I apologise for the wait on this chapter. I've had a couple of rough weeks and didn't feel like writing all that much. But to make up for it this is a BEAST of a chapter, almost 10,000 words! It's my favourite chapter so far and I'm hoping it will be yours too! This is where the story starts to get a real plot. I'm hoping to start work on the next chapter in the next couple of days. But for now enjoy this chapter!


Flashes

Chapter 11

The next few days were difficult for both Eragon and Saphira. Eragon didn't speak to her, other than what was needed at work. Luckily for him they were moving into their busiest week at Varden so any talking that was done during the day had to be about work. Everyone in their department was rushed off their feet, Eragon found himself working with Orik most of the time, which suited him fine.

It seemed that everywhere Eragon went that week Arya was there. Whenever he looked up it seemed she was either entering the room he was in or leaving it. They rarely spoke, Eragon still didn't know what he wanted to say, all he knew what that at some point they would have to talk about what had happened. For her part Arya would sometimes get a look on her face which made him think she was going to try and talk to him, but each time they both chickened out.

Eragon was working at his desk when Murtagh came back to work for the first time since he'd had his fight with Orik.

"You ok?" his friend asked as he sauntered over to Eragon's desk. Eragon shrugged and leant back.

"It's busy so I'm pretty swamped right now." He sighed stretching his arms he yawned. "I'm so sick of this office right now."

"I know what you mean." Murtagh nodded, this caused Eragon to laugh.

"You spend less than an hour a day in an office." He scoffed. "You spend most of your day on your motorbike."

"I know its great isn't it?" Murtagh grinned.

At that moment Saphira came out of her office, opening her mouth to speak to Eragon. As soon as she saw Murtagh she snapped her mouth shut.

"Oh." She said a frown gracing her usually smiling features. She dropped a file on Eragon's desk. "Can you read that and have it back within the hour please." Eragon nodded without replying and Saphira disappeared back into her office.

"Wow." Murtagh said. "The temperature just dropped a couple of degrees in here." He pretended to shiver. "Saphira really doesn't like me does she?" Eragon shrugged again and reached out for the file.

"Right." Murtagh said putting his hands on Eragon's desk, over the file he was supposed to be reading. "You need a night out, a proper lad's night out. You, me Saturday night."

"Sounds good." Eragon agreed. "Is it cool if I invite some of the guys from accounting, I said I'd go for a drink with them this week?" Murtagh nodded and stood up straight.

"Of course! The more the merrier!" Eragon couldn't help but laugh as Murtagh walked off towards the lift.


Saphira watched the interactions between Murtagh and Eragon outside her office with a heavy scowl. Eragon was laughing at something the other man had said, and it caused a pang of sadness to tug at Saphira's heart. That was the first time she had seen Eragon laugh since they had had their fight about Murtagh.

Saphira missed Eragon, it hadn't been the same in her flat since he had stopped talking to her. Not that she hadn't tried, every night when they got in from work she would attempt to engage him in conversation, but each time he would knock her back and disappear into his room. They hadn't eaten together in the same room for almost a week and Saphira didn't know how much longer she could stand it. In all the time that they had been friends they had never fought like that, and Saphira didn't know what to do to make it better.

Seeing Murtagh flash another smile Saphira felt the anger boiling in her stomach once again. Every time she saw the man she got the swirling in her gut that told her there was something wrong with him, and the face that he was Morzan's son only made it worse. Saphira could still remember the few times she had met the man at various conferences; he was a tall intimidating man who never seemed to smile. His hard stare seemed to cut through Saphira, as if the man could see all her fears and secrets. It was creepy and Saphira had felt uneasy until she had been out of the man's sight.

There was a knock at the door, Saphira put her pen down and looked up.

"Come in." The door opened and Arya slipped in. She looked tired and her face was drawn. She sank slowly down into a chair.

"How's it going?" she asked. Saphira shrugged.

"It's the usual. Things aren't getting done, so I'm spending more time doing the things that other people should be doing and that means that the important things that need to be done are being put on hold."

