Thank-you reviewers! You make my day!

I am going to have a few chapters called this sprinkled through the story. It will help things move along.

Eragon's fierceness is becos' I am lending some of my personality to him!LOL.

Disclaimer:It's all Christopher Paolini's and Random House.

Chapter Nine.

Wisdom of the Serpent.

Part One.

Eragon shoved the last small bag of dried fruit into the saddlebag, and clipped the flaps together. He was ready to go.

Are you done Little One?

Yes. Arya said she would bring her own food.

Are you taking meat for Roran?

I told him that I do not eat it, he may bring some, though he seems to excited at the thought of rescuing Katrina that he is useless when it comes to practical things.

Saphira laughed, smoke rising from her nostrils, Yes, I did notice him trying to put his bow in his pack. He looked distracted.

Eragon smiled, for good reason.

Come, the sooner we go, the sooner we come back.

And the sooner we kill the Ra'zac, and avenge Garrow and Brom.

Saphira lifted a lip to growl, They will regret that. We shall see how loyal they are to the king when they are screaming in agonizing pain from my fire.

Eragon had not enjoyed killing all those humans at the Burning Plains, but the Ra'zac would be different. He would be having revenge long in coming. He would make them feel such pain as they had never imagined. Oh, they would pay.

When they reached the bottom of Tronjheim, Roran was waiting for them.

His hand was on the handle of his hammer, and he looked like he too, was having fierce and satisfying thoughts of the Ra'zac.

"Is Arya not here?"

Roran grinned, "No."

Eragon grinned back, "Are you looking forward to having revenge Roran?"

Roran lifted his head, "I will make them rue the day they set their filthy claws on our father."

And we shall avenge Brom. Put in Saphira.

Roran nodded and tightened his grip on his hammer, mouth in a grim line. "We will cause them pain."

"The Ra'zac?" Arya had arrived.

"Yes. Are you ready to go?"

Arya nodded, quelling the butterfly's in her stomach. She was nervous about fighting the Ra'zac, not to mention camping with Eragon for at least a week. She had been a fool, a silly air headed fool. What things Eragon must think. Oh what a fool! Arya had been mentally beating herself for doing it, what was wrong with her?

The four of them set out for the main entrance to the mountain. When they reached the doors leading to Kostha Merna there was a small group of dwarves to see them off.

Arya smiled as she felt the cold mountain air on her face. She didn't know how the dwarves survived for so long without natural things. She sneaked a look at Eragon, he looked as if he were enjoying being in the outdoors as much as she was.

Eragon tore his eyes away from the beautiful sight of the mountain lake and turned to Roran and Arya. "Shall we go?"

Roran nodded and climbed onto Saphira faster than she'd ever seen. Arya hesitated and pretended to be fiddling with her pack. When she looked up, Roran was sitting on the back of the saddle. Arya let no emotion cross her face, but inside she was relieved that she would be able to sit on the back of the saddle, behind Eragon. She swung up on to Saphira and settled at the back of the saddle. Eragon jumped easily up as well. He has beautiful grace, mused Arya, he is as flexible as many ancient Elf-Lords.

Saphira took off, using a powerful updraft to take off. Very soon they were holding tight on to the saddle as the wind buffeted them in all directions. Finally Saphira rose above the choppy wind and there was relative silence. In the distance the mountains loomed, dark sentinels oblivious to time.

-

Eragon, I must land. Flying against the wind has tired me,there is a sheltered glade we can camp in just over there.

Good. Be swift.

Saphira angled into a steep dive and landed with a slight jolt outside the small dell. Arya, Roran and Eragon got off quickly, so that they could get under cover soon, to avoid detection.

Eragon started a fire, with a flint and tinder, which surprised her, he had magic, why did he notuse it?

As Roran set out his bedroll, and Eragon cut up vegetables for their broth, she sat down next to him.

He looked up, after a moment or two, and flashed her a quick smile, before returning to his vegetables.

"Why did you use your human contraption to light the fire?" she asked in genuine puzzlement.

"He looked up and smiled, "Ah, but Arya! It was you introduced me to Rhunon-Elda in Ellesmera. I remembered her words."

