A/N: Another Chapter!! 34 reviews total within about 2 days of posting this chapter - The Sun Also Rises, Macsek92, ejm12, Daphne13, rainbowsix, Clare-hpec , Soccergeek4jc, koolkat1125, Elf-oh-yes, Hornwaggler, sarcasm-is-me-17, spazzysassyangel, Phoenix Queen Crystal, -Al -perqurie-, FirelordMee-Ya, METALLiCxTEARs, JazRox, automaticsnow, Jits, bluewaffles621, Charlotte Brew, Sabergirl1005, InheritanceFan1990, Catriel, Elya and Martiny the one and only still - you guys are AWESOME and you know it :) :) :) - to everyone who reviewed more than once - that is amazing! :D
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Let's try for 45 - 50 reviews this time (Good or bad)!
And again, ANOTHER sneak preview at the end! Enjoy!!! :D :D :D :D :D :D
Disclaimer: I'm NOT Christopher Paolini - but I love the cycle!
------------ Eragon's POV -----------
"Eragon! How… what are you doing here?! Aren't you meant to be at Galbatorix's castle right now?" Nasuada cried. To Eragon though, it was like the world had lost all of its colour, drained of all importance. Arya. All of his thoughts led back to her. With a sigh, he told Nasuada briefly what had happened.
"Did you find anything of use, Eragon?" she asked him after he had finished his tale.
"Yes… but I cannot show you just yet."
"Very well. But I warn you, don't get yourself captured, killed or worse. You are our only hope of stopping Galbatorix." With these words, she left Eragon alone.
Saphira, we must save her! I think Nasuada knew what I was planning to do though.
I know, Little One. I agree with you, but think of this practically. How would we save her? Galbatorix is sure to have her under guard.
I don't know. There is good out of this though.
And that is?
I found an Eldunari.
Saphira's sudden joy at his statement boggled him. She was exultant, which cheered him up slightly.
There is bad news though, I only found one.
And which one? What is the dragon's name!!
Galbatorix's first dragon, Jarnunvösk.
WHAT!?!?! Eragon, have you talked to him yet?
No. I want to talk when we rescue Arya. She can help us.
If you wish. I'm glad that you're safe, Eragon. I love you.
I love you too, Saphira. He broke contact and stared at the dull Eldunari. It was a dull, dark green, with blue swirls mixed in, pulsing very slowly. It looked like it was very brittle, and would crack at the slightest touch. Glaedr's Eldunari in comparison, was a shining golden star, even though it had been a few weeks since he had lost Oromis, his Rider. Eragon looked at both the Eldunari, so different, but similar, and placed them in separate pouches, then returned them safely in his pack. After he had done this, he realised that he should tell Nasuada about the new developments, but he couldn't say the words, let alone think them.
It's my fault. Arya's capture was my fault. I have to be stronger. I have to!
Peace, Little One, Saphira murmured in his mind.
He stared around the room, focusing on his breathing. He could not afford to lose control now. For the Varden's sake. For Nasuada's sake. And Arya's sake, he admitted to himself. He had to be strong, at least for the time being. Returning to his pack, he looked inside and then started crying. He couldn't bear to look at any of the items inside, they were all reminders of the trip to Urû'bean. He fell asleep weeping.
Over the next week, Eragon stayed in his tent. Nasuada visited a few times, but she soon learnt to leave the Rider alone with his grief. At the end of the week, Saphira contacted him, using incredible strength to go through his mental blocks.
Eragon! Stop blocking me out!!
I'm sorry Saphira. I don't want you to feel my pain.
Search your pack. You have a surprise, or so I can sense. I've been trying to tell you all week! Saphira was excited about whatever this surprise was.
We are going to rescue her. Tomorrow.
We will have to ask Nasuada.
Even if she says no, I'm going.
Your honour is at stake, as well as Nasuada's.
Could you drag me off if she says no?
I will not if I know it is a fools task. Agreed?
