Hello everyone. So I want to start finishing stories instead of just updating them so I'll be doing one story at a time for now, sorry. Anyway I hope you enjoy this chapter and please give me reviews and pass the story along so as to spread the love. Now onto the next chapter!


-With Arya-

Upon making it back to her tent Arya immediately went to her mirror so she could contact her mother. After today's events she really needed to talk to someone and she figured her mother would want to know about the unfolding events. Once she got to her water bowl she filled it and used her magic to get to scry* her mother. An image formed in the water and she could tell she was seeing the inside of her mother's tent, probably through a mirror and waited for her mother to notice. She did not have to wait long as soon her mother's face appeared in the bowl. If her mother was surprised to see her she didn't show it and quickly gave her the standard elvish greeting, which Arya returned.

"Why have you contacted me Arya, is everything all right? Nothing bad has happened I hope." Islanzadi said.

"No, nothing bad has happened, at least… nothing that might damage our effort against Galbatorix." Arya stated. Islanzadi's eyes narrowed at her pause.

"But something has happened. Speak freely daughter." Arya sighed.

"I suspected that you've been informed that there has been an appearance of another dragon rider, one who has joined our side." Arya said. Her mother nodded.

"Yes, Blodhgarm informed me of this new dragon rider, though I don't see why this would upset you." Islanzadi said making Arya sigh again.

"It's not necessarily the new dragon rider, though I have some worries about her that I will share later." Arya stated. Islanzadi gained a thoughtful and worried look on her face.

"If she's not the problem, or should I say, not the main problem, then what is?"

"Not what, who." Arya corrected making her mother's eyes narrow. "Before the new rider came to us another person appeared, one who is apparently her oldest companion and may be a large thorn in our side."

"How so?"

"The man, or whatever he is, hates the elves and thinks of us as arrogant fools and traitors, though what made him think these is beyond me." Arya finished.

"Many hate our kind, this is not new and I surprised you let it get to you." Islanzadi responded.

"Normally it wouldn't, but this figure, whoever he is has gotten close to Eragon and seems to be trying to turn him against not only the elves and myself but against the Nasuada and the Varden."

"If this is true then why hasn't Nasuada dealt with him?" Islanzadi asked.

"Because he is powerful. Both I and Eragon have tried to break into his mind, though I did my more stealthily than Eragon and both of us encountered resistance previously unseen." Arya said. The troubled look deepened on Islanzadi's face.

"How strong would you describe it?"

"I've come up against tough mental barriers before, I've even encountered Shades but this kind of strength is something I've never even heard of. If you compared the strength of those mental barriers to iron then this barrier would be made of diamond."

"This is all troubling but is it damaging to our cause?" Islanzadi questioned.

"So far no. In fact we were able to recover an Eldurnari from Murtagh thanks to this man, Shade's, effort as he took on and defeated Murtagh in flight and wounded his dragon, Thorn."

"Shade?" Islanzadi's tone suggested she was not happy by the name.

"Yes. From what I can tell he is not an actually Shade as he does not have red hair or eyes but considering his strength and supposed age it may be that he's just hiding it. Then again if he was a Shade his bloodlust would have revealed that long ago." Arya suggested.

"Be that as it may, tread carefully Arya. I can understand why you are so uneasy with this man or whatever he is and I am glad you informed me. Now, what is it that makes you worry about this new dragon rider?"

"The dragon rider by herself is not an issue though she is young and inexperienced. The main issue is with Eragon." Arya stated.

"What about Eragon?"

"He has taken a fancy for her and this may make him blind to any action that she or Shade takes."

"Eragon has fallen for this girl? I thought he was still in love with you."

"So did I and I thought he'd finally reigned in his emotions but it appears I was wrong. It appears that Shade is also working to push the two together and with today's events he may succeed." Arya said.

"What happened today?" A mild blush grew on Arya's face and her discomfort wasn't easily hidden and peaked the curiosity of her mother.

