It's Christmas Eve and I've decided to give you all the gift of this extremely long chapter. I'm planning on uploading the other one tomorrow but you all might be too busy with parties and family obligations to actually read it. I know I will be busy at my family party and I shall watch out for alcohol consumption. Not going to sprain my hand again anytime soon. Anyways, Happy Reading everyone!

The following two weeks since they'd arrived at the Burning Plains were weeks of preparation. Nasuada, after a tiresome conference with King Orrin and his council at early dawn, had decided to keep the Varden at the Burning Plains for she didn't want to march and be caught unaware by the Empire's soldiers. And as it had turned out, his prediction was exact for one of the spies in Orrin's intelligence network had reported that he saw a mass of troops marching south of Uru'baen and towards Surda. And afterwards it was one discussion after the other with the king and Nasuada. He didn't mind partaking in the strategy sessions, it was just the time they'd arranged them that irked him. Early dawn he found himself being awakened to attend them. And ever since, sleep was the farthest thing from his schedule.

The first time that Bard had woken him for the first meeting, he had broken his hand in his annoyance and anger at being awakened so early. From then on, Arya came to fetch him from his sleep. Though there were times that she was considerate about his sleep, there were others when she would inconsiderately prod him awake with either her foot or her sword. Like today, wrapped in his deep sleep, he frowned when he felt a prod against his stomach. He muttered something unintelligible but ignored it. When he thought he'd imagined it, another prod rudely kept him from sleeping, this time accompanied by an exasperated voice, "Eragon we must meet with Nasuada and King Orrin."

He didn't budge but burrowed deeper into his cot. Curse his servants for putting Arya up to the task. If it was Bard or Finny, he would've thrown them out before they could've spoken. A sound half between a sigh and scoff met his ears. A moment later, a hand gripped his blankets and pulled it roughly off of him. Once the cold air hit his skin, he bit out a loud curse glancing up to find Arya standing over him with an exasperated expression. "Must we do this everyday?"

He narrowed his eyes and glared at her, but as he thought, it didn't have any effect. Usually at this point he would give up and get ready but today, he rolled around and went back to sleep. Blanket or no blanket. "Eragon!" he heard her drop his blankets and reached out to grab them before wrapping them about him to continue sleeping again.

A few seconds later, he felt her hand on his back, "Now is not the time to dream, Eragon." He grumbled and tried to return to sleep. That was when he felt a trickle of mischief coming from Saphira's mind which was quiet until now. Before he could think more of it, Arya's elegant fingers found a spot below his neck and gently pinched him there. But it was enough, a jolt exploding through his body; he let out a yelp and flinched away from her hand.

Outside, he could hear the rumble of Saphira's laughter as she no doubt heard his surprise. Now fully awake, he sat up still wrapped in his blankets and raised a brow at Arya, not bothering to hide his annoyance and irritation at being awaken so early and rudely. Her expression was one of amusement. "Good morning."

He grunted. It was too early to be polite. Trying for one last ditch effort at sleep, he was about to lie down and drift off again when Arya's fingers pinched the spot below his neck again. Flinching like he did the first time, he stood up wide awake. "Good morning to you too, Arya." He grumbled as she stood there watching him.

"It's a good thing Saphira knows how to get you up or we would've been here all day," said Arya as he bustled about his tent. He grunted in reply again. She sank down onto his cot, crossing her legs as she observed him. "At least try for some coherency in the morning, Eragon."

Splashing his face with water from a basin, he grunted again and wiped his face dry. "You're up bright and early as usual," he commented as he threw off his night shirt and pulled an emerald tunic over his head. He never understood how she did it, every morning she was up before the crack of dawn preparing and studying while he was trying to sleep peacefully.

She shrugged, "Another habit of mine," was her answer to his disgruntled statement.

"Well, I wouldn't like it to be a habit of mine," he muttered under his breath earning a smile of amusement from Arya. And no thanks to you that I'm awake, Saphira, he said, directing his thoughts towards her.

Her own thoughts were filled with amusement and she was far from guilty, someone has to get you up and since you weren't responding, I thought Arya might like to know how to keep you from sleeping the day away.