Eragon sighed at her conditions but said, Agreed. I'd better search the pack I guess, since it is so important. At the bottom of the pack, he found a surprise.
Eragon, in Arya's writing. A letter for him. But underneath the letter was a greater surprise. The last dragon egg in Alagaësia. It was a dazzling emerald green, with the shades varying greatly.
Told you so! Eragon ignored her comment, and turned the egg over. It had a giant crack down the egg.
It started to hatch to someone, Saphira! But who?
------- Arya's POV ----------
"Where did you send them! Arya, the sooner you cooperate, the sooner your punishment ends." Not likely.
"Murtagh, you really think I'm going to tell you? I sent them away for their safety!"
"So be it, Arya." Murtagh had a sad look on his face, and began whipping Arya again.
The debt has been paid. The debt has been paid. This is my duty. Arya kept her mind focused on these thoughts and away from the pain from her back, legs and shoulders. After some time, Murtagh stopped, and smiled at her.
"Looks like you're getting a visitor today, Arya. I'm sure you'll be on your best behaviour!"
Arya ignored him, because she had a fair idea who the visitor was. She instead focused on thoughts of Eragon, thinking of the look on his face when he first went with Oromis and Glaedr. He had a smile, showing joy and wonder, but there was something else there too, and she remembered frowning wondering what that was.
"Hello, Arya. So… where did you send my young Rider and dragon?"
"Why would I tell you?"
"You will tell me, Skullblaka Naina! Where are they?" Galbatorix roared at her.
Arya laughed at Galbatorix's poor attempt at her true name, for he had gotten it wrong. She knew, and she was the only one. Galbatorix narrowed his eyes, and Arya's body felt like it was on fire, roasting in an extremely high temperature. A quick look down showed no harm, it was an illusion. But her body didn't know that, so she writhed in pain. She kept her lips clamped shut, determined not to let a sound escape her lips, so her expression was one that was merely bored.
"I will find your true name, Arya, I promise you. Then you will serve me, you will tell me the location of Ellesméra, and you will help me defeat the Varden, and stop this war." With those parting words, Galbatorix left her.
"Arya, why do you insist on doing this? Suffering through all this? I gave in, because I knew it was pointless to resist." Murtagh whispered at her.
"There's the difference between us, Murtagh, I will keep resisting and I will never give in. Even if I'm stuck here for the rest of my very long life." Arya whispered back angrily.
"I never wanted to serve Galbatorix, but it is easier if I don't think about what I do. My will is useless against him, since he has my true name, but I can think whatever I want, I just can't act. He can force me to do actions, but he can't change my thoughts on my deeds. He wasn't joking when he said he'd find your true name, Arya. He is most skilled at the practice." Murtagh said in a low voice.
"Can he stop you from saying certain things?"
"Physically, yes. There is much I can't say."
"Could you think of escape?"
"He knows what I think, but he cannot change that. But I cannot escape."
"Could you tell me how to escape?"
"If I find a loophole, yes. But that is impossible. Consider your options, Arya. Give in now, and escape punishment, or suffer for the rest of your days. Let me know when you want to join him."
"You'll be waiting a while then!" Arya laughed at him, then turned her injured back on him. She cried out in pain as Murtagh kicked her, again and again, then finally left the cell. She slid down the wall, her blood on the stone.
------------------- Eragon's POV- ----------------
Putting aside the dragon egg, Eragon read the letter left to him with a sinking feeling.
"Eragon" he read,
"If you have found this, then it's very likely that I have been captured (again). I'm sorry for not telling you, you would have found a way to stop me. You are the hope of all of Alagaësia, and I am an elf, important among my own people, but not as important as you. I have the yawë, so it is my duty to do this. I will sacrifice myself to save you. You said that I walk alone, that is still true, but with your company, I'm not as alone as I once thought. Even so, I have to do this.
Don't rescue me.
I'm really sorry for doing this to you, Eragon.
Love, Arya"
Eragon looked up from the letter, tears sliding down his face.
She knew, Saphira.
