Disclaimer: I don't own anything in this story, but my original characters: Ria and Vanilor. (there...long Disclaimer wasn't it?)

Attention to all my loverly fans: I will be starting another fanfic...yes, another. Yet, not yet. Hehe. I actually began to rewrite it cause it didn't fit the stuffage in HBP, but I still need a beta...

A/N:

Eldest is out! I'm so flippin excited! Though I got grounded so my mom took my book away...grumbles bloody book miser.

Thanks again,

Elvinwatchamajig

"Wipe that smirk off your face Murtagh, or I'll wipe it off for you." Ria grumbled as she stuffed dirtied cloth in her knapsack--it had been about a fortnight since she had left Urubean and she was not used to staying so long in one particular pair of clothes, so she felt she was due for a clothing change. She was now attired in completely black; it made her think of Galbatorix. Ria adjusted her quiver on her back irritably and shot a certain handsome, dark haired young man a nasty glare; he smiled.

Murtagh was not the source of her anger, although she directed it at him-- it was Eragon. How dare he! Oh, Eragon is going to get it, she huffed. He didn't even glance at her when he drew his sword. He didn't even reguard her! It was as if she wasn't there. As if she didn't exist. Like it was back in the castle when she was a servant. Her eyes burned with anger and sadness, so that she felt that they would spill over like an unbalanced goblet. And Murtagh...she could slap him...he knew what she was feeling, and he smirked teasingly at her. Ria knew that he didn't know how much it actually hurt her, for she felt she was as strong and as able as any man/boy her age; however, her feelings overrode her logic, and she desperately wished to slap him...actually, both of them.

Calm down, a soothingly deep voice entered her head, and she smiled despite herself.

I see that your back.

Obviously. Vanilor replied lazily, circling over her head and then landing. A great rush of air sent her cloak billowing, and her long, elegant hair splaying out behind her head like a phantom. Want to fly?

Yes, but you know I can't. She mentally lured Snowfire over near her, and began to strap her knapsack on; the horse shifted uncomfortably as Vanilor eyed the beast and snapped his fanged jaw playfully at it. Ria shot him an annoyed glare, and he withdrew shifting his wings in mock innocence. She smiled despite her bad mood.

We'll be in Gil'ead by nightfall, best be taking off and going ahead. I don't know what these two are leading me into, and I'm leery that we might get caught. This is a military settlement, and there'll be people who'll recognize me; be ready to take flight in case of an emergency.

"I don't see why you are so upset. I think not engaging you was courteous."

Ria gave Murtagh an indignant glare.

"Really, you're a women, and men don't engage women in swordplay unless she engages it first. It's custom. What normal women would want to be asked to spar?" Murtagh mounted Tornac, and looked at her expectantly.

"I'm going to try and not take that as an insult." Ria raised an eyebrow at him, then mounted Eragon's horse.

He smirked at her and gave a supressed chuckle; his deep brown, thoughtful eyes were smiling, and for once, he didn't look so burdened with worry. "You know that's not what I meant."

"I get the feeling that you're the only one who's getting amusement out of this predicament." She was smirking as they spurred their horses instep with one another. It was hard for her to be foul towards Murtagh over something someone else caused-- Ria had come to the realization that they would eventually part, and she wished to enjoy the time she had with him. He was all she had left, but she wouldn't tell him that.

You have me. Vanilor's voice wafted into her head.

I know I have you, Ria sighed, But I don't have a choice, do I?

No. Vanilor stated this smugly, then added, And I'll try and not take that as an insult.

Ha ha. Very funny... Ria pushed him out of her head.

They camped a distance away from Gil'ead. Ria let the men decide what they would do; she made it clear that she would not put a foot inside Gil'ead. She had come too far to get caught just as she was getting around to liking freedom.

It was decided that Murtagh would go in to look for the man. Ria preferred that he didn't go, but it was the best that they had come up with-- the plan still made her feel uneasy.

