A/N: If you get this far, I applaud you and Im very grateful! Continue and there will be a lot more surprises ahead. Oh btw, nice and long chapter for you. Enjoy! (I know I did when I wrote it)

Chapter 13

“Of Repairing and Healing”

“Alura!” yelled a voice outside Iyern’s tent. I jerked awake and found that I was still curled up around Iyern, one arm on his neck. My stomach gave an uncomfortable lurch and felt very empty. The front of the tent’s flap opened and Eragon walked in carrying a brown bundle.

“Alura, you’re awake. I’ve brought you some food.” I nodded and he handed the sack to me. I sat up, cross legged, careful not to lean against Iyern. Inside the bag was a half a loaf of bread, some dried meat and something glimmering at the bottom. I stared at it, unsure of what it was.

“What is that?” I asked.

Eragon’s face fell. “Proof” he replied. Saphira’s head poked around through the tent entrance, looking at me. Her head was right above Eragon’s shoulder.

I plunged my arm into the bag, sifting through the food and grabbed hold of the silver disk like object. It was smooth, as I rubbed my thumb on its surface. I pulled it out and recognized Murtagh’s handwriting. I took a sharp breath, hunger forgotten as I stared down at it.

“Where... where did you get this?” I asked in a shaky voice. I glanced up at him, my green eyes staring him down.

“When we searched through the bodies, gathering all that belonged to the Varden, we found it at the site where Iyern and you fell. It was clearly meant for you.”

I started to read it, speaking aloud in a soft whisper. “Don’t fly away” a pause, “away and out... of... my world” I finished, breathing slowly and unsteadily. Eragon’s face was sullen, as if he was absorbing the mood that swirled around the tent, created by me. It was silent as I reread the message, over and over again. This somehow proved that he was gone, truly gone.

“He must have really felt something for you if he left you that” said Eragon, breaking the silence.

Saphira said in my mind, in a soft tone much unlike a dragon’s normal vigor, ‘We will find him and help all we can. For now, our strength must be put towards Iyern’s health. We should not dwell on such saddening prospects. Time wasted brooding and sympathizing wastes time that we could be spending resisting Galbatorix. I do not mean to say this as if I do not care, because I must sympathize with you, but as a reminder of your place on this world.’

“And what is a place in this world without love? Without care?” I retorted.

“Saphira is right, Alura. We shall deal with this later. For now eat, rest, and forget about things. You have been through a lot in such a short period of time and the Varden are trying to help as much as possible. Another ally is just another thorn in Galbatorix’s side. And a new dragon rider as an ally, well that’s a huge thorn” said Eragon. He put his hand on Saphira’s head.

‘But what is a dragon rider without a dragon?’ asked Saphira, rhetorically. ‘Goodbye for tonight, little one. We will return to you in the morning. Iyern must wake up, he must. For all our sakes. And the sake of dragon kind.’

They said their goodbyes and I just blankly stared at the side of the tent. I nibbled on the food, not noticing anything, the flavor, the feel of it going into my empty stomach or the satisfied approval of my stomach. I just stared, contemplating.

Saphira said for the sake of dragon kind... she must feel as though she can save the almost extinct race of her kin with Iyern. That’s why she wants all their focus to be towards him, not Murtagh. Of course, I thought to myself, I am being selfish. All I can think about is Murtagh and I together again. Iyern is the top priority at the moment. Yes, she is right as Eragon said. Oh, my, Alura. What have I gotten into?

As I drifted into sleep, I dreamt of the lost memory that had been dug up by Galbatorix. Of the beautiful, strange crying woman and the even more peculiar man, his face obscured by long, blonde hair. This time, the memory didn’t just stop at the murmurings of ancient words. No, it seemed as though it was an extension of the memory.

When he murmured the words, the memory went black, as if my eyes had been closed but I heard talking still. A much fainter, softer voice. It was whispering something. I tried making out what it was but I couldn’t. The noise of whispering filled my ears and head in my slumber, never leaving until I woke up.

