They did not stay in Petrøvya long after Trianna's attack. While Lynde wanted to leave immediately, Arlen convinced her to stay a while longer. He wanted her to wait for Kaesdir and Haldthin, who he called for with the mirror he was given. In that time they had their wounds healed, including Arlen's shoulder, which he was told wouldn't come loose as easily this time. Once the Elf and the green Dragon arrived, they left Petrøvya—and Surda—for good.

They did have to leave someone behind. Rose was too tired to make the journey, but chose to let them leave without her. Leaving Rose was not Arlen's only concern though, as going on the back of a Dragon meant leaving behind the horse he had rode to Aberon on, which was borrowed. Herbst had also ridden that horse to Petrøvya, much to his surprise. Lord Cathair promised to take care of Rose and to return the horse to Jerrell's caravan as soon as possible, which Arlen was very grateful for.

The trip back north took several days, but it was much faster than walking. What took them weeks going south now took them a day or two going north. Haldthin admitted to not flying as fast as he could, but that was alright with Arlen, as he was already nervous going at their current speed. He felt like he might fly off, but he didn't actually do it. By the end he actually somewhat liked flying.

Arlen, while not being party to their conversations, did note that Haldthin and Artsanna were getting along well. They talked quite a bit with their minds, and began developing good opinions of the other, which was better than how they started out—being former enemies and all. While he couldn't be sure, he thought that she was simply enthused to be talking with another member of her kind, but he didn't know about such things.

When they arrived in Cathalorn goodbyes were said, though Kaesdir noted something to Arlen. "This is not the end of my generosity, Arlen of Cathalorn," he said. "You may still call upon that favor when you need it."

Arlen smiled. He had no idea what he might use that favor for, but when he did he expected it would be no small one. For now he just said, "Thank you."

Kaesdir bowed and said, "You are welcome, and will be welcome for a long while after. I hope we meet again, Arlen of Cathalorn." He turned to Lynde and said, "As I hope to meet you as well, Lynde of Cathalorn, when you are ready to join us."

Lynde looked at him and said, "I hope someday that I will. Goodbye, Kaesdir. Goodbye, Haldthin." And with that they left, flying into the distance.

They had not landed in the valley where Cathalorn lay, but it was a far walk to there. As they began their walk Arlen noticed something. Artsanna's body language was nervous, twitching and looking to the source of every sound. He asked, "What's wrong, Artsanna?"

I smell something, Artsanna replied. It is unfamiliar to me, but like a Dragon's scent. Not one that I have met though.

Arlen's hand drifted to his sword hilt as he said, "Let's hope they're friendly."

He expected Lynde to say something, but she didn't, unnerving him slightly. She had been quiet all throughout their trip, only speaking when directly spoken to. He hoped that she would speak more freely sometime soon.

As they proceeded in silent Arlen got to take in the forest. It was recovered from its winter wounds with the restoration of green leaves and thick brush. Oddly enough I did not see many animals, which worried him to some degree, but they were probably just hiding from Artsanna or whatever she smelled. When they arrived at the edge of the forest, Arlen could now see beyond the trees to his home of Cathalorn.

Cathalorn seemed to have been mostly unchanged from when he last left. A couple of new houses were being built, which didn't strike him as odd as there were always those who wanted to build their own home so that they felt accomplished. That being said, he did wonder whose houses they were.

Suddenly he was aware that he was being watched. He stepped out of the forest to see a giant Dragon, which looked almost as large as Thorn, but with blue scales so bright it was hard to look at it. He surprised to say the least, but more accurate words to describe his feelings were scared half to death! He would have shouted for his companions to run if he thought it would do any good, but he knew that this was no ordinary Dragon that they had faced. This had to be the oldest Dragon in Alagaësia; Saphira!

"Put that away," called a voice with no and yet all accents. "Your sword will do you no good." Arlen looked to the source of the voice and recognized him as the leader of all the Dragon Riders; it was Eragon! "If anything it will hurt her feelings."

Arlen could hear Artsanna back up into a tree out of fear of the pair, but Herbst went out to meet them with his staff. Arlen glanced at Lynde and she was simply frozen with fear. Before a fight could start, Eragon put his hands up and said, "We are not here to do battle. We only wish to ask Lynde and Artsanna a question."

