Hi guys, it has been a while.

And i'm sorry for that, but it won't be any different in the coming weeks. Life catches up with me, sooner than the words flow out of my fingertips.

It is always great to see new reviewers finding me. Thanks guys and welcome to my story.

Hope you enjoy this chapter as always, we'll get some new (old) characters again!

Tian was zigzagging her way through the self-build obstacles, while Kundog was hitting all the targets with his lance. Lokini was following Tian with a far greater agility, but stayed behind her.

Pats!

Ismira startled as a twig was slammed upon the table in front of her. "Ismira, if you rather want to play tag instead of learning to become an ambassador, please go and stop wasting my time here."

One last time Ismira looked out of the window with disappointment covering her face, before she turned to master Minka. "I'm sorry Minka-Elda. I will pay attention to your lessons." Ismira shut the shutters so that the distracting and appealing sight was blocked. Minka was a dwarven priestess who came to study at Gjarzla Hjarta. As she was the oldest and wisest dwarf on the island Ismira had asked her to teach her in the dwarven culture about two years ago. She was a good teacher, though sometimes she could be inpatient and a bit rough in her ways.

"So as I was saying, Rimmar has been a reader-of-law for a hundred years and is the head of law. Being a law-servant places you above all clans, only following the king's or the council's commands. Rimmar is also the one who laid the sentence over Vermûnd and-"

Ismira's mind ventured to Díanel. She remembered the first time she laid eyes upon him, exactly ten years ago. She was only thirteen years old back then, Díanel twelve. Carvahall was just rebuild and was still small and there were only a few children. She always got along with Hope, they had been best friends since their births. Because of Hope being Díanel's aunt, even though they were just a year apart, she was waiting for his family's arrival with the rest of her family. Ismira had joined them. It was at the end of spring that Díanel arrived with his parents and an apprentice from their smith in Surda. They had been on the road for months, and Díanel looked weary and grumpy. Ismira was curious about his olive skin and dark long hair, that was not yet in a warrior's cut back then. He ran towards his grandmother, Elain, but soon retreated to his hut afterwards. She had barely seen him in the months after that. Hope told her that Díanel was angry at his parents for moving to Carvahall and to be forced to leave all his friends behind in Surda.

During the winter of that year, Ismira went to the smithy of Baldor and Albreich to pick up something for her father. When she arrived in the smithy, only Díanel was there, working on a knife. He gave her the tools for Roran and as he did so, she noticed his silver eyes for the first time. She had asked him if he missed his old home. He nodded and held her gaze, without saying anything. Ismira felt uncomfortable, but her curious nature got the best of her and she had asked him how Surda was and if he had lived in a castle, like she did in Carvahall. He started to open up, Ismira clearly found his passion, and he told about the many adventures he experienced in the household of his grandfather and later uncle. About his best friend, the son of the horse master. They both laughed so hard they couldn't breathe when Díanel told how he and his friend got attacked by a cock. Díanel even got a little scar of the chicken attack on his shoulder. After the laughing subdued, Ismira said, with the empathy and honesty of a child, that they could be friends too.

For a moment, Díanel hesitated, before he said that he would like to be friends. Hope never wanted to play with Díanel because he was a boy. However, Ismira was curious about this new olive-skin colored boy in town and they got along greatly ever since that day in the smithy.

Pats!

"I understand that you have a lot to think about since the arrival of the Queen and the new rider. And the gods knows what's going on between all of you argetlams, but I won't teach you like this. Come find me again when you've regained your interest." Minka turned around and left the room.

Ismira sighed. It was true, this was the second day since Díanel and Queen Arya arrived, and she couldn't concentrate on anything else since. There was the tension between Arya, Herna and Eragon that kept her busy. But that was nothing compared to what Díanel stirred within her. She loathed the way they parted, the way she parted. They had gotten together in a romantic way when she was nineteen. When Díanel finally revealed his feelings for her. But ten months later Lokini hatched and she was forced to leave him behind. In the beginning it had caused her great pain, but after a while it was numbed by the concerns she had for her uncle. It faded like an old wound. But now Díanel was here again she felt as if her heart was torn between regret and happiness. She had no idea how he felt however, since it had been three years. There were so many great girls in Carvahall, and Díanel was always a favorable guy, due to his foreign olive skin and his mysterious eyes. And he always had been a little flirty when he grew older. He probably just saw her as an old childhood friend.

