Eragon looked up from the desk he was writing at from a tower high in Ilirea, Jeod had wanted a quote from in his words the famous king killer himself so Eragon had gone to his tower room and decided to write...Problem was...What was a quote that would prove worthy of the praise he was now given? And at this Eragon had sat at his desk thinking of a quote when a small leaf sized boat had drifted in through the open door to the balcony. He let it land then looked around saphira had gone off hunting so he was alone for the moment he looked down as the small boat landed on his desk and he noticed a paper tied to the deck of the boat so untying the restraints on it he lifted the note up and read surprise filled Eragons face as he recognized arya's hand writing he opened up the note and read over the content with interest
Eragon
It has been a few days since we spoke and soon my race shall meet
Outside of Ilirea to discuss who shall be our new monarch
I would appreciate it if you could be there but I can understand if you cannot be there.
It will be tonight soon after sunset…
Arya.
Eragon read the note several times as if he where missing something…He wasn't. It was true it had been a few days since they had spoke and he regretted that as if he where letting one of his oldest friends down in there time of need. But choosing a new monarch? What would he be able to do? It was true he guessed now his opinion weighed a lot among other races… But why would they want a human to choose there next monarch.
It was at this moment saphira returned within range to hear what he said "Your not just any human little one…You're a rider who ended a tyranny that lasted a hundred years! What elf can claim to that? And your not fully human ether… Remember your part elf now as well." Eragon nodded to himself listening to her reasons as she examined the note as he remembered it in his thoughts as she finished Eragon spoke "True…But still elves keep to themselves for the most part…I cant imagine them looking to someone else for there opinion on stately affairs especially something as important as choosing there next leader!" Eragon said and once again he felt saphira examining his thoughts on the matter as well as once again reading the note before she herself spoke "Little one…I know you are nervous…But trust in what you think you should do and remember… I shall be right there beside you the entire time." Saphira said sending him a kind thought and he smiled once again and he nodded "When will you be back anyways?" Eragon asked as he leaned back slightly in his chair to look out the window and he noticed the sun beginning to set and doing the calculations in his mind he figured there was about a hour or two before sun set and then another hour before it was truly after sun set… "I shall be there in perhaps fifteen minutes to half a hour…" Saphira said and sent Eragon a image of her flying over the country side towards Ilirea. Eragon nodded as he received the image and stood up from his chair stretching his cramped muscles as he stood he walked towards the balcony looking down over the city and shrugged to himself "Alright saphira… I think I shall take a walk around the city…It has been some time since I have done anything of the sort…" Eragon trailed off in amusement as he turned away saphira sent him her approval of the matter and Eragon descended the steps of the tower.
As Eragon reached the bottom on the tower and stepped out into the open he blinked rubbing his eyes as he suddenly felt the brightness around him. Stepping off he began to walk… He wore black leather pants with a sapphire blue shirt with silver trim then black leather boots as Eragon walked he felt he had everyone's attention… And he slowly began to hear whispers hear and there… Once he heard a muttered "King killer." Not in a insulting tone but in more of a admiration kind of tone. He looked up at the sky and smiled truly for his mission was done… The mission which had cost him so much… and changed him from the young Naïve farm boy he used to be to the now battle hardened hope of the varden Blue rider he was!
He smiled briefly then he face darkened as he remembered those he had lost…All who had been a father figure to him… Garrow…Oromis…Brom…Even iszlandi had aided him along the way…Always giving him counsel on a matter he brought to her attention…As he thought of Iszlandi his thoughts unwillingly drifted to Arya and he frowned his thoughts for her where complicated… He loved her…But it was… almost different than it had been a year ago when he had first saved her…Back then he had thought of her as a gorgeous lady who liked to be around him so of course he had pursued it! Give a person his age back then a woman like arya and see what they did. But now his feelings where deferent… He still loved her of course. But It was deeper now he thoroughly enjoyed her company now… He enjoyed talking to her since she was one person who could understand the things he had been through and she was one he could count on to always speak her mind…
Eragon smiled again as he walked lost in his thoughts. He loved her smile and her laugh… It was almost as if no matter how foul a mood he was in she could always bring him out of it…Eragon was pulled from his thoughts as he felt a hand grab at his money pouch along his waist and take off running down a side alley… Eragon frowned a moment surprised then he ran after him quickly keeping him in site. He slowed down as he watched the thief run into a small run down building. He reached the door and slowly opened it a crack… silently… He looked in through the crack and saw the person who he could now verify as a man set down the pouch and turned. Eragon noticed two children there… dirty faces and wearing rags but they smiled as they saw who was obviously there father.
Eragon slowly shut the door walking away he couldn't in good consciousness take the money from the poor family who he could tell needed it much more than he did. Eragon looked up towards the sky that had begun to set casting a pretty red across the sky and he figured he had about an hour left before he should find arya and the elves. Eragon reached out and found saphira flying above the city and he spoke "We still have a hour left… What shall we do?" Eragon said moving once again onto the main street. "How about we go flying? It has been some time since we flew alone." Saphira said and Eragon nodded enthusiastically at the idea and sent saphira a image of where he was so she could land.
