Chapter 4
Eragon was sleeping for three days. Saphira only took him out of his trance so that Arya could give him something to drink.
After the third day, Saphira finally took Eragon fully out of his sleeping trance. That morning Arya was just making some breakfast for them over the small fire. Eragon moaned quietly and awoke slowly. He looked towards Saphira who was sitting at the opening of the cave. Then he turned his head and saw Arya leaning over the fire. He smiled gently. "Hi", he said. Arya looked up and smiled at him. "Hi. How are you feeling?" she answered. He tried to sit up slowly, but had to give in to his pain. "Slowly" Arya said. "Your wounds are still fresh. You don't want to open them up again." He nodded.
She took the little pot from the fire and brought it over to Eragon's bed. "You must be hungry." She took a spoon and spooned up some oatmeal for him. He looked at it and shook his head. "I am not that hungry." She grinned. "Sorry, but you have to eat. You haven't had any solids for three days. If you want your strength back, you'll have to eat. I know oatmeal might not be the perfect breakfast but it will do the trick. Come on. Here." She put her arm under his neck and helped him sit upright. The she fed him the oatmeal with the spoon. He did not like it much, but saw it necessary to oblige. After he ate, he went back to sleep.
That night Arya had to change his bandages again. She took care of his shoulder first. She started to take off the old bandages and noticed some puss on them. She took a closer look and noticed that his wound had opened up again. No wonder his fever did not break yet.
Eragon was resting and his eyes were closed. When he didn't feel her continue with the dressing of his wound, he opened his eyes. "What's wrong?" he mumbled. She looked at him worried. "Your wound opened up again and is infected. I am afraid I'll have to close it." She answered. "How?" "I'll have to burn out the infection." His eyes were glary, imagining the pain associated with it. Arya must have noticed his fear. "I wish Saphira could make you unconscious again, but I do not want to take a chance. I'll think it is safer for you to stay awake."