Here is the next chapter. Sorry it took so long for another chapter, but I had a little block. I was not sure how to go next. So here it is. I am not as happy as I have been with others. It will not be a long one, it will not be the shortest though.

Eragon stood around the table in Nasuada's tent. They had a large map laid out. The map showed where the main Varden forces were located, and the forces sent to take Melian. Arya was going to go but the others were worried about the Empire striking at them again. Nasuada and Orrin asked that Eragon and Arya stay. Brom had already left and had finally reached the elves that morning.

They had just received word that Redbeard had reached Melian. Eragon was a little worried because Ronan had gone with the troops to take the small town. To ease Eragon's worry Bloodgrahm had sent two elves to help take the city.

"Laufin reported that they should be able to take the town with ease. He said Captain Redbeard was hoping to take it with little or no bloodshed. There is only a small contingent of soldiers in the town. They are hoping to convince the town governor that he has no way of keeping the town and any battle will result in needless deaths." Arya briefed the leaders.

"Galbatorix does not care about his smaller towns in the south. It is possible that they may be able to accomplish this. It will depend on the oaths the governor has been forced to swear and if he is truly loyal to the Mad King." Orrin added.

"You may be right your Majesty. Was there any trade between Melian and Surda in the past?" asked Eragon.

"Some. It was never spoke of, but we did have some trade with some of the people of Melian. I cannot see how the governor did not know of it."

"Then there is hope that our forces can take the town with little to no bloodshed." Nasuada added. "Did Laufin say when the talks would take place?"

"He said that the Captain was waiting for the forces from Petrovya. With those troops it will double the forces he has. He wants the govenor to know that fighting will be a lost cause by showing over whelming force." Ayra told the group. "He said they expect the Petrovya force to arrive tomorrow."

Just then there was a knock on the pole at the entrance of the tent. Then one of Nasuada's guards entered.

"My pardon, a Garrow from the Carvahall group is here and says he needed to speak with Eragon."

Eragon turned to Arya "Elain." Turning back to the rest. "If I am correct Elain, Horst's wife is in labor. They have agreed to let the elves assist with the birth. I need to go."

"Go Eragon, we can pick this up later." Nasuada stated with Orrin agreeing. The others also agreed.

E/A

When Eragon and Arya reached the tent that Horst and Elain stayed in they found the whole village waiting. Several of them glared at the elves. There were a few words spoken against the elves being there and more when Arya and the female elves went in.

When Arya entered the tent, she saw Elain in pain and a few women from Carvahall tending her with Gertrude. When she entered Horst started to thank her from coming when Gertude spoke up.

"Horst you cannot trust the elves. They will steal your child and replace her."

Several of the woman agreed. "I asked her along with the others. I trust her as does Elain. If you don't like it, you all can leave."

Before she could reply Eragon who heard what was being said walked in and grabbed to old healer and drug her out of the tent. He glared at the other woman, and they followed.

"Sorry Arya."

"There is no need to apologize. You cannot help what others think and believe."

"All the same thank you for helping." with that Arya went to help when the baby come out while the rest started to sing.

E/A

Eragon tossed Gertrude away from him and then addressed the rest of the villagers. "You were told that your bigotry would not be tolerated on the trip here. If you can not leave your foolish beliefs behind you then I suggest you pack up and leave. Go to Surda to stay to the war is over. I will not stand for your words against my friends who have done nothing to you."

"Traitor." someone yelled out from the back. Unfortunately, Saphira saw who said it and pinned the man down. She bent down and growled an inch from his face.

"Watch how you speak to my rider or face a dragons rath." She than let the man up. He ran from the crowed. "The elves are noble race that cherish children to say they would harm a child in any way is an insult."

Many stayed but a few left fearing the dragon's anger. Eragon joined Garrow who was waiting on news of the birth.

E/A

When the elves started singing Horst watched as his wife started to relax and did not seem to be in pain like she was before. They sang for about 20 minutes when his child started to emerge. A few minutes later he had a daughter.

"Horst, she is alive and health other than a cat lip." Seeing the horror on his face. "Do not worry, she can be healed. Any of us can do it but it might be better for Eragon to do it." He just nodded.

Arya went to get Eragon after handing the baby to another while Yaela cleaned and healed Elain. Eragon came in a few minutes later. He nodded to Horst before taking the baby and sitting on a Stoll in the corner of the tent. He then started to sing. It took a little while before he was done. By that time Elain was sitting up and watching Eragon.

Once he was done he stood. "Elain, Horst here is your daughter." He handed the baby to Elain.

Horst stood and took hold of Eragons arm "Thank you Eragon. We are in your dept."

"No dept is owed. We do what we can when we have the ability to do so. I am just happy things worked out as well as they did."

"Still, it you ever need anything you are just to ask."

