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Eragon POV

Arya and I were on a mission to go seek out Murtagh and Thorn and hopefully kill them. They have somehow contacted us and told us to meet them at the edge of The Spine. I remember sensing

some of his thoughts, he wanted us at The Spine because it will be tougher terrain on us and because apparently they have done some sort of terrain training. He thinks that they will win. There is

one thing they didn't consider, though. We have the home town advantage. Saphira and I have grown up in The Spine. We know all of the paths and trails.

When we were coming up on the edge of trees, I saw Murtagh and Thorn waiting for us. I think they chose the worst possible spot for them. This is the clearing in which I raised Saphira and I

practiced all my hunting techniques. I have learned to use the rocks and steps to my advantage. Little one, we have the advantage here, when you were away I would explore the area around me. I

know this place by heart.

Though with Murtagh we don't know what he has been doing. He could've been exploring this place for some time now. And we don't know what kind of training he got. I said

As we landed in the clearing, Murtagh hopped off of Thorn. I did the same. Arya backed up to the edge of the wood so she wouldn't be in the way. Murtagh and I took our swords out of our sheaths

at the same time.

He looked at me and said, "If one of us doesn't make it through, I just want you to know that I do not want to do this."

He then raised his sword and attacked to my left. I put my sword in a position in which my hand was at my right shoulder and the tip was at my left hip. Blue met red and sparks flew as the blades

collided. Murtagh stabbed at me and I back-peddled out of the way of his sword. I then swung my sword forward towards his left side. Just as Murtagh moved to block me, I twisted my wrist and

quickly changed direction. I twisted it to the right side of his neck, but just in the nick of time, he ducked down and looked up. I knew I shouldn't but I got a very quick glance and saw that Saphira

was besting Thorn in the air.

I took Murtagh's distraction and used it to my advantage. I stood up on a rock so I was towering over him with my sword pointed at his heart. I raised Brisingr and was about to stab him in the

heart. He looked down quick enough to move out of the way of my attack. Murtagh swung Zar'roc and it left a large gash in the side of my tunic as well as a deep, two-inch gash in my side.

I swung my sword at him once more, but he moved out of the way and swung for my neck then changed it for my other shoulder before I could react. He cut a good 1 ½ inch gash in my right

shoulder before I pulled away.

I switched my blade to my left hand and pushed him towards one of the pot holes. He fell backwards and I stood over him.

He looked at me and said, "Eragon, I really do not want to kill you, please end my misery by killing me."

I looked at him with sadness in my eyes. I did not what to be the one to bring around his demise. I loved him as a brother when he wasn't Galbatorix's slave. I wished that I could've help him with a

sad breath I said, "I really do not want to do this but I will. For you"

He nodded and closed his eyes. I looked up at Thorn and saw that he was going down slowly.

I told Saphira, Let him go down, Murtagh is surrendering in a way, Let him die on the ground next to his rider. Saphira glanced at me then nodded then went to stand by Arya. I looked once more at

Murtagh. He mouthed the words "thank you" right before I plunged my sword into his heart.

I stood up and wiped the blood from my blade and sheathed it. My adrenaline dropped quickly and all my wounds became very clear. I looked once more at the bleeding form of Murtagh and let a

silent tear run down my face. My shoulder started to burn and I felt the warm blood snake its way down my arm. My side felt like it was on fire and I looked down to see that my tunic was dyed

crimson. The blood was dipping down steadily and creating a pool on the ground. The dirt mixed with the blood and drop by drop, the pool grew. All I could hear was the pounding in my ears. My

vision became fuzzy and darkened. My whole body started to go numb. I faintly heard footsteps running towards me. My knees buckled and I knew no more.

Arya POV

I saw Eragon's growing pool of blood and started to run towards him. When I was within two feet from him, he fainted. I looked up from Saphira and asked her, "What is the nearest village? We

need to get him help immediately."

Saphira replied, Carvahall. Strap him into my saddle and I'll bring you over. I don't think they will exactly let me enter the village so I will have to wait outside.

I nodded, then strapped us both into the saddle. We were soon flying over trees until I could see a village in the distance. At the edge of the woods, close to the village, Saphira started to descend.

Saphira landed and let us get down. She said, I am going to go into a clearing, go get help for him. I nodded numbly. It was all hazy, like a dream. It all happened so fast. I then picked up Eragon and

walked into the village.

I ran trying to find help. My hands were becoming slick with his blood and my tunic was getting soaked in the liquid. I fought down my panic and worry. I kept running until I found someone that

looked a little bit like Eragon, but I brushed it off as nothing.

I said, "He's hurt. Where can I get him healed? He is losing a lot of blood and passed out. Where can I go to get help?"

The man looked at Eragon with the strangest expression. He then looked at me and said, "One, let me carry him. Two, right this way."

