First Flight and Second Hatching

Disclaimer: I don't own Eragon. No duh. On with the story.

Galbatorix stared at the scrying bowl. He shook with rage. He picked up the large bowl and hurled it at Luce. She ducked, and it only grazed the side of her arm. The bowl shattered, and the image broke. Despite this, the rider found it difficult to conceal a look of triumph from her face. It didn't matter. Galbatorix was banging his fists against the back of his throne in rage. He didn't seem to have recovered the power of speech.

Ardis and Shaheen survived, she told Iormungr, whom she had let drop in on the scene.

I saw, the dragon replied rather smugly. Iormungr was still full of awe for everything in general, but he was becoming extremely intelligent.

I'm rolling my eyes at you, just so you know, she told the green dragon.

So am I, Iormungr responded.

Good, Luce told him.

Thorn and Murtagh man said I was big enough for you to fly me, the dragon said, his voice becoming gleeful. He had taken to hero-worshipping Thorn.

I'll come after I'm done in here, Luce replied, and she and the dragon ended the conversation. A moment later, Galbatorix seemed to regain his power of speech.

"Deandra…has…failed me. She…will…be…transferred…to work…as…a…healer…at… Gil'ead. I will send her replacement to you. Now get out of my sight," he whispered. Luce obeyed quite eagerly.

As Luce left the throne room, the slave Belinda came out from behind a tapestry.

"You are to be her maid's replacement," he told her. "Now come here." Belinda obeyed. He put his hand on the spot on her arm that marked her as a slave. When he removed his hand, it was gone.

"You told me what you saw. It has confirmed my suspicions. Watch them both, especially the girl. Do not fail me," he told her. The last statement was simple but powerful. It sealed her fate. She was a spy. Failure was death. Belinda dared to ask a question.

"What was my aunt doing when she was killed?"

"She was spying on the Tabors of Dras Leona. She was responsible for one of their downfalls. It was Tabor's daughter Morgana. You probably don't know the story. You'll learn in time," he replied curtly. "Now go." Belinda obeyed. She smiled to herself as she walked out the door. Freedom tasted sweet. She intended to keep it that way.

The Dragon Hold

Luce walked to Iormungr. The green dragon was now the size of a large horse, and his wings seemed less awkward. He was one of the most beautiful creatures she'd ever seen. All dragons were such. She put a hand on his scales, and the dragon hummed softly. The sound comforted her for some reason.

"Are you ready to start flying?" a voice asked. Luce jumped. Murtagh stood in the entrance of the hold.

"As ready as I'll ever be," she muttered. One of things she would never tell anybody was that she was afraid of heights. Iormungr seemed to know, and the emerald dragon was quite keen on breaking her of this habit. Iormungr had already been saddled, and she mounted him like she would a horse. She strapped her legs in and looked at Murtagh for further instruction.

"The straps are wrong," he said, fighting a laugh.

"Well, you're the expert. Tell me how they're supposed to go," Luce scowled.

Murtagh sighed, climbed up in front of her, and began to fix the offending straps. Luce felt her beat start to beat faster as he touched her legs to fix the straps. Finally, he was done.
"That is how you are supposed to do it," Murtagh explained as he climbed off Iormungr. "Now, go," he said to Iormungr. The dragon obeyed without warning. Luce clung to his neck for dear life. She didn't care that her shirt and arms was being torn; she just didn't want to fall. Iormungr looped without warning, and she almost screamed. Iormungr did it again, and she was less scared. He flew higher and higher, and Luce looked down and only felt slightly dizzy.

Your irrational fears vanish as we speak, Luce, Iormungr told his rider proudly. He turned to look at her and grinned toothily. Luce smiled back. He did another loop without warning, and Luce actually laughed. Flying different than anything she'd ever experienced.

I told you flying wasn't the dumbest idea ever thought up by whatever gods there are, the dragon continued.

I never said that, Luce replied stubbornly.

Remember what you thought the night you came up with Ardis' escape plan, Iormungr reminded.

Luce remembered. The dragon smiled his toothy grin. Iormungr landed, and Luce unhooked her legs. She tumbled out of the saddle in an ungainly manner. Murtagh put out his hand to help her up. She took it grudgingly. His hand was warmer than hers, which were always cold.

