Here comes the third chapter! Disclaimer: All events used in this story are my own, earlier events found in the books are used to keep the story as close to accurate as possible. I do not claim credit for the works of Paolini and there fore can only say that present events in my story are m own. Character, places, and prior events in the books are entirely the work of Christopher Paolini. Now that thats out of the way... on with the Story! Enjoy and R&R!

Chapter 3

Saphira stirred slowly in the early hours of the morning. The soft light of the newly risen sun glittered magnificently off of the dew that hung of the leaves and grass of the surrounding area. It looked very much like a field of gemstones inlaid in a cloth of richest velvet. Her head was swimming in pain. She knew not what the cause of it was but as her senses speed back to her from the realm of sleeping, flashes of the previous night began filtering into her mind. She remembered vague things like something out of half remembered dreams but in this case it was a nightmare. The images upset her greatly as they depicted Eragon screaming at her in a furious rage born along by some unknown source. She was certain that it had nothing to do with her but why then had he said those things to her? She surveyed her surroundings more carefully and came to realize to her shock that she was lying next to the house in which She and Eragon had stayed during their last visit to Du Weldenvarden. She was in Ellesméra with no clear memory of having got there. The events of the previous night swirled through her mind like a fog of grayest mist, impenetrable, unyielding, and unattainable. Flashes of her memories came to her for brief periods of times and all of them made no sense to her whatsoever.

It was all so confused. Screaming, sorrow, anger and rage born from a source unknown that tore at her with vicious ferocity. Her own memories had become a monster that terrified her, a monster she couldn't escape from as it filled her mind with thoughts of sorrow, of such pain that she wished for death so that the pain would end. Eragon's furious insults that he had thrown at her with no remorse or feelings cut at her more than physical pain. It was an emotional pain that stretched further into her being than any alive could possibly fathom. She couldn't escape her pain but her memories held more than just pain. They also held a mystery as the memory of the silver dragon swam into her mind. It was remarkable how those memories of great pain and turmoil were deadened in intensity at the thought of this dragon. He had appeared to her to be of considerable strength and complexity but at the same time of such familiarity that she felt as if she had already met him. The dragon was an inexorable part of her memories. No matter what she did her focus always returned to him. It was as though he held some great importance, an aura of greatness that couldn't be explained. In the stillness of the early morning, her breathing seemed to her to be louder than normal. She wondered what was causing her breath to quicken, her mind to wander and her her heart to lift as she thought of the silver dragon.

She didn't notice the sounds of footsteps as someone approached her from behind the trees. 'Ah, I see that your finally awake, you've been sleeping like a rock since we got you here.' It was Angela who had spoken, she looked grim and solemn but was trying her best to be her cheerful, odd self. Saphira was gladdened to see her, she had many things that she wanted to ask. The reason she chose to ask Angela was because as eccentric as she was, she almost always spoke with a measure of sense. 'Angela, Where is Eragon?' Angela's face soured in such a way that Saphira felt sure that this couldn't be the same Angela she knew. Angela's face clearly reflected anger of such a degree that Saphira could only define it as loathing. Angela looked towards a gnarled, twisted tree in the middle of the city, next to the throne building, one that Saphira had never noticed before, one that she was sure had never been there before. Saphira stood to exam the building more closely as Angela spoke, 'That 'man' is over there, in that prison tree that the elves put up shortly after you arrived. Eragon's actions towards you three days ago were inexcusable.' Saphira was slightly surprised that she had been out for three days and wanted very much to see her rider again, despite what he had done.

She still couldn't work out what had caused his brief moment of insanity but she was certain that it had nothing to do with her. Angela looked back at Saphira and asked, 'Are you alright? I suspect that his action wounded you deeper than a simple tongue lashing.' Saphira looked back at Angela and spoke in her new female voice, 'At first it did but now I am beginning to suspect that his action was not his own. No matter how angry Eragon became I could always contact his mind. This time was different.' Angela looked at Saphira quizzically, she was so sure that Saphira was still angry at Eragon or at the very least to be exhibiting any sign of pain from his words but somehow she was nothing more than curious. Angela asked in a confused way, 'Saphira, are you saying that you still feel something for him? I half expected you to want to beat the living daylights out of him.' Saphira snorted in amusement, she didn't want to hurt Eragon but she was curious as to what had happened to him. Saphira had never once been unable to contact him, no matter how angry he was. At the moment his rage had peaked it was as though noting but rage and hate existed where Eragon was. It was as if he had ceased to be and the feelings had filled the void where he used to be. She ran this idea by Angela and to her relieve she looked thoughtful instead of skeptical. Solembum walked around Angela's legs and looked up at Saphira. He was sporting an evil grin on his face as he contacted Saphira's mind, 'You know, I believe I overheard the elves discussing means in which to separate you and Eragon permanently. I think they want to execute him for what he did.'

Angela looked around in alarm at Solembum who sat there as if he had done nothing wrong at all. He simply smiled at Saphira, whose mind was emitting nothing but shock. The elves never executed prisoners as far as she knew. Most certainly they would have done so to Galbatorix but his case was an exceptional one. The mere fact that Solembum suspected that they were considering it was frightening to her. Angela tried to shoo Solembum away, even going as far as to aim a kick at him. Being that he didn't move at all Angela continued her interrupted conversation with Saphira. 'So, you think that Eragon wasn't acting of his own accord? I'm not saying that I doubt you but your feelings might be trying to make things better.' Angela looked hopeful at Saphira who was staring at the prison tree, deep in thought. It was true that her feelings about Eragon might be inhibiting her judgment but she was so sure that what had happened had been completely beyond his control. Any power that could remove him from his body and replace it with a spirit of pure hate was truly a power worth worrying over. Saphira couldn't feel Eragon's presence. The tree must have been made to block their link.