Before I could retaliate he took Eragon out of my hands and started to walk down the street. I followed him until we reached a house.

The man knocked on the door until an older lady answered. She asked, "What's wrong?"

The man said, "He got hurt and is losing a lot of blood. I think he was traveling. There is a women with him too. They came here for help, as it is the closest village."

The women nodded and said, "Follow me."

The man and I walked into the house. She put him down on a spare bed in what I assumed was the healing room.

She turned to me and asked, "Anything I need to know before I treat him?"

I nodded and started to speak, "He was dueling and he got some bad gashes in his side and on his shoulder."

She nodded and then asked, "He looks a bit different, anything else I should know, I don't want to give him the wrong thing." I hesitated then finally said, "He's half elf."

She looked at me in shock and then said, "Ok, if he wasn't seriously injured I probably wouldn't treat him, but I feel almost as if I have to."

I nodded once more for that's all I could think of doing. The women told me to go wait outside. I walked outside and the man followed behind me.

He asked, "He seems awfully familiar. What is his name?" I hesitated before saying, "Rider Shadeslayer."

He gasped in shock and his eyes widened. Being a farm boy he never thought anybody was capable of slaying a shade. He also didn't think that there was another rider, save for the dark king,

Galbatorix. After a short, stunned pause he said, "So wait, that man in there is a dragon rider and has killed a shade?"

I nodded then asked, "What is your name?"

He looked at me and said, "Roran Garrowsson."

I looked at him in shock, but quickly covered it up. I paled slightly and ended up breathing, "Barzûl. Eragon. Saphira. Family. Not good." I didn't say it quietly enough, though.

He looked at me in shock and asked, "You know Eragon?" I nodded slightly then looked away.

He then turned to me and said, "Next time you see him tell him that he isn't welcome here anymore." He then got up and walked away.

I was soon inside talking to the women whose name I found out was Gertrude. She had already bandaged Eragon up and was examining him.

She asked me, "What is that strange burn on his hand?" I gulped and silently swore Then I said, "It's his Gedwai Ignesia." As if it was something uninteresting.

Gertrude looked at me like I was crazy and asked, "His what?"

I looked at her then glanced at Eragon, "His Gedwai Ignesia. The mark of a rider."

She looked at me in surprise then said, "He's a dragon rider? What's his name?"

I replied, "Yes. He is a dragon rider. The last one free of Galbatorix. His name is Shadeslayer."

She looked at me in surprise yet again, then looked at Eragon and asked me, "What's his actually name? Like mine is Gertrude or Roran's is Roran?"

I simply said, "I think he would want to tell you that himself."

She just shook her head then asked, "What is your relationship with the rider?"

I looked at her in surprise. How dare she ask such a question? But then again, humans are naturally curious and follow different rules then elves, "I don't really know, some days we hate each other,

others we are the best of friends."

She looked at me confused then looked out the window and said, "It's getting a little late. Do you need somewhere to stay?"

I was debating whether or not I should stay with Saphira. Then I decided that if he wakes up he will probably want me near. I ended up saying, "Yes, I would thank you. Preferably somewhere near

so when he wakes up I'll be here and the surroundings won't be so odd."

She said, "That's probably true. I have an extra bedroom you can use, if that's ok." I nodded my head and thanked her for her hospitality then headed up to the room she pointed out.

Roran POV

I can't believe that she knows Eragon. I can't believe she's showing her face here! Who the heck was that man she brought here in the first place? Anger started to bubble up in me, but curiosity started

to leak in. He looked so familiar yet I couldn't place it. I know he was a Rider and he was also a Shadeslayer- which is all I could get out of her. I still don't understand how that man could be a rider.

