Hey guys I'm sorry the chapters have been so uber short I'll make this one really long. Also, if you have friends who like the series, tell them about this story too. I'm changing the title and description. Also REVIEW I really need reviews. Criticism or things you like. Thanks.

Chapter 3:

Suspicions

Saphira, I just can't help but think she's hiding something from us. I don't know what it is but I know it's something important.

I feel that as well. I think we should let her be, because when the time comes and she trusts us, she will tell us.

That is true. We should give her time. Would you like to go flying?

You know I always do, little one. Eragon ran inside and came out a second later.He equipped her with the saddle Oromis and Glaedr had given them. The saddle, the remnants of the faelnirv, his copied and refined poem that Eragon had written for the Blood-Oath Celebration, and Glaedr's heart of hearts were all that they had to remember them by.

Eragon leaped onto Saphira, and dropped into the saddle. He hooked his legs into the loops and grabbed onto the neck spike in front of him.

I'm ready Saphira.

Hold on! She pushed off the ground and bounded into the air. Eragon's hair whipped back past his face and started billowing behind him. The cold air bit at his cheeks and ears. They circled and made a lap around the Varden. They flew over all of the Varden's tents and gained altitude. Saphira went higher and out over the small battlements. Belatona was in the distance and other small villages lined the horizon. They flew all over the sky, claiming it as their territory. They were the masters of the sky, dragon and Rider, partners and friends. Saphira swooped across the sky executing fantastic maneuvers.

She only stopped to get a quick drink of water and they leaped back into the sky with renewed vigor. Eragon held on tighter and tighter enjoying Saphira's presence and the fresh air. They talked endlessly sharing every one of their thoughts and feelings with each other. She pointed upwards, intending to fly towards the sky. She flew higher and higher and the air got thinner and thinner until they could barely breathe. He had already performed the spell that deflected the cold air. It was extremely frigid and Saphira's flapping became labored. Eragon's vision became blurred and red lights appeared before his eyes. The sides of his eyes were black so that it looked as if they were in a tunnel. He felt faint and tried yelling out to Saphira.

Saphira! Go back! I ca-

But he couldn't finish. Through their connection Saphira knew that he had passed out from lack of air. Eragon! She felt him fall limp against her back and start to slide. She stopped and darted downwards, gathering speed with every moment. She was a hundred feet above the clouds when Eragon fell off the saddle. She saw him spiraling towards the Earth, so she closed her wings against her body and dove for him. She didn't want to try and make him drop onto her back for fear he might be impaled by one of her neck spikes. She had time but she wasn't sure if she could get him before he crashed into the ground. With that thought she sped up and dove faster than ever. They were two-thousand feet up…one-thousand…five-hundred…he was a hundred feet from the ground when his eyes flew open. She caught him in her talons just fifty feet above the ground. Once he came to his senses and could receive and understand her messages she said something to him.

We are never going that high again. You almost died today.

I know…I saw a flash of light and then…nothing.

That is very strange.

Yeah….They dropped down into camp and went to lunch. Eragon ate more than usual. He even scarfed down the leg of a rabbit. He ate berries and vegetables and drank many quarts of mead. Saphira didn't eat on account of her meal from the day before.

I feel so empty. I've never felt so hungry before.

Do you think it has anything to do with the light or…?

Or what?

No it is a silly notion.

Tell me.

What if it has something to do with the Menoa Tree?

What do you mean?

Remember when you asked for the brightsteel, and when she never took anything, and you felt that strange tickle in the pit of your belly?

Yeah I do remember that. But what did she take?

I know not. For the remainder of his meal he thought about what the tree could have done to his body. When he was finished they went back to Eragon's tent. Eragon practiced the third level of the Rimgar while Saphira practiced fantastical acrobatics throughout the sky. After an hour Eragon put his tunic back on and got his sword from his tent.

Saphira, I'm going to the training field, would you like to come?

Of course. Maybe I'll have more room to fly there instead of having these feathery birds pestering me. Eragon laughed and once he was done he went to the training field. Saphira had followed him while still performing her aerial tricks. It was in the middle of the camp but it took him a good five minutes to get there.

When Eragon got there he looked around for the best warrior. Instead of finding a swordsman he saw Arya. He decided he would challenge her. He walked towards her and stopped when he was but three feet away.

