Dancing With Swords

[From Inheritance "Will one of you cross swords with me for a few minutes?" he asked, raising his voice.]

She looked towards him and considered his offer for a few moments. However, she felt something like sparring would become too intimate for him. Luckily, Wyrden stepped forward to keep Eragon busy for now. She stayed with the group of elves and looked on from distance.

He is too assured of his skill level, although fighting regular foot soldiers would do that to him.

She watched as Wyrden started to understand his fighting style. Eragon relied too much on the fact that most of the soldiers he would have fought would have been dead by now. After four hits, Eragon seemed finished.

His pride has been smothered a bit. It may do him some good.

She turned to leave, but she saw that Eragon was walking towards her.

[From Inheritance "Arya what about you? We've only sparred together that one time in Farthen Dûr." His grin widened, and he flourished Brisingr. "I've gotten a bit better since then."

"So you have."

"What say you, then?"]

He seemed to think that she would be an easier target. Instead of being indignant, she said, "Why not?" She knew she shouldn't be permitting this type of activity between them, but she couldn't be a coward either. That is what she told herself anyway.

As Arya prepared her sword, she tried to look as emotionless as possible. This would be strictly professional, Eragon clearly needs to improve his techniques.

When they were both ready, she just stood there and faced him. In the spur of the moment, she had an idea. Then when he was close enough, she smiled at him. She made her eyes soft as she gazed into his, while her arm slashed out with her sword. As she expected, he was not prepared and left himself open to attack. She quickly lashed out and stabbed him in the stomach.

After she had dispatched him, she wondered why she had chosen such a flirtatious action. Surely this was not a wise decision based on his past actions. Why was she dredging up these old wounds in such a way? Fighting always seemed to do this to her. Yet, she knew that before she had accepted his offer to spar.

She broke off those thoughts before they could get any deeper. Eragon was writhing on the ground, it seemed that she had hit him harder than necessary. He was gasping erratically and looked ready to pass out. His breath came back with a whoosh and she waited for the outburst that would surely follow.

[From Inheritance "You cheated," he said between gritted teeth.

"No, I exploited a weakness in my opponent. There is a difference."

"You think… that is a weakness?"]

She was tempted to say yes. His feelings have made him distracted and has distracted her from her duties as well. She also noticed that he seemed to use some of his energy to erect wards around her in battle. Still, she felt she needn't be that cruel.

"In battle, yes. Would you like to continue?"

He yanked Brisingr out of the ground and stood at the ready again. He was not one to give up that easily. She lifted her sword as well.

Eragon seemed more cautious this time. Arya started creeping towards him, her gaze never wavering. He looked stiff. A slight twitch of her arm and he flinched.

Afraid now are we?

He tensed and swung with brute force. She easily blocked and parried his swing. He tried to use her maneuver and push her back, but she dodged his clumsy attempt. She then came back and gripped his neck in a choke hold, with her sword poised to strike at his neck.

[From Inheritance "I could have removed your head as easily as plucking an apple from a tree."]

She let go and prepared for their third bout. Sparring with Eragon was fairly amusing, she had to admit.

He lunged towards her, his emotions clearly taking a hold of him. They fought with all their strength, clashing their swords together so that they rang like bells. She went on the offense and swept towards his legs, when he parried, she dodged. He ended up trying to undercut her, but it was too easy to block and follow up with a light slash at his stomach.

She didn't move for a couple of moments, her face was too close to his. If he leaned in.. She carefully moved away and sheathed her sword.

[From Inheritance "You have become too accustomed to fighting Galbatorix's soldiers. They cannot hope to match you, so you take chances that would otherwise prove your undoing. Your attacks are too obvious-you should not rely on brute strength- and you have grown lax in your defense."

"Will you help me?" he asked. "Will you spar with me when you can?"]

She paused at this. Would she be able to keep this strictly professional? Still though, sparring with Eragon was admittedly enjoyable. He also needed practice.

"Of course."

Then, she walked away and made herself distant from Eragon, as she always had.

Next one will be a sparring session that was not described in the book...R and R.