Chapter 9: Next!

Eragon woke, looking at the sunlight streaming through the window. The room was large, with a big double bed, a wardrobe to the right, a small table to the left, with a jug of water, and a lot of spare space. Perhaps it was a bit over the top; it was much larger than the other bedrooms; but Eragon liked it.

He got out of bed and stretched, before turning round to look at a Fairth of Arya that he had made on the ship the day he left Alagaesia. It had all the depth, in fact, possibly a bit more, than the one he had made by the Ramr river. He then turned to the next, made a year after. To monitor his feelings, he had made one Fairth every year since he had left, and they had all been identical.

I can prove to her that my feelings haven`t changed with these. He looked at the latest one, and again he wondered if Arya had actually been going to kiss him, five weeks ago, when they had been in the forest together. It had looked like it, it had felt like it too, and why would she pretend, but he couldn`t stop the doubts coming to his mind. He always doubted himself when it came to things like that. It was instinctual. Arya had been a bit awkward around him for the rest of the day, and he had wondered about it, for he had likewise been awkward around her. He hoped that it showed that they felt the same way about each other, but he couldn`t be sure.

Good morning, little one.

Good morning, Saphira. It is an important day today.

That it is, little one. Five years of work have built up to this day.

And it`s a relief now that it`s finally here.

Aye, that it is.

Eragon put on his best clothes, light blue trousers, (if you`re American you say pants,) a shirt that was the blue of the scales on Saphira`s back, and a cloak of royal blue. Saphira asked how he looked, and he sent her an image. For some reason she found it funny.

What?

Oh, little one, if you`re thinking that will look impressive when I`m standing next to you, think again, for nothing can compete with the splendour of a Dragon, especially if it`s the same colour.

Nevertheless, these are the best clothes I have, so I might as well wear them.

As you wish, Eragon. Prepare to be outshone whilst looking your best.

You always outshine me, you`re a Dragon. At least this time I`ll look a bit better than normal.

True. I`d better clean myself, so you still look just as bad.

Hey!

He left the room, walking down the corridor. He stopped outside Arya`s door and knocked. She opened it, saying, "Eragon! What is it?"

"It`s the day those four become Riders in full. I thought you should be there when I tell them."

"I`ll come. Thank you for telling me, Eragon."

"You`re welcome, Arya."

They walked to the Hall together, talking about nothing in particular. When they reached it, Eragon said "Come!" in the Ancient Language, and a line of benches unfolded from the walls, coming in front of the Throne, on which Eragon sat. Arya headed for the front row of the benches, but stopped as she saw another throne slide out of the wall next to Eragon at a word. She raised an eyebrow at him, so he explained.

"As this is both an entrance hall and a meeting hall, I built four thrones into the walls, one for each of the leaders of the four races. As you are the Queen of the Elves, this one is for you."

Arya walked up to it, and touched the armrest. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Thank you, Eragon." Arya said, sitting down. The throne was well padded and comfortable, a nice place to sit.

Eragon smiled, then he reached out his mind to summon the students. A few seconds later, he said, "They`re coming." Arya nodded.

The Dragons flew in through the doors, led by Saphira, who swooped through the hall to land next to Eragon`s throne, Firnen doing the same on the other side. The other Dragons landed behind the benches, Miremel, a brown female and partner to Taiven, Laenar, a glistening grey female and partner to Dusan, Hunvin, Aruk`s partner, a yellow male the colour of the sun, and Kundavar`s Dragon, Darvan, a pink male.

Five minutes later, the other Riders walked in, staring in surprise at the other throne and the benches. They hadn`t seen the hall like that before. They sat on the benches when Eragon gestured at them.

"Welcome, students. Today is a very important day for all of us, as it is the day where you become Riders in full."

The Riders expressions changed from surprised to stunned. They shot each other looks of amazement, and even the Dragons looked taken aback.

"Taiven, come forwards."

She stepped towards the throne, pleasure written all over her face, and knelt down on one knee.

"Do you promise to keep the peace between the races, to help those who need it, to act honourably and righteously, to judge fairly that which you are asked to judge, and to be willing to fight in order to do so?"

