A/N: OMG! OMG! OMG! At last!! I get to update another chapter in, I don't know, 6 MONTHS!! Sorry, if you guys just forgot about everything that had happened in the story!! Feel free to reread , if you guys have the time:) MAJOR author's block and, plus, I'm trying to write my own story. Hope you guys forgive me and happy reading!! (2 more weeks till Eragon the movie comes out!!)

Disclaimer: (For once in my life, I finally remembered to write a disclaimer!) I do NOT own Eragon. If I did, Arya would get killed by Eragon because she didn't love him back, and Garrow and Brom would still be alive!! ;)

CHAPTER 9:

THE MISSION

Four months had passed by quickly in Ellesmera. Eragon was still confused. Arya had been avoiding him, and Laena had tried not to be alone with him. Izane, on the other hand, had grown a lot. His scales were shinier and he was much more stronger. Laena could ride on his back and he could hunt down his own meat for supper with Saphira.

My first kiss.

Those were the thoughts in Eragon's head. Well, actually his first kiss had been with a girl called Calla, but they were only six that time. It couldn't be considered a real kiss anyway.

"Hello? Mr.-I-know-everything-Shadeslayer?"

A voice snapped Eragon back from his daydream. Laena was standing in front of him, hands on her hips, looking paler than he last saw her.

"What?" he snapped back. Laena and Arya's sudden coolness towards him made him more crabbier than usual.

"Queen Islanzadi called us. She said it's important," Laena said coolly, "Come on."

Eragon followed her through trees and thick bushes until they reached a small tree house he had never noticed before. Laena knocked on the door of the house.

"Come in," a voice inside called.

Laena opened the door, ushered Eragon inside, and shut it softly behind her. Islanzadi, Arya and several other important-looking elves were settled around a huge, round table.

"Please do sit," Islanzadi greeted Eragon, gesturing towards a chair beside Arya. Arya stiffened when Eragon sat next to her. He could see her clenching her fists until her nuckles turned white.

"Hello, Arya," Eragon said, smiling at her unreadable face.

"Hello, Eragon," Arya said stiffly, not daring to look at him in the eye.

Laena took a seat opposite Eragon. He caught her eye but she pretended to be fascinated with the table. She traced her finger around the patterns of dragons carved onto the table.

"Now!" Islanzadi called out, "Since everyone's here, let's get started!" Eragon raised an eyebrow.

"Get started?" he repeated, "On what?"

Islanzadi gave him a small smile before continuing. "Good question Eragon," she said, "That's why I said we'll get started!"

Eragon swore he heard Laena snort, but when he glanced at her, her face looked serious and buisiness-like.

"Galbatorix has sent an army of urgals and humans to capture Eragon." She paused. "He claims that Eragon stole the last dragon egg and... kidnapped his daughter as well."

"Galbatorix has a daughter?" Eragon asked, "And I didn't even steal the last dragon egg! Laena did!"

Laena gave the young man a cold look. "Well, if I didn't steal it, Galbatorix will have two dragons siding him now!" she said, glaring at Eragon.

"Well said, Laena," Queen Islanzadi said, giving Laena a half-amused, half-angry look, "But stealing is not exactly what dragon riders do." Laena turned beat red.

Islanzadi brushed the matter aside quickly. "It doesn't matter!" she said, "Let bygones be bygones! We have more important mattewrs to discuss!"

Suddenly, a loud voice rose above Islanzadi's. "Can we get started, mother?" Arya said, "Galbatorix is more important than stealing... or secret... affairs." She glanced at Laena and Eragon coldly. Laena gave one right back. Eragon was too confused to do anything just yet.

"Right, my daughter," Islanzadi agreed, "As I said, Galbatorix's army will come to attack us. We must be prepared. It has been rumoured that the other dragon rider will be with them."

Her piercing eyes rested on Eragon. "That's why we're sending our most honouroble dragon rider to Urubaen to settle the date of war between our two... worlds."

Eragon almost fell out of his chair in suprise. "What?!" he gasped. One of the important-looking elves rolled his eyes.

"It has to be you!" he said, "You are the person Galbatorix fears most!" Eragon widened his eyes.

"Galbatorix is afraid of me?!" he said aloud, "Why?!"

Laena sighed and said, "Well, he's afraid you'll bring up the reign of the legendary Dragon Riders. More and more dragon riders will be born and help you try to defeat him. He's afraid he'll be destroyed from the face of the earth forever." Everyone stared at her. "I think," she added.

"Somebody must have caught up on her reading," Arya muttered. Laena gave her a glare.

"At least reading's better than getting jealous of world... affairs!" she spat back. Arya narrowed her eyes at Laena. Eragon could just feel the anger boiling up in each of them.

"As I said," Islanzadi said in a booming voice, looking sternly at Arya and Laena, "We'll be sending Eragon. Of course, he can't go alone. Arya and Laena will be accompanying him."

"WHAT?!" Arya and Laena cried out in unison, "I CAN'T GO WITH HER!!"

They stared at eachother accusingly. "Mother," Arya said calmly, "Let Laena go with Eragon. I don't have to go! Anyway, both of them are riders and I'm just.. um... a useless elf!" Arya smiled fakely at Laena, who did the same back.

"No, Your... uh... majesty!" Laena said, "I don't have to go. After all, I haven't finished my training!" She gave Arya a triumphant smile. Islanzadi gave both of them a stern look.

"No excuses," she said coolly, "Both of you are going, and that's final!"

"Plus, it will bring both of you closer together," an elf called out.

"You don't have to rub it in, Vilos!" Arya snapped

"Calm down, Arya," Islanzadi said, giving her daughter a don't-be-rude look, "As I said, FINAL! Three of you will be leaving in two more days. Try not to run into Galbatorix's army. We will take care of them."

And with that, Islanzadi got up and swept out of the room with the other elves right behind her. Soon, only Eragon, Arya and Laena were in the room, staring coldly at eachother. Well, actually Laena and Arya were doing that. Eragon was staring confusedly at them.

"It was just a stupid kiss, Arya Svit-Kona! Nothing more!" Laena hissed, "Anyway, I kissed him! So you have no right to ignore Eragon!"

"Look who's talking!" Arya said in an icy voice, "If you weren't so afraid, you'd be married by now!" She glanced coolly at Eragon.

"I'm. Not. Afraid!" Laena hissed through clenched teeth.

"Fine," Arya said, "Be that wat then!" She got up and walked out of the door, her nose in the air.

"Arya-" Eragon began just as the door snapped shut. Now, only Laena and Eragon were in the room.

Eragon gave Laena a weak smile. "Um.. Laena?" he said meekly. Laena made a 'Harumph!' noise and walked steadily out of the door, giving Eragon one last icy look before she left. Eragon was left alone there, in shocked silence.

I will never understand women, he thought, shaking his head.

A/N: I am now staring at the cover of the 'Mythic Vision: The Making of Eragon' book. Haha! I can't believe I actually bought that!! I'm head over heels in love with Eragon:) Seriously, can't wait for the movie. Ed Speleers, who plays Eragon is actually kinda hot!! ;) Haha! Anyways, hope you enjoyed this chapter and please keep on giving me reviews because I'm actually thinking of deleting this story. (P.S. Has anyone actually heard the song Avril Lavigne composed for the Eragon movie?! I couldn't listen to it as my mum stole the speakers from thios computer:p).