Eragon and Arya walked beside a field not far from camp. It's been hours since Murtagh and Nasuada's departure. Arya could not shake of the feeling of worry in her. It was her best friend's life that is on the line. Eragon noticed her distress and cleared his throat.

"Princess?" he asked courteously with a hint of concern. "Is anything the matter?"

Arya looked up at him, emerald eyes bright in the afternoon sun. "No, it's nothing. And don't call me that." She said annoyed at the title 'princess'. "There isn't any audience for such a show off title."

"Whatever you say, Arya." Eragon shrugged. "So what now?"

"What do you mean?" Arya asked she kicked a pebble; it shot of and disappeared into the tall shrubs.

"Well, Nasuada and Murtagh are gone," Eragon started, "So there wouldn't be anyone to annoy. It wouldn't be fun without them here." Arya sighed, Eragon was right; things are boring without Nasuada and Murtagh. She won't get to tease Nasuada for liking Murtagh and Eragon wouldn't be able to annoy Murtagh to just spit it out and admit his feelings for Nasuada.

They walked in a little clearing. The clearing was not that big, but large enough to train in. flower bushes and flowering fruit trees surrounded the whole clearing. Flowering yellow bell vides climbed up tall trees, colorful orchids clung to the bark of some of the old trees. Birds chirped near by. The clearing was beautiful and full of life.

"Wow," Arya muttered under her breath as she looked around. "It's like a mini version of home." Eragon nodded, he too, was amazed. "I didn't know there's a place like this here. I mean, it's so…" he paused to find the right word to describe it. "Beautiful."

It was a simple word of description, but it gave a lot of strong meanings.

"You got that right." Arya replied.

Suddenly, an idea hit Eragon. "Hey," he asked cheerfully. "Do you want to spar?"

Arya was slightly taken back. She considered the question thoughtfully.

"Aw, come on, Arya!" Eragon grinned, "Are you scared that I might beat you?"

Arya's jaw dropped at Eragon's insulting question.

"I am not!" she answered defensively.

"Oh yeah?" Eragon challenged, smirking.

"Yeah!" Arya replied just as challengingly.

"Alright." Eragon grinned, "Whoever wins gets do something to the other." He paused then added; "Anything he wants, for one full minute. Not a second less."

"Like what?" Arya demanded, her emerald green eyes boring into Eragon's light sapphire ones.

"Anything." He shrugged, "Punch, kick, tickle, act like an idiot. Depends."

"Alright," Arya replied with an evil smirk. She drew her slim, elfin sword and settled into a crouched position, sword held ready. Like a viper ready to attack. "Get ready to get your sorry ass kicked. Arya style." Both of them cast spells to dull the ends and edges of their sword to avoid killing each other.

Eragon laughed, "We'll see." He drew his blue-bladed sword from its sheath and settled in a offensive position, waiting for the right moment to attack.

Eragon focused on Arya, his eyes never leaving hers. He searched for an opportunity to attack. His muscles tensed up, suddenly, a blue bird flew by. Arya's eyes flitted to the bird's direction for half a second, but that gave Eragon enough time to attack and hope the catch Arya off guard. Eragon took this chance to charge forward. He swung his sword but Arya was able to dodge it smoothly. She parried his blow to the shoulder with a clever flick of her wrist and using her sword expertise. She lounged at Eragon this time, she was able to deliver a hard blow to Eragon's left hip. As a reaction, Eragon grimaced at the pain.

"Ha!" Arya smirked, "you're going to regret challenging me!"

"I'm not done yet." Eragon breathed out evilly. "I'm just getting started."

He charged forward and sent a blow to Arya's shoulder. Arya dropped her sword, Eragon was a blur. He was so fast, his training was paying off after all. Another blow at the hip, Arya dropped on her knees, she reached out to get her sword but Eragon kicked it away from her. She gritted her teeth as she was roughly pushed down on the ground, and she fell down. Hard.

She tried to stand up, but as she did so, she met the sharp end of Eragon's sword.

