Chapter 5

Beware the elf girl. It was white, unbelievably Wight and brighter than the other spirits that surrounded it. Beware the elf girl, it said in Eragon's mind. It was Elva's voice that the spirit spoke with. They left him, alone in a clearing surrounded by the elves tree-sung-houses, where was he? Why was he there? Arya stepped out from the shadows. Why was it so dark? She was smiling. But her smile was too broad, her eyes to bright. "Do not fear me Eragon, I am your friend" She said. It sounded faint, like water bubbling at a stream far away. "I love you, do not fear me"

Eragon stepped back every time she stepped forwards, why wasn't he going any further away? How come, no matter how big a step he made, Arya always got closer, and closer, and closer? Eragon started running. Saphira! He cried but there was no reply.

His path was cut off by a river. "Eragon don't run. I love you! Come to me, Eragon, please don't resist me"

Eragon turned around and swallowed hard. "Go away" he pleaded "leave me alone, please, I beg of you"

"Why do you not say my name Eragon Bromson?" Arya asked, still smiling.

"Because you are not Arya"

The elf's smile faded into a straight line, her eyebrows pointed towards her eyes in a deep scowl and she screamed "To Right I'm NOT Arya" it was not Arya's voice, it was Murtaghs.

Saphira nudged him so that he toppled onto the floor.

I don't want to talk about what I dreamt; Eragon groaned lifting himself off the ground and wiping the dirt from his knees. He lifted his sword and charged towards Blodgharm, who had promised to spar with him. Blodgharm swiftly turned and dodged the blade, but Eragon had expected that, he stopped mid blow, swivelled around lunged at Blodgharm's side.

Well, you should! If not me, talk to someone else about it! Saphira continued.

What Arya? Eragon snorted, Great idea!

Parry, retreat, lunge, retreat, turn, duck, lunge…

No, not Arya, how about…Roran?

Lunge, Parry, Lunge, retreat, turn, lunge…

Oh yes, hello Roran, I know you are about to set off for battle, your wife is pregnant and she is worried about you getting your head cut off, but hey, do you mind if I load my problems on to your back too! He snapped

Lunge, lunge, duck, Parry, lunge, lunge...

LUNGE, lunge, lunge, turn, lunge, lunge, lunge…

Blodgharm yelped as his sword dropped to the floor. Eragon looked at the furry elf's hand and was shocked to see the crooked fingers hanging limply and at odd angles.

"I apologise!" Eragon called, sad that he had hurt the elf that he had become quite attached to. Eragon muttered the words of healing and in seconds 'blood wolfs' hand was better.

Blodgharm laughed "It is but the damage of battle, there is no need to apologise Shur'tugal, and thank you for this spar, you fought well, now rest, we have a battle ahead of us."

Eragon shook his blue hand and jumped upon Saphira. With one last look at Blodgharm, The dragon shot upwards. When Eragon tried to speak with Saphira, she blocked him and gave him but one word. Talk.

~O~

Jeod passed her the map silently. What were they up too? Nasuada nodded at him thankfully. Then she sent a messenger boy for King Orrin and another to find Eragon and Saphira.

"Let the battle commence!" Jeod cried half-heartedly smiling.

"Battle is not a laughing matter" Nasuada growled. Jeod nodded.

"And yet you send some into unnecessary ones" he commented "do not misunderstand me Nasuada, I am not misjudging your authority or opinion, I just do not understand why…" Jeod trailed off, leaving the unfinished question hanging in the air.

"Though you should not know about that, Jeod, there is reason in my seemingly 'ill thought out' plan" Nasuada replied rephrasing Arya's break out. Jeod bowed and apologised, and left excusing himself leaving Nasuada pondering about Arya. When King Orrin arrived at her tent she did not even stop to say hello.

"I need your take on something" She said. Orrin raised his eyebrows. "Eragon…The dragon rider, fell in love with Arya…"

"I don't think I know what this has got to do with me, or you for that matter Nasuada…"

"Let me finish Orrin! Yes, and she…denied him…ever since, whenever Eragon is with the girl, he is distracted, however, Arya is a brilliant warrior and when she is with him, she keeps him out of trouble…mostly. Should I therefore send her with him to fetch the egg or…"

Orrin looked at Nasuada for a long disbelieving second. "I…" he began slowly…"I believe, since Arya has more experience of egg…uh…carrying, she should join Eragon on their…uh…his quest…with others…"

~O~

Two-legs-sleeping chambers were being entered and left unbelievably often and quickly. Especially the sword-man-chamber was being visited. Saphira watched from above as the two-legs got ready for capture of Belatona. Saphira saw visions of fire, blood, houses, screaming people in her mind. She saw the tower, they had killed the shade Varaug.

A memory came back to her. Eragon on the stone floor curled up weeping, and before that… Oromis dying! Glaedr's pain, death, sorrow, so much sorrow. Saphira roared and burst out a flame that was larger than any flame she had let out before. Death to red-hatchling-Thorn, Death to son of Morzan, Death to Galbatorix!

Saphira, Eragon's voice wormed through her shields, I'll talk with you…