Disclaimer: I own none of the characters accept for those I create. I own the way this particular story runs though that does not entitle me to call the plot mine. I am aware that this is illegal but I am under the impression that if you are writing for the enjoyment of others and not making money off of it you have no real reason to be sued. Don't sue me!!

A/n this story is a teen rated story which basically means some mature themes will be included as will many very graphic gore descriptions. If you have a soft stomach you can read this and skip the gory parts or just read another story. I personally hope you pick the former. I want reviews. If you find something you like tell me about it. If you find something you dislike tell me about it. Any writing of mine thrives on criticism. I'm not saying I don't like nice comments I just don't want everyone giving my compliments. Be brutally honest I don't care. Please review though.

Chapter One

Aftermath

The air was heavy with the stench of blood and already rotting corpses. The ravens and crows gorged on the carnage of the men. Women and children could still be heard weeping for their lost families and husbands. The battle was over and ended in stalemate, neither side in loss or victory. The cost had been high. Across the Burning Plains, through the haze and steam of the vets and geysers that sprouted from the earth every so often, a pale line of light shown on the horizon.

Through that night, though their bones ached with weariness and their eyes begged for rest, Eragon Shadeslayer and his sapphire dragon Saphira, slaved over map and charts of the area surrounding Dras Leona. Eragon had listened to his brother's story for hours, absorbing every detail and bit of information his mind was capable of absorbing. Now what was left for him to do was help his cousin find his fiancé, and to do that was an endless study of tedious maps and charts. Eragon would hold his promise for he knew his cousin still resented him for causing his uncle's death. Eragon looked up to see his cousin Roran peering intensely at the maps as though something would jump out at him.

"Little one," Saphira's voice rang out loud and clear through his head.

"Yes?" Eragon raised his head to stare at his large scaly companion. It was an effort to even talk to her mentally, though she was part of him.

"Little one, we must sleep. We will soon travel to Tronjheim for King Hrothgar's funeral. His death is a great ache in the heart of all dwarves and it would show the greatest disrespect to his memory and his people to doze off during his burial,"

Eragon could feel the truth in her words. With every move he made, even the slightest effort he hurt from exhaustion. Not wishing to disturb Roran's concentration, Eragon set his papers down as quietly as possible, so quietly, in fact, that his newly developed elven hearing could barely pick up the sound of the pages rustling together. He laid his head down on his be roll and shut his eyes even though he did not need to. He was asleep almost immediately. Saphira watched him for a few more seconds to make sure her rider was soundly asleep before she too lowered her head onto her long curved claws and fell fast asleep.

Eragon woke with a start as water was dumped over his entire body, drenching him.

"Wake up Shadeslayer!! You made a promise and you're not going back on your word now!" Angela stood over him holding an empty bucket and looking like she would do something erratic if he didn't get up right then and there. Dragon laughter growler through the tent as he stirred then got to his feet groaning at the sudden and abrupt waking.

"Come, Elva awaits you. Lift your curse dragon rider." With that, Angela turned and left the tent

Eragon looked around for his boots and slipped them on following Angela to her tent after doing so. Saphira flew over him still snickering in her dragon like way. From look at the sky, Eragon could tell that it was far into the afternoon. The sun hung low on it's decent toward the western horizon. Eragon felt well rested though he knew he would soon feel very tired indeed.

Eragon pushed back the flap to the witch's tent, and nearly walked into Arya on her way out. She gave him a faint nod as he stepped aside to let her pass.

We must talk later. I want to know what you intend to do now. You have tied yourself so firmly to so many people there is almost no chance for your own decisions. Do not tie yourself to anyone else Eragon, or you will not be able to move. Arya, who had paused while she was passing to talk to him mentally, now swept on past him her face as unreadable as ever.

Eragon watched her go feeling confused at the sudden intrusion into his mind. It was something that had seemed to cease after he had begun to reveal his affections for her. He let the thought go there were more important tasks at hand than to worry about the strange mind of his elven friend.

