Hey! Back again with what other than a brand new chapter! (these just come along so quickly because it is spring break, and I am really really bored.) A little bit closer to the goal of 15 reviews! Hey, a girl can dream…

Disclaimer: Once again, I own nothing from Eldest, the Inheritance series, or Eragon. (Paying attention? Hehehe switch it up, just for a change!)


Eragon and Saphira, we are here!

The three had been traveling for a day and a night, no stops for the fear of being ambushed, but Saphira was beyond the point of exhaustion to care anymore. Eragon came to his senses after an unintentional sleep, but the morning air just felt so inviting to the blissful world of sleep…

Eragon sat up and stretched his arms in front of him before observing his surroundings. He had expected to see some small city or even any form of civilization, but all there was around him were mountains, valleys, and the occasional body of water.

And where exactly is – Eragon thought to himself, but was cut short by another connection with Nika.

Hold on! This will feel a little odd… she told him as she headed started sloping downwards toward a nearby mountain face. Saphira followed at a frightening pace, nearly matching Nika's speed, but slowed as she came closer and closer to the mountain.

She is going to crash right into the rocks!

Come, don't slow down! It is better to do this the first time at a fast pace! Trust me! Was the last thing echoing in Eragon's mind before Nika hit. Or at least that is what he envisioned as he turned away from her imminent peril. He dared himself to witness what had happened, and opened his eyes with a prepared grimace on his face. Eragon gazed at the spot where he had last seen Nika, but barely had the time to comprehend the location of her body before he was going to smash into the wall.

Saphira, NO!

Bracing for impact, he gripped the saddle for his life until his knuckles turned white. His eyes squeezed shut and just as he hit –

A peculiar sensation of passing through water took his completely by surprise, although soon the feeling passed and warm air hit his face, strong and reassuring.

I am dead. This is what happens when you die, and now my body is smashed among the rocks…

Eragon dared to open his eyes, only to find his body completely in tact along with Saphira's. She was gliding along a dimly lit tunnel, which seemed to be very large in diameter. A dazzling light came from what Eragon hoped was the end of the passageway, and he shielded his eyes from the contrast of the two areas. Saphira broke into the sunlight, which seemed to be nearly blinding after the tunnel, and spiraled her way down and landed gracefully on what Eragon first heard as soft grass.

He sat in the saddle for a few moments, traumatized and shaking. He felt a light hand on his leg and instantly, feeling spread back through his limbs and his mind.

"You did well for your first time past our barriers. The last time a Rider and Dragon came in, the Rider had fainted. You have a strong heart, Eragon." And she offered her hand to help him down. Eragon nodded to her and he bend over one side to untie himself while she did the other.

He slid down Saphira's smooth scale and took a look around him. He stood in the courtyard of a stunning city. The area he was standing in measured about 200 feet all around, and fashioned in the shape of an oval. Beyond the trees, he could see houses, though they were like none had had ever laid eyes on before. Their simplicity made them all the more magnificent, and were full of color from the plants and flowers all in bloom around them. He could hear others talking gaily in the streets and children running about. Because he could not see any of the others, he wondered if they all looked like Nika, with white wings and flawless features, but concluded that he would soon find out as he heard more voices drawing closer to them.

"Nika! You have returned! We have missed you immensely, and I worried so much about you!" cried a woman who looked about the same age as Nika, while she ran up and hugged, what seemed to Eragon, her best friend. After the moment of embracing, the woman turned her head up to see Eragon and Saphira and walked up to them. She bowed to them, just as Nika had when they first met, and introduced herself.

"Greetings Rider Eragon and Dragon Saphira! I see my sister has brought you here safe and sound. Good! Oh, and my name is Dourle." She mentioned quickly and also embraced Eragon.

The hug was so sudden that he nearly suffocated himself in a flurry of feathers as Eragon realized So they do have wings like her. She then held him at arm's length and scrutinized him though sapphire eyes then could nearly match Saphira's scales.

"Dourle, please…" as Nika put a hand on her shoulder. "He is here to see them."

Both women stood aside and a man this time came into his field of view. He was tall and fit, with silver hair to match Nika's, which came down into a pony tail in the middle of his back.

"Eragon and Saphira, it is a definite pleasure meeting both of you. I am Rezan, and I see you have met my daughters, Dourle and Nika. This is my son, Amean." Said Rezan as he brought forth a man in a white tunic. His eyes were emerald green, and a head of bright red hair covered the top of his head, seeing it was cut short.

