Chapter Five

Saphira rolled her eye towards Nasuada as Katrina and Roran embraced. Her facials reminded her of emerald-eyes-princess, like Arya always was Nasuada's face was carefully blank as she listened to the couple reunite. Saphira shifted to look at Eragon who stood next to Blödhgarm, fond and loving thoughts pulsing in her mind as she thought of her partner-of-heart and soul. Sensing her riders' sudden inner turmoil she asked. Little one, what is wrong? Eragon hesitated then answered slowly. I don't know I just…. That magic Saphira, look at it. Saphira turned her attention to Roran and subtly sniffed the air around him .A strong tingling of magic met her senses and she blew it hurriedly out. It is hovering around him like a shadow, and I don't know who has done it or how to stop it Eragon said worriedly, scared for his cousin. I don't know those answers Eragon, but if the person meant Roran harm he would be dead; they would not have saved him. From the soldiers or from his broken bones, I think they mean well.

Eragon sighed Your right, Saphira.

Naturally she replied dipping her head in his direction. Eragon burst out laughing and Orion, Roran, Katrina, Jörmundur and the armies' commanders turned to look at him.

"Sorry private joke." He said quickly. "Roran" Nasuada said. "Please tell us," she gestured at everyone in the room, "what happened to you and your men." Roran straightened but kept Katrina's arms around him. "You sent us out on a raiding mission three days ago, if you remember." Nasuada nodded. "I sent you with the men you went with last time."

"Yes, well we were attacked by Thorn." There were gasps around the room and Saphira growled. "Continue Roran" Jörmundur asked. "Everybody dropped everything and ran for their lives. I remember blanking out and then waking up, seeing the soldiers and then fainting when I tried to move. Then I woke up and Eragon was there. "Roran finished and then hugged Katrina tighter. Nasuada folded her arms and examined Roran. "I am assuming Eragon healed you?" she asked glancing at Eragon.

Eragon shook his head. "By the time Saphira and I got there he was awake and fully healed but covered in blood."

"Then who healed him?" Nasuada asked. "My Lady, I don't know." Eragon looked uncomfortable. " There was no sign of life apart from two footprints and the area where Roran lay. It was only burnt grass, nothing survived the fire." Eragon raised his head slightly and looked at the scrying mirror. Bowing he said " Astra esterní ono thelduin Queen Islanzadí." Blödhgarm bowed and followed suit, twisting his hand in the elvin gesture of respect. "Mor'ranr lífa unin hjarta onr" The elvin queen replied "Un du evarínya ono vadra" Eragon and Blödhgarm finished. "Your Majesty" Eragon spoke in the ancient language, "Do you know where Arya is? I tried to find her today and couldn't sense her anywhere." Islanzadí paused and seemed not to answer, "I don't know where my daughter is… I am sure she will contact me when she wants to. I can only hope she is well." The Elvin Queens mask briefly vanished to show her very distraught, and then it was swiftly back in place. Nasuada nodded. "Your Majesty"

"Lady Nasuada" Islanzadí inclined her head reverting back into language everyone would be able to understand. "Your Majesty. None of your kind are around the Jiet River, south of Belatona recently are they?" Islanzadí shook her head, long strands of strands of hair falling in front of her face. "None of my people are south of Cenon apart from the twelve spell casters who are with Eragon, and Arya." The ground suddenly began to shake as Saphira laughed. Saphira? Eragon asked, and then he too began to laugh. "Bjartskular?" Blödhgarm asked, then he smiled and nodded as Saphira sent him a mental image. Roran looked at Eragon like he was a madman and then shrugged to Nasuada's questioning look. Blödhgarm turned to look at Islanzadí and spoke in his native tongue. "The humans seem quite taken with you, Your Majesty." Islanzadí grimaced. "It happens on occasion. Though it does become distracting." She added as an after thought.

"So Arya discovered." Islanzadí suddenly became interested. "Yes?" Eragon and Saphira stopped laughing and looked at Blödhgarm with interest. "Arya was rather angered with a humans gaze continuously on her, she, in no polite terms suggest that if he was to look her anywhere but her eyes she would have him cut his own out." Blödhgarm laughed. " As you can imagine he was very careful to look elsewhere." Islanzadí laughed her face alight with mirth. "Perhaps I should try that one".

Eragon stopped laughing and then spoke again reverting back to his first tongue. "Islanzadí, do you know of anyone capable of killing one hundred soldiers and five mages with fire?" The Elf Queen seemed to consider this for a moment and then shook her head. "If you are meaning by themselves with no outside power sources then no, I don't. Although any of my kind is capable of such a feet with a considerable amount of energy."

