Quick update, this one ... Surprise, even to me ...

But anyway, this will be the last of these ... maybe a bit boring chapters, because after this, things will start happening again. I can promise that, seeing as I've already got that chapter almost done ...

And huge thanks to those who have reviewed! I really can't believe that this story has actually got 81 reviews.

So, well, continue reading and reviewing!

Chapter 25: To the Burning Plains

In Arya's opinion, nothing happened that could change their situation as the days continued, even though more and more news about the advancing army arrived every day. They talked, they discussed plans and strategies, and they got nowhere with it. Usually, their meetings ended up in an argument, with someone, usually Orrin, shouting at the others to just be quiet and listen. Arya used to say little during these meetings, but continued instead to ponder on her idea to move the whole army somewhere else. Of course, she knew that Orrin's adviser had been right in telling her that it would not be an easy task. But the memory of her talk with Eragon still remained in her mind, and it was as if it was calling for her attention.

However, these apparently boring meetings had another effect on Arya as well, one that she appreciated highly. They forced her thoughts to keep to the present, instead of lingering on her past. But during the evenings, when she was not exhausted from the events of the day, she still was just as unable as always to keep the questions away from her.

What was happening back in Ellesméra right now? How was Eragon doing, now that he did not have her around to distract him from his studies? Had her departure made things better, as she had believed? Or had it had the opposite effect? Had it caused Eragon to pay her even more attention than before?

The last thought was always the one that made her twist back and forth in her bed for what felt like hours on end, with a feeling like she was about to explode growing within her.

It was during one of these evenings that Arya finally gave up, realizing just how pointless it was to try and sleep with all these thoughts rushing through her. So, putting on her clothes again, she walked out of her room and wandered aimlessly through the now mostly silent castle.

The day had been even hotter than the previous ones, and the air inside felt unbearably warm and stifling. Arya, who was used to a much colder climate than this, and who had spent considerably little time in Surda, found this more and more annoying with every day. Wiping the sweat off her face with an irritated movement, she turned into another corridor, wondering how anyone would be able to do anything useful in this warmth.

"I thought you would come earlier."

The voice suddenly breaking the silence caused Arya to spin round. Angela had walked up to her, and as usual, Arya had neither heard, seen or in any other way sensed the herbalist approaching.

"What ... what do you mean?" Arya asked, still startled and unsure what to say.

"Well, I've been watching you ever since you came here", Angela explained. "And this is, I must say, the first unusual thing you've done since arriving. Well, that in itself is unusual, of course, but apart from that ..."

Arya could not help a small laugh, at the same time as she sighed. She ought to have known that Angela would be here, and that her curiosity would force her to follow Arya around wherever she went. It seemed as though the herbalist possessed some kind of natural interest in Arya, one that she was still quite unable to understand.

But before Arya had time to think further along that line of thoughts, Angela said:

"Now, I suppose I ought to ask you something about how your journey to Ellesméra was, but that seems quite ... pointless to me. Nasuada has told me what you told her, and since you won't tell me anything else, we could just leave that subject, couldn't we?"

Taken aback by this sudden turn in the cconversation, Arya said:

"We could. But then ... if you did not want to discuss Ellesméra, why did you bother to follow me when most people ought to have gone to bed?"

"Yes ...", Angela murmured. "Yes, that is an interesting question ..."

She fell silent there, appearing just as lost in own thoughts as Arya could get. But Arya was sure that the seeress just did not 'feel like answering her question'.

"So", Angela said finally. "What were we speaking about? Oh yes, unusual things. Well, I did hear you were the one to suggest that we leave this city and move somewhere else, but the others have not decided yet."

"True", Arya responded, wondering how Angela could know about such things, which so few people were supposed to have heard about.

"And I guess Orrin was the one who was most skeptical about the idea?"

The question took Arya by surprise, mostly because Angela was right. Orrin and his men had been the ones who seemed most doubtful. Arya had thought before that it was because of all the risks, but now another theory occurred to her. After all, Orrin's repeated arguments with Nasuada had let Arya know exactly how fond he was of his own power, and how much he disliked being ordered to do anything. What if he saw her suggestion as an order? The very thought irritated her, although she supposed that it did make sense.

"Anyway", Angela said, when Arya had not answered her last question. "Where were you intending to move the army?"

Laughing briefly at how the question had been formulated, Arya responded:

"I ... I do not know. I just thought about it because ..."

