Yes, i know, sorry it isn't as long as the others...it's almos tlike a filler chapter...next few though are full of...action...sort of...and ROMANCE FIANLLY! ;) Hugs and please REVIEW...after you read of course. :D

Chapter 21: Feeling Faint

Saphira's condition didn't improve when they reached the haven of Farthen Dur. The dwarves, as Oromis had said, were grudging to let them stay there but with some coaxing from Orik, they set up their camp in the main hall.

Eragon sighed and couldn't help smiling at the dense familiarity of the mountain. He looked up in the main hall to the very top and barely saw the dense light of the sun and looked all around him. Saphira had stayed in their ground chambers, the same place he and Marie had stayed before they had gone to Ellesmera. He was worried about his dragon, but tried hard not to tarry on it.

As he explored his old temporary home some more, he saw the first shard. Eragon looked up and all around the base of the dragon hold as trembling misery swept up within his soul. The sapphire shards glistened in the soft dwarven light casting shadows on the ground.

Eragon walked miserably through the maze, touching each tall piece he passed. He looked up at the ones that towered many a feet above him and admired the tiny ones that threatened to stab his feet. He remembered his promise and now, as he stared at the remnants of his mistake, more than ever he planned on fixing this beautiful masterpiece.

Staring at it, thoughts of Durza clouded his mind and he instinctively reached for his scar and shuddered slightly at the course touch of it. He dropped his hand and sighed, the memories from all of Farthen Dur's battle reaching his mind…including the ones where he had been forced to attempt to kill his own friend…Marie…even though now he lo-

Eragon shook his head and walked over to a stone bench that had possibly been placed there to view the shards…or the crystal itself when it had been whole. He thought of Marie and their constant bickering. He then wondered why it came so easy to talk about it. He had spoken so lightly with Lifaen about unspoken affection. It was strange to him…

Then out of the blue, Eragon thought of Murtagh and he clenched his fists. He wished he would've been in good enough shape to have gone with them scouting…and then he might've been able to prevent Murtagh's death…and Ajihad's…

Eragon tilted his head and tried to think of a bright future. He and Marie would defeat Galbatorix, Saphira and Oropher by their sides and they would breathe easy as someone…maybe Nasuada…took over to rule Alagaesia. Saphira would mate with either Oropher or one of the two remaining eggs and the dragons would rise once more. Eragon let a small smile slip as he though of rekindling whatever romance he and Marie had…maybe they could even get married, like Roran and Katrina were assumed to be.

Eragon pushed the happy future of he and Marie out of his mind when he thought of his cousin. What had befallen him while he had been so busy saving the world? What could possibly have attacked his cousin? He knew something must've…Galbatorix knew his family by now, of course.

With a breath, Eragon stood and strode out, nodding at Lifaen who was walking gliding slowly towards the shards, a look of the utmost sorrow on his face. Eragon stopped in surprise and turned to watch as Lifaen stopped in front of the beautiful wreckage and knelt and began singing softly in the ancient language. Eragon watched and felt with rising awe as feelings of peace and tranquility and safety washed over him. Whatever the elf was singing, it had spells intertwined with it.

Lifaen finished and stood, just staring at the shards of broken beauty. Eragon turned and stood next to the elf. "It was to save me…that this happened."

Lifaen smiled and nodded at him. "Some things are meant to be broken…this one, however will be fixed, will it not?"

Eragon nodded firmly. "Yes it shall. I have promised with Saphira that it will be mended when my duties as a Rider no longer yank at my every waking minute. Marie and Oropher have said that they will add their power."

Lifaen nodded again. "Good then…but for now, I have cast a spell over it that can only be lifted by am powerful mage, nothing a magician of Farthen Dur could lift. It'll keep every tiny shard in its exact position, so when you mend it, you will have filled every spot."

Eragon widened his eyes in surprise and looked back at the broken piece. "Amazing…and yet, I wish you might've seen it when it wasn't broken. It really was a masterpiece."