"You might want to heal those," he said, pointing to the scratches on her arms. Luce nodded. She walked past him without saying a word.

Murtagh stared after her, surprised. Something seemed to be wrong.

Look closely to your left, he heard Luce say. He did as she said. He saw a flash of smooth raven hair. The slave from earlier had been spying.

Surda

Eragon looked down at Ardis.

Do you really think she's the one from your dream? Saphira asked incredulously.

Almost positive, Eragon replied.

But how could she be? Saphira questioned.

Maybe someone else gave her the help she needed, Eragon answered.

Yet this other girl does not fit the description of the sister. How can you be sure? Saphira reasoned.

We don't know that the tall girl was her sister, Eragon volleyed.

This girl is not, Saphira replied.

Maybe her sister couldn't escape, but she could, Eragon responded.

Perhaps, the blue dragon conceded, but I do not think it wise to question her here. Ask her privately.

Eragon nodded.
"Why did you not flee with the rest of the citizens of Lithgow?" he questioned.

Ardis and Shaheen both looked surprised, even a bit unnerved.

"We are travelers," Shaheen finally told him.

"Where are you from?" Eragon had to know these answers.

Ardis and Shaheen both glanced at each other before the former answered, "We are fleeing the empire."

"Why?" he asked.

"My mother offended the king, and she lost her life because of it. He kept me in the palace. He ignored me. Shaheen was a slave, and because we are friends, we fled together," Ardis told him with eloquence than she had thought herself capable of having.

"And your father?" Eragon asked. Some instinct told him this was the answer to everything.

"The man I called father died after the king executed my mother," Ardis said. There was some strange truth in that statement. With Morgana's downfall, she had gone from being cherished daughter to the last reminder of a woman he would like to forget. He had ignored her because then he could pretend Morgana had never been. It was so easy for him to pretend. So easy to pretend he was good, and all else was evil. So easy to pretend the elves were corrupt, and he was a savior. So easy to forget a distantly noble giantess named Siloa aroused him so much that he married her. So easy to forget how Tabor's beautiful daughter had captivated him. So easy to forget that an elf called Vrael had ruled the riders for year and another elf called Anurin before him. So easy to forget that Morzan had abused the woman who loved him more than life itself so that she died to save the child she carried and laid open his own child's back with the sword that child now carried. So easy to forget that a sixteen year-old girl named Cora had named her black dragon Shruikan in the dying sun of the city Illirea. So easy to forget he was once a peasant boy for whom greatness was just a far-off dream. It was all so easy. It just wasn't right.

"You sent me a dream asking for my help, didn't you?" he asked.

Ardis looked shocked, and Shaheen looked puzzled. The former nodded.

"Who gave you help?" Eragon asked. Ardis gave him as much truth as she could. She was afraid he would see her lies.

"My sister and her friend," she replied.

"Who was her friend?" Eragon asked.

"The rider Murtagh," Ardis answered quietly.

Eragon stared at her before asking, "And why did Murtagh not help her?"

"She could not escape any more," Ardis explained.

"Why not?" Eragon asked. He had a horrible sinking feeling that he knew the answer. And sure enough, he did. Only Shaheen answered when Ardis hesitated.

"Galbatorix's last egg hatched for her."

Roran and Eragon swore. Eragon calmed down first.

"How powerful is she?" Eragon asked.

Ardis gave an answer she had only just recognized as true. "I don't know what she's capable of."

Eragon didn't think this sounded good. He was lost in thought when a boy ran through the wreckage. He saw Eragon and Saphira and stopped. He bowed low.

"Is it safe to back into the city, Shadeslayer," he asked tentatively.

Eragon nodded. The boy leapt for joy and ran out of the city again. He came back a few minutes later with a large group of people behind him. They were the citizens of Lithgow.

Ardis and Shaheen watched as Eragon and Roran gathered casualty lists. The Fanghur had killed five. The girls were particularly shocked when a woman appeared leading two horses. It was Isadora and Ambriana.

"Whose horses are these? They came bolting into the camp. Took us near forever to calm them down," she explained in a raspy voice.

