Hi everyone.

It's been 5 days since i last uploaded, which is a lot for me haha. So here's my longest chapter so far!

Thank you all for your support again. And I decided to stick around on Gjarzla Hjarta for some character development. There are a lot of issues to resolve as you know, and here's a sneak peak for you guys: there will be some romance, though you have to figure out for yourselves who will get lucky.

I'm sorry for LukasAlbert, but this chapter we don't get any Kundog (the urgal rider) but i'll promise he'll come around again.

This chapter features multiple POV's, which i haven't really done before, save for one very small part of Arya somewhere in chapter 4 i think.

Anyway, hope you enjoy it!


Little one.

Eragon felt Saphira at the edge of his consciousness but he kept his walls up. He did not want to talk to her. Not to anyone for that matter. He wanted to drown himself in his self-pity. No one understood him anyway. Not even Saphira. Dragons don't fall in love, they mate with others for a while until they grow bored of each other and find another. No, this was his pain, he needed to deal with this alone.

Little one! Saphira rammed into his walls this time. Eragon could barely keep it up, but he managed. He mentally shouted in all directions. Leave me alone!

Little one! With an overwhelming force, and probably backed up by some of the eldunari she was carrying, Saphira broke through his defenses and her anger filled his mind.

Never shut me out. For the head leader of the riders you are still a stubborn child. He felt stupid, but got angry too that she lectured him like this.

You don't understand Saphira.

Then explain it. Her anger made room for sincere concern, but she was still on edge.

I can't Saphira. I don't know what's wrong with me. I thought I was fine. I thought I was prepared. I thought everything would be alright if Arya came here and I got a chance to work things out with her. But once she appeared a blind anger took control of me and I only made it worse. I am a fool, I am so goddamn stupid Saphira, she would never want me. Despite all the knowledge the eldunari shared with me, I am still a child in her eyes. Even in yours.

No Eragon, you mistake my jesting words for truth. I have seen you grown from a newborn to a kingslayer. No one could have accomplished what you have. You have freed and inspired a nation! You have rebuild the dragon race and for that, all of Alagaësia is forever in your depth. All you have not done is follow your heart due to a prophecy made to a boy that is not anymore. Yes you are a fool. You are a fool for holding back your own desires. Who does Angela think she is to give you such a prophecy. Next time I see her she will have to answer to me for the pain she caused you.

No Saphira, I asked her to predict my future, remember?

I don't care Eragon. She also promised you an epic romance, I haven't seen you having a mate for life, let alone a romance. Eragon, you are not the boy anymore you were back then in Teirm. You are now so much more. Your true name has changed, so has your fate. Do not linger on it Eragon. Arya is here now and you have a chance to make it right.

She came to talk about the threat to the dragons, which I completely ignored in my misery. She didn't come to me.

And why would she?! You ignored everyone in Alagaësia, Roran, Murtagh, Nasuada, Arya, you even ignored me Eragon. Can't you see it? We are all here. We all want to help you, if you just let us. You do not have to do all of this alone. You have me, Ismira, the other riders, the eldunari, Blödhgarm and his elves. And now even Arya. Do not carry the weight of the world alone Eragon. Let us help you.

I try Saphira. I really do. But all this pain is so much to carry. I think only Arya can fix me. But I don't dare to open up to her. What if she pushes me away again Saphira. It would be the end of me.

Eragon, you know she cares for you. She would never wish you no further harm. Have faith in her, she has come here for a reason.

Then why did she never contact me in all those years?

On this Saphira had no answer, and they fell silent, both lost in thoughts.

Eragon heard a knocking on the door of the room he was in. And only now it occurred to him that he had locked himself in the small part of the library that was locked for the younger riders and the non-riders for it contained texts about the eldunari. That is why Saphira couldn't enter.

Again someone knocked on the door. Eragon stood up and quickly pulled his clothes straight. He then walked out of the door to face Herna, for it was her who stood their knocking.

"Ebrithil, your sudden departure concerned me. Are you alright?"

"Yes, but seeing the queen of the elves again fell hard on me. Harder than I expected. I'm sorry that I've lost my temper in front of you all".

"Don't dwell on it master. We are all merely concerned. Arya should not have come here. We did not invite her to come, neither do we have the answers she seeks. All she does is disrupting the peace we have here on the island."

