(It has now been six months since the last chapter, and a total of a year since leaving Alagaesia)

Eragon was no dragon. Gravity's constant influence pulled him back towards the Earth as he fell like every other wingless being. The wind ripped at his clothes and the ground rushed up to greet him, but his smile spread even further across his face. Eragon could not fly by any means, but he could jump. Using the world's energy he could propel himself far up into the sky. He still fell like a rock, but he could use the energy to slow his descent once he got close to the ground.

Voraugh, the youngest dragon, was right on his tail. The dragon's wings were tucked against its sides so that he was like a dark purple arrow, streaking across the sky. Trissary, the second youngest dragon, was waiting on the ground below. Her bright green scales nearly blinding in the sunlight

Smart, Eragon thought. They created a trap.

Eragon focused on the dragon below him as he plummeted headfirst to certain death. The muscles in his arm grew taught and he changed his grip on his sword. Then, like a bow releasing an arrow, Eragon threw Brisingr at Trissary. The sapphire blade flew towards the dragon, forcing her to dodge out of the way. This opened up a spot to land for Eragon. Normally, he would start slowing himself by now. However, after trial and error he realized that waiting till the last minute and then using all his strength to stop himself proved to be more useful in a fight. The effect could be quite jarring but the results were worth it. He did have a dragon right behind him after all.

Eragon contorted himself and flipped in midair so that he was now falling feet first. Right before he hit the Earth and shattered his legs, Eragon released a spell fueled with raw energy. The effect was like running at full speed and then being stopped by a wall of wind. His stomach dropped and his blood drained to his feet. He went straight into a roll while grabbing his sword and began a healing spell to mend the small fractures in his legs. His drops were far from perfect, but to end up in one piece instead of flattened on the ground was a success in his book. Using small healing spells during fights had become automatic over the last six months. Eragon didn't utter any phrases or words, he just thought about healing and he healed. Simple as that.

Eragon's spell finished as he rose up out of his roll and spun on his pursuer. Voraugh opened his wings as he descended upon Eragon. His claws were out and his teeth were bared. Even though they were dulled, they were still unnerving to look up at. Eragon raised his sword as Voraugh's immense form fell upon him. The dragon angled himself away from Eragon at the last minute and landed with an enormous thud. A cloud of dust rolled over the training ground, blocking Eragon's line of sight. In response, he expanded his mind, taking in his surroundings. He felt Voraugh's energy in front of him but he also felt another, coming at him from behind Voraugh.

There you are, Eragon thought.

A shadow grew through the dust cloud and then turned into a brilliant green form that flew over Voraugh. Eragon danced away to the side missing a swipe from Trissary's wing. She roared and released a mighty green flame from her mouth. Eragon managed to release a spell protecting himself but was slow on the draw which left his clothing charred. As the flames rolled over him, he couldn't help but admire the beauty of the fight. Trissary, the second to last dragon to hatch, was an energetic and spunky dragon. She didn't start breathing fire until a few weeks ago and already she could bathe him in flame. Eragon smiled at the dragon through her flames and charged.

The young dragon startled and closed her mouth cutting off the torrent of green fire. Eragon was on her in a moment, lowering his head and rushing her in the chest. His shoulder connected and knocked Trissary back. The dragon recovered quickly but Eragon had already leapt into the air above her. He came down on her back and swung at her left wing. There was an audible snap and the wing went limp.

Eragon was about to swing for the right wing when he felt the air on his side change. In a heartbeat it heated up drastically. Throwing himself off of Trissary, Eragon dodged Voraugh's dark fire as it washed over where he had just been standing. Eragon rolled across the ground and came up at the ready. Trissary turned on him, broken wing hung at her side, and Voraugh jumped to land beside her. Both dragons slowly began to flank him, smoke rolling out their mouths.

Eragon looked at them both in turn and felt another smile tug at his lips.

Let's finish this, he said to their minds.

