The Pact

by Warrior Goddess

Eragon, Saphira and Murtagh are travelling together to seek the Varden, when they come across a mysterious young warrior woman who joins their party.Discover how their fates and stories are entwined in this exciting and thoughtful adventure.

21. Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Shivering in the cold and dark, Eragon could only rub his arms and stomp his feet as he nervously waited for Ella. Minutes had passed by and he had heard no indication that she had followed him. He told himself that he was being absurd. She had been right behind him. But there was this negative voice that played on his fears, whispering cruel lies. Lies that swore that she had ran away. Left him. That he was a whiney pest that she couldn't stand. He tried not to listen to the voice, but with the freezing cold biting at every part of his exposed skin, it was hard to concentrate on anything else to stop his chattering teeth from biting off his own tongue.

Knowing it had his attention; the voice progressed to suggestions that proved to be even worse. That Murtagh and Lia had lied to him! That now more than ever, when he needed their support and courage the most, they had deserted him. If they had, wouldn't it be because they believed in him or because they were glad to be free of his incompetence? His thoughts were shattered by the sound of a large splash and a noisy gasp for air.

"Ella!" he shouted in relief

Scrambling on his hands and knees, he felt for the edge of the rocky ledge on which he had been standing. He stretched his hand out as far as it would reach. His fingers splayed, ready to grasp the first part of her that he could touch.

"Ella! Over here! Follow my voice!" he encouraged

"Eragon?!" her voice was filled with panic

Her hysteria was not unknown to him. Swimming beneath the waterfall had not been nearly as simple as he had been promised. There was no grudge held against Lia. She had only been instructed to remember facts. The experience was unknown to her. He had been repeatedly dragged under by the force of the crushing water, to the point where he could barely hold his breath a moment longer. Only his will had prevented him from giving in. To go through that frightening ordeal only to resurface to complete darkness was a poor reward for his courage. He had swam around in circles for what felt like a very long time, before he found a solid surface that did not present a wall, onto which he could climb. Ella had it easier, much easier. He didn't resent her for it, he was too glad to offer help where he had received none.

Continuing to call her name, he heard her splashes working their way toward him. When his hand touched hers, she grabbed at it frantically, almost pulling him in. Adjusting his weight so that he would not fall, he half dragged her to where he sat and helped haul her out of the water. Collapsing on her back beside him, she breathed in huge buckets of air and waited for the calm that did not want to surface.

"Are you alright?" Eragon asked, worried by the fact that she had not uttered a word since calling his name.

"F…fine" she said in a strange and raspy voice.

She did not sound fine. There was a squelching noise as she moved, sitting herself upright. He rested a hand against what he hoped was her back, to steady her.

"Where to now?" she asked, expecting him to know.

He was glad she could not see the fear in his eyes. He struggled to keep his voice casual, knowing and confident. An attempt marred by his constantly chattering teeth and shaking voice.

"Well, apparently we are here. We just need to keep walking"

"Walking where?" she asked, no doubt trying to discern some path or light which they may have used to find their bearings.

It was a wasted effort. Everything was cloaked in darkness.

"We are on a path", he replied, trying to sound like he knew what he was talking about.

He commended himself on his adaptation to the situation. Ella's fear seemed to ease his own and give him the strength to sound strong, even though his worry was even greater than she could have known.

"We are?" she sounded dubious. He didn't blame her, but he could not stop pretending now.

Still shaking, he rose to his feet. Grabbing hold of the top of her arms, he guided her up alongside him. Only being out of the water for a shorter length of time, her shivers were crippling. He thought to offer her a hand, but changed his mind. Relief swept through him when her hand grabbed for his, her fingers gripped his tightly, the sudden warmth causing her to wrap her arms around him and press herself as close to him as possible. He froze. Despite her painful convulsions, she grinned.

"Now, now Rider…I'm freezing my arse off and trying to keep warm, so can you promise me something?"

"Anything" he promised

"Don't try to kiss me" she teased

The sudden wave of heat that radiated from him at her words made her grin even more. His blush, although unseen, was evident. She expected him to draw away from her then, like the babbling, embarrassed boy he had been the night before. Instead, he closed his arms around her and held her all the more tightly. Not only did he not shy away from her; he laughed! Who was this person that her body was glued to? This person who's laughter almost sounded carefree; who seemed calm and confident under pressure? She secretly found herself wondering if there was something in the water that had brought about this surprising, yet not unwelcome change.

After a few comfortable minutes, feeling ever so slightly warmer, but no drier, they reluctantly released their hold on each other. All physical contact did not cease; they still remained hand in hand. Carefully stepping forward, Eragon guided her hands to his waist.

"Hold onto me" he ordered.

She obeyed. He neglected to mention the part where he was still searching for the right way. They were, for the moment calm and he intended to keep things that way. And so, with careful steps and probing hands, he began to lead Ella along the hidden path.

Saphira tried to pad along softly, but her large claws and frame would not allow it. Giving in, she no longer tried to soften the sound of her steps. Why should she? This was the place they had been trying to reach for almost as long as she could remember. It made no sense. Angry with herself, she wished that Eragon would call her. There was nothing she wanted more than to plough through the two people in front of her and put this day behind them. If only things could be that simple. The unease she felt at the moment had nothing to do with this place; it was the two of them walking before her. Their actions had both upset and confused her and now, their reaction to being here was alarming. If she could speak with them and find out what bothered them, she may have been able to rid herself of this irrational discomfort. There was no way to talk to either of them. She remembered Murtagh's constant reluctance to enter the Varden's hideout, which remained unexplained. He would never say a word on the subject. As for Lia, her actions hurt the most. When Saphira's anger had simmered down enough to contemplate approaching the girl, her mind was firmly closed. Lia was not letting anyone in.

Something about this place was making her cautious to the point of shutting everyone out, even those that she knew. This did not bode well. Trusting Lia's instincts, she couldn't help but be worried. Not knowing why made it all the more tempting to snap at their heels until they told her. The only reason she didn't stoop to that level of desperation was because she was certain that no matter what she did, they would say nothing. Reduced to following their lead, she grumpily matched their pace.

It was dark, but it wasn't uncomfortable. With their eyes adjusted, they could just about make out the sides of the tunnel through which they walked. It was the only way that they were presented with, so they followed their feet onward. They imagined they should have felt unnerved or uneasy, the normal reaction to such darkness. As usual, the normal rules that applied to everyone else did not apply to the two of them. Whilst most feared the dark, they embraced it. To them, darkness was the cloak that kept them safe and hidden. Many a time they had hidden in the dark. In their dark sleeps they found their refuge. Darkness had a different meaning to them and here, in this place where they were sure to face their death, it was the darkness that cast away their concerns. The concerns were still there, but they were able to see them in a detached way. They were able to look at the situation as if it were just another job to be completed.

As they accepted their imminent death, the thought began to bother them less and less. Instead of fretting about how they would die and the loss of their precious lives, they began to look at things in a different way, a normal way. In a way that they would have approached the situation had it been any other day. They would fight and they would do their best. Just because they accepted their fate didn't mean that they wouldn't fight for their right to live. No. If this truly was their last opportunity to survive, they would give it their all, have some fun doing it and if they were dragged down, well they would make damn sure that they took some of the bastards down with them. None of this was discussed. It was a decision that required no debate. They weren't dead yet and until their execution was called for, they intended to keep it that way.

The first step to survival was discussing precautionary measures. Along with the comfort of the dark, there was Saphira's breath constantly warming them in the otherwise freezing cave. They had been walking for a long time. Long enough that their clothes were almost dry. They had let go of each other's hands. In this time, they needed to maintain their sense of individual power. To rely too much on each other would make them weaker. Together they were stronger, but as two separate beings working as a team, they were nigh unstoppable. Keeping a short distance between them, they lessened the urge to reach out. This was a time for business, not pleasure. And if there was one thing that they prided themselves in, it was their ability to switch between the two effortlessly. They would still have their fun, one way or another.

Murtagh glanced over his shoulder. He could make out Saphira's huge outline. Her snout only lay a few feet behind their heads. Had he not become accustomed to travelling in the company of a dragon, he would have been quaking in his boots with fear. He wasn't sure what her eyesight was like in the dark, but as he turned, the dragon unmistakably turned her head towards him and issued a hot, pungent puff of smoke in his face. He had been glaring at her. Sometimes he resented the way that she and all other dragons were revered so. Each time that he saw her now, all he could remember was how he had felt the moment she had ripped him away from the ground. Hit by the stench of her dragon breath, he gagged and abruptly turned to face forward. From beside him, he heard Lia's subtle snicker. Despite his bitterness, he smiled at the fact that they had fell so easily back into their normal, mocking ways. That even now, as close to death as they were; they could hang onto what they still had and find the nerve to laugh at one another.

This is driving her insane Lia stated smugly

The looks I am bestowing upon her? Murtagh asked hopefully

As if you could irritate her in the slightest?!

No… but she does not like it

That is true, but what annoys her more is that she does not know why and I have not told her

Lia? Disrespecting a dragon? This is a first…

And what could I tell her? Our plan was our own

Does she not nag at you like some harridan?

My mind is sealed. From here on, no one is allowed inside

You are thinking of the rumours?

It wasn't a question. It was a statement.

Yes. They have a faction of spell casters

I heard that they were weak…

Weak they may be, but those that lead them must be strong

Will they try to breach our minds?

It depends…on how suspicious they are…

Murtagh laughed with little humour.

A band of hidden rebels? No, I'm sure they will let us march straight on inside!

His laugher cracked and his voice gave way to express his true concern.

Exactly how strong do you think they will be?

Who knows?… My guess is that they will be… formidable opponents

I will not let them inside my head Lia

All humour left his voice. He was deadly serious.

Neither will I Lia reassured him

Do you think we can do it? We will… or we will die trying

Her tone was unperturbed. There really was no point worrying about their fate any longer. He thought back to the days before their connection was established, to that one day on the plains where he had challenged her to breach his mind. He remembered how she had fared afterwards. Reading his thoughts, Lia smiled wryly.

Murtagh… scared of a little headache?

