Note: I'm sorry that this chapter took so long, but it's pretty long so, enjoy!

SOMETIMES GOODBYE IS THE ONLY WAY

As Rinia flew ahead of the Varden, she noticed Treskid's unusual silence. Treskid, are you alright? Rinia asked.

So now you decide to talk to me, Treskid answered rudely. I'm not really in the mood.

Treskid, I'm sorry, Rinia said as she petted her dragon sweetly. Treskid snorted in response and said,

Fine, I guess I could forgive you. A smile spread across Rinia's face and she asked,

So, what did you want to discuss with me before?

Why did you decide to go to Uru'baen? Treskid asked angrily. You know how dangerous it is there! Rinia took a deep breath and said,

I knew I wouldn't be able to avoid talking about this. Rinia took another deep breath and continued, Before we left, I had been talking with Nayima and I got angry, I guess I needed an outlet for my anger. I made you take me to Uru'baen because I wanted to speak with Murtagh. This statement obviously made Treskid upset, because the dragon exploded with an angry response,

Why would you even think of that as a plausible action?! That is probably the most terrible, ill-conceived, stupid plan that I-

I know, Rinia replied sternly, but, we're both fine, nothing bad happened. Calm down. Treskid was obviously still angry, but did not argue any more. Changing the subject Rinia asked, Have you been enjoying your time with Saphira? Rinia could instantly feel the change in Treskid's mood.

It's been good, she's been teaching me how to fly better, Treskid replied slightly awkwardly. Rinia couldn't keep herself from smiling at her dragon's childish shy joy. She also couldn't stop herself from teasing Treskid by asking,

Do you have a little crush on her? Treskid immediately made a sharp movement, similar to that of a horse's buck. If a dragon's face could turn red, Treskid's face would have been the deepest shade of red possible. Rinia laughed at her dragon's actions and said, I'm sorry if I embarrassed you.

What? You didn't embarrass me, Treskid lied, I, um, was trying to wake up my legs, they had fallen asleep.

Oh, alright. Rinia said, still laughing to herself. The two flew in silence for a bit, surveying the land. If it had not been for the fact that she was in the sky, Rinia would have probably fallen asleep. The job was boring and tedious, but mostly boring. They had been flying for what seemed like hours and nothing had happened.

Eragon says that we can head back now, Treskid said all of a sudden.

Alright then, let's head back, Rinia said and her dragon immediately changed directions and flew back to where the Varden army was setting up camp. Soon after Treskid and Rinia landed, Rinia saw Eragon and Saphira land. Oo, look it's Saphira, Rinia teased her dragon, who growled at her in response. Oh, sorry, did your leg fall asleep again?

"You didn't see anything, right?" Eragon asked Rinia as her approached her.

"No, did you?"

"No, of course not. But, I have to report back to Jormundur anyway, do you want to come? Treskid could stay here with Saphira," he suggested.

"Sure," Rinia replied and then turned to Treskid and gave him a look, to which he growled in response. Rinia laughed at her dragon as she followed Eragon to meet Jormundur. They found Jormundur giving directions to a few young soldiers trying to put up a tent; he looked frustrated. When Jormundur turned away from the uncoordinated soldiers, he noticed Rinia and Eragon.

"Ah, you two have returned," Jormundur said. "Did either of you see anything?"

"No," Eragon answered.

"All right, then," Jormundur said. "You may go." He walked away from Rinia and Eragon.

"Well, that was exciting," Eragon said when Jormundur was out of earshot. "Come on, lets go find some food, I'm starving." The two walked around the large Varden camp until they found a big group of people sitting on the ground and eating what looked like stale bread and some kind of stew. Eragon and Rinia saw a portly woman dishing out the food and they went over to her and they both got a piece of bread and a small cup of the stew.

"Eragon!" someone exclaimed as Rinia and Eragon were sitting down to eat their food. They soon saw that the person who had called them was actually not a person, but the dwarf, Orik.

"Orik," Eragon replied, trying to sound as excited as the dwarf, but failing. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, interestin' you should ask. Many o' the dwarves decided not to continue to fight fer the Varden after what 'appened to King Hrothgar," the dwarf was silent for a moment in recognition for his late king. "But seein' as how Hrothgar 'ad always liked you, I figgired that he would want me to fight, if not fer the Varden, fer you."

