I want to thank you all again for reviewing chapters one and two, though I want to make a special shout out to FlameWing41. FlameWing41, thank you for your very helpful review. I looked over my first two chapters and realized that I really did move fast. So, I made it a point in this chapter to slow down and add more detail. Thanks, and please let me know what you think:) On to chapter three!

Chapter 3

"Have You Been Avoiding Me?"

Nasuada sat at the head of the fine dining table made of red wood. She wore a caramel colored dress, and her long dark hair was tied back in a loose braid. Eragon sat at her right wearing a white shirt, black leggings, and a brown elven cloak. Arya sat at Nasuada's left. She wore a dark green dress that perfectly matched her emerald eyes, and her ebony hair flowed freely down her back and spilled over her shoulders. Angela sat beside Arya. Her curly brown hair bounced around her face every time she laughed. Beside Eragon sat Jeod. His hair had been combed so he looked much less like a crazy mad man. King Orrin sat opposite of Lady Nasuada, and Solembum sat like a furred statue on Saphira's leg, watching everything.

Arya was thankful that Eragon was distracted by his conversation with Nasuada. She continuously stole fleeting glances at him for reasons she could not explain.

Eventually she forced herself to stop, realizing her emotions, and remembering why she was forbidden to feel this way. We are friends. Just friends. That's all we can be. It's for the best, I think. This is what she constantly told herself, and eventually came to believe it.

The dinner only lasted for an hour, another thing Arya was thankful for. She was eager to leave the noisy room and return to her peaceful tent. After thanking Nasuada for the good meal, Arya exited the tent.

Eragon met her outside before she even had a chance to slip away into the night. Saphira had already flown off.

"Can I talk to you?" Eragon asked.

"Sure, Eragon," She replied with a smile. They walked away from the Varden's camp. The stars seemed brighter away from the light. They twinkled and winked up in the dark sky. Every thing seemed peaceful.

"Have you been avoiding me?" Eragon inquired when they had made it away from the camp. There was a hint of accusation burrowed deep in his voice, but Arya ignored that, because truthfully, she was, or at least she had been.

Arya sat down on a fallen log that had dried in the sun all this week. Eragon sat down beside her.

"No, I've just been busy with work for my mother." She looked at him and knew he was not convinced.

"Have I done anything to upset you?" Eragon asked. "Is it me?"

There was a moment of silence where only the crickets and toads, erm, excuse me, frogs spoke. "No, Eragon, it's not you." Arya took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "Actually, I think it's me."

"What do you mean? Is something bothering you?" Eragon asked, wondering if he could possibly help. His voice was gentle and kind, but Arya just shook her head.

She felt Eragon's warm hand come to rest on top of hers. This is the part where I move away, Arya thought mechanically. But she didn't, not yet. Something told her to stay for a moment.

"You can talk to me, Arya, as a friend." He smiled warmly at her, and she couldn't help but smile back.

"No, it's not important," Arya told him with a shrug. They both let the conversation drop.

She glanced up at the beautiful sky, wanting nothing but to stay, though she knew she had to go. She gently pulled her slim hand out from under Eragon's and stood up. "I'm sorry, but I have to go," Arya said.

Eragon looked disappointed. "Will I see you tomorrow?"

Arya thought for a moment, trying to decide what kind of answer to give him. She didn't want to give him a definite yes, but she didn't want to hurt him by saying it's a definite no. "I'm not sure," She finally answered.

Eragon nodded, saying, "Okay."

Arya turned away. She, for some reason, had wanted to hold his gaze for a moment longer, as if something was drawing them together, but she knew that wouldn't be right. She loped back toward the Varden's camp, eventually disappearing into the mass of tents.

I hope you all got the part about the toads. Angela is one of my favorite characters haha! Read and review! It makes you smarterer:D