Lifaen looked over the shards and stretched out a hand, beckoning to it. "I have seen many great and beautiful things in my day, Eragon. Though this one is broken, a new beauty has been given to it. Do you think any other crystal in the world could make the light dance on the walls such as these broken shards do? These pieces carry history of a dangerous and courageous feat that shouldn't be mourned for but celebrated. Such beauty as that will make its newly refined product an even more valuable piece."

Eragon closed his eyes, touched by the elf's words. It seemed to have healed any doubt he had had about the crystals and his relation to the dwarfs. "Thank you, Lifaen. I feel as if already the burden has been lifted from me…it is now an honor that I will think upon refining this crystal."

"You are quite welcome, Shadeslayer. I am only here to help you," Lifaen said. He bowed, and turned away, gliding down another hall to view the rest of Farthen Dur alone.

Eragon sighed and also turned away, heading towards the room where he and Saphira stayed. He walked in and his eyes twisted in sadness when he saw Saphira shaking and whining in her sleep. He walked over and touched her side only to feel her wet scales from sweat.

Eragon dropped to the ground where her head was laid and held the top of her head, reaching out to her. Saphira…Saphira wake up…

Saphira jolted upwards, sending Eragon flying across the room into a bookshelf. He groaned and screamed as his back was suddenly caught in a torrent of pain and he fell on his stomach, tears streaming down his face. He laid there for what seemed like hours. He felt Saphira trying to comfort him but her remorse and sorrow was too strong and it only made him feel worse. He trembled as the pain subsided to a wet numbness and he dripped in a cold sweat.

"Ugh…Sa…Saphira?" Eragon called out, his mind and eyes blurred as he struggled to get up.

Hush, Eragon and please, lye back down. Lifaen is coming to assist you…I'm…sorry little one, Saphira said.

Eragon cringed as her voice echoed in his sensitive head but he nodded wearily and laid his head back down. What…is wrong with you?

I have been ill, Eragon…you know that, Saphira said, her voice tightening slightly.

Saphira…Eragon paused as a wave of pain erupted through his skull and he grunted. When it subsided, he continued. Saphira, please. I just want to help.

Oh, little one…I don't know. I feel so sick sometimes that I could just drop to the ground and let myself be eaten away by the enchanted wolves of Du Weldenvarden. Other times I feel so energetic and happy to see you, like it was always…but intensified. Sometimes I mourn for Oropher and I, a dragon, wish to drop everything and cry. Eragon, I think I might be on the brink of insanity, Saphira ended with a low, mournful call.

Eragon shifted his elbows up and under his body, shifting himself slowly upright, cringing as a sting of pain jolted up his scar. Saphira twisted her head over the bed and nosed his back up softly with her muzzle. Eragon sighed as he was finally steady enough on his own and Saphira backed away, sending calming and reluctant feelings towards him.

I've even been missing Marie more than usual lately…of course I enjoy her company but this is also intense... Saphira cocked her head thoughtfully.

I think that has something to do with our connection…as I have been longing for Oropher's company more…even though I haven't said much to him…ever…Eragon said. He looked at Saphira. Why do you two deny each other? You are a match and the restoration of dragons…why?

Saphira's demeanor changed so suddenly Eragon was thrown off balance and he almost toppled over. Her voice was hard but not angry. For the same reasons you deny that you and Marie have very little time to enjoy happiness together. We have our duties, Marie and Oropher moreso than we. Do we dare let our emotions and our feelings get in the way of their training? How would Oromis take it if he found you two together at some random moment when Marie might be studying? How would he feel…if he caught I and Oropher…together? Tell me Eragon…

I…don't care.

What? Saphira's original waves went from defined to surprised.

You heard me as clear as day, my dragon. I do not care if I distract her any longer…

How can you say such a thing? How can you be so selfish? She and Oropher and if it comes down to it…WE are the only hope for Alagaesia! We HAVE to keep with our duties.