She sought to play on his pride, to make him leap to his own defence and deny his worry. She knew him too well, but it wasn't quite a good enough tactic to tear his thoughts away from his memory of her writhing form. He became subdued. She sighed.

Look… that first time was different… it was not as painful as it looked

It's not the pain woman…

His voice trailed off; embarrassed that she had even considered it a possibility.

Then what is it?

It's…agh…it's the damn pitiful look!

Ah…

Lia suddenly understood. He was fuming on the inside; anger was good, anger was healthy, anger gave strength that other emotions could not. Anger could save them. She would feed his anger and share it. Through her understanding of his reaction, she found her own anger bubbling up inside. He was about to break into a rant; she would not interrupt. She would listen and drink in his words. It was curious how even here, inside their thoughts, she could hear his breathing increase, as his chest rose and fell with emotion. His voice was black with fury.

I cannot fall in that way Lia. I have fought too many battles to have my life extinguished in such a way. If I am about to die, I want to die with my honour. I want my sword in my hand and a snarl on my lips. I will not be reduced to a snivelling, convulsing wreck on the floor, being watched as I weep and writhe my way into the next world. I will not allow myself to be remembered in such a way. I want to die fighting Lia. Do you understand? I would sooner take my own life than have them murder me so disgracefully!

They will not have their way with you Murtagh. And if I ever hear talk of you killing yourself, I promise to follow you and make your afterlife an eternal misery!

I mean it Lia he growled back at her

So do I Lia countered with equal sincerity

We deserve a better death than that!

And I promise you we shall have it. Do you think that it pleases me in the slightest that you hold that memory of my weakness? It sickens me. If you think that I will stand still and welcome the rape of my mind, you can bloody well think again!

At the mention of the word "rape" a new type of anger fuelled his resolve. Forgetting their unspoken arrangement, he angled his walk towards her, reached out an arm and pinned her to his side. She struggled to free herself, but his fingers dug into her arm. His voice was low and harsh.

No one is getting into your mind…and no one…and I mean no one…is going to touch you…If I see anyone even looking like that are thinking of touching you, blood will be spilled!

No one?…

She said it innocently, but her voice was thick with implications. Gently prizing his hand from her shoulder, she brought it to her lips and proceeded to gently kiss his fingertips, one by one. A completely inappropriate urge filled his mind and he stepped away before he did anything rash. Somehow it was all too easy to forget the large dragon that stomped noisily behind them.

Although he couldn't see her, he knew that she was grinning wickedly. Women were indeed cruel. However, her plan, as no doubt it was, had worked; he was now too high strung to worry about the inescapable mind probe. He had responsibilities to Lia and he would not die before he could protect her from any perverse fiends that existed within this mountain. She would be touched by none. That was now his right and he was not about to let some filthy bastard get his hands on her before even he had had his chance! His head argued that it was the wrong time to be thinking about intimate encounters. The rest of him argued that he needed some incentive to try all the more harder. He smiled. He truly was a man through and through.

The safe gap was between them once more, but it was not empty. A charge was passing from one to the other; the sensation was a little too pleasant. Once more they were thankful for the darkness, but for different reasons than before. Elated by the turn in his thoughts, he continued their discussion on a lighter note.

So…how do we thwart these magic bearers?

He asked the question, similar to one asking how to tie ones' laces.

Together, I assume. I do not think it will be hard

Her confidence made his smirk. She meant it.

No. I imagine it will be quite easy

He said the words and noticed that he too believe it.

After all, apparently, between us, there is nothing we cannot do?

She echoed his earlier thoughts by the waterfall with a grin.

Damn right!

They may be experienced, but I sincerely doubt that they have ever come across anything quite like us

We are rather unique, aren't we?

Most definitely

Do you think it will be painful… for whoever tries?

His voice was wistful.

Oh I think we can give them slightly more than a headache

Her assurance came in a voice filled with rancour.

Slightly? He asked, sounding hopeful and eager to hear more.

Well… I would not rule out a brain haemorrhage

Good

She shared Murtagh's vindictive smile at the thought of being able to hurt their future attackers. They were making their last stand. This was their last fight to cling to their lives. How far would they go to stay alive? Would they go a little wild? They silently agreed that they probably would, but this was their survival at steak and they intended to act in whatever defence was both suitable and necessary.

Quickening their pace, anxious to know what lay ahead, they headed towards whatever danger awaited them with welcoming smiles. If anything, they intended to make their stay here, no matter how short, memorable – both to themselves and to others. They would leave their mark.

Saphira hurried to keep up with them. Now, more than ever, she regretted the gift that she had given them. A gift?! It now seemed like a curse! Without it, they would have been talking aloud and she may have understood what was happening! As it was, their behaviour toward her was not the only thing that nagged at her, their attitude towards each other had changed. When Murtagh had reached for Lia pulling her to him, she had nearly snorted flame in surprise. Luckily for them, she hadn't, else they would have existed now as two, neat piles of steaming ash. What had happened between them? Since when had their relationship progressed to this new level? Why did it disturb her? Surely it was natural? They were an impressive pair by all standards, but there was something about this union that did not sit right with her. It was a bad feeling that gnawed at her on the inside, an ominous feeling. Casting it aside, she followed them toward the end of the tunnel, waiting for the call of her Rider.

Eragon was pleased. It didn't seem like the right moment to feel such a way, but he was. They had been moving along slowly for a long time and despite their complete and utter blindness, he hadn't stumbled once, he hadn't lost his footing, his pace was careful and his motions were smooth. Even Ella's grip on his waist had relaxed a little. She hadn't questioned him nor muttered in worry. For once, he was in control of a situation and he was trusted. Ella actually believed in him. It was a wonderful feeling not to be perceived as a useless half-wit. Her belief in him boosted his ego no end. He started to believe in himself. He could do this. He spoke the words over and over in the back of his mind as he caught the first sign of light up ahead. Ella must have seen it too, for she moved herself to his side and reached for his hand.

"We're nearly there" she whispered excitedly.

"It certainly looks that way" he agreed.

In the faint glow of the light, he could just about make out their surroundings and the expression on her face; it was ambivalent, torn in between excitement and fear. Only a fine line existed between the two. He kept his face calm, almost neutral. I'm getting better at this; he mused. That was when he saw the collection of dark figures, ranging in height and size, appear at the end of the passage. He felt a lump rise in his throat. He fought it back. He would gulp back his fear. He had done well this far, he would not let the sinister looking shadows up ahead destroy the illusion he had created. Besides, they were inside the Varden?! Whoever these people were, they would be friends!

As they gradually grew closer, he could make out their appearances. There was a huddle of armed soldiers, standing behind two beings that were waiting to greet them. He thought the word "beings" was more appropriate because one of them was not human. He was shorter, much shorter. The top of his head, even whilst wearing a helm, only touched the other man's elbow. Being short, stout and adorned in layers of chain mail, Eragon could only guess that this was a dwarf. He hoped the dwarf could not see him staring from this distance. He wanted to get the staring part over and done with now; to gawk at him when they were only a few feet apart would be more than discourteous, it would be plain rude.

Moving his eyes to the man, he felt himself wince. It was a strange reaction, but unavoidable. The man was tall, thin, robed and extremely pale. He looked like an unfinished painting and a bad one at that. His pallor made him look eerie. His head was also bald, making him appear even stranger. Upon even closer inspection, he could see that he had no facial hair whatsoever. No eyebrows, nothing. He looked like a large baby. The comparison made him all the more disgusting to behold. Quickly fixing his expression, he attempted to keep his cool. This mythical creature and the scary looking man were on the side of good.

He stopped a few paces before them. Their expressions were stony. The soldiers all had their weapons at the ready. It was not exactly the warm reception that he was expecting. Clearing his throat, he spoke in what he hoped was a tone of authority.

"I am the Rider. I have come to join you"

They stared at him in disbelief. Seeing that they had no intention to move or speak, he hesitated, before saying the words that Lia had told him. The dwarf's head bobbed in approval. The bald headed man studied Eragon curiously and when he spoke, there was a definite edge of mockery.

"You are the Rider? … That is…curious…and where prey is your dragon?"

Saphira…are you nearby? We are…I think…we are headed down a tunnel I will be waiting

There was no denying the reassurance he felt when she had said the word "we". He blinked and let his lids remain closed for a brief second, as he acknowledged that Murtagh and Lia hadn't abandoned him. Simply knowing that they would be with him shortly gave him the nerve to return the bald man's disparaging look with a grin.

"Oh Saphira is on her way and she is not alone"

They all stiffened at his words. What were they expecting?! He wondered what their reaction would be to her and his colleagues.

"Fine…we wait" the bald man said curtly, closing further discussion.

They now stood in a wide, circular space, dimly lit, still somewhere inside the mountain. Eragon and Ella had come by one path. Another lay behind their welcoming committee. Only one other tunnel joined onto this room. It was large; easily suited for a dragon and all their eyes were fixed on it. Staring hard and listening even harder, they waiter for the first sign of the dragon and the others.

The walk downhill was a treacherous one. The path they had been on had been a bumpy one at the best of times and now, the only way was down and it was steep descent. Small, slippery stones and rocks removed any grace from their steps. They slipped, stumbled and fell all too often and nothing existed for them to hold onto for support. Technically, that was not true; when one fell, they instinctively grabbed out for the other, dragging them down with them. Conversations were replaced by random single words, most of them on the lines of "crap", "bugger", "shit" and the all too frequent "bloody hell", as they fell repeatedly and grew more and more frustrated by the second. To make the situation even more unnerving, they had Saphira struggling to hold herself steady behind them, growing irritably after every few steps. Murtagh was the first to catch a glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel.

Finally!

Lia glanced over her shoulder nervously and promptly slipped, taking a hold of Murtagh's arm as she fell. They both staggered backwards. Saphira halted abruptly and with difficulty, her scrambling claws knocking several large stones into the backs of Murtagh and Lia's legs. They spun around and cursed at her. She hissed back at them. Murtagh shook Lia's grip off him and scowled at her.

