Disclaimer: I do not own the original characters created by Christopher Paolini.

A/N: In the previous chapter many things happened, and many things are still going to appear in this one. I really hope this one is meeting the same standards as 200 centuries later, but if it isn't then please tell me what I am doing wrong! I'm going to forewarn you guys, plot twisters are getting ready to show up again. All right on with chapter 8!!

Chapter 8

Jayden glimpsed the archers move out of the way quickly as Nathanel crashed into the ground. The scream was still echoing in his mind though. It had sounded like a thousand wailing wolves and none of them were on the same pitch. As Nathanel crashed into the ground, Jayden was flung forward from the impact. One of the archers ran towards him.

"Jayden! Your father has been searching for you!"

"Why did you shoot him?! He was bringing me back!" The elf looked shocked for a moment, before a mask went over his face.

"I'm sorry. It has been ordered by Lord Eragon that any dragon demons to be shot down and killed on sight."

"Why?"

"They didn't know if you were going to be brought back...dead or alive that is." Jayden turned away from the elf quickly and limped over to Nathanel, who had not moved from his spot.

"Nathanel! Nathanel are you all right?" A small groan escaped from his jaws. Arrows were protruding from his sides.

"I fear I won't make it through this, Jayden."

"What? You mean your dying?"

"Not nessacarily dying, but injured beyond repair." As he was talking, Jayden noticed the elves suddenly become skittish.

"Whats up with you guys?"

"Jayden, something is coming." Nathanel's eyes suddenly widened and he tried to push himself up, but failed miserably.

"Nathanel? What is it?"

"Its another dragon demon. His presence is....familiar..." At that moment, within a heartbeat, a dragon demon appeared out of nowhere. Jayden's heart skipped a beat however, since it was larger than Nathanel completely. If he was to estimate the approximate height, he would have to say about 75 feet tall. The demon landed on the ground and snarled at the elves, viciously. But to Jayden, it didn't seem like he was protecting his king...more like he was protecting his child.

"Anyone of you takes a step towards him, I will rip out all of your hearts!" Jayden's eyes widened. The voice was female!

"Who are you?" The dragon demon looked at him and blinked.

"I am Mika. I can say that I am proud to be part of Nathanel's family line." Mika growled when Luna landed behind Jayden.

'Jayden there's another one!'

'Luna...Thats Mika.'

"Such a pity that you dragons cannot talk out loud, like we can. If you could, conversing would be so much easier. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll take him back to our realm." Leaning down, she easily manuvered Nathanel onto her back. At that moment Thorn, Saphira, Eragon, and Murtagh showed up.

"Jayden!!" Murtagh climbed down from Thorn's back and ran to Jayden, pulling him into his embrace. Eragon looked at Mika.

"Such a powerful looking creature....No wonder the first Eragon had such a hard time fighting it." Mika growled at Eragon.

"I would watch what you say boy. I have seen more lifetimes than you have, and I have watched most of my children fight in wars of some sort. But only one of them would become the next king of our race." Mika looked at Murtagh. "Out of everyone here, you are the only one who has seen him." Mika then lifted her wings and jumped into the air. Within moments, she and Nathanel disappeared. Jayden glared at Murtagh and Eragon.

"How could you both?"

"What?"

"He was bringing me back! Now he's injured and...and...and possibly beyond repair!" Eragon looked away sadly.

"Jayden, we didn't know that!" Rolling his eyes, Jayden climbed onto Luna's back. Instantly he compared the differences. When he had rode Nathanel, he had felt all his muscles moving at once, in synch, even when he was standing still sometimes. Luna however, you could not feel her muscles while she was standing still, but they did move in synch whenever she flies.

"Next time, wait at least five days. If I'm not back by then, than sure post archers in the last area I was seen in." Murtagh looked at Jayden sadly.

"Jayden I'm sorry. I didn't know they were going to do that!"

"Go away! I don't want to talk to you right now!! Lets go Luna!" Nodding, Luna jumped into the sky.