"It is her right to come here, both as Queen of the elves as being the third eldest Rider, she even is a mentor to many of us, including me." Eragon couldn't take Herna talking bad about Arya, despite everything he still cared for her. Besides that, it was not Herna's place to question Arya's motives to come to the island.

"I know Ebrithil, I'm sorry for speaking out of turn, it upsets me to see you hurt by her coming. I just don't want to see what we've build here being disrupted without reason. There have been two eggs hatching in the last three years. Alagaësia is at peace. What could be the threat she talks about?" Herna appeared to be sincerely concerned by this. Eragon couldn't help but think she had a point. A spark of hope came to him, what if there was no true treat and Arya did came here for him?! He couldn't give voice to his hope though.

"I don't know Herna. I haven't been noticing anything that happened outside of my own mind for the last few years. All I know is that if she made the travel, Arya must have a reason for it."

"But please Eragon, heed caution around her. She has hurt you enough. We do not want to see you slip any further away from us. We need you to maintain the island. We need you as our leader, and a friend." Herna gently put her hand on Eragon's lower arm. He frowned but quickly recovered.

"I will talk to her in private and find out what the intention of her visit is. This time I will control myself. Thank you for your concerns, but you can go now."

«»

"So, we are currently on the platform, as we call it. When Eragon and the elves first came here from the west, they saw these mountain peaks and the platform between it. This place is the core of the dragon island. This is where the riders and trainers live. The other inhabitants live at the base of the mountain, in the village. It takes a day for humans to walk there. But on dragon back it should take you no longer than two hours."

"Wow, this place is magnificent". Díanel looked at Ismira and felt a knot in his stomach. The copper curls fell like a waterfall around her slightly tanned face. She looked back at him with her eyes, blue as Lokini's scales. After what felt like an eternity, she slightly blushed and lowered her eyes.

"Look, that is the main hall." She pointed at the building in which Eragon and Herna still resided after they went inside over an hour ago. The hall was very high and build against and inside the biggest of the two mountain peaks. It consisted solely out of a reddish stone. The roof stretched further than the walls and rested on big pillars. Underneath was a resting place large enough for even the biggest dragons. After thirty feet underneath the roof the walls came up, with in the middle a huge wooden front gate. In the wood where carvings of the glorious battle of Roran, Nar Garzhvog and queen Islanzadi against Lord Bard, during the siege of Uru'bean.

The hall consisted of multiple floors, the first floor held the great hall, which could be used for meetings and could house up to three hundred man and thirty dragons in time of need. There were rooms for smaller meetings and scrying rooms. On the next level was a big library. Eragon retrieved many of the old texts from Oromis' hut and Jeod gifted him with some unique pieces of his own collection. The elves and dwarves that came to live on the island also brought texts with them. There were even some Urgal texts. There were guests rooms for the scholars to stay for a longer period, if they wished so. Eragon's private quarters were at the back and had an entrance on the west side of the mountain as well. It was hid with the same spell that the Ra'zac had used in the Helgrind.

On the third and highest level of the great hall was an atrium. In this atrium were the texts about the stars and it contained a big telescope as well.

The kitchen and dining halls were also on the platform. Behind the kitchen was a vegetable garden, that was maintained by some elves and a dwarf. There was no need for meat and therefore no livestock on the mountain top. So the dwarves, urgals and humans that wanted meat needed to go down to the village.

Build against the other mountain peak were the Rider and teacher halls. Though Nurin favored the forest over stone, so he lived halfway down the mountain between the trees in a hut he had song himself, along with some of the elven teachers.

After the lunch Kundog and Tian went to the village for some errands and Arya went with Nurin to attend some matters that they didn't want to tell Ismira and Díanel about. They had left through a small door that suddenly appeared out of nowhere on one of the mountain peaks.
Lokini took Izar out to hunt some of the big fishes that lived in the lake and were very tasty according to Lokini.

Díanel was impressed by the work Eragon and his associates had done in the last 20 years. All the buildings were huge and of smart design. They were clearly build with the grow of the dragon race and riders in mind. It seemed like all the people worked hard and determined for the new order. Even though all the tension that they experienced before, it felt like a place of peace and sanctuary.