She hesitated. For some reason, it felt silly to draw Eragon's vision into this conversation. But if she wanted to discuss it with anyone, it would have to be with Angela.

Having decided that, Arya told the herbalist all she could remember Eragon telling her during their journey to Ellesméra. At once, she could sense how Angela's interest snapped towards the subject.

"A vision, you say?" she asked when Arya had finished. "A vision showing a battle on a plain ..."

She gazed into the distance for a while, her usual cheerful expression turned into that of thoughtfulness and consideration.

"You don't mean the Burning Plains, do you?" she asked.

The Burning Plains, thought Arya. No, that was not where she would have wanted them to move. It was a plain where, a long time ago, dragons had been fighting. Their fire had burned the area, and it was still burning. All plants and trees had long since been killed, and it was dangerous for any living being to spend a longer time there.

Feeling a shudder run down her spine, Arya said:

"No, I did not mean the Burning Plains."

"I see", said angela, giving her a small smile. "Well, I suppose we should be sensible and go to bed, even though I hate that word. Sensible! But I'll see you later."

And with that, she turned and hurried away through the corridor.

Surprised at the sudden ending of this conversation, Arya returned to her room, still thinking about all that had been said.

The next morning, when she entered the conference room to participate in yet another of these pointless meetings, Arya noticed at once that something was different. Or rather, she realized, that Orrin was acting differently. The king was sitting up straight in his chair, a kind of determination showing in his face. It was almost as if he was preparing himself to confess something to the assembled people, a thought that for some reason amused Arya.

"Welcome, everyone", Orrin began once they were all seated around the table. "I shall make this brief. I know that we have not received any more news about the Empire, but yet I have summoned you here. That is because I have made my decision. If you all agree, I do think that we ought to follow Arya's suggestion and leave this city, for Hrothgar and the dwarves will not be able to reach us here before Galbatorix's army. And without assistance, as you are all aware, we are certain to lose this battle."

Silence reigned in the room after Orrin's little speech. It was like Arya had guessed. After their king had spoken, none of Orrin's advisers were ready to say anything else. Nor did the Council of Elders. Their decision had been made.

As she thought this, a quiet feeling of childish satisfaction flashed through Arya. Now, she thought, perhaps I have managed to accomplish at least one thing. And now, perhaps we will be able to do more than just sit here, waiting for the army to come.

And Arya was right. For during the next few weeks, a wild sort of activity broke out in the city of Aberon. Men from both the Varden and Surda's own army were summoned and prepared, food and weapons were collected and stored, and a thousand other things were done. As Arya joined this activity, she felt that some of these things ought to have been ready earlier, though she never mentioned this aloud. Not even to Nasuada.

Meanwhile, she began to notice that her observations concerning Orrin had been true. He did have a strong wish to maintain his power, and he continue to argue with Nasuada about things that in Arya's opinion where quite meaningless at the moment. And she realized that if he went on like this, that would be a problem to them all later on.

Of course, Arya had been involved in this sort of activity many times before, but she still found it just as frustrating every time she was swept into it again. Time just never seemed to move quickly enough, where as it at the same time felt as though they needed several more days to accomplish all that needed to be done.

But eventually, the time came for them to depart. it was a mercilessly hot day, with the sun glaring down from the sky at the army, which was rapidly assembling outside the gates to Aberon. The weather displeased Arya somewhat, because she knew that they would all be much more effective if it was colder. But what had she expected?

However, as she left the castle and walked through the streets of Aberon, she felt a mild breeze blowing on her face. It could not be called cool, she thought, quickening her stride. But it would keep some of the worst heat away.

Arya had decided to remain as unseen as possible during this journey, for she could find no reason to announce her presence to the Empire by riding at the very front of the army. Therefor, she positioned herself in the midst of a group of soldiers, all of whom were talking in much louder voices than what was actually necessary to make oneself heard.

"Good morning", came a voice from behind, and Arya turned to see Angela riding up to her. "I suppose that's a quite accurate description too. At least judging by your expression."

Arya could not help a faint smile, though she was sure that Angela was the only one to notice. It was true that she was happy to be moving again, but she had been trying to conceal that from the others. Not that it really mattered if they had known, but still ...

Well, she thought. I should have known better than to conceal it from Angela. As always.

At the same time as Arya thought this, there came a shout from the front of the army. And then, they set off, with the horses' hooves thundering against the ground, their arms waving farewell towards the city behind them, and their voices shouting things that were too mingled with each other for Arya to make out. They were on their way.