Arya blushed slightly, "I had forgotten."

He nodded as if it was to be expected, threw the carrot choppings into the pot. "Come, the food will take a while, sit round the fire with us."

Arya followed Eragon, who was carrying the pot, and they settled down around the fire. Eragon lifted the pot onto the hook above the fire and poured the water that had been boiling into it. "It will not be the most exciting meal, but it is better than nothing." He smiled, "As I quickly learnt while travelling with Brom."

"I still find hard to believe that Brom was so different from just our village storyteller." said Roran.

Eragon lifted the corners of his mouth slightly, "well, he was."

And now we will avenge him,growled Saphira. Her voice was full of angry, vicious venom.

Eragon's mouth curled ferally, "And then we will make them wish that the riders had eradicated their race long ago."

"They will not have forgotten my hammer." Roran grasped his hammer in anticipation.

Arya looked at them. They were not obviously related, but the expressions on their faces showed the resemblance. Grim warriors.

The broth had been eaten, Saphira had come back from hunting, and the fire was carefully shielded. Roran had gone to bed already, leaving Arya and Eragon by the fire.

Eragon didn't know what to say. They had not talked properly since the crowning party, though it had been only two days ago.

In his sleeping roll, Roran grunted, annoyed. He wasn't very tired, he had gone to bed so that Eragon and the elf would talk, but they weren't even making small talk! He would have to make them talk.

Roran reached out his mind like Eragon had taught him to do, and contacted Saphira.

Saphira?

Yes, Nest-Friend?

Could you do something for me?

Perhaps. What is it?

Eragon and Elf aren't talking to each other. Can you make them somehow?

Saphira grinned a draconic grin, why you have the Wisdom of the Serpent, Roran. I would never have thought so.

Can you do something, Saphira?

I expect so. Let me think on it.

Saphira thought a little. Roran was a surprise, he had noticed that Eragon...liked Arya. What was she to do? Saphira thought a little more, then put her little plan into action.

Saphira yawned slightly and stretched her tail out, flicking it gently. Eragon looked up, eyeing it warily. He thought she was having a dream, and if Saphira had a very violent dream,she could end up disembowelling them. Arya, noticing his movement, looked up too. Saphira flicked her tail more and rolled onto her side slightly. Eragon looked even more wary and shifted a little, ready to push Arya out of the way if Saphira's 'dream' got any more violent.

Saphira smiled inside, here was her chance. Saphira thrashed tail around more, waving it around the fire towards the two. Eragon's eyes widened and he dived and pushed Arya out of the range of Saphira's tail. They landed to the left of the camp, Eragon on top of Arya.

Eragon got of her and sat down next to her. "I am sorry, Arya Svit-Kona! I didn't want Saphira to hurt you."

Arya blushed, and groaned inside, why did she always have to blush around him? It was contagious. "That is quite all right, Eragon,"she murmured.

He ducked his head for a second, then looked back up. "Do you think it is safe to go back to the fire now?" he asked with a sparkling grin.

She smiled back, "As long as Saphira doesn't start dreaming again."

He laughed, and went back to the fire. This time words fell from their lips easily, softly said, so as not to wake Roran or Saphira.

Finally they decided it was time to sleep. "Goodnight Eragon." Said Arya, as she slipped into her blankets.

"Goodnight Arya." answered Eragon, "I will take first watch."

She nodded and snuggled into the soft blankets, she fell asleep fairly quickly, in a peaceful mood because of her enjoyable conversation with Eragon.

In his bedroll on the other side of camp, Roran smiled contentedly, he had certainly managed to get them talking, with Saphira's help. Roran had been watching his cousin and the elf or a while. He noticed that they seemed to have a sort of past, thought neither of them mentioned it. Wisdom of the Serpent. He'd need a lot more than that to get the elf to admit any feelings she may have. But Roran was sure that she had some feelings for him, the way she seemed to blush quite a bit, though she was excellent at hiding what she truly felt. Roran was also positive that Eragon loved the elf. It was hard for him to conceal the look in his eyes when he saw her, though he did very well, but Roran was the only one who noticed. He had spent his whole life with Eragon, he knew him better than most people. Roran decided just to observe how things were with them for a while, before making his next move.