"Well, uh, thank you, Orik," Eragon said weirdly and Rinia laughed.

"Well, I was just sayin' hello, the smell o' that food nauseates me," Orik said while scrunching his face up like he smelled something bad. "Hopefully I'll run into you again," he said and he walked away.

"He's such an odd dwarf," Eragon said as he watched Orik disappear into the army. After he shook his head once, he turned back to Rinia and asked, "Where exactly did you go when I couldn't find you?"

"Um, well, you know, just a few random places," Rinia replied nervously.

"So nowhere that you should tell me about, right?" Eragon asked slightly inquisitively. As Rinia shook her head Eragon said, "You know, dragons are very interesting creatures. I mean, they can talk to each other and communicate with their riders. Therefore dragons can share information that their rider might be hesitant to share like you not telling me about your little visit to Uru'baen." Rinia knew that she was caught, and she said,

"Well, there's a good reason that I didn't tell you why I went to Uru-"

"Do you have any idea how insanely stupid that was?" Eragon interrupted angrily.

"Yes."

"First of all, what if Galbatorix had found about your little visit? You were in the same castle as a man who wants you dead, and if he had found you he probably would have killed you and the Varden need your help as a dragon rider. Secondly, you have no good reason to go there."

"I did," Rinia said quietly.

"Then share that reason with me," he continued heatedly. "Because I know that you wouldn't be stupid enough to risk your life to see him."

"Well, I guess that I did, but-" she replied softly, but was interrupted by Eragon.

"So you had no good reason to go there."

"I had to see him," Rinia said honestly.

"Have you already forgotten what happened the last time that you saw him? Could you really have that bad of a memory?"

"Listen to me," Rinia said, frustrated. "I love him. I know that it was stupid, but I had to see him. I could die during this battle, he could die during this battle," the thought sent a shiver up her spine.

"You still shouldn't have gone," Eragon said, surrendering his immense anger.

"I know," she replied. They sat eating their food quietly for the next few minutes until the entire army was asked to rest for the night. Rinia and Eragon parted ways and Rinia was directed to a small tent that she had all to herself. In the tent she saw a hand and a half sword that she was meant to use in battle and a bow with arrows. She fell asleep as soon as she lay down.

The next morning she was awakened by the sound of an alarm, signaling that it was time for the army to begin moving that day. Rinia packed up her sword and bow with arrows and headed outside of her tent. The resting site was chaotic, with every member of the Varden collecting all of their supplies quickly because no one wanted to upset Jormundur. She searched for Eragon until she found him speaking with Jormundur. When he saw Rinia he turned to her and said, "Good morning," and then she said goodbye to Jormundur and walked with Rinia. "We're doing the same thing today that we did yesterday," he continued.

"Alright," Rinia replied.

"Jormundur wanted me to ask you," he added, "how much experience have you had with magic?"

"Not much," she answered. "Why?"

"Well, both dragon enemy dragon riders have been exquisitely well trained in magic and we, well, haven't." The two continued to walk until they weren't in the massive chaos of the Varden preparing to leave and Eragon said, "So because it's important that you know at least some magic, I'll just give you a quick crash course on magic." Rinia nodded and awaited Eragon's instruction. "Alright, so be cautious because even the easiest spells can drain you of energy quickly. So first I'm going to show you how to raise a stone, just to introduce you to magic. Stenr resia!" Eragon said as he held his hand over a rock and the rock began to rise from the ground. After a few seconds Eragon let the rock drop and looked at Rinia, "Alright, you can try now, but be careful." Rinia nodded and found a rock on the ground that was small.

"Stenr reisa!" she said and the rock slowly began to rise, she felt a little weaker, but not an immense amount. She raised the stone until it was about the same height that Eragon's had been and then let it drop.

"How do you feel?" Eragon asked inquisitively.

"I'm fine," Rinia said, the magic hadn't drained her the way that Eragon had warned her that it would.

"When I first tried magic, I couldn't do that," Eragon said, awed. Rinia shrugged and Eragon continued. "Now this other spell that I'm about to teach you requires more energy and is much more difficult, but I'll teach you it because it is important. Do you mind if I use this spell on you? I promise it won't hurt and I won't make it too strong."

