Disclaimer: I don't own Eragon. Okay, now that we have that out of the way…Yes! School is o-u-t OUT! Who's excited! ME! Okay. Probably this chapter will be delayed awhile, so….(lol not exactly late breaking news, but sure) Now. I'm glad you guys have been liking the story so far. Things like 'this is my favorite fic' …well…wow. That just warms my heart. Now I want to write the story, so…yay! Make sure to review. I want to get to 100!

Chapter 12: A Plan is Made

For a short while it was complete and utter silence. Not a cheerful, comfortable silence. No. An akward and shocked silence.

"There is no time right now, get yourselves up and back to Fenna! She could be flying away as we speak!"

Den picked up the unconscious body and slung it on his back. Then, the crashing through bushes and tearing around corners continued back to the trapdoor area.

There was a bit of trouble getting Lisuh over the fence, of course.

"I'll throw her over, and you catch!" Called Den to Kilek and Vaz on the other side.

"No way! She'll get skewered on the spikes!" Exclaimed Kilek.

"Okay, smart guy. Can you suggest anything that wouldn't end up in a Lisuh-kebab?"

"Can we squeeze her through the bars?" Suggested Vaz.

"No! I can barely stick my arm through."

"Then just stay there or leave her." Snapped Afriila, turning around.

Den muttered a few curse words and set down the unconscious girl, sitting beside her.

Fenna was still on the flying horse, with her possessed expression.

"We had better get out of here, it ought to be sun-up soon," Said Vaz worriedly.

"We have to wait until the mental connection is broken," Said Afriila, watching them closely.

"Mental connection?"

"Yes. That is what is happening. They are talking telepathically to one another. We cannot move them until they stop, for they cannot see or hear us at the moment."

Kilek rubbed his chin. "So that gives us some time?"

"Possibly."

"Well then. Maybe you could explain who you really are and why you came to the city."

Afriila sighed, her grey eyes downcast.

"I suppose I should." She cleared her throat and stood up more straightly. "As you may know, we elves do not normally come to the south, as we are more reserved folk. But after my parents were killed in the Great War, my grandmother and I were left to look after ourselves. We moved here to sell medicine, but also to serve as a monitor of Galbitorix."

Kilek had not heard that name mentioned for a long time.

He is still plotting things? Even after his rise of power?

"We were sent by the queen to live our lives as normal citizens. If anything out of the ordinary were to happen, my grandmother would alert her. I stay and study medicinal plants. When my grandmother dies, I will take her place as both monitor and herbologist."

There was a sudden noise. The pegasus stamped his foot and Fenna was rubbing her head. She blinked her eyes and moved her mouth.

"How long has it been?" She said dreamily.

"Very long." Mumbled Kilek.

"Fenna, you must go to a safer place before the sun rises. The bustling city is no home for a flying horse."

She went into the trance again.

"Oh, man!" Moaned Vaz.

Luckily this time she snapped right out.

"Fehràr says he could carry two of us."

"Who's that?" Asked Vaz.

"That's it's name," Said Fenna, patting his shoulder.

"That's insane! You can't seriously expect us to want to fly on that …thing!" Kilek said, pointing.

Fenna looked very disappointed.

Afriila huffed impatiently. "You go! The rest of us will walk. We just need to arrange a meeting place. Then we can figure out what we're doing."

Fenna regarded her. "How about the Ulkava corn field? It's past corn season and no one will see us there."

"Good idea," Agreed Kilek.

Vaz groaned. "But it's such a loooong walk!"

"Oh come on. You did it, and did most of it carrying me." She smiled brightly.

"No thanks. I don't really want to walk all that way."

"Then come along, we don't have time to spare."

He hustled over to them.

Kilek was heading back to the fence to talk to Den, but then he turned around and caught a glimpse of Vaz with his arms wrapped around Fenna's waist. The situation was completely irrelevant. All he saw was Vaz and Fenna. Close. Together.

He was over to them faster than you could say 'green-eyed-fury'.

"What is it?" Said Fenna impatiently when she saw him coming up in a storm.

"Vaz…" He growled icily.

"What?" Vaz said, confused, then suddenly realized.

"Ah. No problem, Kilek. You are most welcome to take my place behind yonder fairest maiden, atop the mystical steed of-"

Impatiently, Kilek pulled him off and climbed in his place. Sitting on the back of a pegasus wasn't exactly an everyday activity. Unlike riding a horse, you had to sit right at the base of its neck, else you would be blocking his wings. You can imagine how much room there was. And with two passengers, well…

"Okay, Kilek. Like I was saying to Vaz. Hold on tightly, because it's pretty scary at first. And don't make any sudden jerks or movements that might scare him. I had to do a lot of persuading, you know."