As saphira landed Eragon smiled at his blue dragon and hopped up on her back before they took off flying faster than any eagle could away from the city flying around up and down down and up Eragon laughed as he clung to saphira's back then she flipped turning upside down and flew like that for several minutes before doing a loop Eragon looked down and saw a lake and he felt saphira's thoughts and he clung on even harder before they plummeted down ward into the lake. Eragon let go as he felt the feeling of weightlessness take over him then he used magic to pull himself back towards saphira's back as they hit the lake with a huge explosion of water.
Eragon was soaked instantly and saphira crawled out of the lake shaking herself like a cat as Eragon got down he hugged her around the neck "That was fun! We haven't done anything like that in some time!" Eragon said to saphira and he listened as she hummed happily before speaking "Yes… Now that we have more time on our hands we should do this more often…" She said and Eragon smiled letting her go he sat down on the now damp shore and turned his thoughts once again to arya… Arya… Even her name was lovely. Eragon then sighed inwardly to himself she was the forbidden fruit… The one thing in life he would never get…And Eragon knew this yet for some reason it still upset him…Maybe because of how close they had gotten recently before her mother died…Saphira then nosed his back with her snout as she looked at him and he looked at her over his shoulder listening as she spoke "Eragon…Life is full of mysteries and love is one of them…You will find another woman some day Eragon…You must only wait." Eragon nodded he was used to hearing this… Everyone around him told him that "But I don't want just some whore who only wants to be with me because of my accomplishments! I want someone who cares about me…I want someone I care for…I want someone I can relate to and them to me…" Eragon said trailing off uncertainly not knowing what else to say. "I know little one…I know… But someday you will find someone with that…Following arya only brings you pain…" Saphira said looking at him with one big sapphire eye. Eragon slowly nodded but a small part of him remained unconvinced.
Slowly Eragon stood up his good mood slightly diminished from earlier he then got up on saphira's back and they flew back to the city. There Eragon changed into one of his elven tunics which was a teal color. Then he placed black cloth leggings on then changed to another pair of brown boots he had before descending the stairs again…Eragon wanted to walk to the elves. It would give him time to think As Eragon walked he thought of who would be a good leader for the elves… His thoughts immediately jumped to Arya but he pushed it aside… The elves wouldn't need a unwilling leader they would need someone fully aware of elven politics and ready to step in to the position…Arya had spent to much time away from home he thought for her to be familiar with the current elven affairs of state… and also she had stated to him several times not wanting the position.
Eragon then thought of Dathedr… He had always appeared to be the queens second in command… And he seemed from what Eragon had seen of him a capable and calm thinker…He had been privy to most of the information other elf lords wouldn't know being that close to the queen and he was sure she had counted him as a close advisor on many things… Dathedr would be a willing leader he knew…And he had been with elves for probably his entire life…He would know the small concerns of the elven people and how to deal with them… As well as how to appease the elven lords on there many issues…
Eragon nodded to himself Dathedr would most assuredly be his choice of leader… Though he knew many elves would want arya to lead…It all was up to her…If she put a claim in she would lead. if not…The elves would want Dathedr Eragon sighed to himself… Elven politics…So complicated. Eragon realized at this point he was out of the gate and cast his mind out… To his left was a clump of trees and he felt several presences including Dathedr and Arya so he angled himself in that direction and burst into a small clearing after several minutes.. looking around he saw a large host of elven lords but in the center he saw Arya. She turned as she heard him bust out of the trees and smiled at him which made Eragon's legs grow weak. She spoke "Ah Eragon! I'm glad you could make it." She said then beckoned him over before continuing speaking "We are gathered here…To mourn my mothers passing…But also to choose a new monarch of our people." Arya said her face serious and calm… as she looked out over the gathered faces of the elves all of there eyes looked at her then she turned looking straight at Eragon. "Eragon King Killer…You have come here to aid us in the process of choosing our monarch…Who is it that is your choice…" She asked her voice slightly tense then Eragon spoke loudly yet calmly amongst the trees so all could here "On my way here…I looked over all that I could think of as would be a good ruler…And Eventually I narrowed my choices down to two people… Lord Dathedr. And Arya…"
Eragon felt all the eyes on him and he gulped before continuing. "I think arya would make a fine leader…Although several reasons she has spoken to me privately in the past…As well as her being absent from Elsemera for such a extended period of time…thus making her unfamiliar with any elven polotics…I decided against her as being leader." Eragon spoke and he felt surprise coming from the gathered elves but they all nodded there heads at his reasoning…"Lord Dathedr on the other hand…I feel would make a great leader…he has experience in elven politics… And was one of the queens closest advisors for many years…I feel as if Lord Dathedr would be able to step up to the position and cope with it better than someone such as arya who is used to being able to roam freely… as a monarch cannot." Eragon spoke finishing. He looked at the elves who now all looked at Dathedr as if assessing the reasons Eragon had stated. Eragon turned his attention back to arya who wore a poker face that Eragon couldn't gauge her emotions. Then he turned to Dathedr who appeared surprised that he was even thought of as a replacement. Slowly arya spoke up "I agree with Eragon on this… I have been absent for many years…Where Dathedr has been my mothers chief advisor for many years… I think Lord Dathedr would make a fine choice as ruler…" Arya said a hint of what Eragon thought was… Relief… In her voice.