She opened the shutters again and watched Lokini. Her beautiful dragon. How he was both a blessing and a curse at the same time. She loved him, and would never stop doing so. But sometimes she missed her old easy life, where she had purpose. She was going to be a politician, like her father. He always asked for her advice and the people in Carvahall respected her. Now she was on the island, training to be something that she would never become, not if she would stay on this island like the other riders. Every day was so expandable here, nothing exiting ever happened. But the ever staying tension on this island had made everyone numb, almost insensible.

"Hi Ismira- " She turned around to see Díanel standing in the doorway. His hands uncomfortable on top of each other, then he placed one on his other elbow, and eventually he just put them behind his back. Clearly he didn't know where to put them. "Eragon-Elda asked you to join him in his study."

"Oh? Why's that?"

"I don't know. But he said you should tie your hair in a neat way." Díanel gave a small chuckle because Ismira's hair was always neat. It was a very silly joke. Ismira thought while she returned a smile.

"Guess we shouldn't keep my uncle waiting."

Díanel frowned. "I'm not coming with you. I'm going to read Eragon's diary he kept when he was building this island."

"Alright." She looked down. Suddenly she remembered something. "How was your training?" Ismira asked.

The sincere interest and warmth in her voice melted the awkwardness in the room. "It was great!" Díanel exclaimed. "It was tough, but Eragon is a great teacher. Not like Arya. She is great too. But Eragon is different. And he seemed to have changed so much since yesterday. He seemed truly interested in me and devoted to my training."

Ismira smiled again, this time a big sincere one, reflecting the joy she felt for Díanel. It was funny how he could be triggered by just asking about something that excited him. Like that day in the smithy ten years ago. He could be so secluded, but ask him about something and he rattles off. The excitement he radiated got the better of her.

"I would wish to hear more of it. Maybe if we find the time tonight?" She felt blood rise to her head as she realized what she just had said. Sometimes words just flapped out of her mouth. With cheeks as red as apples, she stared at her feet, in shame waiting for a reply.

"I cannot think of a better company to spend my evening with." Díanel replied with a genuine smile. He looked straight at her, a bit longer than necessary, before he left the room.

«»

"Ah Ismira, there you are, come have a seat please." Eragon looked at his niece. It was the first time he actually noticed how much she had matured during her time here. She was a woman now. Katrina would be so proud of her. In fact, she reminded him of her mother. He thought with a nostalgic feeling rushing through him. Though she was still a bit insecure about her own skills, Ismira was not that naive anymore. She was humble, but always knew the right thing to do, just like her father.

"You might wonder why I summoned you, but before we go there, I want to tell you that I'm proud of the rider you've become. I'm proud to be your family. And I know that I've let you down, as I've let everyone down. You have suffered because of me and I want to make up for that. Starting now." He didn't wait for a reply, but pointed at a big mirror on his desk.

"I think we have some catching up to do with your parents." Eragon said with an inviting smile.

Ismira's jaw dropped. "Uncle, are you fooling me?"

Eragon shook his head with a smile on his face.

"This is- Thank you uncle." She went to take a seat next to Eragon in front of the mirror.

Eragon spoke the words and the surface of the mirror started to wrinkle until it showed Roran.

"Dad!" Ismira shouted out of joy.

Roran turned around in surprise, and searched for the source of the sound.

"Ismira, is that you? Oh my girl, how I've missed you. How are you? Ah, you look so much like your mother. Brother… it's good to see you." Roran's face was filled with joy when he saw Ismira, but it slightly tempered upon seeing Eragon. "After all those years." He added in an almost accusing tone.

The expression didn't go unnoticed by Eragon. Though he did not expect Roran to be all too pleased to see him, the accusation in his eyes still hurt him.

"I'm sorry Roran. I truly am. In time I will try to explain it. But please brother, let us not spoil this little reunion with talk of past mistakes. Not now." Eragon's eyes filled with sincere sorrow. But he did not want to discuss his mistakes again and again. At this moment, he just wanted to hear about his brother's life.

"Alright Eragon. Let me get Katrina."

When he returned with Katrina, she started crying at the sight of her daughter and Ismira joined in her tears. Eragon was first joyed by seeing this expression of love. Then he felt a bit uncomfortable and eventually he felt ashamed as it struck him he was the reason Ismira didn't have contact with her parents for so long.