"Eragon has changed back into his human form, from what I gather thanks a great deal in part by Shade who was able to somehow convince him to change back."

"This is troubling. Humans are weaker than elves and at this time Eragon must be stronger then ever."

"Eragon swears that he has been able to retain all his elvish strength and I see no reason to doubt him. This however is not the problem."

"Then what is?" Islanzadi asked. Arya paused as she remembered the day's events and, resisting the urge to blush began retelling what had occurred.

"When Starlight, the new rider noticed Eragon in his human form she seemed shocked and approached him like she was in a trance. She then proceeded to touch his body as if not believing Eragon existed. After she stopped her hands' movements she then said that he was "real" and "really there" to which Eragon nodded his conformation. I do not know what this was about or if the two somehow knew each other but before I or Nasuada could ask that question, Starlight pulled Eragon down into a kiss."

"A kiss?" Islanzadi asked in mild disbelief. Arya nodded.

"Yes. Both Nasuada and I were shocked while Shade appeared to find the scene terribly amusing if his laughs had anything to say about it. The kiss quickly grew more intense and soon Eragon started to do… less decent things. After initiating said act Nasuada called out his name and the two separated and appeared to have regained their senses. After that the meeting began though the air was tense with embarrassment." Arya concluded.

"This is troubling news. Not only does this Shade figure appear to be having more and more influence on Eragon, he and this new rider appear to be causing a rift between Eragon the elves and the Varden."

"I wouldn't say there's a rift, not that Shade hasn't tried to create one between Eragon and myself, it's just that Shade and Starlight now are having increasing influence over Eragon's life."

"And that's what worries me. I do not doubt Eragon's integrity but we must maintain a strong position for if we win this war. The elves cannot gain victory over Galbatorix only to wonder if the influence of Starlight and Shade will make Eragon turn against the elves. Starlight is a threat if only a minor one as she will likely become his lover and have huge say in his life but the real threat is with Shade. He is the one that is whispering words against our race in Eragon's ear and is strong enough to take on a dragon rider, a young one yes but one taught by Galbatorix and reinforced by an Eldurnari."

"I wouldn't say whispering." Arya thought. " But what can we do? Starlight is too important to get rid of as having a second dragon rider will help us tremendously and Shade is a valuable asset as not only can he fight a dragon rider, he is also learned in the arts of one if his teachings to Starlight are any validation."

"We must find a way to separate them from Eragon. You once had Eragon's heart and while you rejected him, which I support, that does not mean his feelings for you are gone even with the arrival of this new rider. Attempt to win him over again Arya. I am not asking you to seduce him, I would never ask that, but remind him why he fell in love with you and see if you can't draw his attention away from her and back to his duty. As for Shade, he may be more difficult. I'd suggest having Nasuada send him on a mission far from Eragon so as to separate the two from each other else the poison of his influence will continue and it'll be impossible to draw out that influence."

Arya was shocked by the words her mother had told her but knew that she was right and that she's have to somehow builds barriers between Eragon and the two new influences that were currently building up their trust and support with Eragon.

"Very well mother, I shall do as you ask." She said humbly making her mother smile.

"I suspect you will my daughter. Now I must go, all this talk will be pointless unless we can win this war." And with that the conversation ended and the image disappeared from the water leaving Arya to her thoughts and to her task.

-With Eragon and Starlight-

Being pulled into the tent of the woman he'd just had a very passionate moment with by said woman had made a bright red blush appear on Eragon's face that rivaled the blush he'd had after Nasuada called out his name in the tent and the two had separated. This brought back the memories of what he'd been doing before Nasuada called out his name and his mind was being overcome with its remembrance of his experience with Starlight.

"She was so soft, so warm, so delectable, wait…No! Bad Eragon! This is not the time to think back on those memories… even if they were heavenly. No, stop it! Now is not the time and if I don't stop my body will start reacting to those memories." Eragon thought as he hoped desperately that his body didn't show the tell tale sign of his obvious enjoyment of those memories. Lucky for him Starlight was focused on his face though this meant that she noticed his blush and despite her seriousness when she dragged him into the tent a playful smile appeared on her face.