Turning to Elva he asked," Are you ready?"

"Shadeslayer, I've been ready since you put that curse on me nearly a year ago. You've no idea what I've been through," her voice was strangely adult though she was only around a year old. She looked much older than this as well, probably around five or six.

"Then I shall lift your curse now,"

Eragon set one hand on her shoulder and one on her head. In the ancient language he spoke to alter his act, "My mistake is not her burden. By the power in my blood and the power I have in my heart, release her from my original commands. Follow these I give you now!"

The drain of energy was greater than Eragon expected. His knees gave way under him and he fell to the ground in a dead faint.

Eragon woke to the sound of groans and screams and gentle soothing voices. He knew he was in the infirmary. He groaned and pushed himself into a sitting position. The huge strain of the magic had left him with the feeling he got after drinking too much. The hangover headache was almost too much to bear so he lay back down on the pillow and rolled onto his side.

"Eragon, you great lump of idiotic flesh get up!" Roran charged across the room to sit be side his cousin, "Do you ever think before acting?"

Eragon remembered both Brom and Saphira asking him that a long time ago and grinned. "Apparently, I don't,"

He and Roran began to laugh then quite abruptly looked toward the door as a commotion

Occurred on the other side of it. The door slammed open and Saphira's long graceful neck snaked through.

I thought for a while I'd lost you, little one.

Well you didn't; I'm still alive and well

I shouldn't have let you do it. I knew you were still too tired. This is my fault I apologize.

It is not entirely your fault Saphira, I should know my limits. I could have stopped myself but I didn't. It was a rash decision.

Just promise me you will think before acting next time.

That I can do Saphira

Good. If you can manage Arya still says she wants to speak with you. If you can't I'll tell her.

I'll be able to manage Saphira. My strength is returning now. I will meet you in again in and hour's time

He broke off his connection with Saphira as her head slid back out of the infirmary doors. Eragon spent the next half hour planning with Roran as to when they would leave and how the would enter Helgrind. They also discussed who they would take with them if anyone at all. They agreed that they would wait to leave until after Hrothgar's funeral. After that they would probably wait a few days until the celebrations had died down

After their plans were finished, Eragon swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood. Roran had to steady him as he almost fell over.

"I have to meet with Arya and Saphira," He explained.

He began to walk, shakily at first and then steadier as he progressed forward.

Saphira, where are you?

I'm with Solembum. I come for you, though, so we may speak with Arya.

I am just outside the infirmary complex.

I know where you are Eragon.

Saphira seemed to have wasted no time in getting to his side. Barely a minute had passed when she landed in front of him. He slowly climbed onto her back to sit in the place where her neck joined her body. Saphira coiled the strong muscles in her back legs, spread her wings and launched herself into the air. They were once again flying together. The exhilaration Eragon always felt when he flew returned. Saphira's pure joy of the air and the feel of the wind as it rushed past her scales and over her wings came over their mental link. Her tail swung as she banked slightly then righted itself again as she continued straight. Eragon let himself be swept into her emotions as they, once again, became truly one.

It was over all too soon. The ground seemed to rush up to meet them and Saphira brought her wings back and landed bringing down her front feet after her back. Eragon slid from her back and stumbled as his feet touched the ground. Saphira brought her wide nose down to steady him and then folded her wings neatly against her sides.

"Greetings, Eragon Shadeslayer. It is good to see you are better. We were worried, your cousin, Saphira, and I; we thought you would not live." Arya strode from a corner where she had been waiting

"You were worried? I thought you felt nothing for me," Eragon looked Arya in the eye as he said this; to his surprise she seemed to flinch.

"I told you I cared for you as a friend. We are friends. Why is this so hard for you to understand? Never mind, I did not ask you to come here so we could have yet another row about our relationship,"

Eragon could feel her anger boiling just below the surface and felt the slightest hint of satisfaction that his comment had angered her so.