Both dragons hesitated for a moment, and then charged. They were on him in a flash of green and dark purple. Eragon reached for the raw energy as he dipped under a swing of claws and blocked another slash. He spun and connected with a fore claw, breaking the bone. He danced out the way of white teeth and brought his sword around in a blur of motion. Eragon was moving faster than ever before and became a torrent of blue steel, spinning like a whirlwind before their attacks. He dodged and countered until both dragons hung back, no longer initiating the attack.

Eragon felt the raw energy tearing through his body, but a year of training had made him stronger, tougher. He could hold on a little longer. He took in the sight of the two young dragons. Both had arms hanging limp and Trissary's other wing was now jutting out at an odd angle. The dragon's still looked just as fierce and to an untrained eye, one would say they looked ready to fight. But Eragon had been around dragons for a long time. He knew the signs of exhaustion: the smoke no longer fell from their mouths, the heads hung a little lower to the ground, their tails didn't sway as much. These were wild dragons and would never show signs of weakness but Eragon could read them like a book.

He yelled and charged at them.

Trissary was in his sights first. He drew upon the raw energy and released a spell launching her into the air about ten feet, just enough to get under her. The dragon's wings couldn't slow her fall and Eragon used her weight against her. He launched another spell at her flank, causing the dragon to flip and land on her back. Trissary landed hard and let out a groan. Eragon was at her neck with his sword before she could move.

"I win," Eragon said softly. He then turned and launched himself through the air toward Voraugh. The youngest dragon was still nimble with two good wings. He flapped backward so that Eragon landed before him. Before Voraugh could make another move, Eragon skidded across the dirt and came up on Voraugh's flank. He grabbed the dragon's wing and pulled him off balance. As the dragon fell, Eragon spun so that his sword came up under Voraugh's chin. The dragon caught himself but went still when he felt Brisingr pressing against his scales.

"I win," Eragon said again. The dark purple dragon held his gaze for a moment and then closed its eyes, admitting defeat.

Eragon stepped back and let out the breath he was unknowingly holding. Then, a roar went up from the crowd. The other four dragons on the sidelines roared into the air and Saphira loosed a giant ball of blue fire while the three elves were each cheering and dancing. Eragon smiled at the attention and even felt his face redden slightly.

Glancing back at the two dragons before him, Eragon raised a hand to each and released a healing spell aided by wild energy. The dragons' arms twitched and their wings shook. In a moment both dragons were on their feet and fully healed. Eragon then finally released his connection to the wild energy. He felt a withdrawing sensation as if he were swimming in the ocean and the water suddenly pulled away from him at once. It wasn't unpleasant nor was it as dramatic as the old days. It simply happened and Eragon was back to his regular self, or at least as regular as he could be.

"That was incredible!" Fosier said as he and Kyliel rushed up to him. "You were so fast! It was like you would blur in and out of their attacks." Fosier couldn't stop smiling. Eragon was always surprised at just how unlike other elves these two were. So talkative. Eragon smiled as Kyliel pushed Fosier to get face time with him.

"How did you jump so high?" she practically yelled. "Both dragons were on you and then you just flew! When Voraugh took off after you but Trissary stayed on the ground, I thought you had just gotten yourself killed."

"Don't tell me you gave up on me that easily," Eragon said smiling.

"Of course not," said Fosier. "I thought you were done as soon as we heard you challenged two dragons at once."

"Ah, that makes me feel better."

"But we had no idea how good you have gotten!" Kyliel burst in.

"Yeah. If we had seen any of your sparring sessions lately, we would have definitely had our money on you," said Fosier.

"Your money on me?" Eragon asked.

Kyliel shifted slightly. "Remember how we found that large stash of wild berries close to the volcano ridge?

"How could I forget? It has taken all my strength not to steal some," Eragon said.

"You're the least of our problems. We've had to defend our prize from nearly every dragon with a sense of smell," Fosier grumbled. "Well, now Saphira gets to eat them."

"You're kidding," Eragon said. "You bet your prized catch on my match? With Saphira?"

"Unfortunately," Fosier told him.

"What were you going to get if I had lost?"

Fosier pointed to Saphira as she walked up to them. "She was supposed to take us flying for an entire day in search of more."

