More gets told about the wyverns in this chapter. Recioh is pronounced Rek-eye-oh, Lisben is pronounced Liz-ben and Arden is R-den (no brainer for the last two.) Mostly fluff in here, but next chapter will be a bit more war and drama. MORE TxC and DxL in this too! Also, Saphira learns what a massage is. May get some laughs if I did it right (I know she is supposed to be a strong dragoness and all, but everyone gets sore!) Enjoy.

Chapter 69: Underneath a Starry Night

Everyone huddled around the home as Eragon and his wife flew in. They were covered in dirt and dark ash, which dulled the shine of Saphira's bright sapphire scales. Eragon was riding astride her, but he held the look of utter exhaustion. Saphira touched down strenuously, as Eragon dismounted her.

"What happened to you?" he huffed, as he saw the cuts, scrapes, and tears that were on the rest of the crew.

"We were attacked," Draken said to his father. "The revolt has begun, and we were there for the first battles."

Where were they? Saphira asked, as she licked the soot off of her giant claws.

We were attacked at Therinsford, Thorn replied. I had to kill a wyvern.

"He was very brave," Covin'thra commented, showing her teeth to him as she did so. "He fought her in my stead."

Her? Lunalese asked. I only knew of one wyvern…and it is a male.

"This one claimed that her brother was in charge of this whole issue," Murtagh explained. "She tried to get the dragons to join in on it."

There must be more than one, Lunalese sighed. Draken, this is not good at all. How many do you suppose are out there?

"I do not know, " Draken replied plainly. "We will only find out in time."

"We found Nasuada too," Eragon said to Murtagh. "She and a group of soldiers have left to assess the damage to both parts of this country."

"I will stay here," Murtagh muttered. "There are still more towns that need to be saved, and more work to rebuild them."

Where was the second battle? Saphira asked worriedly. Equinox shook her head and whimpered slightly at the wound on her neck.

"Ceunon," she murmured. "Wolves attacked us…maybe forty or so."

It was a devastating assault, Lunalese chimed in. We fought them off the best we could.

Ceunon is just a few miles from our home, Saphria pointed out to Eragon. What if they strike here tonight?

With Ellesmera divided, Eragon replied worriedly, it is quite possible. He looked over to Draken and Lunalese. It will not be safe here for us, he told them mentally, including Murtagh.

"What if we kept watch during the night?" Murtagh asked. "We could switch off every few hours so everyone could receive enough rest in between."

No, Lunalese interrupted him. I shall keep watch for all of you. I know what to look for whereas neither of you do not.

"Staying alone would be a fool's errand, Lunalese," Murtagh pointed out. "You would have no one to watch your back when you are out there."

You all need rest, Lunalese explained. I am the least injured with a slight tear in my right wing. Everyone else needs to rest.

"Except for me," Draken suddenly stepped up. "Do you think that I will let the future mother of my hatchlings stay the night alone?" Lunalese cocked her head and widened her eyes at his comment.

Draken, Lunalese said breathlessly. Do you mean…?

Of course, Draken replied to her mentally. May I stay with you tonight?

How could I refuse, Lunalese sighed. Draken approached her and rubbed his snout against her own.

"Father," he told Eragon. "I will stay with her. If I may say so, have Thorn and Covin'thra rest outside incase something slips by us. Keep Equinox close and tend to her wound if you could."

Do you wish for me to heal yours and Lunalese's? Eragon asked mentally. Draken looked himself over and snorted. None of the wounds on his or Luna's hide were painful enough to need attention.

"We shall pass," Draken told him. "Thank you for the offer, Father."

Eragon, Saphira suddenly said. My wings are tired and I must rest. Would you care to follow me inside?

Of course, dear, Eragon said gently. I will be right in. Saphira turned slowly and padded into her home. He turned to Draken and frowned. "Be safe, son," he told him. "We shall be here incase you need anything." With that said, Eragon turned away to head after Saphira. He stopped briefly to scratch underneath Covin'thra's chin.

Be nice to Thorn tonight, Eragon chuckled. I have a feeling that you two will have quite a discussion.

"What about?" Covin'thra asked aloud. Eragon merely chuckled and walked away into his home.

- - - - - - - - -

I am so sore, Saphira whined, as she flopped down in the bowl. Eragon walked up next to her and placed his hand on her brow.

It was quite a bit of flying, Eragon admitted, what hurts?

Everything, she sighed out. My wings feel as if they are going to fall off of my spine and my arms feel as if they way two tons apiece. Eragon chuckled as she whimpered and shifted positions in the circular crevice. How do you feel?

I have had better days, Eragon said in attempt to cheer her up. Like you, my arms are killing me and my legs are not much better. We worked hard today and many villagers will thank us for it in due time.

