A/N

Ancient Language dictionary posted at end of chapter author's note. Enjoy : )


CHAPTER 2

Arya looked out over the horizon. Eragon waved at her. She waved back.

Eragon shouted, "Goodbye!"

Arya returned the favor. "Goodbye, Eragon-elda, Firesword un Shur'tugal. Atra dù evarìnya ono varda, atra esterì ono thelduin, un atra guliä un ilian tauthr ono.

As Eragon's boat disappeared into the empty waters, Arya couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. She could barely see Blödhgarm's furry blue head sticking out from the back of the boat, possibly contemplating when he would get the desire to turn into a fish and disappear into the ocean deep, never to be seen again. The thought amused Arya, but only temporarily.

Her thoughts then returned to those of Eragon. Why? Why did he have to leave?

"No.", she told herself. He did what was necessary. Nothing more, nothing less. "Besides," she thought. "Why do I even care?"

Instead of making her emotions public, or even thinking about them, for that matter, she just chose to block them out entirely.

"Arya?" came her green dragon's inquiry. "Arya, why must you do this to yourself?"

"Do what to myself, Fìrnen?"

"Block your emotions out. Do you remember what Oromis-elda had once said to us on the topic of properly balancing your decisions?"

Arya paused for a moment, rolled her eyes, and then answered her partner of body-and-soul. "Of course, Fìrnen. He told us that we should make our decisions by taking both, our brain and heart into account."

"Exactly, little one. Think about not only what your brain tells you, but also what your heart tells you. Besides, you-"

Arya cut her dragon off in the middle of speech. "If I remember correctly, he said what the brain thought, logic, is more important than emotions when making a decision, especially one that is almost for sure to cause severe consequences if made incorrectly."

She did not say so, but her tone made it clear that it was the end of the subject. Fìrnen didn't even bother to ask her what she meant by a decision that "is almost for sure to cause severe consequences if made incorrectly".

Fìrnen and Arya sat in silence, just staring out over the lake. They let their thoughts mull together. Fìrnen could tell that he pissed Arya off, but once again made no comments on the subject. He even blocked his thoughts on the matter from Arya. They just sat there, watching the peaceful surroundings.

All of a sudden, the peace was disturbed. A low-pitched humming noise filled the air around Arya and Fìrnen. It was as spooked with magic.

Always quick to react, Arya instantly sprang up and drew her sword. She reinforced the barriers around her mind. She searched around for other consciousnesses. To her surprise (though she did not let it catch her off guard) she felt five familiar perceptions somewhere around her.

She then saw a boat approach from the river. Not just any boat, but Eragon's boat. So, who was on the boat? Was it…

Realization dawned over Arya. The minds she had felt were those of Eragon, Blödhgarm, Saphira, and the other elves sent to the unknown with Eragon: Vanir and Alanna. Alanna was only a child, but she was in search of an adventure and a more exciting lifestyle than the one she could gain in Ellesmèra.

As the boat approached the shore, Arya smiled at Eragon and asked, "Back so soon, Eragon?"

Eragon laughed and said, "Aye. We must schedule a meeting with all of the leaders of the subdivisions of Alagaësia.


A/N

Thanks for reading! I will try to upload a new chapter every week to every 2 weeks. I appreciate the reviews. Favs and follows are great also. Throughout the story, I will hold polls. Later in the story, I will have some new riders, and I want YOU guys to pick 2 new riders! First comment and most often comment will win as some (not all) of my new riders. Remember, not only humans and elves, but also the dwarves and the urgals.

Ancient Language Dictionary (as used in chapter)

elda- honorific suffix of great praise
un- and
Shur'tugal- dragonrider
Atra dù evarìnya ono varda- May the stars watch over you
atra esterì ono thelduin- May good fortune rule over you
atra guliä un ilian tauthr ono- may luck and fortune follow you