The roar cut through the air like a knife. Thankfully, Niriada's claws didn't have the same sharpness. Her slash knocked Eragon to the ground, but he was able to roll out of it and avoid a second hit. Niriada always seemed to be on him before he could fully recover. However, her speed was nothing compared to her ferocity. She said she understood the purpose of their fights, which was to make him stronger, but most of the time it felt like she was aiming for the kill. Eragon spun, bringing Brisingr around as he did. The blade connected with a claw and rang out across the field.

Her teeth and claws had been magically dulled along with his sword, but they still inflicted an uneasy amount of damage to each other. As much as he should be out of his league fighting against a dragon, Eragon could hold his own. He was getting better at reading her, of knowing which attacks she intended to do. He was mostly dodging her, waiting for her to make a mistake and let her guard down.

It didn't happen often.

Fighting her was like fighting a storm. She would slash with her claws, forcing him to move, and then snap with her jaws at his new location. It was almost as much of a strategy game as a fighting match. Who would be the first to set a trap for the other?

Eragon side stepped a strike and flipped to her side. He brought his sword around in a swift arc and connected with her flank. Niriada roared in response and used her tail to knock him away. The blow threw him like he was a ragdoll into the bushes.

Remember the tail, he told himself.

She jumped into the air and loosed a fireball at him. He focused on the oncoming flames and used his magic to split them. As the fire passed around him, he looked up. Curiously, he didn't see Niriada. He focused his mind outward, trusting his awareness over his vision. He noticed an energy, strong and powerful, coming from above.

Without a second to spare, Eragon dove out of the way as Niriada came crashing to the Earth where he had been standing. She immediately snapped her jaws at him, forcing him to roll farther away.

Eragon got to his feet and used his magic to propel himself up into the air. With his sword held above his head, he swung down at the dragon. She flapped her wings, pushing herself backwards. Eragon landed in the dirt where she had been and leapt forward again. As Niriada flapped her wings, Eragon aimed for one. He caught the wing with the tip of his sword and heard a snap. Niriada snarled and spun faster than he would have thought possible. Eragon turned in time to watch a golden-brown tail connect with his torso. He heard the familiar crack of his ribs breaking as he flew through the air and landed in the dirt some feet away.

Remember the tail! he reminded himself… again.

Eragon stayed where he was on the ground, letting his mind wonder over his body. The wounds were not pretty; he felt two broken ribs, one of which was tearing at his lung. His mind guided his magic and he released a wordless spell to heal the damage. He felt a tickling sensation as his body healed itself, first repairing the ribs, and then the damage done to his lung.

He took a deep breath, and when he felt no pain, he sat up. Niriada was before him, pacing back and forth, her left wing sticking out at an odd angle. Eragon felt a pang of guilt at the damage he caused. He stood up and made his way over to the wounded dragon.

Niriada immediately spun so that her wounded wing was behind her and growled at Eragon. He opened his arms in a welcoming gesture.

"Let me fix it," he said as calmly as he could. She didn't move and continued to growl at him. "Please."

She loosed a small lick of flames and slowly brought her wing into view. It was a clean break and the bone wasn't protruding from the skin. Eragon focused his attention on the wound and willed it to mend. His magic followed his desires and he watched the bones fuse back together. The dragon stared at her wing, then moved it around, testing its mobility. Then, she flapped hard against the ground and shot up into the air. Within seconds she was gone from his sight.

"That was amazing!" a voice said from behind him.

"Seriously, that was the most incredible fighting I've ever seen!" came a second. Eragon turned to see Fosier and Kyliel running towards him.

"How long have you two been over there?" Eragon asked.

"We came over here when we heard Niriada's roar. We had no idea she agreed to the training," Kyliel said.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Fosier asked.

"Because I cannot control her. She is a wild dragon, and, if she wanted to, she could do some real damage. I wanted to protect you all. You shouldn't be here."

"Eragon, we were in the tree line, and were ready to get away if she got really angry," Fosier said. "But I don't think we had anything to worry about. After seeing you get hit that hard, and then get right back up without any damage, I think you may be just as strong as her, if not stronger!"

"I did have damage," Eragon said with a half smile. "A lot."

He turned West and walked towards the cliff edge where he liked to do his meditations. And occasionally think of her.

"Really? But you got up so soon after you were knocked down," said Kyliel.

"Niriada broke two of my ribs and one almost opened up my lung."

"What? But how did you heal so fast?" Fosier asked in earnest.

"I can heal fast because I've been broken so many times," Eragon said with a small laugh. "I guess I have just gotten used to it."

"I still can't believe you are sparring with a dragon. This is just so bizarre that I am still having a hard time processing it," Kyliel said.

"I am still getting used to it as well," Eragon confessed. "She is a great opponent, I am learning a lot from fighting her."

That is because we are the ultimate predators, Saphira projected to all them as she walked up.

"That you are," Eragon said. "So, have you two done your meditating? Any new results?"