It was midday and Ria pushed all thoughts of worry out of her head. She needed to relax, or to atleast try to relax. Vanilor flew high overhead so that she could hardly see him, except for a faint glint in the sky where the light would reflect off his silver scales. Ria shed her bow and quiver, and she flopped down on the ground drawing her hair away from her face with a restless hand. Eragon was a distance away probably talking with Saphira, and Murtagh came over and sat next to her.

"I'd rather you not go in at all." She expressed dully.

"I've given my word."

"What allegiance do you owe him?" She snapped.

"Are you still mad over the sparring situation?" Murtagh raised an eyebrow at her.

"How'd you guess?" She asked sarcasticly raising her dark eyebrows. She sighed, "It was offending in a way, but I know he didn't mean anything by it...but that's not why I'd rather you not go. What if someone recognizes you?"

"Don't worry about me Ria, worry about your own safety first." He looked at her meaningfully.

Her eyes teared up, and she adamantly pushed it back; she was desperate to not let them spill over, "How can I not worry?"

Murtagh noticed her sadness, and realization dawned on him. He turned his head away; his head raced with confused thoughts. She cared for him, but was it the way he cared for her? It was something he wasn't used to in his life, for the only person who seemed to have the slightest care for him was his mother, but she was dead. Murtagh looked back at her, hoping that she felt as close to him as he did her. Her dark locks were splayed out behind her head, and her slightly tan skin was glistening in the midday heat. She looked at him with intent green eyes behind dark lashes. She parted her curved lips to say something, but she must have noticed the look on his face, because she stopped and only stared. Murtagh gently took her outstretched hand.

"I care about you Ria. We've known eachother for a while, and I can't deny that I care about what happens to you. That's why I want you to not worry about me, and think about yourself first. I don't want anything to happen to you on my account." His eyes looked meaningfully at her, and she sat up to look him levelly in the eye. "I suppose I better get going." He added finally, and then pulled her into his chest.

Ria felt his lips on her forehead as she laced her hands around his waist. She had never been this close to him before-- she had never been this close to anyone before. It wasn't awkward though; it felt so right to her. Murtagh shifted his head so that his chin was resting on the top of her head, and she buried her head deeper into his chest. Ria closed her eyes and absorbed the moment, for something told her that she might not be able to be that close to him again.

"I'm sorry about the other day."

Eragon and Ria sat by the fire waiting for Murtagh. Ria was becoming more and more worried as time passed, so she tried to busy herself with making a very disturbing mosaic on the ground with the tip of a dagger. Vanilor interrupted her thoughts every once in a while, but for the most part she was silently carving the demise of Galbatorix in the dried dirt at her feet. Eragon watched her every now and then, and he was most likely conversing silently with Saphira.

Ria looked up for the first time in about an hour, "No need to apologize." She looked back down at Galbatorix's head which was decapitated from his body. She carved a little pool of blood around the stump of his severed neck.

"Murtagh told me that you were offended by my actions." Eragon obviously felt bad. Ria's gut clenched at the thought that she had been so infuriated by his actions, when he had actually meant no insult. She didn't know how she could have thought so badly.

"I was, but now I'm over it. I think I may have over-reacted."

You think?

Shut up Vanilor. She pushed the dragon irritably out of her head.

"You want to spar?" He was obviously trying to make up for his neglect in not asking her before.

"No, that's all right." Ria gave him a smirk and drawled sarcasticly, "I'd like to save up my energy for when the King's soldiers find us."

Eragon smirked, but he also sensed the truth in her statement, "Let's hope that it doesn't come to that."

She smiled at the dark humor.

"I can't believe this!" Ria stormed about the campsite, the fire illuminated her livid features as she readily held her longknived in her hands. She was whispering harshly as Eragon sat with his head resting on his knees, while Murtagh poked the campfire with a stick, "I told you not to go. I knew something like this would happen! I knew it!"

"Ria, calm down, we don't know if anyone found out." Murtagh reponded gazing up at her.

