Since I received so many reviews -- so far 14 for one chapter is pretty good I guess – I decided to spoil youse with the next one! It wasn't going to be four pages on Microsoft word, but I didn't know where exactly to split it into two, and if I did, it wouldn't have been as effective. Lucky you.
Enjoy and please review, it doesn't take that long, just a nice word or comment.
Disclaimer: All hamsters used for my diabolical writing experiments belong to Chris P. He came up with the idea of Eragon, published the idea, copyrighted the idea, and now, we fanfiction writers of Alagaesia are here to steal the idea for our own purposes
Chapter 2: Start of Something New
When Arya awoke, it was long past daybreak and close to second meal. She had not anticipated she had been so tired yesterday, but guessed that the night's happenings had relaxed her considerably and eased her into a peaceful dream.
A tantalizing smell of toasted grain rolls with melted cheese and herbal tea convinced her to get up. She shed her coat and laid it neatly over the shoulder of the coach. Arya realized that the children had gone, and assumed they had returned to their families.
Following her nose to the kitchen, she found Eragon standing with his back to her in front of a cooker.
"Good morn to you, master Shadeslayer."
She watched as he turned around, startled, nearly dropping the pan he held.
He was wearing a pink flowery apron, and uncharacteristically, she found hysterical giggles broiling around in her stomach and making its way up her throat. Eragon's face turned a pinkish colour, mumbling under his breath how the apron had been a gift.
"Oh, it's you Lady Drottingnu, forgive me, I did not hear you arising." He bowed, "Atra …."
She waved him off breezily, unwinding slowly but surely, feeling like half her present age suddenly, and feeling happier than she had in decades.
"No need to be formal, Shadeslayer, this is your house, after all, I should be I who is paying homage." She said to him.
"I have not been called that for long, I have not seen the other races for decades, spending almost all my time on Vroengard with my students." Eragon mused.
"What are you called there?" Arya asked curiously.
"Just 'Lord Rider' by the elders and important people, or 'Master Eragon' and 'Lord Eragon' …countless others… He responded, "But please, just call me Eragon for old time's sakes." He said after a pause.
She nodded, "Then you must address me as simply, Arya. I confess, it has been long since someone has addressed me so informally, I am tired of being spoken to so exaltedly."
"Well, most exalted Arya svit-kona," Eragon said with a flourish and a bow, not used to using her name so familiarly after so long and settling on a more comfortable version, "allow me to present to you, your royal breakfast…I have been practicing my cooking skills, hopefully it won't be too far from your expectations."
Arya found herself unwinding and warming up to Eragon's friendly company, she felt less restricted, a feeling she could not even remember properly. She smiled at him.
Eragon pulled her seat out and with a graceful sweep of his hand, placed her and his breakfasts on the table.
She sat, picking her knife and fork up, waiting until he put himself in his seat.
"Dig in." He said, then diving, groveled furiously into his food.
Letting a chuckle escape her lips, she also started on hers.
It was certainly…not what she had expected…she was surprised by his cooking, it was at a very acceptable standard.
She glanced up after a while at Eragon, and blinked a little in surprise. He had already finished and was looking at her with an intent, indecipherable look in his eyes.
She set aside her utensils reluctantly and laced her fingers together, settling them in her lap.
There was a light pause.
"I guess I owe you an explanation, Eragon." Arya said carefully.
He gave a slight shrug, "That would be helpful."
She sighed, "In Ellesmera, after sixty years of wandering around without a sense of purpose, a job was offered to the people; as an ambassador to Vroengard. The job was to speak with the elders and the council, but mostly you."
He nodded, after her time serving as the ambassador to the Varden, it was only predictable that she would feel comfortable taking this new job.
"Naturally, hoping for excitement and a wish to see old friends, I presented my services. As like last time, my mother was not pleased, but wanting to avoid a situation alike said time, she grudgingly and reluctantly agreed when I reminded her that several powerful Riders would be at my destination to guard me, including you. I decided to go alone, but did not tell my mother of my plans, merely informing her of my departure and my estimated length of absence before I returned," Arya's fingers fiddled with the fork next to her plate.
"Traveling through the Northern forests, I made a turn through this valley as a shortcut southward. I wasn't expecting a band of rebels, no-one had any idea that they were still quite a large band, but they somehow managed to track and ambush me. We fought, but reinforcements arrived and I had to make my escape. I had lost my provisions when I fought and this town was the closest secure civilization known around the area."
Eragon looked thoughtful at this new revelation, making a note to dispatch a team of riders to look at the situation. He had not known that there was still an uprising in the far north.
Arya continued, "I thought I might be welcomed by the inhabitants of this village that remember me as your companion, I knew they had forgiven me for my aloofness toward you because of your example to them. Coming into here, I could not sense your presence beforehand, but as you very well know, when you spend enough time with someone, his or her essence is imprinted in your memory, so even if they are blocking their mind, you can find them."
Eragon nodded again, then jumped a little when Saphira entered his mind, listening to Arya's conversation and gave her a small greeting, receiving one in return.
"I found you at this house, and decided to drop in for a visit. As you can see, I have stayed longer than I had anticipated, oddly, last night, I lost my sense of time." She finished, and seeing he was still trying to absorb all the information, kept quiet.
Eragon finally lifted his head from staring at his steaming mug, "When do you plan to be on your way? You traveled to see me and here I am, unless you would like to speak to the council first and await my return in a few months on our stronghold? You are quite welcome to stay here if you like, and return with me, I can show you around, and do some catching up."
Arya considered for a moment, taking in Eragon's new seemingly just platonic stance towards her. "Very well, I guess a break would do well for me I think."
"Good then," he slapped the table, a solid thump resounding off the sturdy pine, "I will go get your room ready."
Arya stood, her chair scraping back with a hair-raising screech, "and I will clean the dishes."
Eragon was about to protest, but Arya held up a hand, "I have to repay your accommodation and hospitality in some way, Eragon. It is not a hard job to do, I am not a pampered princess."
His shoulders slumped, "Very well, I will be ready soon, and then we can head out," he considered her clothes for a moment, "And perhaps purchase you some new garments."
She nodded and both efficiently turned to their respective tasks.
I dunno, I'm thinking of uploading another one of my stories on my computer…
Anyway, hope you liked the interlude, sorry it's so short, things are gona be pretty slow because this story is all about how Arya & Eragon get together…or not, theres not much to write about that.
Tell me when Arya is getting OOC and when she turns Mary-sueish (very likely)
Still deliberating the dedication...
REVIEW!!!...or die