Chapter 2- Arya or Mirana?

Eragon was flying atop of Saphira leaving his new friends and guards to walk to the festival. He was in his favorite Sapphire blue tunic and gold leggings outfit. He liked it because the elves had given it to him at Agaeti Blodhren. While he sat on Saphira he looked down at the leggings and his heart nearly shrunk a size.

Glaedr…Oromis…I miss them so much Saphira.

I know…It is truly a loss for our beautiful Alagaesia. But don't forget Eragon, Glaedr is still with us.

Aye, he is. Eragon picked up the sack with the dragon's eldanari.

The deep, powerful voice entered Eragon's mind once again. Eragon, I am sorry but I am not yet ready to talk please do not disturb me again. I will come to you at the time I am ready.
Yes, Ebrithil and Eragon put the sack down again.

Eragon…we must give him time.
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I know Saphira I just needed to hear his voice to know he was alive still. You know?

Little one don't become depressed again or I'll get Arya to hug you again. That perked you up quite a bit.

Shut up Saphira.

As you wish Eragon

"Eragon! This way" He turned and saw Roran. His brother, his cousin, his friend. He ran at Roran and embraced him in full bear hug, and then Eragon looked at Katrina who was looking gorgeous in her beautiful baby blue dress with green lace. He noticed her tummy was just starting to grow larger and he stretched his mind to the tiny being in her body. Eragon gasped.

"Eragon…what's wrong?" Katrina said with a saddend face. "Oh its nothing, your baby is developing beautifully. The baby seems to enjoy its home Katrina." Katrina looked at her tummy and giggled looking at Roran whose smile couldn't be more apparent. This only to outshone by Eragon's smile/ jaw drop a second later.

Eragon, pick up your mouth from the floor.

Leave me be Saphira.

The reason for Eragon's face, Arya walked from her tent into view. Her raven black hair flowing freely down to her mid back only to have a lily clung to the side. Her honey colored skin glowing under the absolutely beautiful dress she wore. To Eragon it complimented her every feature. It was a forest green dress with purple lace running down the sides. Eragon noticed he wasn't the only one staring, he was however the only one she was looking at.

"How do I look Eragon?" Arya asked as she neared the table he was sitting at. "Arya if you looked anymore beautiful we'd have to give you guards as well because every man in the Varden would be trying to woo you.
Katrina added, "Yes Arya, you look amazing. At least Roran seems to think so." Roran who was staring at Arya snapped back to reality and shrugged saying, "I guess." Katrina just laughed after adding a kick to the his shin.

Arya then nodded to Eragon and said, "You look very nice Eragon."

"Aye, that he does." Came a voice Eragon knew but couldn't place the voice he turned and again was awestruck. Mirana lived true to her name as Arya's cousin. She was also wearing a blue dress, but hers like Katrina's was simple enough compared to Arya's. But Eragon noticed something about Mirana, he knew her from somewhere. He couldn't think of where he might recognize an elf but he did. Mirana had beautiful silver colored hair that came to her shoulders but tonight she had put it up into an elegant twist in which a feather from a bird was placed in the middle of the twist.

"You look beautiful as well Mirana," Eragon retorted. Mirana looked at him and beamed then said to Arya, "May I sit here with you Arya? I haven't been able to catch with you since your capture. I do not wish to talk about that. But you remember how close we were." Arya smiled, and Eragon melted. "Of course Mirana,"

Eragon introduce your family to her. Arya said into Eragon's mind. Shocked he stumbled with the words as he tried to say them. Roran laughed his booming laugh and then said, "Hello I am Roran Stronghammer and this is my wife Katrina. We are Eragon's cousins." Mirana beamed with joy, "Well if it isn't a reunion of cousins," and everyone laughed.

At this time Nasuada stood and said, "I announce to you the sponsor of tonight's meal Lady Lorana." A wild yell erupted from both Feinster citizens and the Varden alike. In just a few days she became loved by the Varden and Eragon understood why she had such loyalty by her countrymen.

She stood and announced, "Thank you Nasuada, you and your men are to kind." Then she looked down at Eragon's table which was near the front and added, "Aye to kind, but I must also thank the shadeslayers for if not for them my beloved Feinster would've fallen under Varaug's terrible reign. Arya, Eragon I can not thank you near enough."

Then she looked at them both in the eyes it seemed and added in the ancient language, "You two and Saphira will be welcome always at Feinster." Shock enveloped Eragon as he looked to Arya who had a similar expression. "Now enough speeches, lets get to the grub." She laughed. Then a booming "Aye" and laughter came from everyone.

"Eragon" he looked over to Mirana after the meal and said, "Yes?" Mirana was about to ask a question it seemed but was cut off by Arya who said, "Now is not the time Mirana, he isn't ready for our questions." Mirana nodded and then smiled at Eragon who was confused to no end. Eragon then extended his mind to Mirana.

What is it Mirana?

Nothing shadeslayer, Arya was right you probably aren't ready for questions.

Alright, he added quietly then left her mind. He noticed that like Arya's it was as if bird were singing in the background.

"Arya, I know there isn't a dance floor or anything but would you mind going on a walk with me? I need to clear my head." Eragon wasn't sure where his confidence came from but he was upset by it.

"Of course Eragon," she added.

After a short walk of silence Eragon asked, "What is it that you wanted to talk about tonight, Arya Drottningu?" Arya frowned and said, "Eragon Shadeslayer, please do not use formalities with me."

