The soft, needle covered ground crunched slightly and absorbed most of the sound of the dragons landing. Light barely made its way through the dense forest, but in every spot that it did, many flowers and shrubs grew. Vines stretched their way up the enormous trees, trying to get to the sunlight. It was in this exact place, this beautiful work of art that an elven guard stood.

All four spoke in the Ancient Language the formal lines when it was their turn.

"Good morning, Shadeslayer, Drottingu," he said pleasantly. Then he looked at Murtagh and a scowl formed on his face. "He is not welcome here."

"None of us will be here very long. Eragon simply has something he needs to research and I have something I need to find as well," Arya explained.

"But for him, it is too long. If you want, Princess, I will kill him now."

"No. You not kill him. If I wanted him dead, I would have put him to death long ago. But he is free now, and I trust him to some degree, so he comes with us. Would you deny Eragon or I entrance?"

"Of course not. It is just-

"Then he will be the same way," she said, her voice like ice. Then, her voice sweetened. "So, may we come in?"

Eragon watched with amusement as he hurried to let them in. He still scowled at Murtagh and Thorn as they passed through. It was interesting; the guard had not even mentioned the presence of a big green dragon at all.

Though inside he had known that many of the elves were gone from Ellesmera, Eragon was still surprised at how empty it seemed as they walked along. A few he could see inside their homes and others stood outside, but there were not many. Everything was quiet and almost depressing, so different from the last time he had walked through.

"Murtagh, do you want to come with me?" Eragon asked.

"Sure," he replied.

"And how long did you say this was going to take?" Murtagh wondered, looking around the huge library.

"Not long. I know what I'm looking for." Eragon was surprised when he found an entire book on Stenr Evarinya. Had he only had this the first time…

"So this is what you're looking for," he said, reading over Eragon's shoulder. "Stenr Evarinya, the Star Stone. And what brought this on?"

"I was tricked into finding a fake one, and now I want to find out if there truly is a real one."

Arya stood on the balcony that extended from her bedroom. Every time she came here, memories flooded through her mind. They were painful, but she wanted them to come. She wanted to feel again all the things she had done wrong and all the steps she had taken to make them right again.

Gazing down, she saw a young Faolin staring up at her. A younger version of herself leaned at the other end of the balcony.

"And how do you suggest I get down there?" She asked with a laugh.

"You're brave, just jump," he replied, smiling.

"I can't Faolin, it is too high!"

"Fine. Then I shall just have to come up." With a giggle, she moved closer to the middle. He swung himself up from the tree and stepped lithely onto the balcony. He sighed. "How beautiful the world is, and how much more beautiful are you, Arya."

"Oh Faolin," she said.

"Arya, you are the light of my life, the only one on my mind when I sleep at night, and the only one I wake for in the morning. You are my sunshine and my rain. You are the music in me. And I love you with all my heart."

He handed her a living flower made of gold. She lay her head down on his shoulder as they stared away into the distance. Then, the memory faded, and Arya felt empty. She was suddenly very angry with herself. How could you let him slip away so quickly? Now all you're left with is your own stupid emotions and…

"Arya," Eragon's voice echoed from somewhere in the streets below. And Eragon, she finished angrily. She went back through her bedroom and eventually made it outside. She found her horse. With a word, she got on and galloped away.

Talos flew above her head. Where are you going?

Away from here, she answered coldly.

Wouldn't it be faster if you were flying? She did not answer him, but after a time she stopped, climbed smoothly onto Talos and soared into the sky, trying to get away from the pain.

He felt his eyes widen. "No," he said. "There is no way."

"What?" Murtagh asked, looking up from a book.

"If this is correct, then Stenr Evarinya is in Carvahall. It was buried long ago by the elf Eragon, who started the Dragon Riders, and can be found near the outskirts of Carvahall," he read. "But be warned, all who dare find it. Possessing this fearsome stone does not come without consequence. Cursed be the one to first lay his hands upon the treasure. Cursed with death!... That sounds delightful," Eragon said.

"Well, luck to you then," said Murtagh, heading out the door.

"You don't really believe it, do you?"

"Actually, I do. And unlike you, I value my life, so I would rather stay away from a cursed piece of rock."

"So you won't help me find it then," he analyzed sadly, waiting patiently. "I suppose I shall just go on this venture alone, Saphira and I struggling through toils and tribulations with no one to help us, crying out in pain and suffering that would have been completely avoided with the help of one man and his dragon…"

"Oh fine! But I blame you when I get cursed with death," he said.

"Then you're coming. Good. Now I must tell Arya!"

"Of course," Murtagh said, rolling his eyes.

"Arya," Eragon called, running outside. He caught a glimpse of someone on the balcony of Arya's bedroom, but there was only a swaying curtain in the doorway. He walked all over, looking for her, but he could not find her.

Suddenly, he saw-out of the corner of his eye- a green dragon falling below the horizon. Talos-with Arya- seemed to be headed away from Du Weldenvarden. Eragon ran up to Arya's bedroom and out to the balcony. Of to one side, someone had laid a golden rose, worn but still beautiful, on the table.

"Arya," he called, knowing she was gone.

Another short one! I know. The next one will be way longer, I promise. Please don't be mad. =( Please review and tell me what you think. I would feel honored to hear from you.