The meeting continued with Nasuada telling Eragon of the rest Arya and Blödhgarm had wrestled for him and they discussed battle tactics and supplies. As the meeting ended Eragon on whim suddenly spoke to the retreating form of Queen Islanzadí. "The magic was silver. Like a lakes reflection in moonlight." Queen Islanzadí stiffened and then narrowed her eyes on Eragon pinning him in place, next to him Blödhgarm tensed. "Your quite sure it was silver?" she asked appearing to struggle to keep her composure. Eragon took a step back at the intensity of the Queens gaze. "Yes, I am sure." Blödhgarm suddenly took a step forward. "Your Majesty" he said in the ancient language. "It was silver I promise you". He paused and seemed hesitant to continue, "that only means one thing." Islanzadí put her head in her hands. "What am I going to do?" she whispered softly. Then suddenly seeming to see her audience she looked at Blödhgarm " I want to talk to you after the meeting, we have much to discuss." Blödhgarm bowed. " I have many things to do, until the next meeting Lady Nasuada," she said shortly and then disappeared. Everyone turned to Blödhgarm; he matched their stares and said. "The conversation is a personal matter too the Royal Family and the most trusted of Elf Friends and Ancients. I will not divulge the contents as oaths prevent me", he said his fur rippling, "I can tell you, that if it is true, we may have finally turned the tide on this accursed war." He bowed, excused himself and left.

Arya walked throught the shadow filled undergrowth, leaping nimbly from tree root to tree root in an attempt to thwart anyone who could try to follow her. As she made her way deeper and deeper into the forest following a small stream she wondered about the silver power. Occasionally she would extend her mind to the pommel of her blade to check if it was still there, it was. For an experiment she had drained half her energy into the gem and then she had bought it back into herself, the power she returned had veins of silver running through it and she only required quarter of the amount to refill her energy. Once she had discovered this she continuously drained and replenished her energy as she walked and placed various spells around her.

Her mind was open and she often travelled with animals as they went about their lives, she really enjoyed flying with the owl above the forest and running with the wolf pack through the trees. Jumping on a felled log saw a clearing, stepping off it she walked closer to the stream and the small pool that had dammed at the bottom of a waterfall. Crouching down by the pools edge she washed her face and her hands, cleaning the blood from her skin. After cleaning her blade she leaped from rock to rock to land on a large boulder- protruding out over the streams glassy surface. Sighing she gazed up at the moon and the canopy of stars above her. A single tear rolled down her check to splash gently into the stream, unrecognisable from the spray of the waterfall. Oromis and Glaedr, they had always been there, when her father had died Oromis had comforted her and Glaedr had been one of her first dragon rides.

The forest next to her suddenly came alive, the creatures rapidly bursting into chatter. Arya stiffened and turned to the edge of the forest, there in the shadows stood Murtagh. Loathing ripped through the fibre of her being, Murtagh was the reason for some of her pain. Leaping off the rocks she landed with a soft thud on the grass and slowly made her way towards Murtagh. She smiled beneath the shadow of her hood and drew her blade; Murtagh drew Zar'roc and shifted into fighting stance. Swiftly, violently she assaulted his mind, slamming herself against his mental barriers. Retreating slightly she allowed Murtagh to utter one desperate plea for help. Thorn! A faint sound echoed throughout the forest, the mighty sound of a dragon's roar. Grinning she swung her blade towards his side and then resumed her assault on his mind.

Sparks danced of the blades as she and Murtagh furiously blocked, stabbed, lunged together in perfect harmony. "You killed Oromis and Glaedr!" she hissed when their bodies twisted parallel, using her boot she kicked him in the stomach and flipping backwards, her hood slipping from her face. "I didn't I swear!" he cried in the ancient language. "Liar" she yelled and slammed her mind against his harder than ever before. "I didn't kill them." Murtagh gasped blocking her butterfly. "Arya?" Murtagh paused in his attack and quickly bought Zar'roc up as she lunged at him. "Yes?" she asked never pausing in her assault on his mind or body. "Wait, just please listen to me." Murtagh panted desperately. Arya jumped behind him and swirled her body to attack Murtagh as he swiftly turned to face her. "I'm listening," she said. "Galbatorix took control of Thorn and me while we were duelling Oromis and Glaedr. He was so strong I couldn't fight back. I tried, but I didn't have a chance." Murtagh quickly confessed still fighting desperately for his life. "He took complete control of us and then he killed Oromis and Glaedr using my body. But I swear I didn't want to kill them" he finished gasping for breath.

