So I wrote this because I couldn't find a reunion scene that I was totally satisfied with and I had this idea kicking around in my head. I was thinking that this would be a few centuries later because I couldn't see Arya abdicating the throne until she was satisfied that the world was completely satisfied and stable again, what with her yawë, and that could take a while, especially given how slow the elves move. So roughly 500 years I think, but I doubt that after that long they would keep perfect track anymore.
Disclaimer: The usual stuff…
The wind whistled through the treetops. Though only a little breeze graced those upon the ground, the towering pines swayed, feeling the stronger currents farther above. A lone figure wondered through the forest following no particular path. Her thoughts overwhelmed any other distractions coming from her surroundings. Her face was neutral, not stressed by the frown that so often appeared, nor forcefully blank. Just set in the peaceful expression of one deeply immersed in their serine thoughts.
This meandering walk through the forest was not abnormal, as the habit had grown to an almost constant action over the years. At times she would pause and gaze almost wistfully in some direction or another. Though the route was each time unique, the destination was almost always the same. While the location had never been expressly forbidden to others, they respected her and never approached her there if possible.
The pool rippled as a fleet of miniature golden boats drifted toward her. She knew each boat and remembered perfectly each note they had contained. A few were a bit wonky and sailed slower then their fellows but she cherished those all the more for their imperfection. Except for the small ledge where she now knelt, the edge of the pool was ringed with hundreds of golden lilies swaying in the light breeze.
One boat made of grass was floating through the air making seemingly random dips and turns as in moved in her direction. She held out her hand and the boat gently settled on it. Carefully cradling it, she began to sing. First she extracted the note within, without doing any damage. Then she gilded the boat as she had all the others before singing a last line that would allow it to sail forevermore with its fellows in the pond.
Along with the note was the final fragment of a faírth that had been waiting to be pieced together. The note was not one about news or events of late, those were sent with the egg couriers. This was a new poem extoling the beauty and pain of life. After reading it, she clutched the paper to her chest careful to not allow a single tear that ran down her face touch it. She cried not for grief, but for the happiness expressed, glad that it mirrored her own.
She would have lingered by the pool for far longer had it not been for the faírth waiting to be completed. She had yet to see what was on the soon to be whole again slab of slate. He had placed a spell to keep it blank until the final piece was placed. She took a deep breath and began to sing the slab into a whole again. As soon as she was finished, the color bloomed across the slate forming four images that intertwined smoothly with each other.
The first image was of her crossing blades with a still human boy for the first time in Farthen Dur. The view showed both of them in profile and was tinged blue. She recognized the tint and realized that the image itself must have come from a watching dragon. The second was of her, carefree in the forests of Ellesmera singing to a bird that had alighted on her outstretched hand. She understood then, he had chosen the images that best represented her from the knowledge of her true name. The third image solidified her theory, it was immediately after the battle in Ilirea, however, it was not her standing victorious but gently cradling Fírnen's egg. She could see in in each image his love for every part of her.
The final image was one he had never seen in person. It was her kneeling on the edge of the pool holding a hand out to the fleet of small golden boats. The fleet was much smaller as was the field of golden liovissas. She recognized the scene as just before the first boat with a piece of the faírth arrived. It was lacking the absolute clarity of the other images, and she guessed that he had scryed her while she was there. Forcing herself to break her gaze away, she read the poem once more.
Once again she was struck by a moment of clarity riddled with an undercurrent of deep-seated longing. Reaching for Fírnen, she presented him with the image of the faírth. Its time. She now knew with absolute certainty she was right. The great dragon felt her conviction and roared in joy, springing into the air and racing in her direction.
The grass boat fluttered its sails as it settled on his hand. This one was different form the others. The woven grass was still green and it was imbued with more magic. He sang the note out it before he whispered a phrase to both guild it and let it fly around his house with the flock of other boats. The note contained only a single line: The time has come. Though he understood the meaning instantly he was wary to believe it wholeheartedly. Calling out to his dragon he read her the note and sent her his feelings of confusion laced with hope. She interrupted his thought however with a wave of excitement.
Look up little one. He followed her instructions gazing into the perfectly blue sky. Squinting past the bright rays of light he could just see a dot circling the sky far above. Centuries of loneliness made him doubt his first instincts. Borrowing Saphira's sharper eyes his heart leapt as he recognized the emerald green dragon.
Saphira! He needed no other words. She bent down as he sprang onto her back before driving upwards as fast has her wings would allow. Her joyful roar was answered from above as Fírnen drove down to meet her. After sending a quick thought to Murtagh so he and the other riders were not alarmed by the sudden presence of a rather large dragon, he threw his consciousness as far as it would reach, searching for the very familiar but long unfelt mind. She did the same and they embraced mentally, holding nothing back from each other. The joy emanating from both of them would have brought and army to its knees weeping happy tears, but they basked in it savoring every possible moment.
The dragons flew in tight circles, nose to tail, enveloping each other's minds as well. Despite Saphira's long ago statement that dragons didn't mate for life, neither had taken another mate in the intervening time. The riders locked eyes and though no coherent thoughts past between them they understood every bit of the other. Though both true names had changed, they did not unsettle the other as the differences were small. Eragon had added his love of teaching and patience. Arya's added only the realization of her dependence on him for true happiness.
Remaining connected this way until the dragons drifted to the ground they alighted from their respective partners and, never breaking eye contact slowly moved toward the other. During the approach, each took the time to study the changes in the other's appearance. Eragon could see now that Arya had been young when they last met. Though she had lost none of her vitality, her reserve stemmed not from a forced aloofness as it had before, but from a simple want of privacy. Though she had known that he was a man already when he left, she could see the maturity and wisdom he now exuded
When they stood just a few feet apart, Eragon began to twist his hand over his sternum. He was interrupted by Arya throwing her arms around his neck and embracing him. He quickly followed suit, reveling in the feel of actually holding her again and how well she fit to his body. Though both had changed it was like two pieces of a puzzle that had been lost were finally being put back together.
After an immeasurable amount of time they broke apart just far enough to gaze into the others eyes again. Though their minds were still intertwined Eragon spoke aloud.
"You came." He needed only that simple statement. Being ever cautious, he slowly raised a hand and placed it on her cheek savoring the warmth he felt there
A dazzling smile lit her face, "My work there was finished. My people no longer needed me to lead them and you need me here. So I came, wiol ono un wiol onr un iet ilian."