"He still saw you! It's only a matter of time before they find out, and don't tell me I'm over-reacting Murtagh! I have every right to be concerned about them finding us out. This means mine and Vanilor's life! Not to mention Eragon's and yours! We need to take this seriously."

"Who says that I'm not." He retorted, "I'm just not yelling like a banshee. With the way your yelling, they will find us."

He was right. It was no time for yelling. Ria sighed and sat down and took out her dagger, resorting back to carving her morbid pictures in the dirt.

"We will meet him in the morning as we originally planned. We don't even know that he alerted anyone." Eragon stated, "We will just have to be more careful."

"Easier said than done." She grumbled.

Ria's eyes snapped open as she detected a movement nearby.

"Murtagh." She nudged Murtagh's foot as she drew her bow and an arrow. "They've found us."

Eragon was alert and looking around descretely, his weapon drawn as well.

"I don't hear anything."

"You will." Ria murmured before she released an arrow toward the vicinity of the intruders. Seconds later they were ambushed.

Ria called Vanilor and Eragon called on Saphira, as the three battled with about a dozen men and a few ra'zac. She was finding it a little difficult to follow the creatures movements, but somehow she managed.

Eragon had somehow been knocked out, but she hadn't seen by what. She was too busy trying to fight off a certain persistant raz'ac, and doing a remarkable job at deflecting the blows he sent in her direction.

He sent a blow to her neck, but she swiftly parried it with her blades and tried kicking the creature in its chest, but it retreated back only to spring forward again with another attack.

Vanilor.

I'm here.

A blow toward her stomach. Annoyed, she lashed out with magic and blasted it off its feet. The creature quickly recovered, and began to pounce again.

You and Saphira! Get us up in the air. We won't survive this.

There was now a soldier near her side, and he began to grab her roughly. The raz'ac was on her too, grabbing her hair and forcing her down with a heavy blow to the back of her knees. She cried out in anguish, her eyes flashing. A cool dagger was pressed to her throat, and she gulped searching for the right spell and pushing at the magickal barrier. A moment later a burst of heat flew toward her back, and she was released only to be grabbed again by a talon-like claw. Ria breathed in a sigh of relief as she felt herself lift off the ground and fly into the air, but as the ground began to retreat, to her horror, she realised that the soldiers had Eragon.

Vanilor! Wait! Stop! They have Eragon.

Hush little one, we cannot save him now. Vanilor retreated higher into the clouds to avoid the arrows that were sent in meager flurries toward them. She saw Saphira nearby with Murtagh within her claws, and Ria was silently thankful that at least he was safe.

But they'll kill him for sure.

Not right away.

Then we must come back for him.

Ay, we will.

They landed nearby only to allow Ria and Murtagh to mount Vanilor's back. They had to discuss what their recourse would be, and it would only be possible if they were upon the same dragon while flying in the air. Normally, she would not attempt to talk with Saphira, but due to present circumstances, normal etiquette among Riders could be disguarded for the sake of Eragon. They decided that they would circle nearby Gil'ead, but they would remain high in the air due to the threat of soldiers and ra'zac.

"We must think of a way to get him out. There is no doubt in my mind that Eragon would be taken to the jail...which is right there." Ria's eyes zeroed in on a large barrack-like building below them. "Say Murtagh, do you know what the roof is made of."

"Stone mortar, most likely."

"Would you say it would be easily penetrated by a dragon's claws?" A small smirk quirked at the corner of his lips when Ria turned back to him, while Vanilor gave a small grumble of approval.

"Most likely." He responded. "We could get Saphira to do that, and since Vanilor can breath fire, he can circle and keep things from getting to far out of hand. You and I could go into to the building and spring Eragon out. There'll be guards at the main doors which we can easily take out by surprise, then a second batch in the main corridor. There'll also be guards patrolling the halls. We'll have to basically just work with whatever we can, and hope all turns out well."

It finally registered with Ria that the heat wave on her back was, in fact, her dragon breathing fire. In the suspence of the moment she had forgotten.

I had almost forgotten. It is quite early for you to be breathing fire...remarkable.

I know.