Chapter 13

Eragon woke the following dawn to his own empty room. Placed on the pillow was a neatly folded piece of parchment. Eragon rubbed his eyes and focused on the perfect script.

'Good morning Eragon Shadeslayer. I hope you slept well.

Queen Islanzadí paid you a visit; you will meet her at the palace at the end of the day. Her note is by the door.

Hurry to the training ground. We have much to cover.'

Eragon staggered groggily to the entrance, sure enough there was a small piece of parchment that held all he needed to know.

'Saphira where are you?'

'Hunting. I though you might want to be alone, although when she brought you back asleep I thought that she may have bored you to death. Is the girl still there?'

'No, Halía is not here. When will you be back?'

'Before you leave for the crags.'

Eragon shrugged off the feeling that Saphira was hiding something from him and continued to the training ground alone.

Once he had arrived, Halía greeted him. For the first time since he had met the Dragon, Skyler was also present on the grounds.

"Good morning Skyler. How are you this fine dawn?"

'I am well thank you young one.'

"Eragon where is Saphira?"

"She is hunting. She will be here soon. Why does she need to be here?"

The white rider frowned and turned to her dragon. Eragon stood staring at his feet.

'No we have to tell them both at the same time…It's our orders!'

Eragon glanced around to who could have said it but nobody had moved. However when he glanced back to the other her hands were balled into fists and Skyler looked as if he was trying to stare her down.

"Halía are you alright? I will call Saphira if she is needed."

"No, no don't do that." He could hear her breathing heavily as he neared her. Swiftly she turned to face him, her face grim and emotionless. "Well seen as you have no dragon then we cannot progress to what I wanted to. We shall just have to settle with a simple spar. Ready yourself."

Just as before, Eragon and Halía sparred, each time Eragon would win. Somewhere inside him Eragon didn't quite understand why he was beating her.

"Dead. That would make it the fifth time this morning. Are you feeling alright Halía?" The white rider leant against a nearby tree; her face was hard set and remained emotionless. She never once let the mask slip, never breaking her composure.

"I am fine Eragon. Something troubles me but it is not of your concern yet."

"I want to help, won't you tell me."

"I cannot share this with you yet." She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose with the tip of her forefinger and thumb. "I think that will be all for today. Go find your dragon."

Eragon signed and made his way unhurriedly back to his home in the tree.

Saphira was waiting for him in the bedroom when Eragon finally returned.

'Back so soon little one'

'Halía is troubled and dismissed me early.'

'We should leave for the Crags before Oromis scolds us for being late.'

They arrived soon after, but there was no sign of Oromis or his golden dragon. The hut was dark and apparently empty.

"Master Oromis, are you there?"

There was no reply.

"You will not find him."

Eragon turned on his heels to face the voice.

"What do you mean Halía?"

"Master Oromis has been taken ill. You are to memorise this text and I will test your knowledge."

"Master Oromis is ill. Where is he? How ill is he Halía?"

"Oromis is rested in a chamber in the palace. I have not seen him, but he is very frail."

Eragon's heart began to pound in his chest. He couldn't lose another person from his life. His companion, his closest friend and now his mentor, it would break him.

"Is anyone allowed to see him?"

"Eragon I know as much as you. I am sorry but I cannot answer your questions."

The white rider sat on the same boulder and closed her eyes. She knew more that she shared and Eragon could sense it.

'She is hiding something'

'Eragon you don't know that.'

'I can feel it. We are more in the dark that she is.'

Saphira sighed in their connection, then left. Eragon read and re-read the scrolls until his head was mixing the words up. The blue rider raised his head to the sky; the sun was almost at its highest point. As if she heard his thoughts, Halía stirred and opened her emotionless eyes.

"You may have a break. You have worked very hard Eragon."

"Thank you Halía. May I ask you a question?"

"Of course you may young rider."

"Why do I have to learn from all these scrolls and books now?"

Halía took in his question. Her empty eyes never left his.

"This is preparing you mentally for Galbatorix. There are things he can do that are unimaginable."

"Things like what?"

"I am forbidden to tell you." Her eyes grew distant; she fell into a trance-like state. "However I have never been one for obeying orders. Galbatorix will not only challenge your physical strengths, but also your mental abilities…how fast your mind works under pressure. This is all preparation.

"Also along with being able to recall knowledge in a second and being strong enough to perform and complete the most complicated of spells you have to possess the understanding of its risks…its limits.

"You are a great magician for such a young age and now you only need the facts to accompany it."

"But why now?"

"Because if you had learnt all this at the beginning then it would have been forgotten and there would be no time to practice it. You will see the benefits when the time comes. Help yourself to something to eat."

Halía went back to her statuesque posture. An ice sculpture in the sun.

'You see Eragon; there was no need for your suspicion.'

'I still have my doubts.'

Eragon worked all day and by the time the sun was brushing the tree tops he could no longer keep his eyes open fully.

"You may leave Eragon. Islanzadí is expecting you soon. I will see you tomorrow."

Saphira returned and whisked her rider off to the palace. There was something in Halía's eyes that disturbed Eragon. Something that he couldn't quite pin point.

'Do not worry too much. I'm sure Halía will tell you when she is ready.'

'I hope you are right.'

Eragon glanced down to see a long procession of warriors. The bodies of the dead were encased in glass caskets.

'Of course…Halía's father's body is returning today. I should have known. She must be feeling awful.'

'You couldn't have known. Where will they go though?'

'Probably the great hall to lie in state and then buried or burned.'

Eragon and Saphira took a moment to acknowledge the dead. The blue rider's eyes searched the convoy for one face in particular.

