Amidst fire and smoke

Arya slid from Firnen's back, landing on rough terrain and gazed around her in horror. Everything around her was on fire, people were screaming, children were clinging to their mother's busts, men were covered in blood and dark liquid smoke was rising from their wounds. Above what used to be the city of BullRidge, dragons and shadow wyrms were flying and growling, clawing at each other, trying to gain advantage and then retreating only to attack again seconds later.

A dark, hooded figure stood in the distance although she could not discern the race in which it belonged.

"Drottingu" it whispered and Arya could tell that it was looking at her, even though it had its back at her and its head was covered by a dark hood.

The very first thought springing into her mind was that the creature opposite her was a Ra'zac, but she quickly dismissed this as she looked more closely at it, noticing details that she had missed only seconds ago. Ra'zacs had a slithery ring to their tone of voice, preferring to hiss most of the words when speaking, whereas the creature opposite her had an almost noble ring to it. Ra'zacs were also known for their slightly crooked backs whereas the creature across her was humanoid and stood tall and proud as it took its first few steps towards her.

Firnen walked closer to her and growled at the stranger.

Be careful, Arya. I do not trust this creature of the dark, her dragon whispered and showed the stranger the wide array of sharp canines he bore.

The creature opposite her, crossed its arms together, its fingers sliding against each other in fluid motions and then it laughed, once.

Arya felt the hairs on her arms rising and her heart beat increased. She was not afraid, she would not be afraid, but she needed to be prepared. She had not forgotten the sickening sound of Stoic's and Findet's bones breaking or the pained growl that had escaped their dragons as both fell to their deaths. Nor had she forgotten the sound of Murtagh's flesh ripping in half.

"I am impressed. In previous attacks none had been able to locate me" the creature said, speaking in the Ancient Language and cocked its head on the side. Then in a dismissive tone he added: "Tell your dragon to step back. I mean him no harm. Yet"

Arya swallowed and Firnen growled again, louder this time.

"Iknol ono eru? Who are you?" she asked, speaking in the Ancient Language. Her words sounded proud and strong, betraying none of her emotions.

The creature cocked its head on the side again and laughed, only this time the laughter persisted for longer than a minute. Then all too abruptly it stopped and the creature took a few more steps forward. Arya's hand automatically reached for her blade and then it froze.

The creature's index finger moved from side to side and it made a tsk sound. "I wouldn't do that if I were in your position"

Again the creature moved forward, magic present in the atmosphere and Arya whispered the forbidden words that Eragon had once whispered in her ear. Only they did nothing to unfreeze her from her position and she glared at the creature, not comprehending what was at play.

Why isn't it working? In previous times all magical activity could be stopped with the True Name!, she exclaimed in Firnen's mind, losing her composure for only a few seconds. Her dragon growled loudly and went to move but was also frozen into place.

The creature sighed and this time in two long steps it reached her side. Its fingers gently touched her chin and it shook its head, as if it was disappointed with her. "Oh, my dear Arya. The True Name trick does not work with me, I am afraid. If you are to defeat me you will have to do far better than this. Which, of course, is impossible, considering your status"

Arya's chest heaved under her and she silted her eyelids. "What do you want?"

The creature clapped its hands together once. "Ah! That is the true question. Finally it seems like we are along the same trail of thought!"

Then the movement of its fingers changed from gentle to rough and it closed its palm around her slender throat. Arya coughed and struggled for breath, as she heard Firnen's growl and struggle.

"Where is she?" the creature asked, this time its tone dangerous, calculating. It tightened its grip for a few seconds, before releasing her and she coughed.

"I don't know what you are talking about but even if I did I would never tell you!" she spit at him. "I have endured torture before, you cannot hurt me!"

Again, the creature cocked its head on the side. It seemed to be a favourite move of his. "Who said anything about you?"

The creature's two middle fingers snapped together and Firnen crumbled to the ground, his tail twitching and his lips curled up. She felt his pain for only a second before he tried to withdraw from her consciousness. But as much as he tried, his pain was as intense as if it was hers, a suffocating and burning feeling. The pain changed and this time it felt as if her flesh was skinned from her, bit by bit.

Arya do not tell him! Whatever he wishes to know, don't! Firnen growled in her mind as she watched him writhe onto the earth's surface.

Tears slid from her eyes as she bit her lips together hard.

"How incredible the mind is! You don't even need to touch one's skin in order to inflict great pain, don't you think?" the creature asked and at her blank stare it continued. "Now that I have your attention I wish to know where she is. The herbalist in case you don't know who I am referring to"

The question took Arya completely off guard. Out of all the people the creature could have been looking for, Angela had been at the bottom of her list. It was no secret, of course, that Angela had some enemies and was not liked in certain parts of Alagaesia, but most respected her and tended to either seek her help or avoid her all together.

