Dawn came too soon, the flicker of the light between the leaves blowing in the morning wind. Climbing higher into the tree, he gazed at the rising sun, beautiful scarlet golden rays covered the land. Jumping down from the branch he landed and tucked into a roll, before continuing down the road.

Hours passed as he ran down the road without seeing any travelers. Eventually, he came across a garrison of soldiers who had their weapons drawn, and that have surrounded two people, the two from the tavern, the young man, and the elf. The soldiers were prodding the pair with their weapons, 'Trying to get a reaction no less' he thought.

The captain of the group began to question them, but he was too far away to hear what they were saying. He saw the captain take out a parchment of paper, raising it up and looking at it. He gave a wave of his hands and the soldiers began to move. One of the soldiers poked his spear at the boy's pack, which seemed to anger the boy, as well as alert the rest of the other soldiers.

Before most could perceive what had happened the boy had picked up a stone and thrown it at one of the advancing soldiers, hitting him square in the head killing him instantly. The woman next to him did not hesitate, she began to attack the soldiers around them.

Knowing that they were probably important figures in the Varden. Marius decided to not sit around and watch them die, which he doubted but still could possibly happen if he did not act. "Guess it's just like all those encounters back home." He said to himself. Thinking about all those times where he acted and those where he did not a simply watched from afar.

He charged towards them, unsheathing his sword, knocking over an oblivious soldier and impaling another on his right. The pair looked at him in shock at his sudden appearance. One of the soldiers who was in the right mind attacked, he swung his sword in a downward arc towards him.

"Time to die!" The soldier bellowed.

The blade never reached his target, it shattered prior to hitting the man. His opponent body shimmered suddenly and quickly revealing a large humanoid figure. It was covered head to toe in black armor with crimson highlights in between the armored plates. The armor had spikes mounted on the shoulders, and sharp claws adorned the black gauntlets. As well as six large horn-like spikes on the helmet and was accompanied by eye like sockets.

Giving the figure a malevolent and demonic appearance.

Still, in shock over the entire ordeal, the soldier had no time to react as one of the clawed gauntlets seized him by the throat and lifted him into the air. Those around were stunned both the sight and the fighting ended, both sides stared at the scene before them. 'The shade?' Arya thought to herself.

The gauntlet began to constrict around the man throat, he made gurgling noises as he began to strike the armored figure before him with his fist and legs. But it was futile.

"Wha…W-What are you?" he struggled to get out.

Marius simply tilted his armored head to the side and began to squeeze harder. Pulling him closer he whispered.

"Your executioner."

The man stopped struggling as he went into unconsciousness, but the gauntlet kept on closing. Soon the sound of the man's neck snapping was heard.

The Dovahkiin carelessly threw the corpse to the side and turned his attention to the soldiers before him. They were looking at him with terrified expressions. Tilting his head to the side, he suddenly charged towards them, moving faster than someone wearing heavy armor should be able to.

Getting over the initial shock, the soldiers began to attack him. Blocking the first sword, he embedded his own blade into the nearest man's gut. Pulling out the blade he turned and cut a man's hand off, the man fell to the ground screaming at his lost appendage; ending the screaming man's pain, plunged the blade into him. Hearing another soldier charging him, he caught the blade on the inside of his gauntlet, feeling the leather tear; he snarled and got a grip on the blade pulled it out of its owner's hand and decapitated the man. He ducked under a charging soldier, and flipped him over his back; the man lay on the ground groaning which was silenced by a heavy boot crushing his skull.

Turing he watched as the male and female fought the remaining soldiers dispatching them easily. Unknown to them, one of the soldiers had managed to sneak up behind the woman who was currently in a lock with another soldier. Dashing forward at an inhuman speed he side checked the soldier sending tumbling to the ground, hearing the sound of breaking bones, he moved forward and finished it.

The last man fell to knees begging for his life but was quickly silenced by the young man snapping his neck. The boy turned and spoke some type of language to his companion, he couldn't decipher any of it. Quickly checking around him making sure that they were all dead, then making sure that his defenses were not breached, save for his hand.

Gazing at his bleeding hand, turning around he cast a healing spell feeling his skin knit itself back together. He gave a small chuckle as he thought back to all those times in his early days, where he had been injuries he would have died from if not for his knowledge in restoration magic. He wouldn't call himself a master wizard, but his knowledge of the arcane arts was that of a master spell caster.

Diverting his attention back to pair, noticed the boy was nearly in front of him.