I was much calmer than last night, or so I guessed as sunlight was now streaming in through the tent. I yawned and pushed back the blonde hair that fell into my eyes. It was shorter now, after I had cut it in the armory of the castle. I tied it back with the leather thong on my wrist, strands of hair still falling onto my face as I did.

I looked around the tent. It was unchanged from last night; except for a small bundle next the entrance of the tent. I walked over to it and saw it was a pile of clean clothes- a tunic and leather riding pants, my favorite kind.

I pulled them on and washed my face in a small basin of water in the corner. It was the first time I had felt clean since living in the castle. It did not, however, wash away the small pink lines I still had on my face and arm. My left arm still throbbed a bit when I rolled it around and stretched but it was fine, I had had much worse injuries during training. I forced myself not to remember those days.

I wasn’t sure what to do. I knew I probably shouldn’t go out of the tent for fear of villagers or Carvahall people seeing me. I was a secret, no one knew of me yet. My arrival would be announced once I swear fealty to their leader... I thought. So I decided to stay put.

There were not many things to pass the time in an empty tent. I pretended I had a sword for a few minutes and practiced invisible sparring. If one were to come in on me doing this, it would look like I was practicing a dance number and would look quite absurd. Luckily, no one did. For about 20 more minutes I wallowed away the time. I worried over Iyern, looking him over and seeing if there was anything I could help for him. He was the opposite of his normal, energetic state.

Just then, Saphira walked in, bending low and crouching to fit her body fully inside. It was a very large tent, it had to be in order to fit Iyern and a few visitors in it.

“Hello, Saphira” I said and came up to her.

‘Good morning, Alura. I have just come to check on Iyern. I must make sure he is alright and still alive. I can sense he is still in there, somewhere. I just have to somehow dig him out of there so he can be brought back.’

“You talk of him as if this is your fault, as if he is yours to fix. I appreciate it, very much indeed, but I just want to let you know, you don’t have to.”

‘Ah, young one. But I want to. I am just as worried about him as you are though I do not claim to have the same connection to him as a rider and their dragon does. That connection is very strong indeed.’

For the first time in what seemed like years, Alura smiled. “I understand now, why you want him to be recovered fully” I said nothing more, but went onto the next subject that was bugging me. “What do I do while I am here? I cannot stay in this tent until Iyern gets better, if he gets better. I don’t think he has long-” my voice hitched, “uh, long... left if we don’t do something about it.”

‘And that...’ said Saphira, ‘is what I most fear. I know you are right, and if we don’t take drastic measures, Iyern will no longer be here. About your place with the Varden, as of now, you are a captured prisoner whose allegiance lies with Galbatorix until your partner can wake.’

“You don’t believe that, do you Saphira?” I asked. Surly she knew that I was no enemy.

‘Of course not. It is a cover, until you can fully be accepted into the Varden, with Iyern at your side. You will not have to dwell in this tent; you may stay with Eragon but only him. There are no designated areas for you so just follow Eragon’s lead and be inconspicuous if you do decide to go out with him, maybe explore the camps a bit more.’

I nodded. That was certainly better than staying in here but I did not want to leave Iyern alone. “I guess he will be fine for an hour... I wonder if Eragon fancies a major beating today. I shall ask him to go down to the training grounds I suppose. But I will come back as soon as I can for Iyern.”

Saphira blinked in agreement and sent for Eragon. A few moments later he arrived in stark new clothes and a dwarvern sword strapped to his belt. She did not say anything else to Alura as they departed, but only sank her head onto Iyern’s chest and closed her eyes, doing something I did not know of.

We walked out of the tent, and I had thrown on an emerald cloak. It trailed behind me and I propped the oversized hood on my head so that it masked my face.

“She seems as if she is mourning the coming death” I said when we were out of earshot.

