Well it has been a while! I have been super busy with everything! Mainly trying to figure out my life as I am now to big and old for school =(
Oh well here's an Eragon and Arya one shot, although I'm thinking about turning it into a two or three shot, depending on the reviews I get.
Hope you like it=)
DISCLAIMER: I sadly do not own the characters or anything to do with the Inheritance cycle...I think I'm gonna cry!
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It's raining mercilessly over the people of the Varden. Forks of lightening light up the night sky in a pale blue as deep, rolling sounds of thunder follow closely behind. Arya watched from her perch on a cliff as the rain pounds on the Vardens tents.
The Elvin Princess was soaked through to the bone but she didn't mind because, although she doesn't give out this information lightly, Arya loves the rain. Not just the sound of it but the way it hits her skin, the way the smell of the moist air and earth surrounds her. She feels that if she lets the rain wash over her body then all of her problems would be washed away with the rain. As a youngling she use to go out when it was raining – like it is now – and sit down on a patch of grass and look out towards her future Kingdom.
"Bad battle plan"
Arya watched the Vardens camp as it lit in the light of the lightening. Everyone was safe, warm and dry from the storm in their tents. Most should be asleep by now as it is the middle of the night and the final battle against the Empire – against Galbatorix – was to be decided tomorrow.
Arya let a soft sigh escape her lips as she hugged her legs close and rested her chin on her knees. Whenever she thought of the final battle with Galbatorix she couldn't help but to think of Eragon. There was no way that she could admit that to him or to anyone else for that matter but, she couldn't help but feel worried for him, for what could happen.
"The perfect battle plan"
It felt like only yesterday that Arya helped to steal a sapphire coloured dragon egg from the tyrant and sent it to the Spine where Eragon found it. When he was a mere farm boy from Carvahall, who knew nothing of and possessed no magical nor fighting abilities, he took on the impossible and built the Varden back up to its former glory, brought many races together from all over the land of Alagaësia and defeated a Shade where few have been able to.
A small smile graced the Elf's lips as she thought of how much he has grown since their first meeting in Gil'lead. He is no longer a boy but a man. An Elvin man. Although his actual age still puts him as a youngling, Arya can't help but to notice his maturity and old soul.
"The perfect battle plan"
He has seen so much that no one of his age should. He has killed, seen others close to him be killed and almost became another victim under the hand of Galbatorix. But in the face of danger he is calm, relaxed, and clear headed. Arya needn't worry about Eragon's ability in a fight. She knows very well that he can defend himself. She knows that he's surpassed even herself – though she'd never admit it.
"But it is still a bad battle plan"
She let another shaky sigh escape her lips as she thought of how the battle will play out.
"Arya?" A voice she knows and loves touched her mind.
"Why are you not resting Jade?" She asked her dragon.
"I could ask you the same question my elf" Jade said letting her amusement pass through to her rider. "Where are you?"
Arya sent Jade a mental picture of her location as her green dragons voice erupted in her head. "I do not know why Eragon calls you Svit-kona if you sit in the middle of a storm the night before the final battle! You are going to catch a fever and what use will you be then!" Jade said worried for her rider.
"Jade, please. I am fine." Arya replied smiling to herself and sending her Dragon some reassurance. "I like to sit in the rain when there are problems that I must deal with. I do not understand why but, the rain helps me to forget my problems." She said as she closed her eyes and tilted her head up to the rain. "This will help me to deal with the battle tomorrow."
Arya looked behind her as her Elf ears picked up a dense pressure to the air coming towards her in waves. She smiled as she realised it was her green dragon that approached. Arya felt the ground shudder under the weight of Jade as she landed next to the elf. She could feel her heat of the fire from her belly. It sent a tingling sensation throughout Aryas body as she shivered with delight from it. She didn't realise how cold she really was.
"I hope you do not feel obliged to stay with me" Arya said although, admittedly, she loves Jades company.
"I want to because I love you my elf." She said as she folded her wings close and moved closer to her rider to help keep her warm. "We are one now you and I. Whether you like it or not, we're bound to each other"
Arya smiled up at Jade and leaned her back on Jades warm belly to steal the warmth from it. "I wouldn't want it any other way"
"Good. Now that we have the formalities out of the way, you can tell me all about the burden that keeps you from your dreams." Jade said softly but in a way in which Arya knew she couldn't get out of it.
Arya sighed as she remembered the cause of her sitting out in the rain. A little frown started to appear as she started to tell Jade. "It is the battle plan that I do not like Jade." Arya said feeling the sudden urge to say it out loud.
"Why not?"
Arya jumped at the foreign but familiar voice. She snapped her head around to find the source of his voice. "Eragon?" She asked as she squinted to try and see the silhouette better, to make sure it was Eragon.
