stress your importance to our cause." Arya said. She nodded to both her and Eragon, and then departed the room. That didn't sound threatening at all, Chloe thought sarcastically to herself.

"Right," Eragon said, rubbing his hands together. "As for your training, it will have to be cut short, and will not be complete for some time now. For whatever reason, the King has not begun to mobilize his army as previously expected. We have, after all, begun our direct assault on the Empire, beginning with taking the city of Feinster. Because of this, the Varden have likewise taken a pause so to speak, focusing their efforts on rallying their forces, allies, and trying to intercept any information on the King's newest scheme, whatever it may be. Also because of this, our time for your training is limited. There is also the fact that your dragon hatched mere hours ago, making him too young to be taught that which is immediately necessary." Chloe nodded slowly. This is waaaay to real. And what is that…is he, is he worried? He so is!
"You're worried," Chloe said.

"Worried?" Eragon asked off-handedly.

"No, no, I know! I can see it in your eyes!" she accused. Eragon looked away, sighing.

"Yes, I am worried. Ever since my return nothing has been as it seems. Not only my strange travel to your world, but his," Eragon gestured towards the dragon hatchling. "appearance, Murtagh and Thorn's behavior, and above all, Galbatorix. You see I have never had the displeasure of facing him, yet I cannot pretend that his not taking action against the Varden in retaliation for the territory he has lost to them is not disturbing. Either the King has truly gone mad or he has something terrible up his sleeve. I am not sure which is worse." Eragon told her truthfully. Chloe gulped. There was a bad feeling in her stomach. It made her newly tattooed palm tingle slightly. The riders stood in silence for a few moments, until Eragon shook his head.

"It won't due for you to ponder these thoughts without the proper training and knowledge. Because of our time shortage, I will teach you these topics as swiftly and wholly as I can—

"OHMYGODOHMYGODICANDOMAGICNOW!" Chloe exclaimed. It hadn't occurred to her until now. She blushed as Eragon raised an eyebrow. She cleared her throat, trying to regain her dignity.

"Erm, yes, continue please."

"Right, you will learn history and politics of Alagaësia—including that of the dwarves, elves, and humans as extensively as possible. I suppose of the Urgals as well," Eragon added as an afterthought, leaving Chloe to wonder just what else existed in this world.

"Also, reading, writing, and speaking the Ancient Language, and yes, magic. Swordplay and archery and medical treatments, along with what it means to be a dragon rider. Questions?" Chloe none slowly.

"Yeah, actually, about the whole teenage angst thing?" she said. After much begging, Eragon had consented to let Chloe speak with her sister, whom she felt she hadn't seen in age. So, after a dozen and one promises to return in fifteen minutes to begin her training, Chloe walked towards the room her mother and Ronnie shared. She poked her head in the room, finding Ronnie brushing her blonde curls with a hot pink toy Barbie brush. Stepping into the room, she sat down next to the little girl.

"Hey, kiddo," she said. "There's someone you should meet." said Chloe. Ronnie looked up at her, loud giggles erupting as she pointed to her sisters head.

"Aw, he's so cute! Can I pet him, Coco?" Ronnie asked, already arching a small hand towards the dragon hatchling. Chloe picked up the hatchling off her shoulders and placed him in her lap facing Ronnie, stroking his spine.

"Go ahead! And how did you know it's a boy? Maybe it's a girl dragon she teased. Ronnie shook her head, causing her gold ringlets to bounce.

"Stop messing. I know he's a boy," Ronnie said in a matter of fact tone of voice.

"Why is it that little kids always know everything?" Chloe muttered under her breath. "Wish I could be kid again. Look, Ronnie, I just wanted to say that I'll probably be very busy form now on, because I'm a, well, I'm a dragon rider." Chloe said awkwardly. It felt odd to say out loud, much less to her six year old sister. I'm a rider. I am a dragon rider. Hello, my name is Chloe and I'll be your dragon rider today. Please state your crisis clearly into the mic. Yes, it was definitely weird.

"I know know if you know what the means—" Chloe continued, only to be interrupted by Ronnie.

"It means that you're like Eri and Murty. I know." she said easily. "It means your a super hero." Chloe blinked.

"I wouldn't go that far. I'm still just your big, trouble-magnet sister, only now I have a new friend," she said, smiling down at the white dragon in her arms. "You know where mom is?" she asked next.

"She went to go get food with the nice lady, um," Ronnie scrunched up her nose adorably in thought. "With Angela! Yeah, she went with her! She said I had to stay here with Padfoot." she said, nodding to the dog that was watching them lazily form a corner of the room. Chloe hadn't even realized he'd been there.