Why did we not let her take the lead! Lia complained

It is too late for regrets now! Murtagh snapped back

And damn it woman! Must you take me down with you every bloody time?!

You can talk!? At least I grab for your arm! When you stumble like a blind man, you grab at me in the most inappropriate places!

I just got for the first thing I reach!

I think you could aim a little better if you tried!

That is what you get for making a man wait

Ugh!

She stamped ahead. He smirked and followed closely behind. That was when they heard the sound of a dozen small pebbles rolling and Saphira's surprised snort. They both realised what was about to happen. Racing past Lia, he grabbed hold of the back of her tunic and threw her forward. Landing on her backside, she slid down the steep slope that now acted as a slide, Murtagh was right behind her and advancing faster that they cared for; propelled by the force of her weight, was an out of control Saphira.

And so, being cut, scratched, bruised and beaten by the rocks beneath them and rolling behind them, the three of them came hurtling towards the end of what they could now only think of the "humiliation chute".

The dwarf took an involuntary step back, sensing what was coming. The soldiers and the bald man backed up against one of the walls to the sides, their expressions incredulous. Eragon and Ella stared hard at the tunnel. A rumbling noise echoed loudly from inside and grew louder by the second.

"You may want to step aside", the dwarf said gruffly, in warning.

Eragon toyed with the idea of not moving at all. It could be perceived as being very brave or… a complete act of idiocy. Pulling Ella by the hand, he dragged her backward and not a moment too soon.

It was like watching a terribly performed play. Lia came shooting out first, her backside slid to a halt not far from the entrance to the tunnel. Her expression was stunned and then turned dismal, knowing that she had neither the time nor energy to react to what would happen next. She allowed herself a fleeting moment to raise her eyes to the heavens, before Murtagh came crashing into her. His two feet connected with her back and sent her sprawling forward. He had enough time to wince at her in apology, before the grand finale. The both of them cringed and squeezed their eyes shut. There was a whining roar and then Saphira arrived. The full force of her large body hit Murtagh, who hit Lia in turn. The three of them shot across the length of the room and smashed into the far wall. The sound of their impact was deafening and was met with a gasp by all that bore witness.

A cloud of debris hid them from view and as it slowly faded, Eragon was expecting to see a Saphira shaped hole in the wall. He envisioned her sliding away to reveal a Murtagh and Lia shaped imprint beneath her own.

Saphira! He cried out

I am here… I am fine she muttered

Confirming her words, she rose to her full height. Protected by her scaly exterior, she hadn't suffered a scratch. She still looked very impressive, regardless of her entrance. From behind her, Murtagh and Lia stepped into view. Their expressions were cool and impassive as they brushed the dirt off their clothes.

Lia's hand moved along the back of her tunic. She could feel large tears in the material and behind them, gouges in her back. She was too embarrassed to care about the pain.

On the inside they were seething, on the outside they still appeared casually unperturbed by their introduction. They glanced at the crack in the wall behind them with little interest.

It could have been worse Lia said optimistically

How…?!

Considering the fact that we just got pinned between a stone wall and a dragon, we are looking bloody good!

When I said that I wanted us to be remembered, this was not what I had in mind!

Murtagh eyed the bald man and the dwarf analytically.

All right… which one of these bastards is the one who will fry my brain. I have changed my mind. Nothing could be more shameful than what just happened to us!

Say what you must, but it was a memorable entrance none the less

Lia…

Yes?

You look like dung

Murtagh…

Yes?

You look like dragon dung

Lia…

Yes?

I think you missed a spot…

He stared at her dirt-encrusted rear. She turned her head as far as it would go, gave her backside a quick check and then glanced over at his with a grin. Murtagh narrowed his eyes.

What?…

I may have missed a spot, but at least my arse isn't hanging out for the world to see

Murtagh fought his creasing brow and bid the blood to stop running to his face.

You jest! He accused, hoping against hope

I am being perfectly serious she assured him.

He did not feel reassured.

How bad is it?…

It is just the one…

Just the one what?! He demanded impatiently

Buttock! She answered gleefully

Her jaw was clenched tight, preventing the laughter from escaping. His face turned white and then, there was no stopping the red that followed.

Will someone please just kill me and end the humiliation?!

I do not know why you are making such a fuss! I happen to think your arse is rather breath taking

You do? He asked, still annoyed, but mildly interested in what she had to say

Why that is the single most beautiful buttock I have ever laid my eyes on! They will simply die of jealousy alone!

She flashed a grin his way. He stared at her speculatively and folded his arms.

My Lady… the rubbish you talk to ease my nerves is beyond ridiculous. You are insane… Have I ever told you that I am almost absolutely certain that I am in love with you?

No… she replied, pleasantly surprised

Remind me to tell you properly when people are not staring at us like we are complete simpletons

I will hold you to that

Hmmm…

What?

Would it be disgustingly appropriate to tell you after…?

After what?

It is "tomorrow"…

He let his voice trail off. She got the message, thought about it, grimaced and yet felt herself nodding on the inside.

I suppose if we are going to do this, we should do it properly

This is hardly fair you know he sulked

What isn't?

I just told you I loved you woman! That was not as easy as it sounded! Some reaction would be welcome. Some indication that you may feel the same?

I am standing beside you in front of two men who will probably decide whether we should live or die and I will follow you no matter what their choice. I think that roughly translates the fact that I love you too. Either that or I am just really, really bloody stupid

He grinned. She grinned. This entire conversation, expressions and all happened inside their minds. As ever, their exterior showed no indication that they were conversing privately. It was only obvious to those that knew them. Saphira chose to ignore them the way they had her. Ella stared at them in surprise and relief, being the only one who had guessed that they had intended to depart. Only Eragon smiled at them confidently, his face was a picture of reassurance. They accepted his expression gratefully. At least there was one person who, despite their interesting arrival, did not look at them strangely.

Eragon was careful to hold his smile. He was more than pleased to see his friends; he could not however help feel that their entrance had somehow put a damper on his build up to their introduction. Still, they were here and nothing else mattered. He opened his mouth to introduce them by name. That was when the flashback caught him. He could almost feel the pain in his ribs at the memory; Tornac kicking him in the chest, startled by Murtagh's raised voice as he protested against being taken to the Varden. He promptly closed his mouth. Murtagh had dragged himself here against his will. Eragon would not thank him by putting his life at risk. He knew not what Murtagh had done to fear them so, but he knew what he had done for him. If he truly held power within the Varden, he would use it to keep his friends safe. Thinking before he spoke!? He was surprising himself more and more!

Pulling Ella by his side, he went to stand between Saphira and his slightly tattered looking companions. Pretending that what had happened was nothing of importance; he gently waved his hand to his side in form of brief introduction.

"Saphira, my dragon…and on my right, my personal guard"

Murtagh's lips twitched a fraction. Lia held her serious expression with ease. His deep chuckle tickled the back of her mind.

Oh Rider! Stop it! You are making me blush!

I am impressed. I never knew that he had a way with words

I'll say one thing, he is not as stupid as I thought

Oh?

No. I cannot deny that I find the concept difficult to grasp… but I believe he is attempting to be cunning

This could work to our advantage…

It just might…

The soldiers crept forward; their spears still at the ready. The dwarf and the bald man stood at the head of the group. Neither attempted to move any closer than a few feet away from them and their expressions differed from the other. The dwarf eyed the dragon in wonder and paid little attention to the other humans. The bald man seemed to ignore the Rider and let his eyes pass over the other three curiously, with a disturbingly hungry look in his eyes.

"Names?" he prompted.

"This is Ella" Eragon said, taking hold of her hand protectively.

"And the others?" he inclined his head towards Murtagh and Lia, who had not said a word.

"They have no names" Eragon replied smoothly, "Their names and business are their own. Their services have been beyond sufficient and I never felt the need to ask"

Since when was he a good liar?!? Murtagh asked in disbelief

People change Lia reminded him meaningfully

The bald man turned his head from the Rider and stared hard at his "guard".

"Tell me your names" he commanded them.

They said nothing, although their stances changed. They took a side step toward each other, folded their arms and scrutinised the man that made the demand. Murtagh's eyes could not seem to move from the bald man's face.

No he said simply

No Lia agreed

Although to what she was agreeing to, she was unsure.

He is one ugly bastard!

That is the understatement of a lifetime

There was no arguing with him on that fact. The man was repellent in every way. Murtagh grimaced.

Please… do not misunderstand me…I have every intention of surviving, but if I am to die at the hands of another, he had better be a handsome devil!

Of course! We have standards if nothing else!

Indeed!…but they cannot be better looking than us either

Do you ever stop and wonder if we ask for too much?

Never

The subject was closed. Their decision was made. They simply refused to die courtesy of this man.

"Who is asking?" Lia enquired, her tone polite, but her eyes bore into his.

"You are not at liberty to ask questions" he replied with a condescending look.

"Neither are you" Murtagh said, narrowing his eyes at the man.

"It is our duty to assess whoever wish to enter the Varden. We need to make sure you pose no threat"

"And our names will clarify that?" Lia asked sceptically.

A smile tugged at the corner of the bald man's mouth. It was horrible. There was nothing this man could do to alter his disgusting face. Everything about him looked unnatural. He stepped backwards and pointed a finger to the empty space before him.

"Knowing your names only aid the pleasantries. I will know your names whether you decide to tell me or not. Before we can let you pass…or live for that matter… you must endure a mental probe. If you would care to form an orderly line… The two of you and the girl if you please… Ella, wasn't it?"

He turned to look at her, eager for the interrogation to begin. Eragon's grip on her hand tightened. Ella's own threatened to crush his fingers. She tried to keep herself composed, but she was petrified. She did not want this sinister looking man inside her head. She had never had someone inside her head before. What would he make of what he saw when he witnessed her life of theft and most importantly her brutal killing? Would she be condemned to death once more? Despite her frozen features, she couldn't stop the tears from springing to her eyes. Too scared to blink, the pools of water clouded her vision, but she did not allow the tears to fall.

