A/N: Hey ppl. Sorry it took so long, but I got writers block for awhile and school was busy being evil.

By the way, if anyone was offended by the God thing, well too bad. Stop reading if you don't like it.

Saphira scooped Arion into her maw and flew strait up. She glided up, oblivious to Airon's crys of amazement and more then a bit horror at being thrown into the air by a very large dragon and being able to see, from a first row seat, how big Saphira's teeth really are.

"AHHHHHHHHH!" He paused for a moment to catch breath and then started up again. "AHHHH-"

"Silence, frozen one!"

Airon dutifully tried to stifle his screams for a moment.

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Back on the ground Eragon had some problems of his own. He knew that he had deafeted a Shade before, but it had left him scarred and useless for fighting. Only after the Dragon's gift did he regain his mobility, while getting the bonus of all an elf's abilitys.

Still, a Shade was not to be taken lightly, and he took his opponent in for a hard fight. He moved into a fighting stance, utterly missing his old sword, Zar'roc. The Dwarfish sword was a good one, to be sure, but it was not a Rider sword.

"Shadessslayer...you cannot defeat me assss you did Durza, you fool. He issss but an underling in shadessss," the shade spat, it's tonge hissing like a snake.

"No, you foul beast. It is I who will defeat you, and stop your reign of terror. I defeated Durza, and I will rid Alagaesia of you as well.

With that, he charged at Durza, sweeping up with his sword to catch the Shades head. The Shade parried, and swooped around with the sword to slice Eragon's mid section.

Eragon blocked with his own sword, and released a flurry of blows to the Shades body, all of which were blocked, but barely. The Shade gave off a foul stench as it stabbed at Eragon's chest.

"Boy...that being of ice is not what you think. He will kill you someday..."

They flashed in a dazzling display of sparkes and swords. The Shade was fast, but it was clear that Eragon, with his training, was going to win a sword battle.

"That will be clear later. What I need to do now is rid Alagaesia of you," he said with a fire in his eyes.

"Böetq istalri," the Shade hissed, and fire rushed toward Eragon. Eragon's eyes went wide, then he remembered his training.

"Skölir nosu fra brisingr," Eragon shouted back. The fire stopped half a foot away from Eragon, and Eragon took the opportunity to attack on his own.

"Garjzla," Eragon said, and a huge light flashed in front of the Shade. The temporary distraction wasn't going to last. He thrust his sword into the Shade's heart, the weakness.

The Shade halted, seemed to grab its chest, then let out a ear splitting scream. Shadows flew out of its body, tearing it to shreds. This time though, Eragon was prepared for the spirits, and was able to defend himself till they left, most likely to a new victim.

Eragon looked at the spot where the shade used to be, then wiped his brow with his sleeve.

"Saphira...it is done. The Shade is dead."

"Good Eragon...you have rid the world of two shades now. I am proud of you, little one. Now be careful. The guards are dispersing, so you will have to do the task of killing them now."

"I know Saphira...so many die in this war."

He concentrated on locating the soldiers, then muttered one of the death words, killing them instantly.

"Saphira, you need to pick me up. I'm still at the tent."

"Alright, little one."

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Airon awoke, dully wondering where he was. Then he remembered.

"Uhhh..."

His head pounded as sunlight streamed in the tent that someone had made out of a spare sheet and two sticks.

A head poked through, and Airon recognized it as the rider he had caught a glimps of.

"Where am I," he asked the rider.

"Well, you were in a quite a bit of danger...although it's not clear to me why the Empire wanted you so badly, other than the obvious, of course. Right now we are about a mile and a half from where Saphira-thats my dragon-picked you up. We're about to go... so you have to come with us. The Empire will not let you live."

Eragon suddenly remembered a few of the words the Shade had said before he killed him.

"He will kill you someday..."

He shook his head slightly to rid the image.

"My cousin Roran will be coming with us to Helgrind. After that we will head to the Varden. You will be accepted there by Nasuada."

"And what makes you think I want to come? Just because you're a dragon rider?" he spat out.

"No... it is because I do not think you will live beyond 3 days alone."

Eragon noticed a small gash in Airon's side and winced.

"I could help with that if you want...I could heal you..." Eragon said carefully. "It will be easy for me."

Airon eyed Eragon, then reluctantly replied yes.

"Waise heill!"

Suddenly Airon's body glowed, and Eragon was thrown into the side of the tent roughly, though his momentum carried him farther than that.

"Woaaaahh!"

Eragon thumped to the ground 10 feet away, eyes wide in shock as the morning air shown on Airon, who stumbled slightly as he looked at Eragon.

"Sorry?"

A/N: There, no cliffie. Thought humor might help yall, so R&R!