(Ok I find it hard to answer any of your reviews so I'll just do it this way. Sorry about any confusion in the first two chapters, they are different times; I just thought it would be a good idea to tell you a bit of what's going to happen, clearly not a good idea! Thanks to for your advice. OK so in this chapter, I tried to write about different people, so tell me how I did. So Enjoy and Read and Review!)
The fresh icy morning breeze sharpened Eragons senses back to their full alertness, when dawn finally broke over the horizon, bringing him back from his short session of his walking dreams. He was currently riding Saphira high in the air, flying an elongated pattern around the Varden as a vulture would over her prey. For the past four days, Saphira's inpatients had been growing shorter and shorter with each passing day due to the Vardens slow march from Feinstor, even with Eragons idea taking place. At the beginning Saphira gladly accepted to act as a scout for the Varden; so that she could pass the time and to increase her stamina by flying over each group as they quick march across the country. In groups of hundreds, each full of a mixture of warriors, wives, possessions and animals, they would change their pace from a walk to a jog, differing on how the group felt or if there were any wounded among them. But no matter how fast or for how long they decided to jog, it was still too slow for Saphira and soon her feelings changed from protecting the Varden from ambushes, to see how fast and how long she could circle over them; resulting in one rider feeling more and more queasy with each passing.
"I think that's enough Saphira", said Eragon "let's fly back to the last group and rest for a while". "Bah, it's not I who needs rest but you" came the reply "I am not as weak as you two-legs who demand to rest when every the sun goes down and waste a whole night "resting", and beside who would watch over the Varden?"
"Saphira, I know your lying, I can feel your tiredness trickling through me even with you trying to block it. This will be our 349th time we flew around this group, not counting for all the other groups before, so I know you have worked hard long enough". "Any way, not only do we both need to rest so that if something happens, we are not dropping of tiredness, but also Blodhgarm and the others are spread out among each of the groups so they can replace us from scouting and inform us if anything does occur".
Saphira paused for a minute, both of them knowing who Eragon spoke of when he referred to "something happening". The idea of Murtagh and Thorn appearing could be devastating for the Varden and their own feelings are being so twisted up from revenge and anger to sympathy and hope, that it could make them prone to stupid mistakes that could affect everyone. And with all the black magic Murtagh now had at his command; it was therefore impossible to say when Thorn could be able to fight again. Finally, allowing herself to fly around one more time, Saphira grunted in agreement and flew back south, following the Jiet River to get some well deserved rest.
.
"Come on men, let keep up!" bellowed Roran to his group, making the stragglers at the back quicken their pace reluctantly. Seeing them Roran briefly smiled, thanking Garrow for making his childhood full of strenuous activities, like farming or chasing the horse whenever Eragon forgot to tie the gate on. Thinking of his father gave Roran a sense of unease; as if he wants to feel pity for the man and weep, but the war has forced him to be harsh. And anyway, he had Eragon back and Katrina with his child; surely Garrow would be happy for him and not want to morn any longer than necessary. Trying to change his track of thoughts, he went back to how he got himself his present company.
Before leaving Feinstor, Roran was summoned to Nausander's room for a new set of commands; showing up as he was, and not bothering to change his scruffy appearance, for he remembered the last time he talked to his leader; him lying on the floor with his back recently ripped open. In the building however, instead of being criticised for his lack of orthodox when dealing with arguments by fighting the urgal Yarbog, he was given back his old company and command to escort an additional twenty infantry, two wagons full of supplies, a small group of wives and children and an elf. "Well what did you expect when you entered this room?" asked Nausander amused when Roran looked shocked, "that I would punish you again for uniting humans and urgals into a better relationship than ever before?" He and his additional group left the Varden an hour afterwards.
"Alright, let's have a rest before we walk on", said Roran after another few minutes of running, much to the relief of the majority of the group as they sat down, some pulling out wineskins; the only ones that don't seem to mind running long distances were a few human warriors, including him, the urgals and the elf. She did not seem to be tired at all, nor did she show any outward emotion either and only talked when she had to. She also seemed not to notice the constant staring many of the men were giving her; their intense starring on her long starlight hair that seemed to shimmer in the sunlight, her royal blue eyes that reflected the deepest of lakes or her sense of grace whenever she seemed to move. None of these did she respond to but Roran could tell that she was not relaxed among them, her rigid back and haughty expression radiated the feeling of tension and caution.
