Sorry for the lack of posting these I've been busy working on my POTC fic and haven't taken the time to edit the chapter well i have now so here you go hope you enjoy

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: TREKKING THE TERRAIN

Eragon woke Essora up the next morning. When she saw

him she was confused by his sudden action. She didn't see Murtagh so she asked where he was. Eragon looked somewhat hurt but replied.

"He's filling up the water skins before we leave so I decided to wake you so that when he returns we can leave."

She got up and folded her blankets up and put them in one of Tornac's

saddle bags. Tornac nuzzled her shoulder when she walked passed, she turned and rubbed his neck and stroked his soft nose.

"Why don't you ride with me and Snowfire today?" Eragon asked.

"Don't you think he'll be skitterish around me? I mean he doesn't know me," she said trying to get out of riding with him but not saying so out right.

"Oh no! Snowfire's an excellent horse he won't hurt you or me so don't worry. Go ahead and get used to him and when Murtagh comes back we'll leave," Eragon said guiding her away from Tornac.

She looked around noticing that Vrael wasn't insight. "Where's Vrael?"

"He went scouting." Eragon said shortly.

Vrael?

Yes small one.

I'm sorry about blocking you out last night.

Yeah about that, what happened after you left?

Well...

What?

Murtagh almost kissed me.

What about Eragon?

Have you seen the way he's been treating me lately? He's acting like I don't exist.

He seems to be trying to make amends to me.

Yeah I know but I like Murtagh and he's nice and secretly I wished he kissed me.

But you love Eragon.

Yeah will he doesn't seem to feel the same way. And if he does why doesn't he show it? Hmm?

I don't know. But I do know that he cares for you.

Yeah as a friend.

Oh Essora don't go getting your heart broken. Let's get across the desert and then take the next step. Okay?

Fine. I'll see you when you land.

All right.

When she broke contact with Vrael she noticed Murtagh was back and was helping Eragon strap the elf onto Saphira's belly.

"I'm afraid your scales will wear through the ropes." Eragon was saying as she walked up next to them.

"We'll have to check them occasionally for fraying," commented Murtagh.

"Shall we go now?" Essora asked.

Murtagh's eyes sparked dangerously, a tight smile lifting his lips. He glanced back the way they had come, Essora followed suite. She could see the smoke from the soldier's camps.

"I always did like races, and now we are in one for our lives," Murtagh commented as he offered Essora his hand to help her onto Tornac.

"Essora's going to ride with me," Eragon said taking her hand. She looked at Murtagh apologetically but if it bothered him he didn't show it.

Eragon helped her up onto Snowfire then climbed up after her. When he wrapped his arms around her to reach the reigns it didn't have the same kind of sensation when it was Murtagh. Eragon clicked his tongue and Snowfire trotted out of the camp as Saphira jumped into the sky to join Vrael.

For the rest of the day they sped through the land, ignoring discomfort or fatigue. They drove the horses as hard as they could without killing them. Sometimes they dismounted and ran on foot. On these occasions Essora was light on her feet keeping good pace with the two men and the horses. Only twice did they stop to let the horses eat and drink. On the second stop Essora rode with Murtagh and did so the rest of the day.

Though the soldiers of Gil'ead were far behind they had to avoid new ones every time the passed a village or town. Essora guessed the alarm had

been sent out before them. Twice they were nearly ambushed but thanks to Vrael and Saphira's keen sense of smell they avoided it. After the second time Essora suggested they left the trail, which was quickly adopted.

Darkness softened the countryside as evening drew near, bringing a black blanket with it. Through the night the traveled like silent shadows, relentlessly pacing out the miles. In the deepest hour of the night, the ground rose beneath them to form low cactus-dotted hills.

"There's a town, Bullridge, some leagues ahead that we must bypass. They're sure to have soldiers watching for us. We should try to slip by them now while its dark." Murtagh said pointing into the dark.

They decided to do so. After three hours they saw the yellow lanterns of Bullridge. A mass of soldiers patrolled between watch fires scattered around the town. The three muffled their sword sheaths and dismounted. The two men led the horses while Essora did her best not to stumble into unseen holes. They made a wide detour around the town listening attentively to avoid stumbling onto an encampment.

When the town was behind them she relaxed a little, she looked up into the delicately blushed morning sky that warmed the chilly night air just by the colors. They stopped on the crest of a hill to observe their surroundings. The Ramr River was to the left of them and it was also five miles to their right, and as far as she could tell it went on for several more leagues. She estimated that they had traveled close to if not more than sixteen leagues in one day.

