The Return

Disclaimer: I don't own Eragon or Eldest, just Arianna and Nolan

Chapter 5: Just Breathe

Black finally let up to light and she looked up, at the distant sky. She was on her brother's back and was somewhere in another forest, had she been sick long? Maybe she had because her body still felt weak. When they stopped, he took a good look at her, and saw that Murtagh was the same. Disorientated and weak, but they felt the same indifference towards them. Her brother smiled a little. But she soon felt Codas's overwhelming relief.

Well, it's about time, what happened?

I don't know, I really don't want to remember.

Don't scare me like that, I hate it when that happens.

It won't happen again. But I am going to find out what caused all this.

Her brother looked at her now and felt relieved that she had lived through this, he even felt the same about Murtagh. He seemed to have forgotten about his oath to Galbitorix for a moment, but it seemed decieving.

"Can I talk to you?" He asked her.

She nodded.

"Galbitorix, he knows we're coming. He has Ra'zac on us." Murtagh said.

"How can I tell you're not lying?" She asked.

"Because there's one behind you." Murtagh said.

A wild cry was let out and Arianna had only a moment to react. She moved to the side quickly and muttered under her breath, letting out unnatural green fire. That didn't seem to stop them. Codas landed now, growling with a threat. Arianna also landed as graceful as an elf.

"That wasn't useful but..." She said, looking around. "I need to know why would the king send someone like you to do his dirty work."

"I have no choice and I'm the only one that can. Deal with you especially." Murtagh replied. "But now I don't want to you or anyone in the Varden."

"Giving up that soon?" She asked. "Why?"

"Honestly, you're as strong as any soldier I've seen and I think, I think you were right to fight him." Murtagh said, dipping his head. "It's more of a curse than anything, that scar, this life."

"Not really, it's a pain but it's a good reminder why I left a lot behind." She replied. "And when I get to Uru'Baen, I'm going to make sure he pays."

She got up then saying that he was forgiven a long time ago. Despite how bad she felt, she felt okay. The illness had ran its course finally and it drained her. She sat near a makeshift fire and saw that everyone was separated from each other. She looked around, seeing Nolan arguing with Codas over something.

"You know, Codas wins every time." She yelled.

"I got that now. He was just saying that humans are very odd." He said. "And small."

"That's just him. We're as odd to him as he is to us." She replied, getting a look from Codas. Admit it, you don't see a fire breathing lizard every day.

He gave up finally and laid his head down and Nolan laughed for a minute.

"That's what this has reduced us to, arguing with dragons." He said with laughter. "I have to admit he is quite amusing."

"He thinks you are too." She replied, smiling. "We're a while away from Uru'Baen, aren't we?"

"We're about another week away, when we pass through another town, we'll be closer." He said. "But we have to be more careful than before. He's influential in that town."

"Great." She said. "That's great. Wait a minute, there's something or someone here."

They put out the fire and sent Codas and Saphira flying up but a struggle alerted them. It was a cart full of people and that was all they heard.

"Do we go after them?" Eragon whispered.

"No, it's too risky." Arianna said. "I'm not the leader in this case, you are."

"Then I say let's go." Eragon whispered.

"Fine but this is reckless."She muttered.

A/N: I'm sorry for a short chapter. Finals don't help at all but school's out and I'll update weekly again!