A/N Hey everyone! I want to update this as much as I can between now and Wednesday, as then I have to go back to stupid school! And thanks for all the fantastic reviews, I appreciate them all so much!

Reviewers

dragon-miko- hey, glad you liked, that was probably one of the best chapters yet.

DaAlCh- Thank you! Yeah, it was kind of long wasn't it? But the more the merrier right? Hmm, I did say that Legolas and Gimli were going to see the whole trilogy through didn't I? Well, I guess I lied! Just have to wait and see won't you? Yay! Can't wait for your email, I desperately want to know what happens! And your review had me laughing! They didn't get very far did they? Psycho Gimli!!!!

Nikki1- Wahoo! Long review! I love long reviews, they make me happy! Yeah, it is a brilliant book isn't it? I just for loads of comparisons between Eragon and LOTR that I just couldn't resist writing this! And I kind of see Brom as kind of like Gandalf, so that's where all that came from. Legolas vs. Eragon, that's so much fun to write because I can (try) to put some funnier moments in there. Murtagh I think is the name you were looking for right? Son of Galbatorix? Yeah, I am so looking forward to writing that. Hmm, not quite sure yet how Legolas is going to react to him, I guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. Glad you like it though so thanks a lot!!

Zammy- Here's the update! Thanks!

Xiad Rusco- Yep, things are definitely getting interesting! they are going to get a lot more so too the way this is going. Thanks and glad you like!

And I think this chapter will be a lot shorter than the last one, hope you enjoy!

Chapter 17- The Sea Longing

It was the break of dawn; Eragon had been woken by Legolas an hour ago. The Elf was now speaking with Brom in the study. When he came out to meet Eragon in the hall way he wore a bright smile on his face. "Come," he said simply. "Saddle Cadoc."

They were heading to the Western gate of Teirm, through the city which was still quiet as dawn broke. Legolas seemed to be in a hurry. "Legolas, where are we going?" Eragon asked, rubbing sleep from his eyes. No answer came for the Elf. They rode out of the city and Eragon was greeted by the sight of the sea. He smiled to himself. So this is what had got the elf in such good humour?

Legolas had stopped, closing his eyes to breathe in the beloved salty scent of the ocean. Eragon rode up to him, shading his eyes against the glare of the rising sun. Legolas turned to him, smiling as the boy had rarely seen. He inclined his head and they rode down to the beach. Leaving Cadoc and Loshîth to graze on the grass that grew on the top of the sand dunes that stood shading the beach. Elf and boy ran down them lightly onto the wet sand at their foot. Legolas ran down to the ocean's edge. Flinging back his hood and letting his fair hair blow free in the breeze. He pulled off his soft leather boots, rolling up his leggings to dip his feet in the cool water. Eragon followed suit.

"So this is the ocean?" he asked, a little awestruck.

"Yes, this is the ocean, do you hear her song to the shore?" said Legolas. "And look! Do you see the great ship borne upon the waves far off?" he shaded his eyes with his slender hand.

Eragon squinted. He could just make out the shape of sails unfurled on the horizon. "I wonder to what far away land it goes," Eragon said aloud.

"Who can say?" replied Legolas. Then he began in his melodic voice, in time with the gentle music of the waves:

"To the sea, to the sea the white gulls are crying,

The wind is blowing and the white foam is flying.

West, west away, the round sun is falling,

Grey ship, grey ship, do you hear them calling,

The voices of my people that have gone before me?

I will leave, I will leave the woods that bore me;

For our days are ending and our years failing.

I will pass the wide waters lonely sailing.

Long are the waves on the Last Shore falling,

Sweet are the voices in the Lost Isle calling,

In Eressëa, in Elvenhome that no man can discover,

Where the leaves fall not: land of my people forever!"

"You long to complete your journey more than anything, don't you?" said Eragon, feeling the cold biting water numb his feet.

"Yes, and I will one day," Legolas sighed.

"So what did Brom want to talk to you and Gimli about last night?" Eragon asked casually.

Legolas considered his words carefully. "He offered- he and Jeod- to arrange a ship to bare me and Gimli to the land we seek."

"What? Well that's fantastic! When?" Eragon said enthusiastically.

"Within the week," Legolas replied.

Eragon's smile faded. "Within- the week? You are leaving Alagaësia within the week?"

"To that I have no answer," Legolas replied. "Each day the sea longing becomes more difficult to resist, especially when I am so close. I can hear then Eragon, far away. Calling me home..."

-:0:-

Eragon was angry. Angry at the prospect of loosing the person that had become the nearest thing to a best friend he'd ever had. He knew he was been selfish to think the Legolas could wait until this quest was over. What if it would never end and only go from bad to worse? Hadn't they already been through much in Middle earth? Were they both not tired of fighting? And Legolas' heart now constantly ached to get to the land he longed to reach. And now, when the chance came- possibly the only chance they would ever have of leaving Alagaësia, he would deny his friends that?

