Forest of wonders

I can't decide if I should start this new story or continue on to "Pain & love for Everlasting Freedom: book 2". So I leave the decision to my readers, either leave a review or PM me. Thank you again.

One month, it's been one month of constant sailing, sailing past nothing but empty grass lands. Now one month later Eragon and Saphira along with the elven spell casters are sailing across the mass expanse of the sea, staring at nothing but endless water have been more than depressing. But Eragon's mind is else were, it's still back in the lands of Alagaisia, with his one love Arya. Arya had finally admitted she had feelings for him, finally admitted her love, and yet it was ripped away yet again. Eragon was sitting on the baw of the ship staring out across the endless abyss in front of him, Saphira has been equally depressed. She has been thinking of her first love, the first dragon she had the opportunity to talk to as friends and not as mortal enemies, the thought of never seeing him again was equal to Eragon depression over Arya. All they had now was each other and no one else.

"Saphira why does fate toy with use like, after all that we've been through, all the horrors we've witnessed, why don't we deserve to be happy?"

Saphira took a long time before answering.

"I don't know Little One. I am equally confused as you. I spent my entire life believing I would be destined to be alone, and when I found someone he was ripped away form me."

"I feel the same about Arya."

Eragon stood up and walked over to were Saphira was sun bathing and crawled up against her side, comforting each other for their loss. The Talita was too small for Saphira to take off from, so she would climb over board and take off from the water, although like Eragon she didn't feel like doing anything other than being with Eragon. Umaroth and Glaeder along with the other Eldunari wanted to try and help the pair, but they knew their attempts would be meaningless, so to their displeasure they let the two work out their pain. On thi fifth week Saphira became too restless to keep sulking on the ship.

"Eragon I can't keep sitting here, I'm Going flying. Are you coming?"

"Of course I am."

Eragon put a spell on his legs to protect them from Saphira's scales. He patiently waited as she climbed off the ship and into the water; he eagerly dove in after her. After he swam over to her, she helped him to her back by extending her right foreleg so he could climbed up easier. Saphira bobbed in the water letting the waves roll against her for a few moments before taking flight, Eragon gripped her neck spike as she climbed hi in the air. After she reached the desired altitude she leveled out and glided for leagues. Eragon watched as she flew. The way she cut through the air with almost no effort, the powerful wing strokes he took while lazily gliding, to her concentration when moving to a thermal vent. After a while of watcher her he got bored.

"Hay Saphira?"

"Yes Eragon?"

"Let's have some fun." He replied in a mocking tone.

Saphira let loose a dark plume of smoke, and Eragon braced himself for what was next. Good thing he did, not soon after Saphira broke into a nose dive, Eragon was in a stated of pure bliss, nothing mattered any more, not Arya, not the riders, not even spending weeks at sea, all that mattered was that Saphira and he were enjoying themselves. Saphira and Eragon flew for hours; once Saphira was tired she would glide through warm air vents until she regained her strength, then back to arial acrobatics. Every now and again she would land in the water and relax in the warm sun. By the time they returned to the Talita it was evening and the sun was starting to set. Once back on board Saphira and Eragon laid down on the deck and watched the sunset. They laid there watching as the sun casted reds, oranges, purples, and every hue in between over the ocean, staining the sky a bright peach, with red and purple clouds, Eragon and Saphira were lulled into a state of bliss. All they cared they cared about was being with each other. They watched as the sun slowly sunk below the horizon until it was nothing more than a glowing light.

"Saphira, this was the best day I've ever had."

Saphira lowered her head and looked at him with her great sapphire eyes.

"I couldn't agree more Little One. For the first time in over a month I am content."

Eragon brought his hands up and grasped Saphira's jaw and brought her head down, and hi placed his forehead on her snout.

"I feel the same way."

After several long moments Eragon pulled his head away and gazed into Saphira's captivating eyes. After gazing at each other for an unknown amount of time they did each other a good night, Saphira was expecting Eragon to go below deck to his cabin, but was surprised when he offered to spend the night with her, she was only too happy to accept his invitation, they fell asleep with their mind intertwined enjoying each other's presence. The next week wasn't spent in self isolation, or brooding over what once was, no it was spent in good cheer and high spirits, Eragon and Saphira have finally overcome their grief, to an extent, they still felt things for what was but that didn't affect them. Around the seventh week, Eragon started to feel strange things when he was around Saphira, He didn't know what they were, it was similar to what he felt for Arya but that was shadowed in the complexity and depth for what he was starting to feel for Saphira. How? How could he be falling in love with Saphira? She's not even the same Species, and yet I don't care. She's been there for me when even I wasn't, when I was nothing more than an empty shell of dark emotions she was there for me, and I was there for her. Eragon secretly thought to himself as he watched Saphira swim alongside the Talita. His feelings for Saphira continued to increase as week seven turned to week eight. At the beginning of week nine Saphira decided to go and scout ahead to see if she could spot land, that wasn't the only reason. After Saphira was far enough away she started to think.

"What's happening to me? Why am I having these feelings when I'm around Eragon, am I falling in love with him? But he's my rider. What would the other Eldunari think if they find out about my feelings? This is so confusing. Maybe I should consult the Eldunari on this matter. Yes, that's what I'll do."

