This may actually scare a few people, but it opens up in the end.

Chapter 48: Fool Me Twice...

"We were fools, Slide," Trianna scorned to her dragon, as she chanted the spell to heal his wounds. "You should not have tried to mate with her…as I warned."

What about you with Eragon? Slide retaliated. You were somewhat disrespectful as well, were you not?

"I was," Trianna replied with her head down. "This is not the way that dragons and their riders should treat another, is it?"

I know not, Slide said, sliding to the ground. Suddenly, a cloaked figure appeared in front of them and waved his hand.

"It appears that you are having some troubles with Eragon," the man said. "Is he refusing to train you two?"

"Aye," Trianna replied. "We were fools and we both deserve it. Now we will never receive our training." Slide bobbed his head slowly to her words.

"Nonsense," the man said with a crocked smile. "Perhaps you can help me and I can help you?" Trianna furrowed her brow and turned to Slide.

"What do you want from us?" she asked.

"Would you betray an ally?" the man asked. Trianna shrugged.

"It depends on the situation," she said. "Why?"

"I have a need for something of Eragon's," the man replied. "A little bird has told me that Saphira is expecting a daughter, is this true?"

"She has already laid two," Trianna said. She turned to Slide. "Perhaps I should have told you that before you attacked her, huh?" Slide shook his head and snorted wildly.

Yes, Slide said angrily in her mind. If you did, we would not be in this situation! Trianna ignored her dragon and turned back over to the strange man.

"So what do you want us to do?" she asked.

"You can keep them occupied," the man replied. "I have a person inside Ellesmera who can fetch what I need. Keep him busy while my servant grabs the egg."

"What do we get in return?" Trianna asked.

"I am a rider of old," the man explained. "My name is Stave, and I am Galbatorix's brother. I will train you further than Eragon could. Among which will be the way to lie around the ancient language. No one finds it possible, but it can be done. You can apologize and gain his trust again."

Apologies will do no good anymore, Slide mentioned. He banned us.

"Has he gone to the queen over this?" Stave asked.

"No…?"

"Then you are not officially banned," Stave explained. "A matter such as that must be decided by a high council." Trianna grinned.

"Teach us."

- - - - - - - - - -

Saphira was lying outside on the grass with her belly facing the warm sun. Her husband was standing beside her with his hand gently massaging her stomach. Their wounds were both healed, but Saphira had a deeper injury…one to her heart.

I almost broke our vows, she said. Eragon continued rubbing her in hopes to help her find more comfort. I do not see how I could not…?

Saphira, Eragon said in a voice as gentle as he could. When something like that happens, it does not break our vows. What he tried to do was not your choice. He was small and agile, compared to you. Think, Slide is only as large as Draken. I am just glad that I got him off before…?

I know, Saphira replied softly. She looked up and held her gaze up at the sun. I have never seen you so brave before. You fought and nearly killed another dragon just for me.

I will kill thousands of dragons for you, Eragon said with a small laugh. Saphira slowly rolled over her wing to where she was on her side.

It was a great display of combat skills, she said with amusement. I recognized a few of them.

You should, Eragon replied, as he moved over to her head. He took to his knees and lifted her head up to place it in his lap. Gleadr taught them to you so long ago. Has our marriage clouded your mind of the strong link between us?

No, Saphira chuckled. I simply forgot. Eragon looked up from his loving wife and gazed around their large property. He and his son mended the fence after Trianna plunged into it.

Where is our child? Saphira asked innocently. And our daughters?

Draken went out for a walk along the hills, Eragon informed. Our daughters are covered and warm inside of the last bowl. All is well again.

Do we need to tell Nasuada of this occurrence? Saphira asked, lifting her sapphire eyes up to stare lovingly at Eragon.

I think that they heeded our warning, Eragon replied, stroking her brow. Just in case, we should explain it. We do not want her to find us as the villains do we?

Of course not, Saphira laughed out. We can do it later. The sun feels good on my hide, and I am happy that you are with me. Eragon slowly moved down to lie on his back beside her. The grass they were lying on was green and fresh, adding to the comfort after such a trying day.

