AN: It's been a while since I updated. So sorry for the inconvenience. My fault. But now that I that I think of it, I'm really not obligated to you, but since I love you all so much I'll make myself obligated… …for real.

And thank you faithful reviewers for keeping me alive.

Chapter 5: The Journey Begins

The group saddled all their belongings unto the horses. Since there were only three of them Godiva and Nkeira had to share Snowfire and Eragon rode atop Saphira. They were all prepared to aid him to Ellesmera.

Eragon, whilst riding Saphira, did not know himself why he invited the duo. He could have just left them and moved on with Arya and Murtagh. But in his heart he knew he couldn't. He was already beginning to feel attached to one of them, although he wouldn't admit it. And the other, she was a strange one. There was something about her that kept him in confusion. Eragon did not like this feeling at all. It was like walking blindfolded into a valley of death. Well, as long as Saphira said she was harmless then he figured that she, this Godiva, may come along.

Saphira looked down at the small bodies riding below her, mainly Godiva. That girl was a mystery of her own but from what she sensed; there was no evil in her heart. She was all pure and good, and yet that look in her eyes, although not as enchanting as Nkeira's, were very familiar. Saphira felt a connection with the young Amnarian, and that she didn't mind one bit. In fact, Godiva was quite the socialite.

Saphira turned her head and looked up ahead. Her worry of Eragon's safety had heightened over the days. Just three weeks ago she was tearing apart everything in search of him. She had tried using their mental link to reach him then but Eragon never responded. As a matter of fact, she couldn't even sense him. That was when she knew something was wrong and went into a greater rage. But later on she heard his voice and knew Eragon was alright and came to his abet. That was after Nkeira had fallen from the tree limb.

Godiva looked up at the blue figure ahead. Eragon and his dragon made a beautiful site, indeed.

'My lady, time is of great matter…'

Damien's voice whispered into her head sending small chills down her spine.

'Damien,' she called back but to no prevails. Suddenly, Godiva had an idea. If she could communicate mentally with Damien and Saphira then why not give a try at Eragon? It would be hard, for the dragon may choose to interfere with them, which she didn't want, unless Eragon was willing to shut her out, which was very unlikely, but she'll try nonetheless.

'Eragon' she 'said.'

'Godiva?' he replied questioningly.

'Yes, it is me.' She answered with a surprising softness in her voice.

'But how—'

'I don't know yet, really. I just can.'

There was an awkward 'silence' between them. Godiva finally broke it.

'I wanted to ask you why you were dangling from your horse before you came here.'

'Oh, that…'

The memory of riding on Snowfire through the shady forest came to his mind. He remembered the fresh air and the easy ground. Alongside him were his friends Arya and Murtagh, and Saphira was up high watching the way ahead. No one spoke; they were all deeply engrossed in their own thoughts.

Eragon looked at his left towards Arya. Her long black hair ran past her back and the deep concentrated look on her face stole his heart away. Eragon knew that he was falling for the Varden Elf but would not bring himself to admit it. Her beauty was beyond anything he has ever seen; however he was determined not to let this blind him from his true mission: to be trained to become a great rider and defeat Galbatorix. Whatever it takes he will send that evil tyrant to his doom. Brom's death will be avenged and all those innocent lives that suffered the king's wrath…including Arya…

'And mine?'

That was when Eragon heard that distant chilled voice that surely did not belong to Saphira. He can still remember it as clear as daylight at the moment.

The voice did startle him and he became wary. He remembered Murtagh and Arya saying something but could not grasp onto it. They both took their own ways and parted from Eragon.

'Eragon…are you well?' It was not Saphira but the same deep voice that echoed in his mind.

"Who are you? Show yourself!" Eragon yelled out, pulling out Zar'roc from his belt.

Suddenly, he felt an invisible force force a blow against the side of his left cheek. This took Eragon by surprise and so he swung his sword at the air hoping that it would do him some good but became frustrated when the irritating voice came back calm and unruffled.

'You were never well, Eragon, I can still see that.' the voice said once more.

"I demand you to show yourself!" Eragon shouted, ignoring the stinging sensation on his bruised cheek.

"Very well, then. Here I am." A man appeared before Eragon standing nobly and with an authoritative aroma surrounding his grand posture. Pointed downward to the ground a shiny blade was joined together with a hilt which two large and heavily ringed hands rested on.

Eragon stared at the sword cautiously and then moved his gaze upon the mysterious person.

"Eragon, we finally meet…again," the armored man said.

Snowfirebegan to neigh and stomp its forelegs onto the soft grass. It began to move back and Eragon had to talk and soothe him before he became quiet again.

"You startled my horse. Who are you?" Eragon asked.

"You will soon come to know my name, young Eragon," he replied. "Unless I'm mistaken, you already do now."

A cryptic smile found its way on the man's face. It stayed there for a few seconds then vanished. Replacing it was a frown, intense and serious.

"And I am not a friend," he said, barely above a whisper.

With speed like no other the man wielded his sword at Eragon but it was deflected by another sword. Eragon had Zar'roc in hand and ready.

"You mean me harm!" he exclaimed.

The man took another swing aiming at his thigh. Once again, Zar'rocwarded off the blow.

Eragon quickly hopped off Snowfireto face the enemy.

"Why are you doing this? What have I ever done to you?" he asked, his sword in ready.

"How dare you speak as though the situation is foreign to you! How dare you take it lightly!" The man brandished his sword and struck at Eragon's left only to be blocked off again.

"I would know how to take the matter if you'd only tell me. What is it!" the shadeslayer replied, his own voice escalating.