His bow was controlled as he greeted them, "It is a pleasure to meet both of you. It is a great honor to meet you, for we have not had a dragon and rider visit for… too long." He straightened up and smiled at them, but stepped out of the way as his father came forth again.

"You look exhausted! Will you join us for what I am sure is to be a feast? There has been non-stop talk about both of you since Nika has left." requested Rezan merrily.

"S- sure…" Eragon agreed weakly, still traumatized at the speed of recent events.

We would be honored connected Saphira, as he bent down into what was an unmistakable bow.

"Good! Then let us be off." Rezan turned his back and marched off. Naturally, the rest of the company followed as he headed up the streets.

Rezan led the way, followed by Dourle and Nika, where Dourle talked animatedly to her sister and Nika just smiled sweetly, then came Eragon and Amean at a considerable distance behind the women, and Saphira close behind those two. They had only walked some way when Amean turned to Eragon.

"I am sorry for my sister's… suddenness. She has been very anxious since Nika had left… we all have. I tried to convince Nika to let another do it, after the accident, but she insisted that she could do it. Once Nika has a goal set, nothing can stop her." Amean whispered quietly as they passed through the streets .

Accident? Is that why she wears the blindfold?

That may be, little one. Do not ask her, she will tell you if she feels the need to.

People stopped and smiled as the procession walked by, while some even cheered for Eragon and Saphira. Some children followed after Saphira, the younger ones chasing after her tail, which she waved back and forth to entertain them. One really young one came up next to Eragon and tried to keep up with him as she dragged along a stuffed doll. He looked down to her and smiled, which made her run back to her mother and hide behind her legs.

"Mommy, that man doesn't have no wings!" Eragon could hear the little girl say to her mother, as children so bluntly do.

"Hush now! He is a rider, and his dragon helps him fly. He is a very important person in this town now, so if you meet him again, treat him nicely!" replied the mother and picked up her daughter.

Eragon blushed slightly and faced forward so that he hoped no one could see. Out of the corner of his eye though, he could have sworn to see Amean chuckle to himself and give the slightest smile.

"I had told you that you are an important guest here. This is only the beginning." Amean picked up speed so they did not fall too far behind the others, and beckoned to Eragon and Saphira.

Finally, after what Eragon fathomed to be at least a mile of walking, the company reached the end of the road. A house stood at the end, decently larger than the others in town and decorated lavishly with plants and surrounded by trees with blooms in all shapes and colors.

"Eragon and Saphira, this is our home, in which we will accommodate both of you, and hopefully make plans for the future. This structure has been around for ages, so Saphira, you will find all the necessities a dragon could get, or want. Please, if there is anything you can not find, you may find one of us. There is always at least one person about." Rezan joyfully presented the house with.

"You, all of you are so kind. You receive much gratitude from us." Eragon thanked them with.

Rezan led them into the house, where the smells of delicious and new foods wafted from the nearest room that they entered.

Gladly, Eragon noticed their diet contained more than berries, but did not have as much meat as he was used to. Still, neither of them protested at the sight of food and ate what they would until Eragon's and Saphira's exhaustion caught up with them.

"I am glad you enjoyed the meal. Now, Nika, would you please lead these two to their room? Good."

Nika stood silently and beckoned both of them through the house. There were no stairs, as there were in the elven homes Eragon noticed, but the house did seem to have two floors. One way or another, they had made it to the upper story and Nika opened an oak door.

"This is you room. You will find that your possessions have been brought up here along with any other objects you may need. I bid you good rest." And with that last notion, Nika walked down the hall way and somewhere out of sight.

Eragon looked around the room, happy with his surroundings. In one corner of the room, there was a round padded dip in the floor where he supposed Saphira to sleep. Just opposite of that was what looked like a mattress to Eragon, and he made his way to it. He lay down, intending to just relax for a few moments, but the mattress was so warm and inviting that he closed his eyes and drifted off into a deep sleep. Saphira too, walked over to her pad, and curled in a tight ball. She watched Eragon's deep breathing turn into a slow steady rhythm, and eventually drifted off into her own world.


Okay guys, hope you liked it! Oh, and it only took me 5 hours, give or take… This is the dangers of being home for a week, with nothing to do. Fanfiction – my additciton.