A/N Well, after about a week of delay, next time has arrived, and I have to apologize greatly. I made a promise and broke it. Though the long awaited chapter 3 will arrive now and soon chapter 4. A small (very small) spoiler for this chapter will appear after this parenthesis so if you don't want it revealed to you, don't read it and I'll also make it unbold, (Rhunön will be making something for the better of the Varden and all of Alagaesia. Eragon will be frustrated yet again, Saphira will have her own experiences. Oh of course, someone will have a vision. *gasp* I wonder what it will be this time?) (I don't know yet, haven't written it, so it'll be a surprise to us all.)
AND NOW FOR CHAPTER 3 OF CONQUEST!
As the night drew on, and Saphira's watch came to a close, she allowed her mind to expand to its limits, which was a great many leagues. She sensed nothing but the small forest and the few creatures that lay asleep in the desert. She did sense something else, a frozen wind blowing in from the desert. She slowly lifted her tired body off the ground and slowly walked toward Eragon and Arya, who had fallen asleep against the tree. As she came closer she saw an amusing scene. Arya's head rested on Eragon's shoulder and Eragon was none the wiser. Saphira contacted Eragon in his dreams and said that she was going to lie down around him so he would stay warm during the cold night. He awoke while she was curling around the tree to find Arya against his shoulder. He was about to move but Saphira eyed him and told him to fall back to sleep. He easily accepted her offer and slid back into his dreams. They were very pleasant dreams that night, some of them showing him of his travels with Brom, his last stay in Ellesméra, and the time he had spent with Murtagh as a friend instead of an enemy. He wished that he could turn back time, so he could relive those memories. All he felt now was confusion and discomfort.
"At least soon," he thought, "I'll be back in Ellesméra where I'm safe from the empire."
He couldn't have been more right, as over thirty years ago; Galbatorix had sent an army of over twenty thousand into Dú Weldon Varden. None returned alive, or so Oromis told him. After his thoughts of safety back in Dú Weldon Varden, he sank into a content sleep, one he hadn't gotten in over a month.
Arya, though, was awakened by Saphira, but blocked her mind and kept still.
"How do I manage to get myself into these situations," she thought, and then, "Why me?"
Saphira extended her wing over Arya and Eragon, keeping them warm and shutting out all other thoughts. After she was sure they wouldn't catch cold, she allowed herself to drift into her own dreams where she flew among the clouds with Glaedr, Thorn, and the dragon to hatch from the green egg. She wished so much what his name would be. She knew he would fight for the Varden. She didn't know why but she just knew, maybe it was her magic allowing her to see into the future, or maybe it was just her mind getting carried away, but the thought she saw Arya riding the green dragon. It was most likely the later, she thought.
--
The night passed by quickly after sleep took hold of the group. Daybreak came around noon, when Saphira awoke and moved her wing allowing the light to stream in on Eragon, and Arya who had since moved her head from Eragon's shoulder. She would have to talk to Saphira today about last night. Saphira already knew what was on Arya's mind and looked at her with eyes that said don't worry. Arya understood, and after stretching, stood and walked off to rekindle the fire. Eragon rose and began to tell Saphira of his dreams as he did every morning that he had time. Saphira kept her dream to herself, knowing it wouldn't help Eragon to trouble him with more unsolvable information.
--
Meanwhile back at the Varden camp outside Fienster, Rhunön was readying herself to depart for Ellesméra the same way she arrived.
"All right Angela, enough talking is that spell ready yet," she asked quite annoyed.
"You really have to rush this don't you, It isn't as if it will take you long to get back."
"No, but I need to get to my dwelling as fast as I can Angela, you know that as well as I do."
"Of course, your project. How could I have ever forgotten? By the way, what was it, you never gave me any specific details."
Rhunön quickly wove a spell that allowed no one to eavesdrop on their conversation.
"What I'm telling you Angela, is of great importance, and mustn't escape this tent."
"Go on, I'm al ears and Solembum rarely speaks to strangers."
"I've been working on a new armor that renders its wearer completely invisible."
"Is that all? Is that what you made me drag you here for?! All of this stupid secrecy?"
"Allow me to finish! Now then, this suit of armor hides the wearer from sight, sound, and probing minds completely. It basically renders them nonexistent, unless of course, the wearer is foolish enough to bump into a wall, nobody will know they exist."
"That's different then. That could change the tides of war!"
"No, it wouldn't work that way. It doesn't protect you from arrows or blades, so you had better be a good magic user or fighter if you are somehow noticed."
"Well then, it seems like a complete waste of time to make, in my opinion anyway."
"The armor," Angela, "will not be used by soldiers, as the time to create it is immense to say the least. I've been working on it for the past few years. I think you remember the Green egg still held by Galbatorix?"