The boy slowly began to approach him, remembering that his helmet was still on he began to remove it. As he moved his arms upwards, the woman tensed suddenly and prepared to attack him. He continued none the less and removed his helmet.

The two both relaxed when they saw that he was simply removing his helmet. Holding the helmet under his left arm.

"Thank you for your aid. We would surely have been killed if you hadn't have stepped in."

Doubting the boy's words. It was obvious that the pair of them seemed to be very cable of taking care of themselves, with or without his help they probably would have won never the less. Getting a good look at the boy. He had brown hair and eyes, slanted eyes and pale skin. He had many elven features, but he was not an elf, perhaps a human-elf hybrid.

"It was nothing. I just helping where I can. Are you by chance going to join the rebels down south?" The boy began to look nervous and his body tensed at the question.

"Because if so you have gained yourselves a companion."

The boy's expression changed to one of relief and nodded then gave him his name.

"I'm Bergan", he stated, putting his arm out

"You can call me Marius" he replied, giving a quick nod. He raised his hand, taking Bergan's hand the hand shaking it. As soon as their hands touched, his body became tense. It was felt like someone had sent electric jolts through his body.

Instinctively, he retracted his hand, opening, and closing after feeling the sensation. Bergan doing the same he looked at his hand. He turned back towards the woman who was glaring daggers at him.

He had had the same sensations before. This sensation only happened when he was in the presence of a dragon or when he was near word walls. Quickly removing his mind from his thoughts he turned his attention back to Bergan.

"I don't believe you introduced the lovely lady, what might be your name be?" he asked.

Surprising the boy with the question, he became all flustered and started mumbling words. He turned to the lady as if he was asking permission to give her name.

"Yes, um, this is… Katrina… she is my betrothed", he spoke with uncertainty.

Turning to the woman 'Katrina' looking at her face, he noticed that her cheeks had turned a shade of pink. She gave another glare at Bergan giving the impression that they would be having a conversation later. She turned away from Bergan and fixated her gaze on him. He didn't get a proper look at her at the inn. Her eyes where the color of a deep green forest, her face was more angular and she was fair skinned, her hair was flowing ever so slightly in the wind, concluding that she was indeed the elven maiden. And that she had been using magic the night in the tavern.

Stepping forward with an outstretched hand to her, he looked into her calculating eyes. Taking his hand she, she appeared to be studying every one of his movements, looking for a flaw or weakness. She proceeded to politely take her hand back and turn to her companion.

"We need to keep moving at a steady pace if we are to make to the Varden," Bergan stated with a tone that expected not to be argued with. "Would that be a problem for you?" He asked.

"No, running shall be no problem for me," Marius replied as he ended the conversation and then bolted down the road.

Eragon looked in shock at how he managed to in heavy armor so easily. Arya having already seen him run at incredible speeds was less shocked but still puzzled. Quickly composing themselves they bolted down the road after him leaving behind the mangled bodies.

The group had gotten a few curious glances when they passed a random wanderer. They ran until the sun began to set, Marius insisted that they travel by night to cover more ground, but he was outvoted by his new allies. They made camp near some trees, moving away from the two to give them space.

Setting his back against the trunk of a tree. He removed his sword from his hip and placed it next to his right. As he sat down he pulled out a piece of bread and ate it slowly, as he watched the fire burn the logs, sending up beautiful cinders as the fire slowly ate away. From across the flames, he could almost make out their conversation, something about the Varden, and whether or not to trust him.

He got up and moved away from the duo, moving deeper into the woods. Kneeling down, he began to meditate on some of the words of power. Listening to the wind gently rustle the leaves in the trees, small animals scurrying about. He could feel them watching him. Ignoring them he closed his eyes and his mind drift from word to word, eventually rest claim him, for a few hours of rest.

During the night, Marius was awoken and began experiencing a slight pressure in the back of his mind. Realizing that someone was trying to get inside his thoughts, he quickly set up his mental defenses. Having experienced this many times, he had trained specifically to not allow others to read his thoughts.

Focusing, he searched for the source of the magic, tracking it back to Bergan. Getting up angrily, he rushed forward to where his was resting. Poking the boy with his feet. The boy opened his eyes and sat up slowly.

"Marius? What's wron-?"

Grabbing Bergan by the shirt and lifting to his feet, and shoving him back a few feet.

"Don't play games with me, boy! I know what you just did, and I know of your magical connection! I know your companion is an elf and your connection to dragons. Do not take me for some stupid fool! You will not entr –"

Bergan punched him square in the jar, and he felt his teeth cut into his cheek. Noticing the boy was stronger than he appeared. He spat out some blood, raising his fists he assumed a brawling stance.

