Roran

Roran had never wanted anything so much as to be back with the Varden, and more over, Katrina. His mind was on her every second of the

day. Especially since Nasuada had contacted his group to tell him that she was to give birth any day. So he had decided to get the raid over

with so that he could return in time for the birth of their child. The child was the secondary thing on his mind. I am going to be a father. The

thought so ushered that when Katrina had first told him he had not believed her. I wonder what we will name the child. Will it be a boy or girl? I

think I'd like a boy better. Then a voice said beside him, "Roran. We're near only a mile away from the supply train and you're day dreaming." On

a horse trotting several feet away sat Carn. Roran smiled. "Well that won't do, will it?" Roran had been waiting to talk to Carn ever since then

set off from the main body of the Varden. "Carn how was it that you first learned to use magic?" Carn seemed surprised by the sudden change

in subject. "Well, my father learned the art when I was about 13, and he taught me to use it." Roran nodded. That was how most magicians

were taught to use their art. "Is how you learned to use magic any different then how a Rider would be taught?" He had not expected that

Carn would know how a Rider was taught, but he figured he may as well try. Because of that he didn't think that Carn would react like he did.

"Of course it isn't. Riders are given their magical abilities from being linked with a dragon. My type of magic is different. I can barely get to the

flow of magic but I can get to it." Eragon had not mentioned that during their talk before they raided Helgrind. "Then how do you get this

magical ability if you aren't a Rider?" Carn's face lit up. "I take it you wish to learn the art?" Roran nodded. "I do, but there are certain parts that

I don't want."

Carn thought for a moment. "Well then I'd be glad to teach you, if you want. I can, you know." Roran was delighted that he finally found

someone who could teach him magic. "Please do." Carn looked into the distance. I'll start teaching you as soon as we are done with this work."

He pointed his finger. Ninety some yards away there was a long line that was around 100 feet long. "There's the supply train. Tell everyone to

move in. They know what there supposed to do." Carn turned around and shouted for everyone in their 170 force to attack. Like a surge of

lightning the small army shot forward. Arrows shot over head, both coming and going to the supply train. Roran and Carn stayed in place. Roran

shouted at the top of his lungs, orders to what the men should do. The attack was over in less then a half an hour. Will they were picking out

their dead, one of the Varden stumbled up to Roran, blood trickling from the man's head. "Help me, Roran." He did not think but looked at Carn

and said, "Help this man, now." Carn jumped down and walked to the man. He looked up at Roran. "Watch this. It will be good for you when

you learn magic. Pay attention to the words I say." Then he started to speak in the ancient language. It was around twenty seconds before

then man's head sealed up. Carn's face was pale from the effort. The man walked away to help in the finding, categorizing, and burning of the

supplies. Carn got back onto his horse and started to eat a loaf of bread. "You see now why I am so hesitant to use magic. Simply put, magic

costs as much energy as it would take to do on your own. So if you try and heal someone it will take as much energy as it would take for the

wound to heal by itself." When they were down listing the items, they pilled the bodies of the men, put them onto a pier, and set it ablaze.

They cut the throats of the oxen, and started home. For two and a half hours Carn explained the powers and disadvantage that any magic user

had. What magic could do and what you should never do. First he asked what Roran knew of magic and then filled in where he was ignorant.

That night he found out why the rock he had tried to lift would not budge. "Carn said I have to get into the flow of magic, and that he could feel

the magic in my head, but I had to find it first." Then he reached into his mind, searching for anything that he could think of as magic. Nothing

came to him. Frustrated his mind began to wonder. It was at that point that he felt a bump that he had always felt inside his mind, like a hidden

room that he didn't feel the need to enter. Excited he picked up a loose stone from the ground, put it onto his hand, and delved into the bump.

It was hard. The bump was stubborn and it took almost five minutes before Roran felt it begin to weaken. He pushed into it with all his

concentration, and like a flood of warm light he burst. "Stenr risa." Like a spirit the stone lifted off his hand. It was not in the air for long. After

about ten seconds his strength failed. The stone fell onto his hand. Once he called Carn and told him of his success there was so much

congratulating that he felt the sudden desire to tell Eragon of his success. And so he had another spell caster with them scry him. He did it on a

small mirror so that he could talk to Eragon in private as he asked. It was a few moments before Eragon's face appeared on the mirror. He

seemed surprised it was Roran. "Roran it's so good to see you. Where are you?" Roran smiled. Save for Katrina, Eragon was his only family.

"I'm returning from another raid on the Empire's supply train." Wishing to make a favorable impression on Eragon he picked on a rock and

looked at it. Eragon watched from wherever he was. "Stenr risa." The rock again lifted from his hand. Astonishment crossed Eragon's face and

then a more pleased face came to him. "You did it then?" Roran nodded and the laughed. "I did it then." Eragon laughed too. "Did you do it with

my advice or someone else's?" Roran smiled. "I did it with someone else's. You failed you to mention that I had at get to the magic before I

could use it." Eragon grew sober. "Roran there's something I need to tell you. Is anyone else in the room?"

Roran looked around. "No. What is it you need to tell me?" Eragon's face looked around the room he was in. Then he leaned towards the mirror

and said, "Arya is pregnant." Roran sat there for a moment and then started to laugh harder then could ever remember laughing. His mirth

subsiding he said, "Ah, good one, Eragon. You really had me going there for a minute." Anger crossed Eragon face. "I promise you Roran, I am

not lying." Roran's face turned red. "Ah, so you expect me to believe you're the father?" Eragon nodded. "All right Eragon. When did this

happen?" Eragon's face told Roran he was less angry then before. "We did it around a week ago. Roran I need you're advice. What should I do

now?" Roran shrugged. "You did you're part a week ago. What else can you do? So when is she to give birth?" Eragon looked at him angrily for

a moment then said, "Around three weeks." Roran sat up in surprise. "I thought you said you did it a week ago." Eragon nodded. "We did.

Elves give birth to their children at faster paces the humans. When will Katrina give birth?" Roran felt worry begin in his chest, as it did

whenever he heard her name. "Any day now, and it has me worried." Eragon's face looked confused. "Why is that?" Roran let out a long sigh.

"Simply, I'm not there for it. I'm leading my forces back to the Varden as fast as I can, but I'm afraid that we won't make it in time." Eragon

looked amused. "So I'm with the women that will have my child and I'm worried, and you're not with that woman and you're worried." Roran

clenched his hands. "This isn't funny, Eragon." Eragon nodded his head, but amusement still was on his face. "I know, I know. It just seems like

it. Look, no matter if Katrina gives birth or not, you can not affect the speed that you are going. So don't let it bother you." Roran still felt

worried. "Alright I'll try." And with that the spell ended, and Roran found that he was starring at himself. Tired he went to his cot and went to

sleep. He missed Katrina and how she would want him to hug her as they slept. Then a name came to him. Gerand. And then he fell asleep.