Eragon leaned against Snowfire's neck with a pleased look on his face. "Let's find a gully or hollow where we can sleep undisturbed," he said.

They agreed and went in search of a suitable temporary camp sight. They eventually found a small patch of Juniper. Essora laid out the blankets as Murtagh and Eragon untied the elf from Saphira's belly. Vrael watched on as things were carried out to make the camp safe.

"I'll take the first watch and wake you at mid-morning," Murtagh said to Eragon who mumbled his consent as he pulled his blankets up to his chin, which was shortly followed by a series of snores.

Essora stood there spacing for a while, Vrael eventually brought her back into reality. Which wasn't very comfortable, because now that she wasn't moving she felt the pain, not only the physical pain, but mental also.

"Lay down and get some rest," Murtagh said resting his hand on her shoulder.

"You sure? I mean if you want me to I'll take first watch," she offered.

"Oh no I'll be fine until I wake Eragon up...now get some rest," Murtagh insisted as he laid his sword across his lap.

She did so without further protest and quickly fell asleep listening to Eragon's gentile snores.

There was darkness all around. A suffocating darkness that swallowed you whole. She looked around for an escape but instead she found eyes. Yes they were red, as red as blood. Then the eyes moved forward to reveal a figure, a figure of a Shade. The Shade stretched its hand out in her direction and she was consumed in flame. She could hear the deafening roar of the flame or was it Vrael crying out for her? She couldn't tell for she was focused on the ever-consuming inferno. The Shade reached out again and all was dark.

Essora sat up suddenly. She could feel the pain receding ever so

slowly, as if it wanted to linger and torment her more. He was back! Yes Durza wasn't dead, he never had been, he just had been temporarily inactive. And now he was back by the restoring power of fire.

It hadn't been a dream; no it had actually happened in Durza's original world. He had needed her to complete the process and he had used her. And now he would come and seek her out.

She looked around. The sun was high in the sky indicating it was mid-day. The horses were tethered to a tree and Vrael and Saphira were nowhere in sight. Murtagh was asleep not but a few feet from where she sat, gently snoring with a smile on his unshaven face. She sat there and studied him for some time until she was interrupted.

"He looks so peaceful doesn't he?" came Eragon's inquiring voice.

She kept her face on Murtagh and replied. "Yes very peaceful...Its amazing how you can forget your troubles when you sleep...I just wish I could do the same," she said sorrowfully as she looked down at her lap.

"What do you mean?" Eragon asked as he sat down in front of her, he lifted her head up gently so that he could see her eyes.

When he touched her she felt mixed emotions. There was part of her telling her to not let him, but then the other part of her was wishing even this slight touch would never end. She felt a tear run down her right cheek.

"He's back," she said in a light whisper.

"Who? Who's back?" Eragon asked earnestly.

"Durza...the Shade," she said looking into his eyes; more tears streaming down her face.

His face showed shock and alarm. "What?! But that's not possible Murtagh shot him in the head...I saw him die!" Eragon said this with such force that Murtagh stirred. They waited so they wouldn't wake him.

"No, no he never died he just had to heal, rejuvenate if you will. And he's back." They sat silent for a while dwelling upon this reality. "I cannot stay with you it would be too dangerous if he caught both of us. And I don't want to endanger Murtagh or the elf for that matter."

When she said this he looked up at her with alarm. "No...no! You're not going anywhere I'm not letting you run from him and then get caught with no one to protect you. No I won't have it." Eragon said standing up and pacing.

"Eragon I'll have Vrael," she said this as if where the answer to everything.

"Oh and you think he will threaten Durza when he tells him if he try's anything that he'll kill you? No because Vrael loves you too much he would never do anything that could get you killed. And besides even if Durza didn't threaten to kill you he could bring Vrael down without lifting a finger. So that's why I say again you're not going anywhere."

"But what about you, Saphira, Murtagh, and the elf? Surely when Durza finds me he will capture you guy's also."

"I would rather face a thousand Shades and Galbatorix himself than have you face Durza alone. And I strongly believe Murtagh feels the same way."

She looked up at him and smiled. "Thank you, you don't know how much that comforts me."

"Probably more than you know," he said as he returned to his post.

He was silent after that, sitting deep in thought. For a while Essora studied his back thoughtfully. After a while she laid back down and fell into a dreamless sleep.