"Hello Arya would you like to spar with me?" She quit what she was doing and looked up at him with her green eyes.

"Yes, Shadeslayer, I would." She pulled out her sword and Eragon his. He then realized that his was an indestructible work of art while Arya's was a perfectly breakable weapon. He asked her about it.

"Arya…won't your sword be shattered by mine?"

"No, it will not, because every sword made by Rhunon was worked together by some type of spell. I managed to get mine crafted a year before she made her vow."

"Oh." So they both shielded their swords with a spell and then stepped back to face each other. They stared intently at each other, swords raised. Like a flash of light, Eragon lunged toward her and brought his sword down. At the last second he tilted it towards her right arm. She deflected it with just inches to spare. They both flew backwards and regained their footing. This time Arya leaped forward. She tried to hit his leg but failed when he easily parried the blow. He smiled at her and they continued fighting. They sparred for a few hours until were both panting and they had sweat running down their faces.

"You have gotten better."

"You too." As they sheathed their swords Eragon had a sudden urge to run up and kiss Arya. He tried to fight it but it was overpowering. She walked closer to him intending to have a conversation and walk back to her tent. He stood there horrified as his hands raised of their own accord.

No. No. NO! His hands were inches from her vision when they dropped. He lifted them up and turned them over, as if they were the hands of a murderer. He sighed with relief and then thought, is this what the Menoa Tree has done to me? She looked at him strangely and tilted her head sideways.

"Are you alright Eragon?" She queried, "You seem to be acting strangely."

"I feel fine."

"Okay." They walked to her tent while having a fun and exciting conversation, the best Eragon had ever had with her. Then, as they were walking, something totally unexpected happened. Something that Eragon thought would never occur, even if he was 60 years older and Galbatorix died on the spot.

"Eragon, would you like to come to dinner and talk more?" He was totally caught off-guard by the question, his mouth gaped open for a moment and his eyes got big, but he pulled himself together before she noticed.

"Of course I would."

"I will meet you at the dining hall at dusk." She waved goodbye and disappeared into her tent. He felt elated and out of his happiness, jumped into the air, letting out a whoop of joy. He ran back to his tent, all the way yelling and jumping higher than he thought possible. He punched the air fiercely and Saphira landed by his tent, bewildered.

What has you so happy, little one? She queried.

I'm going to dinner with Arya!

I told you to be careful, lest you get hurt yet again.

No, it is her who asked me!

That caught her by surprise, and after the initial blast of wonder she said, Congratulations. Later, Eragon donned his best tunic and leggings, put on the belt of Beloth the Wise, and hooked Brisingr to it. He opened the flap to his tent and said to Saphira, would you like to come?

No, you may have your fun with Arya; I must sleep and maybe find a snack beforehand. With a new spring in his step, he travelled towards the dining hall. Standing by the flap to the tent was Arya, dressed in a very nice, cream-colored tunic. She also wore green leggings with silver stripes and baggy bottoms that hung wider than the rest of the garment to almost totally envelop her feet. She had her bow and quiver and her hair was worn down, it flowed over her quiver caressing the feathers of her arrows and the lip of the bow. It ran over her shoulders, rippling, waving, and bouncing in a beautiful raven-colored mane. Eragon walked towards the flap of the tent, intending to go in but Arya stopped him.

"I wanted you to meet me here; I have prepared the dinner somewhere else."

"Oh, alright let's go then." They started off, with Arya slightly ahead to show him where to go. After a few minutes they arrived at a small gray tent that was being illuminated from the inside by an unknown source. As they walked in Eragon gasped. There was a round ornate table situated in the middle of the tent and two intricately carved wooden chairs. There were three candles on the table and many others flickering throughout the space. Fruits and vegetables were artistically placed on two plates and two goblets of what Eragon guessed was wine sat at the top of each plate.

"It's-it's…it's beautiful." Eragon managed to say.

"I'm happy you like it." Arya seated herself at the far chair while Eragon sat down on the one closer to him.

"Why did you want me to come?" Eragon asked, looking around like there was a feast fit for a king lying before him.

"To talk," she paused, "And because I need to tell you something."

"Oh? And what could that be?"

"I-,"

I hope you liked this chapter. It turned out longer than I thought but the longer the better. And REVIEW! I can't believe the people who read stories and don't review. It's annoying. Thanks for reading and I'll update as soon as I can!