A/N Well, in my last note, I had absolutely nothing to say, and that's being completely honest with you. This one will be slightly different, as I will be giving away a few spoilers . I've had a few people ask me why Rhunön is with the Varden near Fienster, but that question will be answered later on. The only real spoiler I will give away is the fact that someone will die in future chapters (very future 10-15 chapters in the future). I do have a slight confession to make on my last chapter. It was nearly 1,800 words long, but I could have made it a bit longer. I hastily posted it because I wanted something up. Future chapters will be far lengthier. And now for Chapter 2 of Conquest! Ah, but where did I leave off...oh right, preparations for leaving.

And so it was decided that Eragon, Saphira, and Arya would leave for Ellesméra during the following day. Nasuada cautioned Eragon to stay out of sight once again, so he and Arya would not run into trouble with the King's soldiers, as her spies had reported that Galbatorix somehow managed to place his mind into every individual, to prevent mutiny and allow for absolute control. She warned Eragon that if it were impossible that he wouldn't be seen, to do his best to kill the soldiers quickly and report back to Fienster. After cautioning him, she allowed him to leave and prepare for departure. It just so happened that as Eragon and Saphira were leaving Nasuada's red pavilion, that Angela stopped them to explain an earlier "error" she had "unintentionally" made.

"So, you seem to have everything in order now," asked Angela. "Nothing you're forgetting?" Nobody you haven't helped? Gooses you need to see?"

"Aye, I have everything in order, Angela, why do you ask?"

"Oh, no reason. I just wanted to mention to you that Arya was going to meet you at your tent earlier, but I forgot to tell you. Sorry."

"I suppose it happens," Eragon said with a sigh.

He glanced at Saphira as he heard her unique laugh and wished Angela wouldn't publicly degrade him.

"She seems to hate me," Eragon thought flatly.

"She just likes to irritate you Eragon, don't think much of it.

"I don't, I just get tired of it. Every time I see her it's, oops I forgot to tell you this, or that, making my life more difficult."

"If you don't mind me cutting into your conversation, I do have some news for you," rudely interrupting Eragon's thought process.

"Aye? What is it?"

"Well, Rhunön, who I contacted and asked to join us here, wishes to travel back to her workshop in Ellesméra to work on some important project, as she says. I doubt she'll want to fly though, so I really didn't need to tell you."

As she was walking away, Eragon thought, "Why do I even bother trying to understand her? After the mess is cleared up, I really need to find out more about my friends than I know about my enemies."

The thought of doing yet more thinking troubled Eragon, and after a brief glance at Saphira, he discarded the idea for another time, after all, he had far more important matters to reflect on. Blödhgarm called out to him, and upon reaching Saphira, greeted them.

'What, may I ask, are your plans for today,' politely asked Blödhgarm.

'I was about to come looking for you to, to discuss some just that.'

'Well then, I suppose we think alike shadeslayer,' laughed Blödhgarm.

'Although I'm sure you've already learned of our departure to Ellesméra, though I doubt you know that you will remain here, with the Varden during our leave.'

'Quite the contrary Shadeslayer, I already know that we will be left behind, and although I do not agree, it is for the best. You have been troubled lately, and I would hope your mind is at rest during the invasion. A trip to Ellesméra will do your mind good.'

'Aye, that's almost exactly what Arya told me.'

'I'm honored then, to think like a mind as great as hers.'

'I'll convey your thoughts to her, Blödhgarm.'

'No, Shadeslayer that is unneeded.'

'I'll be off then. I have much to make ready and little time to do so.'

'I'll see you off tomorrow then Shadeslayer,' Blödhgarm yelled as he ran off to spar with the other elves.

Saphira leapt into the air and began to fly back towards the center of the camp, where Eragon's tent lay. A small area put aside for Saphira to sleep, take off, and land was a few feet from Eragon's tent for easy access. Upon landing, Eragon hopped off of the saddle and began walking toward his tent.

"Something isn't right little one. I feel another presence in your tent, one that I do not know."

