Saphira had been feeling better the days following, but the mission to track down Thorn and Murtagh had been postponed. It had been a fight with the queen though, and Eragon was forced to compromise by vowing to keep sparring and practicing. He was pushing his limits even more lately, and he felt the strain on his muscles slowly beginning to ebb into a peaceful numb. After hours of swinging his sword back and forth for hours, memorizing the movements and repeating them until they were burned into his mind, his arms stopped aching and merely lost feeling. Saphira said it wasn't healthy, but Eragon liked to think the Elves would know when his body reached it's limit. He had vowed to puch himself, and he would until they found his skills satisfactory.

Feeling the sensation return to his arms, Eragon knew he wouldn't last any longer as the ache rolled over him in waves and he struggled to even raise an arm to wipe his brow. Bowing respectfully to his sparring partner, whose name he had forgotten for the moment, he trailed off. Through the camp and towards where he thought Saphira might be on such a hot day like this one. The nearby lake was one of her favorite places to relax in the heat of the day when the sun was highest and she could sun herself on the beach and dry off after her swim.

Not finding her at the waters edge, he decided to take a cool down of his own and set his sword on a rock to his right, slowly pulling his tunic over his head. With aching arms he flung it near his sword and waded in, not caring about his pants getting soaked through. It felt nice after hours of training, and the rider soon found himself floating with the lakes gentle current. He ducked underneath a few times to cool his face and wash his hair a bit, but he had no energy for any rigorous swimming. He was surprised no one else was taking advantage of the lake on a day like this, it was far to good to pass up.

"You shouldn't be out here alone, Eragon," Blodhgarm said from the waters edge, sitting in the grass. Eragon turned, surprised before he recognized who it was and his heart calmed. The rider began slowly wading back to shore, smiling at the elf.

"I know, but who can resist a swim on a day like today?" Eragon shook his head to free his short air of water and slipped his tunic back on, buttoning it up as he squinted to see the elf, the sun in his eyes. "What brings you here?"

The elf looked across the lake blankly, as if in deep thought. "I was sent to watch over you, as Saphira is out hunting again," the elf replied curtly as Eragon sat down beside him, a glance shared between them both.

"I forgot to apologize the other day when I asked for your help. I was to worried about Saphira to greet you properly and I hope I didn't offend you," Eragon explained. He really hoped he hadn't angered the elf, as he was growing the like the blue fur man, but he understood elves could be very sensitive towards disrespect. Blodhgarm didn't look insulted, but elves had always been good at hiding their feelings.

"Oh it's quite alright Shadeslayer... Between you and I , I've never really cared for my peoples formalities anyways." They both kept looking across the water, watching it ripple and pulse as bugs landed lazily in look food. Eragon felt a tingle of happiness as water trickled down his neck and his shoes squished with every movement. He felt as if he had found a friend.

"Were you planning on staying much longer? The Queen will grow worried," Eragon looked to his side and watched Boldhgarms stone face, wondering why he worded it so strange. Was he not permitted to call his queen her full name, and why didn't her just "my queen?" Shrugging off the idea that made its way into his mind, he stood.

"No actually, I was planning on snagging something to eat from my tent and finding Saphira... Care to join me?" He strapped his sword back to his waist and looked to the elf, hopeful. To his pleasant surprise, he found a smile on Blodhgarm's face.

"Quite, that sounds... Delightful," Eragon smiled back, ignoring how the last word sounded strained. He held a hand to help the elf up and happily found it was accepted.

Yet another early update because I want to start writing the next chapter while I have an idea for it in my head.

Sorry for any spelling and grammar errors, I don't have a Beta Reader for this thing and I don't really take the time to read through it at the end...

Please read and review! :D