I DO NOT OWN THE INHERITANCE CYCLE OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS. THIS FANFIC WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE IDEAS OF CHRISTOPHER PAOLINI

Aaron opened his eyes to see he was once again in the throne room. He was about to relay what had been spoken to the others in the room, but Islanzadí placed a hand on his back and in human tongue said, "What was said to you was meant for you alone, little one." Aaron flashed a draconic smile and padded over to the others in the room.

Arya stepped forward and asked, "How goes the war efforts, my queen?"

"The elves now hold Ceunon and as we speak march to Gil'ead and then we plan to take Dras-Leona and then make the final strike at Urû Baen. And the Varden?"

"The Varden hold Fienster and march to Belatona, where we plan to wait and take siege with your forces at Dras-Leona."

"Very well. You are dismissed, except for you, Saphira. You won't mind staying for a bit longer, would you?"

"Not at all, Islanzadí," Saphira replied. "Eragon, why don't you take Aaron to see him?"

"Sure Saphira. Come on Aaron." With that, the room was empty except for Islanzadí and Saphira.

"What is it you wish to discuss, Queen Islanzadí?"

"Saphira, I know much of the dragon race. I know for a fact a wild dragon egg will not hatch until certain requirements are met." She paused, not knowing how to continue. "I know there must be plentiful food supply and… a potential mate."

"I have pondered this as well, but cannot think of a way it is possible. If a female did hatch, we would have no way of knowing. I laid only one egg, and if there were any eggs other than the rider egg Galbatorix still possesses, it would have hatched when Thorn did, if not earlier for Gleadr and Shurikan would still have been potential mates."

"If there is another dragon, we must find her before the black king can find it and create a pseudo-rider under his control." Islanzadí slumped back in her chair. "Also, I have wondered if perhaps Aaron's resurrection was a natural occurrence. If Arya's spell had nothing to do with this, then what if another transformed dragon hatched?"

"That would only make matters worse for us," Saphira said. "Another transformed human could spell the end of our race. Aaron has very little knowledge other than spontaneous bursts of instincts, even when you explain things to him. A dragon with almost no knowledge at all could very well die before too long."

"I can promise you I will round up a group of elves who will hunt to find the dragoness, but I cannot guarantee success." And in the ancient language, the promise would be fulfilled.

Aaron walked two paces behind Eragon as they traversed through Ellesméra. Everywhere he turned there was a mob of elves simply wanting to look at him. "Don't worry about them," Eragon said through a link. "They'll get over you eventually. You're a symbol of hope to them."

"I wonder what would happen if they found out I used to be human?" Eragon laughed silently, thinking of the outcome. "Where are we going Eragon? You never told me."

"We're going to cut loose some family ties here," he replied cryptically. As he said that he came to a halt in front of a small hut outside of the city.

"You have family in Ellesméra? I thought you were human."

"I don't have family here," Eragon said, opening the door. "You do." Aaron looked through the door and saw his uncle, Sloan, lying on a bed. Eragon quickly explained to him how he had sentenced Sloan to his fate in Ellesméra.

Aaron reached out with his mind and lightly touched Sloan's mind. "Uncle Sloan," he asked gently. Sloan abruptly sat up in his bed. Sloan silently muttered something about his imagination and laid back down. "Uncle Sloan, it's me, Aaron."

"No, you're dead," Sloan said angrily. "You died two years ago in those cursed woods. If you're here, I cannot see you. Let me touch you, so I know you're here." Aaron began to walk towards his uncle, but Eragon held him back by gripping his serpentine neck.

"What are you doing, Eragon? Let go of me!" Aaron started trying to free his neck and clawing at the ground.

Eragon sighed and pulled a loose scale from Aaron's right flank and held it in front of his face. "Aaron, he may not be able to see your change of form, but he will be able to feel your scales and figure out something's wrong."

Sloan just gave a sigh and laid back down. "Losing my mind," he muttered. Aaron, still linked with Sloan's mind, saw a memory surface. Sloan was remembering five days after Aaron had disappeared.

Sloan was butchering a doe Eragon had traded him for three coins when Katrina walked into the shop. "Katrina, what are you doing over here," he asked.

"Father, I'm worried about Aaron. He went off to hunt seven days ago and still hasn't returned. Eragon went off to hunt the same day and he said he never saw him."

"The kid went against my rules and went into the Spine, he might as well be dead. I'm not going to go look for a body in those woods. He probably deserves to be dead, too."

"Father!"

"Quiet! He's dead, let it rest."

Aaron pulled himself from his uncle's mind in horror. His uncle never cared the slightest for him. "Let's go, Eragon," he said in defeat. He walked out of the hit without giving his uncle a second glance.

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