But instead I will be feasting on the berries you have prepared for me, said Saphira.

"But you don't even like berries," Eragon said.

Saphira just tilted her head. "It's the principle."

"I knew we should have come watched a few fights in between packing," Fosier said to Kyliel. She just shrugged. "Well, lets go get this over with. Eragon, that was the most impressive thing I have ever seen." Then the elf turned and walked away from the grounds.

"Seriously, I am still in shock by what I saw. I know Fosier is sore from losing the stash, but I don't really mind. I'd give almost anything to see that again." With that, she turned and followed Fosier.

Eragon, said a voice behind him. He turned to Trissary. You are a formidable opponent and I have underestimated your skill. I accept defeat.

"Well don't beat yourself up about it. I have had a lot of practice," Eragon said nodding to Niriada.

I will want another chance at victory, Eragon, said Voraugh siding up next to Trissary. The dragons had slowly opened up to him over the past few months. They used to refer to him only as Saphira's partner. Now they referred to him as himself. Eragon figured that was their way of showing respect. That and he had now spoken to and learned the name of all the other dragons. Knowing how prideful wild dragons are and how much they disregard those they deem unworthy, he thought that meant he had made real progress.

"And you will get it," Eragon said back to him. "You two fought well. Y'all have grown into fierce dragons and it was a difficult victory for me to achieve. Thank you for that."

Saphira, you are proving that partnering with another might not be the weakness I once thought it was, said Trissary. Saphira inclined her head to the dragon.

You fought well against Eragon. Fighting a Two-Legs is a different battle than fighting a dragon. You are learning, Saphira said to Trissary. The bright green dragon nodded.

We are leaving this land soon? asked Voraugh.

"Yes," Eragon answered. "You are not forced to join, but I can promise you that our journey will end on an island that is many, many times bigger than this one. You would not be disappointed."

I will go, Eragon, Voraugh said.

As will I, said Trissary.

"We leave in three days," Eragon told them. "It is a week long journey by sea but should take only four days flying. I will supplement your energy to keep us at a good pace and we will stop at cluster of small islands that are a little past the half way mark. Rest up, we will have some long days ahead."

The two dragons nodded and made their way off the sparring grounds. As they flew off, the other dragons also left. Niriada was the last to leave. She locked eyes with Eragon and gave him a nod. Then, she took off like the others.

"I wonder who they view as the top of the pecking order, you or Saphira?" said a voice from behind.

Eragon smiled at Blodgram as he approached. "I may be the one winning the fights, but they all know she's the one on top." Saphira lifted her head a little higher with the complement.

"Yes, I suspect they do," Blodgram said. "However, in all my time I don't believe I have ever seen a better display of combat skills. You may not realize it, but what just happened here has not everhappened before, or at least not to my knowledge."

"Really?" Eragon asked.

"One man, even a dragon rider, fighting a dragon? Let alone two dragons? No, I don't believe that has ever happened before."

"All in a days work I guess," Eragon said rubbing the back of his head. "Are you ready to get back to the main land?"

"I was never one that fit in well with my people, but it will be good to see them again."

Eragon nodded and then clasped a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Well let's get back to work then."

Eragon decided that he would need to invent a spell that could pack his things for him as he made his way back to his tent. He was more exhausted from breaking down camp than his fight with the dragons. Slowly, he pushed open his tent flap and collapsed on his bed. He was dangerously close to falling asleep when he heard a rustling coming from his mirror.

"Eragon?"

Eragon lifted his head slightly and saw Arya looking at him from his mirror.

"Well, you're a sight for sore eyes," Eragon said.

"I'm sorry, were you resting?"

"I was," Eragon said sitting up, "but I think sleep can wait a little longer." He got off the bed and sat in front of the mirror. Arya eyes grew wide and she looked away from him. "What's wrong?"

"Umm… Eragon, your shirt."

Eragon looked down and noticed for the first time that his shirt was more or less gone. Just some burnt tatters clinging to his chest.

