Thank you for your review. I would like to thank especially Silverwing. Yes, English is not my first language, not even my second one unluckily. I will keep in mind your suggestions. I especially liked how you rephrased the part where Arya covers her eyes. I am sorry for writing modernly, but that is the only place where I cannot change since one of the reason I am doing this is to improve my English. When I had Arya "saluting" Firnen I was trying to show their friendship but I think that I was too hasty.

As for Arya being expelled from the order, I believe that it is a very likely possibility. Arya's duties do get in the way of each other. She cannot hold both positions since they have different goals.

BBBBBBBB = Ancient language

BBBBBBBB = Past

*********** = Beginning and end of a past or future segment

"Arya" Ismira gently griped her friend's hand with her ungloved one since she turned silent all of sudden.

"He had no other choice" answered Arya, to Ismira's previous question.

"It was bound to happen sooner or later. I was more surprised that it took thirty-five years for it to happen. Eragon was right; a dragon rider should be independent. I knew why but I never really understood the reason" continued Arya, who now looked her friend in the eyes "I believed that I could handle both duties. But I was wrong, and it showed soon after he left. The elves sought my position as a chance to influence the other races' political view to be more akin to the elven one. The other races did not like that another rider hold a throne, an elfish one nonetheless" at this point her eyes grew distant "I tried my best to not been caught up in the game, but as a Queen it was my duty to see to my people first, mean while as a rider I had to act in the best interest of all the races."

Arya's smile turned colder recalling the past. After Eragon's departure she started to carry the two eggs that he left to her to the Urgals and Dwarves. It didn't take long for the eggs to hatch but during her travels she noticed that people's eyes were full of suspicion when they were directed towards her. During the general councils that took part every four years, it was not uncommon for dwarves and humans to imply that she was siding with the elves in every matter, from the borders to the treatment of criminals. That she was not properly being objective in the dealings among the races. Her words were distorted by distrust, the other races believed that everything she was doing was in order to increase the elven power or increase their standing. The Urgals never said it for respect of Eragon but she was sure that if she asked, they too would say the same things. Maybe with the difference of being articulated more directly.

Time passed, more eggs came until all twenty-six hatched but the suspicion and distrust stayed there. The effects of her position were becoming a weak spot in the new dragon rider's order. Every time she was used to scorn either the elves or, by extension, the dragon rider's order even though no one made such remarks openly. The elves elders were not much help either. They viewed the humans as children that cannot make rational decision, they viewed them as the source of the problems that afflicted Alagaesia, and that their way of doing was the best resulting in not giving much space for middle ground when the cases pertained about international relations. Rumors started to mount that the order was seeking to not to become an impartial overseer but to dominate the races. Of course such words when spoken were met with scorn by those that saw the battles against the black king, the fights of the then young free rider who against all odds was able to put an end to an era of darkness where nobles forsake their duty in exchange for more wealth, the ever present oppression that imperial soldier would wrong them and have no means to resist them, and to live in fear every day that it may be their last. But human life is short and their memory brief. In less then half a century most of the humans that first handily saw the horrors of that time are no more and, with them, their voice becoming ever so feeble and their warning weakening with each passing year.

All this was normal, Arya knew that it was one way which human society healed itself. They always had.

"You should have accepted his offer and gone with him" said Ismira bluntly.

"I didn't know that he decided to leave Alagaesia and I just became Drottning" answered Arya, while releasing her hand and sitting straight back on the exquisite wooden chair.

"I had a duty to my people. What was I supposed to do? Should I have just up and left and said 'Sorry, I changed my mind. I want to go because I want to have a chance with Eragon whom at this time, I am still not sure if it will work out.'" Arya bursted out with irritation.

"Yes, that didn't sound too bad" said Ismira visibly liking the thought "but, if I may, I would have added 'and you are too stuck up and I am drowning here'"

"Ohh. Ismira, only you would think that that would be a good idea" answered Arya while rolling her eyes.

"Joke aside, I do believe that you should have gone with him"

"I know, and that doesn't make it a better idea"

"What is so difficult to say that you want to go with him. That you want to be with him. You are a dragon rider and you know now the reason why a dragon rider cannot be tied down. If you leave your position as Queen you will get into the order again"

"It is not so easy, Ismira" answered Arya covering her eyes with her hand

"You are the one making it difficult Arya. Think about it, you will finally be able to see him, you will get together, have a couple of kids and you will laugh about how baseless your worries were a century from now"

Arya was about to answer again to her friend but was interrupted by a knocking at the door.

"Who is it?" asked Arya.

"It is I, Vanir. Drottning. I wanted notify you that we are about to land on the port of Creetia" answered Vanir in respectful voice.

"Thank you, ambassador Vanir"

With that Vanir left.

"Well, I should get back on the sky with Thalos. Arya, think about what I said you know that I am right"

"I will, Ismira for the thousand time. Sometimes I wonder who is older between us"

Ismira gave Arya a warm smile, which she answered with one of her own. She pulled her close to an embrace.

"Arya, you can be happy. You just need to extend your arm and grasp it" whispered Ismira into Arya's hear

"Thank you, Ismira" yeah she liked Ismira.

On the dock Arya saw the port getting closer and started to think about what Ismira said. She let her imagination go for a while. Meeting him face to face, talk to him directly with no barriers and embrace him while he gently strokes her hair gently. She would be free to love him with no reserve. She had some reservation before Eragon left. She though that it was still too soon. That he would have a change of heart. He did not, or at least she hoped so. After he asked her to reconsider about her choice she though that he would have gave up on her but he still met her privately with the mirror at any chance they had. They talked about how they were doing, some problems that they encountered and the way their students were doing but she felt that something was different. She did not know what but it kept bugging her to no end.

She pushed these thoughts and concentrated on today. After more then fifty years he would for the first time be in Creetia, she will meet him again face to face. She will meet him in flesh and bone and this what occupied her mind the whole journey. She griped on the side of the ship and smile feeling the trepidation of the reunion that she wished for so long.