Saphira curled her neck protectively around Eragon, and he leant back against her neck. He had to stay awake , as he was on watch. Eragon felt happy at the thought of his conversation with Arya, but when he thought of when he landed on top of her, he cringed with embarrassment,what she must of thought. The strange thing was that Eragon had noticed that Saphira's mind didn't seem like it was completely asleep. He would have to question her in the morning.

Saphira slept soundly, well pleased by her antics that evening. Roran had been clever, she wouldn't have thought it of him. It had got Arya and Eragon talking excellently though. Arya seemed to have loosened up a lot, Eragon had probably had a key part in that, he had behaved well with Arya, not letting his feelings show, or embarrassing her either. Today hadn't counted, they had embarrassed themselves.

Very soon, all four people were asleep, Elf, Human, Dragon and Rider. A little way to the north, the Ra'zac laid their plans. There was a surprise in store for the would-be rescuers.

-

Two days of the same type of travelling, making camp, eating, taking it in turns to make camp, Leona Lake came into view in the early evening.

Saphira was flying above the lowest layer of cloud to avoid detection, when Eragon contacted all three of them. We can see Leona Lake. We will land somewhere safe soon.

The others sent their agreements and Saphira landed on a thin path, covered in young birch saplings and wineberry bushes. To the left of the path a series of convoluted sandstone caves rose.

Eragon's mouth set in a thin line, and he started climbing immediately, leaving Arya and Roran to climb up behind him. When they reached a fair sized cave they went inside and checked it for any dangerous obstacles or animals. There were none. It was good cave to camp, and Saphira could fit inside it comfortably.

"When will we go for Katrina?" asked Roran, once they were all seated round the camp-fire.

"Tomorrow, at noon, when there will be most light. The Ra'zac hate the sun."

"Ah." Roran stared into the fire, his thoughts clearly on Katrina.

Arya looked at Eragon. He, too, stared into the fire, though by the expression on his face he was thinking angry, sad thoughts.

The sun went down, making the three companions gathered round the fire, shiver.

Eragon got up abruptly, and Saphira stood up stealthily. "We are going outside. We will not go far, and will be back soon."

"You cannot go outside!" Said Arya in the ancient language, "what if you are seen?"

"We will not be seen." answered Eragon in kind.

"You cannot go Eragon!" Cried Arya.

Roran was looking surprised and wary at the outburst in a strange tongue. He was looking curiously from Eragon to Arya.

Eragon could tell that she was slightly upset. He reached out a comforting hand, and touched hers. "I will be careful Arya Svit-Kona. Do not worry."

She shivered at his touch, and moved her hand to cover more of his.

" Be safe."

He nodded, "I will."

She moved her hand away and turned round and started to fiddle with her pack.

Saphira and Eragon walked put into the cold night. Heavy droplets of water started to fall heavily on them. Eragon walked down to the next strata of rock and entered a large cave that could hold at least a dragon, three people and two horses. Indeed Eragon knew that it had. It was the cave that he had met Murtagh in. It was the cave that Brom had died in,the cave in which the old Shurtugal had said his last words. Eragon walked to a ledge on which a few scraps of old greying linen lay. Eragon knelt down beside it, hand clutching the ring 'Arod', Brom's ring with the Yawe on it, that Queen Islanzadi had given to him.

He remembered Brom's last words vividly. How could he not? Brom dying had been the worst thing that had happened in his entire life.

Speak these words only in great need.

-

You do not know how terrible it is to look back and your life and see little, and to look forward and see the many years ahead.

-

Guard her with your life, for without her your life is not worth living.

Eragon's eyes blurred with tears, silently they dripped down his face. The pain was nearly unbearable. Behind him Saphira lowered her head, infinite sadness emanating from her.

The Rider and Dragon stayed by the stone ledge for at least fifteen minutes, before Saphira nudged Eragon with her head and spoke to him.

Let us go visit him Little One.

