A/N: Thanks for all of my reviews. I'm sorry that I'm updating on Christmas Eve, but I have too much to tell just to put it off. To all my wonderful, faithful readers!

RyanL: I'm glad you enjoyed it! Look for my other stories! (When they come out to the public.)

ToSFan9: I can't update sooner, but I'll try to write more!

Chapter 3: A Shocking Discovery

Eragon woke up huddled up next to a small fire, and was wrapped in a woolen blanket. He sat up and looked around with puzzlement. He noticed Roran and Katrina cuddled in a corner a while away, but Saphira was nowhere in sight.

"Roran?" Called Eragon, surprised at how meek his voice sounded.

Roran turned with surprise towards Eragon's sitting place.

"Cousin!" he cried with feigned exuberance. "You are awake!"

Eragon tried to stand, but his head grew dizzy and he fell back again. With frustration, he threw off his blankets.

"What happened?"

"Well, I'm not sure how to tell you this, but," Roran hesitated, "when you fainted, we took you on Saphira's back over here and set up camp. I saw the cut on your arm and your dragon explained that the Ra'zac sliced you. I examined the wound and your blood is fraught with elven poison. It is used to poison elves in battle and is extremely rare."

Eragon felt dizzy again, but relaxed and regained himself.

Saphira? He called tentatively.

Little one! You are awake! I was so worried!

Can you come here?

But of course.

Eragon waited patiently until a long, sapphire-blue body came into sight and landed near him. Saphira reached out with her long nose and sniffed his hair, rumpling it up. Eragon grinned and patted her.

It will take longer to get to Farthen Dur with Katrina traveling with us, Eragon observed.

Yes, Replied Saphira, dipping her slender neck in agreement, but I can go faster if time is pressing.

No! You strain yourself, Saphira Bjartskular.

Saphira snorted and curled her warm body around him, sheltering him with her sinewy wings. Sleep now, Said she comfortingly. Eragon found it hard to resist, and soon was in a deep, deep sleep.

Eragon woke, still in Saphira's warm grasp. He felt something nagging at the back of his mind, and it came to him: The poison. Why had it affected him so strongly? He wasn't full elf.

When Saphira awoke, he confessed his feelings to her. She took time to mull it over, but replied, although she seemed uncertain:

I do not know, little one, but perhaps Arya can explain. When we return to the Varden to get the poison extracted from your blood, maybe we can get answers.

Eragon nodded and strode over to Roran, who was sitting quite close to Katrina, and they were whispering feverishly to one another.

"Are you ready to go?" Roran asked, slinging his pack over his shoulder.

"Better now then later," replied Eragon, who then promptly swung leg around Saphira and stared ahead pointedly.

Soon, they were in the air again. Katrina, although she was rumpled, dirty, and shaken, thoroughly enjoyed the ride. This made Roran act braver while flying; though he was still visibly frightened.

Night fell over Saphira's enormous frame, and the mountains that held the dwarven city. She swooped down into the heart of the mountains and through the concealed entrance. The scenery suddenly became different. They glided down the many corridors, until they found the chamber that held Nasuada.

She looked a bit happier to be back in the place she had grown up in, and didn't seem to enjoy Surda at all. Nasuada rushed up to them.

"How did it go? You have Katrina, so it must have went well," she said breathlessly, glancing over at Roran's fiancée. "Oh, and Eragon, Elva is doing a great deal better. This morning my day maid dropped a teapot on Angela's foot; Elva was sleeping and didn't even stir."

"I need to see Arya," said Eragon, the aftereffects of the long flight suddenly taking a toll on his poisonous wound, "it is urgent."

"Right away…."

Eragon suddenly grew woozy and slumped backwards. Someone behind him caught him, and he looked up into their eyes. A familiar elven face smiled down at him.

"Hold on, Eragon, I will take care of you," said Arya. Eragon smiled. He was in good hands.

A/N: Sorry, it's short, but hey, it's early! Eragon might be OOC in this chapter; my mind was on other matters while writing it.