piperw142: You're welcome, glad to know you appreciated the chapter even if it was short x)

Guest: Well, it is I who have to thank you for taking the time to read my story and leave a review. Don't be sorry for your English, mine's far from perfect (I'm french;) )

George Edwards: Your suggestions are interesting. The song scene is already planned in a special event, during Eldest but I'm not going to say more ;) For the other idea... I've read a lot of fanfics with mature/lemon scene but I never wrote one. You're completely right when you say there's hardly any sexual content between Saphira and an OC, I've read more stories involving SaphiraxEragon/Thorn/Firnen than with an Original Character.

Oh, and sorry for the delay people, I had trouble writing lately because I was busy with work and my procrastination level was over 9000 (but thanks to music, I was able to deliver this chapter). Good reading!

Chapter 20

His eyes slowly opened, directed to the ceiling. His view was fuzzy but became clear after blinking a few times. His whole body was aching except for his right arm, he couldn't feel a single thing there.

"Where the heck am I?" groaned Alex to himself, clearing his throat.

Looking around him, he deduced he was in a single room with just a bed and a few furniture. His clothes and belongings were on a table, waiting for him. Sighing heavily, the swordsman removed the cover and slowly rose up to an upright position. His muscles were screaming at him to stop moving but he refused. Lowering his blue eyes to his hands, he saw his forearm put in a cast.

«It explain why I can't fell anything in this place. »

Memories of the battle flooded his head. He remembered the feeling of protectiveness washing over him when that Urgal tried to kill Saphira, the moment his katana made contact with the mace and was utterly destroyed, the pain he felt when his arm was smashed against his side and hearing the bones breaking. Alex wondered how he still had his member in one piece or even how he survived something that should have killed him.

«Best theory: magic. If it's the case, an extended stay in Alagaësia would mean the end of my immunity to it. At least, magicians can't still find and probe my mind so, that's still a plus. »

With some difficulties, the swordsman stood up, shirtless, his legs wobbling and still weak, menacing to give up under his weight. Taking careful steps, he approached the table. Needless to say, it took him some time to dress up, releasing a few curses, groaning, yelling… anything to vent out his anger to the fact it wasn't easy to put his shirt and leather vest on him. However, it was just a little quicker with his socks and shoes.

Then, he took an MRE from his backpack and began to eat. The last time he ate something, it was just before the battle and right now, his stomach was telling him to fill it with something, anything. When he was done, Alex packed everything, put his backpack over his left shoulder, opened the door and left the room.

After wandering in a few corridors, he found himself near a canteen and entered the place. It was full of people, humans and dwarves alike. Everywhere, barrels of mead were opened while everyone was singing, happily. Sitting at one table, in the middle of all of this, were Eragon, Saphira and Orik, drinking. The young man unsheathed his Desert Eagle, aimed to the ceiling and opened fire. Immediately, everyone stopped what they were doing and turned their head in direction of the sound.

"Excuse me but can someone be kind enough to tell me what the fuck is going on?"

"Alex?" Eragon looked at him, slowly understanding what was happening before he stood up, rushing to his friend all the while smiling. "Alex! You woke up!"

"Yep, still alive as you can see."

The rider stopped in front of him and hugged him tightly. "I thought I'd lost you too. Especially with the injuries you had."

"I thought the same." replied Alex, while returning the hug. "But here I am."

Saphira walked to them, relieved to see their friend walking.

«You scared us Alex but I'm glad you're well. Especially after what happened recently. »

"And pray tell, what exactly happened after I lost consciousness?"

Eragon broke the hug, not smiling anymore, a somber look on his face. "Follow us."

The trio walked back to the table and sat on the chairs. All the people around them resumed the festivities but some of them were whispering, while taking a glance in direction of the swordsman.

"Glad to see you back on your feet, friend." Orik said, smiling.

"Thanks. So tell me, how did we managed to win? Last time I checked, we were on the losing side."

"True but first, what is the last thing you remember?"

"A blinding light followed by an explosion, the sapphire star shattering and… Saphira falling while spitting flames. After this, everything went black… until half an hour ago, when I woke up."

For the next ten minutes, Eragon explained what happened while his friend was recovering. The fight against Durza, the pain he was experimenting since he had the wound in his back, Ajihad's and Murtagh's death to the hands of the Urgals, Nasuada, Ajihad's daughter, chosen to be the next leader, the Elders trying to coerce Eragon into pledging allegiance to them and Saphira's promise to repair the broken sapphire.

"I really missed a lot of things in the last few days. I knew I couldn't have done anything to save them but I'd have liked to be here when Murtagh and the others were ambushed. They were dying while I was sleeping quietly, without a care in the world… anyway, what's done is done."

"I saw what was remaining of your katana. There's nothing much remaining except the handle and guard."

Alex nodded, his eyes lost in the cup of water in front of him. "True. Now I'll have to fight with only one hand… not that it bother me because I was trained for this kind of situation but still. I feel a little naked without it."