"Why are you blushing Eragon? You wouldn't happen to be remembering what happen in Lady Nasuada's tent would you be?" She asked with an innocent yet playful tone that did nothing to help Eragon's blush and only served to snap him out of his thoughts and stiffen like a board. Starlight giggled at his discomfort before she took a step toward him and placed a hand gently on his chest.

"You don't have to worry Eragon, I quite enjoyed myself." She said looking up at him. Eragon looked down at her, surprise and a mild hint of relief evident on his face.

"You did?" He asked hopefully. Starlight nodded.

"Yes I did. I especially like that part at the end where your hand reached up and gave my breast a nice warm hello." She said with no hint of modesty and a sultry smile. Eragon's blush returned and greater than it had ever been and he backed up as he started to stutter out an apology.

"I-I'm so sorry f-for that. It-It was completely inappropriate of me." He said bowing in humility. Starlight look at him, a bit shocked by his reaction but soon regained her smile and gave off a small laugh before walking back up to Eragon and lifted his head with her hand so that he was looking at her.

"You shouldn't worry about that Eragon, I did tell you I liked it did I not?" She asked and Eragon cautiously nodded his head before standing up straight. "Now, while I enjoy talking about our experience and I hope to have many more in the future, there are a few things I'd like to talk to you about." Eragon would have blushed at her comment about the future but with her wish to talk he was able to let it fade away for the time being.

"What would you like to talk about?" Eragon asked. Starlight gestured for him to sit down and when he did she promptly sat down next to him before beginning.

"I know that you're the boy that saved me from Urgals outside Yazuac and I know that I'm in love with you but I want to know; what are you're feelings toward me?" She asked a hint of worry mixing into her words. Eragon grew a shy blush at her question but looked her in the eye and with a smile said.

"I fell in love with you the minute you came flying out of the sky. I think that if I'd seen what you'd look like better outside Yazuac and had time to contemplate it that I would have fallen in love with you back then despite not knowing you. My guess would be that you would have become the girl of my dreams and fantasies." He said. Starlight looked at him, all hint of worry and washed away and with a sweet, tender smile on his face, brought her hand up and brought Eragon into a gentle yet loving kiss. Eragon returned the kiss with equal tenderness and when they broke apart he rested his forehead against hers as the two smiled at each other.

"That was a very good answer Eragon Shadeslayer, a very good answer indeed." She said making Eragon give off a chuckle.

"So, what happens now?" Eragon asked.

"Well, seeing as we both love each other I think it only appropriate to say that we are courting and that in exchange for you giving me your heart I shall give you mine. Does that sound fair?" She asked. Eragon looked at her and smiled before giving her another quick and gentle kiss.

"It sounds more then fair. You have a deal Starlight Shadedaughter. *"

After that tender moment Eragon had left as he had duties to prepare for and Starlight knew she had to prepare for her own missions. She was about to get ready when she heard her tent flap open and turned quickly and eagerly, thinking that it was Eragon looking for another goodbye kiss, which she would be more then willing to give.

"No, I'm not your lover boy and if you kiss me you might find your lips falling off by the end of the day." Shade said as Starlight turned around. Starlight jumped a little at his comment but soon her smile reappeared on her face though not quite as eagerly as it had been when she had thought it was Eragon.

"I'll never understand how you can always enter my mind without me knowing." She said.

"For your sake and mine I hope you never find out but that's beside the point. It appears that yours and Eragon's relationship is progressing well." Shade said with a hint of a smile growing on his face as he sat down. At the mention of Eragon Starlight's smile grew.

"Yes, very well. We're courting now."