"I do remember that. I saw it myself when I had infiltrated his court as a jester."
"Well this armor has one purpose, and one purpose only. I am going to use it to infiltrate Uru'baen and steal the egg."
"So what happens to this amazing armor if you fail and are slain by Galbatorix? Will it fall into his hands?"
"It will never be allowed to fall into his hands. If I am to die while on this mission, the armor will disintegrate and destroy me along with it. It will not, though, destroy the egg if I happen to have it on my person. If that is the case though, the armor will have a spell weaved into it that will transport the egg back to the Varden or to Ellesméra; I haven't decided yet."
"Well Rhunön, I wish you the best of luck, as the spell is ready. Do you have everything you will need?"
"I have the already completed pieces of the armor in my pack; I am ready."
With her face set, she allowed herself to utter a solemn goodbye Angela, "If things go badly for me in Uru'baen, I wish for you to make it known that it was I who brought the last Dragon into Alagaesia."
"I will make it known old friend," and with that Angela sent Rhunön back to Ellesméra with a small grin on her face.
"Well I hate goodbyes, so lets go out and enjoy what the world has in store for us today, eh Solembum?"
The were-cat glared at her with his one open eye, and yowled at her.
"Fine then, I'll go out and see what the world offers me, and keep it to myself," Angela said sarcastically.
--
Back with Eragon, Saphira, and Arya, breakfast was being cooked for the drained group. Some more soup was on the fire, and as Arya and Eragon watched it come to a boil, Saphira spread her wings and flew out to hunt. The day seemed promising for hunting. The wind was calm and she could see for over ten miles in every direction. She truly felt alive in the air, and allowed the feeling to drift to Eragon. She spotted a deer in the distance and blocked off her mind so Eragon wouldn't have to suffer the animal's death.
"Arya, about last night, you weren't yourself. I don't know what you were trying to say."
She cut him off, "Eragon, I do not wish to talk about that right now. I need to clear my head." With that she picked up a bowl and began to eat, ending any hope for Eragon to question her further."
He looked at the elf he had adored for so many months and saw her again. He began to feel the butterflies take over his stomach, and was relieved to hear her say that she was going to go for a run. Arya began to pick her way through the trees at the edge of the campsite and tried to contact Saphira, who responded quickly with images of where she was. Arya found the spot swiftly, and found Saphira cleaning her teeth of gore from her kill.
"Hello Saphira."
"Arya," she nodded. "Why did you wish to speak with me?"
"Saphira, I wished to discuss the vision Eragon had two days ago."
"That isn't what you came here for Arya, and you know it."
Arya sighed knowing Saphira was right, "Saphira, does Eragon know about last night? When I had fallen asleep on his shoulder," she asked slightly worried.
"He is Arya, but I told him to remain asleep. He won't trouble you. I can't put the thought out of my head that you hold affection for my rider, though."
Arya froze as Saphira's bluntness and found herself lost for words, something that had only happened twice in her life. The first time was hearing of Oromis's demise, and this being the second. Should she tell Saphira the truth or should she lie.
"Arya, before you answer, I give you my word as a dragon, that I shall not tell him, unless he finds out for himself. I will take care to hide the information from him."
Her mind made up, "Saphira, Eragon and I have been friends for the past year, and all along I knew he held affection for me, but lately, I'm not sure, but I think I'm beginning to feel it back towards him. I can't let him know, though, as it would only make him pursue me more, and that would distract him from his duties.
"If you want my opinion on this matter, I think you should speak with your mother. She would be more fit to help you, as I have no experience in human affairs."
"No Saphira, my point is I'm unsure of my feelings, and I only wish I could know for sure."
"Look within yourself Arya, and you'll know for sure."
"Thank you Saphira."
She wouldn't be trying anything Saphira said today, as she was still unsure that she felt anything toward Eragon, or if it was just excitement of going home again.
--
At Rhunön's smithy, she was busy working day and night. She had only created a shield while at the Varden in three days, but back in her own little house, she had in a matter of two days, created a plate mail and helm, and was finishing her work on the plate mail leggings. As always, she couldn't create a weapon, as her oath kept her from it, but she was able to create the armor, as she knew it would never see battle. In a matter of two nights, she would be departing for Uru'baen to steal the egg from Galbatorix, and bring it back to the Varden and Elves for care until it hatched for the third rider of the new generation. She only hoped the rider would fight for them and not for Galbatorix.
A/N Ending on a cliffy, I know you all must hate me, but I'll try to get another chapter up in a day or two. Plus I really want to get this up tonight and its already midnight. I also hope to see some reviews and maybe some tips! Maybe someone could tell me how I could tie together the ending of my last chapter. Thanks,
Courage