I know, Saphira cooed. Eragon gently stepped inside of her bowl and took one of her forearms in his hands. He slowly ran his hands across it from the top of her wrist to her giant shoulder, gently kneading at her sore muscles. Saphira growled in pleasure and dropped her head down into the bowl.

Where did you learn this trick? Saphira asked in between occasional grunts. Eragon smiled at her and shifted to her other forearm.

Massaging? Eragon asked. It was taught to my by Oromis. This relaxes your muscles so you are not so tense tomorrow.

If you keep this up, I may fall asleep, Saphira pointed out with a large comfortable yawn.

That is what I want you to do, Eragon said lovingly. My job as your husband is to make sure that you are well.

What about your strains? Saphira asked. I can…?

Stay in here and rest, Eragon finished her sentence. I will be fine, Saphira. You relax and let me take care of you. She was about to protest, but Eragon quickly grabbed her left wing and began massaging the velvety membrane that incased it.

Oh dear, Saphira groaned, as she twitched her wings while Eragon held on tightly to the one he was working on. Eragon this is heavenly.

Any other sore places? Eragon asked. She looked up at him with loving eyes and shook her head.

Thank you, love, Saphira said with a subtle moan as he released her left wing from his massaging fingers. He turned to see Equinox pad inside.

"Am I intruding?" she asked. Both Eragon and Saphira shook their heads as she approached them. Eragon stepped out of the bowl while Saphira lay silently in it, too comfortable to move.

"What happened to you?" Eragon asked, as he gently lifted up Equinox's chin. Bite marks were visible and blood was dried up on her magenta scales to give it a dullish red tone.

"I fought bravely, Father," Equinox said proudly. "A wolf managed to strike, but Draken knocked it off of me."

That's my girl, Saphira said softly, as she slowly lifted her head up. She looked over to Eragon. Is it deep?

A little bit, Eragon told her. They broke the skin. Eragon gently placed his left hand on his daughter's injury and ran his fingers through the wound."That dog did quite a number on you, daughter."

"You should see him," Equinox said with a pleasing growl. It was not too deep, so it took little strength for Eragon to heal it.

"Waise Heill!" Eragon chanted. Saphira looked at Equinox and growled while her wound on her neck was being sealed up.

I am proud of you, Saphira said. You have came out of your timid state and became a true dragon today.

"Thank Draken," Equinox replied. "I still hold in my heart the words that he told me when I was captured by Stave."

What was that?

"It is better to fall with pride and courage than shame and fear," Equinox recited. Eragon gently scratched underneath her healed chin.

Live those words, child, Eragon told her through mental link. They mean well. Equinox growled pleasingly and turned to head into the spare room.

"I will sleep in here tonight," Equinox explained. "If something happens, this may fall in our favor."

Wise decision, Saphira said. She turned over to Eragon and showed her teeth. Oh sweetheart? My neck seems to be rather tense as well. Could you 'massage' it for me too?

- - - - - - - -

The black wyvern was perched on the thickest branch of an ash tree as he watched the stiff bloody body of his sister below him. Vultures had begun to gather around the limp creature and the smell of its blood was repulsive.

Arden, the black wyvern muttered solemnly as he stared down at her body. It was for the greater cause. Your death will be avenged, sibling.

Recioh! Someone called for him above. He looked up to see a bright red wyvern dive down to land beside him. I have news.

Yes, my love, Recioh replied. Tell me.

Ceunon was a defeat, the red creature said worriedly. Many wolves were lost.

Lisben! Recioh said in an annoyed tone. How did they fail? There were more in that pack than the one that attacked Therinsford.

There were complications, my sweet, Lisben replied. We did not expect to do battle against three dragons…?

Was Lunalese one of them? Recioh asked. Lisben nodded her feathered head.

I am afraid so, she sighed. Recioh, we have another problem. Including you and I, there are only five more wyverns left. How can we do this when these fire-breathing beasts outnumber us?

Fly to the nest, Lisben, Recioh said slowly. We will begin raising our army there.

- - - - - - - --

It is a beautiful night, Draken, Lunalese said softly as the two padded up a slight hill. It was dark and the stars were shinning brighter than either dragon had seen before. I remember looking up at the stars when I was only a hatchling. I used to just sit at the edge of a cliff and look up at them for hours on end.

I do that sometimes too, Draken admitted. As a matter of fact, Covin'thra was decided from the stars.

How so? Lunalese asked. Draken snorted and gently lifted his snout up to point to a constellation that looked just like a dragon.

There, Draken said. Covin'thra means constellation.

You are very wise, Lunalese sighed. The stars have always been the most intriguing to me. As a form of punishment, my master used to force me to lay on my belly with my head down in the nest so I could no longer see such a glorious creation.

What did you ever do wrong? Draken laughed out.

Just small things, Lunalese murmured. The largest thing I did wrong was provoking a wolf cub by smacking it with my tail. His father was not pleased at all. Draken laughed heartedly and showed his teeth.

