Disclaimer- I own nothing-sadly. Except for Analísia and the plot.
Chap. 4 – Reunited
"Where have you been, Eragon? We've been worried sick! We'd thought that the empire had gotten hold of you!" Nasuada was not happy with him; she had been like this since he had walked in through the door. "I was away...I had an errand to run." He answered her as politely as he could, without losing his temper. "What errand-" She was interrupted by a messenger, "King Orrin requires both Lady Nasuada and Eragon Shadeslayer to come immediately. It is a matter of great importance." Nasuada was still gazing at Eragon confusedly so he answered, "Thank you, you may leave now, we will come straight away." The messenger bowed once then turned on his heel and left the room. "We better hurry." Eragon told Nasuada. "Yes we better." She agreed. They both then left the room hurrying towards King Orrin's quarters.
He walked into the room and was frozen were he stood when he saw who was standing beside King Orrin.
She looked expectantly at the door when she heard their footsteps coming down the hallway. Two people came in through the door, one was Eragon, the other was Nasuada, leader of the Varden. Eragon was frozen to the spot when he saw her and she smiled slightly as she saw his expression. "Eragon, Nasuada, this is Analísia. She has asked to become a member of the Varden." As King Orrin said this Eragon spoke to her with his thoughts,
"Why have you come?"
"To join the Varden, I thought about your offer and here I am .Also, I have missed you terribly...they will want you to examine my mind...do you think I'm trustworthy?"
"I have missed you also but I am not sure whether you are trustworthy or not."
"I see...well you will have your chance to see for yourself..."
"I will decide afterward."
They refocused their attention on what Nasuada was saying, "-therefore Eragon will have to examine her mind before she is welcomed, even if she is a rider." Nasuada's eyes focused on Eragon. "Do you consent to examine her mind?"
Eragon seemed to think about it for a moment, "Yes" He answered. "Very well, she has agreed to let you examine her mind, so you may do so now." Nasuada said, her eyes sliding across to Analísia. Eragon walked over to Analísia and put his hand on her head. He sifted through her memories without causing her pain. She had hidden many of her memories and had let him see only the ones which would prove herself trustworthy. When he had lifted his hand and opened his eyes Nasuada asked, "Is she trustworthy?"
He answered her confidently, "Yes, I have seen nothing that makes her untrustworthy."
Nasuada nodded and spoke to Analísia, "You are now welcome among the Varden, we are pleased to have another rider to help us in the struggle against King Galbatorix."
Analísia smiled and said with warmth, "Thank you, Lady Nasuada. I am glad that you can accept me into the Varden."
Nasuada smiled back and said to Eragon, "Could you please show her to her quarters, Eragon?"
He nodded and said, "Of course, Lady Nasuada."
As they walked along the corridor, with Eriador and Saphira trailing behind, she began to wonder if she could go through with her plan.
What if I become attached to these people…
Then another, more startling, thought entered her mind.
Perhaps, if I stay too long, I will be unwilling to leave Eragon behind…this task will be the death of me. Of that I am sure.
She sighed and Eragon looked quizzically at her. He probably thought she was thinking of how her father would react to her joining the Varden.
After a while he spoke, she had been unwilling to be the first to break the silence.
"Analísia," he paused. "How will your father react to this?"
She had been expecting this and had an answer ready,
"He'll be furious, of course, but I will persevere and he will have to learn to live without me." She said matter of factly.
He looked at her strangely and said, "I see…you are not worried?"
He looked alarmed that she was showing no sign of the emotion.
She gave a tinkling laugh and said, "Of course not! He has thought me everything he knows; I am much more powerful than him."
He seemed shocked at what she had said. She bit her lip, maybe she had said too much. It was hard to believe that someone could be more powerful than her father. Finally he spoke, "How can you be more powerful than him?"
She was uncomfortable, this was a question she had anticipated but didn't have an answer for yet. She quickly thought up one, "I am naturally powerful, but the spells he taught me gave me even more power and strength than even he had."