The figure walked closer to them as he lit up in a pale blue light from the lightening that streaked across the sky. Arya sighed as she saw, for sure, that it was Eragon. She looked straight back down to the Varden and wondered how they were going to win if the most important people to the plan were to be weary during the heat of the battle. "Why are you not resting Eragon? You have a big battle tomorrow."
"So do you." He replied as she felt him stand beside her. "You too Jade. All of us should be sleeping but here we are, laughing at the illness that could stricken us from the battle."
"I think now would be the best time for me to leave." Jade said only to Arya.
"Please do not leave me alone." Arya pleaded with her dragon. "I like your company."
"And I yours my elf" She said as she stood and spread her wings. "But this is a personal problem that you need to deal with. Talk to him Arya, it will do you and him well for tomorrow." With that said, Jade took to the skies and flew back to the camp.
Arya felt cold from the heat that Jade took with her. She shivered slightly and pulled her legs up close to her, resuming her original position with her chin atop her knees. Jade was right, of course. Arya did need to talk to Eragon to see if she cannot persuade him to change the plan.
"Eragon..." She hesitated as she searched for the right words. She looked over at him; still staring out over the camp as she was and started again. "Eragon, do you think we will win tomorrow?"
He turned his gaze towards her, holding question in itself. "Do you not believe we can?"
Arya hesitated again. She honestly didn't know if they will win or not. They had dwarves, her mother's army of elves, the Varden and her and Eragon with their dragons Saphira and Jade. They had a really good chance going into this battle, so why was she so worried? She sighed as she rested her forehead on her knees and looked down at her lap.
"Why do you not like the battle plan?" Eragon asked.
Arya looked back up at him and found his gaze penetrating, she felt as though she couldn't lie even if her life depended on it. "I fear it will fail..." She thought again and repeated her answer feeling as though that wasn't the whole reason. "I fear I will fail." Arya could feel her whole calm demeanour fall and there was nothing she could do about it. She felt it building up inside of her. Worst yet, she felt herself coming apart in front of Eragon.
Eragon, keeping his eyes trained on hers, sat down close to her, mimicking her pose. "What has led you to believe that?" He asked softly.
"What had led you to believe that I will succeed in my part of the plan?"She asked him in the hopes that he could reassure her and she can pull herself out of this embarrassing emotional pit that she's falling in. Elves do not feel the same humans do and yet all she was feeling was despair and worry for the man beside her.
"Because Arya for as long as I have known you, you have never failed."
"But I am talking about tomorrow Eragon not what was." She said desperately. "How do you know Jade and I are ready to do what you require of us?" She started to raise her voice in a panic without her realising. "What if we come into the battle too late to do what we are supposed to?"
Arya suddenly stood up with an angry sigh escaping her lips. She stood close to the edge of the cliff and hugged her arms around her stomach. She was so frustrated. About the war, about her duties as Princess, her duties to her mother and her new found duties as a dragon rider. She was angry at Eragon for suggesting such a perfect battle plan and even more frustrated with herself for agreeing to it.
"Arya, tell me where the flaw lies in the battle plan"
The Elvin Princess took a deep breath in and regained her usual calm demeanour before answering. "There is nothing wrong with the plan Eragon. It is perfect." She said quietly
"Then why are you troubled by it?"
She still didn't turn around to face him but looked up at the sky, feeling the rain drops hit her face was refreshing and it managed to keep her calm. "If I fail in my task then you will..."She hesitated before carrying on. "...you will die Eragon." She let her head drop back down to watch over the Varden as she thought out loud. "If I fail then I would fail you and you would pay for it with your life. If you die because I fail then the Varden and every freedom fighter will fall and succumb to the cruelty of Galbatorix." Arya turned around to face him to find him behind her right shoulder, watching her. "I could not live with that burden."
Eragon looked out to the Varden as Arya watched him. Calmness was evident on his face. She watched a single raindrop that ran from his matted hair which stuck to his face. It ran down his prominent cheekbone and hesitated as it got to his strong jaw before it dropped out of sight. Arya ran her eyes along his jaw line to his lips then up to his nose and up to the cat like eyes which were guarded by long, thick eyelashes.
Arya was startled to find his eyes on her but she held the gaze. She noticed a small, soft smile touch the corners of his mouth and the glint of playful intent shone in his eyes.
"That is the risk I am willing to take." He said so quietly like he didn't want any unwanted ears to hear him.
She studied him for a while in wonder. She finally shook her head incredulously at him and spoke just as softly. "How can you risk your own life and Saphiras for people you know not of?"
"The same way you do it Arya." He said like it was obvious. "The same way Nasuada, the Varden, Queen Islanzadi does it. We all fight for freedom and that is enough for me to lead them. Maybe even die for them if it comes to it."
