For Alagaesia: 17. Help them, Saphira

She was resting on the old-times-home-stone-of-broken-eggs. Even though they had come to Ellesmera to find ways into Uru'baen, the old-elf-forest-du-weldenvarden had had a calming effect on her. She had not had any visions of Eragon's state after she had come into Du Weldenvarden. It was probably because the elf-magic prevented magic flow from outside or because Eragon had not thought of reaching her vigorously. She was relieved either way because she wasn't sure if she could stand another of such cruel visions. Eragon was probably in much more bad condition now than before. She snapped at a sparrow that dared come into the home of her ancestors. The sparrow was rather skinny and feathery that increased her foul mood.

For Alagaesia: 16. A fight for survival

Free time was so difficult to come by these days. But Nasuada had one of those rare free days. The city had been completely reorganised to accommodate the newly arrived dwarves and elves. It had taken about a week to finish the preparations. She was happy with the results they had achieved though. She was sure that the Varden could hold any attack from the empire if it did not involve dragons. She had now made peace with the fact that Eragon wasn't a part of their army anymore. It pained her but she had accepted it if it was what fate offered them. She had never before accepted something as fate's play but this matter was out of her hands and she had no other go than to accept that Eragon's fate now lay in god's hands.

For Alagaesia: 15. Fortitude

He was running ahead of his father in breakneck speed. They had come to attend the traders arrival. His father always buys things for the house during these trader arrivals. For him though it was not a time for purchase. He and his brother liked the whole environment. The crowded streets and the beautiful playing toys were more than enough to excite them. But he also liked hearing tales about the past. The dragon riders always fascinated him. The town story-teller was adept at telling such stories. But his brother was not as enthusiastic as him in those stories. So his brother had not become friends with the town story-teller like him.

As he was running, his legs struck on something. He turned to see that he had scattered the pile of knives at the butcher's shop. He knew he was in for trouble. The butcher had always tried to punish him for something or the other.

For Alagaesia: 14. Gathering

The Jiet river was flowing with a roaring sound. Roran applied a slight pressure on Snowfire's flanks. The loyal horse responded by increasing its speed to keep up with the elves running ahead. After finishing the siege of Aroughs and getting the blasted news about Eragon's capture, Roran had established a temporary ruling council for the city and with twenty of his best men, rode north towards Feinster. At Feinster he had met with the dwarves camped there and together with them he was now going towards Belatona.

"The dwarves want to rest it seems", he said to one of the elves. The elf acknowledged his message and they came to a stop. Then they started scanning the area around them. Roran did not understand what they were doing by scanning the surroundings. Then one elf said, "About 2 leagues from here there is a small tree covered area. At this speed we will reach there in an hour. There we can rest." Roran was amazed to hear this and the question of how they knew it came to the tip of his tongue before he controlled himself. He had seen Eragon observing things like that often already and it seemed a trait common to all elves. "So be it. I will inform the dwarves.", he said. "I could inform the spell-caster of the dvergar, Stronghammer. You don't have to go back.", an elf said.  "It would be helpful. Thank you.", Roran replied.

For Alagaesia: 13. Coping without him

The shining-water-lake Isenstar was below her. It was bright and happy. It looked like it was mocking her. She wanted some time alone for herself so as to come to terms with the fact that she couldn't save her partner-of-mind-and-heart Eragon. So she had informed Arya that she would go hunt for food and had flown high in the sky. She couldn't even enjoy flying. How could she when she knew her Eragon was probably being beaten up even at that instant?

For Alagaesia: 12. Regrouping

Nasuada strolled restlessly in the cosy room she occupied in the castle of Belatona. She had just confirmed with the elves that Eragon was in trouble. As soon as she got Roran's message she had asked Eragon's guards to contact Queen Islanzadi. But the queen wasn't available and neither was Arya. The elf that came in contact with her a certain Lord Dathedr said that Saphira showed up just moments ago without Eragon and that Eragon was fighting Murtagh alone. But before he could say anything more, there was some trouble for the elves and he had gone off telling that the elves would contact her again later and update her about the details.

For Alagaesia: 11. Steely resolve

It was cold and dark when Eragon opened his eyes. There was a dull throbbing in his head. He couldn't remember where he was or what had happened to him. Instinctively, he reached out his mind to Saphira. But he couldn't find her. Panic set in and he tried to move. It was then that he realised that his hands and legs were held by something. He looked around to see where he was. His eye-sight was dull and dim. He could just about make out the strong iron bars of the door of the room he was in. He racked his brain to remember what had happened. His brain was strangely slow to process anything.

For Alagaesia: 10. Heartbroken

Silence and peace ruled the meadow. The night air was calming and cool. A lone figure sat in meditation in these condition seemingly oblivious to the surroundings. A loud crash filled the air accompanied by roiling blue light which gave an eerie feeling. The meditating figure stood up as if stung by some poisonous snake with wide eyes.

*      *      *       *       *       *     *       *

Blue-light-fire was everywhere. But all she wanted was partner-of-her-mind-and-body Eragon. Eragon who had sent her away. Eragon who was in trouble. Anger and sorrow fought for control over her mind. She had never ever been worried this way all her life. She roared her misery out to the world. The Blue-light was going. But Saphira did not care where she was. She couldn't touch the mind of her partner. And it was like suffering in hell. Her anger came to the fore-front of her mind and urged her to search stunted-thoughts-Thorn and tear that runt to pieces. But she didn't know where to find him. Eragon had sent her somewhere where she couldn't help him. He had sacrificed himself to ensure her safety. The anguish she felt was overwhelming. It would have burned her to ashes if that presence hadn't entered her mind right then. It tried to soothe her misery. She tried to ignore it. But it wouldn't go. It asked her to be calm. Slowly, Saphira started realising what was around her. Her vision registered the shocked-silent Arya standing there with widened eyes and a pale face. So it was where the partner-of-her-mind-and-heart, Eragon had sent her. To Arya. To complete protection.

For Alagaesia: 9. The last steps

Roran shouted, "Release". A clutch of hundred arrows flew from the Varden's ranks into the walls of Aroughs. There were wails of pain from the city walls as twenty-odd archers fell from the walls. A huge stone flew from the city's catapult. Roran turned his head fast towards the three elven spell-casters who had come with him to help in the capture of the city. They uttered a fast spell which sounded like, "Jierda" and the stone broke into small pieces just before it fell into the Varden soldiers. The little pieces still caused injuries to the soldiers; but none was fatal.

They had laid siege on the city about ten hours ago. This city didn't have magical protections. It wasn't even big like the cities of Feinster and Belatona. It was just a small town. But it was decided by Nasuada, that leaving the town in the Empire's hands was dangerous as it could be used as a staging point for two-sided attacks by Galbatorix. Roran was a prime supporter of this view among the Varden captains and elders. So he was charged by Nasuada to capture the city for the Varden.

For Alagaesia: 8. A cornered Tiger

Soldiers surrounded him with their sword points near his neck. But Eragon's mind didn't care. He had sent Saphira to safety. It was enough. Whatever happens hereafter, he was ready to accept. Eragon rested thus for sometime on the ground looking at the night sky thinking of his various conversations with Arya under such skies. Then Murtagh's face entered his field of view. He looked confused and angry. "What did you do, Eragon?", he asked hardly. Something in Murtagh's voice made Eragon laugh. He laughed and he laughed. Almost hysterically. It earned him a punch on the face by Murtagh. But his laughing continued. "Take him in.", Murtagh shouted.