A/N: Yay! The next installment thing... anyway, this is NOT the last one. There will be more. Bear with me on this, it's a bit odd... the whole thing... so, sorry about this one, since it's a bit odd. And sorry if Eragon seems a bit OoC.

Dislcaimer: I do not, nor will I ever, own Eragon/ Eldest/ Empire. Why? BECAUSE PAOLINI THOUGHT OF IT FIRST!

I Am Alone

Arya stumbled across the meadow, a bottle of rum in her hands. She had been sorrowful and pained these past few days after her last encounter with Eragon, and so, she had drunken away her sorrows.

But they were still there, though she had lost all common sense, for that was how drunk she was. It was not like her to drink, it was a thing for dwarves and humans, and the occasional depressed elf, and she was depressed, there was no doubt about that.

You could see it in her eyes, the sorrow that deepened back to the corners of her mind, and no matter how far away she tried to push them, the came tumbling back, fresh with new torrents of emotion.

She was alone in this world. Her thoughts were hers, her feelings all her own. She truly was alone.

She stumbled onward, having a faint sense of direction, and headed in the direction of the Menoa Tree.

When she arrived, she sat on the great big roots of the tree that popped up from the ground. The stars shown brightly in the sky, making it all look more beautiful. There was a slight breeze and the branches of the trees swung gently in a calming rhythm.

She sat there, staring at the sky for the amount of time that she didn't know.

Crunch.

A twig snapped behind her, and she whipped her head around. "Eragon!" she exclaimed.

He turned away, heading back in the direction in which he had come.

"No!" Arya called, patting a seat next to her. "Come, sit, and enjoy the beauty of this night."

Eragon spun around, and his eyes met hers. "You want me to stay?" he asked, bewildered.

She nodded her head and returned her gaze to the stars. Though she was not watching him, she felt his body heat as he sat down next to her. She felt flustered and happy, not able to resist her feelings any longer.

She placed her hand on top of his, allowing it to rest there.

"Arya," Eragon said slowly, "why's your... why's your hand... there?"

She smiled and laughed. "Because I want it to be." She left it at that and continued to stare at the stares, staring at Eragon from the corner of her eyes. Realizing that Eragon wasn't going to make the next move, she leaned in so her cheek was resting on his shoulder.

"Arya," Eragon murmured. "What are you doing."

"Resting," was all she said.

She was beginning to get impatient; here she was practically giving herself to him, and he hadn't done a thing!

"Eragon, look at me."

Eragon slowly and hesitantly turned his head to face Arya. "What?" he asked coldly, clearly hurt from the other night's events.

Without saying a word, she leaned in and attempted to kiss him. He smelled her breath, and immediately pushed her away.

"You're drunk," he said with disgust. She bobbed her head up and down and had a giddy smile on her face.

"No!" she protested. "I am not!"

Eragon stood up and wiped his mouth on his sleeve.

"So, I'm only good enough for you when you're drunk," he said bitterly, then walked away.

"Eragon!" Arya called, but he continued walking, his silhouette slowly disappearing into the darkness.

Arya wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "Eragon," she whispered sadly.

I am alone.

A/N: Well, what did you think? And yes, I am aware that I'm being cruel by not allowing them to be together. Deal with it. Also, I wasn't really too happy with this one... Bleh. Arya getting drunk is not likely... Oh well. Also, if you have any ideas as to what to call the "series," I'd appreciate it, 'cause I suck at titles. Thanks!