I love you too, he thought sarcastically.

Oh hush; you enjoy waking up to your elf in the morning don't you? To that he didn't respond which caused Saphira's thoughts to become tinted with knowing. As he moved about his tent to warm a pot of tea to wake his mind, Arya neatly folded his blankets up before turning to him. "You do seem tired as of late."

"It's quite difficult to teach magic to those who view it with superstitions and Trianna constantly by my side," Eragon said as he heated the clay kettle on the table. Once it was boiling he poured himself a cup of tea. "Would you like some, Arya?"

"If you don't mind."

He poured her a cup and handed it to her, before taking a seat on a three legged stool in his tent. The warm tea was enough to clear the fuzziness from his mind and set his thoughts in order. "Have you been making way with them?" Arya asked after a sip of her own tea.

"Progression has been slow, but progress is still progress," he said despite his distaste at the thought of it. For the past two weeks, every evening he would spend a ridiculous amount of hours with Du Vrangr Gata and yet the magicians were still struggling to cast a few spells that he thought to be simple. But then again, his power couldn't be compared to theirs. Not in the slightest.

Arya pursed her lips and it looked like she wanted to ask more but she refrained from doing so. Instead she drank the rest of her tea as he downed his own. Placing the cup on the table, he reached forward to grab his boots and tug it on his feet, lacing them up as he did so. "Would you mind if I accompany you to help with Du Vrangr Gata?"

Surprised he stared at Arya. "Are you not needed for planning with Orrin and Nasuada?"

She shook her head, "Not today, Brom will be there to advise her in strategy."

He thought about it for a moment before nodded, "It will be a nice help," he admitted. "Rosalie and the others are too busy preparing the army to assist me like they usually do. And you're very knowledgeable in the ancient language." He took her cup that was empty and placed it on the table next to his. "Not to mention with you there, I wouldn't get nearly as irritated as I do every time I'm teaching them."

"Then it's settled."

Eragon nodded, as he reached back down to finish lacing his boots. Satisfied, he glanced up to find Arya smiling slightly at him. What was that for? When she didn't elaborate he ignored it and instead decided to take the time to see her fully. For the past two weeks, they'd each been so busy that they couldn't spare more than a few brief moments with each other to exchange chaste kisses and caresses. But today would be different no doubt. They would spend the day together even if it was to teach the magicians in Du Vrangr Gata.

Feeling a strong desire wash over him, he stood and made his way over to her. Without giving her time to fully grasp what he was going to do, he bent down to kiss her. As his lips moved over hers, he felt one of her hands come up to cup his cheek. When her lips parted and her warm breath washed over his face, he felt his desire increase by ten folds, strengthened by their time apart these past weeks. As their tongues brushed, it was a dance for domination. Intoxicated by her fragrance and taste, he continued his onslaught, never before as passionate as he was in this interaction. When he felt his back ache from his bent position he made to pull away but Arya had a different idea and instead pulled him down as they went sprawling out on his cot.

Trying not to crush her with his weight, he used his elbows to keep most of his body off of her as they continued in their fevered kissing. It seemed that she desired it as much as he did. After a moment he pulled away from her with a great amount of difficulty. Allowing for the two of them to catch their breaths. Or for Arya to catch her breath instead, he brought his lips to her jaw line and placed a kiss there, earning a startled gasp from her. It was a sound he had never heard from her which made him pause but when she didn't object to his actions, he continued. Letting his instinct and desire lead him, Eragon slowly trailed his lips from the bottom of her jaw upwards before moving to the soft skin of her neck.

Never had he done anything such as this but it felt natural to him. As his lips trailed up her slender neck, he stopped right below her ear and lightly kissed her there. Before he could do anymore a loud clamor outside as well as harsh shouting made him pause, giving them time to clear their minds. It was a group of warriors that were hurriedly trying to make their way to the training grounds but in their haste one man dropped his shield on another's foot. He closed his eyes trying not to get frustrated before opening them to stare back down at Arya.

