A/N 

Okay so huge time skip, because I don't remember the exact order of events from the first book and also I wouldn't change them much anyway. With Nix still only growing and not quite ready to ride, Percy not knowing magic, and the fact that nobody knows about Percy keeps his interference in those events to a minimum.

On with the story.

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By the time Percy and Eragon have reached the valley that they believe holds the entrance to the Varden, much has changed. For one Saphira now carries an elf under her stomach, an elf that nearly cost Eragon his life and almost exposed Percy to the rest of the world. Not to mention that the elf Arya is in a coma-like state and dying from poison. Also Nix has grown at an extremely slow rate in comparison to Saphira. Sure the dragon's bigger now, but she's not ready to ride and it doesn't seem as if she will be for quite some time. But that's not even the craziest part. A man only slightly older than the two of them is the one who kept everything from going too far south. His name is Murtagh and he is the son of Morzan, the second biggest baddie to ever live in Alagaesia. 

Murtagh had confided in them as they approached the Vardin. He was going to turn back and leave them, but Eragon had convinced him to stay.

Still the thing that weighs heavily on them is their missing companion and Eragon and Percy's mentor. The incident that took Brom was tragic and is an extremely sore subject, especially for the elder of the two riders. 

The group stalks forward quietly, but at a fast pace. A group from another race in Alagaesia called Urgals has been tailing them for awhile. Thanks to a diversion Percy created a couple days ago the Urgals are at least two days behind, but you can never be too cautious. They are nearing the end of the valley and there appears to be nothing there aside from a waterfall. Percy has to suppress the urge to play in it. Something about water just calls to him. However, he's suppressed the desire to be near and instead done the opposite. Quite frankly it scares him. None of his other companions have an affinity for anything and Nix seems to find it strange as well.

Percy is currently sitting on Nix's back, something Eragon keeps scolding him for. The black-haired youth doesn't see the problem. Just because he and his dragon can't fly doesn't mean she can't carry him, which she is pretty adamant about doing. Still if he lounges on her too long her skin begins to chafe his legs and he has to get off. 

"Damn it!" Eragon says and slams his fist against the stone wall beside him. "It should be here!"

"We'll just go back. We probably just chose in the wrong valley. Besides it's not like I'm going to the Vadin anyway. It's just the four of you," Murtagh says, trying to calm the rider.

It's Percy who shakes his head. "Even Saphira said that it was this one." At this the blue dragon nods. "Even if she didnt, we don't have time. By the time we make it out of the valley the urgals will catch up to us. That also means they would catch you if you were to leave." 

The older boy just throws up his hands and turns away. "Whatever. Don't listen to me. Just remember when I die it was because we stayed."

Percy huffs, but then he feels the strange pull towards the water again. He wants so desperately to ignore, but where's he supposed to go? If he walks off he could get lost and while finding Nix was amazing he would rather not do it a second time. He caught a cold from sleeping on the forest floor that time. He jumps off the white dragon and crouches down by the pool the fall empties into. What can it hurt? 

He thrust a hand into the icy water and suddenly it feels as if energy is shooting up through his body. He feels fully awake and more alert than ever. His eyes widen with the initial shock. Nix's mind presses against his, asking him what's wrong. However now he has noticed that he can "see" or sense everything in the water and what it touches. 

He is so engrossed by the feel of the water and the fact that it seems alive that he doesn't notice Eragon calling out the Varden all the while banging a stone against the cliff face. "Ai varden abr du Shur'tugalar gata vanta!"

Percy swishes his hand in the water a little longer, conversing with Nix and attempting to figure out why he feels like this. Finally the other boy's yelling gets to him and he turns around with a sigh. "Maybe we're on the wrong side of the lake."

"We're not-" Eragon begins to snap, but Saphira cuts him off.

'No, he's right. We are. In Arya's vision, it was the other side.' She says.

Eragon throws down the rock. "Well that would have been nice to know before I went and made a fool of myself."

The other four all chuckle. The could go all the way around the lake, but Murtagh determines it might be better to just cross it. It's calm enought that the horses can swim and Saphira can easily carry Arya. The blue dragon takes the elf across first and waits for Murtagh to get there. 

'It seems it is my turn,' Nix murmers and jumps into the air.

Percy is just about to jump in the water when Eragon stops him. "Saphira can bring us across as soon as Murtagh has freed Arya."

"But what's the fun in that," Percy says with a lopsided smile. "Unless of course you're scared of a little water."

"I am not scared of water!" Eragon protests and when Percy jumps in he follows. He of course gets stuck under the waterfall and would drown if Percy didn't pull him out. The green eyed rider laughs as he drags him up onto the pebble beach.

Percy throws himself onto the ground. "You're hopeless. You should have just said that you can't swim."

Eragon throws a pebble at him. "Whatever. You could have just waited for Saphira to come and get us, but noooo Percy always has to be Mr. Do-It-All-Himself."

Percy is about to throw a pebble back when someone clears their throat. The pair turn to see a bunch of men pointing weapons at their dragons and Murtagh. Well some of them are rather short men barely peaking at four foot, but nonetheless they are all heavily armed.

They are on their feet instantly, Eragon clutching an unsheathed Zar'roc and Percy and a long, sturdy stick that came from who-knows-where.

"Get away from them," Percy practically snarls. He doesn't like the look of the sharp blades so close to his young dragon.

Nix hums disapprovingly. 'Be still young one. We don't wish to make them feel any more threatened than they already do.'

"But..." Percy goes to complain, but Eragon nudges him apparently having received similar advice from his own dragon.

"Let's take this inside." A tall bald man where a purple cloak snaps. "Into the tunnels and if you disobey I'll kill him." He presses his blade into skin of Murtagh's neck and motions to a tunnel the two were too distracted to notice before. It's framed by two large stone doors and flame-less lamps line the corridor. 

After some hesitation and more urgings from their dragons the duo follow. So far the Varden isn't looking too inviting.

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A/N 

I tried to stick closer to the book with this chapter. I had my copy of Eragon propped open as I wrote. I avoided the battle with Urgals because I wanted to change things up a bit, plus I just wasn't ready to write a battle scene. 

Anyway I hope you enjoyed. Again sorry about the time skip, but Percy didn't do a lot during that time and it was similar to what happened in the actually book. Yes I will have Percy gradually remember somethings, not all, but some and no he will not be going back home. The two worlds were never meant to mix in the first place. :)