Hey guys, hopefully this chapter shows up this time! Don't know what's going on but.... Hopefully it works now that I reported. And to those that could see it in the first place... Well here it is again! Haha. So please enjoy! Also, if you still cannot see this, then comment below so I can try something different. Then again, if you can see any writing then you wouldn't be able to read this message I am writing now.... Ok never mind then, hopefully everyone can read this and you can enjoy the chapter!

'Talia! TALIA!' a voice shouted in my mind.

I was slow to wake, but as my senses started to return to me, I began to realize things. I was laying on the ground, which I did not understand since I knew I was strapped into the saddle. Also, I could feel something, I didn't know what, on my face. It was rough against my skin, yet gentle.

My thoughts moved slowly, as if they were held back by some force. I could sense my surroundings, yet I could not move, or respond in any way. Slowly, a sound reached my ears. One that did not fit my current location.

The clang of metal was prominent, as was the shouting of voices both male and female. The faded image of a scene played in front of my closed eyelids, but I was unable to make out anything more than the silhouette of a figure, gesturing towards something. That was all I saw before the scene disappeared completely and my eyes flew open.

As the actual sounds around me reached my ears, only one made my heart stop and blood run cold. One that also did not belong in my present situation.

"Be prepared," a breath of wind whispered in my ear moments before every sound near me crashed against my eardrums. My eyes flew open and I was able to take in where I was and what was going on.

My chest heaved as I looked up into Galbatorix's face looming over me. His dark eyes glittered brightly as I noticed his hand on my cheek. He visibly relaxed as he saw me conscious and moved his hand to my neck to help me sit up when I was ready. I was disorientated and still could not focus on things clearly, but he did seem larger than before, more muscular and radiating an aura of power, not that he didn't before, but it was more prominent now. Something one could notice by just glancing at him, whereas before I would have to study him closely to discern the strength in both mind and body.

"Oh Talia, thank the gods you're alright," he said, a relieved smile creeping across his face.

I opened my mouth a few times before the words finally croaked out. "You..."

"Yes?"

"You look bigger."

His slight smile grew until all of his teeth showed. I could tell he was trying not to laugh at my comment due to the current situation, but I beat him to it. A low chuckle echoed up my throat as my weariness began to slip away. He joined in shortly, laughing softly, but we were both cut off by a sharp, quick growl.

Galbatorix looked upwards and nodded before helping me sit up. As I did, I was met with the large blue eyes of Vascar. I could usually gauge his emotions, but at that moment, I found it impossible. Even his mind seemed distant and blocked off from me.

'Oh Talia,' he finally said and embraced his mind with mine. I immediately sensed his worry, relief, and his ever prevalent curiosity. I smiled warmly and rubbed my hand against his nose, pushing on his orange scales. He began to him loudly, and despite what had just happened, I almost felt the happiest I'd been all day.

Feeling better, I got to my feet and looked around me. The square had cleared out and only a few stragglers remained. None noticed me, and that was how I liked it. I didn't need people thinking I was some weak girl who collapsed at the ceremony. In fact, I realized not a single person left in the square realized what had happened.

"We tried to keep the situation quiet," Galbatorix said, sensing my thoughts, "so we could judge the situation before telling someone."

'Plus, a group of panicking people would... Annoy me,' Vascar commented. It was easy to imagine him scaring off a crowd by just growing at them and I could barely stifle a laugh at the thought.

I was so happy, despite the terrifying situation that had just happened. Of course, I was curious to find out what happened, but at that moment I had not a care in the world. The only thing that put a damper to my thoughts was knowing that I would still have to confront Galbatorix about his deeds. No matter how normal he seemed at the moment, I knew that I could not push aside my thoughts and doubts.

'You don't have to do it here,' Vascar commented, 'let's go for a fly, and do it in private.'

'Alright,' I agreed, already knowing where we would fly to.

Without a word, I climbed onto Vascar's back. Galbatorix below me looked worried and opened his mouth to protest, but I cut him off.

