The next morning they had all gone up onto a large mountain where you could see the hills, it was beautifull but a bad situation to see it in, Eragon had just created a small dome of bricks around Brom and they were all stood around it,
even Saphira, they all watched as Saphira stepped forward and breathed on the dome, it turned into glass and Serena's eyed widened "Who will remember him?" Eragon asked "Many people will because of you" Arya said, they all bowed their head and silently mourned.
Once Eragon had retrieved his horse they set up camp in the dark woods, Serena had since put her mothers cloak back on and she didn't feel so empty like she had when she didn't wear it, it made her feel safe somehow "I haven't been around an' elemental in a long time" Arya said walking next to Serena
"It's all new to me, I'm scared that if I learn too much it'll drain me" Serena replied, Arya nodded in understanding "How many elements have you mastered?" she asked, Serena sighed "I haven't mastered them, but I have controlled water and Earth" she replied, Arya's eyes widened "You are only 15, the youngest elemental I know of was 17"
she replied, Serena nodded "I don't know why I started so early" she said in thought, Arya nodded and suddenly gasped in pain, she fell to the floor and Serena became nervous "Eragon" she exclaimed, he dropped down next to Arya and saw the black spot on her chest where she had been poisoned by the shade, Saphira flew to investigate a suspicious sound leaving Eragon and Serena to deal with Arya "I need to get to the Varden, how do I find them?"
Eragon asked pleadingly, Arya pressed her hand agains't Eragon's head mentally transferring the directions to him, Serena watched from where she was stood and Arya pulled back her hand, Eragon felt a bit dizzy and he blinked a few times, a thudding noise suddenly came from behind Serena and she jumped while spinning around,
Eragon pulled out his sword and Serena recognized him as the man from the palace, the man started laughing and she was actually surprised at his reaction to Saphira dropping him "Stand up" Eragon demanded, the man slowly stood "All my life I dreamed of dragons" he said smiling
"Who are you? And why are you following us?" Eragon asked skeptically "I'm Murtagh and you need me dragon rider" he replied grabbing his bow "Thanks but I'll be fine without you" Eragon said "You seek the Varden, I know the mountains, every valley and stream, she'll suffer if you go astray"
Murtagh said motioning to Arya "Why did you risk your life for us?" Eragon asked "My family were slaughtered by the kings men when I was a boy, I heard rumors, they said a rider had appeared, and even an' elemental" Murtagh replied glancing at Serena, she smiled a little and turned to Eragon "If there were ever a time for retribution, this is it"
Murtagh said, Eragon nodded "If you could show me the quickest way to the varden" he said "To the Varden it is" Murtagh said, Eragon sighed "You'll learn to trust me dragon rider" Murtagh said, Saphira growled and they all faced her "I'm not the only one you need to convince" Eragon said looking at Serena, she nodded and he picked up Arya before carrying her to Saphira "So your the elemental?" Murtagh asked inspecting Serena,
she nodded "Surprised?" she asked "Yes, I never knew Elementals were so beautiful" he said smirking slightly, Serena rolled her eyes "Be carefull Murtagh, my cousin isn't exactly very trusting of you at the moment" she said, he nodded and she petted Eragon's horse "Do you trust me?" he asked,
she thought about it for a moment "You haven't really given me a reason not to" she replied turning her head for a moment "How old are you?" he asked, she smirked "Did you know it's rude to ask a girl her age?" Serena replied, he nodded "I just want to know how much of an' age difference is between us elemental"
he replied, she nodded "I'm 15, get used to it because I'm going to be 15 for life" she admitted, he nodded "I'm 20" he said, her eyes widened and she faced him "Hmm, a 20 year old charming a 15 year old, sounds wrong doesn't it?" she asked circling him, he smirked "Not if your going to be that age forever"
he replied watching her, Eragon came back over to see Serena talking to Murtagh, he got a bit protective "Serena, your riding with me" he said in a tone she knew all too well, Serena nodded and got onto the back of Eragon's horse "Lead the way Murtagh, and don't trick us or I will have Serena burn you alive"
Eragon treatened, Murtagh gave him a confused look "Who is Serena?" he asked, Eragon rolled his eyes "You should know, you've been talking to her" he said hinting, Murtagh glanced back at Serena "Your Serena?" he asked, she nodded "Nice name" he said, she smiled and held onto Eragon tighter "Just lead the way" he said annoyed, Murtagh nodded and they took off.
It began to get dark and they all noticed "We should turn in for the night" Eragon said slowing down his horse, Murtagh nodded and Eragon told Saphira of their plans, they would camp in the forest and start riding again in the morning, they soon stopped and Eragon jumped off his horse, Serena swung her leg over and he helped her down
"I'm going to get Arya, don't try anything" he said looking at Murtagh, Serena smiled in amusement and tied the horse "You don't ride?" Murtagh asked as he tied his horse next to Eragon's "No, tried once and I don't plan on trying again" she replied walking away, he caught up to her and she was curious about something
"I have a question for you" she said, he nodded "Why did you help me back at the village? You couldn't have known I was an' elemental then because no one knew not even me, so why did you help me?" she asked, he though before shrugging "I don't know, I saw a girl in trouble so I helped" he replied, she nodded but didn't believe it fully
"What you did with the water was pretty amazing" he said, she smirked "I can do much more than' that now" she replied proudly, he nodded "You'll have to show me sometime" he said, she shrugged "Maybe sooner than you think" she said noticing Eragon building a fire, she sped up and saw that Arya looked much worse
"I hope we get there in time" Eragon said, Serena nodded and sat down in front of the fire "You could practice Serena" Eragon suggested, Murtagh sat on a log behind Eragon watching them "Okay" she replied nervously, Serena kept her eyes on the flames of the fire, she imagined them dancing and swilring in her palm,
Serena took off her gloves knowing it would be easier for the fire to reach her wrist, thus giving her control of another element, a small stream of flame made it's way into her hand and down her wrist, Serena smiled as the 3rd line of her tattoo glew a bright orange, she let go of the flame knowing it would drain her if she tried too hard
"You did it" Eragon smiled, she nodded but felt a little dizzy as she put her gloves back on "You okay?" he asked, she nodded "Just need to rest" she replied, he nodded "We all do, let's get some sleep and move again in the morning" Eragon said, they all agreed and settled in for the night, apart from one.