Summary: Eragon is captured and tortured by Galbatorix, and Arya is crazy with worry. Too late, she realizes her love for him. Can she save him before it's too late? This story takes place in Eldest while Eragon is training with Oromis and Glaedr in Ellesmera, and is rated T for possible violent contents. I suck at summaries, but I hope you enjoy!
Arya sat by the quiet lake under the willow tree in Ellesmera. She stared at the lake, fuming, while remembering her conversation with her mother that rang clearly in her mind.
"You can't be friends with a Dragon Rider!" She heard Islanzadí's voice over and over again as she continued to stare at the lake. "Arya. He is too important to be distracted. While his studies are going well with Oromis and Glaedr, it is not possible for you to be, even, friends with him! I heard from Oromis that he made a faerth of you. Break all contact with him, now! Imagine how angered even Nasuada would be if he abandoned all duties for his friendship with you. He would sacrifice the entire world, just to save a single friend. That is his weakness, and you are only strengthening it!" Arya's mother's voice softened. "Arya, I'm not saying you can't talk to Eragon… But keep your distance. You are a threat to rebuilding the Dragon Riders, you are a threat to Alagaesia!" When Arya had tried to protest, Islanzadí had just cut her off. 'Why do I even bother to speak while my mother will just interrupt me again?' Arya thought bitterly.
She frowned at her reflection in the lake. Was she being selfish? Eragon was, after all, the most important being in the entire of Alagaesia. She had ferried Saphira's egg across the land and quite a few powerful people had touched the eggs; famous scholars, experienced artists, wise storytellers, strong warriors and magicians, yet Saphira had hatched for none of them. Instead, she hatched for a mere farm boy with no particular strengths; he was just a simple child, with no other thoughts than protecting those he loved. Yet all the people of Alagaesia were depending on this simple child to slay the mad king, Galbatorix. Arya was still shocked a single madman could cause such disaster to come upon the land and continued to try to work his thoughts out about Eragon. She heard Islanzadí's stern voice yet again. "There are things you want, Arya. Then there are things that are the good for the people. And the people must always, always come first." The more she thought about it, though, the more she had to admit her mother was right. She couldn't put herself first, ever. There were millions of other lives to think about.
Gathering her thoughts and making her decision, she stood up and headed towards Eragon's sleeping chamber. She walked slowly, allowing herself to really think about what she was going to say. She imagined all the possibilities: Eragon, I can't be friends with you. It wouldn't be good for either of us. Arya physically shook her head. No. That was too blunt. Eragon, I was thinking, and… You're a great person, but… We just wouldn't work out together… I like you, but… No way. If she tried to express her feelings like that, it would take her days to get to the point. Eragon, I love you, but then, I don't love you. We work together and stuff, but it would be better if we didn't. 'Seriously, Arya?' She mentally scolded herself. 'You can think of something better. The poor boy already has enough troubles without trying to figure out your confusing words.' Arya chuckled at her own jokes before realizing what a cruel act she was about to do. Joking about it had kept her mind off dwelling over whether what she was about to do was even reasonable. Deep down, she knew it wasn't. But she forced her feet to keep walking towards him.
She arrived there in about 30 minutes while walking at a slow, human pace. Walking calmed her down more than anything else; it gave something for her body to do, while wasn't taxing enough to require any actual thought and allowed her to think clearly, or in some cases, not think at all, and just relax. She knocked hesitantly on the door of Eragon's sleeping chambers, only just realizing how odd and suspicious she seemed walking up to his house in the middle of the night. She heard light footsteps approach the door and watched while Eragon opened it.
She was shocked at Eragon's appearance and how much his expression seemed to have changed from the happy-go-lucky kid before to the face of a weary old man in Ellesmera. His back, once held straight and proud, seemed tired and slouched. The only thing that had not changed were his eyes. They would always be exactly the right shade of hazel, with the same kindness and compassion. When he saw Arya, though, he straightened and his face brightened. "To what do I owe the honor of seeing you at this time at night?"
Arya opened her mouth, then closed it, realizing she looked like a fool with her mouth half open. She composed herself, remembering to keep her distance, as her mother had also said, and show no emotion; no emotion at the heart she was about to break, no emotion at the seemingly aged man in front of him who she was about to bring even more pain to, no emotion showing what she was about to do. So she cleared her face, and thought of the only and first thing she could think of saying at the time, "You seem troubled. What is wrong?"
"Nightmares." Eragon seemed to shiver. "Also, my back." Arya hated that she was breaking her heart now, of all times, when he was the most fragile. However, she continued to seem emotionless, though Eragon seemed to sense she was worried about something. "It's not a big deal, though, I just have to learn to live with it," He said, as if it was the most casual thing in the world and they were just talking about the weather. "Would you like to come in?"
Arya nodded and decided to just get right on to the point. She had decided on the way here to be blunt and direct. "We can't be friends anymore." Hurt shown clearly in Eragon's eyes and that almost stopped Arya from proceeding any more, but she reminded herself she had to do this. "I don't like you, at all." She forced herself to lie. Eragon was her closest friend, though she wouldn't admit it to anybody, including him. "We just don't work out." She forced herself to look directly into his eyes.
Arya could see the betrayal clearly in his eyes. She had led on him on to think they could be friends. How could she be so stupid? His pain was clear, and by deciding to lie and tell him she had no feelings for him while thinking that it wouldn't really effect him anyways, had been such a grave mistake on Arya's part. How could she think of him as insignificant as a mouse, just someone she could be so hurtful to, and say such mean things?
He did what Arya least expected; he walked away. She expected him to lash back out at her, and say the mean things she had said to him back… She expected him to say, "I never wanted you in the first place." Or, "What gives you the right to say such things?" She even expected him to slap her or physically hurt her in rage. However, she clearly didn't understand Eragon's love for her; Eragon was not so noble he would not defend himself when someone hurt him, that would just make him a fool. After she said her part, though, she realized the very depth of his love; it was so great he could not bare to see her hurt, much less inflict the pain herself. He could not reply back to her without causing even more trouble between the two of them, so he just left. But it was too late for her to correct her mistake.
As he slowly walked away, she cursed herself for being stupid, then caught herself. She repeated in her head, I did the right thing. I did the right thing. As if repeating it over and over again would make it true, she continued chanting: I did the right thing. I did the right thing.
It's not until later chapters does he get kidnapped and tortured, as the summary should say. However, I hope you liked the first chapter of my story. Please, PLEASE review! I'll be checking for reviews the second I post this. I will start writing the second chapter the second I get a review. That's how desperate I am. :D Well, I am new to this. My point is, thanks for reading, please review, I will worship you like a god/goddess or whatever.