"You're sure he can take both of us at once?" He said, suddenly realizing really what was going on. His heart started to beat hard and fast.

What have I gotten myself into?

"Yes, I'm sure. I'm not surprised, I mean, we aren't exactly the most well fed people in the city."

It was true. It was said that a noble would starve on a slave's ration. And these slaves hadn't eaten for nearly 20 hours.

Suddenly, the beast began to flap his wings. It was terrfifying, but he didn't let her know that. All of a sudden they were plunging into a rough gallop. Made even rougher by the fact that he had never even ridden a horse before. Then it was lift-off.

Kilek was taken by surprise, and clamped onto Fenna. She recoiled at first, then settled back down. They tilted on a steep angle into the sky.

"Just relax! You're making Fehràr anxious."

"Er…Sorry." He loosened his grip.

They rose higher. Kilek dared not look down. They were, after all, suspended above nothing. If he fell right now, nothing would catch him. Butterflies were swirling in his stomach.

Then something weird happened. He felt a strange probe trying to touch his mind. Though he had never dealt with magic before, he had heard it could be used for telepathical conversations.

You are Kilek?

The strange words formed in his mind. He was startled that it made sense. It must be Fehràr, he thought.

Yes.

He spoke the words in his mind the way he would usually think to himself.

Ah.

Ah? What do you mean?

Fenna has told me things about you…

Good things?

Yes.

It seemed to only use one word replies most of the time.

Good things like what?

She does not speak them directly to me. But I feel she has fondness of you.

Okay, nevermind.

A strong fondness? Or a friendly fondness.

Very strong fondness. Maybe love.

He swelled with joy.

Tell me more!

She may loose trust in me if I do.

I won't tell her you told me! I promise!

Settle, young one. I can only go so far before crossing the line of intrusion..

So how do you sense her opinion of me, then?

I feel a strong emotion behind her thoughts. That is what I sense.

Do you think she and I could do this?

Possibly.

Why not?

You have weak magic skills, young one.

Could you teach us magic?

All in good time. I want to get back to Fenna, now.

Fine…

He could feel the mind pulling away.

And then he felt himself snapping out of the trance. Suddenly, he didn't feel afraid of flying anymore. And a voice was growing nearer.

"Kilek…Kilek…KILEK!"

"Wha-what!" He came to attention.

"Can I have your vest? It's pretty chilly here up front."

"You're cold?"

"Yes stupid, what did I just tell you?"

"Don't call me stupid, or you'll be sorry."

"Really, now?"

"Yes." He took his arms away from her.

"That's not a very good punishment."

Now, The high up wintry air was whipping through their hair and sending shivers up their spines. Many minutes passed. Kilek could see many small goosebumps on Fenna's bare arms. Her paper-thin short-sleeved tunic and holey shawl did nothing to keep the cold air from sapping her body heat. He knew this. He knew She knew this. But stubborn as she was, Fenna was waiting for Kilek to get cold first. She was talking to Fehràr for a bit. When she came out, she began to shiver.

Just when he thought she would give in, she didn't. And it was quite a while before she finally said something. The steady rhythm of Fehrar's wingbeats was calming. Still, Kilek didn't dare look down. He was amazed Fenna could last so long.

"Kilek."

"Oh, I'm sorry. You're talking to me?"

She elbowed him in the ribs. "Sorry! I get it! Now, get you and your accursed vest back here!"

He hugged her around the waist again, this time more tightly. It felt good to be so close to her.

"You're lucky I came along," he teased.

"Yeah, right! Vaz has a long-sleeved coat on. And I'm sure he would have gladly given it to me."

"Well, for your information, you didn't have to let me kick him off."

"I know that."

"So why didn't you?"

She paused for a moment.

"Because I'd rather have you."

His heart felt a little lighter inside. And suddenly the wind didn't bite so much anymore. The cold was replaced with the satisfied warmth deep inside. Nothing anyone said could have meant more to him than that.

It was a long flight. Strange as the feeling of flying atop a pegasus may seem, he became more relaxed and almost fell asleep on several occasions.

