Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or places. They belong to Christopher Paolini

A/N: This is a fairly major rewrite of Chapter 3. If you had read my story before, you really have to read this again. More about this at the end of the chapter.

-Lisa

Eragon raised his arms in surrender, the paddle falling to the ground. The figure that held the bow was cloaked from head to toe, but it was not the black of the Ra'zac, but a dark gray. He tried to probe the mind of the person, but immediately he felt a strong barrier.

"I wouldn't try that."

Eragon was startled. Not only could the figure stop his probe, but the voice was definitely female, even if it was accented.

Eragon reached out with his mind once more to try to contact Saphira.

"Don't," she warned darkly. Eragon was worried. No one had been able to tell if he was contacting Saphira before.

"Who are you?" Eragon asked. The only person he knew who had such a strong barrier on their mind was Murtagh and Arya.

She ignored his question. "Who are you and what are you doing with that elf?" she asked. Her voice was dark and cold- barely more than a whisper. Eragon could not think where that accent was from.

"My name is Eragon," he said, immediately knowing that this woman would sense a lie. "And this is my guide," he continued, jerking his head towards Arya with his hands still held high. If he could just reach Zar'roc in the boat, he would take it and…

"How do I know you aren't taking her somewhere?" she asked. A small quiver in the voice of the woman surprised him. Was she scared?

Eragon relaxed a little. She was concerned about Arya, she wasn't going to take Arya to Galbatrox, but she thought that he was. If only he could convince her that he was on her side.

"Here is the proof, I am not taken against my will and I have been leading Eragon down the river. Now lower your bow or you will be shot." Arya's voice came from the canoe. She had sat up, and was holding her bow in her hands, with an arrow nocked.

Immediately, the robed woman put down her bow on the ground. "Arya," she said. Her voice was full of wonder. "Is it really you? You're not captured or…" she took a step towards Arya, but a flash of red stopped her.

"Back up," Eragon cautioned. "I would hate to use you to polish this blade."

"Zar'roc," she whispered. "How did you get this?"

"You are not in the position to be asking questions," Eragon pointed out, but he was troubled that she knew the origins of the blade, and Arya's name. It also bothered him that he could not see her face.

"Who are you?" Arya questioned, her voice strong and full of suspicion. "Tell me now, or I will shoot."

The hardness in the woman's voice was gone. "I'm Keldyna Katrinsdaughter," she explained. "It's Kela." She sounded urgent, although her voice was no louder. Eragon finally realized where he had heard her accent. A few travelers though Carvahall had sounded much like this. Eragon had long suspected that they were actually elves. When they were asked where they were from, they simply said "North" and they never showed their faces, or ears. Perhaps this Keldyna was an elf. She certainly was tall enough, as she was only an inch or two away from Eragon's height and he was considered tall.

"If it is you, take down your hood and show me your right wrist," Arya ordered.

"I will show you my wrist," the woman assured her. "But I would rather not take off my hood. You should know why."

Arya examined her wrist and Eragon could see a knotted bracelet made of brightly died blue and gray string. Arya examined the ties, and seemed satisfied.

"Welcome Keldyna. You are welcome to stay." Arya lowered her bow and hugged the robed figure.

Eragon was worried. Arya was letting a simple knotted bracelet show that this woman meant them no harm. Still, it seemed as if she was an elf, but he wasn't sure.

"I have not seen you for a long time. Where have you been, Keldyna?" Arya questioned.

"Where have I been?" she repeated as if she was questioning the right of Arya to ask that question. "We'vebeen looking for you for months. We were worried."

Eragon quickly drew to the conclusion that this was indeed another elf, although he could not be positive because her hood still covered her face, and ears.

"I was captured," Arya explained. "But Eragon rescued me," she gestured towards Eragon, "and he took me to the Varden. Can you take your hood down now?" Arya asked. "Eragon still does not know who you are."

The woman reached under her hood, seemed to feel her ears and then took off the hood.

Eragon gazed upon a human. He frowned in surprise. Eragon could see her ears clearly, for her dark blonde hair was all drawn back into a tight braid, except for a small fringe over her forehead. Brown eyes smiled at him, so different from the pale eyes of the elves. Eragon realized that she was about his age, perhaps a year younger.

"Hello Eragon," she said warmly. She ducked her head, and her voice dropped in volume again. "Sorry about aiming my bow at you. I thought Arya was your hostage. I should have known from a name like that." She shook her head sadly.

Eragon quickly assured her that there was no harm done. She obviously knew the origins of his name, which slightly amazed him.

Keldyna seemed like she was reluctant to say any more. She appeared as if she had used up her words for the day but she offered a pale hand and Eragon took it. She looked as if she had never been in the sun, but a small pinkness on her cheeks revealed sunburn. Her skin was also marked by acne, something no elf would ever have and Eragon had been lucky enough to have little of.