Eragon didn't need to have a mental connection with her to know what she was feeling. He couldn't let them enter her mind. He couldn't let harm come to her, not to any of them. All he had ever wanted was to keep them protected. For so long he had heard them speak of the special treatment he would have when he reached this point in his journey. He was the Rider. He would get his respect. He didn't feel much like the person his role demanded he should be, but right now, he needed to sound the part. Was he in a position to make demands? He was about to find out.

"That will not be necessary" he instructed the bald man in a stern tone.

"Really Rider. And why is that?"

"These three have travelled with me for a long time now. If they wished you or the Empire any harm, they would have led me astray or killed me whilst they had the chance. They have done nothing but protect me and put their lives on the line to keep me alive time and time again. They are trusted friends and allies. To question their intentions after coming so far is an insult both to them and to myself. You will let them pass"

"No"

The reply was instant. It was as though he hadn't listened to a word Eragon had said. He faced the Rider now and dared to move a step closer. He stopped a metre away, standing several heads taller than the rest of them. He surveyed Eragon through mocking eyes.

"Your words mean little to me Rider. The only reason that I do not subject you to the same treatment is because you are who you say you are and we are obliged to let you pass. They will succumb to the mind probe or we will imprison them, under suspicion of being in allegiance with the King"

Eragon's eyes moved unwillingly to his two protectors. He had done all he could for them. As if reading his thoughts, they slowly nodded at him, whether in thanks or defeat, he could not be sure. He felt the nausea creeping up on him. Ella was white as a sheet. He would not let go of her hand.

"Can we not reach some compromise? These are my friends; therefore they are my responsibility. Allow them inside. Allow them to stay beside me at all times. They will be my responsibility and I will be held accountable for all of their actions" Eragon asked in a voice that struggled to keep from a pleading tone.

"That is unacceptable. As you should know, a Rider will be divulged private information. You will not be able to keep your word. It matters not. They are bound to our laws, as you all were when you entered the mountain. Now…if you would be so kind as to release your hold on the girl…I should very much like to start with her"

Ella's hand made no move to let go of his. He made no attempt to let go of hers. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he heard Saphira pleading with him.

Little one…let go of her hand…

I cannot…I cannot let him know…

If you go against them and their rules now, how will you ever fulfil your destiny?

If my destiny involves subjecting my friends to torture, I am not sure that I want any part in it!

You are overreacting. Her crime will be of no concern to them

But what if it is?! Will they care for her reasons or judge her by the act alone?!

I do not know…

There must be a way to appease them and not put her at risk!

There may be a way…

How?

You and I… we could block him out…

Could we?

He may know magic, but you have something that he does not…

You…

Exactly! He will be no match for us

But he will know… he will know we are blocking him

Our actions will have consequences… whether good or bad…

I will accept them

Are you certain?

Yes

Then you have my support

With great reluctance, he used his other hand to prize Ella's fingers away from his own. Her eyes widened. He gave her a hard, determined look. He wanted to reassure her with his eyes. She must have seen something in them, for afterwards, her hand fell from his and she did not try to take it again. Leaving his side, she went to stand before the bald headed man.

"Will this hurt?"

It was all she could bring herself to ask. She avoided his eyes.

"Only if you try to resist" he replied with a smile.

Having no training in the art of mental defence, she could only stand there and wait. The bald headed man approached her and placed his abnormally large and cold hands on either side of her face. She winced under his touch. His smile spread.

"And now…we begin"

NOW! Eragon ordered Saphira

Together, as one, they got to her before he did. Her mind was like an open field. It welcomed anyone and anything. They had no time to discuss tactics and did the first thing that came to mind. They took the form of a thick, black cloak that covered every inch of her mind. Their determination made the task easier than they would have thought. Not having had time to think, they had done exceptionally well. Moments after they had shielded her, the bald man came. His approach was slow, which surprised them. He was equally surprised to see that her mind was defended so.

"I warned you little girl…"

"What?" Ella asked worriedly

"Drop your guard!"

"I do not know what you are talking about!"

"Then that is a shame because this is going to hurt"

Launching his presence at the shield, he felt it shudder and ripple from the force of his attack, but nothing happened. He hit it again and again. As he repeatedly continued to attack, his expression hardened, his teeth clenched together and he felt a bead of sweat beginning to form on his brow.

Ella simply stared back, utterly perplexed by what she was seeing. Was something supposed to be happening? With the effort etched in his face, should she not feel some form of pain? It looked painful, whatever it was that he was doing. She shot Eragon a furtive glance, to see his eyes and all his concentration fixed on her. Saphira was also staring at her with an intensity that made her feel extremely nervous.

The bald man caught the look in her eyes and abruptly stopped what he was doing. His face had returned to its normal, slightly bored expression. He turned to the Rider, cocking an eyebrow in interest.

"You dare interfere with our laws?" he challenged.

"I dare" Eragon said, sounding braver than he felt.

"I will give you a limited amount of time to dwell on your actions. I will leave her be, until after I have seen to your other friends. Then you make your decision. If you intercept any more of my examinations with your Rider powers, I will have her and anyone else thrown into a cell for questioning of a less pleasant nature. Am I making myself perfectly clear? It is your call Rider"

Dismissing her with a wave of his hand, she sprinted to Eragon's side and questioned him with her eyes. He could only shake his head sadly as he tried to think of another way to keep her mind safe. She took his hand once more and squeezed it gently in form of thanks. He had done whatever he could to save her from harm and in the end, he could only do what he could. Silently, she resigned herself to her fate.

Eragon's expression was torn. He needed to plan and yet he had to see how Murtagh and Lia fared against this monster. He could not help them the way that he had helped Ella. Well, he could have, but he knew that the act would not be appreciated. They could defend themselves. Or could they? Unable to form one single thought, he focused all his will and hope on his friends. Somehow, he knew that, as always, regardless of how hard he tried to succeed, they were his only hope. Ella, Eragon and Saphira watched with baited breath. Would their friends fall or would they come out fighting?

It was uncontrollable; a smile spread across Murtagh's face. Lia's only showed polite interest in what was about to happen. The bald man stepped before them.

"So… who would like to go first?"

"That would be me" Murtagh spoke eagerly as he took a step forward.

"You understand what I am about to do?"

"What you are about to try to do" Murtagh corrected him, his voice was smug.

"I am sorry…are you a Rider?"

"No"

"Do you posses any magical blood in you?"

"No"

"Then your mind will be like putty in my hands"

"We shall see"

"You seem extremely confident…"

"I am"

"Are you so eager to break our rules and be locked away?"

"Not particularly, but my mind is my own"

"Does your… friend…share your relentlessness?"

Lia nodded once in response. Pleased by their response, the bald man rolled up the sleeves of his robes and eagerly reached for Murtagh's face. Murtagh took a step back and drew his sword, resting the tip under the bald man's chin. The soldiers rushed forward, every spear pointed at him. The dwarf, who was hefting a large axe, calmly stepped in between them.

"Put that down stranger" he ordered in a low grumble.

"I do not want his hands on me" Murtagh insisted through gritted teeth.

"Very well" the bald man said, as he gently pushed the tip of the blade away from him, "I do not need contact…not for the likes of you" he added dryly.

Lowering his weapon slowly, he sheathed his blade. Lia hadn't moved at all. He cast her a glance and her lips twitched into a quick smile.

You are somewhat a little volatile today

Would you want him touching you?!

Indeed not! His arms would have ended in bloodied stumps if he had tried

And I would expect nothing less from you

The soldiers stepped back, as did the dwarf, leaving the three of them in a space to themselves.

Are you ready? Lia asked calmly

For this dog? Any time, any place, anywhere…

The let us put him in his rightful place

At our feet

Murtagh's defences were already raised. They were permanently raised. All he had to do was wait for Lia's barriers to join his. His own was a simple stone wall, which spread as high and wide as the eye could see. From the confines of his safe place, he saw Lia appear beside him. This was certainly different. He normally sensed her physical appearance, making him aware of her facial expressions and such. Not this time. At that very moment, she was stood clearly beside him, inside his head. It was very comforting. She blinked up at the wall and raised a teasing brow.

A wall…

Are you disrespecting my defence?!

Not at all…I just expected something a little more…interesting?

It has served me well he stated brusquely

I do not doubt that it has she said soothingly

Well what is so incredible about your defence?!

Mine has a little more… style?

Show me

You may want to step back…

The ground began to shake and the tip of the mountain started to push its way up from the ground. It hovered there for a brief second, only the tip protruding, like a small creature unsure of its surroundings, testing the surface, just to be cautious. Then it exploded from the ground. They both fell backwards, landing heavily and scrambling further back as Lia's gargantuan defence protecting the interior of Murtagh's own. The mountain rose so high that they were thrown into its shadow almost instantly. The rumbling of the seemingly ever-growing mountain range stopped only when it had reached its full height. They were thrown into blind darkness once more. Their defences were ready. All this had happened in the space of a few seconds. Murtagh paused before speaking.

Bloody hell Lia…

I know… it could be considered a little… much?

Now… now I just feel embarrassed!

Lia shrugged modestly and held out her hand. He took it and immediately felt the power pass between them. It didn't seem to matter that the contact wasn't physically real. Here, it felt as real as it could. Maybe that was all that mattered? They were ready and waiting for the first attack of the bald headed man.

Saphira swung he head around so that her scaly face almost touched Eragon's cheek.

This should be interesting…

They both look so far away…

The both of them stood, staring intently at the bald man, but their eyes were unseeing. He tried to catch the rising and falling of their chests as they breathed, the motion was there but it was barely perceptible. They were in some form of trance, their eyes glazed over. Wherever they were, they were not here anymore. They were somewhere else, getting ready to fight back, no doubt. His nervousness subsided and a grim smile crossed his lips. Saphira noticed the change.

Why are you smiling?

I think someone is about to get a surprise

Ella's eyes wondered from Murtagh and Lia and finally to Eragon. All three faces showed nothing but genuine confidence. Despite her own worry, she could not help but ease her grip on Eragon's hand. They never had reason to doubt their companions' capability to succeed at their tasks at hand. Why should their belief in them dwindle now? Ella too found herself smiling. As if she had somehow heard Saphira's words, she too thought that whatever happened next would indeed be…interesting.