Her hair was spade out on his cot, her eyes a dark emerald, and her lips a rosy red. She was staring up at him with an expression that he wasn't used to seeing on her, but he knew what it was. It was of desire. Eragon bent down to give her another kiss, this time chase before sighing. "It's time we meet Nasuada and Orrin for this meeting of theirs."

Eragon stood as Arya moved into a sitting position of his cot, straightening her hair as she did so. "Yes, it would be foolish to keep them waiting any longer than necessary." In one fluid motion, she stood and exited his tent though albeit reluctantly. Strapping his swords onto his hip and slinging his bow and quiver over his back, he followed her.

Outside, Saphira and Eridor waited their heads close together. One gently nudging the other. Arya stood right outside his tent, her arms folded as if she'd stood there longer than necessary. At his appearance, Saphira turned her head to him. I see that you're finally ready to leave.

I wouldn't say that, but we must do what we must, then to Arya he said, "Let us be off, King Orrin must be grating on Nasuada's nerve by now." She nodded, the four of them setting off through the encampment of the Varden's. Eragon's tent was located on the south western end of the camp, farthest from the main body of the camp itself. For his ears could not withstand the loud noises that accompanied everyday life at the Varden's main body and he just didn't want to interact with others. Arya's tent was erected not far from his but she too preferred the peace and quiet compared to the loud noises of the Varden's main body.

As they walked, Eragon pointedly ignored the stares that they'd managed to attract. Despite the fact that he had returned to the Varden for over two weeks, most of the people seem treat him as if he'd just returned. Within twenty minutes they reached the red pavilion where Nasuada's command tent stood. Once granted entry, they entered the large command tent to find Nasuada seated in her grand chair with King Orrin and his council seated before her around a long table as well as the Council of Elders and Jormundur. And though he could not see her, he could feel Elva's presence within the pavilion. The only seats open were two seats to her right which she'd reserved for the two of them no doubt.

"Eragon, Arya, thank you for joining us," said Nasuada as she caught sight of the two of them. "Why don't the two of you take a seat?" They did with Eragon at her right and Arya to his left. "We were just wondering when you two would arrive."

"I apologize if my tardy has caused you any discomfort," said Eragon. The dark skinned leader merely waved away his apology.

"It is alright, the both of you are here," she stared at the documents before her. "Now, let us plan for the battle ahead." She pulled a scroll towards her to quickly glance over its contents before turning to them. "Reports have confirmed that the Empire will be arriving to Surda within two days notice and from his words, I can gleam that we are heavily outnumbered." No one spoke as she dropped the documents onto the table. "But it isn't news, for it is something we've already predicted."

"Then pray tell, how is it that we will overcome this difference in numbers?" Irwin, Orrin's prime minister spoke addressing Nasuada directly and Eragon would even go as far as to say, questioningly.

"Once the dwarves arrive to our aid and if Murtagh could somehow hear word of our condition then it would be an even battle," said Nasuada, calmly. "But if none of that goes according to plan, we still have Eragon and Arya as well as the dragons; they alone can kill more men than a battalion could."

"I cause no offense in saying so, Nasuada," said King Orrin his eyes flickering over to Eragon. "But how confident are you in their abilities?"

Nasuada didn't answer but instead gazed at Eragon, giving him the chance to do so. He briefly held her gaze before turning his head to hold Orrin's. "Numbers do not determine the chances of winning, your majesty. If that were so than the Varden as an organization had no hope to begin with. It is talent and skill that shapes the game, and the person endowed with these talents will always be victorious."

"We may be overwhelmed but we are strong enough to withhold the tides of this battle," said Arya, her rich voice washing over everyone. "That I am confident of."

The King didn't press the matter and from then onward, the rest of the meeting went without questioning. And though he tried not to show frustration at being seated around a table with those whom he disliked, especially the council of elders, it was for Nasuada that he remained composed. She needed him as a vassal and in him was the root of her bond with King Orrin and the others. And from him, she had to draw her authority, especially with those who fought to control her.

When early morning came, the people of the Varden finally rising to work did they adjourn the meeting. Freed from the pavilion, he made to leave like the rest before Nasuada called for him to stay. Arya gave him a look before leaving. "Yes, my lady?"