Eragon shook his head. “She is not. She is focusing, trying to control the magic that seeps through her and transfer it to Iyern. That will give him life. Dragon magic is spontaneous, unpredictable. You cannot harness it and neither can the dragon. The only thing that will be enough to save Iyern is not mere human healing. Our power, our energy capacity, is too small to fill such a powerful being such as a dragon. A dragon’s magical powers can only be matched by another of its kind. Let us pray that she is able to save him before he is gone.”

“I hope so too, Eragon,” I said, with more respect for Saphira. “How long would you say he has? I am really worr- worried about him.” My voice cracked as tears threatened my eyes. I pushed them back, determined to seem strong.

“Well, judging by the amount of movement and awareness he has shown over the past 4 days, he does not have long. I do not know how he has survived 4 days without treatment. He is very strong; he must be clinging onto life now.”

This grave news did not lighten me up as the day progressed. I did, as planned, had a spar with Eragon in a private patch of ground where no one could observe. I picked the sword that most fit my preferences- light weight, slim and long.

The practicing ground was near the other Varden troops, but not too close that we could be overheard or recognized. I pulled my cloak off, grateful for the light cold breeze to pass my cheeks. They turned rosy in the pre winter cold. The practice did take my mind of Iyern for a bit, giving me more time to think about the new path my life was taking.

It turned out that Eragon and mine skills were evenly matched. Every time I lunged, he parried with such fast reflexes I barely caught it.

“How are you moving so fast?” I asked, without missing a beat as we sparred. We danced around each other, not feeling fatigued as our steady breathing was in synchronization to each other.

“I have taken on the aspects of an elf. How about you? I suspect this is some sort of enchantment by Galbatorix.”

I stopped abruptly as Eragon lunged with a blunt sword. It got my chest and I stumbled back a moment in fury. “You think I need Galbatorix’s help for everything?!” I yelled, “Well, no, Eragon. I don’t. I achieve all that I have through training, hard work and sheer determination.” Eragon stopped too, appalled of what I had inferred from his statement.

“No, no! I did not mean that at all, Alura. It just doesn’t make sense for a human such as yourself to have the qualities of one like an elf, that is all. I just merely deduced that if was of some sort of powerful magic put on you by Galbatorix. If you are like this on your own, then that is most impressive. Although this does make me think... are you really human after all?”

Maybe not... I thought to myself. No one explained how I used magic before I even was a dragon rider to defend myself against Galbatorix on that night in the castle. And then me beating Murtagh and those men without prior instructions on how to fight. Either I am more or... or.... I don’t know. But I must be human!

“I do not know how I could not be human. I have had this discussion before and I believe I am normal.”

Eragon laughed, swinging his sword on his side. “Normal” he repeated, “normal is the complete opposite of you. It’s like saying the sky is green, or that dwarves are tall.”

I had to crack a smile at that. “I have never actually met a dwarf before. I wonder what they are like...” I wondered aloud.

Eragon smiled back. “They can be very pleasant if you let them. If you do meet one though, which I am sure you will if you join the Varden officially as we have many dwarven allies, never get on their bad side. Their temper is short.”

“Very lame, Eragon. I don’t think Iyern would approve of that joke if he were here” I said and sheathed my sword. The make of the sword was not perfect but I quite liked it.

“He seems like quite a character” replied Eragon and noticing me putting away my weapon did the same. He walked over, filling in the space between us.

“You have no idea” I said, grinning at the memory of Iyern as a small dragon, playing in the bed sheets like a cat that saw a mouse underneath them. “Should we head back?” I squinted up at the sun. It had passed very slowly through the sky and I saw it had dropped a few inches. About two hours had passed, I concluded.

Eragon nodded and he handed me my cloak. “Here, put this on again.” I took it, thanked him and threw it across my back. I put the hood up and sniffed. I kept my head down as we walked, swerving through the tents and avoiding people’s gazes. I had no idea why we had to keep walking through the villager living area. It would’ve been easier for us to take an alternate route.