"Damn it." She cussed.

"You were saying, princess?" Eragon smirked.

Arya rolled her eyes, "Yeah, yeah, whatever you want."

Eragon released her and she sat up, dusting off her shirt. Eragon sat beside her.

"I believe we have a deal." He said merrily.

"Whatever. Just get it over with." She replied in a low, annoyed voice. I can't believe he beat me! Damn! Damn!

Eragon was in thought, deciding Arya's consequence. He considered every option and choice.

"C'mon," Arya said impatiently. "I haven't got all day."

"Close your eyes." Eragon said, a bit hesitant.

"Why?" Arya demanded annoyed, she still can't get over the fact that Eragon beat her.

"It's part of he deal. Now stop complaining." Eragon said lightly.

"Fine." Arya muttered under her breath. "One minute. Let's get this game over with."

Eragon leaned closer, his left hand crawled gently to cup Arya's nape. He hesitated, when his face was inches away from hers. But then he realized that he might never get a shot at this. This was his break, it's going to hurt him later, he knows that. But now, it's just about taking chances. His lips lightly brushed Arya's. She shivered at the touch.

What the hell?! She demanded mentally. Then added more softly; Eragon, what are you doing?

Eragon pressed his lips a bit harder this time, he didn't waste time due tot the fact that he only was forty seconds left.

What does it look like I'm doing? He replied. he refused to say more, as he brought the kiss to a full drive. He was surprised when he felt Arya's arms lock around his neck. Arya ran her right hand through Eragon's hair. She responded, and Eragon was surprised that Arya was good at this. While he made little mistakes of slipping off, kissing women wasn't his field of expertise.

Fifty seven, fifty eight… Arya counted mentally the seconds slowly, she was surprised was she counting slowly. Fifty nine..

She hesitated to say sixty. But why?

Sixty. She finished. Eragon slowly parted his lips off hers and she slowly opened her eyes. Eragon's hand dropped from her nape. While her right hand slowly slid from Eragon's hair and stopped to caress his left cheek.

Arya looked at Eragon, eyes bright. Then her radiant pale hand slowly curled into a fist and she punched Eragon's jaw so hard, that he toppled over.

"OW!" he said through gritted teeth. "ouchy, ouch. Damn, ouch!" he repeated.

"How dare you!" Arya demanded angrily. She stood up and dusted dirt off the rest of her clothes. "Eragon, you ignorant little twit!"

Eragon didn't stir. He lay on the grass, his hands over his jaw.

"Eragon?" Arya asked, "You okay?" it was a stupid question to ask, since the answer was already in front of her. "Seriously, you know better than to do that."

"You kissed me back." Eragon said, his reply sounding more of a groan of pain.

Arya looked away. "It was for emphasis."

"You could've hit me earlier." Eragon stood up, still holding her jaw. "Why wait?"

That hit Arya. Hard.

"We have a deal. It wouldn't be fair to you if I hit you early." She replied, her voice a bit shaky. Eragon grinned.

"And you kissed me like you really mean it. I mean, you could've made it bad."

Arya refused to meet his eyes. "I was acting."

Eragon sighed. He picked up Arya's sword and handed it to her. She wordlessly took it and sheathed it.

"Don't you dare do that again, Eragon." Arya said, her voice hard and shaky. "I swear, it wouldn't be just your jaw next time."

"Next time?" Eragon asked, he raised an eyebrow.

"I mean, next time you do it without permission." Arya added quickly, blushing.

"Well, I'm looking forward to that, princess." Eragon grinned brightly.

"You better not, kid. I won't hesitate to kill you." Arya said darkly.

"Alright, alright," Eragon said defensively, "geeze, it's not like I'm rape you or something!"

Arya glared at him. Eragon knew that look. "Eragon, you know better than that! Are you forgetting your position?" she was angry now. "Don't think just because I'm going soft on you, that you can take advantage of me!"