I didn't think there were anymore dragon eggs.

~~~~~The Next Morning~~~~~

Arya POV

I was waiting by Eragon's bedside when he started stirring. Gertrude was next to me ready to help if he needed it when he woke up. He eventually did open his eyes. Eragon turned to face me. He

blinked a few times then asked, "Arya, where am I?"

I answered, "You are in Carvahall. At Gertrude's house- the village healer."

His eyes went wide with shock. He then sat up quickly. He paused for a second and let out a stifled groan and started to walk away.

As he approached the door you could hear him say, "I'm leaving!" Gertrude looked confused and I ended up following after him. He eventually stopped in the middle of the road.

I caught up to him and said, "Shadeslayer, if you are going to leave, we are going to go towards the north road so that we can meet up with Saphira."

He ended up turning around to look at me and said, "The north road goes right past Roran's house, and why are you calling my Shadeslayer?"

I shook my head then replied, "Well, have to pass Roran's house then, now won't we? Also, we are in Carvahall and Eragon isn't exactly a common name. I think only two people have been named

that in history, yourself and the first." He nodded then walked up the north road. I followed behind him.

Roran POV

I was sitting outside at the front of my house. The women and the man were arguing as they were passing by my house. I remembered that Katrina wanted me to apologize to the women for being

so rude to her earlier. I ran to catch up with them. As I would get closer, the man would go faster and the women would follow. Eventually the women grabbed onto the man's arm and started

pulling him. Hahaha, that man must be weak if he can be pulled by a tiny woman.

The man eventually started to smile and said, "Arya Svit-kona, I, Rider Shadeslayer challenge you to a duel. You win I'll maybe talk to him. I win we don't talk to him" Arya nodded and pulled out her

blade. Hers was thin and very well made. The man's sword was a startling shade of Sapphire.

I can't believe a man would challenge a woman to duel! I couldn't even believe that the women had a sword. The way they were dueling was odd, the women started in a normal position but the

man started with the hilt of his sword at the right shoulder, and the tip at the left hip. If that didn't surprise me it was the speed. They were fast graceful, and even delicate.

In the end the man disarmed Arya and had his sword at her throat and said, "Dead". Arya started laughing very hard and eventually the man joined in. Arya's laugh was the most beautiful sound

ever heard, like a trickling stream in spring time. The man's laugh was rich and hearty and oddly familiar. Why were there so many bits and pieces that made that man seem so familiar?

The man eventually stopped laughing and said, "Come on, I won. We don't have to talk with him and we can leave."

Arya started to speak, "I found it quite unfair, and you used your new fighting technique in which you always win as nobody knows it."

The man chuckled and said, "Well, that's kind of the whole point, that way when I go up against Galbatorix and it happens to come to a sword to sword battle, I'll win"

He was so self confidant. Why can't I put all the pieces together, his face, his laugh, his attitude? Why can't I just piece it together, I know. I know it, but I just don't know it.

I heard Katrina come up behind me, she was soon hugging me. She looked up to me and said, "I almost wonder if this place is haunted. I keep hearing Eragon. I know it sounds weird but I keep

hearing his laugh and his voice."

I looked at her in surprise. Then everything fell into place. She's right. Eragon does seem to be everywhere.

I looked down at her and said, "Katrina, you're right, Eragon is here." I looked over towards Arya and the man. Katrina followed my gaze. I looked down at her and said, "Eragon is here. He is here,

very close."

I then looked towards the pair once more and shouted, "Eragon!"

Katrina looked up at me and said, "No, it can not be."

The man and women looked up at us, the man who is Eragon shouted, "Run! Saphira, we need you."

They started running in the direction of the woods. There was one thought going through my head. Who the heck is Saphira? I soon found out. Right above us was a gigantic sapphire dragon. She

soon landed gracefully.

As Eragon and Arya were mounting her, Katrina shouted, "Eragon get back here! You are not going to run away from your family."

Eragon's face soon became very sad and guilty. Soon there were other villagers coming out of their homes. Horst was one of them. He came out of his home with a puzzled expression on his face,

he said, "Eragon, is that really you? Last time I saw you, you weren't an elf. What happened to you?"

Eragon got a sad expression on his face and started to walk towards us with Arya and Saphira walking behind him. He came up and ran his fingers through his hair nervously a few times before

saying, "How do I put this? It is I, Eragon. I am not an elf, I am half elf. I am a dragon rider. I fight for the Varden. I am busy, and I have to go…quickly."

He looked very unsure of himself. It was then that all the memories came back. I remembered how he left before Garrow was properly buried. How he left havoc on his town and family. There were

always enemy soldiers asking if we knew his whereabouts.

Katrina spoke once more and said, "Eragon, if that really is you and that you are a dragon rider who is half elf and you fight for the Varden. It all shows that you are good. But the question is, do

you still think of us as family?"

Eragon looked towards her and said, "How could I not think of Carvahall as my family? Only one thing has happened since I have left, my family has grown."

He looked around once more and said, "As sad as it is to say this, I have to go. I only came here to heal, I would have come earlier if I could. The war needs me to fight. I have killed one of the

Empire's most skilled fighters. But, I still need to be back in Surda for the next battle, I am sorry I must go."

With that he joined Arya on Saphira and flew into the distance. I looked at the ground from which he left and I saw a piece of paper. I went to grab it. I saw that he wrote us a letter. I couldn't read

it so I handed it to Gertrude to read.

She said, "I am sorry that I must go, I do not want to leave but I must, when the war is over I will come back to live a farmer's life, I had to make the departure short or else I would not want to

leave. I am sorry that I must go. You guys are my family, always remember that. Sincerely, Lord Rider Eragon Shadeslayer Bromsson."

This is my longest chapter for anything so far! Well, I am sorry to say this but, I still haven't figured out the spacing issues, so please, bear with me. Other then that, Please Review!