Announcement: Two family crisises, one operation and a heartbreak later…

I'm back! I just graduated high school yesterday (woot!) so now I will have a lot more time to continue to write this story. I am deeply sorry that I have not gotten to it sooner; more has gone on in the past few months than I care to explain. Also my account was suspended for some weird reason, I don't know why I didn't even do anything wrong. Like for instance me talking to you right here before and after every chapter is allowed, right? And I use spell check before posting everything. Anyhow, I hope you all didn't think that I had given up on this or that I am one of those writers who when they get bored of a story just stop writing it because I am not. When I set out to write this story I set out determined to write it to the end. I hope I have not lost so many and that they will continue to read. I'm happy I can start back up again and am excited because it's going to start moving a lot faster! You'll enjoy where it goes. So, without further ado, my next chapter!

After bonding and gazing at the stars an hour or so, they decided it was best of they head back so they descended the spiral staircase once again.

"Would you like me to lead you to the guest chambers?"

"Yes please. The hour is late and I would not like to spend tonight sleeping on a bench again."

"Very well." He led her to the large hall. They ate a small dinner and then he took her to the hallway of guest rooms where he let her chose one. She bade him goodnight and when he departed she went about exploring the room. She called Firnen with her mind. He responded with a full heart. I will be there shortly. She opened the window to the night sky and paced back and forth, waiting.

Soon, Arya heard wings flapping up above her and then wind blew her hair as Firnen landed below, on the stone courtyard outside her window. She excitedly ran to the side of the room, poking her head out of the window.

"Firnen, I missed you." He blew a warm burst of fire out of his nostrils.

"I missed you too, child." They quickly shared thoughts and memories about their day until Firnen told her to get some sleep. Eventually she lay down on the bed and let her thoughts settle her. I do not want to return to Ellesmera tomorrow, but I suppose I have no other reason to be here if Eragon does not want to come. I will try again tomorrow, but if he does not change his position, I must go. After that, she settled in for a deep, peaceful night's sleep.

She awoke the next morning when the sunlight shone too harshly on her through the window. She rose with a jolt. This was the last day she would be in the settlement! Firnen's face peered at her through the windowpanes with a glimmer in his eyes.

"What is the matter, my child?"

"I wish to return to the gardens one last time before I am to leave."

"Can I come with you?" She smiled.

"Of course you can, Firnen."

"Come outside, I will fly you there."

She unlocked the window and opened it, hopping out onto the thin stone ledge keeping her from falling to her destruction. Firnen stretched his neck towards her so she could grab on to his head. She jumped off from the ledge so she was flying in midair for a moment. Then she grabbed on to one of his head spikes for a quick second and swung herself up around his neck.

"Nice job." She half ran half slid down his neck the rest of the way onto his back.

"It is not as if we have not done that before!" He took off, the flaps of his wings sent gusts of wind flying in every direction. He ascended above the fort, they looked over the walls, past the towers, to the green forest far below. The sky stretched out cloudless, an expanse of pure blue. The birds chattered and flew along with them. They soon spotted the bright square of garden amongst the trees and descended, landing amongst the flowers.

"What would you like to see" Asked Firnen.

"There is so much. I just wanted to visit one last time so that I wouldn't forget anything." She then proceeded to wander amongst the various displays of flowers for a time as Firnen watched. She stumbled upon even more oddities; flowers that seemed to be made out of non flower like materials, flowers with odd patterns of shapes and runes on the petals, and even a patch of flowers that had a color that she hadn't ever seen before and couldn't name.

"Saphira told me that Maiasei created that color by looking deep into her core. Perhaps I will try that one day."

"I see…." The thought of Maiasei creating such a color filled her with unease. She continued to examine the flowers.

It was into the second hour when she heard a small voice calling to her from behind somewhere. She looked all around her but found that no elf or human occupied the garden but her. Then she remembered that some of the flowers could sing. Perhaps it was a flower that was calling to her.
"Listen… Listen… Listen… Listen."

She followed the soft, high voice, a sound that seemed almost to be breathing the words, to a beautiful grapefruit colored flower. The plant stood eight feet off the ground with a green thorny stem. It looked like a hundred petaled daisy and smelled like a hyacinth. It's entire being seemed to thrum with life, consciousness, and intelligence.

"Listen my Queen and you shall hear

A riddle about what you most fear.

Your mind is sharp but your heart is mute

It longs to say truth that you can't refute.

Listen to your heart when all is said and done

After the war that will surely come

You will see, my child what's in front of you

And you will know beyond all doubt that it is true.

You will learn to know my child.

You will learn to know…...

What did it mean? She looked at the flower with a raised eyebrow for a few more moments, trying to decipher some of what it said. What was it she feared that she was hiding from her own heart? I would like to think that after two hundred years I know the inside of my heart. I know that there will be a war to come so it comes as no surprise to me. But what of what lies right in front of my eyes? She looked at Firnen, who had been examining a wine colored flower. He looked at her innocently.

"What does the flower mean by 'you will learn to know?"

"I think that when you are ready, it will come to you."

"I suppose you are right. I will put this message off for now and think about it later."

She thanked the flower and was about to leave when a figure dressed in white came into her vision.

"I thought I might find you here." It was Eragon. Surprised, she smiled in greeting, glancing at the flower.

"Yes… this is quite the intriguing flower.