She waited for him to reply. When he did not, she began to worry.
Have I said too much?
But finally he looked up and spoke, "I find it hard to believe, that someone can have even more power than him…"
He trailed off, looking into her eyes with a piercing stare. She found herself getting lost in his eyes but pulled herself out of the endless depths of them and remembered that she had yet to answer him.
"O-Of course you find it hard," She stuttered. "Even I find it difficult to believe."
He seemed to be lost in thought as they walked further down the hallway.
"Hmmm…."Suddenly he seemed to come out of his reverie, "Oh, here we are, at your bed chamber."
She looked up; in front of her was a polished mahogany door. Eragon motioned for her to open it and she did so rather timidly. As she walked into the room, she gasped. It was beautiful. The walls were different shades of blue and green. The carpet was plush and a lovely shade of brown. She noticed a master bed that was covered in luxurious looking quilts and pillows. A beautiful gold gilded mirror stood at the far end of the room with a magnificent beech wardrobe beside it.
"Wow!" Was all she managed to say.
Eragon smiled slightly at her dumbfounded expression. "It takes some getting used to." He admitted.
"I'll say! They didn't even have rooms like this in the palace!" She said, still in utter awe of the room.
"You might want to put away your belongings. I know for a fact that Nasuada has some dresses stored in the wardrobe that you could wear." He smiled, pointing to it.
"Ok then, but while I'm getting changed, can you wait outside for me? I want to have a look around the place." She pouted.
He chuckled. "If that's what you want…"
"It is." She said earnestly.
"Very well." He made a show of going out the door and she closed it behind him with a snap.
Now, what to wear?
She opened the wardrobe and found some beautiful dresses.
The green would go with your eyes. Eriador said to her from the ground were he was lying.
True.
Well then, what are you waiting for? Put it on!
With deliberate slowness she took the beautiful silk dress from the hanger and took off her own, hanging it in the other dress' place. She then threw on the dress and looked at her reflection in the mirror. The dress complimented her shape perfectly and her skin had a glow to it. She quickly combed her hair. Satisfied, she proceeded toward the door. Before she opened it, she turned to her dragon.
Aren't you coming? She asked Eriador.
No, you go for a walk with Eragon. Saphira and I will stay here.
Suit yourselves. She shrugged and turned to open the door. In the hall she looked for Eragon. He was leaning against the wall, waiting patiently for her.
"I'm ready." She smiled.
He looked at her and couldn't stop. "That dress is beautiful on you." He breathed.
She laughed. "I guessed that from the way you're staring at me."
He looked sheepish and wrenched his gaze away from her body to her face.
"Sorry." He apologized.
"It's fine. Really. I don't particularly mind people staring at me; I get stared at quite a lot, being a princess." She smiled.
"Well then, we better get a move on. I have lots of places to show you." He grinned.
And with that they strolled off. He showed her many places and they finished in a moonlight courtyard with a fountain and roses growing in bushes around the square. They were alone there except for the insects and birds.
"Would you like to sit down?" Eragon asked her, pointing toward the edge of the fountain.
"If you don't mind." she smiled.
"Not at all." he laughed.
He grabbed her hand and dragged her to the fountain. They both sat down and Analísia sighed contentedly. Eragon put his arm around her and pulled her closer. She snuggled into his chest and breathed in his scent. They both sat there, enjoying each other's presence.
After a while, Eragon sighed.
"It's getting late, we should head back now." he removed his arm and gently pulled her upright. He stood up and offered her his hand. She took it and they both strolled back to their bed chambers.
As Eragon sat down on his bed, after bringing Analísia back to her room, Saphira said,
What took you so long?
We sat down for a while. He answered.
I see...she said, and he blushed as he saw what she was thinking.
It was nothing like that. We just sat down, that's all. He said, showing her his memories of the day.
Oh. She said, and moved her head embarrassedly.
Yes, oh. He answered.
With that, he sighed and closed his eyes, falling asleep immediately.