Chapter Three

"It looks wonderful!" smiled Gwen upon seeing the barn finished.

"Thanks. It was hard work, but she's finally done. Now the animals do not have to be outside all day." Eragon said. They were alone in the barn and Eragon could not keep from staring at Gwen; ever since that conversation with Roran he has been thinking of Gwen non-stop. With her peripheral vision, she noticed his eyes on her which made her feel a little uncomfortable.

"Well, I had better be getting back to my chores." Gwen said.

"Yeah, me too." Sighed Eragon. Together they exited the barn and went their separate ways; Gwen inside to help her mother cook dinner and Eragon to the fields.

~*~

"So Gwen, how'd it go with Eragon today?" Titania asked.

"Mom!"

"Don't mom me. He likes you."

"Yeah, as a friend." Scoffed Gwen, embarrassed.

"Aha, sure. I don't believe that."

"Fine, believe what you want."

"Oh, I will. What I want to know is how you feel about him."

"What do you mean?" She turned towards her mom who was peeling potatoes.

"Do you like him, you know, more than a friend?"

Her question left her dumbfounded. "No…he is my best friend."

"Do you really mean that, or are you just saying that because you do not want to admit the truth."

Gwen became uncomfortable with her mom putting her on the spot. "Why do you care?"

"I'm your mother who wants to be a part of her daughter's life. Is that a crime."

Gwen laughed a bit. "No, mom. But…ugh, I don't know."

"Know what?"

"Look, I am not sure what I feel for him. Before the barn incident, we were just best friends. Now I see him staring too long at me and it makes me uncomfortable."

"I see." She finished peeling the last potato and started to cut them into pieces. "You, know, I had trouble with your father."

Gwen perked up her ears at the mention of her father. "Yeah."

"He is not like most men."

"What do you mean?" Gwen inquired.

"Look, there is a reason that I left him; I never loved him."

"What?" This whole time Gwen thought of her father as this wonderful man who her mother loved but for some reason could not be together. Now all she ever thought was shattered.

"It's true. He is an evil man Gwen. When I was pregnant with you, I had to get away from him, for your safety."

"I just don't understand, if you didn't love him then why were you with him in the first place?" She was so confused.

"It's complicated. I will have to explain that part to you later."

"Later? Why can't you tell me now?"

"For your own protection…"

"Protection from what, mom? Huh? I'm not a little girl anymore!"

"I understand that…"

"No you don't; you just think you do!"

"Gwen!" Titania grabbed hold of her daughter by the shoulders. "Listen to me. I have done some things that I am not proud of, okay. You are the only joy in my life; I would give my life for you. I love you."

"I love you too, mom, but I just want to know."

"I know, sweetie, but I am afraid to tell you. I do not want you to make the same mistakes I did." She let go of her daughter and started to peel some more potatoes.

"Yeah. I just don't get how if you do not tell me the mistakes you made."

"All will be explained in due time."

"I hope so." A thought came to her mind. "What does this have to do with Eragon and I?"

"Well, I was going to make the point that unlike your father, he is a good man. He loves you, but what about you? Think about it." With that the conversation ended.

~*~

After dinner Gwen went to her secret spot in the woods next to the farm. Actually it was Gwen and Eragon's secret spot; they discovered it when they were younger and went there when ever they needed sanctuary. Gwen sat down amongst the leaves and wrapped herself in her cloak. She then began to think about what her mother said earlier that day. After a while, she heard a stick break and looked to see Eragon coming. "I thought I might find you here."

"Hey, Eragon."

"What's wrong? You look a bit depressed."

In a low voice Gwen said, "I got in a fight with my mom today."

"Really!" For as long as he could remember, Gwen always got along with her mother. "Over what?" Eragon sat down next to her

"She brought up my father."

"Oh." Again, Eragon was stunned; Titania never brought up Gwen's father before. "What did she say about him?"

"She said that she never loved him because he is evil. When I asked her why she was even with him, she wouldn't tell me. All that she said was that it was for my protection."

Eragon remained silent so that she could finish. "I told her that I'm not a child, but she didn't listen."

"Wow!" Gwen looked at Eragon. "You know the same thing happened to me when I asked Garrow about my mother. Remember?"

Gwen thought for a minute then said, "Yeah I remember. He told you that whatever her reasons, that it was for your own good."

"Exactly. Look, be glad that you at least have your mother; I don't have either."

"I know."

Taking a risk, Eragon placed his arm around Gwen and kissed her forehead. "You're gonna be alright."

Smiling, Gwen placed her head on his shoulder. "I know that, now."

They sat there together for a few minutes until Titania's voice filled the air. "Gwen, where are you!"

Not wanting their spot compromised, they got up and walked back to the farm.