"Is that what you're calling it? Well that doesn't matter, I'm not here to prevent your relationship, that would be quite counter-productive considering how long I worked to put it together. I'm actually here to prevent it from turning sour and falling apart." Shade stated catching Starlight's attention.

"Why would it fall apart?" She asked.

"Because of the elven princess."

"What does she have to do with any of this?"

"Before Eragon met and promptly fell in love with you he was in love with her though luckily for you she promptly rejected him, quite harshly from what I gather." Starlight was slightly taken back by the news but soon smiled.

"I don't suppose you had anything to do with that would you Shade with all your planning?" She said jokingly.

"In fact I didn't, there was no need to as I knew she'd reject him. You don't seem very upset by the knowledge that your lover was in love with someone else." Starlight shrugged.

"Why should I be? It was before he had officially met me or knew who I was and is allowed to fall in love with whom he likes. Luckily for me that person is me." She said happily making Shade's smile grow.

"Indeed, you're quite fortunate. He's a good man and he'll take care of you, of that I'm sure." Shade said as he got up.

"You really like him don't you?" Shade turned to her and gave her a warm smile.

"I do. He reminds me of a good friend." Shade said as he went to the tent flap. As he was about to leave, Starlight asked him one last question.

"Will I ever get to meet this friend of yours?" Shade looked over his shoulder at her.

"Maybe one day. Assuming of course he's still alive."

-With Eragon-

Eragon had a bounce in his step as he made his way through the camp and many people who were looking at him curiously. A rumor was passing around the camp that Eragon had transformed back into a human and that, plus the other rumors that branched from that, and the fact that he now was practically skipping through the camp left many a confused Varden in his wake.

He made it back to his tent and upon entering it all of what had happened in the last few hours hit him and his huge smile appeared on his face. He wanted to dance, sing and shout to everyone that he and Starlight loved each other and that he was the happiest man in the world. He knew he couldn't do that for numerous reasons including it would put Starlight in even more danger and it would make him look like a fool, so instead he sat down on his bed, put his head in his hands and did his best to control his raging happiness. He was so bound up in this that he didn't hear his tent flap open.

"Eragon?" Arya asked. Eragon's head snapped up and he looked at her.

"Oh, hello Arya." He said his surprise making him forget the elvish greetings.

"Are you all right?" She asked. Eragon, realizing that to someone else, having his head in his hands might make it look like he was upset and set out to discard any worry.

"Yes, I'm quite fine, in fact I've never been happier in my life." He said, his smile coming back to his face.

"And what has caused you to be so happy?" Arya asked though she could already guess.

"Starlight and I are officially courting now." He replied happily. Arya inwardly sighed as things had just gotten that much harder for her now but she knew what she had to do.

"I'll have to go about this gently." She thought. "Well that's good to hear, you two look lovely together." She said.

"Really? I thought you wouldn't approve and say it was a distraction."

"He knows me better than I thought." This would not make her job any easier but she pushed on. "Well it might be a distraction, I'll admit my concern there and also this may be a weakness that Galbatorix may attempt to exploit but you two look like you care for each other very much and I don't think anything's wrong with that." Arya said. "Hopefully that will quell any doubts he has about my intentions as well as put fear for her safety into his mind."

"I thank you for that Arya, its lighten my heart knowing that you approve and, as you say our relationship will put her in danger as a way for Galbatorix to use as a weakness and I think it best that we keep it a secret for now." Eragon said.

"Well at least he's thinking logically in that matter."

"I agree. Best to keep things like this a secret, if only for now." She said making Eragon nod. There was a pause before Arya spoke again, her voice hushed as she leaned in to make it appear as if she was telling a secret. This caught Eragon's attention and he followed suit.

"Eragon… would you allow me to state my honest worries to you?" She whispered. Eragon looked at her and gave a small nod. "While I support your relationship with Starlight I am worried about Shade's influence over her." She said in a hushed tone. Eragon's ears perked at Shade's name and he looked her in the eyes.

"What do you mean?"