Raising his hands palm upward, the bald man closed his eyes. He didn't have to, but he felt that on this occasion, a little extra surge of power would be appropriate. He did not like this boy, or the girl for that matter. He didn't like being confronted in such a way. Maybe the Rider held them in high regard, but here inside the mountain, they were vermin. They had no rights, no say, not until he deemed otherwise. He would make an example of them. He would humble them. They would all see exactly how powerful and painful the process could be. He gathered up his energy and prepared to break the young man's mind before him.

Lia was the first to feel it. The sound was as faint as the whisper of an arrow as it sailed through the air, but it made her senses tingle. Murtagh felt it a second later and grinned.

Let us see what he is made of…

The power of the attack was immense. The mountain shook, sending a cloud of debris sailing to the ground. They didn't see it falling; they only felt it when it showered down upon them. Murtagh shook his head to rid it from his hair. Lia spluttered and coughed a little. Other than that, they did not seem worried in the least.

Hmmm… Lia muttered, deep in thought

Was that it? Murtagh asked casually

No… I do not think so… Well that was not so impr-

The second attack caught them off guard and the ground shook so hard that they had to fight to stay standing. The mountain shook even more violently than before, but it still held firm. Murtagh's wall on the other hand had suffered a casualty. He let out a low growl and uttered an oath. He could feel Lia's questioning look, despite the dark. He muttered in embarrassment.

My wall…

What about it?

He put a damn crack in it

How big is it?

Does it matter?!

Of course it does… now… how much damage did he do?

It is small… but it is at a weak point. I didn't even know my wall had a week point?! This bastard is a clever one…Gah!

All right. We gave him a chance to make his presence felt and knock politely…

And now?

Now we politely refuse

How politely did you have in mind?

I was thinking of slamming the door in his face…metaphorically speaking of course

And physically speaking?

Have you ever thrown a mountain before?

No. Have you?

Never

I see fun times ahead

We wait for him to attack again

Why don't we make our move right now? We have an opening to attack?

We should let him think he has the upper hand. We wait for him to get very close and then, we beat him back for good

That sounds humiliating. I like it

I thought you might…just one more thing

What?

Show me your wall…

Unable to see it, he projected what he saw in his mind to her. Through him, she saw the crack and concentrated on it. The crack sealed.

Better?

Do I want to know how you did that? He asked uncertainly

I do not even know how I did that. It just made sense. If we are to hurl our defences at him they should be complete

I am not arguing with you

Ssssssh!

Is it -?

He is coming

Ready?

Ready

His approach was no longer a whisper. Its sound was as subtle as a stampeding herd of cattle. He was being impatient, his style was no longer his concern. Angry, desperate and violently persistent, he was determined to break through the defence. Taking the equivalent of a running start, he begun his attack from much further back, racing forward with his power, building its momentum and with each millisecond that passed, it grew closer and stronger.

Just as the bald man had charged his power, Murtagh and Lia began to draw on theirs. It was a curious and satisfying feeling, being aware of ones energy within and gathering it all together at a single point. They began to harness it in, ready to unleash it at will. The power was strong. It was their individual power and what was produced when combined. Building it up was the easy part, holding it in was the real challenge. Lia kept her half under complete control, unlike Murtagh, who found it beyond difficult. He could feel the attack getting closer. It made him anxious and even more willing to let go.

Now? He asked eagerly

No…

It was twenty seconds away.

Now? He pleaded

Wait for it…

Ten seconds away.

Lia! He yelled frantically

Wait!

Five seconds away.

NOW! She roared

The both of them let go. It was as easy as that. Their power seemed to take on the shape of an illuminated tidal wave. The only difference was the frightening speed that it smashed against the mountain, sending it, along with the wall, hurtling into their foe. From the light of their power and the mountain being pushed completely out of their line of sight, they stood in the deserted land that occupied the outskirts of Murtagh's mind. Murtagh tried to sense any enemy presence. It was gone. Able to see Lia for the first time in what felt like too long, he grinned triumphantly.

That was amazing!

It is not over yet

We should probably get back

Yes. You do not want him to know that I played a part in this

It would make me look good, wouldn't it?

Deceptively so

I could have held him off Murtagh grumbled a little

Of course you could have… mister holey wall

Shut up! He retorted

He swung a clumsy fist at her, which she ducked under with ease.

Get out of my head wench! He said with mock anger

With pleasure

She beamed, with a serene smile, her image shimmered and then she was gone. But of course, as always, her connection remained.

Eragon studied their faces with care. Murtagh and Lia's expressions remained serious and detached. The bald man's however, swiftly began to undergo a few changes. His lips were now in a thin line, pressed so hard together that they were barely visible. His closed eyes were now creased at the corners and several, trailing beads of sweat ran down his temples. His once opened palms were now two clenched fists. And the final, most shocking sign, was a single drop of blood that had seeped from the bald man's nostril. It trailed across his lips, down the length of his chin and then dripped to the floor.

The moment his blood stained the ground, the bald man stood upright. His face showed no sign of his previous struggle. He licked the blood from his lips and though his expression was mildly curious, Eragon thought he could see anger burning behind the man's eyes.

Lia was the first to return to her body and not a second too soon. The bald headed man threw her a suspicious look to which she replied with a cold stare. Murtagh's lids fluttered once, he glanced around himself to regain his bearings and then fixed his eyes upon his enemy with a smirk on his face.

Saphira inched her head back from Eragon's. She radiated smugness. Eragon reached out and patted the side of her neck.

I gave them that ability she said; sounding pleased with her self

And they are eternally grateful I am sure

Look at the hideous man! He cannot think of a word to say. Can you feel his embarrassment? I can practically taste it in the air!

What will happen now?

I do not know… but I can tell you this…we have a cornered wild animal on our hands and that is never a good thing

Were all our efforts in vain? Was it wrong for us to resist? Have we made matters worse?

Possibly, but Eragon, it is never wrong to defend that which matters to you the most

I would never want him inside my mind

Oh you never need to worry about that she reassured him, throwing a menacing look at the bald man.

Lia, wanting to test the result of what had just happened, took a step forward to stand beside Murtagh.

"My turn?" She asked innocently enough

She already knew what the answer would be. He gave her an appraising look and pretended to ponder on whether it was worth it.

We gave him a nosebleed!

She heard Murtagh chuckle, sounding positively delighted by the fact.

Unfortunately, I doubt that we shall get a chance to give him anything more

As the bald man fixed a thoughtful expression on his face, his insides writhed with humiliation. Who was this young man that had such power and was no Rider? Should he kill him? Find some way to be rid of him? Or should he study him? Or should he convince him to join them? No. The young man was an enemy, he would not be convinced and what of the girl? There was something about her that suggested something more. Did she have similar power? Was that why she had encouraged him to test her? There was much to think about and being under constant scrutiny of the Rider was becoming annoying. He needed to make a decision. He was still the authority here. The Rider did not have to know that he had failed at his task. He could still taste his own blood, reminding him of his defeat. Adamant to get to the bottom of whatever was going on, he calmly snapped his fingers. The soldiers appeared at his side, awaiting their orders. He waved towards the young man and woman.

"Seize them" he ordered calmly

Murtagh and Lia drew their weapons.

"Wherever you plan to take us, we are more than happy to walk alone" Murtagh growled.

"We need no physical escort. I can assure you, we can be very well behaved" Lia added in a more reasonable, yet still angry tone.

To emphasise the point, she slowly lowered and sheathed her weapon. Murtagh, all be it grudgingly, mimicked her actions.

What the hell are we doing? He demanded, infuriated

Buying us and the Rider some time

Really?! Because it looks a lot like we are getting dragged to a cell?!

Not dragged…merely guided

Lia?!?!

Yes?

Her voice was calm.

I… I hope you know what we're doing, because I honestly don't have a bloody clue anymore!

Do not worry, neither do I

Well that's comforting

Get ready…

What for now? He complained

They are about to ask for our weapons

They are taking nothing!

Yes they are and we will hand them over without argument

Have you lost your mind?!

Murtagh… between us…you and I have a much more valuable weapon… a little more faith if you please

Her questioning his dependence on his sword made him stiffen.

If there is one thing I have faith in, it is us

He dropped his sword and then removed his hunting knife and threw it to the floor. Lia unsheathed both of her swords, her dagger and knife and gently lay them at her feet. Stepping back, they allowed for their weapons to be taken away. The bald man seemed taken aback by their efficiency and co-operation. Murtagh saw something in his face that made him feel more comfortable with this temporary surrender.

Are you seeing what I am?

Yes…

We are actually making him more nervous!

It does not hurt to make him think we have more to us than meets the eye

He feels threatened

And so he should

What are the chances that he will just kill us faster?

I doubt it. A man such as him is fuelled by greed. He will want to study us first…

I do not like the sound of that

Neither do I, but it buys us time to plan

And I am sure the time we have just gained in a cell will be the perfect venue to concoct one…You wouldn't happen to have any plans forming as we speak, any strokes of genius that you are waiting to dazzle me with?

I am good… I am not that good - she replied with a roll of her eyes, before adding the one word… Patience!

The soldiers collected the weapons and closed in on the two, but left a safe distance around them. The bald man turned to the Rider and then he spoke to the dwarf.

"Escort the girl. She goes with the others"

Eragon's face paled as Ella's hand slipped away from his. She gave him a confident nod and went to stand beside the dwarf, who watched her carefully, but not cruelly. She told herself that for the moment, she had nothing to worry about. She was going to be taken to a holding place with Lia and Murtagh. The prospect of being in their company once more fought back her need to scream. Even if they could not keep her safe, she would at least feel safe. Lia met her eyes briefly and winked at her reassuringly. The one, small movement almost brought tears to her eyes. Their lives were at risk and her friend still made an effort to comfort her. She smiled back at her in attempt to match their seeming ease. Murtagh saw the exchange and grinned. The bald headed man turned on his heel abruptly, took a few steps and then froze. When he turned, he fixed the Rider with an unbelievable stare.

