I own NOTHING. If I did, I would be banging on the door of Knopf Publishers. This chapter is set to the song, "Time of Your Life" by Greenday.
TO ERAGON SHADESLAYER and SAPHIRA BJARTSKULAR,
The Elder's quarters, Vroengard
Eragon Shadeslayer, due to the excellent service you rendered the Elvish people during our war with Galbatorix, we have given you the honor of guarding our newly crowned Queen Arya. Since Galbatorix's supporters are far from eradicated, we feel the need to protect her at all costs.
We realize that this task may infringe upon your duties to the new order of the Riders; however, Oromis elda and Murtagh Morzansson have assured us that they are perfectly capable of handling the present situation in Vroengard. Queen Arya will be delighted to receive you under your new title as Personal Bodyguard. I do hope that you and your dragon Saphira will find this arrangement agreeable. If you do not wish to assume the position, however, please contact the Queen's council of advisors. If we do not hear from you before the twenty-fifth of Retarla, we shall assume that you are coming. Please think carefully over the matter. Ellesmera would be delighted to see you again after so many years of separation.
Many thanks for your time,
Hovarde, House of Krevantia
Eragon closed the scroll and sighed. No one ever seemed to tire of deanding his time. Even with the defeat of Galbatorix, people and countries still pressed their hands on him. All he had wanted to do was find a quiet place to live with Saphira while teaching young Riders.
Sadly, victory was not what he had imagined it to be. Instead, his presence was requested at formal engagements several times a month. Even with the establishment of a democracy over Alagaesia, he barely found time to sit down.
He spoke to Saphira, "So, what do you think?"
Saphira, who had been teaching a group of young dragons the basics of aerial combat answered distractedly, "Just a minute, little one."
Eragon waited impatiently for her to finish. After fifteen more minutes she finally stated, "I think we should do it."
"Really? Why do you say that? I would have thought that you would want to stay and spend your time with Thorn." The subject of Murtagh's dragon Thorn, Saphira's mate, was a point of teasing on Eragon's part.
"Oh stop! You know that I love you so much more, little one. Not even the mighty Thorn could take your place."
"You still haven't given me any reason for us to go. In my view, I don't see why we should rush off to cater to Queen Arya's whims. Since when has she been so keen to see us anyhow?"
"You're just angry at her because she rejected you," Saphira stated wisely.
"I am not! Whose side are you on?"
"Always yours, little one, always yours. Still, I think that we should pay her a visit. We may inform her that our stay there will be only temporary, as we may be needed at Vroengard. You cannot deny that you have missed her, Eragon. Every so often I see your thoughts stray towards her. Remember, you cannot pretend with me."
Eragon smiled, "You are right, Saphira, as always; though you do have the annoying habit of acting as my mother."
"That is only because you need one." Saphira hummed contentedly.
And so it was agreed. The pair would set out for Ellesmera the following morning.
Eragon shifted in Saphira's saddle. The wind howled and rain pelted down mercilessly. They certainly had picked a fine day for the trip.
As they flew past Vroengard's gates, Eragon looked back, thinking of how much he had grown and changed in that place. It had been ten years. Ten years of trying to find new riders, ten years of formulating lesson plans and teaching techniques, ten years of watching the bright faces of children as they advanced in their training. Those times certainly had been rewarding ones, no matter how grueling.
Filled with purpose and adventure, he looked ahead.
What did you think? R and R please to let me know if I should continue this story. I am for Eragon/Arya, but I'm not sure if they should get together in this paricular story. Let me hear ANY ideas you might have.