Sorry for the delay. I have had a lot of trouble with this chapter. Not sure I like it but its time to get something posted and move forward.
Murtagh sat at a camp just outside the city of Teirm. His mother sitting across the fire from him. He had just woken her from a deep sleep he placed her in to fake her death. She sat there watching him as she ate.
"When the sun rises go into the city and look for a man named Joed Longshanks. We believe he has been using his shipping company to send goods to the Varden." Murtagh told his mother.
"Why?"
"Because while I'm forced to serve the Mad King and you stand against him. It does not mean I would want to see you die." explained Murtagh. "I rather you go free, even if it means you return to your other son and leave me behind again."
A sad Selena tried one last time to change her son's mind. "Come with me. You can start over. I'm sure the Varden would love to have another rider to help defeat Galbatorix."
"They will never accept me. They will only see my father. No, you will go on your own. Now get some sleep. You have a long day ahead of you tomorrow."
E/A
The next morning Selena started off towards Teirm. She hated leaving her first born but he refused to come with her. She promised herself then and there she would see him free.
When she reached the city gates a couple guards stopped her and she was looking for an old friend of her late husbands. When they asked her, she told them Joed. One of the guards knew of him and where he lived. Selena was surprised of the location of his home as she had visited the shop owner once before. She set off, following the path she took many years before.
It didn't take long to find the herb shop she once visited. Walking next door, she took a deep breath and knocked.
E/A
Brom was visiting the villagers so they could go over last-minute plans for their escape that night. He explained that Joeb and got several men that were willing to help them. A few of the men even had family they were bringing with them. Brom told them that he and Jara would fly over the water and wait for the ship to leave and cover their escape. He would also be close by incase the city noticed what was going on.
Once he was done, he went to spend time with Jara. Jara was looking towards the sky when Brom walked up to her. "The red dragon just left from just south of the city. He was not here long."
"That is troubling news. I can think of no reason for Murtagh to be any where near here." answered a concerned Brom.
"I thought I saw someone else on Thor when they arrived, but Murtagh was alone when he left. They did not stay long. They arrived just before the sun rose and he left shortly after that." Jara informed Brom.
Brom sat on a log thinking. "Why would Galbatorix use Thor to transport someone to Teirm? It makes no since. There is nothing going on in the city and if Galbatorix knew about the villagers he would have sent troops from the city to help Murtagh and Thor wipe everyone out."
"I do not know the answer. I do not know Galbatorix as you and the other riders do."
"We will just have to wait and see. Hopefully whoever was dropped off will not cause our plans for tonight to go awry. There is too much at stake."
E/A
Selena was led into an office where she saw a gentleman who seemed to be packing for a trip.
Joed looked up from what he was doing and saw Selena standing there nervous. "Hello, so how can I be of serves?"
"I need your help reaching the Varden? I hope you can help me. I was told that the Galbatorix suspects you but does not have enough prof to have you arrested." explained Selena.
Joed was not all that surprised. He had lost enough ships to realize they suspected him of being an agent to the Varden.
"Who was it that told you of this?" asked Joed.
Selena took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. "My oldest son. He is the red rider."
"Selena." said a surprised Joed.
"How do you know who I am?"
"I have Known Brom for many years. Though I haven't seen him for a long while till just the other day. He believes you to be dead. How is it you are alive?
Selena then told Joed of her story. How she returned to try to free her oldest son only to be captured. "I finally got tired of the captivity and try to starve myself. Murtagh snuck me out and told me to find you. Can you get me to the Varden. I need to find my youngest son?"
"If you had come tomorrow, I would have been gone. I am leaving for the Varden tonight. Your more than welcome to come along. Maybe you can help me, if you do not mind. My wife is refusing to come. I love my wife and I hate leaving her but there is no future her till Galbatorix is defeated." asked a sadden Joed.
"I will more then happy to help you. I know how evil Galbatrix is and hopefully I can convince her of what you are doing is for the best for her and our world."
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me now. Wait to see if I succeed." smiled Selena.
Earlier.
Eragon was looking for a place of darkness "Helgrad". He had arrived during the night along with Arya and the two dragons. It was just before sunrise now when he felt Arya brush up against him as she laid down beside him.
"I am concerned about the red rider heading towards Teirm. With Brom and the villagers so close to the city." Arya stated.
"I am as well. We may need to head that way just in case Galbatorix has learned of Carvahall's villagers are there. We can always come back and take care of the Razac at a different time. Though if we do, we will need to find you a dress." Eragon said the last with a smirk as he saw the look on Arya's face, he laughed.