"Good. Then do as she says and stay here, okay?" she leaned over and kissed her cheek, and then walked over to Padfoot and scratched him behind the ears.

"Watch her," she instructed. He barked once. Satisfied, she left the room, retracing her steps to the meeting room. It was empty, so she tried outside. Bingo, she thought grimly. And so the work begins. Eragon was perched in Saphira's saddle, and noticed her immediately even though he wasn't facing her. He jumped down lithely from the saddle, waiting for her to come nearer before speaking.

"Chloe, from now on, Saphira and I will be your teachers, your mentors. You will therefore refer to us as Master and Mistress," Eragon said. Chloe fought the urge of laughing at how ridiculous that sounded to her as Saphira snake her head forward, stopping before her. Chloe shivered slightly as an entity touched her mind, different than Solembum and much closer to Thorn and her own hatchling's mind.

Welcome to our order, rider. I am not interested in the same politics as others may be. To me it matters not whether you are elf or human, only that you were chosen by one of my kind. Saphira's unblinking sapphire blue eyes bore into hers. None but a bonded dragon can understand the difficulty of choosing a rider, nor the absolute certainly a dragon feels once they are have chosen. Even the word chosen is not apt; we are less interested in choosing a rider and more in finding the right one.

I…thank you, Chloe said, feeling something akin to relief flood her. She was relieved to find that Saphira, at least, was on her side. The idea of the dragoness opposing her position as a rider was even more frightening than Arya.

I will watch your hatchling as you train with Eragon. I am most curious. I have never met another hatchling before. At least, not one that has no been altered in mind and body and twisted against his will. Saphira admitted.

Thank you, Mistress Saphira, Chloe responded. Using the title sounded a lot less funny when she was faced head on with the female dragon. She tentatively reached out to her own dragon, impressing images of the importance of staying near Saphira through a series of images and feelings as she set him down on the ground. He snapped his jaws and scampered over to Saphira's side, and Chloe smiled, obviously having been understood. She turned to Eragon.

"Right, let's to this…master,"

Calling Eragon 'master' might take a little more getting used to.

Chloe had often prided herself in being flexible. While she had had somewhat of a talent for singing, her real passion had been dance. She had joined up with Austin's band only to raise money for dance school. So when Eragon told her that they would begin with the Rimgar, an elven form of yoga, she'd felt confident, ready, even. As expected, the forms were easy for her to follow and easy for her to follow.

What she hadn't realized was that there were other stages to the Rimgar. She watched wide eyed as Eragon contorted his body to impossible shapes. While a thousand dirty jokes popped into her head, not way on how she was to replicate his form reached her. By the end of the Rimgar she had fallen over more times than she cared to count.

"Onto swordplay, I suppose," Eragon said. Chloe could tell that he had been optimistic at the start of the Rimgar, that he had perhaps thought she showed promise, but that optimism was quickly wearing thing. "What experience do you have with a sword?" Eragon asked as Chloe picked herself up off the ground for what she hoped was the final time for the day.

"None, Era—Master Eragon." She answered, quickly correcting herself. Eragon frowned.

"I thought you said that your world had groups of people who did indeed train in such weaponry,"

"Well yeah, but I never said I actually did, did I? It wasn't exactly a skill I would be needing, or thought I would need, anyway. Where I come from, it's more of a hobby than a skill, at least, now a days." she said darkly.

"All right, no matter. I began as clueless as you. Tell me, if someone came at you with a sword, what would you do?" Eragon asked her. Chloe chewed her lips as she pictured his question.

"I would…turn the opposite direction and run like hell," she could have sworn Eragon's eye twitched in response.

"There is a lot you have to learn, Chloe,"


ERAGON

"Dismissed, Chloe," Eragon said. He tried hard to keep the irritation out of his voice, but he knew he failed as he saw Chloe's facial expression fall.

"Yes Master," She answered dejectedly, walking over to Saphira who had joined them. She bowed to Saphira and then picked up her hatchling, and hurrying away. Eragon watched her leave, sighing.

I truly hope she comes to her senses. It is clear that while she knows how important she is to us all, she doesn't, well, know. I feel as though she has not yet quite grasped the gravity of her situation. She is…naive. Eragon said. Throughout their lesson, Chloe had paid attention, yet he felt as though she was nor carrying out his interactions to the best of her abilities. When she answered she did not seem to think, and he was certain she could give a better response than 'run like hell.'