"I wanted to know what your plans were. I should escort you back to Ellesmera. After the news of Murtagh's betrayal reaches Du Weldenvrden there is no way of knowing how you will be received. I want to know when to plan on leaving so I may prepare for departure ahead of time. Don't do anything rash Eragon. You mean too much to the people around you," her voice lowered to an almost inaudible level even by elven standards, "and to those who need you."

Eragon was taken aback when his ears picked up this added phrase. He had the sneaking suspicion he shouldn't have heard it and quickly hid any sign he had.

"I plan to attend Hrothgar's funeral. After that I will accompany my cousin in a mission to rescue his fiancé from the Ra'zac. Then I…"

"You are going to remove a Ra'zac prisoner!" Arya interrupted him in shock.

"Well, yes. I swore to Roran I would help him get back his fiancé…"

"I thought I just told you not to do anything rash,"

"Well, I…"

"Please tell me that you at least are bringing someone other than Saphira and Roran with you."

"Well, I…"

"When are you going to learn that you need help sometimes, the Ra'zac aren't idle foes; they are inhuman scavengers."

"Do you wish to insult my intelligence? I know more about the beings and entities in this world than I did when you met me! Then I was naïve and seeking revenge. Have you forgotten that Or…" There was suddenly a hand placed firmly over his mouth.

"Control yourself Shadeslayer! You have said nearly too much. I forget that you are no longer a farm boy with a dragon; you are a Shur'tugal. I apologize," Arya lowered the hand she had put over his mouth to stop him from saying Oromis' name.

Eragon calmed almost immediately as he realized what he had almost done. He looked at Saphira who seemed amused by the situation.

Is something funny? Do you find this entertaining? If so you might want to speak up! Eragon's temper flared again.

It is nothing, little one. Don't shout so; it is not me you are angry at.

Eragon looked at her and sighed. As usual she was right. He resigned himself to glaring at a mouse as it made its way slowly across the dirt of the courtyard.

"Eragon, I will allow you to make this venture on one condition," Arya spoke, "You must allow me to come with you. For all we know Murtagh might be at Helgrind too. I know you are strong but you over simplify situations. You underestimate your opponent's ability to predict your next move. I believe this is a fool's errand but since that is how I believe than I will go with you. We cannot afford to lose our only rider. I will not have your death resting on my conscience and neither will your cousin,"

Eragon was surprised at this. Something about the way she spoke seemed to reveal a different meaning to the words. One someone would not assume. It struck him odd that she knew or interpreted so much about him.

"I cannot argue with your reasoning though I may want to. Very well you may come. Roran will not be pleased though,"

Arya opened her mouth as if to say something else, then closed it again. She looked up at him and locked her eyes on his, "I bid you good night Eragon. It is late and we should return to our tents. Until next we meet."

Eragon watched her leave, then turned to Saphira and mounted her.

I'm sorry Saphira. You are right I wasn't angry at you; I was just angry.

You need rest come, little one, we shall return to the tent for sleep.

Eragon didn't even hear her as she finished her reply. He was already fast asleep the gentle beating of her wings lulling him into a deep slumber. Saphira flew gently so as not to dislodge her rider. When they reached the tent she landed lightly and slipped through the flap without waking him.

A/N I hope you liked it. I thought it was a very appropriate chapter. It shows that I can continue Paolini's story without using his style. I thought it blended well with the end of Eldest. Of course I want to know what you think too. Please review. Wiol iet ilian!

Poll of the chapter:

Should Murtagh be present at Helgrind?

Post this with your review. I'm not saying this will count for what I choose to do. I will probably go with my idea.

Gath un reisa du rakr

Tabitha of MoonAurora, Rider of Aeleenah

P.S. this next chapter will contain different POVs (points of view). It might be difficult to keep them straight. May your swords stay sharp and you bowstrings strong. This chapter contains 2,623 words!