"Got him." Arya would have smiled if she hadn't had so many years of practice at controlling her emotions and if her mission was pressing onto her mind.

"You know I don't trust Shade and I'd like to think that my worries are valid. We know so little of him and he isn't nearly as forthcoming with information as Starlight. He keeps everything so close to the chest and is very powerful. He was able to take on Murtagh alone and wounded Thorn in the process. Even a mature dragon rider would not find this an easy task and yet he brushes it off like it was nothing." She gave a glance at Eragon and noticed he was entirely focused on her and she once again held back a smile. "He is an asset to the Varden but he refuses to join us, he tries to turn you against us, your friends, and worse of all he is the one who raised Starlight her entire life. He knows everything about her and may use that to his advantage in the future." Arya finished. Eragon looked her in the eye for a moment before he spoke.

"I do not disagree with you Arya. I too have my doubts about Shade and I do not know what to do when I'm around him." Eragon said.

"That voice in my mind didn't help despite how calm it made me feel. In the end it just made me more confused." Eragon whispered in his mind before continuing.

"But, for better or worse we're stuck with him. Starlight cares for him and I think we may just need time to adjust to him and get use to his antics. It will take time I'm sure but I think that as time passes we will be able to adjust ourselves to his attitude." Eragon said.

"Are you saying that you trust him?" Arya asked. Eragon shook his head.

"No, I barely trust him at all and I do not quite like his views on the elves in case you're wondering. What I think is that he could help us. He obviously knows much and much of it are things we do know nothing about. He, for some reason, brought Starlight and me together and for that I am willing to give him a chance and get over my distrust of him. That plus the fact that he could be useful to the Varden allows me to be patient." Eragon finished. Arya was impressed by what Eragon had said but was still displeased by it and knew that, for now, she wasn't going to be able to make a rift between Eragon and Shade and she knew that making a rift between him and Starlight was going to be even harder. Knowing this and figuring any more attempts for today would get her nowhere she decided to end their conversation there.

"Well, your words are very wise Eragon and I think I will follow your example though I think that I'll keep any even greater eye on Shade if that's all right with you." She said as she made her way to the tent flap. Eragon chuckled at her comment and his smile returned.

"I would not presume to tell you to do anything Arya and I think that it would be wise if we all kept an eye on Shade if only for now." Arya nodded at him and left the tent leaving him to his thoughts.

-With Arya-

Arya left the tent and was about to start walking when she saw Shade standing there, obviously staring her down. She sighed and walked past him with a stern face and dignified manner doing her best to ignore him. She passed by him and he didn't move and for a moment she thought she escape without incident.

"It's not going to be so easy to keep an eye on me as you might think Arya daughter of Islanzadi. Here's a friendly warning. Start turning your eyes to where they don't belong and I may just have to pluck them out and that includes turning them to Eragon and Starlight's courting. You do anything to that and I'll you back to your mother, who would oh so love a report from you on your mission, in pieces." He warned. Arya paused for a moment then kept on walking as Shade continue to stand there all the while one thought resounding in her head.

"Dammit!"

She now had only one option left. Nasuada. She starting walking there as fast as she could, hoping that this plan would not fail.

"I have to separate Eragon from Shade or this whole plan and perhaps even our war against Galbatorix may fall to ruin as we spend out time worrying about this man, and the only way I can do that with any sort of effect is if I send him on a mission far away and only Nasuada can arrange that, assuming of course that he'll follow her orders which there is no guarantee of." Arya thought. She knew she had no other options and so as quickly as she could without turning heads she made her way to Nasuada's tent.

When she got to the tent the two Nighthawks stopped her before calling to Nasuada inside for permission to admit her.

"Allow her in." Nasuada called. The two Nighthawks then allowed her to pass and she quickly entered the tent. When she entered she saw Nasuada as she suspected but she also saw Elva to her mild surprise, sitting there, eating bread.

"Arya, is something the matter?" Nasuada asked. Arya was about to answer when Elva cut in.