"Well, not much different from yesterday," Fosier said. "I could sense what was around me, and I was able to pick up on things in the woods, some hogs and few deer I guess. But it got overwhelming and I lost it when I tried to push farther. She had better luck." Fosier gestured to Kyliel.

Kyliel was positively beaming. "I felt the dark dragon," she said.

"Really? That's amazing, Kyliel!" Eragon exclaimed.

"It was incredible. I was taking in everything in a slow manner like you told us and, I don't know, I was just able to keep going this time. As I became aware of new energies, I could recognize them and continue on instead of getting engulfed. I made it all the way to the south beach and felt a massive energy floating in the water. I got so excited that I lost the connection, but I did it!"

"I am very proud, guys. Fosier, don't worry, you are making good progress." The elf looked down at his feet. "I think you may be trying to force it too much. You will get better, I promise." Fosier nodded. "Alright, I need to head back. I know if I tell you not to watch the fights, you will just come anyway, so please, be careful when you do."

The elves smiled mischievously at him and left him alone.

As Eragon made his way back to his tent, he noticed a presence come up beside him.

"Sometimes I think you are more feline than elf. I couldn't hear a thing."

"You are one of the only people in Alagaesia who can tell when I approach. One of the many reasons I respect you," Blodgram said in a half purr.

"How was your day?" Eragon said clasping his old protector on the shoulder.

"Obviously not as eventful as yours," he said raising an eyebrow.

Eragon smiled. He still remembered the days when the elf was tasked to keep him safe during the war. He had always respected Blodgram, but when he volunteered to accompany Eragon on his journey East, he realized that he was a true friend.

"Oh I don't know about that. Running around like a cat can be exhilarating from what I hear."

"And fighting a dragon can really get the blood pumping from what I hear," he said with a smirk.

"Fair enough," Eragon said with a laugh.

"I have some good news for you."

"Oh really?"

Blodgram nodded. "The Queen is waiting for you."

Eragon stopped and stared at Blodgram. The elf smiled and nodded. Eragon then took off towards his tent.

He reached the front of his tent in a minute and stopped to compose himself before he entered. With a slow breath, he pushed aside the flap and went in.

There she was, he raven hair tucked behind her ears, those brilliant green eyes looking around at his tent. When they saw him, a smile spread across her face.

Then her eyes narrowed. "You look terrible," she said, her voice like silk.

Eragon laughed and took in his appearance. Unbeknownst to him, his clothes were dirty and torn in places. All of the sudden he worried about what his hair must look like and how much dirt was on his face. But she was smiling at him and that was all that mattered.

"How are you, my Queen?" he asked as he bowed low in front of the mirror hanging on the back wall of his tent.

Her smile vanished in mock annoyance at him. "Eragon, come on."

"I know, I know. I just couldn't resist." He took a seat before the mirror while failing to brush off some of the dirt clinging to his body. "But really, how have you been?"

"Busy. I have tried to get away to communicate with you but everyone needs me all the time. I don't get any time for myself. This is the first I have seen Firnen in weeks. He is getting so big so fast. I wanted to try and get him in here but he doesn't fit in Oromis' hut anymore. Besides, he's off hunting."

"They grow extremely fast. It's hard to imagine I could hold Saphira in my arms at one point."

They sat for a moment, just looking at each other and enjoying the moment. It wasn't awkward, in fact, Eragon felt more comfortable than he had in days. It was as if just her sight put his whole being at ease.

"Do you enjoy being Queen?" It was a loaded question. Eragon didn't want to mess up their conversation before it even started but he couldn't help himself. He respected her decision to take the throne, but it worried him.

"I don't 'enjoy' it, but I am serving my people and I do find comfort in that. Like I told you last time, it was the easiest transition for everyone to deal with after the war."

"I know, its just-"

"Eragon, I know I am a Dragon Rider now and I will help you raise the next generation. I will step down when its time. You just have to trust me."

"I understand. I think it is really me just being selfish," he said with a grin.

"I wouldn't really mind you being selfish." She looked at him almost sheepishly. Was she blushing?

"So, um, have you flown with Firnen yet?" Eragon could feel his face warming up. He hoped it wasn't noticeable.

"Not yet," she sighed, "I have been working on a saddle for him. I was actually thinking about trying it on today. He should be strong enough by now. My newest problem is finding a place for him. He can't stay in the palace and he is now bigger than Oromis' hut. I think I am going to try and move to the tree room you stayed in when you and Saphira visited."

"I remember. That was probably my favorite bedroom I have ever slept in."

"Don't let Orik hear you say that."

"Well don't go telling on me then."

She smiled at him. "No promises."

"You become queen and already try to stir up drama."

"Me?" She narrowed her eyes at him. "This is our first talk in months and you start it off by asking me about the throne."

Eragon put his hands up. "Okay, you're right. I surrender."

Arya leaned back smugly. "Good."

She looked at him for a moment, as if trying to read past his dirty exterior. "I miss you."

Eragon's stomach still did flips when he heard her say that.

