"Do you feel like a man,
when you push her around,
do you feel better now,
as she falls to the ground."
-Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Face Down.
"Well it's not like you can just throw away ten years of friendship to look good, insult us and not get any friends in the end anyway, and then expect us to forgive your sorry-" Emmeline stopped suddenly as a maid rounded the corner, giving a slight nod in their direction before continuing. "Look, I understand where you're coming from, but you'd never have any problem forgiving me before-"
"Are you saying I'm cheap?" Emmeline was getting furious. "N-no! I'm only saying...well..." She sneered and turned away, before throwing back over her shoulder, "Save it for your precious Alexia. You always did like her better." Eragon was left standing in the corridor, confused and somewhat hurt. He walked a few corridors before slumping against a wall. What am I meant to do about it, Saphira? I've been trying to make amends for three days straight! He rubbed his arm as Saphira replied. Well, what does this girl mean to you? A good friend? Something else? Perhaps even a... "Alexia!Sorry, I didn't see you there! I was just talking to Saphira and-" Alexia offered her hand to pull him up. "D'you want to come to one of the Varden's libraries with me?" Eragon was taken aback by this sudden invitation. "Uh...sure..." he took her hand, just as Emmeline rounded the corner. One look at her face told Eragon she was not happy. "Wait, Alexia... Emmeline! Wait up!" Emmeline walked faster as Eragon ran after her. "I seem to remember this being the other way around last time." Eragon smiled. "Don't be coy, Eragon. It doesn't suit you. But hey, if it works on Alexia..." Eragon stopped walking for a second in shock, but quickly caught up. "Come on, Em! It all happened six years ago! Can't you forgive me by now? And that thing back there, it wasn't what it l-"
"One, It's Emmeline, not Em. Two, you obviously don't remember the whole story. And three, nothing is ever what it looks like, just don't make excuses!" Eragon mouthed a curse. "What is wrong with you? It's been six years, you...stubborn mule! We were children, we didn't know what half those words meant! Are you afraid? Or maybe you just haven't grown up since then! Oh, don't act like you can't handle this, you know it's true!" he didn't even realize he was wrenching her arm in a vice-like grip, he was shouting so loud and forcefully. "You're mother was a beautiful person, Emmeline, but you are nothing like her!" It suddenly got very quiet. Emmeline's eyes were wide with shock and her tear-stained face showed no emotion but hurt. Eragon you fool! And it's not like you even meant half of it! Wait, did you? "I-i..." Eragon removed his hand from her arm, wincing as it revealed a purple-red mark. He backed away, stunned at himself. Emmeline covered her face with her hands, and turned away. "I really am sorry, Emmeline."
Silence. She took her hands away from her face and then, "I hate you, Eragon." She said it in a devoid voice, emotionless, like she couldn't care less. "Never speak to me again." We surged forward, and for a moment Eragon thought she was going to strangle him, but she simply swept past. Eragon felt hundreds of emotions drench him as he walked back to Alexia (waiting in the other corridor)-confusion (It's all so long ago...why does it matter?) and hate (You fool, don't bring up her mother...no, she should just get used to it...) being topmost. "Erm, what was that all about? She just rushed past..." Eragon continued walking, motioning for Alexia to follow him. "Yeah, well...we both said a few things we shouldn't have." Suddenly Eragon felt strangely cheerful. He almost let a huge grin spread across his lips, but not quite.Alexia looked at him strangely as they pushed open the double doors to the library and found a seat. "What?" Alexia looked away and blushed. "Oh, nothing." This time Eragon did grin. "Just admiring my elf-like looks?" Alexia mock-gasped and punched his arm. "Eragon, you're full of yourself!" He made a disbelieving "OH!" sound and seized her around the middle, swinging her over his shoulder and jumping up and down. She squealed and laughed, doing everything she could to get down. Then she remembered. She lifted the arm up that she wasn't over and dug her fingers into his armpit. He cried out and dropped her, doubling over in his effort not to be tickled again. She leapt forward and poked him continuously in the stomach, and he wrestled her hands behind her back. They laughed at each tried to regain the lead. "If you're done, i'm sure the rest of the library would like their peace back." Eragon looked up in horror as Arya crossed her arms and settled her face in a slightly disgruntled manor. "Oh, sorry!" Alexia giggled. Eragon turned a deep shade of crimson and returned to his seat. Arya unfolded her arms and returned to where Nasuada sat, engrossed in ancient scrolls.
