The next week passes with antagonizing slowness. The egg had not stirred an inch and Eragon was beginning to become worried that it required a Rider. If that were the case, it would be nearly impossible for the egg to hatch and keep it a secret.

Eragon paces back and forth in his tent, as he does so often since he found the egg. Trying to figure out a way, a possibility, a chance. Anything to make the egg hatch.

He had begun taking out the egg, placing it on his lap and just staring at it. Sometimes, Eragon would speak to it, telling it completely random things, about him, Saphira, the war, his worries, anything that was on his mind.

At the moment Eragon had it sitting on his lap, tracing on of the many silver swirls with one finger. Saphira often stuck her head in to check on him and the egg, but never lingered for long, not wanting her head stuck in there not being able to see.

'Anything new?', Saphira asks, even though she knows the answer.

'No', Eragon says simply, not feeling like chatting. This egg had been the only thing on his mind this whole week. Saphira had tried everything she could think of too, but nothing had worked.

'Eragon, someone is coming', Saphira says urgently. Eragon quickly stows the egg away back in its hiding place as he hears footsteps approaching the tent. Instead of waiting inside the tent, Eragon walks out to greet whoever it is.

Standing in front of the entrance is Nasuada, King Orrin, Arya, Blödhgarm, and Orik. Eragon nods his head to them, his curiosity peaking as he says, "to what do I owe the pleasure?"

Nasuada smiles sadly at him then says, " unfortunately, we are not here on.... pleasant terms. we have an important topic we must discuss", Eragon's mind flicks immediately to the egg, but instead Nasuada continues, saying, "we are closing in on a small village. No big city, but our sources tell us that they have a couple hundred soldiers placed there. Also, they are drafting common people from the town. We must come up with a plan of how we are going to handle them for we can not leave them, in case they attack us from behind. I do not want to attack the innocent, but I fear we may have no choice."

Eragon almost releases a sigh of relief, but catches himself at the last second. He notices Arya looking at him strangely and knows he must have slipped up and let some of his relief show. Only Arya seems to have noticed his strange reaction, though.

"Ah", Eragon says nodding, "where do you want to discuss these matters?"

"My pavilion, now if possible?", Nasuada says.

"Lead the way", Eragon says before falling into step with the others. A giant thud behind him, tells him that Saphira has taken off, no doubt heading towards Nasuada's pavilion.

"You should work harder on concealing your emotions", came the low murmur of Arya's voice next to him.

"Yes, I know. I just couldn't help it...", Eragon says back, just as quiet.

"Try", is the only response from Arya as they continue walking to the red pavilion.

Finally, they reach the red pavilion and push their way inside. Eragon chooses to stay standing as everyone else finds seats around him. When everyone is settled, Nasuada places her fingertips together and says, "so."

The ground shakes as Saphira lands outside the tent. Eragon can't help smiling to himself, thinking she sure knows how to make an entrance.

'Well, I have to make an impression', Saphira says smugly.

"Well, now that everyone is here", Nasuada says smiling, "what do we plan to do about this town?"

"I don't mean to sound rude", Orrin begins, "but I say we just take it like a normal settlement."

"Yes, but what about all the innocent people?", Orik asks.

"We've always had innocent people who decide to fight, this is no different", Orrin says indifferently.

"Yes but these are being forced to fight! You just want to slaughter them for doing nothing?", Orik replies hotly.

"What are we supposed to do!?", Orrin shouts, slamming his fist on the table next to him, "it's us or them!"

"No, it's not", Arya says calmly.

"Well then what do you suggest we do?", Orrin says cockily.

"We do what we have always done", Eragon says walking forward.

"Exactly", Orrin says nodding.

"No", Eragon says looking at Orrin, " we do not go in and just kill them, we give them a chance to surrender. If they do not want to fight then they may give up and not fight. If not, then we will have to deal with them just like any other soldier."

Nasuada sighs and looks down, "I don't like it, but I guess you're right. Even if they weren't forced to be soldiers, those who want to fight will fight."

"Anyways, having a dragon on your side tends to help intimidate people into surrendering", Blödhgarm says with a smile, showing his pointed teeth.

'True, very true', Saphira says to Eragon only.

"Now, the second reason I called you here, do you think there is a possibility that Murtagh and Thorn will be there protecting the town?", Nasuada asks, causing total silence to follow.