"Eka ach néiat thornessa hugin. I do not have this knowledge!" she replied quickly because honestly, she did not.

The creature slammed its hill on the ground, appearing irritated. "When was the last time you saw her?"

Arya swallowed, trying to remember. Again, she decided to go for the truth, not because she couldn't hide it or endure Firnen's and her own suffering but simply because she found it so insignificant. "It must have been a decade and more. She visited Ellesmira to see the elven infants"

Surprised at her ease of releasing this information, she covered her mouth quickly and the creature shrieked once - a shriek full of malice and hate. It walked away in quick steps, while releasing Arya and Firnen from their bonds. Arya immediately whispered some spells to protect her mind's boundaries and held her sword high. She tried to cast magic and injure the creature but nothing seemed to have an effect on it.

"If you see her, do tell her that I am looking for her. Also don't forget to report back to the Dragon Rider Leader…" the creature said, the last phrase thick with irony "that is if you can"

In a swift movement it rode atop a shadow wyrm that seemed to have appeared out of thin air and rose quickly into the skies.

"Barzul!" Arya swore and rode upon her own dragon trying to catch up to them but they were too fast. Shadow wyrms and enemy dragons retreated, following their leader no doubt, while Arya tried to catch up to them.

Suddenly, Firnen paused and he growled irritated. He tried to fly fast but it felt as if an invisible barrier had been placed between him and the enemy. He tried to fly up and around it but nothing. Arya's fists tightened.

It feels similar to the spells placed around the forest of Du Weldenvarden, she said in his mind and the dragon nodded, returning back to land. No sooner had she landed before she heard Trianna's mental cries.

We need your help!

Arya rushed to meet the magicians, reaching the Queen's headquarters, Firnen at her side. She saw a figure running towards her and she paused ready for attack, but it was only Nasuada who clung onto her skin as soon as she saw her. Tears were running down the Queen's face and her usual neatly placed hair strands now stood in disarray.

"Murtagh. He is injured. You must help him!" she whispered as another male magician run to her side.

"My Queen, your injuries are not fully healed yet. You should not be running, you need time to recover and…" the magician said but one stark look from Nasuada silenced him.

"I will do what I can to help Murtagh but I cannot promise anything as of this moment. What of the rest of the riders?" Arya asked as she walked into the tent which housed many injured inhabitants.

"Dead" Trianna replied in a low tone. The magician looked old, older than when Arya had last seen her, which had been only a few days ago. The woman looked weak, her energy reserves obviously exhausted to the extreme and she was sitting on the ground, her arms around her knees, moving back and forth.

Arya heard a scream and she turned around to see Murtagh lying onto a makeshift bed, his chest and legs covered in bandages which however did little to stop the bleeding. Thorn's pained growl echoed in the night in return to his rider's one, reflecting Arya and Firnen's own pain in response to the death of the remaining riders in Alagaesia.

Firnen you need to control Thorn. I worry for the injuries he might accidentally cause, to himself, his carers or surroundings, Arya said in her dragon's mind and a rustle of wings told her that her dragon had understood.

She kneeled next to Murtagh's makeshift bed and slowly moved the bandages away from his wounds, which however intensified his screaming. His eyes shot open for just a second and he looked straight at Nasuada and then her.

Arya whispered a quick spell under her breath which caused Murtagh to lose consciousness in an instant. If she was to heal him, he had to stay still and the only way for this to happen would be if he wasn't awake for the next part. She gazed at his injuries and at the failed attempts of the magicians around her at healing him and she sighed.

She had little to no magic left in the stone of her sword and smoke was rising from Murtagh's wounds. His injuries were also far greater than Melor's had been. Melor had died within three months due to his injuries. Murtagh would last no longer than one.

Arya rose from the ground and stared at Nasuada. "Murtagh will die within the fortnight. There is nothing I can do for him and if I do try, it will simply be a waste of much needed energy and magic"

"No. Please, there must be something" Nasuada whispered, her lower lip trembling.

Arya eyes met the Queen's grave ones and shook her head. Nasuada collapsed to the nearest chair, her chest heaving uncontrollably.

"Have you been able to contact Eragon?" the Queen barked at Trianna.

"Our scrying spells are not working" the nearest magician replied.

"Damn Eragon and his secluded island! Damn him for leaving us here to face this danger alone!" Orrin growled, entering the tent, looking beyond angry. He was followed by an injured Kull, Theon, and a younger dwarf Arya had seen before.

"My best warriors died tonight and they died for naught!" the Kull growled and the tent shook. He had deep cuts across his chest and some were still bleeding.

"My father, the dwarven King Orik, died tonight as well, so do not presume to lecture us about loss!" the young dwarf replied and stared at the Kull red eyed.

Theon growled. "Do you wish to start a fight, boy? Because if you do I will be glad to give it to you! Although the two dead Shades that attacked Murtagh outside, should be reason enough for you to avoid me!"

