The Varden had lost the battle. Arya, Eragon, and Saphira were holding off the empires soldiers as the rest of the Varden made a retreat. They sliced, chopped, and burned the empires soldiers, but there were always more to replace them. The Varden was almost completely gone now and the last of their soldiers were making a retreat back to safety. " We cant hold them off much longer, they're just to many"! Said through the mind link. Eragon and Arya both agreed, so they both jumped of Saphia's back and flew of in a flash of sparkling blue. When they arrived at the Vardens makeshift camp they realized how many troops they had lost. Only half of the army made it out, and many of them were wounded anyway. Saphira went to hunt some deer she had seen earlier, and Arya went to report to Nasuada and king Orrin. Eragon who was now left alone decided to visit Roran and the rest of the villagers from Carvahall. To his dismay Roran was out on a scouting mission and wouldn't be back for about two days. It was now dusk and Eragon walked back over to his tent, laid down into bed and fell sound asleep. The next day Nasuda asked Eragon and Arya to go back to the city of Feinster. Mugrah and Thorn had been seen flying towards it that was and Nasuda couldn't let the city fall. Eragon gathered some food and supplies and then went to find Arya. He found her in her tent sitting alone. She looked very troubled, but quickly hid the emotions when Eragon walked in. "Arya are you felling ok"? he asked. " I'm fine, just tired that is all." she said quickly. He was still not convinced but he could tell that she wouldn't give him more information, so he quickly changed the subject." Are you ready to leave? Or did you not get enough sleep? we could wait until tomorrow if you like.""No" She said firmly, " I want to leave now, the sooner we leave the better." So they both climbed onto Saphira and took off. "Saphira? what do you think is wrong with Arya"? " I can't say little one, she made me promise, but it has do to with your healing during the battle" "Why can't you tell me?" Eragon thought " It's for your own good" and with that Saphira closed off her mind and refused to say anything to Eragon about the subject. They Arrived in Feinster a few days later without further incident, Arya said nothing for the most part, and so did Saphira. Eragon felt very unnerved by this, so he decided to confront Arya about it the next morning.
The next morning Eragon woke up and went for a walk. He was really looking for Arya, but he decided that that wasn't the best thing to tell Saphira. He searched the entire city but couldn't find her. As he was nearing his room that night he heard the sound of someone sobbing behind some bushes. He walked over, and to his surprise found Arya. She had a bottle of whiskey in her hands and was sobbing. Eragon slowly walked up to her and asked her what was wrong, but when she heard his voice she got up and tried to run away. Eragon grabbed her by the waist, slung her over his shoulder and carried her back to his room. He locked the door and then set her down on his bed, then he pulled over a chair and sat facing her. "What's wrong Arya? you can tell me, I wont get tried to get up and run out the door again, but she was drunk and tripped when Eragon tried to block her. She got back up and pulled out a small dagger, " Don't make me hurt you..." she slurred. Eragon pulled out Bringer and knocked the dagger out of her hand. A surprised look crossed her face, but she soon got over it and ran for the door. Eragon tried to stop her, but she tripped again. She fell to the floor sobbing, Eragon went to pick her up but she shoved him away. "Why are you hurting me Shadeslayer? why...?" Eragon put Brisingr back and tried to approach Arya again. Eragon Saw her face and realized she had probably been crying all day. He picked her up and set her on the bed again and sat beside her. " I'm not trying to hurt you Arya, I just want to help you, what's troubling you?" Eragon got up and got her a glass of water, she drank in between sobs and then leaned against him. "It's you Sadeslayer, that's whats wrong..." Eragon was shocked. What had he done to make her this upset? He had never seen her this distressed and it was unsettling for him. He was about to ask Saphira but then realized she was sleeping. Then to his surprise Arya leaned her head on his shoulder and then calmed down a bit. Eragon put his hands around her and stroked her tear drenched hair jet black hair. "What's wrong"? He asked again. Arya touched his mind and he let her in. She sent him the memories of how she had healed him. Eragon was became even more shocked. He tried to not let it show for Arya's sake, but he did a bad job. When he got over the loss of his virginity he told Arya that it was ok and that he was in her debt. "What can I do to repay you"? he asked. Arya grew silent but then stared right into his eyes. Her forest green eyes were sincere but sad, " I want your love Shadeslayer, I want you..." She slowly leaned in and kissed him long and passionately. Eragon pulled her closer to him and let her curl up in his lap. " I love you Shadeslayer..." she mumbled.
"Arya why do you keep calling me Shadeslayer"? Eragon asked confused. Arya's lip trembled and then burst into tears again. He knew she was holding something else back something important. " Tell me everything Arya I want to know all you problems, I can help." Eragon said reassuringly. Arya shuddered, and then grew silent. "When I was in Gil'ead with Durza, he..." Arya stopped but then slowly continued " He raped me...". Eragon hugged her closer, and Arya cried into his shoulder. Eragon felt terrible, he wished he could have saved her sooner, it was something no women should ever have to experience. "I will never let it happen again Arya, I promise." She kept crying for a long time, and then finally stopped. "Thank you Eragon" she mumbled "Thank you for killing Durza." "You helped kill him Arya remember that, I could have never done it without you..." A small smile appeared on her face. " Would you like me to walk you to your room"? Eragon asked sleepily. "Can't I stay here with you?" She whispered. "Sure you can, you can take the bed and ill sleep on the floor." He started to find some extra bedding but Arya stopped him. She looked at him longingly and said "Sleep with me Eragon." "Are you sure Arya?" he asked surprised. "Yes' she said evenly. She climbed into the bed and Eragon followed. She moved closer to him gave him a kiss and went to sleep. Eragon thought over what had just happened, then wrapped his arms around her and also went to sleep.