A/N: Alright. Chappie Seven. Twenty-five years after Chappie Six. Got it? Good. Now, the usual...:

DISCLAIMERS: I. Am. Not. Christopher. Paolini. This wouldn't be a fanfic if I were. As such, I do not own the following; Murtagh, Thorn, Bid'daum, Eragon, Eragon, Saphira, Nasuada, Arya, Fìrnen, Gleadr (Eldunarí), Umaroth (Eldunarí), Blödgrham, Trianna, etc. etc.

CLAIMERS: I, FalconFate, claim rights to the following; Raven, Shadefire, Medea, Tempest, Storm, Maelstrom, Glaedr (dragon), Rose, Aiedail, etc. etc., many of whom won't even be in this chapter.

Secrets of Life

Chapter Seven

Drums of a Dragon's War

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

Murtagh glanced at the young woman, Raven, who had been his sister-in-arms since he had come North, and smirked humorlessly. "If I don't go now, then I never will. I..." he paused. "I need to know what has happened, both with my brother and... Well..."

She smiled in understanding, then glanced at Shadefire. "Well, I hope you won't mind company. Shadefire has been... Moping, recently, ever since she learned you were leaving, until I suggested that we accompany you." Her words were slightly hesitant, as if she expected him to refuse, but he just grinned, and Thorn seemed to visibly perk up.

"I think we would be glad of the company. And besides, I think Thorn will want to be there when they hatch," he said, nodding at the bulky saddlebags that Shadefire kept with her at all times. Raven laughed, then went to get what they would need.

An hour later, they were in the air, and two wolves were racing along below them. When Raven had said they were leaving, Maelstrom and his sister, Storm, refused to be left behind, and were now keeping pace with the large dragons on the ground.

The day passed slowly, and the two Riders amused themselves with jokes, stories, and small pieces of magic, until the sun started to sink below the horizon. Then, they turned to the ground, and found a large clearing where they could shelter for the night. While the dragons went out hunting, their two Riders sparred in the clearing, their blades whirring black and red blurs, reflecting the firelight, and almost every time, the black blades stopped an inch from Murtagh's throat, though once he managed to duck down and 'stab' Raven from behind. When the dragons returned, they had a quick meal before settling under their appointed dragon's wings to sleep.

Several weeks passed by this way, and Murtagh grew more and more nervous. He could feel Thorn was also becoming restless underneath him, and they both got more jumpy. Finally, after five weeks of flying, they came to the topmost mountain of the Spine.

As they got closer, Shadefire suddenly snorted in alarm. Dragon, up ahead. Flying around the mountain. Murtagh looked, and then saw a small, winged speck, winging around the peak. This is it, he told himself. This is where we'll either get chased out with torches and pitchforks, or welcomed... Maybe not with open arms.

Can you see what color it is? he asked the dragons.

Gold, they replied.

"Great," he muttered. Suddenly, he felt another conscience brush against his mind, and he instantly threw up his mental shield. But not before he felt shock and surprise radiating from the intruder. He felt a mental touch again, and this time, a voice.

Murtagh?

It was so familiar, and so sweet, he nearly fell off Thorn in surprise. Nasuada?

Murtagh! It is you! Who are your companions?

He looked at Raven, and she nodded at him to go ahead. These are... Friends of mine. Shadefire and her Rider, Raven. And who is yours?

Glaedr. He chose his name in honor of Glaedr-Elda.

He paused a moment, before saying, It is a good name. He could feel a bit of relief at his answer, then added, May we land, Nasuada?

Of course. Come, I am almost finished patrolling anyway. There is a guard tower where you may land. At the moment, I am the only one out here, but there should be another dragon and Rider coming to take their shift.

He nodded to himself, knowing that Raven probably had a plan already.

About an hour later, they had swooped back around the peak, and were met with a huge tower, able to hold six dragons of Shadefire's current size. Glaedr and Nasuada landed on the roof with practiced ease, and the larger dragons followed, folding their wings. As Murtagh dismounted, he saw Nasuada doing the same, but Raven opted to stay in the saddle, fiddling with a few straps on the saddlebags.

When his feet hit the marble tiles, he was immediately met with a huge embrace, strong enough to knock the wind out of him.

You came back. After so many years, you actually came back.

Of course, he murmured, holding the other closer to him. I never had the intention to leave forever. Thorn wouldn't have let me, and I have a feeling you wouldn't either.

Nasuada sighed, then leaned back from his embrace, before leaning in slightly and kissing him on the cheek. "If you had stayed away much longer, I may have gone insane. Now, why don't you introduce me to your friends, properly?"

Raven chose that moment to dismount, and Shadefire to snort a small burst of silver fire. I am glad you have not forgotten us, the black dragoness intoned, her emerald eyes glittering. Nasuada smiled, before reaching out a hand to the dragon's Rider.

Raven accepted, saying, "It is a pleasure, to say the least, to finally meet the source of our friend's bemoaning over the past several years. I am Raven, and this," she gestured to the onyx dragoness, "is Shadefire, though many have called her the Silverheart."

Nasuada smiled again, before saying, "The pleasure is our own, Raven. I believe you know my own name, Nasuada, and my companion is Glaedr. We welcome you to Alagaësia, and hope that you all wish to stay. It has been... Uneventful, without you, Murtagh," she said, glancing at the red Rider. He smiled slightly and shook his head.

"Do you have a place we could stay the night?"

"Of course," she said easily, "Though, the others I mentioned should be here shortly, and then my shift as guard will be over. I was planning on flying back to Carvahall, where we have set up a 'Rider's Post,' you could call it. Would you rather stay here or there?"

"Hmm." Murtagh contemplated his options. On the one hand, going into the village might mean a little more comfort. But...

"Does my cousin still live there?"

Nasuada's eyes flashed in understanding, and she nodded. Murtagh thought a minute, then said, "I think I would prefer to stay here tonight, though Raven may do as she wishes."

The other raised an eyebrow. "We'll stay. On the condition you don't continue to talk about me like I'm not here." Shadefire snorted in agreement. Murtagh barely held in a sigh of relief, before seeing the expression on Nasuada's features. It was a frown, faint and barely perceptible, but still a frown.
"You wouldn't mind, would you Nasuada?"

She started, before shaking her head. "No, it's no trouble. No trouble at all,"

A/N: Were you expecting that? Didn't think so! I took this last little twist in the plot from a certain series that I love, (no copyright intended). If you can tell what the series is, and are also eagerly awaiting the twelfth installment, PM me so we can wait together! And if you can already tell what Nasuada is feeling right now, *shudders* it's about to get REALLY heated. For you see, Murtagh doesn't know he- I'll stop now. *evil cackle* You will have to see for yourself...

Falcon