A/N: Hey there…. I was in a fluffy mood for awhile, so I wrote this. I may or may not add to this in the future (although it's a good chance I will). Basically, it's an After Book 4 look into the AxE future that we all dream of so much.
Hope you like it…..
Eragon searched for her hand in the quiet darkness.
In the sheets, Arya shifted to make room for him, rolling onto her back. Eragon fell beside her and hooked his arm around her waist. When her back was pressed against his chest, he sighed into her ear and mumbled a sleepy greeting.
"How did it go?" Arya whispered, blinking back sleep and turning in his arms.
Eragon shook his head as if to ward of the waking dreams. "Fortune was with us, for there were no major damages. Preosyck nurses quite the bruise to his head; however, he is not complaining. Rather than the fist-sized rock that pounced him, his head could have been crushed by the boulder headed his way."
"My apologies, for I would have gone –"
"Shh…" Eragon kissed her temple. "Worry not, my heart. Saphira is much grateful for your company on this climatic night."
Arya sighed and burrowed deep into his embrace. His skin was warm, his arms enveloping; his breath rolled through the expanse of her scalp, and his toes caressed her feet. They remained so for a time, until the inquires on Eragon's mind washed his tongue.
"How fares my Saphira?"
Arya nudged her mind against his own, and he welcomed her sweet music within. Her recovery is swift. Tomorrow, she will fly; she is sure of this.
Eragon chuckled. Oh, my Queen of the Skies…. And the clutch of eggs?
Firen watches them from beneath his wing.
And Amaryllis? I have yet to see her this day.
Arya's hair brushed under Eragon's chin. She grows strong yet. Her tenth year is nigh upon us.
Eragon nodded, if only to rub his skin over his mate's silk hair. Aye. The full moon.
It is an important year, Eragon. It will be time for her to test the eggs still not hatched, as well as Saphira's new clutch of eggs she deems to be for the riders.
The trail of communication fogged like the huffing of hot breath on a window pane. Eragon's mouth had trailed down the side of Arya's face, and their lips connected. Eragon could not think of a coherent response. He kissed her with tender pressure, reacquiring himself to her unique taste and smooth feel.
Arya held his jaw away. Her brow rose as she expected a comment of sorts in regards to their daughter.
Eragon grunted, and he kissed the inside of her wrist instead.
Calm yourself, Eragon, his mate scolded. She pulled back her hand and spoke a short measure of ancient words with dot precision.
Eragon grinned. I feel in need of you. But when he tried to take her back, an invisible force pushed him back. He shifted on their bed and attempted again to hold her. The distinct, colorless force held him off. Gah….. He rolled onto his back and frowned at the dark ceiling.
"Eragon…" Arya's voice was low and nearly scolding.
He scowled, crossing his arms over the bare plains of his chest. "What would you have me do?"
"I would have that you calm yourself." Propped up on her elbow, Arya removed her shield and moved beside her mate. I wish for you to hear of our child.
Having her so near wrought an itch on Eragon's skin as he forced his limbs from reaching out to her. He ached for the feel of her in his arms, tight against his chest and secluded from the eyes of the world. Would you come to me?
Arya fell so her head rested above his heart, and her arm ran over his stomach. Eragon laid his left arm on the small of her back and scooted her closer.
Amaryllis is nigh upon the age of a young dragon rider. It is not likely she should dodge the fate both her parents share.
Eragon settled his head into the mass of pillows. Aye, I expected as much.
She has yet to quiet at the prospect. She is excited and full of expectations. Arya sighed. What if an egg never hatches for her, Eragon? I fear it will crush her.
Eragon shrugged. I know not. We do our best to consol her.
Eragon… that is hardly a solution for the state of our child.
He sighed, sweeping his hand up and down the length of her back. We know not the state of the future, Arya. If fate chooses not our daughter to wield the mantle of Dragon Rider, then surely fate will steer her into the path which she should go to.
Arya hummed, and it seemed for a moment that she was distracted. Eragon took the chance to crunch up and cradle her fully in his arms.
Eragon….
Remember, my darling? Eragon snuggled his face into the depths of his mate's sensuous hair. Remember how we began our lives together? He kissed her neck.
Arya shivered but held strong. Aye… you were as insistent then as you are now.
But the bite in her thoughts did no more than caress Eragon's passion. He sent her images of their first kiss, the first tokens of love spoken in the quiet night. He brought to her mind the moment Amaryllis was born to them, how her dark hair swept up in a gentle swirl as they bathed her tiny, wriggling body.
I propose, my dear, that we discuss this more fully in the morning and with Amaryllis at our sides to voice her tender feelings.
Eragon cupped Arya's pink cheek and the curve of her skull, bringing her face level with his. Though she frowned and folded back her lips so as to hide them from her mate, her jewel-like eyes sparkled with soft appreciation and precious emotion. Eragon felt the need to drink such emotion, savor every sip she gave to him.
Over a decade had passed and still Eragon could not fathom the elf maiden behind the mask, the soul that burned so bright, it signed a permanent scar onto his heart.
Arya, I love you. He did not move closer.
Arya dipped her chin – touching her forehead to his nose, given how close they were – and suddenly reached out to embrace him.
They fell back onto the bed, though otherwise not moving from their arms. Eragon's head swam with the sweet, natural scent of crushed pine needles. He remembered briefly in the past fifty years – before Arya had come to the island of the Dragon Riders – meditating in the forests and rubbing pine needles with a fierce need between his palms simply to paint such a scent into his flesh.
I love you, too, Eragon.
Eragon chuckled and tightened their embrace. He turned his head to her face and pressed an angled kiss onto her lips. Arya shifted in his arms and smiled against him.
In the distance of his mind came an affectionate voice. It warmed his heart to hear her voice, his partner-of-heart. But her words bore slight warning, and he had trouble comprehending the message as Arya's fingers tickled his collar bone. Little one, your hatchling is awake and searching for you. She is down the hall from your room.
Eragon's response was to kiss Arya harder and focus on the viciousbeating of his heart as she swept her hand over it.
And then Arya was not there.
She pushed herself off his chest and patted the flush of her cheeks.
"Arya…" Eragon breathed in a husky tone.
She half grinned. For all your wisdom, it seems you forget that you should always heed that of which the dragon speaks.
And as Saphira had warned, the knob of the ornate door twisted and jangled against the lock. Arya exhaled a long breath to cool herself and whispered the words to set the door ajar.
Amaryllis blinked in the darkness, swiping thin fingers into her black as night tresses. Her young, trilling voice twittered through the still air like the melody of a flute, and she walked forward with a sleepy gait towards the foot of he parent's bed.
"Mother, I had a bad dream."
Arya crawled toward her and pulled her onto the mattress. "Was it the shadows?"
Amaryllis nodded, biting the knuckle of her forefinger. "And the Night Man; he was laughing at me." Crystal drops pooled on the girl's lower lashes, and when she blinked, two tears dribbled down her round cheeks.
Eragon set his hand on the back of his daughter's shoulder and gave her an intense, warm look. "Did he hurt you, Amaryllis?"
She shook her head. "No. I woke up before that part." Then the child snuggled into her mother's chest and pouted. "I do not want to sleep by myself. I want to sleep with you, Mother."
"Shh…" Arya rubbed Amaryllis's lean back, bunching and then smoothing the blush pink nightgown the girl wore. "You may sleep with us."
"We shall always be here to protect you," said Eragon, and he took his family in his strong arms and laid them beside him.
They slept peacefully in the night.
A/N: Don't forget to R&R! XD