HEY GUYS! I'm back! Thought I'd forgotten you guys since its after the time that I'd promised that I'll be back, dincha! NOPEEEE. I AM writing, just that… I'VE HIT A SNAG! I've got writer's block and I have no idea how to continue. WHICH DOES NOT MEAN THAT I WASN'T WRITING! I have! And as proof, I have one mini fluffy chapter that goes NO WHERE AT ALL. HAHA. This was going to be scrapped, but as I'd spent tons of brain juices over it… I'll upload it as a bonus for you patient people! Thanks so much! The rings will probably make a reappearance, but in a different time, a different way, not in this "slow moving, nothing happens at all" crap. So enjoy, and please be patient, the real chapter is on its way! (However slowly)

START OF THE BONUS BIT!

The cloak of night hung over Uru'baen and its surrounding lands as the full moon casted silvery ghosts of light over the land, dimly illuminating the surrounding landscape. Uru'baen was lit with torches that looked like dancing fireflies from the sky. There was a large bonfire in the city square as music, chatter and laughter from the city square permeated the air as it floated to Eragon's sensitive ears in a cacophony of noise. It had been the third day since the Varden's triumph, and the festivities were still going strong throughout the night. The smell of food and mead made Eragon's mouth water, but Eragon ignored the callings of his stomach. He fingered Aren and smiled wryly.

If everything goes as planned…

Eragon projected his thoughts outward, and found that most of Uru'baen's people had congregated at the city square, with a few straggling souls wandering about the empty streets. A further scan of the area showed the music of Arya's being alone in the courtyard of Uru'baen's castle, which was likewise devoid of humanity. Firnen was not at her side, but at the city square. Is that done to avoid unwanted attention?

Without a sound, Saphira sailed through the air, across the city, and landed onto the castle wall like a fleeting shadow. And there she perched as Eragon dismounted her and slipped into the courtyard silently. Arya seemed not to have notice their arrival.

The stars twinkled in the sky with its celestial brilliance, and they held Arya in their embrace, who had folded her arms around herself while contemplating the heavens silently. Eragon sighed and stared at her, the scent of flowers thick in his nose. Even in the dark depths of her grief, she still had this cold aloofness that kept people from approaching her.

Perhaps it is her way of defense—for a century's worth of hurt. Saphira noted with a blink. In any case, I'll leave you to win your own mate. With that,Saphira unfurled her wings and took off into the night. Arya must have heard her then, for she spun around, drawing her blade from its sheath, her eyes hard and fierce. It was an image of irony; an ethereal being surrounded by flowers, yet carrying a graceful, deadly weapon, clothed in leather the shade of night. Eragon raised both of his hands to show that they were empty.

"I beg your pardon, O princess of the elves, for alarming you." Eragon smiled at her, and Arya's expression softened infinitesimally before a veil of nonchalance descended upon her features, and she raised a questioning eyebrow, silently demanding a reason for his recent absence.

"I've had another engagement, Arya. Now that Galbatorix has been felled, Murtagh would need time to regain trust from the people. So I gave him that chance and have turned my attentions to another engagement that I need to pursue. Nasuada has granted me leave."

Staring at him through her slanted eyes, Arya demanded of him in a chilling voice, "Where have you been, Kingkiller? It has been three days since you left the people of the Varden to their own devices to pursue an engagement of yours? Do the people of the Varden mean nothing to you? Do I—" Arya cut herself short and took a deep breath. "Explain yourself, Shadeslayer, for you have gained no favor with neither the Varden nor myself.

Eragon expected her angst—it served only to prove his theory right; she had missed him. He resisted the urge to smile while he contemplated her difficulty to do so. He knew that he had piqued Arya's curiosity and interest. He was going to pay for this later, but he had to pay back some of the anger and grief that she had caused him for all his rejected advances.

Eragon stifled a chuckle as he held his arms behind his back and paced slowly to Arya's left, allowing his boots to thump on the white marble courtyard. Then, he turned and faced Arya somberly.

"I have found a lady to chase and win. She is strong and courageous, beautiful and wise, even as you are, Arya. She is my morning sun and my evening star… and I am deeply in love with her. I have only met her recently, but it feels as if I've known her for all my life. Yet she remains deeply rooted in my heart. It would be difficult to win her hand, but I have embarked upon this arduous quest. I beg your pardon."

Arya closed her eyes at his words, concealing her almond eyes. Grasping the brief opportunity, Eragon grinned and, with superhuman speed, plunged his right hand into his pocket, grabbed onto an object, before concealing it behind his back. Arya opened her eyes, murmuring something so softly, like the breath of a feather. It eluded Eragon's ear, yet, he knew perfectly what she had said; I knew it.

Arya's expression of neutrality hardened into place. Then, with a bitter, self mocking smile, turned her back on Eragon and resumed her examination of the night sky. "Ever the sun tracks its course in the sky, ever the moon waxes and wanes, and ever the stars shine with their celestial brilliance. Who are we to question its happenings?" She paused. "Who is this lady?"

"That lady is you." Eragon chuckled as Arya spun around. Eragon approached, step by step "Of that, there is no doubt. Arya, my feelings for you won't change. You have to accept that I'm going to be with you for a very long time, whether you agree or not." Eragon looked deeply into Arya's stunning green eyes, memorizing their shape and shade. Eragon hesitated, trying to gauge her reaction, then he revealed the object in his right palm.

Right in the middle of his Gedwey Ignesia laid a ring that was similar to the one that he was wearing. Yet, this was no ring of ordinary metal. There were interweaving bands of gleaming gold and silver, with streaks of sapphire, emerald, and ruby all woven into a liquid mixture. It was as if the very gemstones had melted and blended together in a convoluted pattern with the gold and silver before cooling into the ring that it was now.

Arya gasped as she took the ring. "Where did you get this?"

Eragon smiled. "Put it on and I will tell you."

Arya looked at him curiously before taking it between two fingers and slipping it onto her left middle finger. Eragon gasped even as Arya stumbled. Neither of them was ready for what happened—the moment Arya put on the ring, every thought and emotion of Arya's thoughts flooded into his brain even as his flowed into her mind.

Arya plucked the ring off her finger, and the connection was severed.

"My apologies, Arya svit-kona. I was unaware that…that would happen." Eragon stumbled, still too distracted by the recent in-flood of information. "What was that?"

Arya was in deep contemplation. "How did you get those rings? It seems like they have an exceptional affinity with both of us."

Eragon's chin met his chest. "Let's just say that Saphira and I flew to a field near Dras-Leona to retrieve a very special flower to cheer you up in light of recent events, but instead, I found these two rings in the flower's throat. It responded to me, and the leaves parted for me to get them. I had a feeling one would fit your finger."

Arya's eyes brightened with comprehension. "Truly?"

"Truly."

-END OF STUPID CHAPTER-

THAT WAS THAT! Hope you'd enjoyed it, even though its crappy as ****. LOVE YOU GUYS! YOU'RE THE REASON I CONTINUE WRITING!