"My associates inform me that there are two horses swimming at the base of the waterfall, half drowned, but continually attempting to swim through. Do you know anything about this?"

Eragon's eyes widened in surprise and panic.

"Snowfire? Tornac?"

"How are they behaving in such a manner?" the bald man demanded.

"I told them to follow us," Eragon said, with no trace of the lie in his voice.

"Well your horses are drawing attention to our hideout" the bald man hissed, "Whatever spell you cast on them, end it now or they will be shot down!"

"Do not shoot them!"

"They are half drowned Rider. To shoot them would be a more merciful death that that which they inflict upon themselves"

"I will end my hold on them…"

He closed his eyes and pretended to undo the spell. Whilst he feigned this act, he hoped that Lia was able to undo what she had done. It could only have been her.

Tornac! Murtagh cried out in a pained voice

Lia was already reaching out to the horses. She visualised them thrashing in the water and when she saw them clearly enough; she whispered the words that would undo the spell. Released, the horses immediately began to head for land.

They are safe…

Murtagh sighed in relief.

As Eragon had no idea when the task would be complete, he kept his head down and waited for some sign that it was done. After a few seconds, the bald man spoke.

"Very good… you have excellent range Rider"

"I was trained well"

"It certainly appears that way…now…we leave this place"

Then it hit him. How could he have been so forgetful?! How could he have been so inconsiderate?! How hadn't even Saphira remembered her burden? They had all completely and utterly forgotten about the elf!

"We have an injured member of our party! Before we go, you must see to her!" Eragon demanded.

At his words, Saphira lowered herself to the ground and all eyes landed on the female form strapped to her back. Their eyes flashed with recognition.

"Arya!" the dwarf gasped.

"What happened to her? How did you find her?!" the bald man shouted, as he advanced on the Rider.

Saphira growled and he stopped in his tracks.

"I saw her in a dream. She was being held in Gil' Ead by a red haired man. She has never woken"

"Durza. The Shade?" the dwarf asked with distaste.

"Yes" Murtagh replied in Eragon's stead.

"She looks like she has been poisoned. We must take her to the healers" the dwarf continued to mutter as he approached Saphira's side.

"Will she live?" Eragon asked.

"Only if we can get her off this bloody beast" the dwarf panted, as he struggled to unfasten the elf. Saphira snarled at his words and he glared back at her defiantly; a reaction she was unused to. Wordlessly, Eragon and Ella helped lower her to the ground. The bald headed man examined the guard surrounding Murtagh and Lia.

"Two of you take Arya to the healers and be quick! We have wasted enough time already!" he barked.

They picked her up and hurried away, down the furthest tunnel and out of sight.

"How did you escape the Shade?"

"We killed it" Eragon answered with confidence.

"Actually… we did no such thing," Murtagh said regretfully.

All eyes swung to him, including Lia's. Her voice boomed in the back of his head.

And you were going to tell me this information when?!?

A lot has happened since then. It slipped my mind

She inwardly cursed at him, but like the rest of them, waited for him to speak aloud.

"He took an arrow to the head" he stated, as if that explained everything.

The bald headed man, dwarf and remaining soldiers nodded gravely. Eragon, Ella and Lia still stared at him expectantly.

"You cannot kill a Shade unless you pierce him through the heart" he explained for their benefit.

"He will already be regenerating and will rejoin Galbatorix soon, that is if he has not already" the bald man muttered angrily.

No one said a word. There was nothing more to say. The bald man began to stride away, the dwarf followed with Ella by his side, followed by Murtagh and Lia at spear-point by the remaining soldiers and at the rear of the line were Eragon and Saphira. Unlike the other tunnels, this one was lit by warm and gentle red lighting. Although it was lit, they could see no end to it. They marched in silence, on and on and on. Two hours must have passed, when suddenly there was an unmistakable turn. The bald man stopped.

"This is where we part ways. Do you have any last words for your friends Rider? Can you convince them to be more co-operative?"

"It is not my place to give them orders"

"Then bid them farewell, for this is where they stay until their intentions have been discerned"

Eragon looked at each of them in turn and his expression hardened.

"You will let me see them? You will let me appeal against this unnecessary treatment?" he argued angrily.

"The treatment is necessary until I say otherwise and as far as an appeal is concerned, the only person who has higher authority than I is Ajihad, our leader"

"Take me to him!" Eragon demanded.

Lia heard Murtagh's laugh, despite his stony face.

Oh my! Listen to him making demands! He is starting to enjoy this a little too much

Well at least he is starting to sound the part

He is better at this than I would have thought

Maybe his persistence will pay?

Oh it will…

His mood darkened suddenly.

Ajihad… she whispered, understanding his change in tone and mood

"In time Rider. He is in a meeting at present. But we will show you to a suitable room and give you the opportunity to… freshen up" he added with a pointed sniff of the air, "You must be presentable and at least look the part to impress our leader"

Eragon said nothing, but seethed on the inside at the insulting words. He chose to ignore them and stood at his full height, as it was he was still depressingly shorter than the man he was attempting to belittle. He faced his friends.

"I will get you out of here" he stated, before marching onward down the tunnel.

The bald man motioned a mocking hand to his side, bidding Saphira to go before him. She snorted a puff of smoke in his face that had him burst into a coughing fit, before padding after her Rider. The bald man hurried after them, muttering under his breath all the way.

The dwarf watched all of this with a smirk that was not unnoticed by the others. He swiftly adjusted his expression to a more serious one as he faced the three prisoners.

"Lead them to the cells, but do not harm them. They are not prisoners yet. Not until they have been proven to be our enemy. Treat them with respect. Put them in the cell with the more… comfortable arrangement"

The three of them stared at the dwarf curiously. He read the wariness in their eyes and raised a bushy brow.

"Unless of course you want to be thrown into our deepest, darkest dungeons?"

They shook their heads slightly. He nodded and then gestured the soldiers to lead them away.

"I will have someone come with food" he called out from behind.

His footsteps echoed noisily, as he scurried to catch up with Eragon, Saphira and the bald headed man.

Walking along this new tunnel, the space was wide enough for them to walk three abreast. Murtagh and Lia walked either side of Ella. They chose not to think about the spears pointed at their backs.

We could probably take them Murtagh suggested lightly

Yes…but at what cost? Lia replied, with a meaningful glance at Ella

From behind, they almost looked comical. Their arrangement went from the tallest person to the left, to the shortest on the right. It seemed illogical that they were protecting the girl in the centre, but the way they carried themselves suggested nothing less. Murtagh eyed Ella contemptuously for the briefest moment and then sighed inwardly. They were always looking out for someone. Some things really did never change.

"To your right" a voice ordered them.

Stopping, they saw the empty cell and headed inside. Lia went first, followed by Ella and then Murtagh. The door was shut and locked behind them.

"We are at the end of the hall. It would be in your best interest not to try anything stupid" another voice stated, before the footsteps of the soldiers trudged away.

The cell was plain. Four stone walls, a medium-sized, uncomfortable looking cot against the far corner and an empty bucket. The only light came from a small, square, barred window in their door. Murtagh pressed his face to it and yelled.

"IT IS VERY HOSPITABLE, BUT WE COULD DO WITH SOME WATER IF YOU PLEASE!"

Someone grumbled in response, but it sounded as if his request was being carried out. Although Lia's image wasn't clear, he could just about make out her arched brows.

"What was that?" she asked, feigning annoyance, but unable to hide her amusement.

He shrugged and grinned.

"The dwarf said that we were to be treated with respect. My request was not unreasonable"

"Did you want to ask for fresh linen? Maybe a hot bath? A candle perhaps?" she asked in a joking manner.

His face lit up at her last suggestion.

"AND A CANDLE PLEASE GOOD SIR!" he yelled once more.

There was another groan, followed by a cluttering noise as footsteps approached.

"Step away from the door" the voice commended.

Lia and Ella were already standing by the back wall. Murtagh joined them and they watched as the door opened and a lit candle, pitcher of water and a bowl laden with three hard looking bread rolls and a generous hunk of cheese were placed on the floor. The door was shut and bolted once more, but the room was now dimly lit. The atmosphere was almost a cosy one.

"A feast fit for Kings" Murtagh muttered wryly, as he threw a roll to each of the ladies and took one for himself.

Pulling the pitcher and candle into the centre of the cell, they sat around the small light and ate in silence. It was only when Ella's roll fell from her hand, that they noticed she had turned a shade of blue. Her eyelids began to flutter and she swayed to her side.

Diving across, Lia caught her before her head hit the stone floor. She lowered her to the ground and assessed what she was seeing. The girl was soaked to the bone. In the cold tunnels, she hadn't dried in the slightest since emerging from the water. She also appeared to be in some form of shock. The combination was potentially lethal. Running to the door, Lia bellowed as loud as she could.

"HELP! HELP!"

A man came scurrying down the hall. He eyed her suspiciously.

"What is wrong?"

"Ella! She is sick! You must see to her!"

"How do I know this is not some ruse? We are under orders to keep you here. You cannot move"

"Damn it man! She could die?! Do you want her blood on your hands?!"

"I am not authorised to make any decisions"

"Could you not at least give her a towel?! A dry robe to change into?! Is there no fire that she could warm herself by?!"

The man's eyes wandered as he thought. His expression was grim and he shook his head.

"I cannot let her go…but I think I can meet your requirements"

Shrugging out of his long cloak, he passed it to her through the gap in the bars.

"I will return" he promised and then he was gone.

Lia stared at the cloak in her hands, before throwing it to Murtagh, who caught it mid air.

"Hold that and turn around" she ordered

"She will need more than a cloak to save her" Murtagh stated solemnly, as he turned.

Ella's eyes were closed and she was suffering convulsions. Lia dropped to her knees and spoke encouraging words in the calmest, kindest voice that she could manage given her stress.

"Ella… Can you hear me? Ella… you are fine. Everything is fine. You are with us and we will take care of you, but I need you to help me. Can you lift your arms over your head?"

Ella's arms were clamped tightly around her chest; her teeth gritted together and her eyes squeezed shut, as wave after wave of shock and shivers seared through her entire body. She could barely hear a word for the roaring in her ears. She tightened herself into a ball to lessen the pain. She was no longer able to concentrate on anything else. She was dimly aware that someone had called her name, but she couldn't afford to listen.

