THIS IS AN ALTERNATE VERSION OF 'Broken'!!! For those who have read the story, please go to chapter six and read from there!

Thanks to The Archiver for suggesting an alternate version of Broken.

A version of book three, written by me. What more is there to say? Oh, yeah, Eragon and Saphira are now back in Ellesmera, and Roran has been stripped from the story entirely, also Elva ceased to exist when I started writing.

-Tyrammafar the Worldmaker

Once upon a time...once upon a world...

Eragon yawned, shaking his head and rubbing his eyes as he stood up. Saphira stirred behind him, raising her head and smiling at him. She had, according to Glaedr, flown across the Hadarac in record time, and she was exhausted. Eragon chuckled at her, for she was covered in dust from a sandstorm.

What? She looked at herself in horror. Oh no, my scales!

Relax Saphira, they can be cleaned, Eragon said, rubbing her neck. She hummed deeply, chuckling when she shook and sent dust flying onto him. I just bathed! He stood up, walking back to the wash-closet. Saphira followed, chuckling as he stripped down. He really hadn't bathed, and he was covered so completely in dust that it made him looked well-tanned. He noticed that Saphira was staring at him. What's wrong?

Nothing, it's just you don't look nearly as strong as you should, She snorted. Your muscles look almost average, and yet I've seen you lift things twice your weight!

Eragon sighed at the statement, knowing she had made up the reason so she could examine him. He didn't really mind, but sometimes her strange behavior puzzled him. Ever since fighting Thorn and Murtagh she had been acting strange, and was constantly asking him deep questions and examining him, as if he might be an imposter in disguise. He had made no mention of it, but he would later today.

He washed and dressed in a light green tunic, not bothering to put the saddle on Saphira. He had decided that while he was here she wouldn't wear it, and he would ride her without even if his legs were stripped to the bone. She deserved the comfort, he thought.

Eragon vaulted to her back, rubbing dust off where he could. Can I bathe before we go anywhere? She asked, flicking her tail and sending dust flying. Please? Eragon chuckled and she took off, taking it as a yes. There were fewer elves about this time, and Eragon briefly wondered what was happening, but Saphira flew north towards a large stream that ran close by.

Saphira landed softly, looking at the surprisingly deep water. The stream was only ten feet across, but for all they knew it could be bottomless. Eragon slid off her back and she dove into the water, vanishing from sight. Eragon watched her swimming against the current, waiting for her to resurface. When she did her scales were mostly clean, but specks of dirt still cling to her. She whined in dismay, clambering onto the bank and lying on the grass.

Eragon, if you wouldn't mind… Eragon smiled and rubbed her scales, getting the dirt and mud off. Thank you. How I could go without noticing this stuff for that long…Eragon decided this was the time.

Maybe it is because you were focusing on me?

Hmm?

You have been examining my every feature since the Burning Plains, and you keep asking me very personal questions. Saphira was quiet. Well? Any particular reason for it?

Do you really want to know the truth? She asked quietly. Eragon stopped scrubbing her scales.

You know I want the truth, He said. If it is something you don't want to talk about, I will leave you be, but you know that you can trust me. I love you and I care for you, and I don't want to see you distressed. Saphira sighed.

I am afraid, Eragon, deathly afraid. I would rather not speak of it… Eragon nodded and continued rubbing her scales before they dried. Could you scratch the spot behind my left eye? Eragon did. Ahh, thank you, that's been bothering me for a while. Eragon smiled and rubbed her neck. I wish we could just go somewhere and leave all of this behind. Forget this whole war. She jerked up. That's it…

What?

We could leave, Eragon, She said, her face in front of his. We could go far away from Alagaesia and never look back. We could forget this whole thing ever hap-

You know I can't do that, Eragon interrupted. Saphira, it's not like you to say something like that, are you sure you're all right?

Too many have died for this war, Eragon, She said sadly. Far too many, all for us and the other egg. I don't want Galbatorix to keep the throne any more than you do, but why do we have to be a part of it…I fear that this war could be the death of us.

Don't say that, Saphira, Eragon said softly, wrapping his arms around her neck. We have to do something, even if Murtagh is stronger than I…

I don't want this anymore, Saphira said, nudging him with her snout. When I saw Thorn, I knew I couldn't. I never wanted to tell you what Brom said, but…

What? Eragon's eyes widened.

Brom told me many things before he…passed on, She said slowly. Not the least of which is the existence of a land just east of here, past Du Weldenvarden. He went there himself.

And you want to go there? Why would you abandon the people of Alagaesia so-

I'm not abandoning them. There's more. She paused, shaking her head and flicking her tail before going on. Brom said that there is a place there, one that I have remembered only recently. He said to me 'if you ever need help in this battle, and even Eragon cannot conquer a foe, go east and find the village of Hirath. There you will find what you need'.

Why didn't you tell me?

I forgot it almost instantly, Saphira said harshly. Don't blame me. He said it as if it didn't matter, and what he said before was on my mind.

What did he say before?

…That is something for only me to know.

Saphira, please. I'm your rider, and-

That's why you can't know. It is only for me to know, and you would not enjoy hearing it…I told Brom secrets of my own and he has helped me, and these are things that would cause us much grief.

Saphira-

Eragon, I won't say any more, Saphira said, sealing her mind. It was like a physical blow to Eragon, and he jerked back in surprise.

Saphira? Eragon asked, but she couldn't hear him. "Saphira, please don't cut me off, I can't stand it…" Saphira slowly opened her mind again and Eragon climbed on her back. Let's go talk to Oromis about this…

Saphira stood and leapt into the air, flapping hard to gain altitude. They could see Oromis's hut from there, and Saphira angled towards it.

She landed outside, and Eragon wondered what it was Saphira was hiding…

There, short and sweet. Will they stay and fight, or leave and find this hidden village of Hirath? Only time will tell, and I haven't decided for myself yet.

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