“This is the quickest way. The outside of the area is barricaded and soldiers patrol it. It would just look more suspicious anyways” said Eragon and he opened the flap to the large tent that was on the outskirts of the camp.

I pushed myself into a corner of the tent as there was little room with two dragons. Eragon followed suite and we were cramped into a corner, Saphira’s flank at arm’s length.

“How is he, Saphira?” I asked. She kept her eyes closed with her muzzle still pressed to Iyern. She made no attempt to look at me or break concentration. Eragon answered instead.

“She’s focusing too hard. I can hear his heart slowing down. I fear he is gradually getting worse the more time that passes.” I sank to the ground, clutching my knees. Eragon sat down at my side as well and put a reassuring hand on my knee. “We are doing all we can you must remember. I am sure he will be fine.” His facial expression did not seem to support his claim. He was solemn again, looking at the still body. I pushed his hand away and turned my head away from him. I didn’t answer but instead delved myself into depression.

“The pain of losing a dragon, your partner, is very tough. At times, you feel as though you should have died also. The bond that has been forged between all dragons and their riders is unbreakable as long as both remain alive. I knew a rider who lost his dragon. He was never the same, I was told anyways.”

“How is this comforting to me?” I asked softly.

Eragon didn’t answer but stared at the back of my head. I could feel his stare linger on me, the silence not being broken by either of us. I heard him stand up and wipe the dirt from his pants. “I guess I will see you later today when I deliver your food. Bye” and he left.

I sat in the same spot, occasionally shifting my position. The light slowly got darker and darker until a warming orange gleam filled the tent, indicating the slow close of the day.

Today has been the longest day of my life I thought grudgingly. I jumped, startled by Saphira’s sudden movement. She turned her large, elegant head in my direction.

‘I can hear his heart steadily growing fainter. He is at his weakest peak and I am afraid I can do nothing about it. Alert Eragon and tell him to bring in as many magical beings in as possible. I will stay here.’

I jumped up, astonished and scared, more scared than I had been on the Burning Plains. “Yes, Saphira” I answered and bolted out the tent. I ran so fast, as fast as Eragon had. Much faster than any human could and anyone I had ever met. The tents were a blur and I felt no decrease in strength. I was absently reminded of the Eldunari, currently tucked away with the armor I had worn on the battlefield. I had yet to ask Eragon of their whereabouts. I stopped and realized I had no clue where I was. I was in the middle of a huge array of tents. People stopped for second and stared at me, gaping at my speed.

“Eragon!” I yelled. I had no clue where he was for no one had told me. People muttered and continued their work, getting ready to close down for the night. I yelled again but no one answered. Then it hit me, a way to find Eragon through the huge camp.

I kept running after my brief stop, swerving around tents with increased energy. I flung my mind outwards and my mind met a variety of others. Some were thinking of what to make for dinner, others on petty tasks, and some on everyday worries. I also brushed against the minds of animals and their simple one track minds. I suddenly hit a brick wall, and then another. I pushed against all of them but there were about 12, maybe 13. A warning bell rang somewhere and panic was sent through the villagers I passed.

Who were shielding their minds? I thought. Then I remembered the magical folks Eragon had told me about, the healers with barely capable magical abilities- Du Vranga Gata. I must have seemed like a threat to them, an approaching magical enemy so they set off an alarm. Now they will all come running. Perfect.

I continued running, throwing my mind out as far as it could go. More brick walls. One was exceptionally strong, then another. The forces were overwhelming as I followed a make shift trail leading through the campsite. They all seemed to be grouped together, the stronger minds, leading me to believe they were the more important people of the Varden with guards with sealed minds. I ran in the direction I felt my mind pull me, towards that group. Each mind felt different, as if their methods of shielding explained their personalities. One strict in a way, one softer and more lenient.