Then show her. Show her what she means to us all. Show her what it is like to be on elf us. Show her that if she does not learn the skills she must, she will not survive. Show her that she must improve her effort to live in this world. Saphira said. Show her…show her through your memories and experiences. She will be much more motivated once she sees the aggression of battle. Eragon mulled over her words.

Perhaps…perhaps as a last resort. I will give her a few more days to adjust, but no more. We have no time to spare, and every day I grow less at ease. If there is no improvement I will show her. But I do not wish for those images do discourage her…I will contact Nasuada now, or at least attempt. It seems that every time I try I am interrupted. Then, I will address Murtagh.

What will you tell him? Saphira asked. Eragon's lips tightened into a thin line as he touched a hand to Saphira's nose.

There isn't much I can say, I don't think. I think only to present him an ultimatum. To join the Varden or…

Or death? Saphira prompted. Eragon nodded stiffly.

Yes. I'd like for him and Thorn to fight alongside us, to redeem themselves. But that option is only an option if they change their true names. And death…death might just be a release. Eragon said. He didn't like to even think the words, and he knew deep down even he didn't believe them. But in the back of his mind the oath he had sworn, the oath meant to avenge the dwarf king, still lingered.

Speak to Nasuada, and see what her will is. She might have an answer you and I agree better with.

Yes. I will be inside, away from wandering eyes and ready ears. Eragon said with the slightest glance to Solembum. He was bathing in the sunlight in a near by bush, and though eh didn't appear to be listening Eragon doubted that he could not hear them. Eragon quickly returned inside, magically sealing the door to prevent others from listening in. Then he conjured Nasuada's tent image into the bowl on the table. But instead of his liege's dark visage he was met with two eerily purple orbs.

"Elva," Eragon said, touching his fingers to his lips.

"You are late. Nasuada expected you earlier this morning," the witch-child said in her monotonous woman's voice. Her expression was devoid of any emotion as he studied him.

"Lovely to see you as well, Elva." Eragon smiled. "Tell me, is Lady Nasuada at hand?"

"She has asked me to call her if you were to contact her." she answered. Elva waited for Elva to do as instructed, but she did not. She only continued to observe Eragon in a way that had him want to shift his weight uncomfortably.

"Nasuada is troubled. Something that she will require to do pains her." Elva finally said. Eragon had nothing to reply. He was raking his brain for anything that Nasuada could possibly asked of him that would pain her. Did he want Saphira and him to separate once more? Did she think that because Murtagh could not use magic and she did not know about Chloe that he could return alone to the Varden?

"Thank you for advising me, Elva." Eragon said, hoping she would now call for Nasuada. Still she did not. Instead her brow knitted in worry.

"Eragon, are you near the Varden?" she asked. For the first time Eragon could see emotion in her eyes. They were frighteningly clear: worry and fear.

"Elva…"

"I do not feel at ease. It has been so for days. I cannot sleep well, and I have the most horrid feeling in the pit of my stomach wherever I go, whatever I do. I do not feel safe. Again I ask: are you near the Varden?"

"I am…near enough." Eragon said slowly. Elva's words where stirring a sense of dread within him.

"And yet I do not feel you, so you cannot be close enough. It was better when Angela was here; the feeling was not so strong, not so evident. I could ignore it. But it has only worsened, and I fear that it will nto be better. I am afraid." the witch-child admitted. "Angela is with you, I know. I wish to join you as well." Elva said. Was there a hint of pleading in her voice?

"Elva, I do not see how that would be possible,"

"If you came up with a suitable enough explanation—" Elva's frantic pleading was replaced with her usual emotionless demeanor as a voice interrupted her.

"Elva, who are you speaking with? Is That Eragon? You should have contacted me immediately!" Nasuada exclaimed as she hurried over. Elva threw him one last meaningful look before retreating out of his sight.

"Nasuada," She greeted.

"Thank you, Elva. If you return to your tent you should find that a maid has brought you a meal. One of the guards will take you." Nasuada said. There was no answer, only the sound of her moving away, and Nasuada couldn't help but be surprised that Elva had gone without complaint. She usually complained about her escorts, yet this time she had not breathed a word. Deciding that the mood swings of a child were less important, Nasuada turned her attention to her rider. Eragon thought she appeared nervous, an emotion he generally did not associate with her.

"Hello, Eragon. I hope—oh, I know that look. What have you done now?" Nasuada asked, sighing despite herself. Eragon immediately became defensive.

"I have done nothing."