Looking up his caught sight of another punch coming his way, acting on instinct he weaved under the arm, only to be met a quick knee to the face, and feeling his nose breaking. Shaking his head to clear his vision, blood dripping from his nose he lunged forward towards Bergan.

At inhuman speeds, before Bergan could blink, he was in front him threw a fist into his face. Which was followed by a quick jab to the throat from his other hand.

Feeling a slight disturbance in the air beside him, decades of fighting had taught him how what that usually meant, he instinctively lashed out in that direction with a power kick, sending Katrina to the ground.

"Arya!" Bergan shouted. With Bergan's distraction, he quickly moved forward and drought the dagger across his chest. Seeing it at the last moment Bergan tried dodging, but it managed to slightly nick the boy, sending an electrical shock through him; sending him to the ground spasming.

He was suddenly hit in the back with such a force he went face first into the ground, and his dagger falling just out of reach. Rolling over instinctively so he was in a less vulnerable position, he was quickly pinned to the ground by the girl. She was incredibly strong and had managed to pin his arms to the ground on either side of his head.

It was not often that he was in a situation like this, but usually, it would entail killing them with the thu'um. Deciding against that idea, he channeled the souls of countless dragons enhance strength and get out of the position. Using his augmented strength he quickly reversed their position, using left hand to restrain her arms and the other grabbed her neck. He gazed into her eyes, his emerald green staring into her forest green, he saw pain and fear.

Suddenly he felt himself lose control of his inner dragon and all the others had rallied behind it. They were telling him to kill her, break her will and bend her to his own. He knew that this point that his eyes would have shifted color and be glowing. He watched as his hand slowly began to squeeze her neck.

Marius looked down at her and all he was fear, fear of what he was. Managing to regain control over the souls within him for the briefest of moments, he released his hold on her throat. Bringing his free hand up to his temple to alleviate the pain the within his head he looked back at her and saw confusion in her eyes.

It was pure utter chaos within his head. Hundreds of souls within him, each trying to take control of his body. Eventually, the chaos ceased, and he gained full control of his body once again. She lashed out and kicked him in the chest when she had come out of her stupor.

He picked her up and threw her across the camp, hitting a small tree, hearing the sound of her hitting the ground, just as Bergan came back at him from behind, tripping the boy causing him to stumble forward.

Going to retrieve his dagger, he looked back and saw that the woman was approaching near-unconsciousness, and the boy looked just about the same.

"Can we stop and talk about this?" He panted.

Bergan turning around with fury in his eyes.

"Jierda!" he shouted. Not knowing what the word meant, but he did feel a slight drain on the boy's energies, magic he thought. The girl had stood up while leaning against the tree.

"Enough," he said taking a step forward, "There has been a misunderstanding, I do not work for the king!"

Looking at the shock on their faces, he assumed he had said something wrong.

"Kverst!" the boy shouted again.

"Enough! You can keep trying to use your magic until you run out, or we can stop this madness and talk like civilized people." He said putting his sword on the ground and raising his hands in a peaceful manner.

Looking confused, Bergan finally blurted out, "So, you're not allied with the king? How do I know I can trust you?"

He almost questioned the peace he just started. "You can trust me… I haven't been the ones lying since we met! I told you my name and what my intentions. I jumped in and aided you in combat against the king's men, and you intensely assume I am the enemy!"

"You attacked first!" Bergan shouted.

"No, I didn't. I came over to you to get answers because you were the one probing my head for no reason, you initiated the fight when you punched me."

He seemed to understand that he was wrong. "I apologize. I have not been honest with you, I only did so to protect myself and my companion."

Deciding that it would they should properly reintroduce themselves the boy gave their true names, "I'm Eragon Shadeslayer, Alagaesia's last free dragon rider."

'So it was him riding on one of the dragons.' he thought to himself, as he gave a look to continue "And she's Arya." Looking back at the elf, he noticed that she was looking at him with fear visible in her eyes. He quickly shook off the feeling of unleashing the souls within him.

He was tired and sore. He grabbed his weapons and went and laid back down on the tree facing away from them. He quickly cast a healing spell to fix his nose and any other injuries. Deciding to follow his lead Eragon and Arya went back to their resting positions. He soon closed his eyes a second time and let darkness claim him, again.

