Love and Jealousy: A Short Eragon Story

Chapter One

Eragon could vividly remember the night he shared his first kiss with Tasmin. She was at Morn's Tavern relaxing after a very busy day; her younger sister was ill and she was busy taking care of her all day while her mother was at work. She ordered some chamomile tea with honey and was sitting at the bar near Annette. Neither of them noticed that he was sitting at the far end of the room with a few friends.

He remembered how he felt when he saw her walk in and place her order. His stomach was doing flip flops and his heart was beginning to race. He really wanted to get up and talk to her, but he was too much of a coward. His friends teased him about it and told him that she liked him too, but he never really believed that until later that evening.

Tasmin was a simple sixteen year old girl with long light brown hair and blue eyes, was of average height, and rather plain features. On the other hand, there was Annette, a rich snobby, but very attractive girl. She had brunette hair that was always in a bun and wore fancy gowns that covered almost every inch of her body that did not lack any curves. Her eyes were brown, and when she looked at you, it was hard to look away because they were so mesmerizing. Despite her snobbery, the people of Carvahall tolerated Annette because her father worked for the King, and no one wanted to be reported for insubordination.

That particular evening, Annette decided to bother and embarrass Tasmin for no real reason.

"You look tired Tasmin, had a long day?" Annette asked, with a hint of sarcasm. She must have been bored, and when she was bored, she always found pleasure in talking.

Tasmin nodded, "Yes, I had to wake up very early to attend to my sister. She was sick today."

If Annette had any sympathy for the child, she did not show it. "How early. I understand that early for you may not be early for me. Honestly, I have read that a person's class can be determined by how early a person wakes up." She took a sip of her tea.

"Two hours before sunrise." Tasmin said, calmly. She knew how Annette was and did not let her other comment bother her.

Annette almost choked on her tea. "Two hours before sunrise! That must have been terrible, pray tell, when are you normally up?"

Yes, it was very clear, Annette was bored, otherwise she would have left Tasmin instead of continue the conversation. "I am usually not awake until about two hours after sunrise."

Annette shook her head, "I am not usually up until four hours after sunrise." She gloated with a wide grin.

Tasmin rolled her eyes and sipped some more of her tea, wanting Annette to go away. Of course, the woman had to stay and worse, continue on with a topic. "Like I mentioned before, a person's status can be determined by how early they wake up. An upper-class girl like myself," she placed a gloved hand on her chest, "can sleep in, while her servants have to wake up early to perform their daily chores. Tasmin said nothing causing Annette to talk some more. "Take the farmers for example, they are always up before dawn and look at how poor most of them are; there has never been a day where I ever had to wake up that early."

Tasmin was getting annoyed and had to comment on Annette's last statement. "Yes, farmers have to wake up early, but if it weren't for their hard work, people like you and I wouldn't have the food that we have. They deserve your respect, not disdain."

Annette narrowed her eyes, "People like you and I? The last time I checked, you and I are nothing alike."

"Excuse me?" Tasmin scoffed, becoming defensive, "I never said we were alike, I was referring to those who do not live on farms in general."

Annette paid no heed to Tasmin as she went off into her own little world. "Of course I would never have to live on a smelly, dirty farm, like Garrow's family. Honestly, why don't they just give up; they haven't had a good harvest in years."

At the mention of his family, Eragon wanted to march right up to Annette and tell her off, but before he could attempt such a bold move, he heard Tasmin say, "Leave their family alone! They work hard, and it is not their fault that the weather has been uncooperative."

Annette became amused by Tasmin's outburst. "It's only natural that you should defend them, after all, you do fancy that farm boy named Eragon."

Tasmin's cheeks burned bright red at the mention of Eragon, a man that she really was in love with, but never gained the courage to tell him. She was about to tell Annette to leave her alone, when Annette said something that really made her blood boil. "You really would make a cute couple. Seriously, he does not know who his parents are, and your dad left you and your family, and now you have to struggle to make ends meet. Waking up early every day and working on a farm for the rest of your life sounds like a reasonable solution to me; this way, you might be able to earn a little bit more money to take care of your chronically ill sister. Honestly, I have no idea how she is still alive."

Tasmin's hands were balled up in fists as tears and her body shook from anger. It took all her strength to refrain from punching Annette in the face. With as much dignity as she could muster, Tasmin said, "I would like nothing more than to curse your name, but you are not worth my time." She forced her tears to remain behind her eyes until she was out of the Tavern an into the cool night air. As soon as she was outside, she ran as tears splashed her face. Annette had not insulted her family, but mortified her by mentioning her crush and emphasized how her family was poorer than farmers.

Eragon could not believe how far Annette went to embarrass Tasmin. He knew she could be mean, but Annette had crossed a line and hurt Tasmin in the worst possible way. Everyone knew about Tasmin's unfortunate family circumstances and would mention it from time to time, but never in a way to hurt her feelings; many felt bad for her and did their best to help her family.

He was the only one in the tavern that stood up to Annette; everyone else just did not want to get involved, even though they felt sorry for Tasmin. Eragon finished his drink, wiped his mouth, and marched over to Annette. Pointing his finger at her, he said, "You are an utterly despicable human being, you know that? I will never forgive you for what you have done to Tasmin."

Annette laughed, "Now this is cute, and ironic. Let me guess, you are now going to run off and find Tasmin and tell her how much you love her and that it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks about her or her family."

"Correct, and while we might end up having a happy ending on a farm, you will end up lonely in a huge house filled with useless possessions." He bowed at her, to finish his mockery and left her fuming to find Tasmin.

He found her in an alley crying. "Tasmin?" He slowly walked up to her.

She recognized Eragon's voice right away and wondered what he was doing here. She had no idea that he had been in the tavern while Annette embarrassed her. "Eragon, what are you doing here?" She asked, with curiosity.

Eragon did not want to beat around the bush, so he told her that he saw what happened in the tavern. Tasmin covered her face with her hands, mortified once more. "You saw everything?"

"Yes, I did, and it's all right. You don't need to be embarrassed." Tasmin said nothing, he continued. "Tasmin, it really is all right, because I really like you too." He felt good getting that off his chest, but a new uncertainty plagued him: how will she respond?

Tasmin froze. She took her hands off her face and looked Eragon in the eyes. They sparkled in what little light they had giving her stomach butterflies. "You like me?" she asked, faintly.

Eragon smiled. "I have liked you for a long time; I just was never able to tell you how I felt until now."

Tasmin's head spun around in circles, her heart pounding even faster. She had no idea how to respond to him, so she just smiled, weakly. It was obvious that Eragon had take the initiative once again. Taking a step closer to her, Eragon placed his hand on her hot cheek. "Forget about what Annette said, we both know she will get what she deserves in the end." He said, peering into her pale blue eyes.

Finally, Tasmin spoke, "I know, but it still hurts my feelings nonetheless; not only did she insult me, but she also insulted your family as well." Gaining some courage, she placed her hand over his.

"She did, and I thank you for standing up to her afterward, and I returned the favor by standing up for you after she insulted your family."

Tasmin knew why he had returned the favor, but she still let her question slip. "Why, she isn't worth your time."

Eragon smiled. "No, but you are." That did it. Tasmin began to lean in, closing her eyes in the process. Eragon instinctively did the same until their lips touched. The sensation was priceless as their emotions flared upon the impact. It amazed them how something so simple could arouse such passion and joy. When they parted, Tasmin no longer thought about what Annette had said, all she cared about was kissing Eragon again.