Angela tried to get her attention with little success and eventually gave up and left her with her thoughts. Angela was curious about the nature of what Saphira had said. It was possible that a Shade, or other such creature of great magical power, could suppress Eragon's mind so deeply that Saphira couldn't contact him. If that were the case then where was the creature now? Saphira walked slowly over to the prison tree. Deep in her heart she felt a longing that she couldn't explain. It was almost like mourning a dead loved one in comparison but she knew full well that he was alive. The thought did not comfort her though. She wanted to see him again, to be with him again. She even thought longingly of the times that they had shared on the field of battle. Never had she ever felt so lonely, even though they stood feet from each other, the emptiness in her spirit where he should have been was maddening. She was so absorbed in her feelings and thoughts that she didn't notice Arya and her mother Islanzadi approaching from the throne room. It wasn't until they were less than three feet away that she sensed their presence. Her mind was so preoccupied that she didn't acknowledge them when they stood in front of her. It wasn't until Arya contacted her mind that she finally spoke, 'Arya, Islanzadi, what is it that you need of me?' Islanzadi didn't mind Saphira's lack of manners at the moment, she was probably in a great deal of shock at her Rider's actions. Saphira looked back towards the prison tree as Arya began to speak, 'Saphira, we would like you to understand our decision.' Saphira looked quickly back at Arya with a slight tinge of alarm.

What did Arya mean by 'our decision'? What was it that she and her mother had planned on doing. Arya continued to speak when Saphira said nothing to this statement, 'Saphira. My mother and I believe that the Rider bond between you and Eragon needs to be severed. Its the only punishment that we could find that would work.' Saphira was highly alarmed at Arya's words. To her the severing of her bond with Eragon was nothing short of death itself. She couldn't even begin to think what she'd do if he were to die. But something didn't make sense. If the bond was severed then she was most likely going to die but from what she could tell of Arya's plan, it seemed that she would live, but to what purpose? Saphira took a deep breath before asking, 'It seems like you expect me to live through such a thing. If you want to punish him with death then simply kill us.' Islanzadi shook her head, 'No Saphira, we need you to live. You have to restart the dragon race and the Riders. Only you can do that.' Saphira was enraged by these words and both Arya and her mother felt it. 'Is this all I am good for?!' raged Saphira as her eyes narrowed in fury. Did they honestly think that she would mate with whatever dragon they chose for her after they had severed Eragon's spirit from her. Such a thing was beyond believe. 'Saphira you must understand that your destiny and duty has always been to the Riders. Our plan was to get you to hatch, raise you, then free the other male dragon and find one that would be a suitable mate for you.' Islanzadi's words only served to enrage Saphira more. Fire billowed out of the corner of her maw as she sneered, 'You are truly ignorant if you presume that I am nothing more than a dog to be breed for more of my kind.'

Saphira headed over to the prison tree. She wanted nothing more than to see her rider again and if that meant tearing the prison tree apart then she would do it. Arya sped after her in an attempt to reason with her but Saphira would not listen to her words. The indignity of intentionally been trained by the elves for the express purpose of staying alive long enough to breed was repugnant. When she had reached the base of the tree she placed her claws against it, to prepare herself to what she was about to do. Arya realized quickly what she had planned uttered a curse as she tried to pull Saphira away with magic. Saphira was either so large that the spell didn't work or her instinctive magic had put up a ward against anything that would stop her. With a mighty bellow she dug her claws into the tree and began ripping furiously at it. Pieces of the gnarled wood flew in every direction as Saphira tore viciously at it. But what she hadn't expected was for the tree to come to life. As she tore another root out of the ground, a branch lashed out and wrapped around her neck, tightening quickly constricting her airways. Saphira gagged as another branch lashed out across her face. Her will to save Eragon was so strong that her instincts aided her again. As her mind began fogging her magic spread out from her and the branch turned to dust. She gasped for air as she continued to tear at the tree. After five furious minutes of battle with the tree, she felt her claws sink into a hollow spot.

With a supreme effort she ripped out this strongest bit of the tree and it soon fell motionless, as if she had ripped out its heart. Inside the tree, illuminated by the light of the newly risen sun, lay her Rider. Eragon looked starved, as if her hadn't eaten for the three days since they had arrived in Ellesméra. Why would the elves have not fed him? Granted, his actions three days ago were evil but the elves never did something this dark. While standing on her hind legs she reached in and slowly lifted him out. His body seemed limp as if no life was in him but she could feel the faint spark of life burning inside him. She placed him gently on the ground. Arya walked slowly over to her. She didn't want to talk to her at all. In her mind nothing was more real than Eragon. He needed food, water, and rest. Saphira lifted him gently and walked off slowly towards the tree houses.

Arya was confused, Eragon's actions towards Saphira had been cruel so why then had she forgiven him so quickly. She probably needed more information on what had happened between them but for the moment she understood one thing. Saphira needed time alone with Eragon before she approached her with her mothers' plan. The Rider's were needed and surely Saphira saw this and if she didn't cooperate...She didn't know what she'd do.

I hope I did okay. Please R&R to let me know how I did, Your review, good or bad, only serve to make my writings improve.