I do not want to move, Saphira said lazily. I am too comfortable. Eragon chuckled as Saphira flicked her tail slowly from side to side while they lay beside each other.

Me either, love, Eragon replied with a soft yawn. I love you.

I will always, Saphira replied, shutting her eyes. Thank you again for what you did.

You are my wife, Eragon said, closing his eyes as well. I will do anything to keep you safe…if that means that I must die while doing it.

- - - - - - - - -

"I cannot believe what happened to mother," Draken muttered, as he padded along the fence line around his family's home. "I thought that dragons were wiser than that. If I see this 'Slide' again, I will tear him to shreds." Draken looked up to see a few birds flap in the sky playfully as they chased each other around in the air. He took in a deep sniff and snorted at the lovely scents of the grass and creatures around it. "Absolutely beautiful," he said, as he continued to pad along. "My sisters will have a grand time here." Suddenly, the sky was filled with the familiar sound of dragon's wings beating against the air. Draken looked behind him to see the wretched dragon, Slide, land with his rider mounted on top of him.

We mean no harm, Slide told him. Draken hissed loudly and blitzed towards the dragon with all of his might.

"You son of a serpent!" Draken screamed, as he crashed into Slide with all of his strength. The emerald dragon rolled on the ground helplessly while Draken began slicing at him with his claws. "You tried to ravage my mother and almost defiled my family! How can you mean no harm?" Draken opened his large mouth and prepared to chomp down on Slide's exposed throat.

"Please Draken," Trianna replied. "Can you trust us?"

"NO!" Draken shouted, as he turned to face her. "My father told me that you were no good! It looks like you two have proven that point!"

"We made a mistake," Trianna said in an attempt to calm him down. Draken turned back to Slide and snarled.

"A mistake is something you make…not do," Draken roared. "You made no mistake by trying to ravage my mother. Instead, you did a crime. I can easily forgive a mistake, but crimes are unforgivable by me!" Slide attempted to move, but Draken shifted his weight to keep him still. "You are not welcome here. My father banned you!"

"It is not his place to do so," Trianna replied humbly. "It is only Nasuada or Islanzadi who has that right."

"Then he will go to them," Draken shouted, as he looked down to growl at Slide. "Do not toy with me, you snake! I can extinguish your life in one instant!" Draken looked up from Slide and turned towards the house.

Father, he sent to Eragon. Trianna…Slide…come quickly! Slide bucked underneath him, but Draken continued to hold him down against the ground.

"Listen to reason," Trianna explained. "We wish to apologize and continue our training. We will say our apologies in the ancient language too in order to prove our loyalty to them…?"

"Loyalty?" Draken screamed. "LOYALTY? What loyalty have you shown them? Your dragon attempted to harm my mother while you tried to seduce my father during combat…you did not think that I knew did you? I saw every second of it, and I heard every word. There is no loyalty with you or your beast!" Draken turned away from her and looked to the sky to see Saphira speeding down with Eragon on her back. Saphira touched down quickly, roaring while she landed, but Eragon hopped off before she even touched the ground. Draken watched with his eyes wide while Eragon rushed forward to tackle Trianna.

"You slattern!" Eragon screamed, holding her by her throat. "What did I tell you?" Eragon raised his fist and prepared to bring it down on her jaw, but he quickly stopped.

What is wrong? Saphira asked, while she padded over to help Draken.

"I do not harm girls," Eragon said out loud. "Even pathetic excuses of them."

"We just want to apologize," Trianna explained. "We realize the wrongness of our actions and have came to beg for your forgiveness." Eragon glared at her, but took out his hand to help her to her feet. She took it and allowed him to pull her up.

"I will not train you," Eragon spat out. "You are banned, remember?"
"It is not your place to judge," Trianna pointed out. "It can only be issued by the queen of the Varden or Ellesmera."

"Then we go to them," Eragon growled. "You may just want to leave…Nasuada's new spouse is my brother. If he finds out what Slide's plan was involving his sister-in-law, you and him will both be hung from a tree."

