This is just a short filler-chapter, I had to write it, I was going to skip to Tronjheim, but I decided I couldn't, so here it is!

Chapter Eleven.

Nightmares.

"No! Don't, please! Leave him! He didn't...didn't...want to...mother said I had to...care for him...PLEASE! STOP, stop!" Katrina's terrified, desperate voice rang out over the small camp.

Eragon eyes shot open and his hand reached for his knife, while Saphira's tail flicked and she lifted her head in alarm. Arya rolled straight out of her blankets and stood, poised, with her hand on her half-drawn sword.

They were all still for a moment, then Katrina called out again. "I hate you! I hate you! Leave...leave him alone! You promised! Promised him!"

Roran, who had been on watch, was already kneeling by her side. Eragon went to him and crouched beside Katrina, Arya close behind.

"She must be having a nightmare!" Cried Roran, and he reached out to wake her. "Katrina? Katrina! Wake up!" He shook her shoulder. Katrina moaned a little then her eyes fluttered open.

"Roran?"

"I'm here Katrina, don't worry, you're safe."

She twitched her lips in a small, weak smile and squeezed his hand.

"Katrina? Can you tell us what's wrong?" asked Eragon gently.

She looked at him, eyes wide, then looked away. She licked her lips and met his eyes again. "It...it was...just a nightmare. I'm fine now." She looked away again and laid her head on her rag-pillow, looking toward the fire.

Eragon looked at her moment longer, gaze piercing, then looked down. "If you say so."

Katrina nodded, "I do. Thank-you Eragon."

"That's all right, but are you sure you're fine?"

"I'm sure."

Eragon sighed a little, but didn't push it. "Roran, I'll take watch now, then you can stay with Katrina."

"Thanks Eragon," smiled Roran. He spread his bedroll out next to Katrina and started to make a small pillow out of a spare shirt. Eragon and Arya turned and went back to the fire. Eragon threw another log on and sat closer to the warmth. Arya made to go to her bed, but a sudden question struck her and she turned back to Eragon.

"Eragon?"

He looked up, "Yes?"

"I was thinking...didn't Roran say in Surda that Katrina and her father were captured?"

Eragon sighed. "Yes, he did. Didn't Roran tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"When Roran was checking the cells," explained Eragon in a flat voice, "he found what was left of an old man, and from what we can tell, it's very likely that it was Sloan."

"So her father's dead." Arya suddenly felt weary. This war had been going on nearly her whole life! When was it going to end? Because of one madman, the whole of Alagaesia was unstable and filled with war and death. Because if that one madman, this young woman's only relative had been killed. It disgusted her. "How are you going to tell her?"

Eragon shrugged. "I don't know. Once she is healthier, I suppose, but," he lowered his voice a bit, "I think that perhaps she already knows."

"How?"

"The nightmares. They did some terrible thing to her there, and she is reliving it in her sleep."

Arya shook her head, "Those in Ellesmera that have met them speak of them in fear. They are the most vile creatures ever to set foot in Alagaesia within recordable time."

"It is no wonder that the riders tried to eradicate them." said Eragon, "they deserve to be slowly roasted on a large fire, then drowned in Leona Lake. But I did my best." He added in satisfied voice.

"Yes, you certainly finished what the riders of old started." said Arya quietly.

They were silent for a long moment, then Eragon said; "Are you going back to Ellesmera?"

"Yes...I think I will, if Nasuada will let me. I am sure my mother wants me to, she didn't really want me to leave after the Agaeti Blodhren, so yes, I will."

Eragon nodded, "Saphira and I must return soon as well, we have sworn to return as soon as we can."

"She will want to know about the battle as well."

"I know," he said heavily, "and I will tell her."

There was another pause, then Arya said, "Do you miss Ellesmera?"

"Yes. It's the first place I've felt truly safe since I left Carvahall, despite the pain in my back from Durza's wound."

