A/N: Hello my dear readers. I'm back with an all new exiting chapter. And.. I managed to have it up within 2 weeks. Have you all seen the trailer, it is so cool. Murtagh is so HOT!!! Why does the hot older brother always have to be evil – shed a tear. Anyway, I don't want to bore you any longer, thank you to all who reviewed by the way.

Disclaimer: As you all know, my name is not Christopher Paolini. I don't pretend it is, so please don't sue.

On with the story…

Ch.16. Chapter 15

As Arya examined her palm, a feeling of ravenous hunger filled her. It continued to tug against her consciousness until she realized the feeling was not her own; it was coming from the dragon.

"You're hungry, aren't you?" Arya asked as she picked up the small dragon and set it on her shoulder. The dragon growled an affirmative, glad that she had gotten the message. "What am I going to feed him? We have no meat," Arya said to Eragon, looking worriedly at the hungry dragon.

"I'll go find something. Come on Saphira." Eragon jumped onto Saphira's saddleless back and they took off. They leveled off when they had a good view of the surrounding area. Eragon looked around, but all he saw in the area was a small clump of bushes about a league to the right of camp. 'It'll have to do," thought Eragon wryly.

Once they had landed, Eragon sought out a rabbit and killed it with magic. He then drew it from its burrow and remounted Saphira. In normal circumstances, he would have hunted it the way he had before he learned magic, but the small dragon was waiting.

Eragon and Saphira returned to the clearing to find Arya sitting with the small dragon perched on her shoulder. When the dragon saw Eragon - or more precisely, the food in his hand, he jumped from Arya's shoulder and ran to Eragon. Jumping up in pitiful attempts to reach the dead rabbit.

Arya laughed at them before getting up and walking over to Eragon, taking the rabbit from his hand. Arya opened her mouth to ask him for his hunting knife, but closed it again when she saw he was holding it out for her.

Arya's hand was unsteady as she tried to skin and cut the rabbit. It was the first time she had ever skinned any animal in her life. She never had needed to, since she had only eaten meat a few times in her life.

Eragon laughed at her feeble attempts to skin the rabbit. Arya glared at him and continued to work at it.

"Would you like some help?" Eragon said with a grin.

"No," Arya said clearly frustrated by the fact that the section of rabbit she had attempted to skin was still covered in small clumps of fur. "I can do this myself."

After a few more minutes, Arya gave up and held the rabbit out to Eragon. Eragon smirked and took it from her. He then took the knife from Arya, skinning the rabbit with a practiced hand.

Arya mumbled an unintelligible thanks, accepting the small squares of meat he handed to her. Arya fed each piece to the small dragon, being careful not to let her fingers get in the way of his teeth.

When the dragon had eaten enough, he lay down in Arya's lap, quickly falling asleep. Arya looked at the dragon lovingly, watching the even rise and fall of his chest. Already, they were experiencing the bond of a dragon and rider. A bond that would only strengthen over time.

"Remember when you first hatched," Eragon said, smiling happily at the memories. "We were so ignorant of everything. It was a good time, before we began fighting, before we even knew there was a war going on."

Saphira hummed deep in her throat. "They were good times little one. Almost care free."

Eragon let out a sigh. "It seems like so long ago now. Those days I spent on the farm, rushing to see you at every chance I got.

"I always missed you when you went away. I always sat where I had a clear view of the opening from which you came."

"I always worried about you when I was gone. You were so small, and there were so many dangers."

"We have both changed so much since then. In 2 years, we have changed from the weak creatures we once were to powerful warriors."

"When Roran and I were young, we used to play games, pretending that we were the riders of old. I never would have guessed it would ever happen that I would really fight in battles. Who ever would have thought an impoverished farm boy would be the one to give the Varden a second chance."

Saphira rubbed her head against his shoulder, humming once more. "We have done well little one. Brom would be proud of what we have accomplished, and Garrow would be proud of the man you have become."

Saphira's words made Eragon feel a deep sense of accomplishment.

When Eragon yawned, Saphira sat down and he sat with his back against her side, watching Arya rock the sleeping dragon in her arms.

