AN: Thanks for the review! I started to make up my own Elvish words in this chapter, because I had too. Please don't be mad about the words. Oh, and if you see strangly placed i's, the site that I had it on only took HTML codes, so that's what they used to be. I'll try my best to catch them all, but I can't catch them all.

Bella: I know it comes out late August in the U.S., but I'm not quite sure about Australia. Have you checked the official Inheritance website? is the site. I think they may have all the dates.

Disclaimer: I don't own it.

Chapter 3

1359 Steps

Eragon followed Arya and Aiedail down a path towards by far the biggest tree in the forest. It had a giant green door decorated with leaves, dragons, and various other things. Two guards, both identical in looks and posture, were standing on either side of the door, spears in their right hands. They wore beautifully decorated helms on the crown of their heads and stood like statues.

Aiedail walked up to the door, which had no knob, and used her index finger to write an invisible word in the middle. The door split into two and opened, revealing a large throne room. There, sitting on a throne of leaves, was Queen Izlanzadi, queen of the elves. Handmaidens stood behind the throne, nine in total. They each had the same blonde hair and white gown.

"Greetings, young Rider, and welcome to Ellesmera. You are the first of your kind to set foot in my throne room for quite some time." Her voice was dignified and noble, and as she spoke, her words echoed through the enormous room. The ceiling was high, though not as high as Tronjheim, and arched like a cathedrals.

"Your majesty." Eragon bowed as to not offend the powerful woman.

"Shur'tugal, tell me your name." She had brilliant emerald eyes and raven hair like Arya's.

"My name is Eragon, though I have yet to find my true name." He felt his face become flushed and he hoped that she did not notice.

"Ah, you are named for the first rider. A noble name, indeed. And what of your dragon?"

"Saphira." Izlanzadi appeared suprised by the name.

"That name once belonged to a dear friend's dragon. Why does he not travel with you?"

"Brom is dead." The Queen's eyes filled with sadness and tears came to them.

"I'm afraid I must retire, but I do wish to hear the entire story. How about over dinner tomorrow, to celebrate your arrival?"

"Dinner would be nice, thank you." The Queen got up off the throne and the leaves collapsed into a litter on the earthen floor. With a nod, she turned and headed towards a door in the back corner of the room. As soon as the door shut behind Izlanzadi, Aiedail turned and rushed to Eragon.

"Brom is dead? When did this happen?" With her this close, he could study the necklace a little more. It was the same symbol Arya had on her shoulder and on Brom's ring. Embedded into the sterling silver was four white diamonds and four pink ones. It was gorgeous, but he wondered how it held so much power.

"A few months ago." Saphira, do you see Aiedail's necklace? Do you know what it means?

No, little one, I am afraid I do not. Perhaps you could ask her or Arya. They might hold the answer.

Tomorrow. For now, let's get some sleep.

"Hmm, curious." Aiedail looked extremely confused and furrowed her brow. Then she returned to the normal, expressionless composure. "Well, let us find you a place to sleep. I do believe the Dragon Hold is still intact, so let us check there before running all over Ellesmera."

As it turned out, the Dragon Hold was intact, at least intact enough for Saphira. When it came to housing for Eragon, though, things were different. After getting Saphira settled in, they had walked all around the various rooms, but not one was actually clean enough. After looking in the last room, Aiedail sighed.

"I guess the Dragon Hold is out of the picture for you." She pinched the bridge of her nose with an index and middle finger. She closed her eyes and just sat there with her right elbow on her left wrist as it wrapped around her torso.

"Why doesn't he stay with us? We have more than enough room without Ada and Rimo."

"Who's Ada and Rimo?" Eragon had never heard names like those before.

"Ada is the word for father and Rimo is mother." Aiedail muttered, her eyes still closed. "I guess it wouldn't hurt. We had room before, and with them gone now, we have even more room." She sighed sadly.

"Well, get a move on then. I'm tired, srysa." Arya clapped her hands together and smiled wide.

"Come on." Aiedail didn't seem as cheery.

Where are you staying, little one?

At Arya and Aiedail's house. At least, until I find somewhere else.

It's not far, is it?

I don't know, let me ask.

"Is your home far from the Dragon Hold?"

"No, not at all." Arya still had the same smile and her voice was filled with cheer.

Eragon relayed the answer to Saphira and told her good night. Arya's tree-home was indeed not far at all. Soon it was in sight and Aiedail opened the door, revealing a winding staircase in the hollow trunk.

"How many steps are there?" The stair seemed to go on forever.

"Oh, I don't know. Aiedail, how many steps are there?"

"One thousand, three hundred and fifty-nine." She commenced to climb the enormous stair at a brisk pace.

"Great." Eragon mumbled.

After the first five hundred, he was just about ready to collapse of exhaustion, and he still had eight hundred to go. He didn't even notice when they made it to the top. It wasn't until Arya distracted him he even knew he had stopped.

"Uh, Eragon? Are you alright?" Her enchanting voice brought him back to an aching reality.

"Aside from sore feet? Yeah, I think." He yawned loudly, barely managing to cover his mouth. Arya chuckled and wrapped her arm around his shoulder.

"Let's get you to bed, big boy." Is she hitting on me? No, I must be too tired.

She led him into a nice room with a twin bed in the corner. After getting him settled, she leaned her head on the doorframe and watched him fall asleep. The next morning, he would begin training and he needed all the sleep he could get.