(A/N)

I have not given up! I will finish this story even if no one reads it. I hope you enjoy the new chapter. I have spent a lot of time deciding on major storylines and where I want the story to go. Also you can thank my roommate for input on Murtagh and other important things. I have also decided to go ExA. ExF just wasn't doing it for me.

Chapter 10: Meditation

The morning light cascaded through the space in the curtains; illuminating the two entangled in each other. Formora's head lay on Denethor's chest and their legs lay entwined. The sharp light danced upon Denethor's eyes pulling him out of his slumber. He felt Formora draped over him and wrapped his arm around her, gracefully stroking her back while she slept.

He lay there thinking about Formora. Her life story was not one without strife. The war Galbatorix waged upon the riders must not have been easy for her. He could only imagine the lengths she had to go to fulfill Galbatorix's whims.

It was not long before Formora awoke.

"I haven't slept that hard in years." She whispered into Denethor's ear.

"Well you seemed pretty tired last night when you passed out." He said with a grin on his face.

"Oh shut it, you!"

"Formora I have a question."

"Shocker! Let me guess, it's about last night?"

"Of course it is!" He said laughing. "That came out of nowhere!"

"Maybe for you it did, but as for me… I've been laying down hints that I liked you for awhile."

"Really? I hadn't noticed." Denethor's voice held tones of sarcasm

"You did notice didn't you? Why didn't you say anything, or make a move or… or I don't know something?"

"I haven't really had a romantic relationship before, I didn't know what to do or what to say."

"Dumbass, all you had to do was ask me on a date."

"Easier said than done."

"Really?"

"Tell me, how do you ask someone as powerful as you on a date? Someone who has decades more experience in everything than you. It can be pretty intimidating. Not to mention the whole, 'What if I misinterpreted the signs,' thing."

"Has anyone ever told you that you tend to over-think things?"

"Once or twice." He said sheepishly.

Arya sat cross-legged in a large grassy meadow covered in a variety of flowers; not a tree in sight. Her face was so serene she could have been mistaken for dead if it hadn't been for her slow and controlled breathing. She often came to this place when she wanted to be alone and think. There was no sound to distract her or wind to make the flowers dance. The meadow was surrounded by a tall circular stone wall in which she always felt safe and isolated from the turmoil of reality. If a heaven did exist, this is what it must be like.

This man Denethor was either extremely clever or just painfully stupid. The most valuable object was hiding out there somewhere just waiting to be found and yet all he did was make small talk. This had been going on for about a week and it was starting to annoy her. Just get on with it already. Let my part in this be done.

Little did she know her part in the events to come was only just beginning.

Denethor moved to open the door to the makeshift prison that contained the elf when his hand stopped on the handle and he just stood there staring at the door. Galbatorix had not been happy with his results so far, or lack thereof. He had made zero progress on finding the egg and was beginning to think that this was a fool's errand. He began to wonder if she even knew where it went, it was entirely possible that was the case. He hadn't asked any questions specific to the egg or its location, but he did get to know the elf and he had learned quite a bit about her. For example he knew that she was sad, immeasurably sad. He didn't know what caused her to be this way but he could see it in her emerald eyes.

He took a breath to collect himself and opened the door. The elf was sitting cross-legged on the bed with her eyes closed in meditation. He had never seen anything like it before and decided to leave her to her own devices for the time being. He figured he might as well try meditating.

He took one look at the wooden chair and decided that the floor was better. He sat with his legs crossed and closed his eyes.

Okay… Now what? I guess clear my mind.

He took a deep breath and let it out.

His mind became blank for a few seconds before a few images popped into his head. Images of Arya, Formora, and Saphira, the three most important things in his life. Saphira: she was his rock in a desert of sinking sand. Formora: the events that transpired the night before cropped up before anything else. She was his release in this world full of stress. And Arya: her role in his life was clouded with indecision. He didn't know what to do with her. Galbatorix would kill her as soon as he figured out where the egg was and he didn't want that.

He was at an internal stalemate. On one hand he had to protect those he loved and on the other was purpose. A reason to dredge on day after day and put forth his best effort. He longed to make this world a better place where everyone could live without fear of a corrupt government. He just needed a way to do that.