Alexia sighed. "Wonder what she's so angry about?"
Eragon shrugged. "I don't know... Knowing her it could be anything."
"Hmm..." Alexia thought for a moment. "Hey I'll spar you on the training ground. You'll probably win but I need some practice." Eragon was almost getting used to the sudden changes of scenery. Almost, but not quite.
"Aye, I am getting out of shape too..." Eragon and Alexia walked through Farthen Dur's halls and corridors until they came to the training ground where Alexia picked up her thin blade while Eragon held Beloth the Wise. Eragon shielded his blade straight away and showed his friend how, but Alexia had some trouble. Eragon laughed at her as she huffed in impatience and frustration and he took her sword and blocked it for her.
Eragon held back while Alexia held nothing.
She was exceptionally good but he was still too good for her. "Truse!" she cried, and put her hands up, her sword falling to the ground. He laughed and sheathed their swords. Alexia fell to the ground comically. "No...you go on...leave without me!" Eragon scoffed back, "Drama queen! Come, let us sit together." He half dragged, half tickled Alexia over to an old oak tree he had taken a liking to, and boosted her up into it's branches before climbing up himself. "So, i see you don't use magic." Alexia blushed. "No, that's Emmeline's area of expertise I'm afraid. I'm the real fighter!" She laughed. Suddenly her face grew serious. "Eragon, today when you and Emmeline fought, did you mention Ciona?" Eragon took on a puzzled expression as he tried to remember who Ciona was. "Oh, your mother? Yes, i got ahead of myself and may have ahhh...said something." Alexia made an odd sound, between a sigh and a moan. "You've noticed the change in her personality? How she angers easily and tends to make an issue of everything?"
"Clearly." Alexia gave a sad smile. "Well, after you left, our father continued..." she stopped. She didn't like to talk about the beatings. They were in the past now. Eragon nodded, understanding what she meant. "...continued, and during one of his drunken rages, he brought up our mother. Emmeline, being Ciona's girl through-and-through, took great rage to it and dared to bite back. His last words to us were, 'Your mother was was a whore, and I wouldn't be surprised if you followed in her footsteps. We never wanted to two of you anyway!'" Eragon brewed over this for a time, not realising or caring about the pregnant silence that lay between himself and Alexia. "It doesn't sound like much, but Emmeline's never taken anything lightly. That's why she can't forgive you. She's convinced herself you were in with our father." Eragon nodded slowly. He remembered something from their childhood. He was only eleven at the time, and he hadn't known what to make of it, so he had stored it away. But now it was back, and he couldn't stop it from playing.
It was the first time Eragon had gone to Alexia and Emmeline's home. It was not far out of the heart of Carvahall, but still isolated. He crawled beneath the bushes, planning to give them a surprise. He suddenly stopped as crying reached his ears. He lifted his head slightly, to see through the window above him. Emmeline and Alexia were hugging each other on the floor, trails of blood staining their dresses. Ciona stood tall against their father on the other side of the room. "Theodor, you will not harm our children, my children!" He sneered and slashed at her with his leather belt, leaving a thick red welt on her arms. She cried out and he said gruffly, "I'll do whatever i like, and a poor peasant like yourself won't get in my way." As he stumbled out the door, Eragon's head rung with the harsh way he spat out 'peasant'. He took one last look at the broken family, Emmeline and Alexia now helping their mother into a seat while blood dripped off their sleeves and tears ran down their faces, and solemly swore never to speak of it again.
But some things were made to be broken.
Saphira…I know where I went wrong now.
Yeah, erm...i didn't think i had explained it too well in the first chapter, so yeah. There ya go. I dont really care if you flame or whatever, i just want some reviews, dammit!!