The young dwarf stepped forward, his eyes in slits and Arya moved quickly to stand between them, pressing a hand against each other's chest which was the most uncomfortable position she had ever stood in, considering the height difference between the two warriors.

"This is not the time to fight amongst ourselves. The enemy is out there. If you wish for more blood to be spilled face those monsters who did this to us!" she said in her most authoritive voice, which seemed to silence the two warriors.

"What of Angela? Or Elva? Have you been able to contact them?" Nasuada whispered this time to the nearest magician, who shook their head.

"Last we heard of both of them was more than ten years ago. There have been rumours that they were sighted in Teirm but none have been able to verify them" the male magician whispered. Trianna seemed to have gone into a sort of slumber.

Nasuada rose from her sit and paced back and forth for what seemed to be like hours, but was most likely only a few minutes.

"Out" she then said to everyone around her. "Everyone out apart from Arya!" she repeated in a louder tone.

"My Queen..?" Orrin intersected but she waved him off. Slowly one by one the warriors exited the tent.

Arya remained.

Nasuada crumbled to the ground next to Murtagh and held tightly on his hand, but he gave no response.

"You cast a spell upon him, no?" Nasuada asked and Arya nodded. "Good, that will reduce his suffering"

"Arya… I know this is much to ask of you but we have no other choice. Tonight the best of the best warriors across the land were present, but none was able to extinguish the threat. All three dragon riders died alongside their dragons as well. And…"

"I conversed with the creature that leads them. It is the strongest enemy I have ever faced. I do not know what powers it processes that make it above us, but Firnen and I were unable to stand against it and prevail. The cause of its attacks were unknown before but now it appears that one of the reasons could be Angela. It is searching for her" Arya said, interrupting the Queen.

Nasuada nodded. "It is as I fear then. None have seen the herbalist. In the beginning I assumed it was because she was on an adventure but maybe she is afraid to come out. Whoever this enemy is, is a strong one but… We have one more hope"

Arya stared at the Queen, realising the words which would flow next from Nasuada's lips.

"Eragon. He has other riders with him. We need his help in this. Scrying does not work so there is but one way of approaching him"

Arya thought of her people, desperately needing her in Alagaesia. Who would lead in her stead? Many had already died. And yet if she did nothing the situation was bound to grow graver. She had no choice in this.

"Tomorrow when Aiedail sparkles on the horizon I will have set off for Dis Atilan" Arya replied and went to exit the tent but Nasuada held tightly on her wrist.

"You will not set off alone. You must take Murtagh to Dis Atilan. Eragon might be able to do something for him and if not, at least he will be protected there"

Aryas brows pulled together. "Nasuada the trip will be hard. Murtagh is injured. It is unlikely that he will survive!"

"If he stays here it is certain that he will die within a fortnight, as you said. He will ride on Thorn" the Queen insisted and in this decision she appeared to be solid.

In a different scenario Arya might have interjected, stressing how Thorn and Murtagh would slow her down, but she said nothing as she watched Nasuada's expression. Arya went to leave, but once again the Queen held on her arm tightly.

Nasuada removed the intricate golden necklace she wore and handed it to Arya. "Over the years I have allowed Trianna to store some of my energy in the stones of the necklace. You need this energy more than I. If another attack happens in Alagaesia it is doubtful that I will survive. If I die…" Nasuada said and there she paused for a few seconds "give this to her. To my daughter"

…..

At dawn, the very next day, Arya was ready. She had informed the elves of her leave and had placed Lord Dathedr in command. It was obvious that the elves had not been happy with her decision but knew it was necessary.

She attempted to scry Eragon, Angela and Elva one more time but with no success. Firnen and Thorn awaited her at the edge of Bull Ridge's valley, both with some water and food strapped across their backs and an extra carriage for the red dragon - Murtagh lying on a makeshift wooden bed and also tightly strapped around Thorn.

Arya fingered the necklace Nasuada had given her and then safely placed it inside the pouch strapped next to her leather pants. She climbed upon her dragon and gently caressed his thorns.

Even though most of his injuries had been healed from elven magicians, the recent shadow wyrm attack had taken a toll on his general state of well-being.

Will you be able to do this journey without a break?, she asked him, concerned.

The dragon answered her without a second thought. I must.

Arya let out a deep sigh and looked at the glowing light of the morning star, Aiedail.

Out of all the different scenarios she might have envisaged for her return to Dis Atilan this was the one she dreaded the most. Arya had to face Eragon for the first time in years and convince him to return to Alagaesia with her, otherwise the world as they knew it was about to come to an end.

As Firnen and Thorn rose in the air she stared at what remained of BullRidge and the campsite around it.

Nothing but smoke, blood and death.

A/N: I apologise for not posting a chapter earlier. Currently working on the next chapter and hopefully it should be posted by Sunday. Don't forget to tell me what you thought!