After Saphira's internal argument she flew around for another hour before flying back to the Talita. It took another hour before she spotted the Talita, she angled down and gently glided down to the ocean, she then swam over to the ship and climbed aboard.

"See anything?"

"No, nothing but water as far as the eye can see."

Eragon let out a disappointed sigh.

"Don't be like that. At least now we can rest."

Saphira shook off the remaining water and lied down on the deck.

"Are you going to going me for an afternoon nap?"

Eragon looked up at the sky guessing the time of day. After a few moments he looked back to Saphira, Giving a small shrug.

"Why not."

He walked over to her and snuggled against her side. After Saphira was sure he was asleep she reached her mind out to the Eldunari.

"What can I do for you?"

"Hello Umaroth-elda." Saphira took a long pause.

"It's about Eragon."

"Oh, what about Eragon?"

"Well, it's difficult to explain. I…I think I might have feelings for him."

To Saphira's surprise Umaroth responded with an understanding in his voice.

"Saphira. What your feeling is nothing new. Giving all that you two have been through together it's no surprise that your in love with him."

"But isn't that wrong? He's not even the same species."

Umaroth imitated a chuckling sound in his mind.

"Your feelings for Eragon are understandable. Several riders and their dragons fell in love, and after a while they were accepted. The bond you share with Eragon has no equal; it's one of the strongest I've ever seen. Of course you love him, and I'm sure he loves you too. Although for Eragon these feeling are more confusing to him, humans emotions are more complicated than any other race. Give him time and he'll come around."

"Thank you Umaroth-elda."

"It was my pleasure Bjartskular."

Saphira then laid her head down next to Eragon and joined him in their mid-day nap. About half way through the week Saphira spotted land. She eagerly flew back to the Talita and reached for Eragons mind.

"Eragon land!" Saphira happily examined

"How far?" Eragon asked just as excited

"Not far, you'll probably be able to see it this evening."

"Blodhgarm!" Eragon exclaimed

A few moments later Blodhgarm and a few other elves burst from the stair way leading below deck.

"Shadeslayer, what seems to be the problem?"

"No problem. Saphira has spotted land."

Eragon could see the elves expressions brightened

"I'm going with Saphira to explore. It should be in sight be evening."

Before the elves could protest Eragon dove into the water and swam over to Saphira. After he hauled himself onto her back she unfurled her wings and with three powerful wing beats she was in the air and heading toward land. A little while later he spotted land, his heart instantly increased and he grew excited.

"Finally Saphira, after months of travel he arrived. Some were out there is our new Home."

Eragon felt Saphira's sheer excitement through their mental link which caused him to smile.

"Let's see what awaits us."

Saphira increased her speed, Eragon held on for dear life as the wind ripped at him trying to force him off. It wasn't long until they were flying over a large forest; Eragon was amazed by the size of the trees. The trees were large pine trees but the size of them rivaled all he's ever seen. The smallest one he saw was easily twice the size of the Menoa tree in Du Welden Varden.

"Saphira, Wha…"

Eragon was cut short by the size of one tree. It was at least four times bigger than the Menoa tree, its branches large enough to hold the entire village on it, shops and all.

Eragon could feel Saphira's shock and awe at the size of the tree.

"Wait until the elves see this."

"The looks on their faces will be priceless."

They flew for hours, Saphira weaving in between the massive trees, like treading a needle.

"We should get back to the elves tell them about this."

"Do we have to? There's so much to see here."

"They should know about this as soon as possible. They've been here for thousands years. They'll still be here tomorrow."

"Very well."

Saphira reluctantly tuned around and flew back to the ship, Eragon still gaping at the size of the forest. It took only a little while for Saphira to get back to the Talita. Saphira landed next to it and quickly climbed on board, Blodhgarm and a few other elves were already waiting for him.

"What did you find?"

Eragon only shook his head, and replied in the ancient language.

"A forest, a forest thousands of years old. The smallest tree was at least twice the size of the Menoa."

Blodhgarm looked t him with disbelief.

"I can show you the memories."

Blodhgarm only nodded with hesitation. So Eragon showed him everything he and Saphira witnessed. After he finished, Blodhgarm was dumbstruck with awe.

"We should be there tomorrow"

Blodhgarm only nodded, still speechless at what he witnessed.

"Saphira, what do you think of all this?"

"Honestly, I don't know. When we were in the forest I never felt so small in my life. It was humbling to be among creatures so old."

"I know the feeling."

Eragon what did you find when you went to land.

"Words hold no meaning to what we saw Umaroth-elda, let me show you."

"So be it."

Eragon could feel the dragons curiosity rising. Eragon then gave him all his memories from the forest. When he was finished the old Dragon was speechless.

"I'll leave you be."

Eragon felt a dim acknowledgment though the dragon's excitement.

"Eragon what do think awaits us with in the great forest?"

Eragon walked over to Saphira and sat down next to her placing a hand on her neck.

"I can't even begin to imagine what awaits us."

Eragon spent the rest of the day with Saphira discussing what might awaits them it the Great Forest.