And as the flight wore on, she became the only thing he could think about. Her long, dark hair the color of otter's fur. Her sparkling hazel eyes that seemed to go on forever. When looked at closely, they had a touch of violet, outlining the pupil. Her delicate jaw line that framed her beautiful face. Her long eyelashes that would brush against his cheek when they came close. And the sound of her voice when she spoke. It reminded him of a brook flowing over river stones-Cool and lipid.

Didn't she used to have a rock collection?

But most of all, her smile. A smile that could make his soul sprout wings and fly.

Then, to his slight disappointment, they began to descend. It was a fluttery sort of feeling, one he had only experienced once before in his old farm, when another slave had pushed him off the roof into a haystack. His head started to spin.

He looked down, then he saw it; the large, seemingly endless fields where they had toiled in the sun for the last half the summer. The height unsteadied him. He closed his eyes and tried not to think about how high they were.

They turned right and began a steeper descent towards the harvested cornfield. The fluttery feeling turned into a queasy ache. Riding a mythical creature sure was exhilarating…but not quite what it was cracked up to be. Kilek's head started to spin even more. He started to feel even worse.

"Fenna…I feel sick," He said quietly.

"Just a minute. We're almost to the ground." She said reassuringly.

They glided down into the field, then went into the rough gallop, then slowed to a halt. Kilek slid off and onto the ground, legs shaking. Then he ran a few rows over and retched.

He collapsed. Things were starting to turn funny colors.

"Kilek? Kilek?" He heard her calling his name.

"I…just….need to…lie…down…" He mumbled, trying not to look the way he felt.

Maybe she won't figure out that I'm afraid of heights.

"Get up!" She said. "Get up!"

She stopped after awhile. That was good, because he needed to sleep.

When he woke up, it was mid-morning. Fenna was sitting beside him, eating some old corn leaves.

"Hey, you're awake!" She said happily.

"I'm starving." He said, tasting sour bile in his mouth.

"Good. Because I prepared a special breakfast for you. Corn husks, corn stalks, corn roots and corn corn."

He lay dazed, rubbing his eyes.

"When are the others coming?"

"I don't know. If we're lucky, this evening. Now be a good little boy and eat up all your corn stalks."

It was a long day of waiting. There wasn't much activity. They sat and ate the old, browning corn leftovers from the harvest. The only thing that didn't taste like moldy straw were the roots, which were still somewhat alive. Everything else was stale and tasteless.

The sun was setting. Kilek lay with his head in Fenna's lap, who was leaning against Fehràr. She slowly ran her fingers through his hair, over and over. Eventually, the three companions fell asleep, closing their eyes as the sun sank in a golden haze.

The next day, frost was covering the ground. Kilek woke to find the dirt stiff and crackly.

(A/N: lol…microsoft word underlined crackly in red. Too bad for them. I'm keeping it.)

Fehràr was contacting him.

Maybe I should go up and see if I can spot them.

No! The slaves will be out by now. Someone may see you.

I have lived for many years, young one. I have been in worse situations than being seen. Most think I am a bird.

You're positive?

No. I will fly low until out of sight, then go high. So high that I appear as a small dot. No one will see.

Make sure it's okay with Fenna.

I have already.

The connection was broken abruptly. Kilek felt slightly angered that he was always second to know.

Fehrar took off in a gallop, seemingly with more ease than when he had carried passengers. His wings spread wide, breaking the cornstalks in their path as they swept past.

Then he was in the air. It was simply majestic. Kilek hadn't got a good at him the previous night. Now he could see the creature in it's full majesty, soaring low through the air. He had a long mane and tail, which rippled in the wind like flags. His fur glistened like mother-of-pearl. As he flew, he would tuck in his front legs like a horse jumping over a fence. It was truly an amazing sight.

Fenna was sleeping in the frosty dirt. Today was a cool, overcast fall day. The sun was hidden behind thick, ugly grey clouds.

After about half an hour, Fehrar came back. As usual he would go over to Fenna first. She jolted upright as if someone had poured ice over her.

"Kilek, really bad news!" She said, scrambling over to him.

"What? Did something happen to them?" His heart was racing.

"They're being chased by the police. And Afriila took off!"

Hokkay. That was ten pages of pagey goodness. And yes, I did have to make a cliffhanger. You guys needed one eventually…wait…the last few ones have been cliffhangers…oh well. I hope you guys have all been having great summers, and sorry about the wait. My parents are the kind of people who don't let me bum around on the computer all day…so yeah not tons of time for writing. Sigh. It matters not! I'll update asap…at least twice before school starts I promise.