This is amazing. I hope things all turn out fine and we can stay to train here. It seems like everything is so thought through and everyone loves to be here. We are destined to be here, I feel it in my core. Díanel mentally told his dragoness.

You just confuse your feelings for the girl with the feelings for the place, young one. Do not forget the promise you made. We can train here, but we are destined to help the Alagaesians, with whatever trouble they face. Izar replied while she was diving and snatched something that looked like a big fish with a shield around its body. Díanel smiled as he noticed Izar confused asking Lokini how she could eat that. Díanel let the connection fade to a mere acknowledgement of each other so he could focus on Ismira again.

They walked to the main hall and set down on a bench outside. In Carvahall the first snow should start falling somewhere around this time, but this far to the southeast it was still a nice Indian summer. They were sitting in the sunshine and Díanel saw the sun light Ismira's hair up like the flames in the forge of his father.

"How have you been?" he asked with a soft voice.

"It has been hard." Her voice was even softer, almost whispering as she stared at the floor in front of them. "At first I was so happy when Lokini hatched for me in Teirm. But then when I reached Carvahall I realized I had to say goodbye to the people I love, mom, dad, Hope and little Garrow… you."

She looked into his eyes as to measure his reaction. He gave a small smile and his heart warmed up. He remembered the sadness and despair that followed that day. The other people she mentioned were some of the people he loved too. Strangely enough, Hope was his aunt but she was just a year older as he was, just as Ismira is. He didn't know better than that Ismira and Hope were best friends. Little Garrow was two years his junior, and not so little anymore, in the contrary, but Ismira always teased him with him being younger. He nodded understanding to her and she continued.

"Then training with Arya was amazing. I loved the elven city and culture. You know I've always been interested in them, and living there for so long was truly wonderful. Have you been to the old hut of Oromis-Elda, there is so much history there."

Díanel smiled at the enthusiasm which suddenly came up and reflected through a sparkle in her blue eyes.

"But then my training there came to an end and I had to move to this place. Arya and Fírnen accompanied me for the first part, until Herna and Harnon came to pick me up. You must know that Herna is not as bad as she sounds. She is very protective and sometimes a bit fanatical, but in her heart she means well for all of us. But we'll see about that later.

I was looking forward to train with Eragon, my uncle. I never met him before, well only when I was a baby during the war, but never since, though in my youth I scryed with him sometimes. He always told me that I was destined for great things, and it turned out he was right, I guess since I'm a Rider now. When I arrived here I needed to swear that I would keep the ways of the island secret to anyone not on here, I thought it for the security of myself and the others, so I took the oath, as Kundog explained to you and Arya.

Then training began and I enjoyed it so much. I got along with Kundog and Nurin so well, despite the age difference. Kundog, Nurin and Herna thought me a lot about the different cultures and I was keen on becoming an ambassador, a negotiator between the races, I mastered the ancient language and I'm getting quite good at Dwarvish, though Urgal is still hard for me. Nurin trained me in archery, Kundog in aerial battling and Herna excels at healing magic. Sometimes the other elves, dwarves, humans or Urgals gave lectures or teachings as well and they can be found on the training grounds quite often. Laufin is the master of magic and one of the most comforting elves to talk too. It was a great time. There are some dwarves, urgals and even humans of our age in the village who's company I greatly enjoyed and I spend many nights talking about the games and other stuff with them.

But after a while I wanted to get to know my uncle. I always assumed he was busy with being the Head Rider and stuff. But once I completed the first stage of my training, Tuatha du orothrim, I started to ask questions and found him not to be the Eragon from the tales, or the Eragon from my youth. Kundog and Nurin were worrying for a long period before I arrived, but always hid their concerns from me. Later they involved me and we looked for a solution together. We were planning to ask Murtagh to come and intervene, but we could not contact him. We thought of Arya as a last resort, for she could make things better or worse, we will now see which will be the outcome, I guess." Ismira concluded with sadness and hesitation in her voice. It was clear to see that the last year had been hard on her. When she was talking about her training she was the sweet and enthusiastic girl he remembered from Carvahall, the girl he fell in love with. But now concerns were darkening her usually sparkling eyes and she seemed like she wanted to break down and cry.