"I know what you mean." Arya groaned, rubbing her eyes. "I've spent more time clearing up other people's mess then I have doing any actual work." She yawned and rubbed her eyes again.

"You look tired." Saphira noted. Arya nodded.

"I haven't been sleeping so well." She admitted. "It's the anniversary of my father's death this weekend, and my mother has requested my presence there." Saphira shot her a sympathetic look.

"Oh I'm sorry. Are you going?" Arya sighed and ran a hand through her hair.

"I don't really have a choice." Saphira nodded. "If I don't go I'll never hear the end of it." Arya pulled her phone out of her pocket and checked the screen. "Have you spoken to Eragon at all yet?" she asked, in a bid to change the subject.

"No, every time I try he walks away. The only time we speak is when it's to do with work." Saphira sighed heavily. "I don't know what to do."

"I'll try and talk to him." Arya said gently. Saphira looked up and nodded.

"Thank you."


Arya couldn't work out how to approach Eragon. There had been many times in the office during the last few days when she could have spoken to him, but each time she found herself chickening out. This was very out of character for her, one of the traits Arya prided herself on was the ability to face any problem she had head on, without fear. But it seemed that around Eragon, she was unable to face her problem, every time she saw the look in his eyes, she found all the words that she had carefully prepared in her mind die in her throat.

She found him in the canteen, getting his lunch. Walking slowly she made her way towards him as he sat down at one of the tables. He didn't look up until she sank down into the chair opposite, and he only glanced up briefly then before returning to his food.

"Can I talk to you?" Arya asked, after a few seconds of silence.

"Sure." Eragon replied, not looking up from his plate. Arya paused before she spoke, trying to work out which issue she should broach first.

"Saphira says you still haven't spoken to her since last week." She paused, waiting for Eragon to input. Upon his silence she carried on speaking. "We've had this conversation before Eragon, you and I both know that Saphira only wants what's best for you."

"I wish you would both stop saying that." Eragon said his voice hard. "What's best for me is what I decide is best for me." He finally looked up and met her eye. "Do I ever tell you how you should be living your life, do I ever tell Saphira?"

"Well no..."

"No. I don't tell you that your way of handling things that happened is ridiculous and rather counterproductive." Arya was shocked by his words. Eragon had never ventured to talk about her personal life before, he always avoided it and she had been thankful for that.

"What are you talking about?" she asked. Eragon put down his fork and looked at her again.

"You know what I'm talking about. Something happens and you don't want to talk about it, you don't want to deal with it." He paused and Arya could predict what he was about to say next. "Like last week."

"What about last week?" Arya said, immediately on the defensive.

"You know what about," was all Eragon said. Arya frowned.

"What happened..." she said warily. "...isn't something that needs to be discussed."

"Is that really what you think?" Eragon raised his eyebrows.

"Yes." Arya said, more to herself than him.

"Then that's all I have to say." Eragon stood up and left, leaving Arya sat alone at the table.

"Damn." She muttered.


Eragon made his way down to the accounting department after lunch. His mind still reeling from the conversation he'd just had with Arya. As she had been talking he had felt the anger growing inside him, seeing the look in her eyes, watching her change her expression so that she was completely devoid of emotion. Acting as if what had transpired between them was nothing, taking a deep breath Eragon forced himself to calm down.

Chris was sat at his desk frowning at his computer screen when Eragon walked into the office.

"Hey." Eragon said as he approached the desk. Chris looked up and grinned.

"Eragon, hey, how's it going?" he reached over to shake his hand.

"Yeah I'm good. Listen you up for a night out on Saturday? I need to unwind."

"Yeah I'd be game, I'll ask a couple of the guys down here."

"Cool," Eragon smiled. "I'll let you know what's happening." He turned and began to make his way back up to the office.

He was waiting for the elevator when he heard footsteps coming up behind him. Turning his head he saw Arya walking along the corridor, when she saw him she stopped.

"Eragon." The way she said his name still sent shivers down his spine, but he forced himself to try and ignore it.

