Chapter 10

Carvahall was full of people running here and there. The traders were at the far side of the village, their camp already set up. Women bustled their way to the jewelry outlets while the men looked at new tools. Children ran to the candy shops buying all the sweets they could with the little money their parents gave them. Garrow and Titania parked their carts near the traders. Normally, Garrow would have gone to a vegetable pavilion to sell, but this time he pulled put a covered oval object and motioned for Eragon. "Come, let us find a jeweler who can tell us how much this stone is worth."

"I'll be right with you, Uncle." Eragon looked at Gwen. "Why don't you go and look a round for a bit. I will meet up with you later."

"Sure. Try not to take too long." She kissed him. In the distance, some local boys stared at them; they have never seen them together like that before and were jealous for they wanted Gwen.

"I will try." Eragon left her and walked with Garrow.

"You going to be all right by yourself, Gwen?" Roran asked.

"Yeah, I will be fine." She smiled. "Go find Katrina." She shooed him off.

Roran left to find his beloved Katrina. Gwen wandered around looking at the various shops, the smell of pies and candies filling the air with its sweet aroma. She watched as a group of young boys wrestled in the street in the way of the people passing, and laughed. When she turned to head towards a silk shop, Jasper, a local boy, approached her. "Hello, Jasper. What do you want?" She held her breath waiting for his response. Jasper always had a crush on her and numerously tried to get with her. Of course she always turned him down; he was a stubborn jerk who likes any pretty girl who comes his way. His parents are the riches folk in town and he is used to getting what he wants. No one really likes him or his family very much.

"Oh, I just wanted to ask you something. I want to know what is between you and that farm boy." Jasper never called Eragon by his name, just farm boy.

"Really? Well, we are officially together now, so if you please excuse me, I have somewhere to be." She lied hoping to get away from him.

"Aww, you two are cute together." He smiled that cruel, odd smile of his, the smile he uses when he is being sarcastic. "When is the wedding?"

"Very funny, Jasper. Now I really need to go."

"Go where? I am not finished talking to you. You just can't leave me."

"Yes I can. Now leave me alone." Gwen started to walk away, only to be stopped; Jasper grabbed her arm. "Jasper! Let go of me!"

"No until I am done talking to you."

"What do want to talk to me about?!" She demanded. He wrestled free of his grip and crossed her arms.

"I want to know what you see in that farm boy."

"First of all, stop calling him farm boy; he has a name you know! Eragon is a sweet man who cares deeply for me. He loves me and I love him. I've loved since the day I first met him." Gwen's memory reflects back to their first meeting.

"Pfft. Sweet, I am sweet too and I care about you."

"Stop lying, you only care about yourself and material items than people. You don't care for me, you care about how nice I would look on your arm, as your woman, your prize."

"Isn't that what a woman is for, to make the man look good." He smirked.

"You foul creature! Let me go now. I gave you your answer."

"Hey! Watch who you are calling foul. And, no I am still not done talking to you."

"Look, Jasper, I really need to get back to…to my mother. She wants me to help her pick out some fabric." She fibbed, again. Of course, Jasper didn't believe her.

"Excuses, excuses."

"What do you want, Jasper?"

"I want you to dump that farm boy and get with me. You know that I can support you better than he could. All he can do is, well, farm. I can run a business and be very successful and rich, which, of course I already am." He smiled, beaming at his family's accomplishments.

"Eragon can support me well enough; he is a successful farmer."

His smile went away. "Well then, I am going to have to persuade you then, aren't I."

Gwen's heart stopped. What does he mean by that? Before she could do anything, Jasper grabbed her and kissed her on the lips. During the kiss, Gwen fought back, but to no avail; Jasper was far too strong for her to break free, but she didn't give up. He kept kissing her as she struggled with him while he led her to a dark alley where people avoid. In the alley, he pushed her up against the wall of a building and started to feel her up starting with her thighs. Gwen kept kicking him and tried to scream, but his mouth never left hers, so she couldn't make out more than a whimper. A few minutes passed and Gwen was wearing out. Jasper started to lift up her dress and right when she thought her virginity would be compromised, a fist came and hit Jasper in his side.