Since the night of the Agaetí Blödhren, when Eragon's back was healed and he was transformed by magic to be neither human nor elf, but something in between, he at first missed the feeling of falling into a deep sleep. During the war he realized how lucky he was to not be plagued by nightmares that he couldn't escape, and so over time forgot the feeling of being dragged into a fitful rest with no escape from the nightmares.

This night would be a brutal reminder.

Eragon slept. It was a strange sensation after having gone so long without it. The total darkness surrounding him, being aware that he was asleep yet could not move his body made him feel like he had a constant itch under his skin. Uncomfortable, and slightly worried he may have accidentally put himself under a spell when he was meditating earlier or thinking that this was possibly a test of some sort, Eragon looks for the presence that was so much a part of him as he was of her.

'Saphira'... He waited, expecting that possibly she may be asleep too. But he normally was able to feel and know even when she was asleep. The only time he could not feel her would be over too long of a distance and since training with the Eldunari and the elves daily that distance had to be astronomical. They didn't talk about her going hunting or flying anywhere without him. All he could recall was both of them lying on the ship after an intense training session with a few of the ancient wild Eldunari, watching the clouds drift by on a slight breeze.

Starting to feel the slow rise of anxiety start to creep in, the darkness becoming a tad constricting. Eragon calmed his mind and took a deep breath, he thought 'Losna…' (release)

Nothing…

Feeling a sense of challenge and excitement rise within him, Eragon thought through how best to get out of what was most likely a test given by the Elders. He tried for what seemed to be hours of putting together different ways to get out of this dark and suffocating place.

Vakna! (awaken)

Again, nothing…

Eragon knew from past experience to be patient but quick witted, he assessed the situation as non threatening and after going through his expansive knowledge, deemed this as an unfortunate failure. He knew if the Elders were listening in as he thought they would let him out eventually. Letting out a frustrated breath he made his body limp, relaxing as much as he could manage and let his mind go blank.

Relaxing into the darkness and becoming a part of it Eragon was instantly alert when he noticed a small amount of light through his closed eyelids. 'Finally,' he thought. Slowly opening them to the bright blue sky. The sounds of seagulls and the sound of waves crashing against rocks was nothing new to his ears since being on this journey. Relaxing further he reached out with his mind to touch his surroundings as it has become second nature for him to do so. He paused and sat up fully when he realized his mind was as closed off as it was in the dream. Looking around he could spot the seagulls but from below not from above as he would if he was on the ship. He laid on the edge of a cliff, with a vast dark blue ocean spread out before him.

He stood up in swift graceful motion and wondered where he could be and what was going on.

After some time, and no enemies declaring themselves, Eragon starts to relax into the strange dream coming to the conclusion that this was perhaps more testing of his mind and endurance. Feeling the wind with its crisp bite and smelling of salt and ocean was calming and peaceful. Much preferable to the suffocating darkness earlier.

The wind started to pick up softly at first then became stronger as giant dark clouds started to roll in faster than any storm not created through magic he had ever seen. His clothes whipped about his lean frame with the wind battering at him from every direction. He stood there, a literal calm in the middle of the storm.

A jarring thud came from behind, startled but not showing it, Eragon turned still calm, his hand out of habit reaching for Brisingr. He stopped mid-motion, startled at the sight before him.

A massive army, as far as his eyes could see, standing at full attention not making a noise or motion, just watching and waiting.

At the front, all hold spears and have black armor with helms that cover their faces entirely. At the back, men on horseback with curved swords and no armor. To the side, men in black and some in animal hides with strange black weapons.

An armored warrior in the front moves and catches Eragon's attention, he looks to be speaking but even with Eragon's elf-like hearing he couldn't make out what was being said over the screaming wind. The soldier became still once more, and then as one the entire army went to one knee.

Confused, Eragon sees the warrior that had spoken take off his helm. Eragon first noticed how cold and distant this warrior's eyes were, his face as stoic as if carved from marble. He looks upon Eragon and his eyes change to showing thinly veiled distrust, then slowly lifts his finger to point behind Eragon.

Turning, Eragon finds himself looking into the deep blue eyes of a stunningly beautiful blonde woman.

Now, Arya had always made Eragon's heart flutter like the young lad he was when he met her and that never changed. But this woman made his breath catch and his chest squeeze. She had a force to her gaze and demeanor that radiated power, regal and cunning… 'a queen.' he thought. He stares openly for a few moments feeling giddy and like the young lad he used to be. She opens her mouth to speak, but just as with the warrior Eragon could not hear. Pity.

She reaches her hand toward his, and a sense of distress comes over him, but he can not help but lift his hand towards hers. It was the same feeling he had when Saphira's egg first appeared in front of him. He noticed how small and petite her hands were and compared them to his own callused and scarred. He was curious if her hands were as soft as they looked, his curiosity had bitten him in the ass many times and he had the feeling that would be the case here as well.

Hands a hair's breadth away from touching, and eyes still locked onto each other. Eragon watched as she opened her mouth to speak once more, when suddenly pain overtook her face and the screaming of the stormy winds became her screams of pain and anguish.

Wishing to help her but suddenly unable to move, Eragon tries to assess the situation. Why is she screaming? He doesn't see blood or any injuries. Pushing with all his might against the force that is keeping him still and incapable of helping, he doesn't notice the shadows overhead becoming larger until they overtake the sun.

Dragons… three of them. But, something is off. He watches as each dragon lands behind the woman at the edge of the cliff. Feeling their hot breath, Eragon looks at each one until finally he sees what bothered him. These dragons looked different from his Saphira and any other he had ever seen. Their wings were attached to their front legs it seemed.

Distracted by this, he was once again shocked when just like the woman each dragon opened their mouth as one and merged their screams with hers. Eragon is finally able to move but the only thing he can do is cover his ears which started to bleed as the screams were too much for his heightened hearing.

The pain becomes more than just his own. It is all-consuming, his mind starts to feel like it is being pulled in five different directions. He has to control it, keep them all together. He can't. No, he must, or they will all die. He opens his eyes not realizing that he had closed them. Looking down, Eragon sees two of the three dragons lying dead and the woman on the ground in a pool of her own blood. He looks down at his hands and sees they are stained red. He tried to help, he tried to fix it and failed. He failed.

He looked up at the last dragon to see that it slowly and softly was nuzzling the woman's dead body. Eragon and the dragon locked eyes and he could see emotions within that spoke of sorrow and regret, they mirrored his own.

We… failed…

Eragon jerks awake, heavy gasps escape his lips while the screams continue to echo in his ears. A different pair of blue eyes stare down into his own deep chocolate brown.

Are you alright little one?