"The whole of Ellesmera was talking about the Gift of the Dragons, nothing like it has ever happened before." Arya smiled faintly, "My mother had to explain it to the heads of the Houses of Ellesmera, they wanted to know what was going on."

Eragon laughed, "You know when we all arrived in Ellesmera the first time, I was so awed! It beyond the reaches of my imagination. But when we entered Tialdari Hall and we found out about...you, it pushed all those thoughts right out of my head. I couldn't believe it."

Arya stared into the fire before replying, "That's why I told no one, they would have treated me differently, so I said nothing. I didn't tell Deynor, and when the leadership passed on to Ajihad he never thought I was more than I had always been."

"But Brom knew."

"Yes, he first met me when I was very young, four years or so, after his dragon was killed, and my father was killed. Once he had established the Varden he went Ellesmera more often, and that was how I became first the Elven Ambassador, then the egg-courier."

From the other side of the camp, Katrina moaned in her sleep. Arya looked over then back to Eragon. "Do you think she'll be all right now?"

"I hope so, they must have done something terrible to her there."

Arya nodded agreement. She looked up at the moon. It was nearly in the centre of the dark sky. "I should go to sleep Eragon."

"Of course."

"Wake me up when it's my watch."

"I will. Sleep well."

"You too."

Arya rolled herself in her blankets, and closed her eyes. As she fell asleep she saw Saphira move round the fire to Eragon and lie down behind him. He leant back against her belly, giving the impression of being asleep, but his were open in slits, and he was alert. Roran was asleep next Katrina,still holding her hand. Katrina herself was now sleeping peacefully, chest rising and falling evenly.

The moon was bright. Arya snuggled deeper into her blankets and slept peacefully.

------

Katrina whooped as Saphira performed a loop-the-loop before diving out of the cloud. Beneath them, Surda was spread out, dry and sandy, but the tilled fields seemed to be healthy enough. Two slim figures below were running smoothly, nearly keeping up with Saphira. Katrina marvelled at their speed, it was amazing. But Katrina was happy to be flying, it was lovely! It made her feel so free, so alive! She had asked Saphira how she could bear to land, and got the answer;

Eragon asked me that on out first proper flight together, I answered him that I had to eat.

Katrina had laughed and they had lapsed into silence. Behind her, Roran wasn't enjoying flying nearly so much, he said he felt much safer with both feet firmly on the ground.

Katrina's attention wandered once more down to the running figures below. Eragon and Arya were running side-by-side, they hadn't slowed since they'd started after lunch, which they had had in shadow of a large rock, sticking impudently out of the rock. Saphira had informed her that they were in Surda, the rebel country that was housing the Varden, thought they weren't going there, first they were going to the dwarves capital city, a place called Tronjheim.

Soon Eragon called a halt and Saphira landed. Eragon and Arya were standing in a small wood that had large spaces in between the trees. Both of them were breathing heavily and sweat was running down their faces. It was the first time Katrina had seen them really tired. Eragon gestured to the wood and they entered. They set up camp just inside the borders and shielded the fire.

Eragon and Arya both pulled out dried fruit from their packs and devoured the strips hungrily.

"Hungry?" smirked Roran.

Eragon didn't bother to answer but sent him a mock-annoyed look. Arya didn't even open her eyes.

All four of them had eaten, and Saphira was no doubt terrifying the animal population of the wood so that she could eat. Arya leaning against a tree, her cheek pressed against the trunk. Eragon was sitting next her, their upper-arms nearly touching, his chin was in his hand and his eyes kept closing sleepily before he jerked awake again.

The moon had not risen very high before the two exhausted elves excused themselves and tumbled into bed.

Katrina didn't feel like going to bed so early, and she didn't want to experience the nightmares again. Roran didn't appear to be tired either, now he was on firm ground, he was cheerful again. She moved up to him and slid her arm round his waist. He smiled and pulled her close, before lowering his had and kissing her soundly.

"I love you, Roran," she gasped as soon as she got her breath back again. He grinned and captured her lips again.