"I don't know what to say. I'm sorry for shouting at you and the others for ignoring the Alagaesians, for ignoring me. I understand that it must have been hard for you. But we cannot lose hope, we can fix Eragon. You know Arya, she is very wise and powerful. I trust her with my life and I'm sure she'll lead the way when Eragon cannot." Díanel saw Ismira staring into his eyes. He placed a hand on her knee and she reacted by placing her own hand on top of his. Her eyes now mirrored his affection and conviction. He moved his hand to her cheek...

At that moment the dragons landed on the platform and disrupted them. Díanel and Ismira exchanged one more look before they both walked to their own dragon to hear about their hunt.

Of course Díanel knew a lot already through the connection they always had. But it was nice to hear Izar talking with such enthusiasm and he could feel her joy through their link.

Those fish are tastier than anything I've had before. You first have to crack their shells open, but after that they are a bit slimy and taste like, like, the best taste ever. Díanel laughed at her failed attempted to describe the animal she ate.

And how is it to be the smallest dragon on the Island, starlight? He teasingly replied.

Lokini is great and so full of life. He is not as wise or mature as Fírnen-Ebrithil is, he is playful and wants to race with me all the time. He knows all the fun places on the island. We even touched the bottom of the lake, where the sun doesn't shine, it is almost as beautiful as the night sky. There are sparkling fishes swimming around.

Again Díanel felt himself fill with joy coming from Izar. He had never seen her this enthusiastic before and her joy reflected in a big smile on his face. He knew it was what Izar wanted, being here with her kin. He caught Ismira looking at him and smiling, and his own smile got even bigger if possible. He wanted to be here too.

«»

Arya and Nurin descended the thousand steps of the staircase. It was a moist and cramped staircase and it was lit by the magic lamps that the elves and dwarves used. They were relieved when they finally came out of the darkness and into the clearing before them. Somewhere halfway on the mountain was a pool, surrounded by rocks. The only entrance was the tunnel they just came from. It was too small for a dragon to land there and due to an overhanging rock it could hardly be seen from above. Eragon didn't want to take any risks, so he casted a concealing spell so that when flying over nothing but rocks could be seen.

The tunnel had let Arya and Nurin to the small patch of grass in front of the pool. There were some fish swimming in the pool but there were no birds or other animals.

"This is perfect." Was all that Arya said.

"We're not there yet". Nurin replied.

He walked in the pool till the water covered his knees. It was surprisingly steep and deep, even though the pool was that small. "Arya-Dröttning, we need to state our true names in order for the vault to open." Arya nodded.

"Will it be alright if I block your hearing while I tell mine?" Nurin asked with a slight hesitation, afraid to offend his Queen and Elder rider.

"Of course, Nurin-Finiarel. Don't feel weighted to ask such a thing. I would never expect you to share your name with me". Nurin nodded and cast the spell. Arya watched him as he spoke his true name and shivered. Then she could hear the wind and the flowing of the water again.

This time she blocked Nurin's hearing and stated her name. She shivered as she spoke her name and felt her core tremble. Then she lifted the spell.

For two seconds nothing happened. And then a passage opened at the floor of the pool. Nurin dove in there and Arya followed. After ten seconds they came in a cave and walked out of the water over a staircase. On top of this staircase stood Cuaroc's throne. Behind him was a wall with many notches in it. On the notches resided hundreds of Eldunari, all in different colors and sizes. They shone bright and the energy coming from them was overwhelming. The energy coming from the eldunari was pulsing, just like a heartbeat. This was why the island was named Gjarzla Hjarta, the heart of light.

The silver humanoid body with the head of a dragon, which was controlled by Cuaroc through his purple eldunari that was hidden in the chest of the body, strode to them.

It is good to see you again, Queen Arya. How was your training?

Cuaroc, I take it you speak for the other eldunari as well?

I do.

Good, the eldunari helped both me and Fírnen in a perfect way with our training. We've learned a lot about the dragon race and the different tactics. Things that are not written in the books we have in Du Weldenvarden.

I'm glad you returned, Arya. A lot of eldunari want to travel across Alagaësia again and it seems that Eragon or any of the other riders do not intend to leave this island though.