"There is not one strong enough to hold us," Trianna replied with a smirk. "The rope would break before our necks do."

Then we will use arrows, Saphira snapped in. Either way, you will lose your lives.

"Can we not do this some other way?" Trianna asked. She watched as Draken cautiously climbed off of her dragon. "What if we relay our apologies in the ancient language? You cannot lie in that tongue, can you?" Eragon sighed and turned to Saphira.

This is your call, darling, he told her. We can take this to Nasuada, but they are looking at the gallows for sure if we do.

I do not want to, Saphira said with her head lowered. She watched Draken hiss madly at Slide. But, I have a plan to keep them honest.

What if he…?

I said, Saphira cut him off, I have an idea over the matter. Our son fights very well. Accept their apologies, and I will explain the details afterwards.

"Very well," Eragon said out loud. "I have no trust in the two of you, but my wife wants to give you a second chance, though I know not why after what you tried to do to her. I want every word of your apologies in the ancient language. The slightest falter…and your blood will flow from this hillside. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, master," Trianna replied. She turned to Slide and then turned to bow at Saphira.

"My sincerest apologies," Trianna said in the ancient language.

I do not want you to say that, Saphira replied. It is your dragon that must apologize to me. You must admit your wrongdoing to my husband.

"Very well," Trianna said. She turned to Eragon and repeated her phrase without a single falter. Slide slowly climbed to his paws and padded over towards Saphira, who was still cautious of him.

Saphira, the emerald dragon started. I stand before you now as a different dragon instead of the unwise hatchling that you experienced earlier. For my actions, I am truly sorry. I took the time to focus on the task at hand, instead of other issues. It was foolish for me to attack you, and I deserve death for what I came close to doing, but your husband was gracious and spared me. Will you forgive an incompetent dragon of his…? He turned to glare at Draken. Criminal acts? Saphira lowered her head in thought. Every word was exact in the ancient language without any faults, but it was a hard topic to forgive him for. Thoughts swarmed her mind of Slide being mauled by Draken and her husband, which forced her to let out a slight chuckle. After a few moments, she spoke up.

Slide, she said in English. You came too close to ruining me for my husband. It was reckless, foolish, and overall incriminating. What would have happened to me if my husband were not there? I may be strong, but you held an advantage over me. Before I accept your apology, you must hear my terms. Eragon sat down next to her while Draken stood in the distance, never taking his eyes off of Slide. If I accept this, you will never be anywhere near me unless I am with another. If I am to train you, Draken will come along as well to keep you from being a fool again. If you attempt to do this again, he will have the permission to extinguish your life before you come close. There will be no petty talks or conversations between us either…meaning that I will talk and you will remain as silent as a stone. If you speak, it will be only to ask a logical question. After training, you leave the area and wait for your rider to finish her part. This will keep that same urge from building up again. Will you agree to these terms?

Yes master, Slide replied, bowing his head.

Very well, Saphira said in a low tone. Your apology has been accepted. Eragon placed his hand to her side.

Very wise, he told her. I would rather be the one to assist you instead of our son. I want to taste his blood if he tries it again.

I still do not trust them, Saphira replied. I have a very strange feeling.

I do too, Eragon replied. They apologized in the old language, though did they not? Still something still feels odd.

Aye, Saphira sighed. Eragon turned to Trianna. "Something still feels wrong. Did you meet anyone unusual when you left?" Saphira got to her paws and padded over to Trianna. She placed her nostrils close and took in a deep sniff.

Eragon! She shouted. I know that scent! It is Stave! Eragon shot back and glared at Trianna.
"What did he tell you?" Eragon asked. "Better yet, what did you tell him?"

"We merely crossed paths," Trianna lied. "He brushed against me while we were walking."
That is not true, Saphira interjected. In all of the space in the forest, how could he brush against you? You conversed with him!

"I did not!" Trianna screamed. "Trust me!"

"I would rather have the queens decide," Eragon shouted back. "Stave has been after us for quite sometime, Trianna. I have a feeling that you are on his side."