"That's nice."

"Eragon!"

"I miss you too," he said laughing. "You are the only thing that has been getting me through all my training."

"How is that going?"

"It's… difficult, but also very interesting. The better I get at using raw energy, the stronger my body needs to be to keep up. The strangest thing is that I think using the energy gives my body more potential to get stronger. The things I can do know, I would never be able to do normally, even with the same training. And the stronger my body gets, the longer I can use the energy. It's like a cycle, one gives to the other, which then gives back again. I am not close to where I need to be, but I can see progress being made."

"That's really good."

"Oh I forgot to tell you, we had another dragon hatch about three months back. This one is a male, dark scales, and very swift. Saphira says that his agility is far greater than hers when she was his age."

"How exciting! What's his name?"

"He hasn't said yet. The wild dragons are much different from any of the dragons I am used to. But, he keeps to himself and from what I know, hasn't had any problems with the others."

"Six wild dragons. It's hard to imagine that they even exist."

"They are coming back, slowly but surely. How are things in the mainland?"

"Lets see… Nasuada is doing well as Queen, although I think there was an attempt on her life recently. She is fine though, Murtagh took care of it." Eragon raised an eyebrow and Arya smiled. "Those two spend a lot of time together. Apparently Murtagh is her 'personal protection' but there are rumors circulating about there being more to it than just security."

"Well I hope there are, those two deserve it."

Arya nodded. "I haven't heard anything new about Roran. I'd assume he is still in the capital as well. Orik is in Tronjheim and rumors are flying around that he may be a father soon."

"Orik a dad! That's amazing." Eragon paused for a moment. "Oh no…"

"What is it?" Arya asked concerned.

"All I can picture in my head is a little baby Orik, with a beard…"

"Eragon, that's awful!"

"Have you ever seen a baby dwarf?" he asked her.

"…No."

"Well neither have I, so for all I know it's a tiny Orik with a beard."

"I am sure it's a normal baby, and you're overreacting," she assured him.

"I hope so," he said laughing. "Let's see, how are the Urgals?"

"Nar Garzhvog sent the first group of Urgal young to the capital to join the army. It looks like your plan will work out. My scouts tell me that there are still groups loyal to Galbatorix who are picking at the Empire's outer cities. I have given Nasuada some of our forces but the addition of the Urgals should help out."

"I always hoped that once Galbatorix went down, the fighting would end."

"I think it will be a long time before the fighting ends," Arya said. "However, at least now we are beyond the worst of it." Eragon nodded. "The newest problem Nasuada is dealing with is rogue magicians." He looked at her questioningly. "From what she told me last the time we spoke, the forces loyal to Galbatorix are headed up by low level magicians. To you, they would barely be a nuisance, but to regular men they are an imposing force."

Eragon furrowed his brow. "Nasuada mentioned the magicians before I left. She said of all the things Galbatorix did, keeping magic users under control was one of the right ones. I guess now that he is gone they are running around unchecked." He sighed, "Just another problem to deal with."

"For now, Murtagh and Thorn can deal with them. I know the forces I sent to her are also helping where they can. Murtagh and the elves are working on a prison that can hold the magic users."

Eragon nodded. "It is a solution, but only a temporary one."

Silence crept in between them, and Eragon just enjoyed the moment. For most of his days, he was always in the future. He would worry about making it off the island and retaking Vroengard. He worried if he would be a good leader, and he worried what would become of the future riders if he wasn't. But for this one moment, talking with her, he wasn't worried. He was at peace. She cocked her head to the side with a half smile. "You're staring at me."

He smiled back. "Couldn't help myself." He was happy to receive a small blush in return.

"Eragon, I have a meeting I need to get ready for."

"What if you carry the mirror with you to the meeting? I'd love to give some Lead Dragon Rider advice." Eragon wore his best cheeky smile. She sneered back at him.

"I think the Queen's opinion is all they will need."

"Fair enough…"

"Eragon?"

"Yes?"

"Come back soon." Her eyes were fierce again. That look she had back in the battle, the one that could spur him on in his weakest moments.

"I will," he said with as much confidence as he could muster. She gave him one last soft smile and then the mirror shimmered and he was left staring back at his own reflection.

Eragon took a deep breath and sat on his bed. The day was long and his body was aching. As his head hit the pillow a mind brushed against his own.

How is everything? Saphira asked.

They are about as good as we could hope for. People are still fighting, but I agree with Arya. The worst is over.

That is good. I'm going for a late flight. I'll be there when you wake up.

Enjoy yourself. Good night, Saphira, Eragon said.

Good night, little one.

Shorter chapter but I like that it shows progress. Plus a little Eragon and Arya time is always good.

Leave me a comment so I know people are actually reading my story, even if its to tell me I suck. Knowing I have people that want to see where the story goes is what has kept me coming back to the keyboard. If I didn't have you guys, this story would have ended after the death of the king (hence the title). Instead, it will go on much further than that. In fact, I should maybe change the title to be more fitting...