"Perhaps not, but that look says that you were around when events of great magnitude that may or may not have been influenced by yourself or Saphira occurred. So which is it?" Nasuada asked.

"There is no easy way to say this, and I am nor certain that there are any words that would ease the shock of what I am about to tell you, so I will not beat around the bush. Chloe has now become a dragon rider." Eragon said. Nasuada's usual poise was disrupted as the hand propping up her chin slipped.

"Chloe? The daughter of the woman who took you in during your time in the other world?"

"The very same," Eragon agreed grimly, and he launched into an explanation of the previous hours. By the end of his explanation Nasuada looked annoyed more than anything.

"Magic," She cursed. "I still do not see how this is possible. This Crystal, is it some live entity?" she asked. Eragon shook his head as a rueful smile spread across his lips.

"I do not believe the Floating Crystal of Eoam is an ally to be gained, Nasuada. It seems more an old magic, not an entity that we can reason with."

"Ah, of course not," She sighed. "How does she—Chloe—how does she seem to you? Does she seem fit for the role?" Nasuada asked. Eragon did not hesitate, though he chose his words with care.

"Obviously, Chloe has some quality that attracted her dragon enough for him to hatch for her. She is kid, and although stubborn, she seems willing enough to learn. Her skills need improvement, but I don't doubt that with proper motivation she won't succeed." Eragon said.

"Another dragon rider…" Nasuada shook her head, burying her face in her hands. It was only around Eragon that she felt comfortable enough to let down her guard. "And she will swear fealty to the Varden?" Nasuada asked. Eragon shifted.

"She has agreed to, but only after she has met you and her hatchling has grown so that he may have a say in the matter. I cannot argue against her logic." Eragon said. Nasuada considered him for a moment before nodding.

"Of course. We are fortunate that her existence is unknown." Eragon could see that her mind was racing, but rather than try to attempt to explain the impossible—just how there was a new rider—she was more focused on the fact that there indeed was a new rider.

"Another thing," Eragon said hesitantly. "I plan on speaking to Murtagh once our conference is finished." he said, and he could have sworn that he saw her eyes flash guiltily.

"Eragon, I must stop you there," Nasuada said. "King Orrin and I have discussed the matter, and have decided that the best course of action is to have Murtagh on our side." she said. Eragon was about to nod in agreement but she continued.

"That begin said, I want you to learn his true name once he changes it." she said. Eragon stared at her uncomprehendingly.

"You are asking me to, once Murtagh changed his true names, to learn it to use it against him? That is near impossible, and not to mention wrong. I know his actions just as well as anyone, but I still think there is something of him to be saved, both of him and Thorn." Eragon said unhappily.

"Galbatorix did it, and you once before with Sloan. You can do it again." Nasuada said quickly. Eragon could fear anger simmer from deep within him, anger he hadn't felt since Murtagh's betrayal.

"Galbatorix has had decades to perfect the art of guessing true names, besides knowing Murtagh all his life. Besides, Sloan was a lucky guess, and he was a man whom I had known all my life. The circumstances were different."

"Eragon, think about this! If we had control over Murtagh, and you trained Chloe to become a fit rider, how would Galbatorix stop us? He would be hard pressed against three riders. The balance of power would be indubitably tipped in our favor!" Nasuada argued. "I don't like it much more than you do, but we are at war, Eragon."

"This is madness!" Eragon exclaimed, slamming his fist down on the stone table. The water on the basin rippled with the force of his blow. "If I were to even do such a thing, I would also have to guess Thorn's true name, otherwise there would be no third rider. Even so, I will do no such thing. If we force Murtagh into serving us, we will be no better than Galbatorix." Eragon said angrily. Nasuada was beginning to lose patience, he could see. He vaguely wondered if it had anything to do with her own feelings towards Murtagh. Eragon had always suspected she'd grown fond of him during his stay in Farthen Dur.

"We are at war," she repeated. "Not everything is as we choose."

"I. Am. Not. Him." Eragon said through gritted teeth.

"No one is saying you are. You are a more honorable than the mad king in a thousand and one ways, but you must be reasonable. To let an opportunity like this slide by? What else do you expect of me? Even if we did not have a new rider on our side, when will Chloe and her dragon be ready? Not soon enough. It is what it is, and unfortunately this is how it must be." Nasuada said. Eragon shook his head.

"No. No this is a mistake. It is more likely that we will gain an enemy than an ally. Any trust he may have had in us will be destroyed in this act." Eragon said. He had a bitter taste in his mouth, and there was a slight tingling to his right palm that he scratched at absentmindedly.