Eragon then replied, "Of course not Arya Shadeslayer." He laughed and it wasn't until she removed her arm did he realize that they had, had there arms locked the entire walk. "Fine Eragon, I won't use a last name for you if you don't use one for me." Arya stated.

"Alright Arya, now what is it you wished to tell me this afternoon besides the guards coming."

"Eragon, I wish to talk about after you told me of Glaedr's and Oromis' fall. That hug, I hope you didn't think too much of it."

He hadn't thought to much of it, ha it was his only thought that kept him sane these past few days, but thinking of Arya would never be to much for Eragon. That hug, it was the one thing Eragon placed his entire being into. When he dreamt of the shade closing in on his mind he immediately thought of that hug and the shade vanished again with Arya piercing its heart with her sword. That hug enveloped Eragon as if it motivated him to live just a little longer. He did need it, just like he required the crushed pine needle scent her hair poisoned him with every time he was near her. If poison was what it was called he pleaded that no one find the cure.

Arya it was just a hug, I hug all my friends," then he whispered, "I hug all those that mean dearest to me, those I love." Eragon wasn't sure if she had heard it but she was happier. "I'm glad you feel that way Eragon. I thought maybe you were going to pursue me again."

Watch yourself Eragon, this could have many bad consequences , came Saphira's voice.

I know Saphira; I can't tell her the truth.

"Eragon, do you still pursue me?" The dreaded words that Eragon did not want to hear at that moment came to his eardrum.

Saphira?

Little one you must deny, we can not have her against us again.

Eragon then added in the Ancient Language a half lie, while thinking about Mirana he said, "No, I do not wish to pursue you.

Arya's face then turned from a smile to a plain face of pain. "Why not Eragon?"

Again in the Ancient Language, Eragon promised himself he was going to hit himself in the head with a rock for his stupidity. Then Saphira had a plan and told Eragon to repeat what she said to him. "Arya, I know what the consequences of my previous actions. I nearly lost a friend I hold dear my best friend besides Saphira. I would rather face an opponent of the combined shades Durza and Varaug then lose your friendship again."

To this Arya smiled, "thank you Eragon, I've never had a best friend. I'm happy we agree to this in each other. Mirana and I were close, but she would never understand my losses as you have. Oh right, I forgot to tell you Blodhgarm had our tents moved next to each other so the elves could watch us simultaneously."

"Also we are short on tents and I wouldn't ask this if it weren't dire but can Vanir stay in your tent? We can add onto it but we can not give him his own tent. The rest of the guards hate Vanir for his treatment of you in Ellesmera. So I ask, can he Eragon? You see the reason I press the matter is because when I came to Ellesmera with the egg I was exiled from my mother's home. So Vanir's family sheltered me. Vanir became attached to me like a brother. Please Eragon? "

Eragon didn't even have to think, "Of course Arya, Vanir is a brother in arms, I don't mind sharing." Arya's face lifted into the biggest smile Eragon had seen since traveling to Ellesmera with her. She wrapped her arms around him which stopped long before Eragon was willing to end it.

"Arya, Nasuada is asking for you." Mirana called to her through the trees, catching up with them. Mirana took Eragon's other arm and said, "Lady Lorana is asking for you as well Shadeslayer but she's back in Feinster." Eragon's faced deepened as he realized his night with Arya was ending quickly.

Arya seemed to notice and thought to Eragon, do not worry Eragon, remember our tents are next door now. I enjoyed our walk and would like to finish speaking with you tonight if you don't mind of course. Eragon only nodded to her, which she answered with a grin.

"Alright Mirana, take him to Lady Lorana, Don't worry Eragon if I know anything about my cousin, she'll keep you entertained. I promise." And Arya left.

"Mirana, didn't you have a question for me?" Eragon said quickly after Arya left.
"Yes, shadeslay"...Eragon cut her off quickly. "My name is Eragon, my friends call me Eragon, and I wish for us to be friends Mirana. And I have a question for you as well but you go first.

Mirana beamed at him. Eragon quickly found himself very happy, but he couldn't find out why. "My question is thus Eragon, do you love my cousin?" Eragon thought quickly, give me a break…ugh…Saphira I need help again

When he saw through Saphira's eyes he noticed everything was distorted and filmy.

Saphira your drunk again! Oh man. Just go to bed there then. And he severed the connection.

"Hmm…Mirana I do love your cousin but not in the way you think I do. I love her as a best friend and nothing more."

"Okay my turn for a question, why were you snooping at me while I was bathing this afternoon?"

Mirana quickly giggled and Eragon knew then that Arya and Mirana were related, there laugh equally gorgeous. "Eragon I wasn't peeping I promise, Blodhgarm asked me to watch you today along with Turin and Elion to get used to your routine and how you do things. Although if you wanting to know I give a nine."

"A nine?" "Eragon don't be daft a nine on your looks scale." Immediately Eragon felt blood rush to his cheeks, flirt indeed remembering Arya's warning that afternoon.

He then said, "You know Arya told me to watch out for you because your known as a flirt." Mirana blushed and spoke softly, "well I only "flirt" as humans call it, we elves call it praise, when I feel the person worthy of it Eragon. And you are indeed worthy of my praise."

Eragon blushed this time, then returned with, "Well let's go see what the Lady Lorana wants. And Mirana tugged on his arm toward Feinster's gates.