After the initial surprise faded, Katrina asked about how Ismira was doing. How her dragon was and if she got along with the other riders, ending with asking about how it was that Díanel was now on the island. Ismira replied, focusing on Lokini and how she got along with the others. She purposely did not say anything negative at all. Then Ismira asked about little Garrow, her brother, and Hope.

After the ladies were done catching up for the initial part, Eragon asked if he could speak with Roran alone.

Ismira and Katrina said each other goodbye, promising to talk again soon. Now that they've talked once, there was nothing stopping them from doing so another time.

Once they left, Eragon and Roran measured each other for a minute in silence. Eragon was sort of afraid of what to say next but eagerness to make amends got the better of him. "I'm sorry brother. I have lost my head many years ago, not just my head, my heart too."

"Arya?" Roran's face stood dead serious.

"Yes." Eragon sighed. "Initially it was her who caused me to slip and I was too weak to regain myself. Though she is not to blame for anything."

"She is with you on the island now, isn't she? How's that going?"

"She's the one who opened my eyes Roran. At first I was heartbroken at the sight of her, but she tore apart all the walls I build around myself. You know Roran, once I was happy on this island. It is beautiful, I had the elves with me and together we created something magnificent. Then the wild dragons hatched, Arya visited and Rhunön came, Harnon hatched for Herna and they joined us along with some dwarves, Kundog and the Urgals came after that. Everything was great and going as I imagined. But I always missed something. Someone. Arya.

When we parted after the war, she told me that in time we could be together if my feelings proved to be true, and not just born in the excitement of battles. I had done my waiting Roran. I waited for three years, is that not prove enough?!" Eragon's eyes filled with tears the more he continued to recall his darkest period.

"I told her of my feelings for her during one of our scrying sessions. Then she said that my feelings for her were both distracting us of our duties." Eragon paused.

"What duties Roran? Tell me? I raised the new riders and the dragon race was being restored." Eragon his voice was just a whisper, sound blocked by sadness and despair.

"You had a duty to us brother, to Alagaësia." Roran seemed to regret to be the one who had to say this, when his brother was so clearly hurt.

Eragon's eyes lighted up at this. A sparkle of his old insanity came to him.

"How is that? I scryed with all the leaders, I provided you all with council, only to be told that Alagaësia was free of threats. Only to be told that my feelings distracted me from my duties. How could my duty be to Alagaësia if I can never set foot there ever again?!" Eragon shouted the last question, the true source of his madness now clear to Roran. Eragon was disabled. He could help Alagaësia by council, but not by action. He was as an eldunarí, existing but not really participating. He could not help them.

"There is always a way brother." Roran remained calm.

The last words remained thick in the air as silence grew on them. Eventually Eragon regained himself and asked about Carvahall, about the politics and the growth of the village.

They talked for hours about everything that Roran was responsible for, how Carvahall would become an interracial city, the main city of the North. They too discussed matters that concerned all of Alagaësia. Until Katrina summoned Roran for dinner.

Eragon was getting quite hungry himself, but he had one more thing to do before he would eat.

Again he said the words of power to scry someone.

"Barzûl! Eragon! My brother. Hvedra, get me some ale! We have to celebrate. Barzûl. I cannot believe my own eyes. Hvedra, where stays the ale?!"

Eragon smiled at the sight of Orik, King Orik, his foster brother. He was as unchanging as a stone, both in appearance and behavior.

"It's good to see you again Orik."

"Aye, and if it is. You are the most pleasant sight I've seen in years. Apart from Hvedra and Isidar Mithrin that is of course. Ah thanks for the ale my love. How fare's life for you Eragon?"

"To be honest, better than I've been since I defeated Galbatorix. I have a proposal for you."

«»

Fírnen, are you-

Arya's thoughts strayed as she let her finger run along Fírnen's wound. She had healed it as best she could, but the wound had been too broad and some of his scales were cut off, leaving a trail of white scar tissue on his side.

I'm fine, Arya. Make sure to make a fairth of me on my good side though.

Stop joking for a moment Fírnen! Arya's concern let no room for his silly optimistic jokes.
That's not what I wanted to ask. When we first came here, Eragon told me that it was unfair towards you to keep and train you in Ellesméra, that you deserved to be here. And I noticed that the other dragons fly better than you do. Answer me honest: Are you weaker than the other dragons who were raised together?