Lia reached for Ella's arms and tried to move them. They refused to budge. Lia cursed loudly.

"Murtagh! Help me get her out of these bloody clothes! She has gone into shock! I cannot do this alone!"

Murtagh dropped the cloak and knelt by Ella's other side. He rolled her onto her back. Lia straightened out her legs and sat on them to hold her still. Murtagh, who she had to admit was the strongest of them, reached for her arms and pulled.

"She's stronger than she looks" he commented.

Lia's brow puckered.

"Not that strong" he assured her, as he prized her arms away from her chest and pulled them up, holding them over her head.

Lia moved forward and grabbed the bottom of Ella's shirt and pulled it up. Releasing his hold on her arms, one at a time, Lia was able to remove the upper half of her clothing.

Ella was losing her battle against herself. Everything was crushing down on her: the cold, being in a cell once more and the pain. She wanted to fight. Her body didn't. With each pathetically small beat of her heart, she slipped into a gradual, welcoming abyss.

Murtagh stiffened when he felt her go limp in his hold and uttered an urgent profanity. Lia's face blanched and she quickly removed Ella's trousers. Instinctively, the two of them swapped places. Lia took Ella's top half and Murtagh took the bottom. Without discussion, they began to rub, knead and massage her flesh in order to stimulate her circulation. Lia briefly stopped to rest two fingers against the side of Ella's neck. Muragh paused and waited for further instruction. She shook her head angrily and stared down at her friend in desperation.

"Her pulse is terribly weak…the beats are so few and far apart… I can barely tell that she is breathing…If they do not come soon… she –"

"She will not die. We will not let her," he said as he began to rub at her limbs more vigorously than before.

Lia too continued more desperately than before. She had promised her that they would take care of her and damn it, even if it took the two of them doing this all night long, they would save her.

A few minutes passed and then they heard three arguing voices marching down the hall. They were too preoccupied to pay attention to what the voices said. Only when the door swung open did they stop what they were doing.

Murtagh grabbed for the cloak and threw it over their undressed colleague. Lia stayed crouched by her side. Murtagh stood, shielding them from view and glaring at the men.

Two stepped inside. One carried some metallic grate. The other carried an armful of small logs. The one that stood at the door threw a bundle to Murtagh. Examining it, he identified it as a clean, dry and simple robe. He dipped his head in thanks, but his expression remained cautious as he watched the two men inside their cell setting up what was obviously some temporary fireplace. The man who had carried the logs dropped them and joined his colleague blocking the door.

"We will get in trouble for this!" he warned the man who was lighting the fire.

"They will find the girl very difficult to question if she is dead!" the man snapped back, as he produced a flint and tinder.

In the back of his mind, Murtagh felt Lia's gut wrench instinctively as she watched a fire being lit before her by someone other than herself. The fire took a few minutes to build up to an impressive state. When the man was satisfied, he rose, nodded at them once and left with the two other men without a further word.

When the door was locked once more, Lia pulled the cloak off Ella's still form and Murtagh helped move her beside the fire. They lay her on her side and rolled up the cloak into a makeshift pillow for her head. For now, they could only let the fire do its work. Clothing would only stop the warmth from reaching her skin.

Moving away from her to the farthest side of the room, they sat leaning against the wall. The cell was already much warmer. With this new source of light, they could see every inch of their confinement. They paid it no attention. Their eyes were fixed to the floor, trying not to think about whether their help had arrived too late.

Lia leaned further back against the wall and promptly jerked forward with a hiss of pain.

What is wrong? Murtagh asked, concerned

Nothing

She tried to sound like she meant it.

Turn around he ordered

Really, it is not important Will you just do as you are told for once?!

She grumbled slightly as she shuffled away from the wall and turned to sit hugging her knees, with her back facing him.

Bloody hell…

It is nothing she insisted

Yes it is. You are hurt

We are all hurt, in case you hadn't noticed

I for one do not look like a dragon tried to rake its claws through my back

He reached out a tentative finger and touched a strip of her bloodied tunic. She winced and jerked forward once more. He glared at the back of her head and decided to act without her permission. He raised the back of her tunic, until it was rolled up above her shoulders. Her back and the wounds were exposed. Gently, he rested his hands either side of the gashes.

Your hands are freezing! She complained

Stop whining! He chided her

Moving his hands along her skin, he could feel where her flesh swollen dramatically around the edges of each tear in her skin.

Do not move

He left her to fetch the pitcher of water. When he returned behind her, he delicately placed a hand on her shoulder to steady her.

Hold still. I need to clean the wound…if only a little…

She braced herself. He let the water trickle down her back and gently wash away the traces of dirt from the cuts. She hissed a little from both the pain and the cold. When he was satisfied that he had done all that he could, he placed the jug on the floor and sat, stretching his legs out on either side of her. He went to pull her tunic back down, but his hands stayed on her shoulders. Dipping his head, he brushed his lips against her back and kissed a section that was warm, wet and unscathed. Her shiver then had nothing to do with the cold. He grinned and reached up to remove her tunic completely.

She grabbed his hands and wrapped them around her middle. Easing her tunic back down, she carefully leaned back, into his embrace. He lowered his head to mutter sarcastically into her ear.

"Let me guess… tomorrow?"

"It always seems another day away…" she replied with a bitter laugh.

Murtagh cast Ella a hesitant glance and continued to speak inside her mind.

She is out cold! It will be hours before she wakes! He argued

No she replied

So what if she wakes?! She may learn something useful!

He laughed, hoping that his persuasion skills were better than he thought.

No she stated in a final tone

The one word was drowned in regret.

Ugh… This is so frustrating! He moaned

It is nice to know that you are more worried about a last chance to sleep with a woman than your survival

I am a man of principle

He chuckled and rested his chin on top of her head. She scowled up at him.

Do not speak that way! There is always hope, even if it only a fool's hope

I suppose it would be hard to find two bigger fools

He sighed and pulled her tighter to him when he felt her smile. She reached up a hand and touched his face. He kissed it and she patted his cheek affectionately.

You humour me too much she pointed out, unimpressed

It is true. What would you have me say? I will agree that there is always hope. But the truth is, we are now living on borrowed time. Eragon… helpful as he intended to be…brings us closer to our end. Once Ajihad sees me, our fate is sealed

Do you ever suspect that our fate was sealed from the moment we met?

All the time…

I have no regrets

Neither do I

Lia saw the thought and smirk before he asked. The twitch of his fingers about to move made his intentions clear. She rolled her eyes and clamped her hands firmly on top of his. He dropped his head to her shoulder and buried his face against her neck; hiding the disappointment that was so intense, it was almost tangible.

No

Her voice was firm, but not unkind.

You mean to tell me that all I just said did nothing to make you change your mind?!

He wailed in her head.

Absolutely nothing!

She smirked.

You are a cold, heartless bitch, you know that?

To my very core

The fact was stated proudly, before she continued on a more serious note.

You may have buried us already, but I am hanging on until I now it is too late and you will just have to keep your hands under control until then!

Ugh!

He sulked. She grinned. He said no more.

Ella could feel again. It had been dark for a long time. Now it was warm. The pain was gone, the shaking had stopped and all that she was left with now was the weariness. She could feel a fine sheen of sweat across her body. She felt oddly free, but too tired to open her eyes to see why. Movement was an off-putting thought, but it had to be done. It was heating up fast and she wanted to turn away from the heat, still be near it, but with her back to it instead. With a great effort, she rolled onto her other side. Why did the floor feel so distinct against her skin? It didn't matter; she was too tired to care. She suddenly remembered that she wasn't meant to be alone. Struggling against her determined lids, she opened them just enough to look ahead. Lying down, her view was wrong. The floor looked like a wall and sat beside it were Murtagh and Lia, who stared back at her, faces flooded with relief. Her brows knitted together, an expression that came naturally with no seeming effort involved at all. Opening her lips, her voice came out as a dry croak. It was weak, but it was filled with curiosity and humour.

"M – Murtagh… w- why can I see your arse?"

His relieved expression dropped and his lips tightened. He opened his mouth to make a retort, but Lia elbowed him in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. Ella's lips curved into the smallest of smiles and she drifted into sleep. Before she lost all awareness she felt someone place a cloak over her.

"Thank you" she muttered gratefully. Then she was asleep.

Self consciously, Murtagh sat with his rear to the nearest wall by the fire. He removed his tunic to benefit from the warmth. After Lia had covered Ella, she lay out the wet clothes neatly by the fire, kissed Ella once on the brow and sat herself beside Murtagh, off whom she felt a twinge of jealousy.

You look tired he commented

I am exhausted she replied honestly

She rested her head against his arm and closed her eyes. Her back touched the wall by accident. She was quick to hide her wince, but Murtagh felt it anyway.

This is a bad position for your back. You should lie down

She did not argue with him and bent to lower herself to the ground. Her tunic moved against her skin and she grimaced. He frowned at her.

It needs to air. Wearing that filthy thing will not make it get better. Take it off

He was right. Stretching her arms up high, he carefully pulled her tunic off, avoiding any contact to the wound. He threw the garment across the room. She gathered her hair over her shoulder, across her chest and then curled up into a ball beside him, with her back facing the fire. Muttering to himself, Murtagh pulled her shoulders off the ground, until her head was rested more comfortably on his lap. He picked up the robe that the men had left them and draped it across her front and shoulders, so that only her back was exposed. She shuffled closer to him until her forehead touched the warm, hard muscle of his stomach. He tucked the robe around her and she grinned.

I feel like a child being mothered

Was your mother this attractive?

No. She was more attractive. But you will do

Why thank you

This is all rather…gentlemanly?

Well… heaven forbid Ella should wake, see you half naked and assume that we had been misbehaving he stated sourly

Heaven forbid she agreed with a light kiss to his stomach

He started to stroke her hair. The comforting motion and the warmth of the flames and his body began to send her drifting.

Will you not sleep? She asked sleepily

Not yet…

Are you not weary?