"She's worried about something and her desperation has brought her here." She said coldly. Arya and Nasuada looked to her and Nasuada gave a sigh of tiredness.

"Elva, please don't do that. I'm sure that Arya would not appreciate you exclaiming her emotions." Nasuada said. Elva didn't respond and just went back to eating the bread.

"It's all right Lady Nasuada, she is not wrong. I am worried and I am in need of your help." Arya stated. Nasuada's attention turned back to her and her brow furrowed in worry.

"What is it Arya? Does it have something to do with our future plans?" She asked.

"No, it is not about our plans. It's about Shade." She said. There was a pause as Nasuada gained full understanding of why Arya was worried.

"The pit." Arya turned to Elva.

"The pit?" Arya asked.

"I hid Elva away during our meeting this morning to see if she could get any information from Shade." Nasuada explained.

"And? How did that go?" Arya asked, already worried.

"That creature feels nothing." Elva answered in an ever-colder tone. Once again Arya turned to the child.

"What do you mean he feels nothing?"

"That thing, whatever it is, has no emotions, or is somehow able to hide them from me. All I felt from him was a giant pit where fear, happiness, love and every other emotion ought to be. Even when he appeared to be angry or amused I felt nothing and when I delved deeper he responded to be presence." Elva said.

"He felt you?" Elva nodded lightly.

"Yes, and when he did he said that if I ever attempted to push into his emotions again he would show me emotions I'd never felt before and make me shrivel up into myself, child or not. After that I pulled back and did not attempt again. I was not eager to see what that thing could muster out of itself." Elva finished. After Elva's story Arya turned to Nasuada who had gained a deep look of worry of her own.

"We must separate him from Eragon, better still separate him from both Shade and Starlight until they both agree to allow us to read their minds and get some answers." Arya insisted.

"No, separating Eragon from Starlight would have disastrous effects. The two love each other and to separate them would only make them distrust you and grow resentful." Elva stated.

"Those two barely know each other, how can they love each other?" Arya asked in disbelief.

"It matters not how, just that they do. The love I felt from them when they kissed more than made up for that creature's pit of emotions." Elva said before starting to eat again.

"Fine, if we cannot separate those two then we have to separate Eragon and Shade. The more time that passes the more of Eragon's trust he gains and the deeper into his life he burrows." Arya said almost desperately.

"I agree Arya, we have to separate them. I'm planning to give Shade a mission that will put some distance between him and Eragon."

"But he's not a member of the Varden and refuses to join us. Why would he follow any orders you give him?"

"Because this mission might just peaks his interest." Nasuada said. "I'm planning to send him on a mission to investigate Morzan's former home. The place is now one of the Galbatorix's summer palaces and might also be used by Murtagh, as it was his home at one time too. I think this may just be enough that Shade will overlook the fact that we're sending him away from Eragon, if only out of pure curiosity." Arya contemplated this and nodded.

"It may work, but it's only a temporary solution to a very big problem."

"That may be true but it gives us a respite from Shade and gives us a chance to build up out trust with Eragon and maybe learn some things from Starlight." Nasuada said. Arya thought about this and the more she thought the more she wanted the plan to be enacted.

"This might be the only way to break Shade's increasing hold on Eragon. After that then maybe Eragon and Starlight's bond can be broken. It's risky but it's the only chance we've got."

"When is this mission?" Arya asked.

"With any luck, it'll start tomorrow."


Done. Whoo, that took some effort to plow through and I added so much drama and conspiracy, I love it! Anyway I hope you guys loved it and if you did send me a review, pass along the story and share the love! Thanks for reading and I hope to update real soon but then again school sucks right now so don't hold you're breaths. Bye for now.

*right? scry? It's been a while since I read the books :(.

*Yes I know that I previously said that Shade wasn't acting as Starlight's father figure but in this case it helps give her a title/name and it fits with Eragon Shadeslayer in my opinion.