A/N I am back ladies and gentlemen. This chapter, I assure you, will be a long chapter, as will the others. So, without further ado. Eragon Shadeslayer! Please note: I do not own anybody in this story except for Niall the dwarf and Nar Grahmana the Urgal.
Eragon
Eragon was really excited to finally be reunited with his old love. He immediately mounted Saphira and took off to see Blödgharm, Nar Grahmana, and Niall. He got to the grand palace on the top of the hill, dismounted Saphira, then both entered. The grand palace was white castle like building with pillars in the front. The interior was like the interior of the war room in Tronjheim. Inside sat Blödgharm and Nar Grahmana to the left of the middle seat and Niall sat to the right of the middle seat with an empty seat right next to him. Niall and Nar Grahmana were the first two Riders after Eragon, Murtagh, and Arya. After a year of waiting a purple egg hatched for Grahmana on the Urgal side and a stone grey egg hatched for Niall on the dwarven side. All three stood as Eragon entered.
"Sit" Eragon said. They bowed then sat back down. "It has come to my attention that after 100 years of peace and tranquility, a little rebellion has started in Alagaësia."
"And why can't the elves do anything about-" Niall interrupted, but Eragon silenced him.
"Let me finish Niall, then you can ask questions". Niall then slumped back into his seat and mumbled to himself. Niall was a strange case, he was a tall dwarf (compared to his companions), long brown hair flowing down his back, and had a braided beard that reached his chest with hazel pupils. His features were hard. The thing that amused Eragon with Niall was the color of his dragon, his dragon was as grey as the stone that was in the mines of Farthen Dûr. "This rebellion is made solely of strong magicians that seem to show support to Galbatorix, even though the oath-breaker is dead his pets lived on and seem to have broken from their bonds of the Ancient Language, my only guess is that their true names had changed. Anyone care to add to their thoughts on how this rebellion started?" Blödgharm then stood, fur being ruffled by the sudden movement.
"I agree with you Shadeslayer, when one's true name has changed the bonds that held them are broken. I back this thesis." Grahmana stood.
"I agree with you as well Firesword". All eyes turned to Niall who was still mumbling.
"I agree with you as well Shadeslayer". Then he slumped back into his own chair.
"I must make plans to leave to Alagaësia, I hope that you all train the students while I am away? They all nodded. "Thank you, I will be gone by tonight, tell them that I have gone to do business with the Elf Queen, are we agreed? They all nodded in approval, then Eragon left the room.
THE NEXT DAY
Arya
Arya was in her room studying the fairth on her wall when she heard a knock on the door. Fírnen was out hunting on his own for he didn't like being restricted you just fruit and plants, so she was alone at the time.
"Come in" she said. Opening the door stood a elf messenger.
"My lady" the messenger said twisting his hand over his sternum in the elf's sign of respect "a man wishes to speak with you".
"A man?" she asked, "what man?" The elf had a worried look on his face then said:
"He said that a long time ago you were once partners in battle" that was all she needed to hear.
"Send him to the war room. Tell him I will meet him there shortly" she quickly said, then the elf bounded off. Even though she didn't show it she was very eager to finally see and speak to Eragon after a century of him being on the other side of the world. Then she thought on what to wear, after a long while of thinking she decided to put on an emerald green dress just so she can match with her dragon when Fírnen comes back. She then ran to the war room to greet her old friend.
Eragon
Eragon was redirected from the front of Tialdarí Hall to the war room in the palace. It was a spacious room with a square table in the middle, on it was a map of Alagaësia with the names of the cities and villages written in the Elven language. He scanned the map until he found Carvahall on the top left. Tears sprang into his eyes as he saw his childhood home on the map.
"Do not worry little one, maybe after this rebellion is quelled we shall see to it that we visit Carvahall before we go back to Lífana Nuanen." Saphira said out of nowhere.
"I would like that very much Saphira, thank you" he answered.
"As always little one" he rested himself on Saphira's side as he waited for Arya. For what seemed like countless hours she finally appeared before the doorway. He proceeded to unfold his arms and twisted his hand over his sternum and said "Atra esterní ono thelduin. Mor'ranr lífa unin hjarta onr. Un du evarínya ono varda Arya Dröttning." she then ran towards him, confused he just stood there holding his hands up in defense of what may happen. She slapped him very hard square in the jaw, all pain increasing in intensity as she left a mark on his cheek. "What was that for?" he asked.
"That is for leaving". she then embraced him, for minutes and said "and that is for coming back to help" he smiled sheepishly.
"Arya, you had your duties and I had mine, I had no choice", he proceeded to say.
"Yes, I know", she looked up into his eyes, then backed away. "I'm sorry for reacting the way I did Eragon, I didn't keep my emotions in check after not seeing you for so long". For some reason her voice didn't affect him the way it did a century ago, but it still had that pull to it. He squared his shoulders and kept the emotionless stare that he had when he first greeted her.
"Apology accepted Arya Dröttning, it wouldn't help if I struck back at the Queen of the Elves now would it?" he asked
"No it would not" she returned his gaze with one of her own, "you seem to have changed since the last time we met Eragon, but first...Atra nosu waíse vardo fra eld hórnya".
"And why did you do that?" he asked
"This conversation must be kept private, only Vanir, you, and I know of this-" she was interrupted by a gasp coming from Eragon
"Vanir?" he said in disbelief, "how does he know?"
"Vanir is now the leader of one of the houses here in Ellesméra, he's set spies around Alagaësia to make sure no more civil unrest were to happen on the land. It turns out" she proceeded to the table, "that this rebellion started in Teirm and is crossing the Toark river to attack Kuasta as we speak."
"Wait a minute, they're heading towards Surda?" he asked.
"Looks like it, however I don't think they're heading towards Surda, if they manage to take Kuasta, I think that they will head Belatona, then Feinster, then Aroughs, cross Surda's border, take Dauth and Cithrí, come back to Alagaësia and take Melian, then Furnost, and before attacking Ilirea directly, they will try and take Dras-Leona". Eragon was deep in thought until he asked Saphira,
"Do you think that what Arya is bringing up to the table is a good hypothesis?"
"When have we learned not to trust Arya's intuition? She is mostly, if not, always accurate." she answered. Eragon nodded then turned to Arya
"I will scout this group until they reach Kuasta. Roughly how many are there? he said
"About 500", Eragon's jaw dropped
"500? Are you sure these were Galbatorix's magicians? There weren't that many when he ruled..." he said
"Some of the magicians bore children, I'm guessing that the fathers of the children taught them in magic, now it is about 500 magicians", she answered, "however do not overestimate or underestimate them Eragon, treat them like you would treat Murtagh, strong, but not like Galbatorix". Eragon nodded then said
"Anything else?" he asked
"That is all the information I have, now let me show you where you will be staying here until you head out when you need to". With that she walked out of the room, Eragon proceeded to follow.
A/N So? What'd you think about that little twist there. Don't worry, I'm sure I'll write about Eragon developing his old feelings for Arya. This chapter is longer than chapters 1 and 2 combined and on this one I wanted to focus on Arya and Eragon talking in the war room after Arya's mistake...Well, please review fairly and I will come back with a new chapter, this one longer and more focused on all around things, maybe a little romantical (is that even a word?) scene between Arya and Eragon ;) Thank you.