"I feel fine now. I have not a clue what happened, but it is gone now," I said honestly.

He looked skeptical but relented and quickly scaled Jarnunvösk's side, settling into his own saddle. Despite how sure I was that I would not black out again, I strapped myself into my saddle, just to be safe. After I did so, I could physically feel Vascar relax beneath me. I couldn't help but feel a little grateful for his worrisome thoughts, despite how annoying it could get sometimes. I knew he would always keep me safe.

Once we were both settled, Vascar took off and angled for the large shelf overlooking the city. Sensing our direction, Jarnunvösk quickly flapped ahead of us, taking the lead to the cave which we would always spend our time in. The place I had fallen in love with him, the part I knew. But, that was not the only side of him. There was a part of Galbatorix I did not know, a part I would never be able to accept.

Not wanting to be left behind, Vascar used his smaller size to push us through the skies faster than the larger green dragon. He sped past her and made it to the cave long before the pair, allowing me to dismount before they could even catch up. I could sense his pride at the achievement radiating off of him in pulsing waves and I couldn't help but smile at him.

'You've grown faster,' I commented, my eyes shining with pride up at him. He shuffled his wings in embarrassment, but I knew he wasn't truly so.

'Just a little bit,' he said before taking off to allow Jarnunvösk to land. I chuckled at his attempt at modesty, when in reality I could feel my compliment only increasing his pride.

Soon Galbatorix was at my side and Jarnunvösk had also taken off into the cloudy sky. Taking advantage of the unobscured opening, I sat down on the edge, dangling my legs over the ledge like I did the first time we came up to the cave. Galbatorix soon joined me, his eyes searching mine intently. He seemed to sense I had something on my mind, so he stayed quiet for a moment, but only a moment.

"I was worried you weren't going to come," he began. I looked up at him strangely so he continued, "the ceremony, I wasn't sure you were going to come to it. You were so angry yesterday that I thought...."

I took his hand and turned towards him a little more, "yes, I was mad, but that doesn't mean I would just leave you. That's not what you do when you love someone. I wouldn't have missed your ceremony for anything. But, we do need to discuss some things."

He looked a little anxious and curious, but he let me continue.

"You were arrogant, and rude. I felt like I didn't even know who you were-"

Vascar growled slightly in my mind, and I knew immediately I was deviating away from the main point that I was supposed to talk about. I silently thanked him, and continued.

"And, most importantly, I know you killed those Urgals."

Galbatorix looked down at me, and I could not read any of his emotions in response my words. He sighed loudly before speaking.

"Talia, I apologize for my behavior toward you yesterday. I was trying to seem braver than I really was. I am sorry if that offended you. As for the Urgals, I must ask why you would care?"

"Why wouldn't I care!" I said in shock, "It's cruel what you did!"

He seemed confused as he answered, "Talia they are monsters. They are not people, they are nothing but creatures that slaughter more of us than we do them. They deserve to be exterminated."

"They have families," I insisted, "they love and have feelings. Urgals are brutal, but they protect their loved ones and are more than mere animals. And if you achieve joy in killing them, then I feel like you are a different person than I originally thought."

Galbatorix furrowed his brow, as if frustrated with my words. I stiffened my back, preparing to defend my case, but he finally leaned back.

"I see we will have to agree to disagree on this topic. I do not understand what has caused you to change your mind, for you had no objection to Urgal slaying before."

"I've seen the errors of my ways. I've discovered the misinterpretations placed upon Urgals and I do not approve. Especially since you murdered innocent Urgals-"

"Innocent?" He said hotly, his tone defensive, "no Urgals are innocent, Talia. They are despicable and deserve to be crushed under my boot."

My mind was buzzing as defiance began to rise within me. He had completely changed within seconds again, going from his charming self to someone almost reveling in his power. I scowled at him and began to start yelling but once more he changed.

Embracing me in a large hug, he cut off my forming rant and took me by surprise. Even Vascar was confused by the events when he sensed them through my mind. I pushed myself away from Galbatorix and looked at him incredulously. What was going on with him?