"Sure," Rinia replied.

"Alright, thrysta!" Eragon said and he pushed Rinia back slightly. "Now, when used with more energy, it is a lot stronger. Now you try."

"Thrysta!" Rinia said as she aimed at Eragon, she caused him to be thrust back a few feet. "Sorry!" Rinia yelled as Eragon stood up.

"How do you feel, now?" Eragon asked.

"Alright," Rinia said, the spell had only drained her of a little more energy than the other one had.

"Um, okay. So we have to leave soon, but you should know that magic uses words of the ancient language and, well, it's hard to explain. For example, stenr reisa means raise stone, so by saying stenr reisa, you are literally able to raise a stone, do you get it?"

"Yea, I think so," she replied as Treskid and Saphira arrived to meet them.

"I could tell Saphira a few spells that you should know and she could tell Treskid while we are riding, just so that you're prepared."

"Sure," Rinia replied, excited that she was learning magic. Both she and Eragon then mounted their dragons and took off into the sky. While they were patrolling she was learning more magic, Eragon telling Saphira, Saphira telling Treskid, and Treskid telling Rinia. They continued with this routine for almost two hours until Eragon communicated to Rinia that they had to return to the Varden, quickly. Rinia was confused at the haste at which she had to return to the Varden, but she followed his instruction anyway. Rinia reached the Varden a short time after Eragon did. "What happened?" Rinia asked him as soon as she landed on the ground. The army was rushing around, even quicker than they had been in the morning.

"I saw Galbatorix's army, they are not so far away," Eragon replied.

"How did they move so fast? I didn't see them," Rinia asked, surprised.

"I don't know," Eragon said. The two then saw Jormundur rushing toward them.

"Eragon you will have to be responsible for fighting Galbatorix and the other rider," he said looking at Eragon, he then turned to Rinia and said, "Eragon has told me that you have never received proper instruction regarding magic, so you can fly lower and assist the Varden army on the ground." Not waiting for a response from either of them Jormundur then rushed off to assist the rest of the army.

"Eragon," Rinia said, "I could still help you higher up in the air, it won't be that difficult."

"Look," he replied, "I have to agree with Jormundur on this one, you should assist the Varden closer to the ground they need your help and you really don't know enough magic to survive against a rider like Galbatorix."

"I don't have to use magic, I could just distract him for you," she replied. "Please."

"Fine," Eragon said regrettably, "but I still think that you should stay closer to the ground and help the Varden."

"Thank you," Rinia said excitedly and she gave Eragon a hug.

"Don't die," Eragon replied jokingly and then he mounted Saphira and flew away, towards Galbatorix's army. Rinia saw the Varden army marching in a large group heading towards the opposing army and she mounted her dragon and flew off into the sky.

She flew for, she didn't how long, but it seemed that after too short a time she was able to see Galbatorix's army. She turned around and saw the Varden army getting nearer to the other army. She stopped flying for a bit to get a hold of her fear. She saw Eragon ahead of her, stopped too. But, in every second Galbatorix's army got closer, as did the Varden army. Then she saw the dragons, one red and the other black, flying over Galbatorix's army. The two armies were almost close enough to touch each other. She saw Eragon fly up higher into the sky and she saw the black dragon mirror him. Still filled with fear Rinia began to fly towards where Eragon has flown, but she was stopped. She saw s great red dragon in front if her and an armored dragon rider on the dragon's back. The dragon rider took off his helmet and Rinia saw Murtagh's comforting eyes.

"Where do you think that you are going?" he asked her.

"To help Eragon," she replied.

"Don't," Murtagh said weakly. "Please don't," he begged, his eyes weak.

"But Eragon needs my help," Rinia protested.

"I need you to be safe, or more safe than you would be if you were attempting to fight Galbatorix. Please," he pleaded.

"Alright," Rinia gave in, "but if he needs my help, I will be there to help him."

"Thank you," he said and then was about to fly off when Rinia added,

"You be safe, too." He only smiled and laughed and then flew off, until she couldn't see him. Treskid, tell me if Eragon needs my help. Her dragon nodded and she flew to help the Varden fight the much stronger army of Galbatorix.