Another chapter done! This one is pretty intense :o As always, hope you enjoy and please don't forget to leave a review! This story is up to almost 8,000 views! I never imagined it would be quite this popular, thanks so much!

Chapter 20:

Return

Fenrir and the rest of his fellow Riders managed to get through the next few days of travel without any trouble, although they had quite a few false alarms that kept them on edge. They continued getting faster as they neared the borders of Elesmera, elated to finally be back.

They were now on their last day of travel by Valeria's estimate, and only several miles from the edge of Elven territory.

All of a sudden, they were all assaulted at once by a powerful mental attack. The intruder, or intruders, easily broke through their feeble mental defenses. The young Riders were left paralyzed as the enemy ravaged through their memories, thoughts, emotions, every aspect of their minds.

After what seemed an eternity, Fenrir and the others gasped as the mental assailant released them just as quickly as it had attacked.

A few moments later a chorus of voices whispered in unison through their minds.

"Riders! So glad to have you back safely. You must forgive our intrusion, we have been much more strict in our security measures since the attack"

Fenrir relaxed now that he knew it was only a group of Elven guards that had searched their minds. Still, he knew they would all need to work on their mental defense. If it had been an enemy mage, they would all be dead.

The trees around them shook and tossed their leaves as a wind picked up. Deafening roars crashed through the skies, and soon they could see their dragons circling overhead.

Fenrir felt a hole in himself fill as Aunyx's mind reconnected with his own once again after all this time. He could see it in the rest of the Riders' faces too, a content smile as they once again touched their other missing half.

"I do not know how you managed it, but it is good to have you back, No-Scales"

Fenrir smiled, actually joyed to hear Aunyx's voice rumble through his head. He realized that he and his dragon had been strangely distant during their early time together, very peculiar considering the close ties that most Riders and Dragons shared.

"It is good to be back at last, though I'm curious as to why we received no help from our loyal Dragons?"

"We were deemed too valuable to send out-" Aunyx snorted mentally with annoyance "-and were forced to stay within the confines of Pointed-Ears territory"

Fenrir felt Aunyx's annoyance through their emotional connection.

Now they were within the border of Elesmera, with a group of Elven guards escorting them into the city.

"This is where we leave you Riders, we must return to guard duty. I would highly recommend you hurry straight to the Queen, she will want immediate news of your return"

The Elves bowed and walked off to return to their guard post.

Fenrir grew somber as he imagined how distressed Queen Arya, their own mother, must have been during their absence.

He turned to his sister to find she shared the same emotion. Their eyes locked with understanding and they began their walk towards the Queen's Hall, knowing this would probably be an emotional event.

After an anxious walk through the city, they reached the Queen's Hall. The Royal Guards bowed and stepped aside, opening the large wooden doors to the Hall.

Their steps echoed loudly through the empty space as they made their way inside. They rounded the hallway to find the Queen staring out the large window of her throneroom, her back toward them. They stood around uncomfortably, unsure how to announce their return. A mind brushed against Fenrir's and Queen Arya tensed beneath her ornate dress. She slowly turned around, as if she was afraid of what she would find, and gave a disbelieving smile as she saw them standing there. She began to walk towards them, but apparently decided against it and took her seat in her throne.

I suppose it would not be very Queen-like to run to them and hug them. She cannot play favorite among Riders…

"Welcome back Riders, this truly is a joyous moment. In all honesty, we had begun to lose hope… Even your Dragons lost their connection to you completely…" She caught herself as she trailed off, "Where were you taken by your White Fire captors? How did you escape?"

Fenrir looked hesitantly to the others. None of them wished to describe the torture they were put through during their imprisonment. They hadnt even told each other what all had happened to them as they were kept in separate areas.

Surprisingly, it was Aerin who cleared her throat and began telling the Queen everything that had transpired during their time imprisoned by the White Fire Dominion.

Queen Arya grew visibly troubled as Aerin reached the portions of their torture. When the story reached Fenrir and Evalette's torture, the Queen stood and returned to her spot by the window, her back once again facing them. Fenrir could tell she was attempting to hide her tears. He hoped the other Riders didn't notice, but he knew they did.

It took a solid three quarters of an hour for Aerin to finish relaying the entirety of their imprisonment and escape. Queen Arya stayed staring out the window for a few moments after Aerin had finished before returning to her seat on her throne.

"Thank you Aerin. Clearly you have all been through troubles that would have broken many of even the strongest Elves. I have the utmost respect for you all and your perseverence. But alas I will not keep you any longer, I'm sure you are all exhausted. My guards will show you to your quarters, you have have more than earned a good night's rest."

Fenrir and the other Riders bowed and turned to leave, following the guards out into the city as the sun began to set over the forested horizon.

Fenrir, Evalette, you may stay if you wish, there are spare rooms within the Palace.

Fenrir and Evalette paused for a moment. They glanced at each other breifly before Evalette turned and walked back inside the Palace.

Fenrir remained where he was.

Fenrir? Would you not like to stay as well?

Fenrir stared at the ground a few seconds before continuing on his way, following the rest of the Riders to their quarters.

Arya paced her chambers. Evalette had gone straight to rest, but she remained troubled. She went to her dresser and pulled out her mirror, whispering in the ancient language and then waiting. Soon Eragon appeared in the mirror.

"Arya? What is it?"

"They have returned. Fenrir and Evalette have returned, as well as the other Riders"

"Oh, thank the gods-"

"No, Eragon, do not thank the gods, do not thank anyone! They survived and made it back because of their will alone! You had us sit idly while they tortured our children! You-"

"We cannot go crusading around Alagaesia, Arya, whether they are our children or not. I am thankful they have made it back, but we both knew it would not have been in the Elves' best interest to send out armies searching for them!"

Arya could not believe him.

"What happened to you Eragon? What has turned you into this cold, calculating general? Can you not take a moment's break from tactics and-"

"It is not by my own choice, Arya, I can promise you that. Fate has given me a role that does not allow me to make any mistakes, we are only several decades into our recovery from the War, I cannot risk anything-"

"Not even for your own flesh and blood? What if they had died out there, Eragon, would you not feel anything at all?"

Eragon looked away, a remorseful look in his eye.

"Please, do not think badly of me Arya… not you, I cannot bear that from you of all people. You must understand that my actions can no longer be those of a farmboy, or a soldier, or even a Rider. My actions must be those of the Master Rider. I have the future generations of Riders depending on my decisions, Arya, I cannot…" a single, faint tear gleamed in his eye, "I cannot have a life of my own any longer"

Arya wiped her wet eyes.

"Your own son thinks we abandoned him to their dungeons, Eragon… He has not said it, but I saw it in his eyes when he returned… his faith in others has dimmed Eragon, he has grown distant through his absence"

Eragon ran his hands through his hair, his eyes red from holding back tears.

"…Good night Arya…"

The image of Eragon's troubled face faded and shimmered away from the mirror, leaving Arya sobbing alone in her chambers. She sank to the floor in tears. She finally had her family back, and now they were being torn apart once more. As her tears slowed over time, she slowly drifted into her half-sleep, holding her knees in the middle of her floor, wishing that things could be as they once were.