Deep under the wispy darkness, Arya found herself in a flowery meadow. She walked through the bright, sunny clearing, taking in her surroundings. Suddenly, she went through the woods and into a second clearing. This clearing was darker and also misty. In the center of this clearing, stood Eragon. Power reflected in his eyes and a wind swirled around him. He looked so…perfect, she thought, though it sounded more like she was admitting it.

Involuntarily, she spoke. "Eragon, I'm sorry. I really do love you." She could not tell herself that it was true, though she had a sinking feeling that it was. He looked at her fiercely, eyes narrowed.

"It is too late, Arya," he said. "You have lost your chance." He drew his sword and swung it toward her. She grabbed hers and swung it- too slow. Pain seared through her shoulder, and she went down. She felt her strength ebb away, felt the life flow out of her. Never had she thought that she would end life like this: crying, heartbroken on the ground.

It surprised her very much when she woke up. It had been a dream, she realized. A very realistic dream. Eragon lay next to her, his hair covering his face, which had an angry look on it. She brushed his hair away and watched him quietly, thinking about him all the while.

Buried deep within the blackness, Eragon found himself deep in a forest. He glanced around the area, then quickly walked forward, finding before him a misty clearing. Shadows moved about, appearing and disappearing in the mist. One of them looked familiar; it was Arya. He saw her, and he saw into her open mind. Suddenly, he understood everything. She could not love him. But why? In any case, she didn't want to love him, even though she did.

He understood, so he decided, he must let her go. She came up to him and blurted out, "Eragon, I'm sorry. I really do love you." That shocked him. It could not be; she had turned him down already. How could she love him now? He changed everything he had meant to say before to fit what was happening now. He couldn't be with her because she didn't want to love him.

"It's too late, Arya. You have lost your chance." He almost choked on the words, but held his fierce gaze steady. Involuntarily, his hand went to his side, and they both drew their swords on each other. He slashed at her without wanting to, and she fell down, mortally wounded. He wanted to cry, to run to her side, but he could not do either. And then he woke up.