A/N: Thank you so much for all the reviews! It means a lot. This chapter is a bit more fluffy as we haven't had a lot of that for a while so I hope you enjoy it. I'd love to know what you think.

* * * Arya's POV * * *

It was a week before my mother and her contingent of elven warriors and spellcasters arrived, but as we learned from Murtagh's continued scouting missions, Trianna's army continued to amass in great numbers. We were expecting Orik in another week's time, and until then there was little we could do except continue to spy on the enemy and search for any sign of Brom or Ilia. However, from the lack of mental contact Jarla and Evandar were able to access, we surmised that they were being kept drugged, much like Eragon and I had been whilst we were captives of Durza.

Every day we held a council, where Murtagh would detail all he had seen on the scouting trips and we would try to formulate some sort of plan. I was sat between Eragon and my mother in another, listening to an argument over the use of catapults. Directly across from us, Orik was just visible in a scrying mirror, nodding at something Eragon had said.

"No, they're a target. With as many men and magic users as they have, they'll easily be brought down," Finius, one of Nasuada's generals, insisted, saying the same thing for the fifth time.

"But we can use them as a distraction. Let them target them and then attack them with ballistae."

"And how much gold do you think that will cost us? We don't have the money!"

"But we do," Eragon countered, growing impatient with the man's stubborn nature. "With an alliance of elves, dwarves, men and dragon riders, if we pooled our economies, we would have enough."

Finius was about to argue back when Nasuada cut in, shouting, "Enough! We'll vote on it. All in favour of Eragon's plan?"

A chorus of 'Ayes' sprang forth from Murtagh, Orik, Nasuada, Islanzadi and two of her entourage – Lord Fiolr and Lord Däthedr – and from myself. Only Finius and his assistant remained silent.

"That's settled then. We will follow Eragon's plan."

Finius grumbled something with a snarl, but said nothing further.

After another five minutes of discussion, Nasuada called a halt to the meeting. "We shall reconvene tomorrow morning after Murtagh has had a chance to go scouting," she said, looking at each of us in turn.

Eragon and I left the war room on the second floor of the castle together with my mother, although he soon made his excuses and left, mumbling something about Saphira wanting to talk to him. I continued on the way back to our quarters where I had left Lona with the wet nurse, Islanzadi almost blindly following behind me.

"She does look just like Eragon, doesn't she?" Islanzadi murmured as I turned to face her with Lona in my arms.

I nodded, a small, wan smile appearing not unnoticed by my mother.

"It'll be fine, Arya. Brom and Ilia are okay – Jarla and Evandar would know if they were hurt, would they not?"

"Yes," I sighed. "Now I know how you felt when I was captured by Durza."

She nodded and stepped closer, taking my chin in her hand. "But you are handling it better, my daughter."

* * * Eragon's POV * * *

What do you think, Saphira?

Little One, I think you are wiser than you think you are. You are no longer a farm boy; you are a noble, wise man and I don't think you need me to tell you that you are right to use catapults.

I hope so.

Relax, Eragon. Now that the elves are here and the dwarves are on their way, it'll be almost easy for you, I am sure.

Well, Aura is certainly happy the elves are here; I said watching Aura roll on the roof and nearly flatten Vanir, who didn't look unpleased about it.

Saphira groaned but didn't say anything, although it did look suspiciously like she was restraining a dragon smile. I imagined she must have been at least slightly happy to see her daughter being anything but miserable.

The day the elves had arrived, I'd been out on the roof with Saphira, leaning against her side and Aura, who had been lying with her snout on her front legs in self-pity, suddenly perked up, desperately tasting and sniffing the air. She had shaken herself as she got to her feet and then lunged from the top of the castle, spiralling down to the ground, where a long line of elves snaked into the castle, and pouncing on Vanir. The poor elf hadn't known what hit him until it was too late and he was in the purple dragon's claws in mid-air, as she roared joyfully, accidentally loosening a jet of indigo-tinged flames.

Since then they had been practically inseparable as Vanir had seemingly missed Aura as much as she'd missed him.

I must hunt now, Little One, Saphira said, getting to her feet. And haven't you got somewhere to be?

No…

I patted her side and walked back down the twisting staircase until I reached the third floor. Islanzadi was still with Arya in our quarters, both of them talking reminiscing about Arya's childhood.

Islanzadi however excused herself, saying, "I must go. Lord Däthedr wanted to see me before tonight."

I said a cordial goodbye and then collapsed in a seat next to Arya where she sat at the wooden table in the sitting room.

"How fares Saphira then?"

"Still disapproving of Vanir and Aura," I answered quietly with my head leaning backwards over the top of the chair and my eyes closed. Hearing the rustle of fabric, I opened them and looked over at Arya. "Have you changed?" I didn't recall her wearing the plum-coloured violet dress earlier.

"Oh, this? I changed into it for the ball tonight, Eragon."

I groaned loudly. "That's what Saphira meant. I'd completely forgotten. Do we have to go?"

"Well, as Riders it would be expected of us. It is the annual celebration of the Varden's victory, Eragon," she said smiling liltingly at my reluctance. "I laid out your tunic read for you."

I sighed in defeat and pushed myself out of the chair before entering the bedroom where a navy-blue tunic waited for me on the bed alongside a black pair of leggings and a golden belt. I hurriedly threw them on and returned to Arya who was just letting the wet nurse back in.

We walked arm in arm down to the great hall where the ball was being held. Murtagh, Nasuada and Selena sat one three thrones at the end of the hall and in front of them a sea of brightly clothed people swirled in dance.

"My lady," I said, getting down onto one knee and offering Arya my hand. "Would you care to dance?"

"It would be my pleasure, Eragon." She took my hand and we joined the crowd, twirling and sashaying past people.

Using one hand I spun her out and back into my arms, pulling her closer than she had been before, and then placed both my hands on her slim waist.

"Enchanting as always, Arya," I whispered into her ear, causing her to shiver in delight.

Her lips found mine in the semi-lit evening darkness of the hall and her hands slid up my back to my neck.

"How long do you reckon we should stay?" I asked, breaking away for a moment.

"I think we've been here as long is as socially acceptable," she breathed.

I towed her from the Great Hall by the hand and we ran back to our quarters, quickly getting rid of the wet nurse before tumbling into bed.

A/N: I'd be really grateful if you could leave a review. Everyone's opinions are really important to me.