"Arya." The lift door opened and he stepped inside.

"Come on Eragon." Arya moved forward, but the doors were closing and she disappeared from sight.

With a heavy sigh Eragon leant against the back of the lift, he knew full well that his behaviour then had been rather childish, but at that moment he didn't really care. Feeling his phone vibrate he pulled it out of his pocket. It was Emily, asking if he wanted to go for a drink that night. Eragon texted back, saying that he would love to. He needed a break from the office, and Emily would provide a welcome distraction.


"You look like shit." Emily laughed as Eragon sat down at the bar.

"You're so charming." Eragon accepted the drink she gave him and took a long swig from it.

"I know, it's one of the reasons I'm so popular." She replied with her trademark grin. "So what's up?"

"Nothing, I'm just incredibly stressed." Eragon sighed. "How are things with you?"

"Yeah they're good, I've got a placement coming up that's taking a lot of out of me organisation wise but other than that I'm great."

"That's good to hear." Eragon smiled and took another sip of his drink.

"So want to tell me what's going on?" Eragon looked up surprised as Emily spoke again; she was watching him, one eyebrow raised.

"What do you mean?"

"Come on Eragon! Anyone with two eyes can see that you're pissed off about something. You're all tense." Eragon opened his mouth to protest but upon seeing Emily's expression he sighed.

"I had a fight with Saphira." He admitted finally.

"About what?" Emily asked. Eragon took another sip of his drink before replied.

"Saphira has...particular views about some of my friends." He said. "And most of the time I can put up with it, I pass it off as her being protective of me. But this time I guess I just snapped."

"What does she think is wrong with some of your friends?" Emily asked.

"One of them, his father is...not the nicest man in the world and she seems to think that he's like his father."

"Ah." Emily said. "I know it's probably not what you want to hear, so don't get mad, but Saphira is just looking out for you. I saw it when I met her; she's so protective of you. Maybe she doesn't see what she's doing as a bad thing; she just wants to make sure that you don't get hurt."

"Humph." Eragon grunted.

"You know I'm right." Emily said with a smirk. "I'm always right."

"Shut up." Eragon shook his head. "Do you want another drink?"

"Why thank you!" Emily grinned leaving Eragon at the bar she flounced away.

"Are you going to try and talk to Saphira?" Emily asked as they were starting their third drink. Eragon stared into his glass before he answered. He was forcibly reminded of the conversation that he had had with Arya not so long ago about a similar thing.

"Probably." He muttered, trying not to remember the smile Arya had given him when he had assured her that he would make things up with Saphira.

"Good." Emily smiled, "Now try to smile and have some fun. I don't want to be hanging around with someone who's gonna be this moody, you're cramping my style."

"What style?" Eragon snorted.

"There we go!"


Arya placed a neatly folded shirt into the small bag in front of her and stepped back; looking at her watch she sighed and zipped up the bag on her bed. She was due to leave for her mother's house within the hour for the anniversary of her father's death. She had managed to get a couple of days off of work for it, but was dreading it. Any time with her mother was arduous at best, and that was only when she was around her for a few hours. Arya had a whole three days to survive through.

It was dark by the time Arya pulled up in her mother's driveway. There were a couple of other cars in the drive and on the road and she could see movement behind the curtains.

"Here we go." She muttered to herself before getting out of the car grabbing her bag as she did so.

Ringing the doorbell she stepped back as she heard voices behind the door. When it was opened her mother stood beaming in the doorway.

"Arya!" she greeted her daughter with a hug, Arya patted her mother gently on the back before extracting herself from her embrace.

"Mother." She said shortly. Her mother stepped back and escorted her through to the living room where several people were waiting. Some of them were family members that Arya had not seen for years, and others were friends who lived nearby. Arya was somewhat relieved to see Claire and Angela, two of the friends that she actually still spoke too. Making her way over to them she hugged them both.