"They're ours, Ma'am," Ardis explained politely.

The woman seemed to want to ask questions but decided against it. She simply handed the bridles to Shaheen and Ardis.

"We must return to Aberon," Eragon explained after he had interviewed everyone and helped mend the buildings.

I can't carry more than two, Saphira projected for everyone.

"Ardis and I can ride," Shaheen offered. Eragon looked at Saphira, then nodded his assent.

The girls mounted their horses and followed Saphira to Aberon.

Aberon

Nasuada stood in the middle of the capital. She was interviewing the survivors of the attack. Thankfully, only six had perished. She wished the number had been zero. Trianna, Carlo, the rest of Du Vrangr Gata, Arya, and Angela were healing the wounded and helping to fix the buildings. Talson, Jemez, and Jormundur were among the workers. Orrin was going among his subjects taking accounts as well.

"Milady, this was found in the wreckage. Its pedestal was smashed" a smooth, male voice called out from behind her. Nasuada turned and saw Carlo standing there, Trianna on his right. The male was holding the egg. It was indeed beautiful, a deep purple streaked with silver.

"What should we do with this?" the latter asked.

"Give it to me," Nasuada ordered. Magician and sorceress obeyed and walked away. The two worried Nasuada. She had heard rumors from Farica that they had become lovers. She wasn't entirely sure about Carlo yet, and she had always thought Trianna rather arrogant. The two combined could be a threat or a blessing, depending which way they turned.

"Lady Nasuada, where are Eragon and Saphira?" Angela questioned, walking up to her.

"They went to Lithgow along with his cousin," Nasuada told her.

"I heard they're going to Ellesmera soon," the herbalist continued.

"Yes, they are," Nasuada said wearily.

"Just be sure they fulfill their promise before they leave," an eerie voice put in. It was Elva.

"I shall," she told the child. She knew Eragon had to do this to fix the blight on the Varden's honor.

As if on cue, a blue dragon descended from the sky. Two horses rode behind it.

Eragon dismounted first and saw Elva. She looked at him expectedly. Eragon looked back. He was tired. He opened his mouth to tell her this, but the girl spoke first.

"At this moment, the curse gives me much pain," Elva whispered. "You are powerful. You have not wasted too much magic. Surely you can heal this…curse."

Eragon sighed and put his hand on her forehead. He uttered the phrase he had been planning since he had learned of his mistake. Elva changed. Her eyes remained violet, but there was less bitterness in them. She still looked as a four year-old. She spoke. The voice was more child-like.

"Thank you, Shadeslayer."

Nasuada dropped the egg. She had never been so shocked or relieved by a child's voice. The girl on the chestnut horse climbed off. She picked up the egg and carried to the Varden's leader. Nasuada motioned for her to put it on a pillar. The girl obeyed.

"Who is this, Eragon?" she asked.

"This is Ardis, and the other girl is Shaheen. They are escaped prisoners of Galbatorix," the rider explained. Then, in an undertone, he whispered, "I'll explain the rest later."

Eragon, Roran, the Varden's leader, Surda's king, and the two girls went to help the workers and Du Vrangr Gata. By nightfall, the city had been refurnished.

Ardis sat in her rooms. They were nice. Shaheen was already asleep. She fingered the anti-scrying charm that Eragon and the elf Arya had given her. Shaheen had one as well. It was beautiful. She was tired, but she couldn't sleep.

The council of Elders, Orrin's council, and nearly everyone else had spent the day questioning her about Luce. She had answered as best she could without revealing their heritage. They had wanted to know as much as they could about herself, her sister, the red rider, and Shaheen. It had been a stressful day, to say the least. Shaheen had fallen asleep the moment they went to their rooms. A female voice suddenly rang out in her head.

Ardis, it whispered. The girl jumped. She looked into the doorway of her room. A violet dragon with silver spines and eyes was standing in the doorway.

Ardis, it whispered again.

2,363 words. Yep. Ardis is the new rider. You probably all saw that one coming, but oh well. I hope I update sooner than I did. Once again, Arya/Eragon or Ardis/Eragon? Please vote.