In his tent, Eragon pulls a parcel from beneath his cot and unwraps the remains of Murtagh’s sword, which he had gone back to the battlefield for the next day after Murtagh had taken possession of Zar’roc. Eragon composes a spell to put the sword back together, but determines it is not the sword for him; he puts it back under the cot in pieces. Nasuada walks with him back through the tents, and Eragon finds himself surprised to have made a strong female friend. Though they approach a tent on the pretense of more politics, Eragon is actually greeted by a surprise party with all of his friends; before Nasuada leaves, she and Eragon discuss the curse put on Elva that made her the way she is. Eragon must set it right, but Nasuada benefits from Elva staying the way she is. They determine to ask Elva whether she will continue to serve Nasuada or be rid of her curse the next morning in an early meeting.

At the party, Roran tries to pry once more into what really happened in the mountains, but eventually agrees to respect Eragon’s privacy. He has another request—that Eragon officiate Katrina and Roran’s marriage.