"It's been so long!" Claire grinned, pulling back and examining her. "You look thinner, have you been eating well enough." Claire was a chef and often took it upon herself to feed Arya when she saw her.

"I've been eating fine thank you, it's just been a busy few weeks at work."Arya told her. Angela all but elbowed Claire out of the way so that she could pull Arya into a hug.

"I think you look great!" she said, causing Arya to laugh. Angela was a pharmacist and one of the most eccentric people that Arya knew.

"Thank you. It's good to see you both." Arya sat down on the sofa with one on either side.

They had only just started to chat when Arya's mother swooped down on her.

"There you are Arya! You say hello and then you just disappear," Arya sighed and allowed her mother to drag her away, casting pleading looks back to her friends who were trying to conceal their grins.

Arya's mother insisted she had some food and pottered around fussing until she was satisfied that Arya had eaten enough.

"I'm so glad you could come dear, it...makes it easier." Her mother said quietly as Arya washed up the dishes. Arya sensed the sadness in her mother's voice and felt a little bit guilty. As complicated as their relationship was, her mother had been married to her father for almost 30 years when she had lost him, and it had left her feeling very lonely. Drying her hands on the towel next to the sink she pulled her mother into the first sincere hug that they had shared in many months.

"I'm glad I'm here."


Sleep did not come easily for Arya that night, she lay in the room that had been hers since she was a young girl and stared unseeing at the ceiling. The rest of the evening had been going round the various relatives and friends and saying hello, she had repeated the same thing over and over again, yes she was still with Varden, no she wasn't seeing anyone, and no she didn't have any immediate plans to get into a relationship. She had also received a lot of pitying looks and pats to her shoulder when people had started talking about Fäolin. Arya knew that it would be a topic of conversation, Fäolin's death had shocked many people, and even now, two years on people still could not believe that it had happened.

"It was so awful he was taken." One ageing family member lamented to Arya. "There was never a nicer man." She patted Arya's hand sympathetically. "You have been so strong dear." Arya had gone through the motions, smiling and saying thank you where it was needed.

Arya turned her head towards the window; through a crack in the curtains she could see the full moon. Arya had not felt comfortable sleeping in her parents' house for a long time, and tonight was no different, with the anniversary and everything that was happening back at Varden Arya had a lot going on in her head.

Closing her eyes Arya tried to relax, instead she found herself thinking about Eragon, and the look in his eyes when he had broached the subject of their almost kiss. His words in the canteen had stung more because Arya had known that they were true, but she wasn't about to admit that he was. Because that would leave her vulnerable, and Arya had promised herself that she would never be like that again, that she would always be in control, and admitting to Eragon what had actually happened that day would be giving up that control.

Arya finally drifted off into sleep, but it was a fitful one and when she woke up early the next morning she still felt as tired as she had the night before. Throwing back the covers she quietly got dressed and slipped out of the house for a run.

With her music blaring through her ears and her feet pounding rhythmically along the pavement, Arya felt her tension melting away. She liked running and often used it when she needed to clear her head and think a problem through. She knew the area well and had a regular running route so she allowed her feet to take her down familiar paths as she tried to sort out what she was feeling in her head.

Arya rarely discussed her feelings with anyone; Saphira was one of the only people that she actually spoke to about her feelings. But when it came to Eragon, Arya didn't feel comfortable with talking about what had happened, mostly because she knew that Saphira probably wouldn't be able to help her, and also because she had assured Saphira that she would not do anything to give hope to Eragon's affections, and their almost kiss was the exact opposite of that.

Arya paused at a bridge to catch her breath and look out at the scenery in front of her. Her mother lived in a small village out in the country, and the bridge she was on was small and made of stone that was crumbling onto the pavement. A stream trickled under the bridge and wound its way into a small valley that opened up into rolling grass hills and a thick carpet of trees in the distance. Arya had always liked the countryside, but her ambition had forced her into a city and wouldn't let her leave.

The sun had fully risen by the time Arya made it back to the house, stepping in through the back door she heard her mother talking to someone in the kitchen. She was about to announce herself when she heard her name mentioned.