I'm not yet sure when I would return. But if I do I will take as many of you with me as I can. Of course I must discuss this with Umaroth and Eragon too.

"Could you give me some time alone with the eldunari, Nurin-Finiarel?"

"Yes, my Queen"

Queen Arya, this is Umaroth, Vrael's dragon. I'm glad you arrived. And with a new rider I heard. That is most good news in dark days like this.

Umaroth's big white eldunari was placed on a pedestal next to Cuaroc's throne.

I have come to get answers Umaroth-Elda. About what happens here on this island, about the fate of your mighty race, about Murtagh and Thorn, about Eragon...

And I will answer all of them, though you might think that my answers fall short, I'm afraid I do not have all the knowledge you seek. It seems as much of the answers intertwine.

As your dragon, Fírnen-Pine-colored, probably has noticed, fourteen years ago something happened to our race. We all felt a warning rushing through us, though none of us could tell you what it was.

I do, you know I do, Umaroth-Elda. Arya turned her head towards a medium sized orange eldunari, who had spoken.

It was my son who warned us Queen Arya, I told them. It was my son. He warned us all before he died.

She is one of the unfortunate dragons who still not has recovered from her captivity, Arya. Her son died during the fall, alongside with the other wild dragons. The shock that went through us warned us of a threat, and took away the desire to mate from the living dragons and made the dragons remain inside their eggs. Only two dragons have hatched ever since, and no new egg has been laid.

Lokini and Izar. It was Blagden, my raven who helped Izar, but what was it that helped Lokini out of his egg?

It was us. With the number of eldunari we have, we were strong enough to contact Lokini over this distance. We felt that Ismira was right for him but that he didn't want to hatch. We convinced him otherwise.

But don't you think if something threatens your race, he should've remained inside his egg, just as the others?

No, we knew that the threat was not physically attacking. There was no immediate threat and we trusted you to raise the dragon and rider in the right way.

Then why have you not done it more often?

We can't. Something is blocking our power when we try to reach out too far. This concerns us just as much as the unwillingness to propagate our race. Because of this, we've no records of where Murtagh and Thorn are, nor do we know if they're being well.

I wonder how many dragons ignored the riders that the would've chosen otherwise.

As do we, Queen Arya.

I guess we should look for Murtagh and Thorn, they might have some information. But to do so, we need more riders. And most of all, we need a sane Eragon. What happened to him Umaroth-Elda?

Eragon was deeply hurt after your last scrying session with him. Arya looked to the ground at this statement. Umaroth paused a moment before he continued.

He wanted to return to you, but the prophecy laid on him by the Witch Angela held him back. So he sought an answers. First he lost himself desperately searching through scrolls and texts. Then he turned to us. We advised him that no prophecy is binding, for all beings make their own fate, but he didn't listen to our advice. He didn't want to risk the fate of Alagaësia for his own desires, though maybe he should have for his fate seems to be connected to that of Alagaësia.

But after we couldn't help him, he started talking to the eldunari that were twisted under Galbatorix' leash. He went too deep and he lost himself in there. The grief and pain he encountered in there was too much toppled with his own, and he collapsed under the weight. We've all experienced what it is too lose the partner-of-our-hearts-and-minds, and it seems that Eragon felt the same after losing you. He should not have gone in the minds of the insane eldunari. It was simply too much for one person to feel that much pain at once.

Thank you, Umaroth-Elda, and the others. I know what I have to do.

Arya excited the cave with tears streaming down her face. Nurin wisely kept his mouth shut when his queen returned.


Again not a lot of action. But i don't look at this as a filler chapter, i hope you don't either.

We got to know what is going on with Eragon, we got some Herna, we got to know Ismira and how her time on the island was and we got some CRYING ARYA!

Hope you guys liked it. What do you think of Díanel and Ismira? Do you want them to get together (again)? And how do you think of them as my new own characters? I hope you do like them as much as i do!

Next chapter I'll reward you with an Eragon and Arya scene!

Tomorrow is the King's birthday here in the Netherlands. So I'm getting wasted and probably won't upload till friday, which gives you lots of time to think about the new characters and leave some reviews for me to take in account!

LukasAlbert, I might bring on Kundog next chapter too, especially for you. (I'm not sure yet)

Cheers!

Leonardo