"I do," she said in the Ancient Language.

"Then I declare you a full Dragon Rider," Eragon said, touching her on the head with Brisingr.

He repeated the process with each Rider in turn, and then Saphira did the same with the Dragons.

"Your training is now complete. All that remains is for Rhunon, through you, to forge you each a Rider sword of your own. You will have some time to gather your belongings, and then you will all depart for Ellesmera."

The Riders nodded and left, their surprise still evident. Suddenly, Taiven stopped, and said, "Ebrithil, will I be able to spend some time with my family in Surda once I have forged my sword?"

Eragon considered for a second, then nodded. "You can spend a week there before returning here. Tell me when you arrive. And tell the other students that if they want to spend a week with their families, they can."

"Thank you, Ebrithil." She hurried out.

Eragon leaned back. "The latest generation of Riders is fully trained. That`s such a relief!"

"Is it that bad? When I was there you seemed to be enjoying yourself!"

"That`s because you were there."

Arya laughed. "Do I really make that much of a difference?"

He looked into her eyes. "Yes."

She raised her eyebrows. "Thank you, Eragon. I can tell you mean it."

"I do. I really do." She smiled at him. "Arya..." He trailed off. He had been going to ask her if she had been going to kiss him, but his nerve had failed him. He had been trying to ask her that for five weeks, but he had never managed to.

"Yes?"

"What? Oh, nothing."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I`m sure. It`s nothing. I should contact Vanir now, to see if any of the eggs I gave him have hatched."

"Good idea, because you really need to see the people who will make the next five years just as tiring as the last five."

Eragon laughed. "Not to meet them, just to ask Vanir how many eggs have hatched yet. I`d better find a mirror."

Arya nodded, saying, "I`ll come too."

"Thank you, Arya."

"It`s my pleasure."

They stood up, and walked out of the hall, heading for Eragon`s quarters. As they waked down the corridor, Arya said, "My room`s closer, we can go there."

"Okay," Eragon said, surprised that she had invited him into her rooms, when they were not very much nearer than his. They reached the door, and entered.

Eragon looked round, surprised to see that most of it was unchanged. The only difference was that it looked more lived in. He peered round, trying to get a glimpse into her life. He saw that in the bedroom there was a picture on the wall. He tried to see what it was, then gasped when he saw that it was the Fairth he had made of her by the Ramr river.

She values it enough to keep it all this time...

"Finished staring?"

"Sorry, I wasn`t concentrating."

"You were concentrating quite a lot, I could tell."

"Well, I wasn`t concentrating on what I should`ve been concentrating on."

"And what were you concentrating on that you shouldn`t have been concentrating on?"

"Never mind," Eragon said, as he spoke the words of the scrying spell.

"But I do mind, and I`m curious."

After this talk with Vanir, okay?

If you promise.

Vanir appeared on the mirror in front of them. "Greetings Eragon, Arya. I was about to scry you myself, as two of the Dragon eggs have hatched, one in Nadinel, and one in Osilon. I am now travelling to the Dwarves, with the new Riders, along the Az Ragni river towards Hedarth."

"Excellent, Vanir, that was just what I wanted to know. Also, you should probably know that the other Riders have now completed their training."

"That`s great news! So, the cycle starts again for the next generation of Riders..."

"Aye, that it does."

Vanir nodded. "Well, I guess I`ll see you in a couple of months with this lot."

"I guess you will. See you then!"

"See you!"

The mirror went blank. Eragon turned to Arya.

"If you must know, I was looking at the Fairth on the wall in your bedroom. The one I made for you."

"Oh, that..."

The conversation ground to a standstill, until Eragon said, "I`d better get back to my quarters, Arya. See you tomorrow to spar, yes?"

She nodded and smiled. "Of course, Eragon, just as usual. See you!"

Eragon left her quarters, heading back to his own.

She must care for me a lot, she kept that Fairth, she was so happy to see me, and I`m almost certain she nearly kissed me! The trouble is, does she love me, or am I just a close friend who thought she was going to kiss me?