Arya never paused, memories of Oromis and Glaedr flashed behind her eyes and she struck faster than even her elvin eyes could see. "Thorn" Murtagh screamed as her blade plunged into his stomach after snaking up under Zar'roc and he fell to his knees. An agonised roar came from behind her and Arya flinched. As the pain registered she threw herself into Murtagh's mind right through the crumbling walls that had been his barriers. Arya stood above him as his memories and thoughts flooded into her mind. "Thorn" Murtagh whispered seeing his partner-of-heart and soul crashing to the ground before him, past Arya, and then the world faded to obsidian.

Arya sat next to the fire and looked over at the fallen forms of Murtagh and Thorn. Zar'roc lay where it had fallen, next to Murtagh and Thorn lay where he had crashed to the ground, the river beyond him sparkled and glowed in the star and moonlight.

Sighing she got to her feet and walked over to Murtagh, Thorn raised his head and growled as she came closer. Meeting his ruby eye she glared at him. "Don't growl at me." She snapped. Turning her back on him she placed her hand on Murtagh's head. "Vanka" she whispered and then retreated to her previous position. *

Murtagh groaned and slowly opened his eyes "Thorn?" he whispered. "How can – What- I…" he trailed off as Thorn threw his head back and roared. Murtagh! He growled pinning him beneath a ruby paw. Do not do that to me again. Ever. Do you hear me?

Murtagh tried to sit up and then, when he couldn't, hesitantly put his fingers on his stomach. "Yes I hear you." He said absently. "My father once told me, that the blade be not responsible for thy death, but merely thy tool for thy ends. The one whom wields thy slice of silver be held responsible" Murtagh jerked his head to look at Arya. The elf was sitting on a log next to a fire and was gazing off into the distance. She turned to look at him, sorrow in her eyes. "I do not blame you for the Deaths of all who I cared about, " she lifted her piercing emerald eyes to thorn, "Nor do I blame you." She reached down beside her and pulled up a bowl and offered it to him. "You are but thy sword in thy battle." Murtagh's stomach growled, and he winced, Murtagh, don't Thorn said. She could kill you. Let me scare her off and then we can leave. Thorn continued letting Murtagh up. Murtagh's gut rumbled and he got to his feet, cautiously picking up Zar'roc and sliding it into its sheath, his eyes on Arya. If she wanted to kill me she would have done it already. Murtagh's memory showed him images. She already did. Thorn growled as the memories rose unbidden to the surface and thrashed the remainder of his tail. She could be planning to kill you still, or worse hand you over to the elves.

Murtagh looked Thorn in the eye We don't know that for sure, we don't know anything, and besides for some reason I don't think she wants to hurt us. Thorn snarled and stared at him. What makes you think that? Murtagh looked down as worry and pain and fear simmered across their mental bond. I'm sorry he said and swiftly wrapped his arms around Thorns neck. Thorn hummed as their thoughts and emotions washed through each other. When Murtagh finally let go her turned to see Arya watching him and Thorn with a small smile on her face and she offered the bowl to him. Murtagh walked towards her, every sense on alert. He cautiously reached out and snatched the bowl from her and then leaped back, his freezing body screaming to be back by the fire. "I will not hurt you nor Thorn." She said softly in the ancient language, her eyes pinning him in place. " If you encounter any of my people while you are with me I will protect you unless you attack first. You have my word as the elvin ambassador." She got up and moved over to the right side of the fire where a bedroll lay.

Murtagh's jaw dropped open in shock and Thorn hissed in surprise. "Why?" Murtagh asked in the language of no lies. "Why would you do this?" He cautiously sat on the stump Arya had previously occupied and sat his bowl down, his curiosity now overriding his hunger. For a long time silence hung beneath the stars and then Arya spoke softly, almost to quietly for him to hear. "Because you to know what its like to feel the lash of a speared-head whip, dipped in Seithr oil, alight in flame wielded by one not a man against your skin. And because you of all people…" She turned and then lay with her back towards the fire. "We are similar in many ways." She said haltingly obviously changing what she had been about to say.

