Arya's POV. Sorry for the wait guys. I just got my laptop back. Plz stick with me till the end and I'll love you forever! And review too even though this chapter may be a little crappy.

Ch 11: WOULD YOU STILL LOVE ME NOW?

Arya walked through the Varden's camp briskly, avoiding the eyes of the people she passed by and nodding to the ones whom she knew. The sun had almost set and darkness was overtaking the land. Arya was sweaty and tired from having sparred with Eragon for the last few hours. He had gotten a little better and had managed to win a few of their matches; though he seemed extremely frustrated with himself.

She couldn't blame him. Especially under all the pressure he is going through she thought.

Arya continued down the endless rows of tents until she got to the far east side of camp where her own tent was. She pushed the flap back and walked in.

What a mess….she thought to herself. The Varden had just settled down near the banks of Leona Lake a few hours ago. Within these few hours, Arya had been clashing swords and had been summoned to a long meeting with Nasuada about meeting up with Queen Islanzadi in Urû'baen within the next month or so. As a result, she was exhausted.

Arya unbuckled her sword belt and leaned it on the desk as she surveyed the tent. Ugh…I'll just clean it up in the morning. She stood there for a few minutes, tired enough to go to bed that second but hungry enough to go get something to eat.

Making her decision, Arya grabbed her sword and then walked right out. She walked south between a row of small tents all cramped together making her way to the kitchen. This was where the people from Carvahall were. As she strode down the narrow path she heard someone call, "Arya!"

Arya turned around and saw Katrina standing behind one of the tents, waving at her. She was washing some clothes in a bucket of water. Arya smiled and walked over. She had been friends with Katrina since a little while before the time of her wedding to Roran. Katrina had a strong personality, much like Nasuada minus maybe the ability to lead a whole army and overthrow the most powerful king in the whole history of Alagaesia. She was unlike many of the other women and she wasn't afraid or looked down upon Arya even though she was an elf. Katrina was a rational person according to her. Arya liked her best out of all the humans she knew from Carvahall. Except Eragon of course…

"Hello Katrina," Arya greeted her. "It has been a while since we have spoken."

"Yes it has," she replied, scrubbing a shirt vigorously. "How is everything? You look beaten."

Arya sighed and sat down on a stool. "I was busy trying to batter you brother-in-law with a sword," she responded flatly.

Katrina looked at her with a smirk on her face. "You should enjoy it. It's not everyday that you can bang around the last free Dragon Rider." She paused, and then added, "He must be all black and blue now, isn't he?"

"Indeed he is. I probably shouldn't have hit him that hard."

Katrina laughed. "I find it amazing how elves have all these abilities."

"It comes in handy a lot."

"It's incredible though. You have superior strength, speed, hearing, eyesight…and you can use magic—"

"That part doesn't seem to please your people very much," Arya interrupted.

"They're just afraid of elves because you can use magic but they can't. They know you're stronger than them and if you decide to attack, they would be defenseless."

"But what makes them think that we would attack?"

Katrina paused her washing for a moment and looked at Arya straight in the eye. "Typical human behavior," she said and Arya smiled. "Some of them are also afraid of Eragon now," she continued. He looks so elfish now and he's a Rider." Then she said with a hint of pride in her voice, "It's just because of Roran's coaxing and the desire to protect their families that they're continuing on with the Varden."

They sat in silence for a few minutes. Then Arya asked, "Where is Roran?"

"Oh, didn't Eragon tell you? Nasuada sent him to land a siege on Aroughs." A look of worry overtook her face though disappearing instantly, but Arya could sense her anxiety

"He will make it back safely," Arya tried to reassure her. "He is a brave and courageous man."

"I know," Katrina replied quietly.

Arya studied her closely for a while. "You really love him a lot."

"Yes. I do," she replied. She sighed and then continued speaking softly. "I never told you about my mother, have I? Her name was Ismira. Sometimes during the night when I was younger, I used to sneak out of my bedroom and listen to my mother and father talk about memories they had from their past. The way they talked and looked at each other…..it was so full of love and affection. I never would have hoped to find someone that I would love like they loved each other. That is, until I met Roran. The first time I saw him was at one of the festivals in Carvahall. After I got to know him, I discovered how caring and dignified he was. Soon, I came to value our relationship more than anything. My father did not approve of Roran. Even though I loved and respected my father, I realized that Roran was….the one, you know?

Arya nodded though an excruciating sense of emotional pain washed over her.

Katrina continued, "After I was kidnapped by the Ra'zac and taken to Dras-Leona, I thought that my life was over. They would taunt me and kept me in darkness the whole time. It was terrible.

I know how that feels as well Arya thought.

"Then, Roran and Eragon showed up. My elation was immeasurable knowing that there was someone who would come after me no matter what the situation or what they were faced with. And now this just adds to the happiness, "she said patting her stomach.

Arya could see that her stomach had become much larger than the last time they had met. "How are you feeling?" she asked.

"It's not so bad," Katrina responded. "I could feel the baby moving and kicking. It hurts sometimes but it's not as bad as I thought it would be."

Silence.

"How have you been, Arya? You seem very uptight and stressed. With this war going on, that's expected but I think you need to find someway to relax."

"We have already discussed this matter, Katrina," said Arya, slightly exasperated. "I am fine."

"Fine, I'm not going to argue but it's clear that you're not." Her voice turned softer. "I understand that the things that you have been through in your life were difficult and unjust. No one, especially you, deserves to have to go through what you have gone through. But you need to find a way to heal yourself or else nothing will ever go right for you again." She paused. "Maybe try to take up a new hobby. Like knitting."

"Knitting?" asked Arya, confused. "What does knitting do?"

"It does a lot more than it seems to."

Arya stared at the ground. She didn't want to admit it, but Katrina was right. She wanted to get over it, to heal herself. She had to. But she didn't know how. Knitting didn't seem like it was the right thing for her. It was too…human she thought.

Arya heard her stomach grumble. It was time to leave otherwise, she would faint from hunger. She bid farewell to Katrina and strolled ahead.

It was late now and the stars were overhead. She could see Saphira's dark figure flying overhead. As she lowered her eyes, something caught her eye. There, rooted in the soil, was a Black Morning Glory, the same flower that Faolin had created for her.

Arya'a thought wandered back to her conversation with Katrina, about Roran and reflected on how she became so much different since Faolin's death.

She looked up at the stars and whispered, "Would you still love me now?"