A/N Well I'm a lazy oaf... I just sit and sit and sit, while my ideas accumulate and I do nothing with them, but here Chapter 5 begins.

She hadn't left her small hut in Ellesméra save for twice in the last few centuries, and finally Rhunön was beginning to get used to the people around her. Most were indifferent, while some acknowledged her, but still others enthusiastically greeted her, as they hadn't seen her in a great many years.

"I forgot what it is like to be out and about...I wish that damned rule of courtesy didn't exist," Rhunön thought to herself.

She found the spell weavers sparring at the training grounds. As she approached, most of the group members stopped sparring, save for two younger elves. Rhunön unsheathed her blade, a short katana she had made many hundred years before even thinking of her oath, and walked toward the sparring elves. They noticed her approach but did not stop. As the larger of the two elves was about to win, Rhunön blocked the hit.

"The time for sparring can wait." Rhunön stated simply and began leading the group away toward the Menoa tree.

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A short time later

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"Are you ready, Rhunön-elda?" The leader of the spell weavers asked.

"I seem to be, yes. Thank you. I hope to return tomorrow at the latest, once darkness falls upon the forest, tell Islanzadi what is occurring. I'll deal with the consequences when I get back... You are not to try anything to contact me. By no means are you to allow the queen to interfere."

"That is easier said than done..." The elf looked at the others nervously. "But it will be done as you say."

"What are you waiting for? Send me off! Please do get it right though, it would be quite troublesome to end up in front of the citadel during the day."

As she finished her small rant, the elves formed a circle around Rhunön, and began chanting a spell of transportation. With a flash Rhunön disappeared from the clearing near the great tree. Her armor, though, stopped any light or sound from being seen or heard upon her arrival. She always hated teleportation, especially when it was used on her. Rhunön decided that after the egg was stolen, and her job done, she would never use it again.

"Well...I suppose I could have waited until dark to teleport here..."

"Could have made it less of a wait..."

Rhunön traveled a short distance to a small thicket of trees and settled down against a tall oak to wait for sundown.

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Hours later

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"Time to get started!" Rhunön whispered loudly to herself.

She started out from the small thicket a few minutes before sundown. Rhunön searched the horizon for anyone, and anything that could be suspicious then moved from the edge of the trees. Staying low to the ground, she swiftly made her way to a nearby bridge. The water was surprisingly low, but remained cool even in the heat. About to climb onto the bridge, Rhunön heard the pounding of horseshoes on the ground ahead. Instead of running, she crawled under the bridge to allow the soldiers to pass. Sensing no magicians in the group, she allowed her mind to search the minds of the approaching men. Instantly she realized that one of them had a protection around their mind, stronger than any she had ever felt. Her mind shrank away from the barrier and Rhunön put up her own barriers, while intently listening to the ground. From the vibrations, she found that it was a single horse not many, and only two minds. She stayed under the bridge though, because this man with the protected mind seemed powerful. Whether he was an alley or enemy she was unsure but wanted to stay cautious. As the horse grew near, it slowed.

"Blast it," Rhunön muttered under her breath.

He quietly made his way out of the King's castle, looking for some time to think. The only way for him to do that was to make excuses and hope the King would allow it. He did. The young man took a horse and rode across the countryside away from the darkened city.

"Why does this damned place confine me...and keep me against my will...sometimes I wish I actually saw what he," The rider thought and paused in his thinking, "looks as if someone is trying to pry information out of me...I'll just throw up a weak barrier to see how they react."

The simple mind probing of Rhunön had led the rider right to her. She knew not what to do. It had been over a thousand years since she had been in a situation such as this. The horse stopped, the rider dismounted, and then sat with his back against the side of the bridge. Rhunön, had become more annoyed than nervous about him, as he had just blocked one way out and would force her to leave on the other side of the bridge.

"I know you're under there," the rider softly spoke.

"He's discovered me!"

"I don't know why you're here, or why you're so close to the citadel, and I don't' want to know. If you're simply here to think, then we have something in common. He chuckled softly, if only it were that simple..."

