Hey everyone! I know, kill me now! I haven't updated in over a month. I can't promise that it won't happen again, but I can promise I'll try update more often. The reason for such a delay is end of year exams (even though I didn't have to take that many), and writer's block. Anyways, here's the next chapter!

Briam

By: kgk

Chapter 6:

A couple of days after Briam, Kelli, Eragon, Saphira, and Arya left the Varden for Ellesmera, the group had traveled halfway across the Hadarac. That night, it was Eragon's turn to stay up and watch the camp. At the moment, he was busy looking at Kelli. He noticed the graceful curves of her body, how even her breathing was as she slept. She turned over, facing him. Her face was perfect, except for a small scar right above her left eyebrow, which was arched smoothly. She had rather tan skin, and it glowed in the firelight.

She's beautiful. He realized suddenly. He blushed at the thought. At home, he had never really courted anyone, never noticed anyone. Now, as he gazed at Kelli, he felt a feeling completely new to him. As he contemplated the different meanings for this, the moon rose high in the sky, lighting the desert.

Kelli opened her eyes against the firelight, blinking a few times. Across from her, she saw Eragon quickly look away. She sat up, yawning. It was still night, clear, with bright stars and a full moon. Reaching over, she grabbed a water skin, and took a drink. Through this, she flicked her eyes over at Eragon. He was tall, muscular, and handsome. But, more so, he was kind and fun to be around.

"How much longer do you think we'll be out here?" she asked him.

Eragon shrugged. "Probably a week or so. I was thinking tomorrow, we could start your training, so we would have to travel on land, which will delay us a lot. But we can fly every other day…how does that sound?" He asked after a moment.

"Good. That's great; I've been looking forward to learning magic." Kelli said, grinning. Eragon smiled at her.

"Well, that's actually probably the hardest part of Tuatha du Orothrim. Because, from what I hear, you're quite skilled at fighting." He said slyly.

"A little bit." Kelli said, grinning sheepishly. "I'm guessing you heard about that time I over-reacted and almost killed one of the Varden, then?"

"I might have heard something like that floating around somewhere." He said, chuckling slightly.

"I'm going to kill whoever told you that!" Kelli exclaimed good-naturedly.

"Well, I guess Angela only has about a week to live, then." Eragon said, laughing.

"Never mind, I take that back." Kelli said quickly.

They laughed together for a bit, imagining someone trying to harm Angela, but then quieted down when Arya stirred in her sleep. Kelli shivered, rubbing her arms.

"It's amazing, the weather in the desert. Hot in the day, and cold at night." She said, her teeth starting to chatter.

Eragon quickly stood up, and strode over to her, wrapping his blanket around her. "Here, take mine." He said, sitting down.

"Don't you need it?" Kelli asked, startled but pleased at the same time.

"I'll be fine…you know, body heat does a lot…to help. With the coldness." He said hesitantly.

"Really?" Kelli asked, snuggling against him. "Well, then I suggest we spread some body heat. We can't have you freezing to death on us, can we?" she said, grinning wryly.

Eragon chuckled. "Of course not." He said, putting his arm around her. "Good night, Kelli."

"N-night, Eragon." She said, yawning.

They fell asleep like that, Eragon lying with his arm around Kelli, whose head was on his shoulder. (a/n awww, tender moment)

The next morning, Arya rode Saphira wile she and Briam flew overhead, and Eragon and Kelli walked below.

"Okay, I'm going to start teaching you words in the ancient language first. Then, tonight we can spar…and I suppose we could go over battle tactics later on." Eragon added as an afterthought.

"Well, what about magic? When are we going to start that? How do you even do magic?" Kelli asked impatiently. Eragon grinned at her.

"First off, in order to do magic, you have to know some of the ancient language."

"Why do you-" Kelli began, but Eragon held up a hand, cutting her off.

"Let me explain first. Any questions you have can wait. You have to know the ancient language, because, just say you want to make a blanket come to you with magic. You would say 'blanket' and 'come' in the ancient language while at the same time, gathering your power. Also, it's impossible to lie while speaking in the ancient language."

"Wait. But, I heard that the elves speak it."

"That's true…" Eragon said, not completely sure where this was going.

"So, they never lie? They always tell the truth?" Kelli said skeptically.

"Not while speaking in the ancient language, no. However, elves are fluent in it. They've been speaking it since they came from across the sea. So they're masters at twisting their words to where they say one thing and mean another, and they will withhold information, making something appear different then it actually is. Never assume that an elf always speaks the complete truth. Got it?" Kelli nodded as she went back to listening carefully.

"In order to use the language to do magic, you have to possess a certain inner power in you. Its something we have because we're Riders."

"Then what's so difficult about magic? If I have this power, then can't I just say stuff in the ancient language, and do magic?" Kelli asked, confused.

Eragon stopped walking. When Kelli turned around to see what was keeping him, he had his head tilted, apparently thinking. Suddenly, he bent down, and picked up a small rock.

"Stenr reisa." He said, and Kelli watched in amazement as the rock lifted into the air. "Now you try. Just say stenr reisa." He said, handing her the rock. Kelli grinned excitedly.

"Stenr reisa!" She said. Her smile faltered. "Why isn't it doing anything?" she asked after a moment, looking crestfallen. Eragon gave a small chuckle.

"That's because you haven't yet learned to harness your power. It's not something that can be taught. I learned when I was under a lot of pressure. It just sort of…came. Brom said the Riders would teach their students by giving them useless, impossible tasks designed to frustrate them enough to use magic on accident. Since we don't have the time to stop and let you waste away, we're going to wait until we get to Ellesmera."

"So you have to 'summon you inner power'," she said, grinning, "And then say words in the ancient language?"

"Yes," Eragon said, nodding. "You're catching on quickly." Kelli smiled, delighted with the praise.

"So, what does stenr reisa mean?"

"'Raise, stone'." Eragon answered. "And moi stenr is 'stone, change'. Nagz reisa is 'blanket, rise. Brisingr is fire."

"So, stenr is 'stone', and reisa is 'raise', or 'rise'?" Kelli asked.

Eragon nodded. "Good, you're doing well." Kelli beamed.

For the rest of the day, Eragon taught her words in the ancient language, and by the time they stopped for camp, Kelli knew everything from yawe (a/n just pretend there are two little dots above the 'e'), 'a bond of trust', to commands like jierda, 'break' or 'hit'.

Did you and Eragon have a nice trip down on the ground? Briam asked slyly once they were settled around the campfire. It was Kelli's turn to watch the camp, and Briam was staying up with her while the others slept.

Yes, we did. She answered sharply. He taught me some of the ancient language. Despite her efforts, she was starting to get exited. It's so interesting! Just think. I can gain control over something, just by saying its name. I want to find out my true name. Kelli said wistfully.

Briam's lips lifted in a grin. Don't get ahead of yourself, small one. You still have two levels of training to go through.

Kelli leaned against him contentedly, and sighed. May that time pass quickly.

Briam yawned, his jaws opening wide. Well, good luck and good night. Don't get too out of control. He said, winking down at her. Kelli hit him playfully in the side.

Goodnight, Briam.

Well, there you are. I hope this latest chapter was longer then the previous ones. I'm on vacation in Jacksonville beach right now, and we took the computer, but we don't have internet access here, so, I can't look and see if it is longer.(though, by the time ya'll will be reading this, I'll be back home in tally.) anyways, REVIEW! Review, or I might decide to wait like five months before updating….muahahahaha!