Shock, anger, hurt, relief, frustration, and a few other unidentifiable feelings ran through Roran as he gazed at his cousin. Before he could even think about it his fist was connecting with the side of Eragon's face. Hearing the bones in his hand crunch before the pain reached his brain. The entire town looked in shock as they realized Roran had just broken his hand on his cousin's face, while the young women was helping him up from where he fell. She looked angry, and if looks could kill Roran would be in flames where he stood holding his hand in pain. Eragon stood up and walked over to his cousin, the whole town tensed and watched, as he reached his cousin he put his hand on his shoulder
"I deserved that" he said in an indescribable voice full of emotion
"Aye, ye did" his cousin replied back
As they glared at each other, Horst stepped between them interrupting the staring contest between the two.
"Roran, go see Gertrude and get your hand fixed and you said Horst motioning between Eragon and Arya "come with me, let's get you settled in for the night." Roran nodded and scampered off with Gertrude still clutching his hand. Horst turned to the crowd sending them on their way with a look as he walked towards his house. As they entered the house Elaine ushered them into the kitchen and sat them at the table.
"You have a lot of explaining to do." Said Horst "but I think Roran should be here to hear this."
As they waited, Elaine and Horst went about their business waiting for all three boys to come back.
"Eragon, are you okay?" Arya was concerned she had not expected the reaction he had received.
"Yes, honestly I expected something similar to this."
"You're trying to make amends aren't you?"
"Yes, with everything we have been through, this could be my last chance to apologize."
"I understand Eragon." She said as she soothingly rubbed his hand.
"Anyway, Arya Svit-Kona would you do me the honor of a spar in the morning."
"I would be delighted."
As they sat smiling at each, the door slammed and into the kitchen stomped Roran and Horst while followed quietly by Albriech, Baldor and Elaine.
"Alright, Eragon it's time for you to explain where you have been for the last year and a half and who the women is that came with you?"
"I honestly I don't know where to start."
"Let's start with what happened to my father." Growled Roran
"Very well." Said Eragon with an exasperated sigh attempting to brace himself for the upcoming trial he was to face in explaining to his cousin what had happened. At the sight of seeing Eragon looking worried and hurt Arya reached her hand over grabbing his tight, hoping that it just might make this easier if they were together as always.
"Do you remember those strange men who came looking for the stone?"
"Aye, I remember. I warned you to get rid of it."
"Well, I never made it home to get rid of it. Brom stopped me on the side of road to ask me a question about one of the traders that had passed through." He was attempting to calm his breathing and though he had told a story similar to this one it was never this emotional. "After he released me, I made my way home only to find he barn on fire and the house ripped to pieces." It wasn't a lie he told himself he really did find the house like that. "I dug through the wreckage looking for Uncle, it tore the skin from my legs but the only thing I was truly worried about was finding Uncle." Again not a lie I did receive more cuts from digging he convinced himself. "I found Uncle buried around where the kitchen was covered in these awful burns, I strapped him to a plank and pulled it almost to the outskirts before I collapsed myself. When I awoke Gertrude told me that you had found me and about Uncle, when he died I was so upset and angry I decided to carry out my revenge.
"So you left before he was even buried?" screamed Roran
"Yes, Brom and I left after the strangers, for about six months we tracked them across the entire width of the nation."
"If you left with Brom, where is he now?" asked Horst wondering about the tale.
"Brom died."
Horst could tell from the way Eragon, gave no details that he didn't want to talk about it and let it go.
"We had caught with the strangers and they attacked us, while fleeing from them I met Arya" motioning to the beautiful yet strangely dressed young woman next to him.
"Arya and I have been hiding out in Tierm for the past six months escaping notice from those same strangers."
"Then why did you come back?" Roran growled again
"I figured it was time to make amends and Arya and I are betrothed, meaning I wanted to introduce her to the only family I have left."
"It's getting very late, I think I am going to get dinner started." Said Elaine ending the interrogation for the night
"I'll show Eragon to his room." volunteered Baldor as his mother just nodded her approval.
As they walked up the stairs Arya once again reached out her hand only to put it on his shoulder, she could see how upset he was, but she could also sense that all of their questions were not answered. The room they had been put in was the same room Eragon had used before Garrow had died.
"You know that there will be more questions." Said Arya softly
"I know, but I also know that they deserve an answer, even if not the entire one."