"Ah, don't fool with me, boy. How is it that such an idiot, a scum like you can take the eye of the most holiest lady? How is it that a mere villager, a measly dragon rider-boy! can overwhelm my Lady? But don't worry. That was the past. She is mine to all extent now and I will have my revenge. I'll kill you now just as you had killed my soul many years ago." The man swung his sword and with its side he sent a blow at Eragon's skull.

Eragon, in his confusion and anger, did not expect the hit to his head so suddenly that he was caught off guard and sent staggering to the dirt.

"My old friend no more!" the stranger shouted. He stopped his sword midway as he sensed the presence of another being. "This will be dealt with later."

The man disappeared.

And so did the memory.

'I don't know, Godiva. I don't remember. I remember a man. And nothing else.'

'I'm sorry,' the Amnarain spilled.

'What?' Eragon asked, not sure he heard clearly.

'For being nasty,' she replied quietly, almost inaudibly.

Godiva imagined him in her mind. With his dark long hair and angular cheek bones, he was quite handsome. This made her heart, for the first time, flutter and sink to the bottom of her stomach. A sense of familiarity swept over Godiva as Eragon filled her mind.

Suddenly, a quick memory washed over her mind.

It was a tall young man dressed in white, his eyes soft and his smile gentle. It was Eragon…and his smile faded as the brilliant light he shone dimmed by an abrupt dominating darkness.

'Who are you, Eragon?' she asked the fading figure, not realizing that the real him heard it through the link.

'I thought you knew,' he said in response.

I thought so too.

'Godiva, you're sidetracking,' a new voice spoke from her head.

'From what, Damien?'

…nothing…

A distant scream from ahead caught her attention.

All three horses automatically sped up to the noise.

A flash ran in Godiva's mind and she halted. An image of a mucky area…sinkable…

"Wait!" she cried, "Stop, it's a trap!"

But it was too late. Murtagh and Arya were already in the quandary, sinking slowly and unable to move from its grasp.

"Godiva, I never remembered this being here," Nkeira said.

"Because there were never any," Godiva responded to her sister, who got out from the horse, but she herself stayed put.

"Come on. They need our help. Call upon the forest!" the younger girl said frantically.

But Godiva remained unmovable.

"So you mean to let them die?" Nkeira wondered in disbelief. "Well, I haven't any time to fuss with you. I pray Eragon hasn't gone too far."

"You will not call upon the dragonrider." Godiva finally said.

"If we wish them to survive then we must," argued the other sister, "Eragon! Eragon! Saphira!"

Nkeira, still not seeing the blue dragon and its master, decided that he was too far to hear or notice.

"You remain as you are, Godiva. When have you become so cold? I am helpless. Please help them. Call the trees to bring its vines and swing them over."

The shouting and screaming from the sinking group continued. They were already waste deep and their horses weren't doing too well, either.

"I shall do it all," Nkeira whispered harshly.

Godiva heard the soft chanting of words in the Ancient Amnarain language and watched as Nkeira tried her best to speak with the trees. This was something Godiva was good at and when life had been fruitful and her people alive, they all praised her for such a developed gift. Nkeira, in the other hand, was still learning the ancient art and had yet to master it.

Finally, leaves started to fall and branches began to shake. Six vines came from different directions and each wrapped itself around a struggling body, two to a horse. The vines pulled and Godiva watched. She watched and did not want them to come free so she battled. Ancient magic, she used too. More vines wrapped around the bodies and the trees pulled with all they had.

"Godiva, the trees are telling me that something is keeping the bodies down. Another magic. Stop it, Godiva! They tell me it's you," Nkeira cried.

"Nonsense," she said. "I am simply watching the performance and how well you are handling this. Well now, look here. It's your friend Eragon here to the rescue."

Saphira flew above of Murtagh and Arya and closed her talons upon them. She easily drew them out from the sinking mud and softly placed them down on firm ground. She then brought out the horses, saving them from near death as well.

Godiva cursed beneath her breath and met Eragon's confused look of anger and frustration, and something else.

He wasn't happy.

And he was looking at her.

AN: Well, that's it for chapter 5. It took a while but it got here. I am in the middle of finals, graduation practices, and so forth. School couldn't get any busier then its closing days…

Anyway, I'm tired of the questions of Eragon's exact whereabouts and what Nkeira and Godiva are. I'll answer it here you daggone snoops. You could'a least waited for me to get to those details in later chapters but noooo, those little clips are so important to ya. You can't see the big pic without them, so here you are:

Amnarains: just a figment of my imagination. A lost race of powerful witch-elves.

Current Location: since Eragon and co. left the Varden to go on to training I'd have to say somewhere in that foresty region between the Varden and the place where he was called upon to be trained as dragon rider. I made this place unwatched by the Varden people. They believe it's cursed because of the witch-elves who died insufferably use to live there. (don't worry, all this I made up. I haven't read Eragon in a while and I don't own one so I'm working on bare memory here. The map of Algaesia they had in the book is a bit foggy in my mind)

Damnit! Here you go!Now take it or leave it.

I won't spill anything else.

And pretty please, tell me what you thought of this 'good'-forsaken chapter. It came out kind of weird but it sent the message I wanted…I think…

Review!

I need a beta-reader or whatever. My fighting sequences are horrible and there's a bunch of them planned for future chapters and besides, my brother just upped himself and got one. And 'naturally' I'm the better writer than he is. If you only read his first chapter of his 'new' Eragon fic! It was hot. I don't think he posted it yet. So beta-readers, HELP!

AND REVIEW!