"Eragon, I am truly sorry for the things that you have had to endure since you have left here."

Eragon was standing in front of Oromis. He had just finished retelling him everything that had happened since he had left, leaving nothing out.

"I am sure you are", he said coldly. Oromis flinched at his sudden vehemence. Once again, he felt the familiar anger start to bubble in the pit of his stomach.

"What is wrong my pupil." Genuine caring was written in his eyes but Eragon was well passed caring. The anger was consuming him, and he felt good.

"What is wrong, what is WRONG?" Saphira tried to enter his mind and calm him but he was much too angry to care. He shoved her from his mind and continued his ranting at Oromis.

"You should know what is wrong. I am Morzan's son. Did you know that?"

An expression of understanding crossed his face for a fraction of a second, but it was enough for Eragon to notice.

"You did know, and you could have told me. But, INSTEAD OF TELLING ME, YOU ALLOWED ME TO FIND OUT FROM MY DEAD BEST FRIEND WHO JUST HAPPENED TO BE MY BROTHER!"

Eragon kicked at the ground and punched a tree that was close by. His anger was only intensified by his sore toe and bloody knuckles.

"Eragon, I did not know of this. Do not dare yell at me again like that when there was no reason to."

Eragon's anger quickly ebbed away, what have I done, he noticed that Saphira was still trying to talk to him and he let her in.

That was foolish Eragon. What were you thinking?

That is the thing, I was not. I am sorry if I hurt you.

It is forgiven. But, let us hope that Oromis is as forgiven.

Eragon looked back up into Oromis's eyes. But instead of finding anger, as he expected, he found a deep caring, too caring for him to fully comprehend.

"Eragon", he said, cupping his face in his hands, "there is something that you should know."

"What is it Master", he was looking away, off in the distance.

"Look at me when I speak to you."

He obeyed with a quiet, "yes master".

"Get this darkness off your conscious".

"I can not master. It consumes me fully and wholly. No matter how hard I try to convince myself, it is always there, waiting to consume me."

"Morzan is not your sire."

Silence followed his words. Eragon's mouth was open. It was like having a great weight being lifted off of his shoulders. He had come to terms with the fact, but now, he was being told it was not true. But then a questioning thought entered his mind.

"Then who is?"

"Eragon, you sire was a rider. He was a good man and he fought for the good of the many."

Apprehension came to him, he thought he knew who, but, if it was, then he knew he would be hurt.

"Your father is Brom."

"WHAT!"

He was utterly shocked. Brom! Saphira, did you hear that.

Instead of being shocked as he had suspected, she turned away, hiding her head from view, as if ashamed.

Saphira, he said softly, only a whisper in their heads.

I already knew Eragon. This was one piece of information that he entrusted to me when he started to fear for his death. Do you remember when I told you that there was information that I would not tell you until the time was right?

When he did not answer she continued, well, this was one of them.

Instead of the imposing anger that he had started to get used to, he felt empty. She knew. Sadness was engulfing.

Saphira, you could have said this earlier. It would have made everything easier for me. All that time that I felt helpless. All the times I wanted to just fade away, you could have stopped.

He turned away from Saphira, Glaedr, and Oromis, tears in his eyes.

Eragon, please understand that Brom made me swear that I will never tell you until the time was right.

A new thought came to him. Why would Brom tell Saphira not to tell me? Why would he do that? His helplessness was fading fast and the familiar anger taking its place. But, he would not think about that right now. He had three very important people waiting patiently for him to get over this.

He turned back around to find the trio staring intently at him, with an expression that showed that they were afraid that he would suddenly go on a killing spree. He took a deep breath and started to laugh. He laughed on and on until the air in his lungs was spent and tears watered his eyes.

"What fate has for me". He had his hands on his knees, crouching over, gasping for breath. When he had finally gotten his composure back, he looked around and found that the trio had still not moved.

"Do not worry for me, I am fine."

Glaedr than spoke up for the first time, saying what he thought was truly wise. No Eragon, you are not, but you will be.

He sighed at the worried look he received at the three of them. They really do care for me.

Of course we do, why would we not, said Saphira into his mind.

"Master, I think it is time that we start training again."

"Yes Eragon, you have much to learn. But let us leave any learning until tomorrow. You must have some things that you must do."

Oromis said this while looking away. "Take a free the rest of the day off Eragon, you deserve it."

"Yes master. I will see you tomorrow morning, an hour sunrise, in the time of the red lily, just as I had been when I was here before."

"Yes of course Eragon, until tomorrow then."

At his words, Eragon turned towards Saphira as she crouched down. As he climbed up her he said, without looking at Oromis, "I will not disappoint you master".

At that, Saphira, unfurling her wings, jumped high into the air, pumping her powerful wings to soar high over Du Weldenvarden.

As they were flying he noticed that Saphira seemed to be troubling over something.

Saphira, is there anything wrong with you?

I am worried for you Eragon. You are… different. This anger, it is not like you. You almost lost control with Oromis.

Saphira, I am changing. Understand, in the past, when ever someone would do something, I would let it go, and they would in turn, walk all over me. But I will no longer allow that.

Eragon had a fierce look in his eyes. I am a soldier, a rider, a legend. I should be respected as one, and I will be.