'I see none who even resemble Halía.'

Saphira landed gracefully by the palace and inclined her head to honour the dead. Eragon also stood and bowed his head low as the procession passed them.

A soft hand touched the rider's shoulder. Queen Islanzadí stood behind Eragon, dressed in the darkest shade of green to mark this sad occasion.

"Eragon will you follow me please."

Eragon did not answer but backed away slowly. The two walked in silence until they reached a corridor Eragon was vaguely familiar with and entered one particular room.

"Eragon there are numerous agenda to address, but where to begin."

"Begin with the most important. There are many things new to me."

The queen sat in a high-backed chair, full of elegance and beauty.

"There is a matter at hand which needs you to leave for Surda tomorrow. A battalion of Empire soldiers arrived on the border, but the Varden managed to squash the attack. There is a need for you to return for a few days. Which leads us to the next thing…I wish for Halía to accompany you. She needs to see the world beyond that of Du Weldenvarden. She will be safe with you."

"Won't Skyler draw too much attention if Halía is to remain a weapon against the Empire?"

"Skyler will not be going. He will have to stay. She will not like the idea but it will only be for a few days at the most. The Varden should know about her."

Eragon sighed heavily through is nose.

"She will be home for her father's burial though…I will speak with her. I have to ask my lady…How is master Oromis?"

"He is very weak I am afraid. But the more rest the better he will be. When you return he should be well again. Now go and find Halía, you have…"

"No need to find me."

Eragon flinched at the iciness in the newcomer's voice. He turned in his chair to see the white rider leant against a wall by the door.

"Halía, how long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough…Do you really expect me to leave Skyler here alone?"

"Halía it will not be for long. Skyler would be perfectly safe here in Ellesméra."

"Eragon, Skyler has never left my side in eight years, and do not think that is going to change any…"

Her voice drifted off as Skyler's rough voice filled all three minds.

'It would do you a world of good to leave the safety of the forest. I will be fine for a few days. She will go my lady…Do not argue with me Halía!'

Halía clamped her mouth shut, her hands curled into fists. She hated it when Skyler disagreed with her, she didn't want to leave.

'I know that it will be hard, but you will experience a life outside the elves and I could have peace and quiet.'

'Oh ha ha! You know you'll miss me. But if you say I have to go then I will.'

Islanzadí stood, signed to both riders and swept from the room. Eragon smiled and both left.

"I will meet you at the gates at dawn. Do not be late Shadeslayer."

With that she vanished into the trees.

The following morning Eragon woke to a loud banging at his door, when he became aware that sun was above the trees he leapt out of bed and sprinted towards the door.

"Eragon if you do not get up this instant then I will personally drag you out of bed!"

"I am up! What time is it?"

Halía burst in and threw a pile of clothes his way.

"Its late and you slept through. Put those on and meet me downstairs…you have five minutes."

Eragon groaned but continued to dress himself. Halía leant impatiently against the doorway when Eragon met her.

"Finally…come on we have to go unless you would prefer to run into Islanzadí…she wanted a final word with you."

"Then I think I should wait."

"We don't have time…She only wants you to watch me like a hawk…make sure I don't start a riot."

He let the other drag him away to a clearing where Saphira was waiting.

'Why didn't you wake me?'

'I tried but you blocked me and you were so peaceful in your sleep, I couldn't get a movement from you.'

Eragon shrugged and mounted Saphira's saddle. Halía hadn't spoken since, she was still mourning for her father. Eragon could tell.

"We will return in time for his funeral, I promise."

"Thank you Eragon."

She gripped his waist as Saphira leapt from the ground and shot into the sky.

The journey to the South was silent, Eragon and Saphira would share a comment every now and again, but they remained mostly quiet. Eragon inhaled Halía's intoxicating scent making his head swim. Halía would gasp as she saw something new. The travellers were almost half way across the desert when a huge shadow over cast them. Eragon gaze shot up to the sky, Halía tensed and Saphira roared.

'Why can't they just leave us alone?!'

Eragon felt Halía's grip loosen from around his waist. He turned enough to see her leap from the saddle towards the red dragon which was now below him.

'Eragon. Go! Do your duty, I will be fine.'

'I will not leave you.'

'Do what I say!'

She crashed into the unsuspecting Murtagh. Her fist collided with his cheek and her knee into a vital area. Murtagh lashed out with the hilt of his sword and cracked the side of Halía's skull with it. She fell still instantly. Saphira began to dive for Halía.

'Eragon. Leave. Now. Get help!'

The connection severed abruptly. Saphira did as she was told and hurried her rider away from the danger. Surda was almost in view.

Eragon dismounted and sprinted to the throne room.

"A message must be sent to the elves. Halía has been taken."

"Eragon what are you saying?" Nasuada hurried around the grand table

"Halía has been captured…Murtagh…Ambush…I will not leave her to his mercy."

Halía would be rescued even if it meant confronting Galbatorix that very moment.

The rider didn't know what to do with himself, without Halía he felt as though part of him was missing. Eragon sat on the edge of a boulder and swung his legs to and fro.

There was nothing he could do.

There was no one to turn to.

Halía was gone…Dead soon.

"It's all my fault."

"Do not say that Eragon. She did this for you. You are our hope against the Empire, she was protecting you"

Eragon embraced Arya and let the first tear fall. He missed his friend. Both new and old.

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Well what did you all think?

I know its taken ages but I have had exams and other things on my mind so sorry for the delay.

Yey!!! Murtagh's back...three cheers for those who love him!!

You know what to do...that puple button is calling you.

yours

BTH92

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