Murtagh stared blankly into the fire remembering the lash of the spearhead whip against his back and the sting of the Seithr oil as it seeped into the newly made gouges in his flesh. He remembered screaming as the whip fell against him again and again wielded by a man whose strength was not human. Murtagh Thorn said moving forward and placing his head next to Murtagh and curling next to the fire, but away from Arya, do not dwell on the pains of the past. Murtagh nodded and turned to look at thorn. You're right, thank you. Thorn nudged his arm. Murtagh smiled and picked up the bowl again examining the contents for the first time. Berries of all colours filled the bowl, big plump and ripe, the scent made his mouth water. Whispering some spells for poison and other contaminants and finding it free but for what nature had given it, Murtagh then swiftly popped a big juicy blackberry into his mouth, sighing as the juices dripped down his throat.

How long was I…? Murtagh asked leaving his sentence unsaid. Thorn rolled over on his side A few hours. Arya, after running you through went pale and. I'll show you. Murtagh gasped as Thorns memories flooded into his mind. He swiftly bet his wings desperately flying towards where he had heard his partner-of-beings cry out for him. Seeing his partner duelling with a superior foe, roaring in pain as the silver sword spun towards Murtagh's stomach and buried itself within his flesh. Crying out as the pain seized his body and he plummeted to the earth incapable of flying. Landing metres away from his rider and his riders murderer and seeing her stand over him as Murtagh slowly died in front of him. Trying to mentally contact him but being held off by an inconceivable mental power, and crawling forward within inches of Arya before softly calling mournfully into the blood stained dirt. Feeling his being shatter as he realised he was alone, his partner had died, and then the closing of his eyes as the world faded.

Murtagh chocked on his mouthful of berry, and put his hand against Thorn, his mind reeling as he realised he and Thorn had died and Thorn had had to watch. How? He choked out. More memories flew into his mind. He snapped his eyes open as he felt the soft tingle of magic throbbing in the air. Growling as he saw his partners' murderer holding her hands on his partners' body and sneezing as extremely powerful magic slowly squeezed its way into his life form by his soul-deep bond with partner-of-heart Murtagh. Jerking back as he saw Murtagh's lungs rise suddenly again and again. The low muttering of unfamiliar words in Elfish and seeing Arya stare down at him with regret on her face. Snarling as she stood up and turned to look at him, her shoulders slumped and a defeated look in her emerald eyes. "I'm sorry." She whispered before turning and disappearing into the forest running with quick graceful steps.

The memories speed up and Murtagh watched as Arya returned carrying most of his gear from the camp and then leaving and returning with the rest of his gear. He watched as she lit a fire and kept coming back to feel his face with soft feminine fingers. Murtagh put his hand up to his face where she had touched him and held his hand there as the memories continued. Leaving for perhaps one half of an hour and placing a pack down next to the fire, then walking cautiously over to Thorn. Standing in front of him until he acknowledge her apart from a growl and then offering to un-strap him of his saddle and saddle bags. Standing up as she moved to his side and removed the saddle with hesitant fingers and slowly stroking his scales, trying to hide her action behind brushing dirt and sand from his scales. He settled down as she moved away carrying the saddle and saddlebags over one shoulder, he watched as she placed them in a pile and ran her hands over the leather with a slight frown on her face. Assessing her as she sat in front of the fire and watched him as the night continued.

Murtagh jerked out of Thorns memories and turned to evaluate the elf sleeping on the other side of the fire, calculating how much he knew about her, which was very little and what he had learnt from Thorns observations. He thought through this until Thorn advised him to sleep. You need to rest and recover, I will keep watch. Murtagh stood up I know, but I just cant. I feel so … alive. That magic. He trailed off and stumbled over to his bedroll that Arya had laid on the other side of the fire, opposite hers. The green power slowly slid out of his body and glowed over Arya before dimming then completely disappearing. Murtagh, examining his magic found the usual crimson magic stronger than ever before and tendrils of silver ran through it. Exhaustion swelling over him he collapsed into his bed mat and blinked up at the stars. "Night Thorn" he said drowsily, deciding to ask Arya about the silver magic tomorrow. Goodnight Little One Thorn replied curling up next to Murtagh.

Best Regards, Con Dar Lioness

Authors Note:

* Mwahahahaha! Not what you expected is it! :D

I should be posting the next few chaps I have written in the next few days. My friend once again has no idea I am doing this so lets not tell her. All will be unedited so don't run after me with blade in hand.

As always review for me! Im thinking I only have to loveable readers out there… and Dautr abr du Sundavar: Love you guys :D

BTW Sundavar your name was going to be one of my names for an account. You stole it! Kidding.