And just waste our lives away with this? What about us? Maybe its them that are being selfish! What about us? What if I…what if I love her?

Eragon, you are only seventeen…you don't know love…

Saphira…I have gone through so many things in my life that I am as much of a man as anyone. Besides, Roran was about my age when he declared to me that he loved Katrina…why can't I have that same leisure if not moreso?

Saphira sighed and was about to say more when Lifaen walked into the room and bent beside Eragon. "Are you all right Shadeslayer? I know as an elf I should've been here more swiftly…however I was taken to the tunnels and went to venture to the farther dwarven cities…"

Eragon looked at Saphira and sighed, looking up at the elf kneeling beside him. "I'm fine, Lifaen. I think I can manage on my own now."

Saphira snorted and it only increased as Eragon struggled to rise and he fell backward and groaned. Lifaen suppressed a chuckle and sighed, lifting Eragon to his feet and helping him to his bed. Eragon sighed.

"Okay…I'm fine now…I just need to rest," Eragon said, shifting to get more comfortable in bed.

Saphira nodded when she suddenly let out a howl and turned her face away. Grotesque noises came from where she had turned when she finally moved to let them view a pile of waste on the ground from her stomach.

"Saphira!" Eragon cried, leaping up, only to scream as his back triggered again, though harder and he was sent into a painful faint.

AAAAAAAAAAA

Marie was hardly looking forward to her archery lessons with Arya. She had yet to be convinced that the elf wasn't constantly scheming against her and that the elf had some feelings towards a certain Rider whom Marie herself fancied.

When Marie woke up to begin such a task, she was very agitated to rise with an annoying headache, that started constantly nagging her from her breakfast to when she was walking into the archery ring where the female elf maiden was already perched on a fence. Arya hopped down and walked over to Marie.

"You seem a little annoyed this morning, Argetlam," Arya said, looking over Marie. The girl had thrown on a shirt, breeches and a tunic that she had received in Farthen Dur, hoping that being in her normal clothing would make her feel more comfortable. She even placed her old knife in her boot and strapped on Brom's trusty sword but…needless to say she was carrying weight for nothing, thus "improving" the Rider's mood.

"I have unfortunately risen this grand morning with a headache, Lady Elf…it is causing me a great annoyance…among other things," Marie glanced peevishly away, not bothering to mutter the last part, as she knew the elf would hear it anyway.

Arya ignored it and instead turned around and picked up two objects that had been sitting behind the fence. Both were beautifully crafted bows, one smaller and the other larger. Swirls of intricate designs swept across the pieces and for a moment, Marie was lost in them. She blinked and looked at Arya and then nodded, taking the smaller one.

"The correct way to hold a bow and arrow is like so," Arya said, moving the bow in one direct, fluid motion. She put it down quickly before Marie was able to study it and cocked a hip. "We aren't going to learn that just yet. You need to learn the basic ways of stringing, cleaning and holding it first."

Marie furrowed her brows. "Shouldn't we focus on the shooting part? After all, I am a Rider. What good will it do me to clean it if I can't even shoot it in the first place."

Arya raised a brow of her own. "True…but how will you be able to shoot it when you have no idea how to string it?"

Marie opened her mouth and then shut it, finally folding her arms and setting her own hip. Her headache throbbed like a pestering bug at the back of her mind as Arya continued to show Marie the basic cleaning and stringing of a bow.

AAAAAAAAAAA

Eragon blinked, rising from the bed. His vision was slightly blurry but he could see Lifaen crouching by Saphira's side with a hand on her hide just fine. He grunted as he moved his aching body off the bed and into a kneeling position at Lifaen's side.

Saphira…Eragon reached out, touching the mind of his dragon. Almost immediately he felt a wave of nausea and fatigue and he was forced to cut their connection down so they could only speak, though the feelings slipped through every once and again.

Saphira, what is wrong? Eragon questioned, his head spinning from the previous two attacks and now Saphira's feelings.