"If you're going to ask her to join, don't bother," Herbst said. "She's not going anywhere but home after what those assassins tried to do to her."

Eragon cocked an eyebrow. "Assassins? Whose assassins?"

Queen Nasuada's assassins, Artsanna said. They admitted it shortly before they tried to kill Lynde!

Eragon suddenly had a look like he was keeping a massive amount of rage in check. "I assure you," he said angrily, "Queen Nasuada shall pay for this offense. You do not have anything to fear from me; Nasuada does."

"Well she still doesn't want to go with you," Herbst said.

"Hold on," Lynde said, stepping closer to the others. "What sort of freedom would we have?"

"As much as you want," Eragon said. "You may go where you wish, considering your previous experience. Once you finish a little training you'll be a full member of the Riders."

After a pause Herbst looked to Lynde. "You're not really thinking of doing it?" he said to his daughter. Arlen was surprised as well. In the past she had refused to join, or simply said that she wasn't ready. Was now the time she would say yes?

"I am," Lynde said. "Every decision I've made has led us to ruin. We've been manipulated, hounded, imprisoned in our freedom. I won't stand in the way of our joining the Dragon Riders this time, Artsanna, but I won't be the one to make us join either." She looked to Artsanna who was coming out from the trees. "It's your choice this time."

Artsanna paused before saying, I thank you for letting me choose, but this time it is no choice. I choose to join the Riders from now until there is no Order to be a part of. I hope you approve of my decision.

"Of course I do," Lynde said.

"As do I," Eragon said. "Take all the time you need here to prepare for the journey east to the Unknown Lands and the Tower of the Dragon Riders. There will be a ship ready to take you at Hedarth, but before that I suppose you'll have to be led past the Hadarac Desert."

"Take us now," Lynde said. "We need no time to prepare."

"Lynde?" Herbst said. "What are you doing?"

She looked at him with sad eyes that made Arlen understand. "I do not want for this parting to be any harder than it already is, and I'm afraid that if I stay too long it will become impossible. As much as I want to see Cathalorn again, and Gelsey and Edana, I fear that I would never leave again after that. I just want to go now before I make another mistake."

Herbst embrace Lynde tightly. Arlen knew that this could be the last time that the two would meet, and could guess that they knew as well. He could understand their emotions, and how difficult it would be for them to separate. Arlen did not feel as strongly about this, but he did feel nonetheless. Lynde was a friend to him, and he would miss her for some time, as he knew that many would.

When they finally released each other, Lynde went over to Arlen. He was surprised when she gave him a hug as well. It was tight, but he was strong enough to endure and return it. After some time she said, "If I had a brother, I would want him to be like you."

Arlen chuckled. "If I had a sister, it would be you."

"But you already have a sister," she laughed.

"Yeah, but at heart I have two: Embry and you."

She squeezed him again and said, "Goodbye, Arlen."

As he returned the favor he said, "Goodbye, Lynde."

Arlen waited for her to let go first, and when they parted she went over to Eragon and said, "I'm ready now."

Eragon shook his head. "But I am not. I have some things I must do before I am ready to return to the unknown lands. I will have another Rider bring you there."

She nodded. "Alright."

"Good. I'll see who is in the area."

As Eragon went to fetch something from his saddlebags, Artsanna said to Arlen, Goodbye, Arlen.

Goodbye, Artsanna, he replied, making sure to use his mind instead of his voice.

If Lynde was never born, I might have chosen you to be my Rider.

Honored and surprised, all Arlen could say was, Thank you?

Then Eragon came back to them saying, "Good news, I can have a Rider get here within an hour. She is an Elf named Volyeth. I believe you know her."

Arlen smiled, thinking back to how they intimidated her into not fighting. They were quite a formidable team back in the day. Artsanna's fire, Lynde's might, Rose's bow, Herbst's mind, and of course Arlen's sword made them all a powerful group. They had some great adventures together, but it was now time to say goodbye to them for now.

Perhaps they would reunite sometime later, but he thought not. What were the chances that the world would ever need them to save it?