"I would never," Trianna replied. "Here, I will repeat it in the old language to prove it!" Sure enough, she did, but there was something strange in the way that she was pronouncing. It was as if she were merely reading a list than speaking from her heart.

Something is amiss, Saphira told Eragon. Queen Nausada must do something about this.

"You fooled us once," Eragon said. "The shame is placed on you for it. If you fool us again, we deserve the shame. We shall take this up with Nasuada and Islanzadi."

I surly hope that Islanzadi has forgiven us for the death of her daughter, Saphira chimed in regretfully. If not, this may be in her favor.

I am taking that chance, Eragon said. He pointed to his son. "Draken! Head home and watch your sisters!"

"Yes father," Draken replied. In a moment, Draken was off and flying towards his home. Eragon turned to see Trianna throw a worried look at her dragon.

Are you ready? Slide asked.

It is now or never, Trianna replied. "Now!" Slide suddenly swept his large claw at Eragon, but the young rider avoided the blow quickly by doing a well timed back-handspring. Saphira roared in surprise and rushed forward to knock Slide down to the floor. Instead of Slide having the upper hand, Saphira was the one who was dominating. She had him pinned with one of her forearms while she continued to thrash his chest with her other one.

Time for my revenge! Saphira shouted to Slide, who was screaming in agony. Seeing that Saphira had things under control, Eragon dove straight for Trianna and knocked her straight to the ground, punching her rapidly in the face as he held her there.

"You've brought this on yourself!" Eragon screamed while punching her. "What did you do?"

- - - - - - - - - - -

Draken arrived at the home to see that the main door was wide open. He looked around to see unfamiliar footsteps etched in the grass before the home's entrance.

"Oh no," Draken gasped, as he cautiously walked inside. The home was ransacked with clothes and paper strown about on the floor. Draken listened intently for any noises and heard a loud crash in his father's bedroom above him. He rushed up the stairs to see an elf, dressed completely in black, searching through his parent's closet.

"Stop!" Draken roared. The elf turned around quickly, as shock showed in his hazel eyes. "Do not move!" The elf snickered slightly and unsheathed a blade that was the same color as Draken's purple hide.

"I have an agenda to keep friend," the elf replied. "If you are to stand in the way, I must get rid of you."

"Good luck," Draken sneered, as he began to circle the intruder. "My father is the swordsman Eragon. Do you not think that I have learned from him?"

"Dragons have no uses for blades," the elf laughed. Suddenly, Draken recognized him as the Elvin messenger who informed them of Trianna's presence.

"Backstabber!" Draken screamed. "You betray my family? What are you after?"

"The egg," the elf replied. "Give me the egg and I will go."

"Never!" Draken screamed. "I will never relinquish my sister…either one for that matter."

"Poor choice," the elf cried. He suddenly charged Draken with the tip of his sword pointing to the dragon's heart, but Draken was able to side step out of the way.

"If this is how you wish to play," Draken hissed. "Your death will bring much amusement to me!" Draken growled and slapped away the elf's blade as if it were a tiny toothpick. The elf suddenly rolled underneath Draken, and kicked him hard in his scaled stomach. He roared in pain, but quickly fell to the ground in an attempt to crush the attacker before him. Sadly, the elf rolled out of the way and was able to retrieve his blade.

"I have had enough," the elf shouted. "Letta!" Draken's feet suddenly stopped moving. He tried his hardest to weave or make any movement, but it was useless. The elf had immobilized him. He watched as the elf raised his sword and prepared to bring it down across his chest.

Father! He cried out. I will die for my brethren.

"NO YOU WILL NOT!" A familiar voice screamed behind him. Draken watched as an arrow shot beside him and into the throat of the elf. The attacker stumbled and dropped his blade to hold the arrow, which was protruding from his neck. Before the elf had a chance to say a word, another arrow was loosed into his heart to end his life and drop the spell that held Draken. The dragon turned around quickly to see Murtagh holding his bow in his hands.

"Are you well, nephew?" Murtagh asked. Draken nodded his head.

