Later in Saphira's saddle, "Saphira, what is wrong with Eragon?" Saphira exhaled. "I am not at liberty to say." Arya scowled. "Please Saphira." Saphira's reply was quick and stern. "Listen to me Elf. All I am going to tell you is that it involves you and Eragon's predicaments. I will tell you nothing more. Do you understand?" Arya let that sink in. "I- yes, Saphira." Saphira dipped her head. They landed back at Salith's camp. Eragon jumped down from Saphira's saddle. He offered Arya a hand. She took it, thankful for some form of physical contact between the two. Finally he spoke, "How hard did I kick you?" Arya at him. His face was blank, a stoic mask. "Hard enough to knock the breath from my lungs." Eragon's stoic expression didn't falter. "I apologize if I have injured you in any way." He turned and ducked into his tent. His words were colder than ice, and they cut deep. "Saphira. I need to know, what happened to the Eragon I used to know? The young rider that used to always be there?" Saphira turned her head, her eyes tired and ragged. "I wish I could tell you. I really do. But, I owe this to Eragon. In some ways I agree with his methods, but he is slowly slipping away, thinking he is alone in this world. He barely speaks anymore. Even to me." Arya stared at the ground. "Is there anything I can do?" Saphira looked at her. "You've done enough." Saphira leapt into the air and flew over to Zarathan. Arya started over to her tent. She pulled the flap back and sat down on her bedroll. She reached for the straps of her cuirass. undoing them, she flinched as a dull throb echoed from her chest. She got her cuirass off, and began to take off her mail hauberk. She flinched again, the pain coming back. She looked down at her abdomen. There was a massive bruise forming over her ribcage. "Waíse heill." The massive black splotch started to fade. The cracked ribs and sternum however remained. She sifted through her pack and found some bandages. She wrapped them around her stomach and tied off the end. She stood and exited her tent. Eragon was staring into the endless reaches of the blue sky. Salith sat at the fire. She limped over. "Salith-Elda, I cannot continue." Salith looked up. "Why? Oh, I see. ribs, sternum." Salith stood. "Eragon, I need you to heal Arya, please use the advanced healing technique." Eragon nodded. "I am going to go get speak with Zarathan." Eragon said to Arya, "Lay on your back." Arya laid down. Eragon placed his hands over the bandages and said, "Shi Caelar, tia thol." Arya heard the bones knitting themselves, cracking at popping. She grit her teeth and closed her eyes, pain burning in her chest. Then, it felt as if cool water were being poured over a burn. She relaxed and opened her eyes. Eragon had both eyes closed with his hands hovering over her stomach, surrounded by a soft green glow. He took his hands away and the glow faded. His brown eyes opened. For a second, she say flowing emotion. Then his eyes iced over, and nothing escaped them. He stood and asked, "Is everything better? Do you feel any pain?" Arya shook her head. Eragon began to walk away. "Eragon." He turned to face her. "Thank you." He nodded, and he entered his tent. Once he was out of her field of vision, he nearly collapsed. "I... I can't do it Saphira. I can't keep this up." Saphira's mind echoed, "Then stop. You can't be something you're not. You're one of the friendliest people I've met. You aren't cold and unforgiving, you are a Rider. You are a compassionate, loving, and caring man. Your Charade of being a cold distant person needs to end. You know you have friends. You know I love you. I am always here for you Eragon." Eragon closed his eyes. "I'm done. I'm not going to act anymore." In his mind, his self portrait displayed a cold, distant person. He shattered that, bit by bit, piece by piece. He carved a new face. One of truth and determination.
Salith and Arya were sitting at the fire when Eragon emerged from his tent. The sun gleamed in his eyes, reflecting his emotions. He walked up to the fire and sat down. He took a deep breath of the dry desert air. "A beautiful day, Salith-Elda. Are you ready to continue Master? I am eager for another match." Arya stared at him. "Saphira? What is wrong with Eragon?" Saphira snickered. "A million different things Arya, but he has taken them in and cast them off."
Yes, I know. This chapter was shoddy. I was up late and I decided to write a little. A little turned into a chapter. This isn't my best work. You guys thought I was going to turn Eragon into an Arya huh? I switched the tables. Who knows? Anything could happen. Again, please review and read. I love it when you guys review. Every time someone reviews a panda is born. Bring back the pandas. :D