"That voice..."

"You are powerful, I can tell. Your mind touched mine and I felt it."

"What does he want from me?"

"I want nothing from you of course, but tell me, will you show yourself?"

"I can't do it...it could be a trap...should I even let him know I'm truly here? He could be mumbling to himself."

"You probably think I'm insane for talking to someone under a bridge...well I can't say I'm completely sane...not after what Galbatorix has put me through...but I know enough to tell that you are real, and you're under that bridge."

"What harm can a few spoken words do..."

"I am here. I am Annabelle," Rhunön lied.

"Ah, so you finally speak. I was beginning to think I was getting rusty on my abilities."

"What are you doing here rider?"

"Oh so you're asking questions now? Answer my questions first, why are you hiding under a bridge so close to the Citadel, and who are you really? That accent is elvish, there is no doubting that."

"What is your name?" Rhunön avoided his questions.

"I suppose it's fair enough that you know my name, although the one you told me was fake. My name is Murtagh."

"Murtagh! How? How can he be here, he was supposed to be on patrols!"

"I wish I could travel the world with my brother again..." Murtagh said with a deep sigh, "It was wonderful, even though we were chased everywhere we went. This is as far as Galbatorix allows me to wander without his constant watch."

"He seems genuine...and honest but...there's just something wrong about him..."

"I know you do not wish to show yourself. I know you do not wish to reveal yourself to Galbatorix, I wish I could have done the same but it was fate for that to happen. I cannot hide much from Galbatorix, but there are few things, very few things I can. He doesn't watch over me when I come out here to think, this is the only privacy I ever get in my life now.

"Why is that?"

"Galbatorix is afraid....afraid that I'll mess up again....that I'll make a mistake that will cost him this war. This blasted war is pointless!"

"My name, Rhunön paused and gulped, is Rhu..."

"Murtagh interrupted her, "no do not tell me. It would only make things worse for you if something happened."

"You are wise for one so young."

"And you are spry for one so old."

"What?! How did he know I was old?"

'As you probably already know, I am more than a rider of horses...I am a Dragon rider...a Shur'turgal if you may...'

'Oh you are, are you. Very well young one, what is it you want from me?'

'I want nothing, simply to come here and do what I planned on doing.'

'And that would be?'

'Simple. To think. It matters not to me what you were going to do. If you are against the empire, right now I do not care, and if you walked by me I wouldn't mind. As long as you do not disturb me, you will go freely.'

'Such a statement in the ancient language would be impossible to go around...This may be my only hope of getting into the citadel...'

'One more thing, if you are still there...the guards at the gate change in twenty minutes.'

'Thank-you Murtagh. You are kind.'

Rhunön slipped out from under the bridge on the opposite side as Murtagh, and sprinted for the nearest group of trees.

"How could I get so careless? I could have gotten myself killed! I must be more careful now."

After gathering her wits, Rhunön began running toward the Citadel. The guards were due to change in fifteen minutes. Heart pounding, Rhunön found herself behind a small grouping of bushes outside the city with the sun setting behind her. Five minutes until the guards change and she makes her move.

After resting for a full day and a night, Saphira awoke with a mighty roar. She stretched her wings and immediately woke Eragon, then Arya.

"Little ones! It is time for us to leave. I feel as if I've slept for days!"

"The roar already had me awake Saphira," Eragon said with a grimace.

"Oops. Sorry."

Arya began to pack up the various items strewn about camp while Saphira conversed with Eragon, who quickly noticed what she was doing.

'Arya, may I help you?'

'If you could, please cover the scorch marks the fires made. I have everything else just about done Eragon.'

Having the campsite restored, the trio took off toward Ellesméra. The day would prove to be warm, and the flight cut short.

A/N: Having to apologize again, for not writing. Hell of a busy summer...relatives, relatives, and more relatives. Had grandmother in the hospital a few times. Minor heart attacks, but she's recovering now. I think I'll be getting back into writing again. Sometimes you just can't break the block : ( Until next time...keep reading.