In mere seconds I was stopped abruptly in front of a large tent that seemed to tower above the rest. It was more lavish the way the tapestry and tarp was decorated.

“Eragon!” I yelled once more. A few soldiers came running out, hearing the alarms go off again and again.

“Who are you?” one asked.

“You cannot pass, we will not allow it” another yelled. “We will protect Lady Nasuada at all costs!”

5 more ran out, all decked in similar armor and wore crests of the Varden. I looked around, my hands up in an attempt to look as feeble as possible. I had certainly not meant to set off this big of a commotion through the Varden.

“Stop!” I heard behind me and the sound of running footsteps followed the voice. I wheeled around and saw a woman standing there, wearing black velvet robes. Others were behind her, about 13.

13... they could be the minds I hit. They can help Iyern! I thought desperately.

“Eragon, come out! Tell them I mean no harm!” I yelled as loud as I could.

“Why would you mean no harm if you tried to break through all our magical barriers? You are obviously launching an attack against our forces, clearly working for Galbatorix. Apprehend her quickly!” commanded the woman that had yelled before. They all advanced on me. I did not want to touch any of them as it would make me look like a true enemy. I was so sure Eragon was in there. They also said Lady Nasuada was in there, the Varden’s leader.

My mind was then immersed in attack which I fended off. I knew the strength of a dragon rider could overcome many people at once, but not this many and at that, half of those were magical beings. The soldiers held up their shields and came upon me. One took my arm and ringed it around my back. I made no attempt to fend off the soldiers but I couldn’t have someone in my mind, reaching all my hidden thoughts.

“STOP!” a furious voice yelled. I breathed out a sigh of relief. Eragon.

He ran out of the tent, followed by others. Eragon pushed the soldiers off me and the magical attempts at breaking into my defenses were terminated. He took my shoulders and turned my body to face him. I was shaking slightly and my breathing was rattling. “Eragon” I whispered, “please, we need your help. We need everyone we can get. ‘We’ being Saphira and I.”

“Why? What’s wrong?” he whispered back, staring into my eyes.

“Iyern” I stated. Nothing else needed to be said for the flash of understanding in his blue ones.

“Trianna, gather your forces and follow me, please. We need your help with a matter.”

“Who is this?!” she said. “She has attempted an attack on us! Why should I help her?”

“I can explain but please for now, we need you.”

She huffed unwillingly.

“What is it, Eragon?” inquired a stern voice from behind. It was Lady Nasuada. Eragon moved out of the way for her to see me. She gasped.

“This is Alura, the one you spoke of? Why is she out here in the open? She is a secret... as of now” she said, a bit of anger flaring as she said ‘as of now’.

“It is her dragon, Iyern. He has still not awoken and now we are in desperate need of all the help we can get. This is an opportunity to recruit another ally. Quickly, the time has come to call upon the Varden for Alura’s sake.”

Nasuada nodded quickly and followed Eragon as he led the way back to the tent where Iyern was being held. About 20 followed, Du Vranga Gata, the queen’s guards and a few others that had piled out of the tent but those I had no name for. One was very odd; a small child like figure that stared eerily at me. I didn’t return the stare but kept looking straight forward and focusing on Iyern. Eragon and I ran faster than the others, Nasuada not keeping up but falling behind every time we took a turn.

‘Help, now!’ Saphira’s voice echoed in my head. One glance at Eragon’s fixated expression told me that he got her warning too. At last, we arrived back there and I ran in with Eragon now trailing.

I came to Iyern and bent my head down low to put my ear against his chest. It was faint, the beating barely making any movement or sound now. It was still there but only by a thread. Tears sprang up in my eyes.

“No, Iyern! I can’t lose you!” I yelled and I was aware that Eragon had his arms on my shoulders, trying to pull me back. The healers piled in, Trianna and Nasuada at the head. Then after them 3 more came in. They stood around, gaping at Saphira and the white dragon they had never seen, much less heard about. The only ones who weren’t shocked were Eragon, Nasuada, the child, a peculiar looking woman who loomed over the child and a man who looked pale faced, as if he didn’t want to be there.