Arya inwardly winced at hearing him admit that it could happen. It sounded worse when he said it. "Why are you so happy to die?"
"I'll only be happy to die if Galbatorix comes with me. If not, then I will haunt you until we meet in the Veil." He said laughing.
"This is no laughing matter Eragon! If you die all is lost!" She said raising her voice. "You must change the plan." She said decisively. "Change it so you are not in harms way."
The playful glint in his eye started to sparkle making his eyes stand out in the darkness created by the dark rain clouds blocking out the moon. His soft smile turned into a smirk as he replied. "That would only be possible if I were to stay in my tent and wait out the battle."
"Eragon! You must change the strategy!" Arya raised her voice at him as she didn't like the way he was taking this as a joke.
"Arya, why do you not believe in the plan?" He asked her softly, trying to catch her eye but she purposefully avoided eye contact.
She let out an exasperated sigh as she had to repeat herself. "Because I will fail and you will die."
"Eka ach neo trua sem eom waise ilumeo." (I do not believe that to be true)
Arya finally met his eyes to find them devoid of playful intent but hardened by confidence. She blinked away some of the rain drops that fell on her eyelashes as she stared at him. She looked down at her feet and shivered as the rain made its way down her dry neck.
"Yawe."
Aryas' head snapped up. "Eragon you cannot possibly- -"
"I am and I will offer you Yawe." Eragon said calmly and confidently. "Do you not see how reassured I am to see you brooding over the plan?"
Arya watched his smile as it widened but she frowned at him in confusion. "I...do not understand"
He chuckled quietly as he looked at her. "Arya, if you are so worried about my dying then I know you will do everything in your power to stop that from happening."
Arya took a step back as she turned around and looked out over the Varden again. He was right. Completely and utterly right. Eragon spoke the truth, she would protect him with her life and to do that her part of the plan will be pulled off perfectly.
The elf laughed silently in spite of herself and shook her head. She was so embarrassed at how foolishly she acted. How did she not see that herself? But if she was being truthful to herself then she would know that she truly does care for Eragon, though she had never accepted that to be reason only silly human emotions. She had to stop being in the company of humans so much.
She felt a pair of warm, strong – one rougher than the other – hands rest on her shoulders and gave them a reassuring squeeze. "I will not change the plan Arya Svit-kona."
She sighed as a small smile came to her lips. "I apologize Eragon. You are right. Asking that of you was selfish of me. I am ashamed at how foolishly I acted. Please forgive me?"
"Already forgotten." He said dropping his hands to his side and standing next to her. "But Arya..." He stopped and waited until he had her full attention.
She faced him to see the smile gone and his eyes hard. Arya held his gaze unphased as she had seen that face many times before a battle.
"I have to know that no matter what happens to me you will not come for me if Galbatorix or Murtagh are still alive." She gazed at him, wanting to protest but knew that it will be futile because when he has his mind set like this, there is no alternative route.
Arya reluctantly nodded in response and spoke with resignation in her voice. "You have my word Eragon."
He studied her for a moment longer before giving a curt nod. "Shall we retire to our tents so we are not too weary for battle?" Arya nodded and started to walk back, not waiting for him to fall into step next to her.
The walk back was filled with the thundering booms of thunder and the squelching of boots walking through mud. But it was comfortable for both of them. Once they arrived at Aryas tent – as it was on the way to Eragons – she was about to bid him goodnight and thank him when he interrupted.
"Arya, know that you should not have felt ashamed of your concerns for me. I am your friend as much as you are mine; we are supposed to fret over another friend's safety." He shrugged as he gazed intently at her. "Otherwise we are not very good friends."
Arya stared back as she gave a slow nod. "Thank you Eragon. Goodnight."
"Goodnight Arya Drottningu" He said as he left and Arya went through the flaps of her tent.
She got out of her wet clothes and managed to dry herself with some magic before putting clean dry clothes to sleep in. She lay down on her bed roll and heard Jade's voice in her head. Are you feeling better my elf?"
"Aye. You were right Jade, talking to Eragon helped to settle my fears. The battle plan is perfect and I know that we will not fail."
"I am glad to hear that Arya. Now go to sleep, we will need it."
"Goodnight Jade."
"Goodnight my elf."
Arya rolled over onto her side and thought about what had just happened with Eragon. He had quelled her fears and made her feel wanted as he talked about her as a friend. She was going to keep him alive tomorrow, she knew it. Arya knew that her and Jade was going to pull off their part of the plan with absolute perfection. She had no doubt. She ran through the plan again in her head before sleep picked her up and carried her to a night of dreamless sleep.
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Well that's the end and like I said up top, I'm thinking about turning this into a two or three shot. So I can write about the battle.
Let me know. (R&R)
Thanks for reading=D