This is last of the pre-written chapters I have. The next chapters are going to take a little longer to get put up. But enjoy!

Planning

Nasuada sat in her large red pavilion, Jormundur on her right side, Elva standing close by. Saphira had snaked her head into the tent, to take part in the meeting that was about to take place. The atmosphere was stale and cold, as she waited for Orrin, Narheim, Garzhvog, and the elves to arrive. With each passing day that Eragon was missing, the leaders became more restless. Nasuada was starting to become anxious as well and she wished Arya would inform her of her progress.

When Saphira had come to Nasuada that morning, seeming distressed and requesting a meeting saying that she had news of Eragon, Nasuada immediately sent her messenger boy to retrieve the others. The elves under Blodhgarm's command were the first to arrive, as they were faster than the others. They filed in past Saphira's large neck, and stood by the central pole holding the tent up. Garzhvog was the next to appear. His loud footsteps shook the framework of the pavilion, as if an earthquake had started up. Tilting back his head and exposing his neck he asked, "Why am I here, Lady Nightstalker?"

"Your questions will be answered as soon as Orrin and Narheim arrive." As if on cue, Orrin came stomping in, followed by two of his guard, who stationed themselves on either side of Saphira's neck by the entrance. He had a red stain soaked into his shirt. It looked fresh, and seemed to have come from the sloshing glass of red wine he recklessly held.

"Do you see what that blasted fool of a messenger boy made me do?" he said red faced and jabbing a finger at his collar. "He needs to learn to warn people before he just blunders into their tents uninvited! He nearly gave me a heart-attack!"

Nasuada was used to these kinds of reactions from Orrin. He always had a tendency to overreact when some unpleasantness occurred. For that reason, though also for the sake of the Varden, she hoped Saphira's news was good. "I'll be sure to let him know to knock before he enters your tent next time." She assured him. Orrin grunted in reply and sat down on a stool nearby.

Narheim arrived a few minutes later, his long beard braided and resting on his chest. When he had situated himself, Nasuada said, "I have called you all here today, because Saphira has some news of Eragon she wishes to share with you." All heads turned to Saphira who let out a puff of smoke. Nasuada felt Saphira invade her mind, and she could feel her dread and despair.

Something has happened to Eragon, she said. I can feel it through our bond. Some misfortune has befallen him and we need to do something. Now.

It was as Nasuada feared. An immense sense of hopelessness pervaded her mind. Tears built up in her eyes and threatened to spill over. We're doomed. All the years . . . all the years put into building up the Varden. All the years we fought against Galbatorix wasted. And for what! So Eragon could quench his thirst for revenge against the Ra'zac?

"Blast it!" Orrin exclaimed. "I knew this would happen! He never should have gone off on his own. How are we supposed to fight off Galbatorix and Murtagh now when we've lost one Rider and Galbatorix has perhaps gained another?"

Nasuada massaged her temples. "I don't know, Orrin. We can't know for sure if he's been captured or if he's just hurt, but we need to have Arya come back to the Varden. We'll need all the warriors we can get if we're to have any chance of winning this war."

"You still believe we can win without Eragon?" Narheim said, incredulity apparent in his voice.

Blodhgarm, who had remained silent, along with the other elves, said, "There is still another egg in Galbatorix's possession. If we could retrieve it somehow, we may stand a more even chance of winning. It would be unwise to try any sort of rescue attempt if Eragon has been captured and taken straight to Uru'baen, which I fear is most likely the case."

"An even chance?" Orrin spoke up again. "That's still only one, new, untrained Dragon Rider against three very powerful Dragon Riders. If there is no chance of getting Eragon back, then I say this war is over." Blodhgarm didn't respond, but the expression on his face gave Nasuada the impression that he knew more than he let on. She considered asking him about it, but refrained from doing so. If he wanted to tell the whole of them what was on his mind, he would have. She decided to implore him later.

Garzhvog turned to Blodhgarm and asked, "How would we steal this egg, Wolfman?" his voice gurgled as he spoke.

Jormundur cleared his throat to get their attention. "If I may speak . . .?"

"Go ahead, Jormundur." Nasuada said.

"I think you should consult Jeod if you're planning on stealing an egg. He was, in fact, the one who discovered the book that uncovered the location of a secret passage in Uru'baen leading to the eggs."

"Does he still have the book?"

"I'm not sure, but he probably would have memorized something that important. We could ask him."