"Before you leave, I just wanted to tell you that I have your armor ready for you."

Her statement puzzled him. "Armor? I already have my armor; it is sitting in my bags in my tent."

She shook her head. "That armor belongs to Grabranth; ever since you'd joined the Varden I've thought it fit to see to it that you have new armor that does not represent Grabranth but instead Eragon. King Hrothgar has kindly offered to see to it that you will have the finest there is since Saphira promised to repair the Star Sapphire."

He was unsure of what to say but bowed to her in his gratitude.

"I'll have it sent to your tent," Nasuada said as she began to unroll maps across her desk. "Until tomorrow, Eragon."

He nodded and exited the tent to find Arya standing outside, the dragons no where to be seen. When he'd asked, she'd just simply said, "Flying." She inclined her head towards the tent. "What is it that Nasuada wanted to see you for?"

"She wanted to tell me about the new armor that she had crafted for me," this brought a smile to her face. "What?" He asked, suspicious of her expression.

"I also have something to give you," was her only reply. He raised a brow but didn't push the subject with her any further. Before they could set off, the sound of boots on the ground made Eragon turned and he found himself face to face with his father. Instinctively, he stiffened. Though he had remained on civil footing with his father, he couldn't bring himself to act like a son to him. Nor did his father push it. It was as if there was a mutual agreement between the two of them to let things move at its own accord. As he stared at Brom, he felt an emotion rise in his chest at the thought of him about to have another child with his mother.

Eragon greeted him, stiffly, "Father."

"Eragon," Brom inclined his head towards Arya. Since he'd found out that he and Arya were mates, his father's reaction was astonishment and Eragon knew that it was partly from the fact that Arya could be as old as his father was. But he paid that no mind in the least. And if he was bothered by Eragon's relationship to the elf, Brom certainly did not show it. "Arya, good morning. You've finished with your meeting with Nasuada?"

"Yes, she is waiting for your appearance to plan more strategies for the battle," answered Arya. "We were leaving for Du Vrangr Gata."

"Ah," understanding lit his features; though he seemed reluctant to leave he made a small step towards the tent. "You have your obligations as I have mine. Let's see to it that they are carried out." He turned to leave then stopped and faced Eragon. "If you could stop by our tent later on, Eragon, it will be greatly appreciated. Your mother wants to spend some time with you."

With that he left, disappearing into the tent. Eragon stood there staring at his father's back for a moment before with a light tug of his hand by Arya began to make his way through the tents and to Du Vrangr Gata. As they walked with their hands intertwined in an intimate gesture, Arya spoke, "You're trying very hard to forgive him, aren't you?"

"I am," he admitted. "It's just so hard. And every time I compare it to what you've had to endure, I feel like a child for begrudging my father for a mistake on his part."

"You were young at the time."

He snorted, "You as well, or at least for an elf."

"I was," she didn't seem inclined to speak of the subject anymore as he wasn't. Glad for her tact, the two of them walked through the camp in a comfortable silence often pointing objects of interest out here and there.

As they passed by tents and fires, he would often catch sight of families and friends getting ready to work for the day. A curious thought struck him. "Arya?"

"Yes?"

"Do you dislike wearing dresses?" His question must have been so out of place and odd to her, for she paused in her step for a moment to give him a look. He elaborated. "I know that leggings and leather is useful to wear in battle but I've never seen you wear a dress before not even for a celebration. Is there a particular reason why?"

Her expression which was originally colored with a hint of disbelief at his question slowly changed to amusement before entering outright humor. His question must have really been humorous for he'd never seen her in such high spirits. "An odd question to ask of me," she said. "But if you desire an answer, then I'll try my best to explain to you. I've never seen the beauty in a dress like the women of other races do. If I look fine in leggings and leather then why wear a dress? In any case, this is not the time and place to do so anyway."

It was an answer that made perfect sense, Eragon thought. "Now, shall we continue on our way?" Arya asked, he nodded in response. With that said they continued weaving through the tents to Du Vrangr Gata. On the short walk there, he found other questions to ask her about herself and her preference. It had gotten to the point that they were so odd that Arya laughed at him. "Is today an interrogation on my behalf?"