"...don't understand what keeps Arya so busy at work. The last I could grasp she had a partner, and so surely that should mean that she should have more time off." Arya stayed hidden behind the wall, curious to hear what else her mum had to say.

"It's business dear." One of Arya's aunts said. "You know Arya, she's always been married to her job."

"I just wish she could have been married to Fäolin, he would have convinced her to move closer, they could have gotten that nice cottage that was going a couple of streets away." Arya could hear her mother sighing. Trying to keep her frustration in check she took a deep breath. She knew her mother wanted to keep her close by because she was lonely, but Arya often felt suffocated by the attention.

"Some things are out of our hands." The aunt replied sympathetically. Arya had heard enough and making a loud noise with the door she acted as if she had just come in through the door.

"Darling." Her mother jumped slightly as she made her presence known. "I didn't know you were up, where have you been."

"I went for a run." Arya said simply, wrapping her headphones round her iPod. "I need a shower." She walked past her mother and headed for the door.

"Don't you want any breakfast?"

"No thanks. I'll have something when I come back down." Arya replied without looking back.


Throughout the day people began to arrive again. Arya was stuck once again playing nice with people that she barely knew. She had perfected the art over the last four years and could with now practiced ease keep a neutral expression whilst people droned on and on, whilst inside she was screaming in frustration.

Arya looked down at her glass and noticed that it was empty. With a frown she looked around for something to fill it up with. Suddenly a hand appeared, clutching a bottle of wine, Arya looked up to see Angela grinning at her.

"You look like you need this." Her friend smirked. Arya took the bottle gratefully and poured a generous amount into her glass before handing it back to Angela.

"You have no idea." She muttered. Sitting down next to Angela she looked round the room, the party was in full swing. Every year her mother's house would be crowded with people who her mother invited to celebrate her father's life. Arya looked away from the people to the portrait of her father that hung over the fireplace. He had been the kindest man she had ever known and he had doted on her. She felt the sadness that she worked so hard to keep down whenever she came home bubble up in her chest, it almost hurt.

"Do you think I spent too much time away from home whilst he was ill?" she asked Angela. Her friend slung an arm round her shoulder.

"No, you didn't. You were here whenever you could be, whenever your job allowed it. He understood why you spent so much time in the city." She said gently." Don't beat yourself up about this, it's not your fault."

Arya sighed. "I know, but what if I had been around?" she took another large gulp of her drink, she wasn't usually one for self pity. When things happened she dealt with them and moved on, not allowing herself to dwell on the past. But when it came to her father and his death Arya had many regrets and often questioned if what she had striving for during the time of his illness was worth not being there at the end of his life.

"You can't think like that." Angela said. "Life is full of if's and buts, by looking at what's been and gone we forget to look forward." Arya raised at eyebrow.

"That was very deep."

"What can I say, I'm actually a very intelligent person." Angela winked at her, taking a large swig of wine straight from the bottle.


For Eragon the weekend couldn't come quick enough, Emily's words had been ringing in his heads all week but he had yet to speak to Saphira about what had happened. Mostly this was because they were both so busy, Arya had taken some time off to go home, for what Eragon didn't know, but it meant that both he and Saphira were left to pick up the slack in her absence.

The time for talking did not come until late Friday evening; Eragon was sat in his room when he heard the front door open as Saphira came home. Not looking up from his computer he heard her moving around in the living room.

Shortly there was a knock at his bedroom door.

"Come in." Saphira poked her head nervously round the door.

"Am I interrupting?" she asked tentatively. Eragon turned in his chair and shook his head. Saphira edged into the room and sat on the edge of his bed. It was then that Eragon noticed for the first time how tired she looked, no matter how much strain she was under Saphira always managed to look fresh, but since they had been arguing her face had become more drawn, and Eragon felt the twinges of guilt.

