After the attack, I decided that the safest thing to do was go to the Varden. I wasn't a coward, but I would rather die of dehydration than tell the queen that her daughter was either dead or kidnapped. It took me the better part of five months to get all the way down there. When I showed up, I was taken right to my Uncle Ajihad. He looked up when I came in, "Manin, why are you here? I though that you were with Arya in Du Weldenvarden. Where is she?"

I sighed, "I failed," collapsing into a chair, "We were attacked by a Shade, and I had to flee. I can't help but feel like it was self-preservation. But I do have good reasons, and you should understand best."

He nodded, "Don't tell anyone about what happened. It would only worry them to find out that you fled from something. They all look up to you and your siblings."

I went to my room in the dragonhold, and fell asleep.

A couple weeks after my arrival, I had a vision of Arya being rescued by two figures, who both seemed familiar. But I couldn't tell what their faces looked like, so I had no idea who they were. After all, I did know plenty of men. When I told Uncle, he smiled, "I hope that they come here. That would make things easier."

"We don't know if they are members of the Varden. Who knows who they're working for?"

I nodded in agreement, but I still continued to hope. But I had other things on my mind as well. For example, why my siblings hadn't come yet. Normally they were here at this point in time.

One day I was hanging around Orik while he was guarding the gate with one of the creepy twins when we heard someone yelling the entry phrase on the wrong side of the door. We went to the door as the twin yelled that we shouldn't open the door. I ignored him and cracked it open, only to see a horde of Urgals charging after two boys and a dragon. I let the dragon in and dove into the water to rescue whomever was in there. When I surfaced I found myself holding Murtaugh's shirt as he spit out water. When he saw me he whispered, "Aiedail?"

I glared and said, "Here my name is Manin so that no one knows that I am the princess. So hush up!"

When Orik came into the tunnel, he was practically dragging my cousin Eragon. The dragon went over to him and started nudging him and he sat up on his own, "Yeah, I'm fine Saphira."

I noticed Arya on Saphira's back, and walked up to the dragon, "Excuse me, but you seem to have my friend on your back. May I take her to the hospital wing?"

Eragon stared at me, "Mainy, you're friends with an elf?"

I smiled at him, "Not only that, but I was assisting her. I barely escaped with my life intact when the Shade attacked. I had to escape or some vitally dangerous things would have been discovered by the lying king."

I untied Arya and placed her on the ground. Then I asked Eragon what poison had been used on her. When I made sure that I knew which cure to use, I picked her up and walked away from them. I hurried, and hoped that it wasn't too late. Once there I helped the healers give her the cure and then I lent some of my magic to heal any of her injuries.

The next day I woke up, and went to Uncle's office once I was dressed. I was helping him do some paperwork when one of the guardians led Eragon and the others into the room. Uncle handed me all of the paperwork and asked Murtaugh if he would consent to a spell caster going into his mind. But when he replied, Uncle discovered who he was, and had him sent away. Then he sent the Twins and Orik into the hall.

The first one was joined by his twin and they left and I said, "Uncle if I may, may I ask to keep an eye on those little fiends?"

He shook his head, and had Eragon and Saphira tell their story. When I heard that Brom was dead, I turned around so that they couldn't see my tears. When I stopped crying, I wiped my face off and turned around. To my surprise, Uncle walked over to me, "I know how much Brom meant to you. It's not a sign of weakness to cry after someone dies. Go ahead if you need to."

I thanked him and sat down until Orik was called back in and released into the service of his King. After that, I was told to show Saphira to the dragon hold while Eragon got cleaned up.

When we landed, Saphira's head swiveled around as she sniffed. I am amazed by what this is like, wait do I smell another dragon?

"Nay mighty dragoness," I replied, "Just the dragons who previously stayed here."

She asked, When did the last dragon stay here?

I replied, "When do you think?"

She shrugged, and asked, It there a specific place for me to stay in?

I was careful with my reply, "You can stay in any that are not covered by a curtain."

It felt like hours before she flew off to get her rider. When they returned, Eragon saw me sitting on a ledge. He of course asked, "Why are you still here? I thought only dragon riders stay here."

All I said was, "You'll see."

Two days later, I was watching Eragon's evaluation when the twins asked him how to summon the essence of silver. I was appalled because I knew that, but only because Arya taught it to me. Just then I heard a familiar voice start shouting at the twins, "How dare you ask him to do something that only masters know how to do!"

"Arya, you are awake!" slipped out of my mouth. She smiled at me, "Thank you for caring about me so much."

I nodded to her and watched with a smile as she sparred with Eragon for his test. It was amazing to watch my cousin try to hold his ground against a pure blooded elf. When she won, she walked off, and led Eragon away from the others. As her only remaining guard I followed her. Eragon was obviously smitten with her, and they talked for a while as I sat on the mound. But after so long Eragon asked, "How do you know my cousin? I woulnd't think of her as someone who socializes with elves."

She smiled, "That is for her to say. But I can assure you that she is not what she seems."

Soon we split up and I told Arya all that happened. She wasn't surprised that Morzan's son was just like me. We both visited him and he wasn't surprised I brought her. But he still said, "Hello A, uh er, I meant Manin."

I sighed, it would take him some time to adjust to my 'new' name. I replied, "Hello Murtaugh, I am glad that Uncle gave you fine accommodations."

His mouth moved by nothing made a noise his mouth said, Uncle, which parent is he the brother of? I made an evil face that would scare the hide off of a Ra'asac. He looked shocked that brothers could hate each other this much.