I…am ill…the dragon said slowly. Eragon hadn't thought it so but her voice sounded croaked and dry. He touched her side and opened his connection with her all the way. He began trembling as the same nausea and fatigue overwhelmed him but he pushed it aside and ignored it for the sake of his dragon.

I think…we shall turn back to Ellesmera. Oromis is the only hope of you getting better…he must know what's wrong, Eragon said quietly.

We cannot use this as an excuse…to…leave Eragon. We…must go on. That girl…needs you, Saphira said, her voice still slowed as she tried to push back her sick confusion to speak.

Eragon's feelings pushed hard, determined and strong as he spoke next. Saphira, I do not know what has come over you. I am no master at illnesses or sicknesses. And I will die if you die.

Shan't die…and if I do from a sickness like this, you shan't either, little one, Saphira said, sliding her head over to meet him in the eye.

Eragon blinked as he looked over her features. Her eyes were filmy and her nose was dripping. He shook his head and blinked back tears for her pain. I will. I may look it, dear dragon but I do not think I will ever be as strong as Marie was when she lost Oropher our last visit here. I do not think I can bare your leave from my mind…you are apart of me.

I love you, little one, Saphira said, slowly spreading a dragony smile.

Eragon gave a small smile as well. And I you Saphira.

Eragon nodded at her and then stood, feeling suddenly stronger then he had moments before. "Lifaen-fineral, we are returning to Ellesmera. I know the young girl in Surda needs my help but she and everyone else in the world comes last to my dragon. Only Master Oromis knows whether this is life threatening or not. We leave tomorrow."

Lifaen nodded and a side of his lip curved upward, approving of Eragon's choice. "Very well, Shadeslayer. Let us prepare to leave, then, shall we?"

AAAAAAAAAAAA

Marie sighed after training with Oromis. She had begun to feel tired throughout the whole day and the headache only seemed to get bigger. But she ignored it as she stood in her room, speaking with Oropher.

I do not think I can bare another lesson with Arya again, Marie grumbled.

Why not? I can stand Glaedr just fine, as long as Saphira is not around, Oropher said, cocking a golden eye at her.

Marie rolled her eyes at him and leaned against his side. Well, that is all very well for you but it is apparent that even though we might've had some decent conversations in the past, I and Arya have nothing in common.

Well, you better sort that out soon. Eragon's estimated arrival is in a week's time. You wouldn't want him to see you two disagreeing now would you? Oropher questioned, shifting a wing to get more comfortable.

Certainly not…or maybe I do. Maybe it'll show him how much we do disagree and force him to choose whom he likes better, hm? Marie grinned maliciously at the idea.

Oropher snorted. Marie, do not expect him to do such. He has matured since you first met him.

Marie put her hands on her hips. And how would you know that? I happen to remember you not hatching until four days after I met him.

It was three and do not underestimate me, my girl. I am apart of you, therefore, access to your memories is as easy as me setting the forest on fire without its magical protections, Oropher said.

That's an invasion of privacy! Marie exclaimed.

There is no privacy between Rider and dragon-

Want to bet? Marie then abruptly shut off her mind, centering all her force on blocking Oropher out. The dragon growled from beneath her and shifted so she stumbled forward.

Marie caught herself and was about to snap at him when she suddenly felt awfully faint. She blinked as her vision slowly slid into a black abyss. She barely heard her own cry as she hit the ground blindly, neither did she hear Oropher's call of alert.

A/N: CLIFFHANGER!


I have piccies for you to see my peoples. Here is are character sheets of Marie and Eragon that I made on Photoshop. I also have a couple of really cute pics of them coming up that I'm making right now. :D

Put these links in the box thingy at the top and delete the spaces in between.

Eragon Character Sheet: www. deviation/ 39498709/

Marie Character Sheet: www. deviation/ 39269180/

Marie and Oropher: www. deviation/ 37577478/

Eragon and Marie: www. deviation/ 39864623/

Enjoy! And tell me what you hink of the chappie and the pics.