"You should scry Nausuada and Orik to let them know we made it safely."
"Your right, do you care to sound proof the room for me."
"Eyddr eyreya onr" she mumbled
"Thank you," he said as he poured water into the wash basin. "Dramur Kopa" once again the water darkened before revealing both Nausuada and Orik. "I have arrived safely at home and will get in touch before I leave."
"Very good" they both said relieved for once that his magnetic property to draw trouble to himself had not affected his travels. And as the image begin to fade they only told him to enjoy his stay.
After breaking off the spell both Eragon and Arya decided to rinse before dinner, it had only been a few minutes before Baldor knocked on the door. Walking quickly behind him they sat down to eat. It took Arya and Eragon only a minute to realize they were in trouble, when laid before the table was a suckling pig, meat pies, and fried chicken. Thankfully, amongst the meat was steamed potatoes and bread. As the food was passed around both Eragon and Arya received strange looks from the lack of meat on their plate.
"Eragon, are you not going to eat any meat I know the pies are your favorite?" Elaine asked worried from the lack of food he had taken.
"No, I have not eaten any meat since Brom died, I am still grieving." He said thinking fast
"Goodness sakes boy, that was over a year ago." Disbelief colored Horsts voice as his eyebrows rose into his hairline from shock.
Quickly, Arya intervened before more questions could be asked. "He does it for me as well, my family doesn't eat meat."
"WHAT!" there was a sudden ringing of voices around the table
Both Arya and Eragon cringed at the high volume ringing in their sensitive ears. "Thank you for jumping in like that for me. I don't think I could eat any kind of meat even if I haven't shared thoughts with them." He whispered across their shared link reveling in the private conversation.
Attempting to change the subject Elaine asked "Eragon, you said that you've been all across the kingdom, where does which include." Seeing the knowing smile on Arya's face at seeing her prediction being correct he finished chewing his piece of bread before answering.
"Therinsford, Yazusac, Daret, Gil'ead, Teirm, and Dras Leona." He said counting on his fingers of his travels with Brom.
"Where did you and Arya meet?"
This time Arya spoke "We met in Gil'ead, however it seemed as though we knew each other way before that." Thinking of her connection with Sapphira and smiling.
"What have you been doing on your travels?" asked Roran not believing that his cousin had been after revenge the entire time.
"hmm….." Eragon was trying to think about what would be the safest reply to this before saying with a smile "learning."
After dinner was over, it was decided that it had been a long day and sleep was probably the best remedy for the wild mood swings running through the house hold at the arrival of their visitors. Entering the bedroom for the night both sets of eyes focused on the one bed in the room.
"I'll take the floor." Said Eragon
"No, if they come in before it will look unusual for a couple not to share the bed. We will be fine sharing besides it is cold tonight, you will get sick if you sleep on the ground."
"Very well if you insist." He sighed they climbed into bed, as Arya drifted off to sleep Eragon contacted Sapphira.
"Sapphira, was it a mistake to come back?"
"No, little one you needed to find peace for yourself and you have grown up so much since we have met."
"Roran, hates me he broke his hand punching me today."
This earned a chuckle before "Little one, your nest mate is just upset, I also remember how upset you were at the beginning."
"True"
"Your nest mate is just now able to begin to grieve because he just now got his answers."
"I hope your right Sapphira."
"Since when is a dragon ever wrong." Her voice coming across as a smirk.
"Good night Sapphira, do you want to meet up tomorrow?"
"No, little one enjoy the time you have here. Sleep well."
As Eragon ended his conversation, two others had just begun.
"Horst, what did you think of the boy's story?"
"Honestly, Elaine it still leaves questions."
"How so?"
"Well how did he not show any tracks for eight miles of dragging both him and Garrow into town, and also why did he leave with Brom of all people?"
"Only Eragon can answer those." As she agreed with her husband.
"I'll try and ask him tomorrow, until then let's get some sleep."
They soon found themselves fast asleep, but full of questions. Meanwhile down the hall the boys were just starting to talk.
"Roran, what did you think of Eragon's story?" asked Baldor
"I'm not sure yet we haven't heard all of it."
"I agree with Roran, Eragon's not telling us something." Said Albriech
"There's something changed about him, I don't know what it is, but I say we find out." Determination flared in each boy's eyes as he nodded before going to sleep.