I realized that they all had piled out of the tent and all their minds were closed off as well. They must be very important figures...I thought. The soldiers stayed outside as there was no room to accommodate everyone.

“You must help us, healers. Take a position around the dragon, we don’t have much longer.”

They still stood there, staring. They had no clue what to do. Saphira’s eyes narrowed and her head, still bent over Iyern twitched.

‘NOW!’ she roared in everyone’s mind. Healers stumbled and rushed, giving Saphira her wish. Eragon tried once again pulling me back but I pushed his hand off with a strength I had not meant. A satisfying crunch could be heard as I broke one of his fingers when I hit it away. He gave up and clasping his hand, went around to the other side of Iyern.

The healers rushed, taking positions that surrounded him. I began muttering incantations as soon as everyone was there. They stared at me and looked to another, deciding they should do the same. For 10 agonizing seconds all that could be heard was ragged breathing and mutterings of the ancient language around the tent. Nothing happened. We all repeated everything over again. Eragon was the first to stop and I looked up, worriedly. We all stared at him. His face was that of a funeral attendee. It was then when I heard it. The upheaval of breath from Iyern and my spirits soared, thinking we had achieved in bringing him back. He exhaled and his chest went back down, seemingly lower than before. I expected him to put his head up and look at me excitedly with that expression of sheepishness.

But he didn’t.

He lay there, as motionless as he was a minute before. I put my ear up to his chest hysterically and could not hear anything.

I shook my head and my tears streamed down my face in two long lines of moisture. I put my hands on Iyern as this could comfort him. Saphira, nostrils flaring lifted her head up and roared, the noise splitting the quiet air around us. She threw her neck up and people around her backed away. A light formed at the point of her muzzle, seeming to engulf her whole nose then and I stared, watching it creep along her whole entire body. She was glowing, light blue as the white light dimmed the shine of her scales behind the encasing mist-like substance. She lowered her head onto Iyern’s face that was not on the side of the ground. The light seemed to fall off her, growing onto Iyern like ivy crawling up the side of a fence. It encased him and as it touched my hand, I recoiled and hissed. It was like white hot fire. I looked at my hand fleetingly. It had a burn on the side of it which throbbed painfully. The red – singed skin hurt as the air touched it.

The substance was now sheathing Iyern’s whole body. It seeped into him as if he were absorbing it. His body started to glow then when it all disappeared, a color ten times brighter than the white of his scales. I had to look away, it was like staring in to the sun. I stumbled backwards as the heat encircled the tent. Many had now run out, and the only person in my view whom I could see was Eragon. He also was shielding his eyes from the light emitting from Iyern. Saphira had backed away too, her eyes lit with triumph.

The light vanished suddenly, as if it was never there in the first place and his body convulsed. No one was speaking or moving; no one had any idea what to do.

Iyern’s eyes opened and they found mine, full of love and care. His mind filled mine with such force that has never been felt. He beamed at me with his dragon grin.

‘Alura!’ he cried in my mind and I rushed to him. Saphira moved back, half her body now out of the tent to give us more room. ‘I love you, thank you so much for saving me.’

‘Iyern, of course I would have. I never gave up; I never gave up on you. I knew you were still there, somewhere. But it is not entirely from my effort that saved you. You should be thanking Saphira’ I said back in his mind. He lifted his neck which I hugged fiercely. He stared into Saphira’s brilliant sapphire eyes, as if to convey his greatest thanks.

He got up and I slung my legs over his neck in between two spikes. Stretching and looking around he asked everyone, ‘What’d I miss?’

Yaay :D. So. For that awesome chappie... moar reveiws pl0x? They are like chocolate drizzled apples covered in caramel for me. Mmm. Cholesterol.