"I will leave you to get to know your daughter and let Elain rest."

E/A

Eragon and the elves walked out of the tent and Eragon addressed the towns folk. "A baby girl and she is healthy."

Gertrude pushed him aside and strode in the tent to see for herself. Arya just glared after the healer.

Garrow came up to his nephew. "Do they have a name for her yet?"

"Not that I know."

A few more of the villiagers asked him questions before Horst came out with his new daughter that they named Hope. Eragon and his group headed back to their tents for the day. Arya contacted Laufin so that he could let Baldor and Albriech know they had a baby sister. The two brothers had joined Ronan on the mission with a few more villagers.

E/A

A few days after the birth of Hope the Varden and its allies headed southwest. They crossed back in Surda a day later and it took them about a week to cross back into the Empire north of Aroughs. Once they crossed back over they set up camp. They spent the next couple days setting up defences. Once they were secure half the forces headed south. This time Arya left with them with half the elves.

"It will take them a few days to reach the city. Once there they will need to build siege engines so they can take Aroughs. Hopefully they can take it and secure it with in a weeks' time. Once they rejoin us, we will head north to take Feinster." Jormundor briefed everyone. "It will take us another week to reach the city. If the plan that Eragon has devised works, then we will be able to leave for Belatona shortly after reaching Feinster."

"Eragon are you sure this plan you have will work?" Nasuada asked.

"There is no guarantees but I beleive it is the best option. Like I said before, the magicians that Galbatorix might have there will be the main issue. There is no telling wat they might do if the city was sure to fall."

Orrin asked the big question. "What is the worst they might do?"

"Create a shade. If they were to do that, then there is no telling of the deaths that could accord before we could kill it."

No one wanted that. That's why the plan was for Eragon and Arya to sneak in the city before the Varden arrived to see if they could find the magicians and eliminate them. They would only have a few days to do this before they would need to leave the city.

E/A

Arya sat atop of Firnen and looked over the city they were to take. She remembered how Eragon told her Ronan had took it in the old time line. She suggested to the Captain leading the troops to use logs to break through the channel gates. He was skeptical for a while but after overlooking the cities defenses, he agreed.

The plan was once the logs which would be hollowed out for troops to ride in breached to gate, Arya and Firnin would fly over and open the main gate for the rest of the troops to enter. Two of the elves would go with her. They hoped that the troops in the logs would draw some of the city defenders from the gate.

"We are ready Arya."

"Good luck Captain, I will see you on the other side."

He nodded and then once the logs were loaded the small dam holding the water was broke. Once the logs filled with troops were gone Arya and her guard took off.

They watched as the logs broke through and the troops started to jump out and on to the walkway next to the canal. When Firnen saw troops leaving the gates he dived. He let out a burst of flame clearing an area for him to land. Once on the ground Arya and the elves lept from Firnen's back and headed for the gate. There were not many troops there and seeing the dragon they all fled father into the city.

The gate was open 10 minutes later and the Varden troops were flooding in the city. They then met up with the troops that breached the channel gate. Once the two forces linked up, they made for the keep. It was another couple hour of fighting before the city was theirs.

Once the fighting was done Arya and the other elves helped with healing the wounded. They help the city defenders as well as the Varden. The hope was the people of the city would not see them as the monsters the Empire protayed as. They stayed another couple of days only leaving a small contingent behind.

E/A

Eragon was flying a patrol to make sure the Varden and it's allies were not found before they were ready. Arya reported that she woould be back some time that day. He had missed sleeping next to her. He had got use to her warm body up against his. They had not taken the final step in their relationship as of yet, but it didn't bother him. He was just enjoying her next to him when he woke in the morning.

As he came to the most southern part of his patrol he notices a dust cloud in the distance. He figured it was the troops that took Aroughs returning but flew to make sure. When he got close he could make out a green dot flying above the troops. Saphira let out a below that was returned by Firnen. The two dragons took off towards each other.

Reaching his mind out he felt Arya's mind. He felt her barriers let him in a little. "Hey."

"Hey, did you miss me so much, you had to come find me."

"I was on patrol and seen some dust so I came to see what it was. Not that I am not happy to see you. I have missed you."

"Nice save. I missed you as well."

"Was it bad?"

"No, with the information you gave me, we were able to take the city with little struggle. We had causulties but it could have been worse if we did it the normal way."

"I am glad to hear the information I gave you helped. This is what I hoped would happen."

"We can't save them all but I will help you save as many as we can."

"Than you Arya, I love you."

"I love you too. Now let's get back so we can start getting ready for Feistner."

The two dragons headed towards the Varden main camp so they could get ready to start heading towards Feistner.

The battle Feistner will be in the next chapter. I am still trying to figure out how it is going to go. I don't know if there will be a big battle or if they are able to get Feistner to surrender easily.