Chapter 2:Illian

Eragon's POV

Eragon woke up haunted. His eyes were teary and his face was wet. He felt dizzy and disoriented. "Aaaah!" Eragon screamed upon reminiscing what he saw. "Where is Saphira?" Eragon screamed questioningly while lashing out with his mind at the nearest being. He suddenly came into contact with a vast mind that held him tenderly yet firmly in place.

"Relax, I am a friend." a sweet womanly voice said in the Ancient Language.

"She sounded a lot like Arya…. No it can't be.. Galbatorix killed her!" he thought.

Eragon sat up from the makeshift bed and looked around at his foreign surroundings. He was in a cozy but bare tent equipped only with the necessary items. A woman with regal bearing stood near the entrance of the tent preparing tea. Eragon knew that this was the woman that spoke to him. The woman in question was wearing a silver, ankle-length, silk gown that had been enhanced magically to sparkle like water. Her exquisite jet black hair flowing like ink, covered her delicate face as she prepared tea. She also had dainty pointed ears as angled as any elf's.

Eragon broke down to tears as the woman's elf-like features reminded him of Arya. "Arya," Eragon cried out softly.

"Don't worry too much about Saphira. She is just off hunting." the exotic looking woman said.

Eragon recognizing the voice at last, leapt up at the sound of it and hugged the source. He knew that the voice could have only one source; Arya. Not noticing warring emotions on Arya's face, He held her gently in his arms. Eragon rejoiced at the familiar scent of pine needles that he adored so much, as he held the elf tenderly in his arms. He tilted his face to look and was intoxicated by Arya's delicate, bottomless eyes.

Eragon felt so relieved that none of it really occurred. "It's just a dream." Eragon reasoned.

Being with Arya made him feel like the he was back in Carvahall, the good old days when he was free. Free to just enjoy life in its simplicity. The days back home when he would lie down on a bale of hay and watch the beautiful sunset made him feel as serene as being with Arya.

Simply put, being with Arya made him feel complete.

After a few moments Arya stepped away of Eragon's embrace with an expressionless face. Arya threw the flap of the tent open and immediately stepped out into the starless night. Eragon stood still as if frozen, unable to sort his feelings. He felt rejected by the way Arya had reacted but a part of him also felt that he should rejoice since Arya and Saphira were never hurt. It was all a dream.

The tent started to shake as strong winds buffeted it. "It's okay little one it was just a dream." Saphira said as she hovered over the tent. The ground shuddered as she landed beside the tent.

BlÖdhgarm pushed the flaps aside and went in. "Let me apologize Shurtugal if you feel that your privacy was disregarded when we brought you here. You were screaming in your sleep and Nasuada said that it would be demoralizing for the soldiers to hear you in pain. I ran quickly to tell Saphira, while Arya took care of you. We tried waking you but some of our spellcasters had fainted in the process. Only Arya was able to wake you."

"There is no need for any apology. I thank you for your services." Eragon said gratefully. Blödhgarm bowed respectfully and went out the tent.

Saphira said, "We need to talk." as she poked her scaly, sapphire head inside the tiny tent.

Arya's POV

Arya ran as fast as she could into the dark starless night. Tears streamed from her emerald eyes and into the pitch black night as she sprinted across the huge courtyard of Feinster. Her quick yet delicate footsteps made no sound on the stone tiles as she ran. Arya didn't dare to look back.

She had conflicting emotions for Eragon. She couldn't let herself fall for him without failing in her duties. Arya felt that she couldn't bear her burden anymore, but she had to. She had to remain strong for the elvin race. She had to remain valiant for Alagaësia. She had to be brave for Eragon's sake.

Arya stopped as she reached the largest tree in Feinster. Its curved branches gave it the appearance of a huge green mushroom from afar. She put her foot on a grey rock beside the monarch tree and leapt from it toward the nearest branch. She grabbed it using both hands and pulled herself up. Arya sat-up resting her back on the smooth, cold bark.

She needed to recollect herself and organize her feelings. She thought about Eragon. She thought about the first time she had met him, feeling the innocence and naivety his mind projected when he first made contact with her. She smiled upon remembering the young, immature Eragon and felt amazed to how he had improved over the past months.

"Eragon isn't the young impulsive man he was before. The way I reacted to his hug was wrong. He just woke up from a frightful dream. I shouldn't have been so cold to him. He was just glad to be with someone familiar." she thought.

"I should talk to him."

Arya rested her head back, relaxing. She closed her eyes and used her mind to search for the consciousness of the tree. Once she found it she used her pent-up emotions to fuel the song of nature. She sang the whole night.