He smiled sheepishly not understanding why his sudden interest in her, but he could guess that it was from their bonds as mates that made him curious to know her more so than before. "I was just…curious."

They stopped before the tent that was used to hold the meetings for Du Vrangr Gata. Eragon pushed the flap aside, entering with Arya behind him. Already there and practicing their spells and enchantments were the magicians. Trianna at the head of the group glanced up at their arrival, "Shadeslayer, we were—" she paused catching sight of Arya for the first time. "May I ask as to why the elven ambassador is here?"

"To assist in training you all," Eragon said as he moved forward, Arya stepping with him. The expressions on their faces was of intimidation and apprehensive. And Eragon had to agree, Arya sometimes held that aura about her. "It would greatly speed our progress for we are limited on time." He gestured to a group of magicians that were apt at healing. "You can assist them, Arya. I will be with Trianna."

She nodded and without another word strode over to the group. The awe on their face made him smile slightly. Then he turned to the sorceress, "Let us begin, Trianna."

With that said, they set off. While Eragon was teaching a smaller group of the magicians new words and spells in the ancient language, Arya was trying to broaden their knowledge on the art of healing. Occasionally, he would glance her way to see her on the verge of irritation or aptly teaching them how to heal a broken muscle or internal wound.

At one lapse in his own teaching, he found himself staring at the gold bracelet around her wrist shaped like a hissing snake. It was called Lorga, Eragon recalled for his brief conversation with Trianna so long ago. "Your protectorate," Eragon began facing the sorceress. "Is it a spirit that you summon and control?"

She seemed caught off guard by his question but nodded. "He is," her blue eyes stared at him questioningly. "Is there something that interests you?"

"Quite much," he pointed at the golden bracelet. "How is it that you can summon spirits and control them? Have they not been rebellious?"

"Only when you attempt to summon one far stronger than you in mind and magic," she said lifting her wrist so he could get a better look at the bracelet. "Often times, they'll acknowledge you as the one who'd summoned them. Other times, they may as well want to devour your soul from your body."

He nodded, was the spirit sharing his body the same as the one wounded around Trianna's wrist? "Could you try awakening him? I would like to see it."

She thought about it for a moment before bending forward to lightly blow on the golden bracelet, and then she murmured, "Se orum—"

Before any other word could leave her lips, he felt his right eye sting as if smarting from something in the air and his heart pound in his chest. Reaching up to place a hand on his chest, he hunched forward slightly, feeling rather sick. When the third word left her lips, his heart gave another pound as if ready to burst forward from his chest. Was the spirit waking to her call? He felt his knees grow weak as another word left her lips. Halfway through the incantation he fell to one knee, grasping at his chest while his right eye burned, blinding him. "Shadeslayer!"

Cool hands grasped his head and he found himself staring at Trianna in a daze, his eyes seeing her but his mind not registering her appearance. She said something but he didn't hear her. Half a minute passed before someone roughly cast the sorceress aside taking her place before him. It was Arya; though her eyes showed a hint of anger her expression was one of concern. He stared at her relieved to see her before him. As long as she was with him, nothing endangering would happen.

He closed his eyes, letting his head fall in her hands as he let his heart slow down and the pain in his right eye subside. After a moment, he opened them again and with Arya's help stood. The members of Du Vrangr Gata were staring at him with looks of confusion and some with doubt. It was Arya who spoke to them, however. "I believe we've practiced enough. You all have your spells and words to learn. Practice them."

"You have no say over what we do, elf," it was Trianna who spoke, anger also evident in her blue eyes but otherwise, her expression remained calm and complacent.

Arya turned to her, her angled eyes narrowed giving her an evil look but she spoke in a civil tone as if discussing the weather with a stranger. "If you know what's best for you sorceress then do not pick a battle in which you will not win." A tense silence hung over them before Arya led him outside. He followed suddenly too tired to complain.