I don't know Arya. He, Karhahaan surprised me. At first I could held him off, by using my agility and my smaller body to my advantage, that's how I hit his throat, but after that, he simply overpowered me. If Saphira hadn't interrupted-…

Arya could feel the shame and the pain it caused Fírnen to admit this. He had always been so proud. The elves in Ellesméra had always admired him. But he was usually the only dragon there. He had never been with a dragon for longer than a few months, let alone a dragon of his own age and size.

It's alright partner-of-my-mind-and-heart. It's all alright. Remember that we are together. That is when we are at our strongest. But I promise you I will never have you at a disadvantage again. If you will grow more powerful by training with other dragons, we'll stay here.

The fire that she so often had felt in Fírnen when she was at a low moment, was now burning in her. She was determined to let Fírnen regain his honor and pride as a dragon. Too long was he the one healing her wounds, when Arya was doubting over what she felt and what she needed to do. He had encouraged her to go to the island to fix things. Now she would encourage him to do the right thing.

«»

As Arya walked in, Eragon was just placing his mirror back on the shelf. She frowned, but did not question him about this.

"Eragon, what did you mean with that Fírnen deserved to be on the island when we arrived yesterday?" Eragon looked surprised at this question and the haste with which she got into his study, not even saying hello. He wondered if he had done something to upset her, but nothing came to mind, well at least, nothing new.

"I meant that in order for him to become a true dragon, he needs to live with his kin. Just as you could not be raised by humans to become an elf. You might remember how much Saphira grew during her training with Glaedr. I'm sorry to say this Arya, and I'm not yet sure of it, but it won't surprise me if Fírnen is weaker than almost any other dragon on this island."

"I heard what happened with Fírnen and Karhahaan. I will go talk to him. He will have to answer for this act. Though I believe Saphira already put him back in place." Eragon said with a forced smile. It was hard for him to point Arya at her shortcomings, especially when it was about Fírnen, her most valued ally and friend.

But where he expected Arya to be hurt, or maybe even to appear shamed and guilty, she looked fiery.

"Don't talk with Karhahaan, he just did as his instincts tell him. Fírnen should have been prepared for that.
Eragon, I hereby ask you to train both Fírnen and me in the way of the Riders. I might have been your teacher once, but I promise you I will obey your every command as the First Rider, as long as it does not interfere with my position as Queen of the elves.I promised Fírnen that he would never be at a disadvantage because of me again, please help me with that." Arya said without blinking. "Eragon-Elda." She added.

"It will be an honor to train you both, Arya. But I will ask you a favor in return." Eragon replied with a slight blow of his head.

"Of course." Arya replied careful.

"I've scryed with Roran and Orik this afternoon. Only Nasuada is left, I would ask you to join me when we scry her. To be honest, I'm done explaining myself. I know I've made mistakes, but the focus should be on the future now."

"I agree Eragon. We will focus on the future."

«»

"Dragons and Dragon riders, it lifts heart to see you all gathered together." Eragon was standing in front of the table in the meeting room. All the riders were sitting on the chairs, only Eragon was standing. Arya was sitting at his left side. The back of the room was opened, so that the dragons could put their heads through, and thus attend the meeting.

"You've all already met Díanel, our newest, who impressed me with his cunning mind." Eragon nodded at Díanel, who returned the favor.

"And Izar, the starlight-Dragon, as agile and quick as a falling star. Be welcome in our midst." Eragon declared with open arms.

You honor me Ebrithil. Izar replied to all attending.

"We have made many mistakes in the past years, decades even. But we will not look back anymore. We will all start anew." Eragon looked at Herna for a moment before he continued.

"We all know that we are not the Riders that Alagaësia expects us to be, what we expected us to be. What we should be. But from this day on, we will become that. May this day be remembered as the true rebirth of the order of the Riders. Many of you have already mastered so many skills, and it is time that we show Alagaësia what the mighty dragons and their mysterious Riders are capable of.

Arya and Fírnen will remain with us for the time being, so that they too would become more than a dragon and a rider, they would become part of the legacies of old, but more than they already are, they would become modern-day heroes. As will we all!