"And to set him free? You've told me time and time again that he must be punished for what he has done, and this decision is not merely on whim! Think, Eragon! He murdered Hrothgar, and the dwarves are not expecting anything less than death for him, nor do most of the Varden. You yourself swore an oath."

"I know," Eragon snapped. Nasuada's features softened.

"I understand that he is your brother. But do you really think that he would choose death over this, if given the choice?"

"Yes." Eragon answered without pause. "If there is anything that I still know about him, it's that he would not want to be controlled again. He would view this as the ultimate act of betrayal." Nasuada made a sound of impatience.

"Why do you insist that? He has no reason to trust us yet, and you make it seem as though we are stabbing him in the back! Let me remind you that he is our prisoner of war," Nasuada said firmly.

"Perhaps he has no reason to trust us now, but surely there is a part of him that wants to trust us. He must long for some sort of friendship or, or—"

"You let your own feelings mar logic, Shadeslayer. Murtagh's priority is survival, not friendship, I am sure. That is why you must learn his true name." Nasuada commanded. Eragon grimaced as he fought to say no, but he could feel himself nod and his tongue betray him.

"Yes, Lady Nasuada."

"I really wish this could have gone a different way, Eragon—" Eragon held up a hand to stop her.

"Do not, do not say that as thought your words bring me comfort, because they do not. But I do have a request, Lady Nightstalker," Eragon said. He didn't care to use her name now. He saw her eyebrows lift, though whether at his request or sudden formality he was not sure.

"This request, Shadeslayer?"

"I request to have Elva sent to the dragon hold. I you have her escorted to Aberon, Angela can retrieve her." The surprise on Nasuada's face was evident.

"Why Elva? She is useful to me, that is when she volunteers her services to the Varden."

"If I am to discover Murtagh's true name, Elva may be useful to me." Was all Eragon said in response. The minutes lapped, until the Varden leader answered with a stiff nod.

"Very well. I will have one of Du Vrangr Gata escort her to Aberon, if she allows it. I must say that I am not certain whether or not Elva will agree; I don't know if you stand in her good graces or not. Especially as of late. She comes and goes as she pleases, offering her help some days and others not." Nasuada said with a tired sigh.

"Then perhaps I should learn her true name next, so that then she won't pose a problem." Eragon said sarcastically. He knew he was out of line, but at the moment he could care less, angry as he as. Nasuada's eyes flashed.

"That is enough, Eragon. Whether you like it or not you have been given a task that you must carry out."

"So I have lost more than my will in this matter? Now I have also lost the freedom to express myself." He briefly looked up to see Arya enter the room, curiosity clear in her continence.

"Arya is here to speak to you now. Good day, My Lady," Eragon said, striding past the elven princess and departing the room.


MURTAGH

You know, the more I think about it, the more I think we should leave one we are free. Murtagh said as he tossed a dead rabbit in the air in front of Thorn. Thorn's head jabbed forward, snapping up the morsel. The dragon then turned his head to the side as he considered his rider.

Oh?

Yes, I mean think about it. Galbatorix has clearly lost it, seeing as he has no immediate plans concerning us—

Feeling neglected, are you? Thorn asked dryly. Murtagh ignored the comment.

—And you and I both suspect he's dabbling in stranger and darker magics than Shades. I see nothing to keep us here. Thorn pretended to think about it for a moment.

Yes, and excellent idea, Murtagh. Becoming cowards will truly be a wondrous way of changing our true names. Why didn't I think of that before? Murtagh gnashed his teeth together.

Not cowardice, self preservation. Neither of us asked for any of this.

I suppose that is also true. Neither of us owe anyone anything. It would be easy to leave. Thorn agreed. Murtagh nodded in satisfaction as he turned to leave. They were standing just outside of the chambers that Eragon and his company had taken residence in, and Murtagh had an idea he needed to set into motion.

And yet I do not wish to leave quite so soon after that. The thought makes my scales itch.

Does it now? Murtagh asked as he turned back to Thorn.

Yes. I would very much like to, say…set fire to the King's army, tear apart his castle with took and claw and flame. As foolish as the idea seems it is oddly…satisfying. I would only wish to see expression, and that of Shruiken's.

Murtagh stared at Thorn for a moment, and then doubles over laughing.

Thorn, are we feeling rebellious?

Yes I suppose I am. The red dragon agreed very seriously. Quit laughing, this is not a laughing matter. I haven't even mentioned yet what I would like to do with him. There are very few things I should thank him for, namely very few of his 'gifts'. Murtagh snorted.