It would have been extremely difficult for her to do, Eragon. She does care for your wellbeing a great deal. Besides, what would have happened if she had not done what she had did? You and me would be sitting in a prison cell, and the Varden would have fallen.
It's not right for her to take my place!
She is not helpless.
I know – but she can't resist Galbatorix! He'll get the information he wants, and destroy the Varden anyway!
So… what do you want to do about this, Eragon? Go back to Urû'bean and rescue her, risking ourselves getting captured? Leave her?
Or... we could try contacting her. Just to see her state.
Would it work?
I doubt it, but you never know.
Galbatorix could sense us, and crush us from afar.
It's a risk we have to take.
As you wish. Where are you?
In my tent.
What, this one?
Saphira placed her front paw on Eragon's tent, lowering the roof so far, that Eragon had to crouch.
Hey!
Oops.
Let's try now.
Aye, the sooner the better. Galbatorix could be putting a ward on her any day now.
Eragon expanded his consciousness outward, searching the landscape for Arya's mental touch. At least Galbatorix hasn't protected his castle. Or he knows our plan. He gasped when he felt all the prisoners' consciousnesses that were in the bottom of the castle. Eragon searched for Arya carefully, afraid to hurt her. He cried out loud when he did.
Arya? Are you there?
Eragon? Is that you? Or an illusion? Her mental voice sounded incredibly weak, like she had been through everything Galbatorix had to offer, and faint, he could barely sense her.
It's really me, I am a friend and a Rider, he said in the Ancient Language.
Why are you conversing with me? This will be draining your strength.
I don't mind. Why, Arya?
She knew what he was talking about and replied in such, You are the key to saving us all. Does it matter if one falls to save a thousand?
Yes.
Do you say that because the one is me or do you truly mean it?
Both. I have two questions for you. Was that egg cracked when you found it?
I turned it over, and it was. I presumed that Galbatorix had been trying to open it by force. It did not make a sound.
It would not have if it had just begun hatching. What have you been through so far?
She didn't reply to this, instead sending him her memories. He fumed as she showed him how Murtagh had whipped her, kicked her, and the visit from Galbatorix. The tenor of Arya's emotions didn't vary much from anger, sadness, and a grim determination. He was surprised how much she had thought about him, and his expressions, but if she noticed his surprise, she didn't comment.
I'm sorry. This is my fault, he told her, after she had finished showing her.
No. It's mine. The cell door creaked open, and he saw out of her eyes.
-------------
"Murtagh," Arya greeted him in a cold tone.
"Arya," Murtagh replied, sadness in his tone. "Have you reconsidered?"
"No. I'm not serving Galbatorix, ever," Arya told him, again.
Murtagh strode up to her, slowly, but Arya's emotions turned to dread. With a sharp flick of his wrist, Arya went flying across the cell, and crashed into the stone. Dried blood caked the rocks, and fresh blood spouted out of her arm. Before Arya could react, Murtagh kicked her in the head, and she collapsed to the ground. Murtagh walked up to her, and asked slowly, "Will you serve Galbatorix? Tell him where my dear brother is?"
"Never," she whispered, incapable of much more volume.
"Wrong answer again, Arya." He then kicked her in the stomach, and she cried out, more blood flowing. Her vision narrowed, and she fell unconscious.
-------------
Goodbye, Eragon, she whispered to him as she fell unconscious.
Arya!! He cried out, but got no response.
We have much to ponder. The egg, it started to hatch. Arya does not want us to come rescue her. Not yet.
I think the egg started to hatch for Arya.
Let us ask it who its Rider is, shall we? Saphira told him, sadness for Arya's plight, and curiosity about the dragon egg warring in her mind.
Eragon extended his consciousness towards the egg, and was shaken when he heard a deep voice speak from the egg.
Where is my Rider?
A/N: Another chapter over..... :(
As promised above, here is the sneak peek for Chapter 6 :D ---
"Who is your Rider, young one?"
"I do not know her name. She touched my egg, and she is my Rider."
Read and review as always :D Xoxoxo