Letting his feet move of their own accord, he was surprised to find himself sitting on a rock next to a lone tree that the Varden had yet to cut down for firewood. Arya knelt before him, examining his right eye with such intensity he was sure that if he were to poke her she would jump from fright. He slowly blinked as if not to surprise her, "How are you feeling?" Arya asked, switching to the ancient language.

"Better," he replied in kind. "It has passed."

The intensity of her gaze didn't diminish, "What was it that you were doing with Trianna?"

Her emerald eyes were piercing as she awaited his answer. "I asked her to summon the spirit of Lorga, the snake on her wrist…I didn't think it would trigger…the one residing in my body. It was a foolish mistake on my part."

"You are fine now?"

He nodded. Her emerald eyes held his for a gaze longer before the tension in her body relaxed her concerned expression melting away. Arya leaned forward until their foreheads were touching, her breath warm on his face. "Do not attempt something as foolish as that next time, Eragon. Especially not with Trianna."

"Do you not like her?"

"Not quite, though she is talented when it comes to summoning spirits even if I've only heard of it once." Arya pulled away from him, standing as she did so while he nodded taking in that bit of news. The day, to his surprise, had grown late. He stood, taking in a deep breath of air before letting it out.

"I shall go visit my mother," he glanced at her. "Will you accompany me?"

She shook her head, "I must prepare a report for Queen Islanzadi." At the sound of her mother's name, her lips thinned. Eragon frowned, that didn't bode well he was sure. "There are matters that I have to tell her before the battle and before the twelve spell casters that she'd assigned to Murtagh arrive."

"I can forgo my dinner with my mother if you'd rather I accompany you, my mother shall not mind in the slightest," said Eragon.

She shook her head, denying his offer. "No, it would be best if I did it. At any rate, I cannot contact her by scrying until she leaves the protection of the forest."

Arya left him with a sweet kiss, walking in the direction of her tent. He stared at her disappearing figure for a moment before turning towards the direction of his mother's own tent. Once he was there, he wasn't surprised to find his mother seated by the fire as Rosalie hovered about her and Bard prepared dinner. Finny and Desdemona were busy trying to arrange the table for them to eat.

At the sight of him, his mother sent him a tired smiled. "Eragon, you came."

"Of course," he replied as he came to stand beside her. "Are you tired mother? You don't seem well today."

"I've forgotten how hard it was on the body to carry child, especially at my age."

"You're not so old as you say you are, Lady Selena," said Rosalie with a slight smile.

"That could be true in certain aspects," she agreed. Then she glanced about him, seemingly searching for something. After a moment, she turned her gaze to him. "Where is Arya? I'd thought she would be accompanying you."

At the sound of her name, his servants seem to become more clumsy and in other cases, stiff. Rosalie and Desdemona did not seem to approve of Arya which had greatly surprised him for he didn't know why. He'd thought all of his servants agreeable of her being his mate. "She is busy at the moment." He sat down on a stool that Finny had brought out for him.

The rest of the day passed without event. Though he did enjoy speaking with his mother and servants, the thought was Queen Islanzadi hovered over his thoughts like a sword, threatening to shatter the peace that he shared with Arya. She was no doubt going to give her consent on their union. And he feared that Arya's relationship with her mother would become more estranged after their long awaited reunion.

The following days sent the Varden into such a state; he'd forgotten to bring up Arya's mother in their time together. As they'd expected the Empire's army did arrive two days later bringing with it, a hundred thousand soldiers by Saphira's and Eridor's accounts as they flew high above the army. Whenever they were together, they were either needed by Nasuada, commanders, King Orrin, or the Du Vrangr Gata. It made speaking of personal topics close to impossible.

It would have to wait, Eragon thought for war was nigh upon them and pleasantries had to be put to side. But when he had the chance, he was going to speak to her about it. He stared up at the sky with a frown as he stood beside Saphira.

The clouds of war are gathering, she said as she too studied the sky.

Aye that they are.

Long chapter wasn't it? You guys can't even fathom how long it took me to type this up. But anyways, I'm just happy that it's done and Christmas is around the corner! Merry Christmas everyone (even if it is a few hours early but who's counting?)