Saphira seemed even more worried than before. He could tell that her mind was in turmoil. There seemed to be something that she wanted to ask, but was too scared to. It seemed odd for Eragon. Why would she be so worried at my answer? Then it hit him.

Saphira, you know that I will never join Galbatorix, right?

Yes of course I do.

Despite her answer, he felt her turmoil die, swept away as a feather blown by the powerful gusts of wind.

But that made him feel no better. In fact, in the deep reaches of his mind, away from Saphira, he felt his inner self shatter. He was able to take Morzan being his father, and Murtagh being his brother. He was able to take that Arya did not love him. But he was not able to take Saphira's failing courage in him.

Saphira began to excitedly explain to Eragon all the things that Oromis and Glaedr had taught her.

Eragon, asked Saphira. Eragon, she called again.

Yes Saphira.

What is wrong?

Nothing, sorry, my mind was else where, he replied off handedly.

You must concentrate Eragon. You have a complete month of lessons to go over.

Of course! I apologize. Let us begin.

He swept the thoughts from his mind and he wholly and fully entered the task of learning.

…

Hours later found him in his room, sitting on his bed in front of Saphira, who was curled up in the cot that once was the bed of Vrael's silver dragon, Briam.

Saphira was still teaching him and he truly felt like he was drowning in all of the knowledge that her voice flowed into him. I guess all the months I have been gone have really tampered with my ability to learn. In truth, he was not at all in the mood to learn. He was still grieving over Saphira's suspicions about him amalgamating with Galbatorix.

A knock at the door jolted him from his thoughts. "Enter," he growled.

With silent feet, Arya entered. Memories of their last convene rushed into his head, he had yelled and disrespected her. Apprehension gripped him for a second before he remembered why he did those things.

"Arya," he said, trying to keep his voice as calm and emotionless as possible. But, there was a slight quiver to it, which Arya seemed to notice for she pounced.

"Accompany me please Shurtugal," she said, and swiftly turned around and went back down the trap door.

Eragon slowly stood up and put on his tunic, which he had removed several hours earlier.

Well, it seems that Arya is too afraid to stay in a room with me.

You know she is worried of what you will do Eragon.

She is more likely scared of my ma… he stopped at what he had almost said. But Saphira must he been able to tell by his roiling emotions because she laughed deeply.

Eragon, cheeks tinted red, rushed down the trap door, trying his best to get away from his dragon.

You can not escape from me, I will always be in your head.

And sometimes, I wish it was not so.

Saphira gave a rolling chuckle and he quickly shoved her from his mind before she said anything else.

As he got out of his tree house he contacted Saphira, will you be accompanying me?

I am afraid not Eragon. There are some battles that you must fight alone.

You got that right, he added darkly when he broke off with her.

Looking around he could not see Arya any where. It was not dark and she was wearing a red tunic and black leggings. Eragon should have seen her as her clothes contrasted greatly with the green and brown colors of Ellesmera.

"This way Eragon," Arya's voice said behind him. Whipping around she was already walking twenty feet away. How did she do that? I should have heard her!

He quickly started to jog towards her, but stopped. Arya must have noticed because without turning to look back she said, "Are you coming Shurtugal".

"No."

She had stopped walking now, and, still not turning around to look at him she added, "why not?"

"Because, I want to know where you are taking me, princess." Two could play at the game of formalities. Even at their distance, his elven enhanced hearing was able to catch her sigh.

"You will know, when we arrive Shurtugal."

"I am afraid, princess," he added, " that it will not work that way. If you need me for anything, I would like to know what it is first."

"Shurtugal, why are you like this. Since when have you become so… heated?"

"Since when have you called me Shurtugal?"

This elicited a silence from her. The she added in a surprisingly hesitant voice, "Eragon, I must, we must talk. Please."

As soon as that last word was out of her mouth he knew that he was going to stay and talk with her no matter what.

"Very well. Where are we going?" He asked, all impatience gone from his voice, which was now held sincerity. Why was I acting that way? He started to worry, this was starting to become a problem which needed to be fixed soon, vey soon.

"Let us go to the Menoa tree." She turned around and walked into the woods.

After a few minutes of walking in silence side by side, they reached the giant tree. Arya climbed up on a branch and he followed after her. They now sat side by side.

"Arya," he began, "I apologize…" he stopped when he was cut off by Arya.

"Eragon, I love you."

He sat there with his mouth open. Out of all the things that he had suspected, this was the least.

"I… but…" he was unable to string to sentences together.

She looked away as she continued, "I am the one to apologize. You have done nothing except follow yours, and my hearts needs. You must understand that I never meant to hurt you. When I told you that we would never work, I was thinking that during this war, I would be a distraction to you. But, it turns out that I was wrong. Instead of helping you by denying your heart, I made it worse. Can you forgive me?"

Eragon was truly in shock, he could not believe his ears. He noticed that Arya seemed to shrink back into herself. He had now glimpsed an Arya that he had never seen before. A side that she had kept even from her friends. He now respected her even greater for being able to show him her vulnerable side.

She was about to slip off of the branch when he grabbed her arm saying, "no you do not Arya. We must make this final." He pulled her close, bringing his lips to hers, nly a hair widths apart, each breath being felt by the other. He closed the gap between them and planted a light, tender kiss on her lips.

"I love you."