Immediately shielding his mind, Eragon drew Brisingr from its place at his hip and advanced toward the tent flap. Whispering the sword's name, he drew back the flap to find a soldier rummaging through his personal belongings, including his book. He ended the magic flowing into the sword and, after sheathing it jumped at the soldier, pinning him to the ground. Just as he hit the ground, Saphira's large head filled the tent thinking Eragon was hurt.

"Little one, are you alright?"

"I am well Saphira, there is no harm done, to me at least."

As he tackled the soldier he knocked him out with the side of his hand. Having incapacitated the soldier, he mounted Saphira with the soldier slung over his shoulder. Saphira instantly took off and flew for Nasuada's pavilion. The Nighthawks allowed Eragon to enter without question, knowing that they had no choice no matter his intentions.

"Nasuada," Eragon nodded as he dropped the unconscious soldier on the ground in front of them.

"Eragon, what is the meaning of this?"

"I caught him rummaging through my belongings inside my tent, and before I knocked him out, probed his mind. I believe him to be a spy for Galbatorix."

"This indeed, could prove to be a problem. What was he looking for? Do you know?"

"My armor was thrown aside, along with almost everything else. The only item untouched was Glaedr's Eldunarí, which I had in a locked chest. That's the only thing I can think of, that he would be searching for."

"Galbatorix is getting bolder, as to send a spy into your own tent, either that or more desperate to find a weakness. You grow more powerful every moment you live. Galbatorix can't afford to leave you alive unless he is controlling you. This proves my suspicions and shows that you must be careful on your journey to Ellesméra."

"Aye, with this development, I think it would be best for us to leave tonight, under the cover of darkness."

"That may be a good idea. Eragon, one last thing before I send you on your way, have Blödhgarm and his elves cast a spell of invisibility on you and Saphira until you get high enough that they cannot maintain the spell any longer. It should keep Galbatorix, in the dark so to speak, for some time. Do be careful."

By the time Eragon had gotten out of the pavilion, darkness was already falling. Instead of waiting to get back to his tent, he sent out his mind to Blödhgarm and asked him to bring his armor, copy of Domia Abr Wyrda, and flask of faelnirv to Arya's tent. Sensing the urgency in Eragon's query, he gathered the items, along with a heavy tunic, and began to run towards Arya's tent, on the other side of the camp.

Meanwhile, Eragon had already arrived at Arya's tent and had explained what had happened since they had parted only an hour earlier. She agreed with him, and began at once, packing her things, and making herself ready for the long journey ahead of them. Shortly after Arya had put together her pack, Blödhgarm arrived with Eragon's things, placed perfectly into a pack.

"Eragon, I placed a small chest in your pack as well. It seemed important, though might I ask what is inside it?"

"Aye, it would be for the better if you know, although you must swear to me in that you will not tell anyone. You must tell the other spell casters under your command, but extract oaths from them as well."

After the brief mental exchange, and the whisper of an oath, Eragon told Blödhgarm of Glaedr's Eldunarí, and thanked Blödhgarm for placing it in his pack. He had forgotten about having the Eldunarí, as Glaedr himself informed him to.

'We mustn't prolong your departure much longer Shadeslayer. Darkness is upon us, and you have much ground to cover.'

Just as Blödhgarm uttered the last syllable, his spell casters appeared and began to cast a spell of invisibility over Arya, Saphira, and Eragon. Blödhgarm yelled a quick goodbye and before joining in on the spell.

"Eragon, we must make leave," Arya thought.

"Aye, we'll be flying throughout the night."

With that, Arya jumped onto Saphira's saddle and tightened the slipknots around her ankles. Eragon jumped onto her back leg, and without stopping, flipped into her saddle as well.

"It looks like I'll just have to stay awake the entire night," Eragon whispered to Arya as he found he had nothing to tie himself down to.