"This is Keldyna Katrinsdaughter," Arya formally said. "However, she prefers to be called Kela. Kela, this is Eragon Shadeslayer." Eragon's cheeks reddened as she said this. "He is the one who slew Durza the shade and who rescued me." Kela's eyes widened with appreciation as she looked at Eragon.

A question was in Kela's eyes as she looked at Arya once again. Eragon did not understand it but, evidently, Arya did.

"We're going to Ellesméra," Arya explained.

Kela looked sharply at Eragon.

"Eragon as well," Ayra answered, in response to the unsaid question. Kela nodded slowly, although she looked at Eragon in wonder.

A slight downdraft in the wind made Kela glance up immediately. Saphira was coming into land. Kela stood with her mouth open, and quickly glanced at Arya. Arya simply motioned to Eragon.

Why have you stopped? Saphira asked. She had not yet landed and therefore had not seen Kela, but suddenly, she began to dive towards them. I will kill you, human! She screamed in warning.

No Saphira! Eragon yelled, but she seemed to ignore him. Eragon ran towards Kela and tried to knock her out of the path of Saphira's claws. Kela had already thrown herself on the ground. He was surprised to hear Kela yelling up to Saphira.

"Eka aí fricai! Eka mulabra ono né haina!" (A/N: That means: "I am a friend! I mean you no harm!" I think.) Kela's voice was barely loud enough to reach to Saphira, but she understood the meaning.

Saphira stopped in surprise. It's true! Eragon yelled up to Saphira. Next time listen to me!

Sorry, she said sheepishly. She landed gently on the bank of the river. I thought that you were doing something foolish again.

Don't apologize to me, he told her. I'm not the one who almost got killed!

Please tell the girl that I am sorry.

Eragon tuned to Kela, expecting her to be furious, but she didn't even seem to notice that she had nearly been killed. She was just staring at Saphira and him. She sunk into a deep curtsy, spreading her robe wide. "You truly are Eragon. It is an honor to meet you, Argetlam." Reverence and awe filled her voice.

Eragon was uncomfortable. "Get up," he requested urgently. "I'm no one to bow to. I haven't done anything."

Kela simply shook her head. She stared deep into his eyes. "You are a rider. You should be honored," she turned to Saphira "as should your dragon."

Eragon suddenly remembered that he had not apologized to Kela for Saphira. "Saphira says that she's very sorry for trying to kill you," he explained.

Kela just smiled and started scratching Saphira in her favorite place, right underneath the chin. She simply shook her head and smiled as if to say "That's alright."

Saphira rumbled with pleasure and Kela simply smiled and scratched harder.

Where else would you like to be scratched? Kela asked Saphira. Saphira started in surprise. This girl had just talked to her!

A bit more to the left, please, she replied when she had overcome her surprise. Kela complied with her request.

Eragon felt a small tickle on his mind once more, but it was different than when the Urgals were nearby. It almost felt like whispers. He quickly shook his head, thinking he was just hearing things.

Kela had stepped away from Saphira and was going to Arya's side. "May I go with you to Ellesméra with you?" she asked, timidly.

"We would be honored to have you along. What route would you suggest taking?" Arya asked.

Eragon stopped dead in his tracks. Arya was asking directions, from a human! For the first time, Eragon began to think that this was no ordinary girl.

"I would continue down the Âz Ragni until we hit Hedarth. Then we could travel straight until we meet the bend in the Edda River and follow that up to Lake Eldor, continue along the Gaena River until we meet Lake Ardwen. We could get supplies at Sílthrim, continue up to Nädindel and then head east to Ellesméra," suggested Kela. It was the longest statement that Eragon had heard her say.

The names were completely foreign to Eragon, except Ellesméra. He hoped that Kela knew what she was talking about. Arya seemed to think that she did, for she nodded. "That sounds like a good route. Do you have a boat?" she asked Kela.

"Of course."

"We will wait for you on the river." Kela nodded and set off into the woods, not tripping over any roots or catching her cloak on any branches.

As Eragon watched Kela depart he asked Saphira Who is this girl? She talks like people from the far north, she knows Arya and other elves, Arya treats her as a younger sister and she takes advice from her. She also knows of the ancient language, and seems to be quite fluent in it, knows about the first Eragon, knows what Zar'roc is… Eragon trailed off, amazed at Kela.

She can also talk to me, Saphira added in. She asked me where I wanted to be scratched. Kela could be important. She can do so many things. I like her though. She's not snobbish, even though she can do all that. She also doesn't try to talk your ears off, like many other girls. It would be wise to befriend her.

Eragon nodded in agreement as he made his way to the canoe, stopping first to grab some food.

A/N: I had been writing some more chapters, and Kela's personality just didn't work out. I've changed it some from the original chapter. Hope you like it! Please review so I can know what to change. Also, thanks for reviewing. Could someone tell me what Mary-Sue-ness is? I would be indebted to you!

-Lisa