'Jayden, you really should hear him out.'

'No Luna....I'll....I'll never forgive him! Nathanel didn't do anything wrong! How could he do that?!'

'I'm sure he has his reasons, but if you don't hear him out, we'll never find out.'

'I know....I'll talk to him once I've calmed down.'

'You promise?'

'Yes. I promise.'

~With Eveleen~

Eveleen slapped Alexina again when she refused to answer her question. The elf was being stubborn and not answering her questions about whether or not Mardonio could be resurrected through elven magic.

"Answer me!!" When Alexina shook her head, she was grabbed by a guard and tossed across the room. 'Lexand...please hurry!!' Eveleen turned to one of the guards. "Get the whip. We'll whip it out of her." Alexina swallowed hard.

"Elves can endure so much more pain than that. I will never reveal to you the secrets of my family."

"Guard. Give her 25 lashes."

"Yes ma'am." Alexina screamed as the whip came down upon her back. She curled up in a ball as the guard kept on whipping her. Once the 25 agonizing lashes were done, the guard picked her up roughly. Eveleen waved her hand, dismissively.

"You can do whatever you want to her." Alexina's eyes widened in horror, especially when she sensed the intention coming from the man.

"NO!!!" At that moment a shriek pierced the air, and something came crashing through the walls. Squinting her eyes, Alexina barely made out the shape of a winged-creature.

"Leave her alone!! Alexina, stay still!" Alexina gasped in horror when she was suddenly pulled out of the guards' grip, and was suddenly going straight up in the air. Twisting around, she recognized the features of a dragon demon...and Lexand.

"Lexand! You accomplished your goal."

"Yes. I am a dragon demon again, only because my mother is still alive."

"Mika?"

"Aye...Alexina, I have horrible news."

"What?"

"Our son is injured badly....I saw my mother before I left the demon world, and she had a younger dragon demon with her. She explained to me what had happened and who he was. At first I didn't know who this Nathanel was, but when she told me about his elf side, I knew at once it was our son."

"How? How do you know it wasn't some other dragon demons' son, with an elf mother or father?" Even though she asked that, she knew deep down inside that it was indeed their son, like how Lexand knew at once it was their son.

"Because I am the only dragon demon in our history to have fallen in love with an elf. Thats how I know."

"Oh. Where are we going?"

"I'm dropping you off in Ellesmera. I will stay for a few minutes...I need to speak to Murtagh and the elven king. Then I need to return to the demon realm."

"Okay."

"Hold on."

~With Nathanel~

He could dimly hear the voices around him. They were talking about the arrows protruding from him....or something like that. A sudden pain filled up his entire body for 5 whole seconds, before he felt numb.

"Nathanel, when you wake up you won't feel this pain any longer." Nathanel slowly nodded his head somehow and relaxed his entire being, accepting whatever was about to come. 'I guess this is the end...I never did get to meet my parents in the end....' For a moment, deep within his mind, he felt as if a little fire was still kindling, trying to stay alive. Nathanel stayed focused on that little flame, trying to stay alive in his mind and his other self appeared for a second before disappearing quickly. 'Do I still have something to accomplish in Alagaesia? Is that what this fire is trying to tell me? Am I still needed?'

Alright review!! I told you guys that Lexand would make an appearance in this chapter and he did. Okay, I'm going to do a poll to see what people think is going to happen. Of course you guys will just be guessing.

A) Lexand fights Nathanel; wins and takes the spot as dragon demon king,

B) Lexand goes to the dragon demon realm and heals Nathanel fully,

C) Jayden helps Nathanel heal from his wounds by going to the dragon demon realm, OR

D) Sapphire enters the dragon demon realm somehow and heals Nathanel with her magic

Okay those are your choices! Please pick only ONE and let me know in your fabulous reviews!! Thank you!! Now review please.....or I will not update until Febuary of 2010! Oh for the poll, your reward if you get it right is a cookie! And if you want a preview of the next chapter.....