Slowly a elf stepped out of the crowd and spoke "If Arya drotting agrees that Lord Dathedr should become our next monarch…As well as based on the reasons given to us by Eragon King killer…We all agree. That Lord Dathedr should be our next king." Arya nodded and turned to Dathedr who now appeared calm even though he was most certainly surprised "Well Lord Dathedr? Will you lead our people?" She spoke slowly and calmly as if she had read it from a script. Slowly Dathedr nodded his head and said "Yes. I shall lead our people." And slowly a cheer erupted from the elves as they gained there new monarch…Then slowly the crowd dispersed all leading off to there separate duties then all that was left where Eragon and Arya. Arya looked around before speaking "Thank you…I would not have wanted to be on the throne." She said kindly yet serious as if them being alone had put her on alert. Eragon nodded before speaking himself "I know you wouldn't… That's why I did it." Arya smiled again but it was a guarded smile this time and nodded before she moved to walk past him "I must be going. It is late and I must sleep." She said and Eragon turned following her "Mind if I walk with you? It has been forever since we last talked." Eragon said slowly trying to phrase his words carefully.
Arya stopped in her tracks and slowly seemed to tense up before she turned and nodded "Sure I have missed our talks." She said continuing walking. Eragon jogged a little bit to catch up so they now walked side by side. Eragon felt his skin prickle a tiny bit at the closeness to arya… Her pine needle sent almost overwhelming him but he enjoyed the smell. Eragon turned over to her "How have you been since your mother died? I'm sorry I haven't been there for you…" Eragon trailed off being genuine in his concern for her
Arya nodded her head her face seemed to sadden "Me and my mother never had a close relationship… But recently we had started to reconnect… But now its to late… and I regret all that lost time…" Arya said her voice trembling slightly and a tear rolled down her cheek.
Eragon blinked shocked at how arya had just opened up to him and had shed a tear in front of him as she cut off Eragon at a loss of wards… slowly reached out his hand so it brushed against hers. Then gauging the reaction on her face he grabbed it and squeezed it comfortingly. Not in a romantic kind of way but in a friendly comforting way.
Arya's eyes that had closed opened instantly she looked down and noticed Eragon holding her hand but she felt him not trying to press it and allowed it to happen. As she walked she slowly leaned over laying her head on his shoulder and she shed another couple of tears.
Eragon seemed shocked as she allowed him to hold her hand then not only that but she laid her head on his shoulder not knowing how else to comfort her he said "I know…This war has affected me as well… I have lost three fathers….Garrow… Brom… And oromis… And I don't mean this to take then attention off of your pain… I merely say it to show you that I understand your pain…" Eragon said and she just stood there listening to him…She then lifted her head up and pulled her hand away almost… unwillingly? As if she enjoyed the comfort.
They walked the rest of the way in a calm compatible silence and when they finally arrived at Arya's room he was at a loss of what to say and she made no move to go inside. Eragon stood there studying her and as if almost unconsciously he stepped closer to her bringing a hand up to her face and he cupped it. Arya looked up at him her eyes seemed conflicted. She pressed herself up against the wall leaning on it heavily but she didn't move his hand aside. Eragon then moved on his own accord his heart taking over while his mind screamed no! He leaned in closer and closer then stopped as his brain took control once again… arya looked at him her eyes now calm and she slowly leaned in as well then she stopped as well there lips inches apart she whispered one word "Eragon…" Eragon shivered hearing his name and he looked her straight in the eyes and whispered "Arya…" He then closed his eyes and leaned in…and… A hand suddenly reached up between there lips and stopped him. He opened his eyes and saw arya's hand and he frowned to himself… a minute ago he was sure she was about to kiss him. He pulled away instantly "Arya I…" She cut him off and moved away shutting the door in his face. Eragon sighed and leaned on the wall slowly falling to his knees he said, "Damn it." Little did he know on the other side Arya was doing the exact same thing.
Eragon reached out his mind and shared his memory with her and she seemed saddened as she flew and picked him up "Oh little one…" She said and Eragon almost ignored her as he flew back…In one night he had ruined there entire friendship he thought… and nothing could consolidate him As they reached the tower Eragon sighed and slowly crawled into his bed and let his depressed thoughts lead him into his sleep…