A/N: Readers! If you have not already, then you must visit pronto! Hurry! You can decorate and customize your own personal Saphira the 'volksdragon' with polka dots, bunny ears, stereos, baby seats…I almost died laughing.

Thanks again for the reviews! I'm glad you guys liked Garth.

Seventeen

A 'Talk' with Arya

The fever came overnight without warning in a sweltering upsurge. Nasuada was aroused when Garth gave a small, irritable growl. Alarmed, she bolted upright. Then she noticed Murtagh squirming uncomfortably under the blankets, half asleep. Feeling the impression of the stifling heat slowly dissipate off her front side, Nasuada frowned and pressed the back of her palm against his cheek. His skin was burned to the touch. She pressed her other hand on his cheek, to make sure she wasn't imagining the temperature. He was fine a few hours ago!

Nasuada shook him awake, calling his name until he finally gave a limp groan of acknowledgement. "Are you feeling all right?" Dumb question, she told herself, Of course he's not all right. He hasn't been all right since we left Helgrind! "You're burning up."

Murtagh mumbled something so softly she could not hear not hear it.

"What?"

He repeated the words again, but his words were all jumbled up and made no sense.

What's he saying? she asked Thorn.

He is saying, 'Help I cannot speak English!' Thorn said with bitter sarcastically. I don't know what he is trying to say. His thoughts are confused, and they run into one another. It's like trying to translate a baby's careless babbling. It worries me.

Nasuada quickly called to Eragon. "I don't get it," he said a few minuets later. "What's wrong with him? He just keeps getting worse."

If I knew exactly, said Thorn, then I would have told you, and you would have healed him already.

Eragon sighed. "I've tried to heal him. No matter what I do, nothing works," he said. "We're only a day and a half from Aberon, if we fly fast. Angela or one of your healers will probably know more about this anyways."

"Gertrude might also be able to help,"

Garth crawled into her arms. "It seems like that is our only option."

They took only a very brief time the next day to stop for a rest before they reached the capital. Unfortunately, by the time they began to approach Aberon, Murtagh had fallen into a deep sleep that they could not rouse him from. When Thorn and Saphira landed, Jörmundur and a group of Varden soldiers greeted them. "Welcome home, Lady Nasuada," Jörmundur greeted her boisterously. "I trust your trip went well?"

"Well, enough," Nasuada grunted as Garth wriggled impatiently in her arms. She slid off Thorn's saddle. A wave of hunger washed over her. I just fed you!

Jörmundur's eyes opened wide as saucers at the sight of Garth. The soldiers began to whisper. "Is that…tell me that isn't…" Jörmundur stammered.

"He is," Nasuada said, "And quite frankly he's quite the bottomless pit." On average, Garth ate more in one setting than all four of them put together. His belly was always bulging, and he seemed to be growing a little bigger and wider everyday. "But we will discuss Garth later," she said. "Right now, we need a healer."

A frown line appeared in the middle of Jörmundur's brow. "Is someone injured?"

"Murtagh is sick," Nasuada explained. She motioned to the group of soldiers standing next to Jörmundur. "Well? What are you waiting for? Don't just stand there, get Murtagh on a litter and take him to the healer's ward. He is unconscious. He will not bite."

The soldiers looked at Nasuada and then at Thorn and his sagging Rider. Only one of them nodded and said, "Yes ma'am," with little hesitation. He made towards Murtagh, but then Thorn lashed out warningly, snapping his jaws together with a smoking snarl.

I will escort Murtagh to the ward, he said firmly and no one but Nasuada dared oppose.

They are only trying to help, she scolded. He can't stay in that saddle forever.

I will not put Murtagh into another's custody when he is unconscious and unable to protect himself. He flicked his tail in the air. Therefore I will escort him straight to his bed.

You can't fit through that door.

There is an even big door at the back of the building. If they want to heal Murtagh then they will have to let me in.

Nasuada glared at the dragon irritably, but knew there was no point in arguing further. "Very well," she said to the soldiers with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Accompany them to the healers. You should also remind the them that Murtagh's life is in their hands. Should they fail, not only deal will they have me to deal with, but also they will also have to deal with Murtagh's ferocious overgrown lizard."

With wings, Thorn cried. I am a ferocious overgrown lizard with wings!

"The Varden faired well while you were gone," Jörmundur told her on the way her to her office. "We had a minor fire in the lace warehouse. Luckily Arya and her magicians were able to douse the flames before too much damage could be done."

"Has this effected our production—" Nasuada looked at him suspiciously. "What do you mean her magicians?"

Jörmundur scratched his beard. "Well, they aren't really Arya's magicians. The Queen sent them all the way from Ellesméra to help Eragon. There are twelve of them here. They arrived the day after you and Rider Murtagh left."

Nasuada shoulder Garth, furious. "Well then I must speak with Arya immediately," she scowled. "Why didn't she tell me Islanzadí was sending us a dozen magicians? She's supposed to be an ambassador!"

Before Jörmundur could answer she marched off to Arya's study and threw open the door. Arya was seated at a wide circular table with four other elves. They jumped slightly at the interruption. Nasauda ignored them and set Garth on the table before Arya. "You lied," she said in such a low, cold tone that she almost frighten herself with the venomous tone.

A smile appeared on Arya's lips; Nasuada wanted to slap her. "I did," said Arya. "And it was so terribly easy."

Nasuada slammed her fist on the table. Arya's smile melted off her face. The wine glasses trembled. The other elves looked uneasily at one another." You lied to me!" she cried, almost shouting. "I told you to take Garth's egg back to Ellesméra! What if I something had happened? What if it had been lost? Or stolen?"

"You did not tell her?" one of the elves asked.

"Of course I did not tell her," Arya said. "She wouldn't touch the egg anyways."

"So you figured lying to me was a far better solution?"

"Yes," Arya said even more coldly. "And it was not entirely my idea. My mother and our wisest elders suggested that it would be better if we started with you. Since it would be a waste of time to pass the egg around to every single elf, only to have it hatch to you later on. She also said to give you her blessing. Your thoughtfulness impressed her to end and she is proud to have the Varden as an ally."

Nasuada gave her a look of daggers. "What does Vrîend'dräco mean?"

"It means 'dragon friend.'"

"In what language?"

Arya hesitated. "In Glic."

"Glic?"

"The tongue spoken by the Hadarac humans."

"So you do know something of them!"

Arya stood up. "Will you stop shouting? Vrîend'dräco is what they used to call dragons. I did not tell you because I wanted Vrîend'dräco to be a surprise."

"Ha! 'Surprise' is an understatement compared to the distress placed upon me. Garth scared me out of my dress— literally! And in front of Murtagh!"

The other elves stifled their musical laughter. Nasuada felt her cheeks burn with a rush of hot redness. Mortified, she forced herself to take a deep breath and say, "I am going to go take a long, hot bath. And when I am done, you can tell me all about these nomads."

A/N: Yes, I know, Golden Boy Eragon could have probably healed Murtagh at the beginning of the chapter. However, this ailment serves to demonstrate something very, very important that is bound to make some uneasy (it is not just some random angst). So you'll have to read the next chapter. I also decided that it has nothing to do with Galbatorix (it was a very long and hard decision, but I'm sure you'll see why).

Don't forget to review! Thanks again!