disclaimer: i do not own inheritance cycle.

We landed in a little clearing somewhere in the forest. I have no clue as to how they found in the endless stretch of verdant called Du Weldenvarden. All I saw were about three diffrent shades of green. Still, it was beautiful in it's own, fierce and wild way. The clearing smelled of wet earth and undergrowth.

"We must contact the elves." Eragon said stiffly. I froze. The elves? "Yes, the elves. We must get word to them about, about some things of great importance." He looked away.

Some things of importance? Shruikan, do you know anything about this? Is this what you talk about when I'm not here?

You noticed?

Uh, YEAH I NOTICED! I knew you were keeping something from me, but not plotting my downfall! I screamed mentally.

We aren't plotting your downfall!

How is turning me in to the elves not my downfall? I want to stay hidden. In the dark. No one may know about me. Galbatorix is hunting me. I thought. If I were speaking I would have whispered. Surely a news of a new Rider would leak out and father would track me down. I started pacing.

"Can I help you?" Eragon asked me. Concern shone in his eyes. "It's nothing. I just, I need, I mean, can I talk to you in private?" My gaze shifted to the dragons. Worry creased his brow.

"Don't worry, it's nothing too serious." He nodded but didn't take his eyes off me. I strode into the trees. Eragon followed close behind.

"What is it?" he whispered.

"Are you going to tell the elves about me?" I went straight to the point.

"I feel a duty to report to them. Arya has saved my skin more times than once." He eyed my dagger. So it was debt.

"Alright. As long as the Empire doesn't know a thing about me. I don't exist. For now." I glared at him. He sighed. He knew what I wanted at the moment.

"I can't swear on Saphira. And I don't have anything else to swear it on." "Then just swear it on your honor. Or on that mark on your hand. What harm can it do?" He just shrugged.

"Alright. Do we do it here?"

"I hope you're happy. If anything goes wrong I will pay with my life now. You know that?" Eragon growled at me.

I was smiling. The ceremony had gone quite well if you ask me. But then again, who would ask me? Now I knew he wouldn't babble about me to anyone else. Or rather, he couldn't. I picked just the right words in the ancient language so he couldn't get out of it until both of us die. Which won't be happening for quite a while. I was confident that my identity would stay hidden now. Even when he's drunk.

We walked into camp. Actually, I practically danced into camp and he dragged his feet.

What did you do to him princess?

What do you mean 'what did you do to him'? I didn't do anything!

Really? Then why is he glaring at you like you have killed the love of his life?

I turned my attention to Eragon. He looked like he wanted to murder me. He probally was considering if he should. The odds were against me. I turned back to Shruikan.

Yup. He really wants to murder me. But I didn't kill anyone... yet.

Then why is he glaring at you?

'Cause I did something worse than murder; I made him take a vow.

Shurikan looked at me. Then at Eragon. Then back at me. He raised his tail.

I no longer understand human hatchlings these days.

a/n: I know my chapters are really short but thats about the length of my attention span. this one took me about 2 or 3 days to write. so don't tell me my chapters are too short!!!