"Eragon! Pay attention!" Brom snapped.. "We've been over this. This letter here is?"

"R," Eragon replied dully, completely disinterested in Brom's teaching.

"And this one?" Brom persisted.

"Z," Eragon said.

"NO!" Brom yelled. "This letter here is S, repeat after me: S."

And so the teaching went on. Gimli sat 8n the corner, puffing his pipe as usual. Eragon had been looking forward to learning how to read, but it was pushing his intellect to its limits. "Come boy, what is wrong with you?" Brom asked more gently seeing the mood Eragon had lapsed into.

"Nothing. Brom, could we please have a break for a while? My head is beginning to ache," Eragon said, massaging his temples.

Brom sighed and gave him leave to go. He padded out into the hallway, glancing at the hook where the cloaks normally hung. Legolas' was still missing. Nobody seemed to know where the Elf had gone. He had not been seen since their return from the beach. Eragon had completely ignored the Elf on the way back to Jeod's and had stormed into the study to begin his lesson with Brom. He had left Legolas standing in the hallway, a hurt and uncertain look lay buried deep in his usually bright eyes. And now Eragon felt terribly sorry for been the cause of it.

-:0:-

Eragon sat near Saphira, neither spoke for a while simply enjoying each other's company .Eventually Saphira spoke. 'What troubles you Eragon? Your mind is full.'

'Have you seen Legolas at all today?' he asked, trying to keep the worry from his voice.

'Yes, he came here earlier,' answered Saphira. 'He told me of Brom's offer. He also told me of your reaction.'

Eragon blushed. "Oh. I upset him, didn't I?' he said sheepishly looking up at her.

'No, he understands you are his friend and would hate to loose him," said Saphira gently. 'But you must understand Eragon, he longs to join the rest of his people. You are the only thing preventing him from making his decision. He says Gimli will follow him whatever he decides. He has until tomorrow to make up his mind.'

'Until tomorrow...' Eragon muttered.

-:0:-

Eragon settled down to sleep that night still worried that Legolas had not returned even though Brom had reassured him he was perfectly capable of taking care of himself. It was getting dark, and his tired eyes drooped. When he had got back form visiting Saphira Brom had made him get back to work- and he had worked hard that afternoon! He now knew all of the alphabet and the sounds the letters made, he could read whole passages (with a little help form Brom occasionally) but he was reassured he was getting better. Gimli had assisted in teaching him how to write also in Legolas' absence.

As he finally gave into sleep, a strange dream came to him:

A person lay in a cold cell, chained to the wall. A chink of moonlight shone through the bars, lighting on the being's face. A cold tear slid down their cheek and the curtain of long hair was brushed aside to reveal a pointed ear.

Eragon woke with a start and his thoughts immediately flashed to Legolas. He began to cry.

The door immediately burst open and Legolas dashed to his beside. "Eragon! What is wrong? What has happened?" he asked, concern filling his voice.

Eragon saw his friend through a veil of tears that was obscuring his vision. "Legolas! You're here, you're alright! I thought they'd got you. I'm so sorry!"

"Eragon, daro lín nîr. Glîr dad a îdh lín dol. Gerich u thang na achas. Ú oltha," Legolas whispered in his own tongue to help sooth the boy. (Stop you tears. Lay down and rest your head. You have no need to fear. Dream not.)

Eragon's tears seized. "Legolas, I thought they had caught you."

"Who?" said Legolas switching back to Eragon's tongue.

"I don't know. I dreamed that there was an Elf- I thought it was you, in a cell. Legolas, the Elf was crying and, and-"Eragon stammered.

"What is going on? Eragon- what's wrong boy?" Brom came shuffling into the room.

Eragon scrubbed furiously at his eyes, trying to wipe away the tear stains.

"Nothing," Legolas said quickly straightening up. "it was just a nightmare, it has passed now."

Brom looked to Eragon who nodded his head. "Just a childish nightmare... it's over now, I'm alright... just a nightmare."

Brom shook his head and returned to his own room.

When Brom had gone Eragon turned to Legolas. "Legolas, you and Gimli must leave Alagaësia!"

"What makes you say this?" said Legolas, kneeling at Eragon's bedside.

"I don't know, I just have this feeling. Alagaësia is becoming a dangerous place," said Eragon. "You have a chance to leave it, so take that chance. It may not come again."

"Eragon, I have faced many dangers in my life time. Worse I think than the ones descending on Alagaësia. I have done much thinking over the last few days. And I find that though my heart longs for the sea, it also pounds for one last adventure," said Legolas, standing and going over to the window.

"What are you saying?" said Eragon, swinging his legs out of bed. "Have you made your decision?"

Legolas looked wistfully out of the window and shook his head...

A/N Hmm, interesting. What do you think Legolas' decision will be? I know I said this would cover the whole of the Inheritance trilogy, but I guess I lied. And how long does it take him to make up his mind?? So will Legolas and Gimli leave Alagaësia? Well, lot will just have to wait until the next update! So review please!

Laters

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