Watching from across the camp, Arya watched the man who overpowered her, she had so many thoughts passing through her brain ' How did he see through my illusion? And what was all of that? What is he? '

After several more days of traveling a sea of white tents was seen in the distance. Slowing down to walk Bergan came up next to him.

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"Didn't say anything about what?"

"You knew that we were lying, and yet you didn't say anything." Eragon elaborated on his train of thought.

"We have a similar end goal, to reach the Varden. If you felt the need to keep your identity a secret, I can't blame you because I have done the same in the past." He said.

Eragon seemed to take his words into consideration. Eragon's mood suddenly changed to a cheery one.

"We made it! Murtagh, Thorn, hundreds of soldiers, Galbatorix's pet magicians, the Ra'zac, none of them could catch us! Ha! How's that for taunting the king? This'll tweak his beard for sure when he hears of it."

Impressed by the fact they had managed to evade so many enemies. He had no clue who half of them were. He was most pleased finding out the king had put such an effort in to find them, and that his plan had failed.

"He will be twice as dangerous then," Arya said, killing the mood.

Ignoring whatever Eragon was going to say next, he turned his attention forward. Looking towards the camp he noticed approaching horsemen, finally arriving at the Varden he was looking forward to joining the action. Taking a few paces forward, his soul began to scream, there was a dragon in the area. His pulse began to quicken, adrenaline firing through him. Turing his gaze skyward.

The sapphire dragon dove out the clouds. Spiraling through the air, he watched as it tucked its wings in, and let loose a stream of blue flame. Causing the horse to buckle and protest to standing still.

Realizing that the dragon hadn't spoken the words of power. He guessed perhaps that the dragon was possibly strong enough to do so without the words. The dragon landed on the ground causing the ground to shake, Eragon and Arya stumbled a little, while he just changed his footing, having experienced many such landings, some most even greater than that. His instincts told him to reach for his sword, following them his hand found itself wrapped around the hilt of his sword just in case. Which did not go unnoticed by Arya.

Folding its wings, the dragon began to approach, there was something graceful about the way it moved. It immediately told him that the dragon was, in fact, a 'she'. Where he was from there weren't any female dragons, as far as he knew. But quickly dropping the subject because he was in a different world, thinking to himself 'Different world, different rules'.

Eragon ran forward to the dragon, climbing up and onto the neck he gave it a hug, thinking back to dragons he knew and how much he thought that it was a terrible idea. The dragon didn't seem to be angry at him, it seemed rather satisfied to see him.

"Greetings, Saphira," said Arya, putting her hand on her chest in a strange manner.

Judging by the name 'Saphira', what a strange name for a dragon he thought, but it suited the dragon. Also, the name confirmed his suspicions that it was indeed a female dragon. Not knowing a formal greeting between dragons of this world. Deciding it would probably easier just to go with a simple greeting.

"Greetings, dragon."

The dragon turned its attention towards him. The brief of seconds their eyes locked, and he had trouble restraining his inner dragon. Surprising him, the dragon spoke to him in this mind.

"Greetings, human."

Looking shocked that the dragon spoke in his mind, he stared at it. He did not like it when people spoke into his mind without his knowledge.

"Surprised?" Eragon asked, "You didn't take her for a mindless beast?"

"No… no, that not the reason, just wasn't expect her to speak in my head."

His answer seemed to amuse Eragon.

"What did you expect her to open her jaws and speak like us?"

"I have just never had to worry about how to address a dragon."

Eragon's mood seemed to darken, as he finished speaking.

"It's all the king's fault, he brought an end to the time of dragons that once flourished the land. When he is dead I will see those times returned."

Looking at the boy in a new light, the way he was thinking admirable. Looking back at the dragon, he tightened his grip on his blade.

"You fear them, just like all. But you don't look at the beauty of them."

Never mind, this boy had no idea what he was talking about. Feeling his anger spike at the words he just spoke. This boy knew nothing about what he feared, he had faced dragons much larger than Saphira and had won those battles, along with the World Eater himself. He did not fear them he just didn't trust them, after years of experience, he had learned their strengths and weaknesses. He had watched countless dragons glide through the sky, while his soul longed to be up there with them.

Before he could give Eragon a piece of his mind. He was approached by men, they told him that Eragon had instructed them to take him to a tent, where he would wait to be given instruction.

They lead him to a simple tent, entering he found a bedroll and a medium sized chest, with a plate of food on it. He grabbed the plate and sat down on the chest, and ate them quickly. Deciding not to remove his armor, he crawled into the bedroll and rested.