"Come on oh mighty Lord Rider, we have a village to save again."
With that the two headed back to the dragons. Saphira and Fernin waded in the lake with the two riders on their back. I was decided it would be safer to take flight on the other side if the lake. Less of a chance someone from Dras Leona would see the two dragons.
They were about halfway when they saw Thor heading back towards Uru'bean at a slow pace. They were both a lot higher then the red dragon who didn't seem to notice the two dragons flying above him. Nor did his rider.
"Do we head back now that he has left or continue on?" asked Arya.
"We continue on. We need to see if we can discover why Murtagh and Thor went Tierm" Eragon answered. "Better safe than sorry."
It was a couple hours later that they were over the city. "All looks quiet." Arya replied.
"Head north and see if we can find the villagers." Eragon suggested.
It didn't take them long as the village was just a few miles up the coast from the city. They saw Jara off to one side on a sea of tents that belong to the villagers. They saw Jara look up at them when they started to come in and land near the tents.
E/A
Brom watched as the two dragons came to landing. He saw both Eragon and Arya dismount and head his way. When they got close, he called out. "What in the basis are you two doing here. Your supposed to be with the Varden."
Seeing his father a little angary he replied. "We have been with them, but we also had another mission which took us to Helgrad. Shortly after we arrived and hid ourselves Firnin saw a red dragon head this way. We came as soon as the dragons were rested enough for the journey and possible battle with Thor. Now that we know that you all are safe we need to find out why Murtagh was here."
Brom took a breath seeing they came believing they all were in danger. "It seems they dropped someone off just East of the city."
Arya asked, "Have you been able to send anyone to see if there was a increase in activity in the city?"
"No, we do not know where to even start looking. If they were here for us Murtagh would have gone straight to the city and troops would already be on us. Right not the villagers are getting their belongings together so we can leave tonight. They are just bringing what they can carry on their backs."
"What of the rest. They will be without so much more. They have already lost so much I would hate for them to lose more." Arya stated.
Eragon gave a solution. "Brom once they are they are done packing have them place all the wagons together and everything left in them. I will use the spell that Umarth taught me to take the rest with us. I can also put wards on all the animals and have them safely travel to Surda. I did this once before. There is no guaratee that they will all make it, but most should. I will ask King Orrin to have his troops keep an eye out for the animals."
With that all figured out Eragon visited with his uncle and cousin before he and Arya headed into the city. Brom offered to go with them, but Eragon thought it should be someone not seen by the guards incase who ever Murtagh dropped off was looking for him and the villagers. Katrina found a dress Arya could wear. Just before heading out Eragon and Arya changed their apperance so they look human.
It didn't take the two long to reach the city. They entered through the port gate since Brom, and the others went through the main gate. There was also much more foot traffic through this gate, so the two would not stick out as much. Eragon using the memories for the old timeline made his way to Jeob's home.
E/A
Jeob had just walked downstairs when there was a knock at the door. When he opened it the door, he saw a young man and woman. "Yes, can I help you?".
Eagon reconsider Jeob right away. "Yes, are you Jeob?"
"Yes, I am, who might you be?" asked Jeob.
Arya looked at Eragon to let him know he should reply. "Brom sent us, is there someplace we can talk privately?"
Jeob looked at the two and signaled them to follow him. He took them to his office and shut the door once they were all in. What has gone wrong? I can't think of any other reason Brom would send someone I didn't know at this point in time."
"We are aware you know who Jara is." Jeob nodded "She saw the red dragon arrive before dawn and left shortly afterwards. What has us worried is that there were two people on the dragon when it arrived but only one when it left. Brom along with the two of us are worried. We can think of any reason that Galbatorix would use the red dragon to transport someone." replied Arya.
Jeob relaxed a little bit at the reason they were here. At this he could ease their worries. "As whom was dropped off I can answer that along with why the red rider dropped them off here."
Arys eyes narrowed before asking how. "How is that possible?"
Jeob seeing the look answered quickly "Because the person came to seek me out. They needed safe passage to the Varden. They had been a prisoner for the last 16 years. The Red Rider smuggled them out when the person in question started to starve themselves to death in an attempted to die."
Eragon asked "Why would the Red Rider care?"
"Because the prisoner in question is his mother." answered Jeob.
"Who is the Red Rider" asked Eragon.
"Murtagh"
A shock Eragon responded "That's not possible. His mother died after giving birth to her second son. She can't be who she claims to be."