"I'm sorry I offended you." He sighed, he was right. This is the first and last time he was going to achieve such a thing. "I'll take my leave now." He added quietly. He turned to leave. Arya still refused to face him. She knew she hurt Eragon's feelings, but she has to. Even though she doesn't want to. It's what's best. She doesn't want to distract him from his studies. Not now, Alageasia needs him most. Deep down, she knew that she would regret this.

Silence enveloped the clearing, Arya felt the emptiness and heard nothing but the wind and Eragon's fading footsteps as he walked away.

Someday, Eragon, but not now. And Arya walked away in the opposite direction.

"Damn it!" Nasuada cursed, she was all wet from the waist down. She's been standing in the shallow part of the river, fishing with her makeshift net. Another fish escaped her, it was the third one for this hour.

"The fish won't come near you if you keep shouting you know." Murtagh said lightly.

"Well then," Nasuada said rolling her eyes in annoyance. "Let's see you try then."

Murtagh shrugged, "Alright." Motioned towards his catch that was already roasting on the fire. "Another catch won't hurt."

Nasuada crossed her arms on her chest. "You're not the sharing type are you?"

"I didn't say that." Murtagh grinned, "I more than happy to share all this fish with you. But you have to learn how to survive in the wilderness on your own, miss Varden princess."

He walked to the river's edge, removed his boots and stepped into the water.

"May I?" he asked, asking for the net. Nasuada handed it over to him.

Murtagh stood still and waited patiently until a trout approached him. With careful speed, he caught the trout. It flipped and flopped in the net.

"Did you get that?" he asked, "Silence is the key."

"Yes." Nasuada replied, looking at the fish. "I'll try again."

"No. It's late. I'll just share my share." He motioned at the fire with three roasting trout. "Besides, I won't be able to eat all of those, plus this."

Nasuada dried her self and changed into a new skirt and shirt. She hung her wet clothes near the fore to dry. They ate silently, Thorn also joined them for dinner, he ate his kill; a young buck, nearby.

"What are we going to do tomorrow?" Nasuada asked.

"We'll head towards Teirm. Then we'll investigate." Murtagh replied.

Nasuada, was silent for a while, then said; "I'm sorry that you have to catch dinner."

Murtagh was taken back by the sudden apology. "No, it's alright, I could see that you're really trying. You'll get it soon enough." He smiled.

"Hope so." Nasuada smiled back.

Not long, they spread their bedrolls and slept under the clear night sky.

Uru'Baen

Galbatorix sat on his throne, his right side bandaged. His dark, ancient eyes looked at the young man, about the age of eighteen, kneeling in respect in front of him. Glossy, dark brown hair, and clear, icy dark blue eyes glimmered in the dim throne room torches.

"Do you have the vial intact and kept?" Galbatorix asked, his voice full of darkness and authority.

"Yes, your majesty." The young man replied. his voice was smooth, velvet and icy cold.

"It seems that Murtagh has brought company." Galbatorx remarked, "I have scryed them just now."

"And who is this company that you mention, my lord?" the young man asked. His icy blue eyes meeting the king's dark ones.

"Lady Nasuada." Galbatorix replied.

The young man was surprised. "Her?"

"Yes. And considering that you are a former acquaintance of Nasuada's, you would know how to deal with her, Jared." Galbatorix said coldly.

"As you wish, my lord." Jared lowered his head in pledge. "And what of Murtagh?"

Galbatorix paused.

"You would know how to separate them. Then once apart, take them down."

"Yes, my king." Jared replied coldly.

Nasuada, my love. He thought darkly, It seems that our paths will cross again. I can't wait.

He suppressed a dark chuckle, bowed and took his leave.

A/N:

Hi guys! Here's one of the two new characters! Introducing Jared Damonsson. Inspired by hot singer-actor Jared Leto. (Looks like him too).

I hope you guys like it!!

This Chapter is dedicated to my best friend, Erika. Don't worry, I'm not mad at you for not coming to the Linggo Ng Wika program!! So cheer up!

There you go guys, now you know.. I'm not from America! )

Feel free to R&R!!