Nasuada leaned back and drummed her middle finger on the arm of her chair. Perhaps we could rescue Eragon if we had another Rider to infiltrate Uru'baen. Nasuada leaned to the side and faced her messenger boy. "Bring me Jeod."

The boy nodded and hurried away. "Don't forget to knock!" Nasuada yelled after him. As the boy left, an image of Arya appeared on Nasuada's scrying mirror.

"Arya! I've been waiting for you to contact me. What has taken so long?"

"Nothing. I've been unable to locate Eragon, but I did find a campsite. It seemed disturbed. The ashes of a fire had been scattered about and there is a large patch of dirt that has been saturated with blood. I'll keep looking, but his trail seems to have stopped here."

"There is no need for you to continue your search. You are to return to the Varden immediately."

Arya looked confused. "Why? Has Eragon already returned?"

Hating the words she was saying and wishing they were not true she said, "No, Arya, he has not returned. We are fairly certain he's been captured."

Arya stared in shock and alarm. "How can you know this?"

"Saphira told me. She could sense it through her bond with him. We are in a meeting now to discuss how best to move ahead. Would you join us?" Arya nodded, and Nasuada turned the mirror to face the congregation.

Jeod entered the room then and spread his arms apart. "What can I do for you, My Lady?"

"Jeod, I understand that you were in the possession of a book that unveiled a secret passage in Uru'baen. Is this true?"

"I had the book at one point, yes. But no longer."

"Do you remember what it said?"

"Of course. I tried to memorize as much as I could of it in case the Empire ever confiscated it."

"Do you think this passage would still work? Or would Galbatorix have moved the eggs to prevent anyone from stealing another."

Jeod thought for a moment, and then said, "No, I don't think he would have moved them. That was the safest place in Uru'baen. He may have put more spells and wards around it though."

Nasuada got up from her chair and walked over to a large round table with an enlarged and very detailed map filling its surface. She tapped her ringed index finger on the point of the map that said 'Uru'baen' and said, "Jeod . . . I need you to tell me exactly how one would get to, and navigate within, the secret passage." Walking over to where Nasuada stood, Jeod glanced at the map for a short period of time then turned to her.

"I cannot show you anything on this map. Though it is admirably detailed for one who doesn't live in Uru'baen, it is not detailed enough for me to show you anything. Luckily for you though, I do have a very detailed map of Uru'baen that I received from an anonymous source back when I found the book. It is in my tent if you would like me to retrieve it."

Elation filled Nasuada, and she couldn't help but smile, "Yes! Please hurry." Jeod rushed out of the room and in his hurry, he bumped into Saphira's neck by the entrance and nearly fell over.

"Nasuada", said Arya from in the mirror.

"Yes?"

"You are speaking a lot of retrieving that last egg. Have you already given up hope in finding Eragon?"

"Of course not! But to be entirely safe we need to have a plan B. If Eragon has in fact been captured, we need to know what to do."

Arya paused to consider that, then said, "That may be true, but you do not even seem to have a plan A." This gave Nasuada pause. She was fairly certain that Eragon had been captured, but there was still a chance that he was only hurt somewhere in the Empire.

"I think it's safe to say that Eragon has been taken captive, Arya. Any other explanation is too unlikely. What could harm Eragon but Murtagh, Thorn, or Galbatorix?"

"There is still a chance. Saphira and I could go looking for him." At this Saphira lifted her head, which had been resting on the floor of the pavilion, and seemed to listen with a little more interest.

"No!" Nasuada exclaimed, "Definitely not! We need you two more than ever now with Eragon gone. I can't risk losing either of you."

Arya looked frustrated. "You are making it harder and harder for anyone to find him! If he is hurt somewhere, it will only be a matter of time before someone from the Empire finds him first."

"You speak as if you know for a fact he isn't captured."

"You speak as if you know that he is!" Arya exclaimed, her brow knotted in exasperation. Jeod walked into the pavilion then, burdened by a large map that appeared quite heavy.

"Enough. I tire of this arguing. I expect you to follow my orders. Return to the Varden immediately. Whatever you miss of the meeting I shall inform you of when you return. Be gone."

Arya hesitated, then nodded, a slight look of derision on her expression. Before she let go of the spell though, she said quietly so only Nasuada could hear, "You have no hold over me or any of the elves. We fight with you because we choose to. You would do well to keep that in mind before you order me about." And with that she disappeared from the mirror leaving in its place a reflection of Nasuada as she stared into it.