"Let us not discuss such events now. We wouldn't want our conversation to end in such a way. Nor our time together, for tomorrow morn I will depart on my first mission as a rider," he said, his voice once more smooth and charming.

I tried to stay angry at him, but the thought of him leaving in the morning caused my tension to melt, leaving nothing but worry. Vascar probed my thoughts curiously, but he did not let his anger go.

'If he ever talks to you like that again,' Vascar fumed to me. Through our mind, I felt him spew a stream of flames into the grass in frustration. I sent him calming thoughts to try and settle him but I did not put a lot of effort into it.

With only hints of my previous anger, I questioned, "Mission? What kind of mission? Where will you go and how long will you be gone?"

'You are hopeless sometimes, Talia!' Vascar raged, spreading his wings in preparation for flight. I brushed him off, my thoughts more focussed on Galbatorix.

He looked out over the city, shadowed in the overcast weather. The grey light shining through the clouds bathed his skin with an ethereal tone, making his normally tan skin look almost pale. It felt as if the color had drained from the world, leaving nothing but an eerie feel in the air.

"Nothing worthy of my skills. I will be leaving with Jarnunvösk to first fly to the wretched towns in Palancar valley to see if they are surviving. I will return briefly to inform the elders of the peasants' status, and then I will leave once more to help bring the dragon egg from town to town for the annual egg ceremony."

"Being a guardian of the egg sounds interesting at least," I commented, reminiscing on the day I had first became a rider.

"Perhaps interesting, but on the whole it will be childish and easy," he said stubbornly. His mood was only sinking more and I was beginning to long for alone time with Vascar. Sensing my thoughts, Vascar took off from the shelf and flew down to the cave entrance. I decided to say my farewells to Galabtorix before he landed, and turned my body to look at him.

"Better opportunities will come in time, until then make the best of the situation," I said, beginning to hear the sound of Vascar's wings outside of the cave.

Galbatorix also heard his approach and seemed to understand. "I do not know how long I will be gone, but until then," he took my hand and kissed it tenderly, "I bid you farewell and will miss you dearly until I return."

My chest began to ache at the thought of his departure, and despite my annoyance with him as of late, I knew that my time without him would be lonely. As Vascar landed in the cave, we both stood and embraced, and my uncertainty in gauging his emotions was complicated by my inability to read my own.

Pulling away, I quickly scaled Vascar's side and settled into the saddle. I could not meet Galbatorix's eyes, and instead looked out over the city. The once grey sky had quickly changed to black and the air had dropped dramatically in temperature. I shivered ever so slightly, but I wasn't sure if it was from the cold inside or out. Finally, Galbatorix broke the silence for the final time.

"Goodbye Talia, I will move swiftly so as to return to you in the shortest time possible."

"Farewell love," I said solemnly as Vascar took off into the air. The wind buffeted us around, but Vascar was swift and maneuvered through the air with little difficulty.

Even while struggling through the wind, Vascar had the strength to comment obviously, 'There is a storm coming.'

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AN: HAVE I EVER SAID HOW SORRY I WAS? WELL IM SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG. SCHOOL HAS BEEN BUILDING UP AND THAT COMES FIRST. BUT, ITS A LINGER UPDATE SO I HOPE THAT HELPS MAKE UP FOR MY LATENESS...

BUT, ON A HAPPIER NOTE! I HAVE BIG INFORMATION TO SHARE WITH ALL OF YOU!!!

DragonInk 2 has opened and we have seven spots still available for you to sign up! If you do not know what DragonInk is, it is a hands on Eragon Writing Competition and it is hosted by me and Sneakers107 at the account _DragonHeart2407_ so please go and sign up for that so we can begin!

And also I would like to give a HUGE thank you to everyone for your reads that have allowed this book to reach 21K reads!!! This means the world to me and you all are the best for not only sticking with me despite my late updates, but also giving me your support and love. Thank you all so much and please keep on...

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~Bert