"It is very unlikely that they will be there to protect this one little settlement, when they weren't even there to protect Feinster", Orrin states, leaning back in his chair as if the matter was settled.

"But in the chance they are?", Orik questions.

"Then my spellcasters and I will assist Saphira and Eragon in any way we can", Blödhgarm says, narrowing his yellow eyes at Orrin.

"It seems like the only thing we can do", Arya says.

Everyone in the room looks at each other. She was right, there was nothing they could do until that time came. Eragon's thoughts immediately jumped back to the egg in his room. There was nothing he could do about it until it hatched.

"Well, is that all? I have very important business to attend to", Orrin says standing up.

"Yes, I think that is it, you may go your majesty", Nasuada says nodding.

Orrin leaves the tent as quickly as he can with out running, and as soon as he leaves, everyone noticeably relaxes. Orrin is just, stressful.

"Now, is that really all Nasuada?", Orik asks.

"Actually, yes, that is all. You may go. Except you, Eragon. And Arya, you may stay if you'd like", Nasuada says standing. Blödhgarm and Orik exit, leaving Eragon and Arya alone with Nasuada.

"Eragon can you make it so we will be warded from listeners?", Nasuada asks quietly.

"Atra nosu waíse vardo fra eld hórnya", Eragon chants quickly, then says, "what is it Nasuada?"

"The egg. Have you had any luck with it?", she asks. Eragon notices Arya looking at him intently as well.

"No, it remains as it was", he says solemnly.

Nasuada sighs and turns so her back is facing him, then says, "a shame,we could use another dragon on our side.... I guess I just hoped that it would hatch on its own."

"We all did. Even if it meant having to deal with a wild dragon", Arya says sadly.

"Yes, but it seems like all we can do is wait. We cannot do anything until something happens", Eragon says quietly.

"I guess....", Nasuada says, turning back towards him, "all we can do is wait, wait and hope."

Everyone is silent for a while, no one wanting to say anything that will create something else to worry about. Finally Eragon speaks, "do you think Murtagh will be there? At this.... Settlement or whatever it's called?"

"Talin, it's the name of the town, and honestly..... I don't know. Murtagh could be there, and he could not. I don't thing it's based on the size of the town, but his chances of stopping you. And in this case, I honestly have no clue....", Nasuada states glumly. This did not help at all. It actually made matters worse, because if Murtagh was there, that meant that he was pretty sure he could defeat Eragon.

'Do not worry, Little One. Murtagh does not know about Blödhgarm and his spellcasters. He underestimates us and will pay for it', Saphira tells Eragon confidently.

'Yes, I guess you are right', he agrees grudgingly.

The three of them, four with Saphira, stay at the tent for a while longer, chatting about nothing in particular, trying to talk about anything to keep their minds off the unpleasant topics.

Finally, after night had long fallen, Eragon and Arya bid Nasuada a good night and exited the pavilion. Arya and Eragon don't say much as Eragon climbs onto Saphira's back and holds on tight as she takes off from the ground and glides to his tent. Landing with the normal earth jarring thud, Eragon quickly scrambles down Saphira's back and stumbles into the tent. He was so tired he could pass out, but he still had to do one thing.

Reaching down into the saddle bags, he pulls out the purple egg and holds it in his arms, just holding it.

Pulling it closer it his face, Eragon says in a low voice, "why won't you hatch?", then places it back in its place and flops down on the bed. He falls asleep almost instantly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AN: UGH! SUPER DUPER BORING CHAPTER AND IT MAKES ME MAD! BUT IT MAKES ME HAPPY BECUZ I GOT ANOTHER ONE OUT! YIPEE!!!!!!!! HAHA NOW I HAVE A LITTLE CHALLENGE FOR YA, IF YOU ARE A TRUE ERAGON FAN, YOU WILL TRANSLATE THIS......

1. Brisingr

2. Shur'tugal

3. Argetlam

4. Fricai onr eka eddyr.

5. Stenr, rïsa!

6. And will tell me the name the urgals used for Eragon and Nasuada.

GOOD LUCK! AND THE PERSON/PEOPLE WHO GETS THEM ALL RIGHT WILL GET A DEDICATION IN MY NEXT CHAPTER(S)!!!!!

THANKA YOUUU

~Bert