Nasuada collapsed into her chair and let out a stressed sigh. Why must it be so hard to please everyone?, she asked herself. Again she massaged her temples, trying to dispel the headache that had crept up on her.

"Jeod, I very much appreciate the help you've given me, but I would rather we wait until tomorrow to discuss this. In any case, Arya should be here when we do."

Jeod's friendly smile vanished and his heavily laden arms sagged. He had just carried the heavy map from his tent all the way to the pavilion—which was no short walk—and now he had to take it back. Nevertheless he nodded in obedience and turned to walk out. When he opened the flap of the tent, she got a glimpse outside. The sky had already turned black, and no one seemed to be outside.

"You may all leave. We will meet again when Arya returns to discuss the secret passage." They all filed out of the pavilion. All except Saphira. "What is it Saphira?" Nasuada asked. Saphira lifted her head and looked at Nasuada. Warm breath washed over her face and she could smell brimstone.

I am leaving to go look for Eragon, she said determinedly.

"What? Saphira you can't! We need you."

I was not asking your permission. I just thought I would let you know where I was going before I left. I do not care much whether Eragon is in Galbatorix's possession or lying hurt somewhere in the Empire. I will not sit idly when my partner of soul and mind is in danger. I will find him, even if it means tearing Uru'baen to the ground and burning all who get in my way Including you. With that, she snaked her head out of the pavilion.

Nasuada jumped out of her seat and ran out of the pavilion. The effort caused her some slight dizziness because of her wounds, but she paid it no mind. "Saphira, no!" She had already taken to the air, traveling north. Her wings silver from the light of the moon. She watched Saphira grow smaller and smaller, her former hopelessness returning. We're falling apart. she thought. Now, without a Rider or Dragon to defend the Varden, she knew not what to do. All her plans to invade Feinster and the other Empire cities went out the window. All she could do was sit and wait, and hope that Saphira would come back.

At a loss for what to do, she decided to go inquire of Blodgharm, to see what it was he knew during the meeting. She set off at a walk, leaving her Nighthawks behind. On her way to Blodgharm she stopped, realizing she didn't know where she was going. He was usually wherever Eragon was, but with Eragon absent she wondered where Blodgharm would have gone. She decided to check Eragon's tent. Sure enough, as she approached, Blodgharm stepped out from the shadows to meet her. With his deep blue fur and the silence of his movements, he was impossible to see in the dark of the night, but his bright yellow eyes gave his presence away.

"Blodgharm", she called. "I was just looking for you." She waited for him to say something, but he merely stood there, his nostril flaring slightly. He seemed detached from himself in a way she often saw Eragon look when he was speaking to Saphira through their bond. She didn't ponder it long though. "I was wondering if you had any information you may have wanted to share with me, but not the whole congregation earlier. Any information you may have could be advantageous to the success of our campaign."

The fur on the back of his neck prickled in response. "I do not know of what you speak. I cannot offer you anything you do not already know."

What? She was sure he'd been hinting at something. Was he lying to her? She thought to asking him about it but shoved the thought away. She didn't want to insult him. She also didn't think he would voluntarily lie to her.

"I see", she said, and decided to move on to another question that was bothering her. "I don't know if you noticed her flight, but Saphira has left in search of Eragon." At this, Blodgharm's fur prickled and he regained his curiously detached expression. "The warriors are going to become suspicious of the fact that Eragon and Saphira are no where to be seen. Rumors and gossip will float around and that is the last thing we need. Troop morale is low enough as it is."

At this, Blodgharm cut in, "We know what to do. My companions and I will create a likeness of Eragon and Saphira with magic. So long as no one touches them, physically or mentally, the ruse should work." As he spoke, the other elven guards stepped out of the shadows to stand behind Blodgharm. "It will take us some time to put the spell together though."

Feeling a little better about the situation, she thanked Blodgharm and the other elves, and walked back to her tent. Suddenly feeling the fatigue of the day catch up with her, she made ready to rest. Pulling her sleeves up, she examined the bandages on her arms. Blood had already saturated them. She knew she should have them changed but didn't feel like calling anyone to help her. Laying down, she closed her eyes and let her dreams push away her worries.

Ok what do you think. I don't like to write in Nasuada's POV so there probably won't be very many more. Let me know if you think I'm staying IC. I know I hate reading OOC fics so staying IC is what I strive for.