Aftermath
The waves crashed against the shore, but its endless wrath was not able to mask the sounds of gigantic wings of the enormous dragon.
The dragon got closer to the shore, revealing itself to be a magnificent, sapphire colour.
THUD
On its back was a human, no, an elf, no a mixture of both races. He was quite handsome, tall and rather muscular. He wore a plain light blue tunic, with a brilliant blue sword strapped to his belt.
THUD
The dragon finally landed on the shore, the Rider got off, his face fresh with the salty smell of the ocean. He sat down cross-legged under a tree, the only tree for miles around the steep shore, and began meditating, as he had been doing for the last two days.
His name was Eragon Shadeslayer, Rider of the dragon Saphira Brightscales.
Eragon meditated, for he was surprised that life existed even there, beneath the sand. He had learned that sand was deposited on the shore by the ocean from the teachings of his master Oromis.
Master, your sacrifice shall not be in vain. Galbatorix will pay for his deeds . . . he will pay for all that he has taken from-
Eragon calm down, you are supposed to be meditating, not making promises. Came and annoyed thought from Saphira.
Sorry, I got carried away… Eragon replied.
You always do! Saphira accused. I am going to hunt, its been two days since I last ate a decent meal.
I can't help it . . . . Someone's coming, even his mind is shielded. . .
Its not a 'he', its 'she', open your eyes. With that, she took off, as the other person came closer. Eragon opened his eyes, and was happy and a little astonished to see the person.
"Hello Arya!"
Arya nodded in response and took her place next to him. They were both under the lone palm tree on the shore, it was the only tree for miles around.
"How are you Eragon, it's been two days, and I haven't seen you in the camp, is everything allright? What have you been doing these days?" Arya questioned.
"The same thing you have been doing, though in a little different manner." Eragon replied, his voice levelled and calm. "I have been mourning, but away from the camp, in harmony with nature. I and Saphira have been sleeping out here as well." He answered to Arya's puzzled look.
"I see …." Arya's voice trailed off as she remembered the past events.
It had been two days since she and Eragon had triumphed over the Shade Varaug, who had been created by Galbatorix's pet magicians in a final drastic attempt to subdue the Varden.
Eragon looked at Arya, concerned. She had suddenly gone pale and her eyes starting to fill with tears. Eragon watched as she tried to subdue her grief, and then rubbed her eyes to hide her overflowing tears like golden diamonds in the sunlight.
"Arya, what's wrong?" Eragon finally dared to ask.
"I just can't get myself to believe that Oromis and Glaedr are gone. It's just too much for me!" Arya said, tears beginning to slide down her cheeks.
"It's the same for me, but we have to be strong. We have to keep hope, for hope is the only thing that is keeping us going on, keeping us fighting." Eragon said gently to her.
"And love!"
"And love." Eragon replied, somewhat flustered and dismayed at her reaction.
Arya continued to cry for a few minutes, Eragon placed a hand on her shoulder, fighting back tears himself. Though he knew that Glaedr was not dead, he resided in his heart of hearts, the dragon had been as good as dead. He had not contacted any one, not replied to anyone's attempt to talk to him.
"Can we ever find happiness in this time, Eragon? First my father, then Faolin and Glenwing, now Oromis, it's just a matter of time before I lose someone else, like my mother! The shock and grief itself would kill me, who would I have then? " Arya exclaimed, becoming extremely downtrodden with grief.
"No Arya, don't say that, even I have lost a lot in this war, but I have not given up, how can you even say that? There is still hope, there is always hope. Don't give up Arya, or you'll truly lose to that tyrant king! No matter what happens Arya, i will always be there for you." Eragon stated gently but firmly, implying the meaning of each and every word.
Without warning Arya leaned forward and hugged him, her head on his chest, her emerald green eyes overflowing with tears, drenching Eragon's tunic.
"I can't Eragon, I can't, I have had enough ….."
If Eragon was surprised, he didn't show it, but inside, he was astonished to see the usually strong and powerful elf become distraught. He remembered that Arya had hugged him once before, during the battle of Fienster. Are we really growing close? Nah, there is no way for that, I better not keep my hopes up, and definitely not let Saphira learn of this.
"Arya, be strong, be strong like you used to be, our work isn't done yet. We have to avenge our family members, we have to avenge our homes and our people, the fate of Alagaesia rests on us Arya, we cannot lose now, we must hold on ….. we must Arya! At least I won't let the deaths of my father, Oromis, Hrothgar, Ajihad nor my uncle go in vain, I will fight Galbatorix, till either my dieing day or his . . . Will you join me Arya Shadeslayer?" Eragon looked at her after he finished talking
Arya looked up at him, eyes full of tears and nodded with a determined face.
"I will join you."
Pity you can't say that in front of a large group, little one, you wouldn't have spoken even half of that if Nasuada asked you to make a speech in front of all of the Varden! commented Saphira.