I've contacted the leaders in Alagaësia and to rebuild the trust that we have lost, we will send ambassadors to them. Herna and Harnon would be the first. They would return to the mountains of their birth. The Beors. Herna being the first apprentice will lead this mission and she would be accompanied by Ismira and Lokini. Ismira, on this journey, I expect from you to learn as much about the dwarven culture as you can. Upon your return you will be apprentice no longer and your training would be completed." Eragon noticed Ismira's face brighten and she looked at Díanel, who smiled at her. Eragon moved his eyes towards Herna, whose face was unreadable.

"Herna, I expect of you to look after Ismira and Likoni, as much as after yourself and Harnon. King Orik will have a waiting party readied for you at the Edda river to escort you to Trondjheim." He waited for a moment.

"Of course, you will not go without a mission. The reason to why the first ambassador party is traveling towards the Beors is threefold. Among all the races,the dwarves are the least fond of dragons and Riders. Too many dwarves have been killed by dragons, and of course there was King Hrothgar's death at the forced hands of Murtagh." It took Eragon effort to say this. Deep inside, Eragon knew all too that it was not on Galbatorix' order that Murtagh murdered king Hrothgar. He did out of himself to please Galbatorix, in a desperate way to lighten his own suffering. Eragon understood Murtagh's motives, but it was still hard to recall those events.

"To build a trusting relation with the dwarves, we need to show them what we are and what we stand for. Herna as the first and only dwarven rider will convince them of our righteousness as will Ismira, as our most engaging ambassador."

Herna had showed a flicker of pain at the name of Hrothgar, but after that her face went blank again.

"The second reason is one of even greater importance. At the western outskirts of the Beors, close to the re-inhabited city of Orthiad, there have been minor skirmishes between dwarves and nobles from Surda. I do not know the full story of it yet. But Orik told me that the dwarves were having Feldûnost there and some Surdan lords have always been using those lands to breed their horses. When some of the horses died the lords blamed the dwarves, who say to have no part in it. The lords wanted compensation, and when they didn't get it, they stole Feldûnost to sell them. I think this is a great chance for you to prove your diplomatic skills. You will have to investigate the situation and work out a solution without any further incidents.

And that brings me to the last reason. As you all know, there are no dragons hatching." Eragon saw the surprise on some of their faces.

"What about Izar and Lokini, Master?" Kundog asked.

"Yes, good question. In the last fourteen years, only two dragons were born, Lokini and Izar. Lokini was helped by some other dragons that convinced him to hatch while he was in Teirm. And Izar got convinced by Blagden, the raven of Arya."

"How could the other dragons help Lokini when he was in Teirm and they were all here?" Díanel asked with confusion on his face. Ismira displayed the same confusion but the other riders seemed to understand.

"You will learn in time, Díanel. When your training comes at that point, you will know. As will you Ismira." They were clearly not satisfied with this answer. Especially not Díanel, who just started with his training. But he kept his mouth shut and leaned back in his chair.

"We don't know why they needed that encouragement to hatch. Nobody knows, not even the dragons. All we know is that the dragons felt something rushing through them fourteen years ago, and that ever since no dragons have mated, and no eggs, except those two, have hatched. This concerns me, Arya and the dragons. As the dwarves were the original inhabitants of Alagaësia, along with the dragons, I want you to go through their oldest scrolls and tell me everything that could be related, even for the slightest bit." Eragon turned around as if the meeting was closed, but then he remembered something else.

"Oh, and while you're there, please ask around for a herbalist woman named Angela, she might go by a different name though, but she always travels with a large cat.
Herna I've got a mission statement written for you. I expect you to leave in three days. That must give you enough time to return before the winter reaches his cold heights."

Hope this makes up for the waiting.

We got Roran, Katrina and Orik! I love Orik.

I've skipped the conversation with Nasuada because it would be the same all over again. We've had enough of Eragon's apologies, it is time to move the story on.
The reason he didn't contact Nar Garzhvog and Orrin is simple, Garzhvog is not as involved in Alagaësian matters and not as close to Eragon as the others are. Surda is an independent state, but Orrin swore fealty to Nasuada, therefore he will get informed through her messengers.

We will get a time skip coming up soon, for I think we've had enough time to get to know our new characters.

There are a lot of people asking for Murtagh, well, he would be announced in 2-3 chapters. And the 'legacy' left behind by Kialandí, will soon be revealed as well (5-8 chapters).

Keep on posting those questions and remarks that you have. I will answer them as good as I can.

Thanks for reading and make sure to drop a review!