Arya cursed herself for jumping onto Saphira first, forgetting that there would be nothing holding Eragon onto Saphira, unless he held onto her. All thinking became impossible as Saphira launched herself into the air and began the first leg of their long journey. Eragon involuntarily hooked his arms around Arya's waist, thinking he would fall off, as he had nothing holding him on Saphira. He heard Arya begin to say a spell, but was interrupted by the buffeting wind and sound of Saphira's wings. It wasn't long before they had become visible to the world again and were just below the clouds. Arya had, after the flying had evened out, asked Eragon to let go of her. He quickly obeyed, blushing all the same thinking how lucky he was she hadn't seen his face. Saphira laughed as she felt Eragon's embarrassment pass through the link. She would have to speak to Arya about Eragon's feelings for her in the future, but for the moment, she was happy that she was once again in the air with her rider.

"We'll stop tomorrow evening in the forested area just south of the Hadarac Desert."

The next day passed mostly uneventfully, with the only disturbance being Thorn, who appeared on the horizon for a matter of seconds before disappearing. Eragon had Saphira land in a group of small hills, and remain hidden there for an hour. He knew he couldn't fend off Murtagh and Thorn by himself yet, not with the Eldunarí that were unwillingly assisting him. After the hour was up, Saphira resumed their flight, and just as the sun was setting, spotted a small patch of forest.

"Saphira, this should do. I doubt we could go much further anyway, you're exhausted."

"Worry not about me little one, I'm only tired."

Upon landing, Eragon and Arya climbed off of Saphira, not trusting their legs, and slowly sat down against one of the larger trees at the edge of the small woodland. Saphira promptly laid down asking Eragon to find a clearing that she had seen from the air. He relayed the information to Arya who sighed as she stood and began picking her way through the overgrown area with Eragon behind her. They quickly found it with Saphira's direction, and as such were greeted by the drowsy dragon, who had just flown into it and collapsed.

"Well maybe now we can get something to eat, and then if we're lucky some sleep," Eragon said as he drew the water from some twigs and lit a small hot smokeless fire.

He took some dried potatoes and carrots, along with a small pot from Saphira's saddlebag and filled it with the vegetables and water he had taken from the branches. He set the pot in the fire to cook while he sat down next to Arya.

"It looks as if we will be here for much of the day tomorrow," Eragon mentioned to Arya.

"Aye, Saphira shouldn't have flown as she did. She isn't used to carrying two people."

"I have to apologize, from when we first took off from Fienster."

"Think nothing of it, Eragon," Arya quickly replied, not wanting to bring it up.

As to further her wishes, the soup came to a boil and Eragon went to get bowls and spoons from the saddlebag. He also took a small amount of salt and sprinkled it into the soup before filling the bowls. He walked back over to Arya, and handed her one of the bowls. She kindly accepted, and began to slowly eat. Eragon quietly sat and ate his soup as well. It had been awkward around Arya since she had told him about Fäolin and her torture in Gil'ead.

"Eragon, I've been thinking about what I had done after the Blood-Oath Ceremony, and it was cruel. I have to apologize for treating you like a fool."

"Arya, you don't have to apologize, it was wrong of me."

"No, it was uncalled for. I ignored what you said, and have been contemplating it ever since."

"Arya, what are you saying?"

"I'm not entirely sure, I don't even know why I'm telling you this! I'm becoming as bad as Rhunön. She used to ramble on for hours to anyone who would listen. She would even go so far as to make them something to take with them."

"Arya, are you feeling okay?"

"Yes Eragon," Sighed Arya knowing she couldn't tell him what was needed, "I'm in need of some sleep. I haven't had time to think lately. Goodnight."

Arya's outburst was troubling Eragon. He began thinking, "Maybe I'm not the only one that needs to talk with the elders."

With that thought he drifted into his waking dreams, where he and Saphira flew among the clouds in a land he didn't know.

A/N Sorry for this being a bit late, I've had delays from school and I get distracted (a lot). But at least its up now! I know I had Arya ooc there for a little while, but I didn't know how else to portray her confused, (as it hasn't happened yet in the book.) But for the main part of the next chapter, you'll learn of Rhunön's project and how it will affect the entirety of Alagaesia. So, tell me what you think and where I could improve! I also would appreciate any suggestions to make my writings any better. Until next time,

Courage