Arya hugged the small dragon close. She had wanted to be a rider all her life. As a young child, she had seen the mighty riders of old, and dreamed of one day becoming one of them. She had loved adventure, and flying with Oromis and Glaedr was her favorite activity. But then the war of the riders came and her dream was torn apart.

But now she was a rider, and it was better than she had ever imagined.

"How does it feel to be a rider?" Arya jumped as Eragon sat down next to her. She hadn't even noticed him coming over. She scolded herself for not paying attention. "When I found out, I was shocked. I didn't know what to do; it was like I had been thrown into a fairy tale. I didn't even know that the riders existed; I was just a farm boy. I wasn't special, I had no parents, I was a nobody.' Eragon paused. "But then again," he said with a wry smile, "I am the son of Morzan."

Saphira flinched at his words.

"I'm so happy, Eragon." She leaned her head on his shoulder. "I've wanted to be a rider for as long as I can remember. When I was young, I used to pretend I was one of the mighty riders." Arya smiled at the memories.

Eragon leaned his head on hers. "I'm so glad you are a rider. I'm not alone anymore. The fate of Alagaësia no longer rests on my shoulders alone. There is someone else to share the burden."

Arya angled her head so she was looking him in the eye. For the first time, she realized exactly what he had been going through. The pressure that had been pressing in on him from all sides. Every day, he had put on a brave face. No one had seen through his act. But at that moment, Arya could see what he was truly feeling. He was breaking inside from the pure stress. There were many fighting in this battle, but only he and Saphira held the fate of Alagaësia in their hand. But even with Saphira, only he had held the full weight burden. Saphira didn't have people trying to influence her from all angles. Parts of it he has had to deal with himself, alone.

"Well, you're not alone anymore," Arya said, moving herself so that her head rested against his chest. Arya closed her eyes as she felt his arms wrap around her shoulders. She snuggled deeper into his chest, enjoying the feeling of being near him. Arya kept telling herself not to give in to her heart. She tried to tell herself that she didn't like being with him, but it wasn't working. She couldn't deny him for much longer. She felt too happy when she was with him.

Eragon left his arms wrapped around her shoulders when she didn't object. He smiled down at her as she absentmindedly used her fingers to trace patterns on her dragon's back.

Saphira moved forward and stretched her wing over Eragon, Arya and the hatchling, all of whom were asleep. They absentmindedly snuggled closer to her warm scales. Saphira hummed quietly before falling asleep herself.

Eragon and Arya set up camp as they landed on the border of Du Weldenvarden. In four days, they had managed to cross the full length of the Hadarac desert. Each night, Eragon and Arya had sparred while the dragons watched with vague interest. Each day Arya's dragon grew. He had almost reached Arya's waist and was still growing rapidly.

"It's my turn to collect water," Arya said with a groan, getting up and collecting the water skins. "I might as well go find a stream," she added. "We are right outside the forest anyway."

"Up to you," Eragon said, shrugging nonchalantly, "I'll make dinner." Arya nodded and left the camp with her dragon trotting at her heels.

Eragon whistled as he set the fire. When it was burning brightly he began to chop the vegetables. Eragon stopped what he was doing suddenly and jumped to his feet, letting the food fall to the ground. Saphira silently walked up behind him, teeth bared. They had both sensed a strong presence in the near vicinity. It was as powerful as Arya or himself. But it was not Arya, or any other elf for that matter. It was clear from its power that it was not human either.

"Hello." A silky voice cut through the air. Eragon looked around the camp furiously; the voice seemed to be coming in on them from all angles. "My master said you would be difficult to find, but here you are, like sitting ducks." Eragon looked around him once more trying to find the source of the voice.

He spotted a man on the far edge of the camp. Eragon turned to face him but stepped back in horror. At first glace, the man had looked perfectly normal, but Eragon realized with horror that this man was far from ordinary. His pale face was framed by an array of fiery red hair. His eyes were a deep maroon that glinted with pure evil.

Eragon unsheathed Yawë and took fighting stance. "Shade," Eragon hissed, his voice filled with hatred.

A/N: That is all for now. I know it's not a very good chapter, but I had to rush because I go on camp tomorrow, and I wanted to get a chapter up before then. Now all you need to do is click the little lavender button in the corner, and tell me what you think. If you do, I may be enticed to update sooner.

Good bye for now

Maddy

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