"What are you doing here?" Draken asked. Murtagh shrugged.

"I actually was stopping by after some hunting," Murtagh explained. "Eragon contacted me and told me that there was some trouble. It looks as if he was right. What was he after?"

"My mother laid two eggs," Draken explained. "He wanted one of them and I refused. We fought for quite some time before he used that spell."

"I see," Murtagh replied, stepping over toward his nephew. "You were brave, Draken. It takes a lot of courage to be willing to die for someone else. Did he find them?" Draken turned to head down the stairs. He stepped over to the final bowl and lifted the blanket that covered it. Sure enough, the silver and magenta eggs were still safe inside.

"They are fine," Draken sighed with relief. "The attacker was the messenger. He told us about Trianna's arrival here in Ellesmera." Murtagh quickly ran back up the stairs and examined the dead elf's body. He took off a lone glove that was on his right hand and quickly dropped it in shock. Instead of a gedwey insignia, there was a sharp 'S' shape that was carved into his palm.

"This man is mad!" Murtagh exclaimed. "He brands his followers?" Draken climbed back up the steps and stared worriedly at the sign before them.

"Thorn is helping to take Trianna and Slide to Nasuada," Murtagh explained. "Eragon told me everything. Those two will be dead and buried in a week's time. This was more than betrayal…this was treason!" Draken nodded his head at his uncle and stretched out his neck so Murtagh could scratch his brow.

"I owe you my life," Draken said. "I was seconds away from the void until you arrived."

"You owe me nothing," Murtagh replied kindly. "You are family, and I expect that you would do the same for me."

"I would," Draken said humbly. "Shall we help my parents?"

"I think that they will need it," Murtagh laughed out. "Trianna and Slide are putting up a great fight." Draken let out a soft choppy growl and turned towards the exit again while Muragh tossed the elf's body out of the second-story window. They both stepped outside and Murtagh carefully locked the door behind them.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Trianna was pinned to the ground by Eragon's weight and Thorn and Saphira were holding Slide.

"Why not kill us now?" Trianna asked. "What does it matter to you? If you take us to Nasuada, her hand will kill us, not yours. Do it! Thry…?"

Can you shut her up? Thorn asked to everyone in an annoyed tone. Eragon smiled and placed his hand over her mouth.

"Let's see you cast a spell with your mouth closed," Eragon joked. She huffed and continued to squirm.

"Father!" Draken screamed from above. "Our home has been invaded! He was after my sisters!"

"Did he get them?" Eragon asked. He watched as Draken touched down with Murtagh on his back.

"Your son was going to sacrifice himself for them," Murtagh explained. "The intruder was the Elvin messenger that came here…at least it is what Draken told me. He used the spell to stop him and tried to plunge his sword into your child's heart. My arrow put a stop to that."

"I was not going to let him take them away," Draken replied calmly. "Did you catch my message I sent you?" Eragon nodded slowly.

"I never felt so helpless either," Eragon stated. "I was too far to reach you. Thank heavens that Murtagh was close by."

"Indeed," Draken replied. "If I find this Stave, he will feel my wrath!"

"I discovered something," Murtagh said to Eragon. "Stave is branding his followers with a strange shaped 'S'. This may come in handy…?"
Why are these two not branded then? Saphira asked. Eragon sat back in thought.

"This may have been the expected outcome," he replied. "Stave figured that we would have killed them, so he did not bother to mark them as his own."

"You here that?" Murtagh asked Trianna. "Stave tricked you! He expected you to be caught."

"He did not expect his follower to be slain, however," Eragon joked. "It looks like we have won for now, but this man has only become more powerful."

"Power brings arrogance," Draken explained. "He will make a mistake in time."

Okay, I got the idea of telling lies in the ancient language by this…fool your mind into believing that something can be done. For instance: You are not sorry for acting strange to your brother, but in order to come up with a good apology for your mother to hear, you start feigning sympathy…maybe some tears if you are that good. Say it…and bingo. What do you think? Next chapter will be actiony bightime!

PEACE!