During a good part of the night, everyone continued to drink, slowly passing out or leaving the place, completely inebriated. And talking about drunk people… or dragon in this case: Saphira, despite putting a show to the others with her slurry speech and clumsy walk, was clingy and often expressed her affection to Alex with nuzzles and nibbles. As the people around them were laughing at the display, the poor adolescent was red like a tomato and tried to push her away gently each time. His salvation came in the name of Arya who entered the room, looking all around her before spotting him.

She made a gesture with her hand, signaling him to follow her. Alex excused himself and left the place. Once he was in the neighboring corridor, he found her with her arms crossed, her back against the wall.

"You should have stayed in bed, you're still weak from the battle."

"I know but I hate staying in one place, especially if it's to do nothing. Lying in a bed all day while waiting for my injuries to heal is not my forte."

She nodded. "I can understand that."

Then, she walked to him and put her left index on his torso, where his heart was. All of this while looking at him intently in the eyes.

"Listen, I don't why or even how but you should be dead. The injuries you received were too severe for any normal human to survive from this. You should have died way before Angela arrived but somehow, you stayed alive. Even when we thought it was over, you went against the odds."

"How did you healed me?"

"With magic, why?"

The young man turned his head away, sighing.

"Technically, it shouldn't have been possible. I'm supposed to be immune to it but I think I'm losing it the more I'm exposed to this world's inner magic."

"Maybe it's because of this… or something completely different, who know."

The duo was interrupted by the sound of wood cracking and the ground shaking a little. Immediately, Alex unsheathed his broadsword and rushed to the dinning hall, fearing something dangerous had happened and was followed by Arya. The sight in front of them was completely different from what they had imagined.

Saphira was laying on her side, her eyes closed and snoring loudly. Eragon was next to her, sleeping in the exact same position.

"Well, at least, they're not going to embarrass themselves anymore." Alex sighed. "You can go; I'll keep an eye on them."

Alex took a mug and filled it with mead. He chugged it in less than ten seconds and refilled it. "Well, it's going to be a loooooong night."

Eragon opened his eyes, gasping loudly, as water was poured over his face. Alex was standing over him, smirking.

"Come on Princess, nap time is over!"

His friend replied with a grunt as he lied back. "Ugh, my head. Last time I drink that much."

"Yeah, I think so too. It wouldn't be good to make a habit of this, no? There's a cup of water next to your clothes for the funeral."

Then, the swordsman walked to Saphira, knelt down next to her head and began to boop her on the nose with enough force so she could feel it. The first reaction he had was a frown, then followed by a growl. She turned her head to the side, to escape from the assault but it was useless.

«Keep doing it if you want to lose your hand. »

"Oh, good morning to you too, grumpy dragon." He laughed and stood up. "I think I saw a barrel of water, it'll help with your headache. You have five minutes to freshen up before we go."

Exactly after the five minutes, Orik walked in, nodding approvingly as Eragon put the last of his clothes on him.

"Good, follow me, the procession will begin soon."

The trio walked out with the dwarf.

"We'll begin at the south portal of Tronjheim and from there, to the grave he'll be put in."

The young rider turned his head to his friend, slightly frowning in curiosity. "You're coming with us?"

"Yes." Alex answered. "I'm going as an Ambassador after all. But I'll follow the procession from a little away. Not many people know about my position and I do not want to jinx the neutral ground between our countries by doing something that could interpreted as a provocation."

"Wow, it's seems complicated."

"It's politics. As much as I hate it, I have to follow the rules."

They went through a good part of the city into a large catacomb, with thousands of tombs inside. They put Ajihad's body in a vault, just for him. Only those who knew him personally were authorized to give him a final goodbye.

After this, Nasuada was chosen as the new leader of the Varden and Eragon, to the Council shock, took allegiance to her. Not even two hours later, a fight broke between Eragon and Saphira about a woman trying to seduce the young rider. Alex observed the scene silently from the side, sighing loudly. Eragon ended it by taking a few things with him, leaving the room to spend the night away from his dragoness.

Alex watched him leaving but didn't interfere, knowing it was a private matter and didn't concern him. However, Saphira turned her eyes to him.

«Do you think I was wrong to act like this? »

"You are both right. Wherever you like it or not, Eragon is becoming an adult and it's his choice if he want to have a relationship or spend some time with a woman but since the dynamic between you two is unique, he must be careful of your feelings too and the consequences it brings. Don't worry, he'll be back tomorrow and more than happy to be reunited with you. It'll be better to drop the subject, for now." The young man stretched his arms and yawned, a tired look on his face. "I'm going to bed, good night Saphira."

Before she could answer, the swordsman had left.

Alex walked to the nearest kitchen and took a mug of mead. With the mug in his hand, he wandered in the corridors, before finding a place where he could admire a part of the city and the plains in front of him.

"May tomorrow be a better day."

It was on those words he began to sip his drink, his eyes observing what was in front of him while his mind was unfocused, lost in thought.