"Well look at that, my shirt burned off," Eragon said chuckling to himself. "I need to get some more clothes. Let me put something on real quick." He stood up and noticed Arya's face, which had turned a light shade of red. "Arya?"

"Shirt, right. Yes, that's a good idea. You can put a shirt on," she said without meeting his eyes.

"Um… thanks?"

"Eragon?"

"Yeah?"

"Have you been… working out?" she asked in almost a whisper.

"Something like that." Eragon laughed and looked at himself. His body had made quite the transformation since the war. He was much stronger, but it was all functional, not simple bulk. His muscles were pronounced but lean. It was the build of a fighter.

"You… you look good."

Eragon smiled at her. "Thank you, my queen," he said with a low bow.

"And you ruined it," she said folding her arms. He waved at her dismissively as he threw on a shirt.

"Better?" he asked as he sat back down.

"I never said it was bad." Eragon grinned at her and her cheeks blushed with color again. "So!" she continued, "I wasn't able to talk yesterday, sorry about that. I figured I would try you tonight. Blodgram said you wanted to talk to me about something?"

"I did," he said leaning forward in his chair. "We are coming back." Eragon let the silence hang in the air for a while, enjoying the look in her eyes. She didn't react right away. She was always calculating and holding her emotions in check… mostly. He watched as her mouth slowly formed words.

"You are coming back…" she said more to herself than to him. Her lips began to form a smile. "You are coming back. Eragon! When?"

"We leave in three days. We are working on packing up everything we need."

"And you'll be sailing back. So that will be about a week's time for you to make it to Alagaesia. And—"

"We are not sailing," Eragon cut in.

"What?"

"We are flying back."

"Eragon, are you sure?"

"We will be fine. Trust me. There are a group of islands that we can stop at along the way to give ourselves a break." She looked at him with furrowed brows. She did that when she was concerned.

"I just hope you know what you are doing," she said softly.

"Trust me. Seven days. In seven days I'll be back and you can tell me how stupid I am in person."

"Seven days? But you said you were leaving in three… You think it will take you only four days to get back?" Her lips became a thin line. "Eragon, how close are you?"

"Not that close. But like I said, you have to trust me. We will be fine."

"Fine. I trust you."

He held her gaze until she visibly relaxed. She leaned back in her seat and shook her head. "What?" Eragon asked.

"You."

"What about me?"

"You're just a pain sometimes."

"Got to keep it interesting, right?" He smiled at her and she returned the gesture.

"Don't worry, you're succeeding."

"Enough about me. How's Firnen?" Arya's eyes brightened at the name.

"Eragon, he has grown so much. He's a strong dragon, and a fierce hunter. The elves have taken to him quite well. There's a group that tries to follow him around. He has gotten especially good at evading them." Eragon hadn't seen her this relaxed, this happy in a long time. It was nice.

Eragon leaned back and yawned. "A dragon that doesn't like attention. Saphira wouldn't understand that."

"Then she'll have to show him how to accept praise and admiration properly."

"I'm not sure she knows how to do that, but she can give it a shot." Eragon rubbed his eyes, he body slowly betraying him. "Arya."

"Yes?"

He looked her in the eye, ignoring his body's plea for rest. "I can't wait to see you."

She blushed slightly but didn't look away. "And I you."

Eragon closed his eyes and focused on the afternoon sun warming his face. The salty air tickled at his hair while the drum beats of seven dragons filled the air around him. They had been flying since first light and the weather could not be any better. The sun would set soon and cast a beautiful farewell to them. Eragon rode on Saphira, leading the pack. Blodgram rode on Niriada off to Saphira's right while Fosier and Kyliel rode the youngest two dragons, Voraugh and Trissary. The other three dragons had an assortment of provisions and the rest of the dragon eggs.

Eragon had spent the last day before the trip reaching out to Roran, Orik, Nasuada, and Nar Garzhvog. He wanted to spend more time talking with each of them, or at least most of them, Nar Garzhvog wasn't much of a conversationalist, but he had to be brief instead. He told each of them that he would be arriving in a few days time with the eggs and six wild dragons. He didn't want it to be a big deal but he guessed that it was inevitable. He told each that he would make his way to Ilirea where he would stay for a few days until they were ready to move on to Vroengard. Each questioned him on how he planned to go to Vroengard when it was so deadly. He just told them to trust him.