"Indeed, Lady Illsmira made that twenty some years ago. It gives advice to those it wishes in the form of a riddle. I saw you were speaking with it. Did it give you a fortune?

"Yes, I believe so."

"Would you care to repeat it?"

"It wasn't much of anything, really, it is no matter." He shrugged.

"Very well then." And so they walked off.

It was mid afternoon when Eragon realized how little time they had left together.

"What would you like to do now?"

"I suppose we can go visit the others again." He led her out of the fort and back to the cottages. The elves came out once again, and Arya spoke with each of them for a time, but the subjects became too grave Bloodgharm suggested they celebrate her arrival.

So the elves ran back into their cottages, returning with tables of food, music and festive cheers. Nindr began playing a fast, light-hearted tune and Harvala sang along, while Bloodgharm lit a fire in the center. For a time, Eragon ate and talked, until Nindr began on his second song. Eragon sat and happily watched with a slowly relaxing Arya. Nindr's harmonies were complex and carefully planned with his flute playing. Soon, others began to dance as the tempo increased. Arya sprung up with her arms above her head and began to dance with a smile on her face. Eragon was more than content just to watch and marvel at her beauty and skill. She later told him she had not been able to dance for a long time, due to her position at home. The elves applauded as she finished. Eventually, the night seemed to hit the lot and the elves fell into a somber silence. Everyone looked up at the bright, full moon glistening in the dark blue sky. They insisted the queen sing one of her songs and after some persuasion, she consented.

The tune was slow and eerie. It spoke of the turn of the seasons and times gone by, of darkness of the night. It hit Eragon with a pang of loneliness that felt like a physical blow. When she was finished, the last few notes left everyone in a contemplative silence. Eventually, the elves exchanged their last few pleasantries and left the clearing back into their huts, leaving Arya and Eragon alone in the darkness, sitting in on a log by the fire.

For a while, there was silence. Then, finally Eragon got the courage to speak.

"You hinted to them that things were getting better in Du Weldenvarden. Are they?"

"I did what I had to. Our dilemma will improve when I return."

"So, why did you decide to go back to the gardens?" She sighed, letting him in.

"I wished to return one last time so that I might remember. When I am on the battlefield in the upcoming war, I want to look back on this garden so that when I feel overwhelmed I might have some form of peace."

"You can only fight for so long." She nodded.

"I was born a fighter, Eragon. But you are right. If I only fought, I would never have the time to acknowledge what I am fighting for."

"Mhm." Another thoughtful silence. He gathered his courage and his words. "Do you still plan on leaving soon?" Without meaning to, a hint of boyish hopefulness crept into his voice. He quickly tried to hide it though he failed.

"I will leave tomorrow morning." Her voice was quiet and filled with certainty. His heart sank deep into his stomach, though he put all his effort into hiding it. Aching, he turned away to compose himself.

"You surely miss your people."

"I suppose I should." He turned back to her again, incredulous.

"You do not?" Her face was turned down, gaze directed towards her feet.

"I do not. I…." He waited respectfully for her to gather her words. "I hate it there. When I am not working to the death with the council I am struggling to maintain order in the nations. When I am not flying with my riders I must fight with the leaders who want everything from us. Most times, differences cannot be overcome and everyone remains unsatisfied. Other times, one race gets what it wants, becomes too powerful and knocks down the balance so we have to start all over again." Eragon looked through Arya's dark tresses, which concealed most of her face and noticed she was crying. His face automatically switched from thoughtfulness to concern. "I never wanted any of this for myself. I chose this life on account of my yawe, and the need to serve my people. I will continue to fight for them but I do not know how much longer I can continue to be pulled in so many directions. Most of all, I am afraid that not only will my people fall but that all of Alegaesia will be split apart, never to repair itself again." At this comment, Arya turned to face him. The glimmer of her tears illuminated by the fire lit up her face in a way that made Eragon swoon. It was one of the most beautiful ways he had ever seen her. He was filled just then with the pure desire just to help her, to find a way to make her happy again. He thought and then a knot entered his stomach.

"Have you not told anyone about this?"

"In order to maintain my good standing and inspire faith in my people, I cannot confide in anyone but Firnen."

"There isn't anyone else you have spoken to about this?"

"No, you are the first one I have told."

She looked into his eyes for a long minute, as he looked into hers. Finally she turned back to the fire and sighed.

"Still, you will not return with me." This was the trigger Eragon had tried to avoid. He raised his arms in exasperation with himself.

"How can I join you when the prophecy clearly said I cannot? I have duties here!"

"What duty is more important than your service to Alegaesia? If we are to fail and all the riders are killed who will come to you for training? If the people war against each other and order is destroyed who will restore it?"

"The Riders!" Arya's eyebrows turned into Vs. Perhaps he had not grown up after all.

"You put too much faith in your bond between races. The ancient language can create bonds between people but it is the people that must choose to make the bond work. I would advise you to reflect on your priorities and maybe you will see where your loyalties truly lie." The accusation left him stunned. She sat rigidly, looking into the fire. He looked at her, unsure of what to say. Finally she broke the silence. "I will leave tomorrow morning. I still urge you to accompany me. If not, then we will part ways."

They sat watching the fire, lost in thought, under the glistening starlight.

That's it! Hopefully the short break in stoic-ness from Arya was engaging enough. I'll post more soon! Bye!