He knew what she meant, so he followed her out of the cave. The rain was falling heavily and it mingled with his tears and ran down Saphira's scales miserably.

They made their way to the top of the formation of rock, keeping to the shadows around the light that sprang out of the cave that Arya and Roran were in.

When they neared the top, Eragon could see the knuckle of diamond rock rising up into the sky. On the top of sandstone caves was Brom's grave, just like Eragon left it. Eragon fell on his knees by the grave, staring hungrily at Brom's face, still perfectly preserved as if they old man were sleeping. Oblivious to the rain Eragon and Saphira stayed by the grave, water running on cold rivulets down his neck, and splashing on Saphira's hard scales. That was how Arya found them.

Arya had been wondering, rather worriedly, why Eragon and Saphira weren't back. She hadn't noticed how apparently obvious her anxiety had been. Roran had noticed and got tired of her jigging and fiddling.

"If you are so worried, then go and look for them!" said Roran slightly exasperated.

Arya blinked. No human had ever talked to her like that. "Very well." she said, not missing a beat. "Unsheathe your blade. You may need it Garrowsson."

Arya walked out into the rain. The large droplets bounced on her skin and soaked her by the time she had reached the next strata. Arya stretched out her mind and felt the Rider and Eragon at the very top of the formation. They didn't seem to be hurt or in danger, all the same Arya was careful.

Arya reached he level that they were on and saw therm straight away. Eragon was sitting, head bowed, water running down his neck and soaking into his already soaking clothes. Saphira too, was the picture of dejection and misery. The dragon looked up as Arya came up behind them, then turned back to face the thing they were sitting by. Arya gasped. A beautiful diamond tomb with a tall knuckled of diamond reaching to the stormy skies.

Arya walked hesitantly to Eragon's side. He did not look up. Arya looked down and felt her breath catch. Brom's face, serene and quiet, faced upwards towards them. Arya knelt down next to him. He still did not react. Arya looked at him at an angle so that she could see his down-turned face. Eragon's face was streaming with tears, they ran down his face and mingled with the rain. Her heart went out to him in his terrible sorrow, and before she knew what she was doing, she reached out to him and put her arm around him. He leaned into her touch and rested his head on her shoulder. She leaned her head onto his wet hair and his arm snaked round her waist.

Arya could feel sobs wracking his frame. She held him tighter and he too pulled her closer.

It could have been five minutes or five hours later ,when Saphira nudged them and said; Come Young Ones, we must go. Roran will be wondering where we are.

Eragon nodded and with an effort stood up and wiped his face. Arya stood up as well. They did not say a word, but as they walked down,back to the cave, Arya slipped her hand into his. Eragon had stopped crying and held her hand tight. This time Arya leant into his touch. Shoulders touching, they walked back down to the cave.

Just before they entered the circle of light that emanated from the cave, Eragon drew her aside. Saphira went ahead into the cave.

"Arya, I want to thank you for-for being there." He sounded sad, and slightly despairing, showing the grief inside him.

She smiled, "That's all right Eragon. Why did you not tell us that Brom was buried here?"

He shrugged, "I did not think it was relevant."

"Relevant to what?"

"Well, it does not matter to Roran, and I didn't know how to tell you, I suppose."

Arya smiled faintly, "When Brom came to Ellesmera after the Fall, after my father was killed by the Forsworn, he taught me how to fight. As soon as I was old enough I wanted to leave, to go to the Varden. He was the one who told me about his mission to steal the eggs from Galbatorix. When he succeeded, he told me that a courier for the egg was needed, and a new ambassador too. The last one had been killed in skirmish with the Empire. When I left my home for the first time he travelled with me and my guards." Arya looked lost in memories. "So he was very important to me. We used to talk when he arrived at Farthen Dur, or when we met at home in Ellesmera."

"I-I never knew." Breathed Eragon.

Arya nodded sadly, "It did not seem relevant." she said, echoing his earlier words.

"I am sorry I did not tell you, Arya Svit-Kona."

"You were not to know."

"We are soaking." said Eragon with a slight smile.

Arya laughed, "And I didn't think to bring some spare clothes!"