Eragon, we will not be able to go much further without some help, Saphira said to him, snapping him out of his reverie.

"You're right. Let's hope this works." Eragon turned in his saddle to the six dragons behind him. He opened up his mind so that they could hear his thoughts.

I am going to give you all energy, he said to the dragons. It should be enough to take away your weariness and strengthen you to continue on to the islands. Is that okay?

None of the dragons objected. He took that as a good sign. Eragon quieted his thoughts and began his meditation, bringing his being within himself and to the connection of raw energy. He entered the ocean and let it pour through his body. Searching outward, he felt for each of the seven dragons and then passed the energy on to them. He was sure to control the flow as to not hurt any of them. In his mind, each dragon was a spot of light that grew brighter and brighter as he gave them energy. They all soaked it up until they seemed like miniature suns floating before him. He cut off the flow and returned to his body.

Upon opening his eyes, he wasn't sure it worked. The dragons all had their eyes closed. Did he give them too much? Then, a roar erupted from his side and Niriada let loose a massive fireball into the air. She flapped her wings down hard and flew forward in a blur. She soared up into the air causing Blodgram to hiss behind her. The other dragons followed suit, roaring and flying around in a frenzy.

"What's going on?" Eragon asked Saphira.

Eragon, the power that you gave us, its incredible.

"Is it too much?"

It won't hurt them. But they have never felt what its like to have someone give them energy. Let them enjoy it. Saphira's flaps became stronger propelling them faster and faster through the afternoon.

Soon the group was flying fast enough that Eragon had to squint to keep his eyes from drying out. At this pace, he had no idea how long it would take to reach the islands.

By first light, Eragon saw them. Little patches of green in a world of blue. They made it in one day.

Unbelievable, he thought. He looked around at the others and could see the energy had mostly worn off. They were still in decent shape but in need of a good rest.

The group touched down on a sandy beach causing a group of seagulls to scatter. Rylor, the violet colored male plucked one from the air as it past by. In almost a year's time he had only spoken to Eragon once. It was right after his second to last fight. Eragon had just defeated Niriada along the rocky side of the island. She had claimed that a change of venue would change their outcome. That notion still brought a smile to Eragon's face. The violet dragon had come up after Niriada flew off and bowed to him ever so slightly. "I am Rylor," he had said. "You fought well, Eragon." Then, the dragon flew out over the sea and left Eragon alone. He was the second dragon to hatch but the last to speak to him. Eragon guessed the dragon didn't like to commune much with others so he took it as a great sign of respect that he had told him his name.

The elves got busy unloading the provisions from the dragons while Eragon took in the island. From up above he saw that it was about a third of the size as the island they had stayed on for the past year. It was the first in a cluster of five with the first being the biggest and gradually getting smaller the farther you got. There would probably not be any big game but they may find some wild boars more inland. There was, however, a giant network of coral reefs slightly offshore. It would be teeming with fish, and that would help them get their energy back.

Eragon heard a massive splash from behind him. Turning he saw a golden dragon break the surface for a moment and then plunge back under. Avrae, the female dragon that hatched before Trissary, loved being underwater almost as much she loved being in the air. That dragon was never sitting still. A few moments later and she broke the surface with a mouth full of fish. She made her way back to the shore where she cooked the fish with a flash of flame and then swallowed them whole. Then she turned and took off.

She makes me tired just watching her, Eragon thought.

Eragon made his way to the surf, letting the cold water lap at his feet. Crystal blue water stretched out as far as he could see. Behind him, the first wild dragons the world has seen in years made themselves at home. Eragon was finally feeling like his life was coming together. No longer was he in a state of uncertainty. His path was laid out before him and he embraced it. The dragons were back and soon the riders would be too.