Sitting down and stretching his legs, Roran accepted the wineskin and gazed around his position. They were making good time; they were close to their last destination before they would wait for the group behind them to meet with them. This would allow them to rest and get their strengths back so that they would be ready to run again. Though Roran thought it was a good idea in general, he felt that the idea was more suitable for beings with high stamina like the elves or the urgals, the constant movement can be taxing on humans after a while. However he thought, with the relatively short distance and with the desperate situation the Varden is in, it was the best course of action that Roran could have seen.
Looking up, Roran noticed what looked to be a bird of prey flying overhead heading south, and he smiled. With Saphira and Eragon flying back, it was therefore safe enough for Roran to relax slightly, he presumed, after all they wouldn't leave them without some sort of assurance of the way being clear.
Absentmindedly, Roran scooped down and picked up a small stone off the track and concentrated on it with such intensity, and then in a clear low voice, he said "Stenr risa". Nothing happened, it didn't move in the slightest way, not even after a few minutes where Roran repeated his command several times. "I don't think you would be the type to be a magician", came a voice behind Roran, and before he could turn, Carn sat down beside him. "You won't be in the front lines where your talents lie, but in the centre where everyone will have to protect you". Roran smiled at this, both of them knowing that Roran would sooner give up his right arm than to have people trying to protect him. "And anyway, you wouldn't want to have Trianna as your leader, she use you for her own good to make her more powerful. Oh and there was a rumour that she tried to get to your cousin a while ago so she might use you to get to him".
Roran smiled at this, well aware of this rumour that went around, and was about to reply when a musical voice called over from his side."Stronghammer", it was the elf, "I have just received word from one of my brethren, we are clear to go ahead". Her voice faintly reminded Roran of a bird he used to hear in the morning when he woke up back at Carvahall. "Thank you", replied Roran smiling, not mainly out of politeness and respect, but from the fact that Carn was evidently gazing at her with his mouth wide open, clearly lost for words.
With a sigh, he stood up and shouted for the rest to hear, "Let's move, now".
.
Nasuada tried to suppress a yawn, but evidently failed. She was currently riding her charger surrounded by her personal guards, Jormundur, Arya and King Orrin and his procession of personal guards. Riding long distances were always boring for Nasuada, she could easily remember her last trip from Aberon to the Burning Plains and the one before that; from Farthen Dur to Aberon; the slow plodding pace, the endless aching in the legs and at all times, the angry sun glaring down their necks making them sweat and burn. But she was grateful for being on a horse when most were going by foot, however, for not wanting to spread discord through her troops, she insisted on going first that day much to the displeasure of the rest of the company.
The guards were poised and alert for the slightest threats, willing to give their lives or obey any command given. Orrin and Jormundur were talking to each other about battle tactics loudly, making sure most knew of their presence in the company, however Arya and herself were silent as they marched; each to be left in their own thoughts which suited both of them just fine.
Nauuada glanced upwards to see Saphira and Eragon gliding in the sky upon silent wings, and could not help but once again admire Saphira's beauty as the rising sunlight glinted off her scales. When she caught his eye he saluted her, by raising his fist to his chest and tilted his head, but neither of them stopped to talk but carried on south. "It truly is a wonder to behold", came a soft musical voice to her right, "not many humans are as fortunate as you to see a dragon in all her glory, even the elves never get tired of it" finished Arya. "You speak as if you were not an elf yourself", replied Nasuada politely, hoping that Arya would not take offence to her comment. "Perhaps; after seventy years of mingling with your kind and hardly any contact with mine, I won't say that I have developed some human characteristics, but merely that I could of lost some of my original conduct that could question my ethnicity" Arya said thoughtfully but as if talking to herself.
"Rather like our young rider then", commented Nasuada offhandedly, noticing that Arya immediately looked up and focused her eyes on her. "What I mean is that you both have characteristics that could class you both as an elf and a human; you both look elvish and you both have the ability to use magic and have a long life, and as humans, you are both capable to be exposed to raw emotions that can let yourself lose focus".
"I don't know what you mean" said Arya in a cold voice whilst now gazing at the approaching messanger in the distance. Nasuada knew she was pushing the limits to their friendship but carried on anyway. "Well you clearly displayed that you are capable of rash decisions when you decided to run off after Eragon into the heart of the Empire." She ignored Arya sudden cold glare at her and approached the messanger. "Milady", cried the horseman with his chest heaving, "Belatona is a day's march from here".
"Excellent", said Nasuada in a clear voice to direct to the rest of the group. "We shall camp here and prepare ourselves for a siege, spread the word".
,