I remember the first time I played with my father, Draken pointed out. I leapt up and chomped down on his chest. He struggled to get me off for five full minutes.

You are lucky to have one, Lunalese mentioned sadly. I have been imprisoned instead of loved.

I broke you free of that bond, Draken told her. You are loved, Luna. She looked up at him with her ruby eyes sparkling from the light of the stars above her.

Draken, she asked lovingly.

Yes?

When can we start a family of our own? Draken suddenly shot up to gaze back at her as she stared intently back at him. I feel as if we are ready, but I want you to feel the same way.

Luna, Draken told her. I love you more than the stars above our heads.

And I love you more than the depths of Lake Isentstar, Lunalese replied, as she gently brushed her head against his chest.

I know little about courting, Draken admitted. Lunalese let out a soft choppy growl and then slid to her paws. Draken watched as she tucked her wings in tightly to her sides.

Neither do I, Lunalese said with a nervous laugh. I do know this: you love me, and I love you. Instinct will come in soon and both of us will be pleased parents.

I sure hope so, Draken sighed, as he slid down as well. They lay there as they watched the acres of Eragon's land. Luna, I want to start a home with you. Lunalese looked up at him and growled softly.

I would enjoy the company, she replied kindly. Perhaps it would be a step closer to parenthood?

You really want a youngling, Draken said admirably. It is my job as a mate to fulfill your dream. Draken scooted closer to her and draped his wing over her form. She sighed comfortably and closed her eyes at the tender feeling of his body against hers.

You are making it very difficult for me to stay awake, Lunalese commented, as she slowly fluttered her eyes open. When?

What? Draken asked.

When will you make my dream come true? Lunalese asked. Draken took his eyes off of the horizon to look at her.

Whenever you wish, my dear, Draken replied. Hush now. You can rest and I will keep watch for anything odd.

No, she sighed. If you must stay awake, then so must I.

- - - - - - - - - -

Covin'thra? Thorn asked the silver dragon, who was resting against his stomach. She slowly lifted her head up at him and growled softly.

"Yes?" she asked.

I would like to have a talk with you, Thorn pointed out. May we?

"Of course," Covin'thra replied. She gently slid away from his belly and sat on her haunches to face him. "What is it that you would like to discuss?"

Love, he said plainly. Covin'thra's sapphire eyes widened as her wings twitched above her.

"I know very little about it," Covin'thra admitted shamefully. "What do you know?"

It is difficult to explain, Thorn began. Covy, if I can call you that…?

"You may," she chuckled. Her voice had became more mature and womanlike, despite her being a dragon.

I want to know what you feel when you think about me?

"Well," Covin'thra said with her eyes downcast. She lowered her head in thought and then brought it up to face him. "I cannot explain it."

We have all night, Thorn snickered, which made Covin'thra chuckle as well.

"I remember seeing you one time when I was a hatchling," Covin'thra explained, "for some reason, I felt as if…we were bonded somehow. Does that make any sense, Scarred One?"

A little, Thorn replied. My dear, you are aware that you are the only female besides Saphira that I have held conversations with.

"It must be very lonely," Covin'thra murmured. "I could not imagine holding conversations with my mother alone. Tell me, Thorn, what is this…love?"

I only know how to explain it because I feel it now, Thorn pointed out. Covin'thra, I did not fight the wyvern because you did not know how to fight.

"What do you mean?"

I mean to say. Thorn explained further, that my main concern was to keep you safe…so I could have a family of my own someday. You are a female dragoness, Covy, and I am a male who has been waiting for quite some time.

"It was noble of you to think of that," Covin'thra sighed. "So what feeling is there? Perhaps I am feeling the same?"

Your heart always leaps when you think of the other, Thorn explained. It drives you mad when you cannot see the dragon…or in my case the dragoness, so you begin to do things to keep her…or him close. Awkward thoughts drift into your head and all that is on your mind is the one you care for.

"Well then, Thorn," Covin'thra said softly. "I have felt that way, but I surly cannot mate with my brother…can I?"

Well no, Thorn replied. There are two types of love. The love of your kin, and the love of your mate.

"What is the difference?"

You do not start a family with your sibling, Thorn said in a partial chuckle. Love of mates must be stronger and more passionate. Perhaps you are still too young for such a topic.

I understand you, Covin'thra told him mentally. If that is the case, then I love my brother as a sibling but I am not sure yet about the other one you mentioned.

It will come in time, Thorn chuckled to her. Come here and get some sleep. Tomorrow we will begin the lesson I promised you.

"You mean?"

Tomorrow you will learn how to fight.

VERY FLUFFY! No action but lots of romance. Yes, Draken will be moving out soon to make a home for himself and his future children…or will he? There was also the much needed ThornxCovy fluff too so everyone is happy.

PEACE!