"I love you too." his arms tightened round her waist and she hugged him closer, they kissed fiercer. She had missed him so much.

Arya, exhausted, but not quite ready to fall asleep just yet, happened to glance over at Roran and Katrina. They were kissing passionately. Arya gaped at them for a moment then looked away. Her eyes fell on Eragon. His hair was tousled and his lips were slightly parted. She just stared at him for a what seemed a long time. He moved a little and opened his eyes and met hers. He looked surprised and he blinked at her. She was taken aback and she dropped her gaze. When she looked back up he was watching the other two. He caught her eye and grinned, shaking his head slightly at them. Arya smiled back, mirth bubbling inside her, but she kept it down, it would be embarrassing for Katrina and Roran as well as for her and Eragon.

Eragon had snuggled back into his blankets, but he looked at her again, then contacted her in her mind.

Are you all right?

Of course! Why shouldn't I be?

I was just asking!

Aren't you tired?

I'm exhausted, but my dear cousin woke me up.

Arya finally laughed, but only Eragon could hear her, They woke me up too.

I'm very glad they're together again, but if they do this every night, I might have to put my foot down.

Someone else might have thought Eragon was serious, but Arya had known him a long time, she could tell he was joking. I don't think Roran would thank you.

No, he certainly wouldn't. Eragon sounded as if he was smiling.

Goodnight Eragon.

Goodnight, they should stop soon anyway.

Arya laughed and severed their contact. Roran and Katrina were now sitting with their arms about each other, Roran resting his chin on Katrina's head, Katrina with her head on his chest. Arya suppressed a sigh and turned over. This time sleep came swiftly.

------

Eragon gulped down the freezing cold mountain water thirstily. Arya and him had been running since the morning, and he was thirsty. Katrina and Roran were back in the stone hollow they had stopped in.

Arya was bending down at the small spring, cupping the water in her hands. Eragon bent down for more and they touched shoulders, Arya didn't even seem to notice, but it made Eragon's heart quicken. Pretending nothing had happened he lifted the water to his hands again and gulped it down in one go.

When they had finally drunk their fill,they rejoined the other two. They were eating the beef jerky that Roran had brought from the Varden. Katrina looked up and smiled, then got up to go the spring too, Roran went with her as well. Eragon dug into his pack and pulled out a small bag of nuts and raisins. He shook some out onto his palm and gave the rest to Arya. She smiled gratefully at him and quickly ate them. After that they had some bread, which was starting to go stale, and a few dried apricots each.

Very soon they were on the move again, going further into the Beor Mountains. By the time Eragon was starting to feel really tired, they had arrived at Kostha Merna. Saphira landed on the edge of the lake and Roran jumped off as soon as he could, while Katrina gracefully swung her leg out of the saddle and slid down Saphira's scaly side.

"What-" began Katrina, but Eragon held his finger to his lips and she quieted. Eragon walked along a small path round the lake and the others followed him. Suddenly Eragon disappeared behind the waterfall. Before Katrina could ask, Roran had pulled her through as well.

The were inside a small cave of rough stone. Near the side a round stone sat on ledge. Eragon lifted the stone and shouted some words in a strange language.

There was a heaving sound and two huge doors swung open to reveal a tunnel of amazing workmanship. A group of men and what Katrina supposed to be dwarves were waiting inside. They ushered the five inside and the door shut behind them.

"Follow us, Argetlam." Said a hairy soldier in chain mail. The greeting party set off into the dark. Eragon and Arya went straight after them. Katrina eyed the tunnel distrustfully. Roran saw and reached for her hand. She took it, and he squeezed it gently and they followed the others down into the mountain.

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It's just a filler, but I just managed to delete the 1/4 of chapter twelve that I'd already done, so it'll take a bit longer, but I had writers block for anyway, oh well! Please review! And I hope you enjoyed! It was my first real stab at romance for Roran and Katrina, so tell me what you think!

And I hope you all had a happy Christmas and Happy New Year!