That night Keeva slept well, she dreamed of a better life, a life where she didn't have to worry about Aradan's safety. A life where her sisters and mother were safe.

Keeva was awakened by Aradan's small sweet cry, she got up.

"Good morning my sweet baby boy!" She cooed at the infant, he giggled and held his arms out to his mother.

"Today's the day Aradan" she said picking up the infant.

Keeva fed him and changed his diaper, then she set him down on her bed and quickly got dressed.

She was wearing a light blue dress, the sleeves coming to just above her elbows and the neck line just below her collar bone. The hem was accented by small white flowers hand sewn by her mother. She brushed her hair and let it fall elegantly over her shoulders.

Looking in the mirror Keeva barely recognized herself.

In the months that had passed she had turned into a woman. Her freckles had faded into a clear creamy complexion, her dark hair shimmered in the sunlight streaming through the open window causing her green and gold eyes to dance.

She was not the same little girl who left that farm house a year ago.

"Has it already been so long?" Keeva whispered to herself.

She felt a pang of longing for her family but brushed it off. This was not the time to think of such things, now was the time to plan.

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in." Keeva said knowing that it was Eragon.

She turned as the door opened.

Eragon stood there staring at her mouth agape. Keeva blushed, knowing why he did so.

"You look beautiful." Eragon said, and then blushed when he realized that he had spoken out loud.

"Thank you." Keeva said. She was a woman so why did she feel like a school girl?

He was just being nice, nothing more.

But even as she tried to reason with herself, she knew better.

Aradan, apparently annoyed by the lack of attention squealed and then giggled as Eragon tickled him.

"Are you ready?" Eragon asked Keeva.

She nodded. "Eragon which way are we heading when we leave?" She asked

"We're going east, why?" Eragon answered.

"Can we ride by my family's farm? I want to make sure they are safe and if there still there I want to bring them." She said.

Eragon straightened and then nodded.

Keeva picked up a blanket that Eragon had fastened a buckle to and put it on so that she could carry Aradan.

She picked him up and put him in. He giggled and then snuggled close to his mother.

Keeva couldn't help the smile that draped her lips.

"Lets go." She said.

Eragon grabbed her saddle bag and followed her out the door.

Keeva pushed the horse as fast as she would go, she couldn't believe what she saw.

Smoke was rising where her parents farm had once stood.

Keeva reached the yard in record time.

She got off the horse and ran for the house.

It was on fire but Keeva didn't seem to notice, she reached for the door but Eragon grabbed her from behind and brought her back to the yard.

"Its too late." He said.

Keeva fought him trying to tare free, trying to save anyone who might be in the house but his grip was to strong.

"Eragon. Let. Me. Go." Keeva said turning her burning gaze on him.

Eragon winced as though the flames from the fire itself had reached grabbed him.

"Keeva anyone in that inferno is gone. You can't help anybody if your dead." Eragon tried to reason with Keeva but to no avail.

Keeva stopped struggling, hoping to make Eragon lesson his grip.

It worked, Keeva tore free and broke into a run.

She again raced for the front door.

She reached for the door handle and before Eragon could stop her, she grabbed it and yanked it open.

Ignoring the pain in her hand, she called for her family. No one answered.

She could hear Aradan screaming outside, Keeva stopped, thinking about what she should do.

"Abba, help!" Keeva cried out.

Suddenly she heard creaking and part of the house caved in.

Keeva screamed and backed up a step.

She could hear Eragon and Arya calling her, but she ignored them.

She looked around at what remained of her home and saw no sign of life or of her family.

Keeva turned and walked towards the door, coughing as the smoke tried to strangle her.

Just before she reached it she tripped over a fallen ceiling beam and fell hard.

"Lord help." Keeva prayed before succumbing to the sweet darkness surrounding her.