More than you could know…

But I do know. I can feel it

It was a figure of speech Lia…

Do not stay awake for too long. You will need your strength for tomorrow. We need to be ready

Sleep my lady

It was all he could bring himself to reply.

We will think of something my good sir…we always do…

Smiling weakly at her ever present confidence, he kissed the top of her head.

Goodnight Lia

Goodnight

She was asleep before she knew it. Murtagh watched her sleep, until he could no longer keep his own lids from slipping shut. Soon, all three were fast asleep on the floor. The cot remained untouched.

Eragon had only marched ahead of everyone for a limited time. He eventually had to put his pride aside and admit to that he didn't have a clue where he was headed, so he slowed his pace and the bald headed brute overtook him without comment. The dwarf who had temporarily stayed behind on account of taking care of Murtagh, Lia and Ella had been quick to catch up with them. Even now, his short legs matched the long strides of the bald man with ease. Eragon thanked his months of travelling on foot. Without all the exercise, he would have lagged behind and panted like a dog and it would not have shone a good light on him as their future saviour. As it was, even with all his training, he could feel a stitch forming in his side. The mountain was huge! He thought of the people living within and having to make this journey on a daily basis. The thought alone made him weary. Did this tunnel ever come above ground? When would he next see the sky?

The bald man stopped, cocking his head to the side, as if he had heard something interesting and then folded his arms and turned. He was perfectly still, but a breeze was touching his robes. It was a hopeful sight. The dwarf stared up at the man with a frown. When he spoke, his tone was not one respect. Eragon doubted that the two of them worked together unless absolutely necessary.

"Well?!" the dwarf demanded.

The bald man gave him an icy look, clearly unappreciative of the use of this tone in front of others. His answer was directed to Eragon.

"You will not be seeing Ajihad tonight. There is a war coming and we are holding a meeting. He will meet with you tomorrow afternoon. He wishes me to attend the meeting on behalf of my people and to discuss what is to be done with you. I have been asked to pass on the knowledge that Arya is fully healed, but currently resting. Apparently she wishes to speak with you in the morning. Until such time that you are called for, you are to stay inside your accommodation. Orik here shall show you where it lies and will send someone to wake you in the morning. You should find the room fully equipped to meet both yours and Saphira's needs. Until tomorrow Rider, I bid you farewell"

The bald man gave Orik a sour look, before marching ahead of them around a bend in the tunnel. Then he was gone. Orik started walking. Eragon and Saphira followed eagerly to see what lay around the corner. When they turned the bend, they felt a cool, crisp wind blowing towards them and they could see the opening. Slowly, they stepped out into the night air. They gazed up at the sky and smiled; it was good to be back in the open. The dwarf did not seem to care one way or the other.

They were standing in the tunnel entrance looking out on a large clearing where many small houses had been built. It was like a small, secret village. There were a few lamps lit and some smoke rising from the chimneys, but all the homes were shut and dark. Eragon was confused. He looked down at Orik.

"How long were we inside the mountain?"

"Half a day at the least. The hour is late"

"You all live here?"

"The humans live here in the village. The dwarves and folk of higher importance live in Farthen Dur"

The dwarf gestured his head up ahead. Eragon followed his eyes and could only make out the face of the mountain. It was too dark to make anything out. Orik sighed.

"You cannot appreciate its beauty in the dark. Wait until the morning. I shall wake you and give you a brief tour. I sincerely doubt that you shall have time for anything else"

"Where do we stay?"

"Up there"

Orik pointed a short, thick, stumpy finger up high, somewhere that looked near the top of the mountain.

"All the way up there?" he asked incredulously

"You have a dragon, do you not?" the dwarf asked, as if he could not see the problem.

"Yes I do… but how will anyone be able to reach me otherwise?"

"You shall see" Orik chuckled.

His laugh was like a deep rumble; there was something pleasant about it and Eragon found that he was warming to the stranger.

"Go now Rider. The people are not ready to meet you, not yet. Rest well. I shall come fetch you in the morning"

"Thank you"

"Sleep well Rider and dragon"

"Saphira, if you please" Eragon asked as politely as he could, whilst Saphira hissed in a less polite manner.

"Saphira" the dwarf corrected with a small bow. The move was not done derisively, so Saphira did not take offence from the action.

Climbing onto Saphira's back for the first time in a long time, they felt as one. She leapt into the air and Eragon savoured the wind that whipped against his face. How he missed this! The flight was not long enough. Saphira was quick to find the outcrop that protruded from the cave that they were meant to find.

Landing softly, Eragon slipped from her saddle and crept forward, not knowing what to expect. The cave was obviously for Saphira and as he moved further, the back of the cave twisted around a bend, protecting the interior from the elements and they were presented with a large room. The room was simple and yet beautiful at the same time. A bed lay in the corner. It looked very comfortable. There was a fireplace that was already lit and a large, steaming barrel filled with hot water. There was a towel and some clean clothes. There was also a tray with food for him and a curious, large bundle that lay against the wall.

Saphira's eyes brightened and she hurtled past him towards it. She disposed of the cloth, ripping it to shreds with her teeth and wolfed down whatever had been on the inside. When she turned to look at him, her muzzle was tinted with blood.

I changed my mind…these Varden folk certainly know how to please a dragon

He smiled at her sudden change in mood and then shuddered. He had not realised how cold he was. He pulled off his tunic and sat himself by the fire. Saphira licked her lips and lay herself behind him. He leaned backwards and let her warm scales heat his back, whilst the fire warmed his front. He closed his eyes. All the stress of the day had finally caught up with him. He took a few steadying breaths. Saphira moved her head and gently nuzzled his cheek with her nose. He kissed it and smiled weakly.

I am proud of you Little One

It was harder than I thought

But you handled it perfectly

Did I? … Then why are my friends in a cell whilst I sit in a comfortable room?

You cannot think about that tonight. Tomorrow we will do what we can for them. You must not worry about them

I will try…at least they are together… that makes me feel much better

So it should

All the same, I shall sleep much better if you could reach out for Lia and make sure that they are well?

Saphira's head swung away from his and he felt her sudden change in temper.

I am afraid that will not be possible

Why?

She has blocked me out

The offence in her voice was distinct. Eragon tried to think of ways to comfort her, but he could not. He thought for a moment about Lia and why she would do such a thing and he nodded. He understood.

She has to Saphira

But why does she have to block me?

She sounded deeply affronted that he did not side with her.

She knows Murtagh's secret

When he said it, he did not feel bothered in the least. It was hardly surprising that he had told her. He was positive that they had no secrets between them.

What does that mean? Saphira pondered

It does not matter. I do not care anymore. They helped us Saphira. My words in the tunnels were my own. If Lia is doing what she thinks will keep them alive, then I support her, even if it means excluding us from her mind

Very well

She agreed with his words, although the bitter edge still crept in her voice.

What about Ella? He suggested

That could work…

Together, they reached for Ella's mind. It took a few minutes to locate her because she was buried deep inside the mountain. Her thoughts and feelings were hazy, but wherever she was, she felt comfortable and safe. They could only guess that this was because the three of them were alive and well. Withdrawing from her mind, they tried to settle into the comfort of the room. Saphira swayed her head towards the inviting looking bed.

Sleep Little One…The bed looks warm and I cannot even remember the last time you slept in one

Teirm he answered automatically

That long?

He nodded.

Then why stay on the floor?

I do not want to become accustomed to something that will undoubtedly not be there for long. Why should I torment myself?

It is not wrong to enjoy moments when opportunities arise

No. I will stay on the floor.

Have it your way

My way would have ended today a little differently…

Sleep Eragon

He closed his eyes and turned his face to her side, huddling up against her. He thought of the steaming bath, but found that he was suddenly too tired to move.

Good night Saphira

Good night Little One

Sleep found him quickly. Saphira's lids drooped shut shortly afterwards. They slept and their bodies and minds subconsciously prepared them for the next day.

The meeting was adjourned. The designated hall was empty, but for the bald headed man who remained in its centre, pacing back and forth. The meeting had been long and heated. The human and dwarf representatives had talked of nothing but the Rider and what it would mean to the peace that existed between the races. After their bickering had ceased, they discussed what to do with the boy in the morning. They wished to test his abilities – to see how far advanced he was in his training, both physical and mental. They spoke of involving Arya somehow. He had volunteered to take charge of the trials and arrangements. He wanted to see the results of the tests first hand and influence them where possible. But whilst he had listened to this endless talk, his mind had never wandered past the young man and woman held in the cell. Now was the perfect time to discover more about them, whilst they remained forgotten. His time was short. He would need to find a way to gather information. There was much he wanted to find out; the source of the young man's power, whether the girl possessed any of her own and if he could find out neither…how he could gain vengeance for the humiliation he had undergone. The bald man was not one to forget or forgive easily.

He sensed her rather than saw her. The lighting had been dimmed now that the people were gone and shadows danced around the edges of the hall. He should have guessed that she would be there, hiding and listening. Curious, intelligent, beautiful and mysterious…yes…maybe she was the one he could use? She would not refuse him, she would not dare. Her own curiosity was too great. She would not be able to resist. It was what made her a valuable addition to his kind and also a potentially dangerous weapon. They were lucky to have made claims on her when she stumbled upon them as a small child. He did not bother to turn his head. When he called she would come. He whispered in a soft, seductive tone.

"Erika…"

He turned ever so slightly. She was already behind him, having crossed the length of the hall in mere seconds. He caught the blur of movement from the corner of his eye. Amazing. Their experiments on her had been fruitless and she had endured many. During the ten years since she had joined them, they had never discovered the natural source of her power. His face contorted with rage for the most fleeting of moments as the fact was brought to his attention once more. There was nothing that brought sleepless nights like an unsolved mystery and she had been one of them for many a year. They had stopped the experiments; they called it a "temporary" break in their research. He called it "giving up". They had to face the fact that they would never know everything about her. They could have killed her…feigned an accident…but the truth was that she was simply too useful to waste…for the moment. He composed himself and presented her with an almost loving smile.

"Erika my dear…I have a job for you"