Arya could tell that Eragon was upset. She took his hand in hers and turned to him. "Are you sure there is no way Selena could be alive?"
Eragon pulled Arya to a far corner and spoke quietly in the ancient language. "Ormis told me in the other you know what that she died. Said that my father return for her after making sure the egg was safe. He told Ormis of her death and my birth."
"Did he see her body or a grave?" asked Arya.
"I don't know. Ormis only said that Brom was told that she had died. Weather Brom looked farther, I don't know." replied Eragon.
Jeob didn't understand why the one looked upset for a second but waited for the two to finish with their private discussion.
Arya turned and faced Jeob "Go get her and bring her here. I will be standing by your desk. My friend will be waiting behind the door. We don't drought your story, but we need to make sure. There is too much at risk not too."
"That is fine. I will be back in a couple minutes." with that Jeob left to office leaving the door open so Eragon would have a place to stand out of sight.
Jeob to his word was back in two minutes with a worried older looking woman. Once the two had entered to office Selena approached Arya while Jeob closed the door. Eragon stepped behind the woman with his sword drawn. He lightly pressed to her back making Selena freeze.
"You will not be harmed as long as you are honest with us. Jeob has told us a little, but I would like to hear from you, of your story. Everyone I know that knew of Selena says she has been dead for 16 years." Explained a skeptical Arya.
Selena raised an eyebrow at that. The woman in front of her did not look like anyone from Carvahall. Though that did not mean much. She had been gone a long time. "How will me telling you my story convince you? If that was all it took, then Jeob could have given you the full story."
Arya replied. "If you allow it, I will enter your mind as you tell your story. That way I will only see what you are saying is the truth or not."
"So, a magic user."
"Yes, I can use magic." replied Arya.
Selena studied the young woman, who may not be as young as she seems. The young woman in front of her had an air about her that spoke one of great power. She could not see how the Varden would send a Magician all the way here to help the village of Caverhall. It would be too risky. There were no one in Carvahall who could use magic. Even if there was, they would have been run out due to the fear of those who could use magics.
"You do not serve Galbatorix that much I can tell because if you did, we would all be dead right now. Are you a member of the Varden then?" asked Selena.
"I am allied with them, but I am not a member, nor do I come from Carvahall." answered Arya.
Selena relaxed and had a small smile on her face. "So, an elf then."
Arya froze just a second. She notices Eragon have a look of surprise on his face as well.
"It is not that hard to figure out. All you have to do is look at the facts. You can use magic. It would be a big risk for the Varden to send one that has a feel of great strength. I drought the Varden keep any around here. The way you carried yourself. One of great inter strength and poise."
"Whether she is an elf or not is not why we are here. We are here to determine whether or not you are a threat to us. Now we would like you tell us your story." Eragon said while pressing his sword more in here back for a second to make his point.
Selena knew that she needed to tell the full truth and not leave anything else. She told them everything from the point that she left her youngest son at her brothers to her release. She felt the elf in her mind but not all that deep. Just enough to see if she was telling the truth. She could tell when the one behind her, when she fields the pleasure of the sword vanish. The one in front of her was harder to read but she saw her nod to the one behind her.
Eragon moved over to stand beside Arya. He couldn't believe he was looking at his mother. All his life he wanted to know her but knew it was not possible. He was stuck not knowing what to say.
Arya sense that Eragon did not know what to do spoke up. "I can tell that what you say is the truth. That you are who you say you are. While I'm sure we all have questions, this is not the place. There is also those who deserve to know before tonight. I would suggest you come back with us so you can explain things to your brother and others."
Selena was nerves but she knew that it was better to get it out of the way. The longer she waited the harder it would be. "Alright. It's probably better to take care of it right away. Everyone will have a lot to worry about after tonight."
Eragon turned to Jeob "Continue as you have planned, we will be around to make sure everything goes as it should."
Jeob replied "Things are all set for tonight. Everyone has confirmed that they and those with family are ready."
Eragon and Arya said their goodbyes and Selena gathered her few items that Murtagh brought with them. They made their way out of the city. Once they were out of sight of anyone, they headed into the woods towards were the villagers of Carvahall were hiding.
I had a lot of trouble on how to bring Eragon and Selena together. If some of you wonder on Eragon's reaction, I believe someone meeting a parent for the first time after believing they were dead their whole life would be shocking. So, he would not know how to react. Arya on the other hand has enough distance to help him. So the next chapter will Selena meeting people from her past and learn who it is she had just met.