'Gifts'. Blasted 'gifts'…as two sided as coins. Curses and blessings, all in one…speaking of which, when do you think Eragon will question us about the whereabouts of the Eldunayra? Surely they have crossed his mind.

I am quite certain that they have, and I am certain he'll ask us, or rather, you, soon enough. Thorn chuckled. Not that it will matter. What information we have we have specifically been ordered not to surrender.

True. That won't please him at all, Murtagh said, smirking at the prospect of Eragon's unhappiness. And because he believes that I am under oath, he will not pry for the information too much, hopefully. Eragon is weak when it comes to these matters. He will not implore any harsh methods to remove knowledge from me.

Perhaps if you began by showing him some brotherly affection, your true name would change. Thorn said slyly. He received a glare in return.


ARYA

"Lady Nasuada, if you do not mind my asking, what has been said that has angered Eragon so?" Arya asked as she gazed into the water-filled basin. Nasuada sighed, and Arya could see regret clearly in her eyes.

"Eragon and I have had a certain…disagreement of sorts. I gave him a task to complete, and he is against it. Of course, his oath prevents him from acting against my order." Nasuada explained.

"I see. And this task?" Nasuada considered her for a moment, and then sighed again.

"Eragon will tell you anyway, I am sure. Perhaps you can talk sense into him. He values your opinion, always has. I told him that once Murtagh has changed his true name to learn it and use it to make certain Murtagh will be on our side of the conflict. Eragon was not pleased." Arya raised an eyebrow.

"I am not surprised. Eragon values free will highly, and he may say many things but he does not hate Murtagh." Nasuada asked. Arya thought for a moment.

"In a world of black and white, Murtagh is in the grey. He has been manipulated and controlled by Galbatorix, yet there are other actions of his that I cannot condone. In many ways we must thank him. He has saved my life, and Eragon's, and perhaps even Saphira's, if not her sanity, in Gilhead and again on our way to the Varden. He fought alongside us in Tonjheim." Arya reminded.

"Yes, and then during the Battle of the Burning Plains he slew Hrothgar."

"He did indeed." The elf princess agreed. "An act few might consider forgiving of him. But to use his true name in such a way…I think we would be creating an even greater enemy. If he could escape the grasp of the Mad King's, then why not ours? What would stop him form exacting his revenge then?" Arya asked.

"Eragon said much the same. I shall continue to ponder the matter. I have time, for now, anyway. Murtagh will take some time to change his true name, and I will see if I can change my mind and that of King Orrin. I make no promises." Nasuada warned. Arya dipped her head in acknowledgment, and Nasuada nodded, moving along their conference.

"Now, as for the supplies sent by the Queen…" They discussed the supplies sent from the elves, and the condition of the army for a while longer before Nasuada had to excuse herself. Arya ended the connection, moving at once to find Eragon. It didn't take long to find the still fuming rider.

"Have you seen Angela?" I cannot find her or Viviana anywhere," Eragon said. His tone of voice was still sharp, and he had clearly not yet grasped his emotions fully.

"Eragon, Nasuada has told me of what you spoke." Arya said quietly. Eragon's eye's stopped their search to meet her own. There was something slightly accusatory in them.

"And I suppose you think she's is right? Because I do not. This is wrong." he said flatly. Arya ran her eyes over his human-elven features, his brown hair and warm eyes. Faolin had had much the same strong view on free will.

"I do not hate Murtagh, nor do I like him. I do not feel much of anything towards him. He is merely an opponent, one who is currently at our mercy. He has both saved my life and endangered it. If anything I…pity him." Arya admitted. "And more so Thorn. But my feelings do nothing to dispel your orders. Do what you can, and perhaps Nasuada will change her view on the matter. At the moment she is feeling incredibly lost, and with her position I cannot blame her distress. She feels as though what little control she had before is slipping; you are away from the Varden, and an unsworn rider has been born. When I told her I would have to relate news of Chloe to Islanzandi I could see how uneasy the thought made her." She set a hand on his shoulder.

"I am sorry that you have been placed in such a position. Atra du evarìnya ono varda, Eragon finiarel." She said before moving away.

"And as for Angela, she journeyed outside with Viviana for a greater range of herbs, spices, and fruits than the inside had to offer." Arya called over her shoulders. She heard Eragon curse, and a smile ghosted acro shed lips as she imagined the look of irritation she knew must have crossed his features.


So the big question: Is Murtagh as free to change his true name as Thorn thinks he is? And if he is, why is Eragon's oath still in place?