Eragon smiled and made his way further out into the water. He waded past the shore until he was up to his waist in the ocean. Focusing, he expanded his mind outward. The world exploded into light before him. He could feel the life around him. Hundreds upon hundreds of creatures surrounding him. Zeroing in on the bigger fish, he cast a spell. It was a death spell that killed instantly and without pain. Hundreds of fish appeared on the surface of the water, floating in the tide. Eragon felt a discomfort at ending so much life, but it needed to be done. With a casual thought the fish gravitated towards each other in a single bunch and then floated through the water back to the beach. The fish ended in a pile on the white sand as Eragon made his way back.

A few of the dragons were lounging near the tree line when Eragon got back to the shore. He glanced down at the large pile of fresh fish at his feet and then up at the dragons.

"Dinner is served," he said with a sweeping gesture. Dulvir, a burnt orange male and the third to hatch, came forward first. He towered over Eragon, eyeing up the pile of fish. He looked back at Eragon expectantly. "Oh, right."

Eragon got out of the way and Dulvir flashed the pile with a blast of flame. He then scooped of a portion of the charred fish and went back to his spot. The other dragons made their way forward to do the same.

You know, as dragons, we are the apex predator. We do not need someone to feed us, said Saphira.

"But you have also been flying non stop, so it couldn't hurt to have your food handed to you," Eragon replied. Saphira grunted as she walked up and then took a mouth full of fish. Eragon smiled. "You're welcome."

Saphira made her way to a stone outcropping that jutted out into the surf. There she laid down to soak up the last of the sun's rays. Eragon walked up to join her.

"Are you ready to get back to civilization?" He asked.

It will be nice. I am looking forward to feeling the heat of that desert on my scales again. Out here, the air is warm but wet. There, it was just an intense heat. It was as if my body burned with the sun. I miss that feeling.

"I have never understood how you can stand that weather. But I guess that makes you, you."

Indeed. Are you ready to see Arya again? Saphira looked over at him with a knowing eye.

"That obvious huh?"

Do you forget about our connection?

"No. But sometimes I like to think I have better control over my feelings."

You're wrong.

"Apparently. Well then you already know the answer to your question," Eragon said folding his arms.

I do. I just like to see how you react sometimes. Its amusing.

"Well I am glad I provide you with entertainment. What about you? You are no longer the only one of your species. There are three wild males. Any of them interesting to you?" Saphira looked at him for a moment without speaking and Eragon felt himself lean away slightly.

Nope, Saphira said casually.

"No?"

Rylor is the closest to a suitable match. He is strong and swift and his scales seem to glow in the light. But he can be a boring and predictable dragon. I challenged him and found him unsuitable.

"Wait, you challenged him?"

Yes.

"When? How?" Eragon asked now leaning forward.

Perhaps about a month ago. I hadn't noticed him in a while and then I saw him hunting. He intrigued me so I challenged him. He accepted and I won… too easily. The fire in his stomach does not match mine. So we parted ways and moved on.

Eragon's eyes were wide. "You just part ways? That's it? You fight each other and then just move on?"

Isn't that what you have been doing with the dragon's for the past six months?

"That's different. I'm training."

And I am mating. That is just how dragons court, she said through a yawn. Eragon shook his head and sat back.

"It's times like this I am glad I am not a dragon. I don't think I would survive."

You barely manage as a human. You wouldn't have made it out of your farm without me.

"That is true. But remember, there was a time when I could hold you in my hands. You were so tiny a house cat could have killed you. Instead, you had me to protect you," Eragon said will tapping her side.

If I recall correctly, you kept me outside.

"I needed to hide you from my uncle!"

I know, she said lightly. And thank you for being such a valiant provider. I would probably have been cat food if not for you.

"I am detecting a hint of sarcasm." Saphira stretched out showing off massive claws that could cut like razor blades.

No, just pointing out how helpless I am.

"Yea, that's definitely the word I would use to describe you."

Saphira put her head down and closed her eyes. Eragon laid down with his head resting on her side. His last thoughts were of the setting sun and how it seemed to pull him to the west.

Let me know your thoughts!