Eragon smiled too, "Haven't you? You might catch a chill."

"I will be fine."

"I brought a spare shirt. You can wear it while yours dries, if you like."

Arya blushed, "I-well-you don't, um, have to, I mean..."

"I think you should. If we send you back to Ellesmera with bad chill, your mother will be out for my blood!"

Arya smiled sadly, "She isn't really that kind of mother, now I'm all grown-up. She used to feed off her own spoon when I was small. Before my father died."

Eragon tried to lighten the mood, "when I was small, I used to tell my Aunt Marian that I really didn't need help washing, but she insisted. Rather vigorously. With a lot of soap." He added ruefully.

It did lighten the mood, Arya laughed, it contrasted with the sound of the heavy rain. It lifted Eragon's mood as well.

"So, do you want to wear that shirt of mine?" asked Eragon, coming back to the subject.

Arya blushed again, "I-all right, are you sure you don't mind? You are wet as well."

"You are more important Arya." Came the courteous reply.

"I have told you before, I am not one of your helpless females!"

"I never suggested that you were." replied Eragon calmly. "I do not want you to be ill, that is my only reason."

"But you are wet as well!"

"Arya, what kind of a man would I be to first get myself, than you wet, and then put dry clothes on while you were still soaking and likely to get ill?"

Arya was slightly humbled, she nodded and did not argue any more.

"Come on." he said, and he grabbed her hand and they ducked into the cave.

As they stumbled, to stand blinking in the sudden light, dripping water in puddles, they forgot about their linked hands.

Roran, who had jumped to his feet in shock when they made their sudden entrance, was looking pointedly, eyebrows raised, at their linked hands. Eragon and Arya looked down simultaneously at their linked hands and quickly let go. Arya turned to her pack and started doing something with it, while Eragon turned slightly red under is cousins stare.

"What?!"

Roran smirked, shook his head and looked away.

Arya looked at Eragon, he was to busy looking daggers at his cousin to notice.

"Eragon?"

He looked over at her. "Yes?"

"Do you have?- I mean have you got?-"

Eragon saved her having to say it in front of Roran. "Oh, sorry, I forgot! Here."

He dug around in Saphira's saddlebags, leaning against the wall near Saphira. Eragon pulled out a white shirt and handed it to Arya. He tended to use it as a nightshirt, it was not much good as anything else. He had been wearing it in Tronjheim, it had been washed before he had packed it.

Arya turned to the wall to change. Eragon and Roran looked away and turned to the fire.

Arya soon came back, wearing his white shirt and holding her wet tunic over her arm.

"Here." Eragon motioned for her to give him the wet piece of clothing. She did and he laid it out on a rock by the fire. "Let's hope it doesn't catch fire!" he laughed.

Arya laughed too, and Roran had to smiled at their mirth.

Today, Arya was the first to go to sleep. She turned over in her bedroll, and watched the two cousins talk. They were apparently arguing, good-naturedly and quietly, so as not wake her, about something or other.

Arya's head snuggled further into the blanket she was using as a pillow. The shirt of Eragon's she was wearing smelt fresh and...manly. Arya liked it. She supposed it was Eragon's smell. Arya twisted the material between her fingers and she dropped off to sleep, fingers twirling her hair, the glow of firelight and the murmuring voices of Eragon and Roran in the background, making her feel safe and guarded.

Sitting around the fire, Roran teased Eragon about what he had been doing with Arya out in the rain. Exasperated, Eragon changed the subject to Katrina to try and get some peace. After that, all Roran would talk about was Katrina. Eragon finally retired to his bedroll, leaving Roran to do first watch.

As Eragon drifted to sleep, he watched Arya's sleeping face. He was extremely grateful to her for what she had done for him today, and felt like he knew her better after their conversation. Brom had meant a lot to her as well. Eragon watched Arya move slightly in her sleep. When he finally slept, his dreams were full of Brom's final moments, and the dream-Eragon would sob in pain, when suddenly a warm, comforting arm wrapped round his waist, and a beautiful face with deep green eyes lay on his shoulder.

-

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