"Listen Eragon, it seems like every time I apologise I'm doing it for the same reasons." Saphira sighed. "I don't want to fight, and I don't want you to think that I'm trying to rule your life for you, I know you had it with Garrow and Roran." She paused and leant forward. "But I only do it because I care for you, you're like my family Eragon, and the only one I've got." She looked so sad that Eragon couldn't hold himself back any longer.

"I'm sorry too." He said, "I was angrier that I should have been and I was stressed and I took it out on you, and that wasn't fair." Standing he went to sit next to her. "I know you don't approve of Murtagh, but he's spent his whole life being judged by people who don't know him, and when you get to know him he's a really nice guy who's just had a really shitty time."

Saphira reluctantly nodded and put her arm round him. "I'll do my best to change my opinion of him." She vowed. "So are we ok?" she motioned between the two of them. Eragon smiled and pulled her into a hug.

"You're my best friend." He said into her ear, "I'd be lost without you." Saphira hugged him tightly.

"I've missed you." She said when she pulled back.

"I've missed you too."

Eragon was jerked awake the next morning by the piercing shriek of his alarm clock. Groaning loudly he rolled over and hit the snooze button. Sitting up he rubbed the sleep from his eyes, and then it dawned on him. Today was Saturday.

"Fucking hell." He groaned again falling back against his pillows.

Saphira was packing some of her work files in a bag when he emerged a while later.

"You're not going to work are you?" Eragon said as he pulled the milk out of the fridge. Saphira nodded.

"Yes, I've been called in on an emergency, usually it would be Arya dealing with it but whilst she's away it falls to me to sort it out."

"Do you need me to come in with you?"

"No, you stay home. It would just get more complicated." Saphira finished packing her bag and looked up. "What are you doing today?"

"Nothing much." Eragon shrugged. "But I'm going out with a few of the guys tonight." Saphira knew better than to ask who and nodded again.

"Ok, I don't know what time I'll be back but I'll keep you posted. Have a good time tonight." With that she was gone, leaving Eragon alone.


"Arya! Please, don't shut me out!" Arya gritted her teeth and willed herself to stay calm.

"I'm not shutting you out." She finally managed to say. "There's just nothing to say."

"Every year we do this." Her mother spat out, anger flashing in her eyes, "Every year I try and get to grips with what's going on in your head, and every year all I get is a wall."

"Then maybe it's time you stopped trying." Arya hissed.

The argument had started at lunch, after most of their guests had gone home, her mother had asked question after question about how she was feeling over lunch and hadn't relented even when Arya had made it plain that she didn't want to talk. Her mother, who was as stubborn as she was had refused to relent, pushing Arya until she had snapped and the shouting had begun.

"I'm not going to stop trying." Islanzadí replied, her expression as determined as her daughters. "You never shut yourself off like this before Fäolin." At the mention of her dead fiancé's name Arya's face hardened again.

"Do you have to bring him up every time I'm here?" she demanded.

"Yes. Because you never talk about it, no one knows what you're feeling; you can't cut yourself off from everyone Arya. You'll end up alone." Islanzadí took hold of Arya's hands; her eyes were shinning with unshod tears.

"Thanks for your concern mother." Arya spat the last work out sarcastically. "But I think I'll be fine."

"Arya, you're my only child and I love you so much. But you make it so difficult to help when you refuse to even look at me." She sighed and Arya saw a tear slip down onto her cheek. "Your father, he loved you too, he would be heartbroken if he could see you now." Arya felt the lump of sadness in her throat; she swallowed and dropped her hands.

"I'm sorry that I can't be the daughter you want." She said flatly, turning away she left the room and stormed out of the house.

Arya didn't care where she was going; she just needed to be out of the house. She didn't know what it was but her mother was able to get under her skin more than anybody else. Fuming silently she cast her eyes to the skies. It was late afternoon and the sun was beginning to set, sending bright colours shooting across the sky. Arya found herself at the bridge where she had stopped on her morning run the day before. Leaning against it she sighed and took comfort in the rough stone underneath her fingers.

Arya knew that her mother was worried about her, and that she did love her, but Arya had spent so long building her walls because of the treatment she had received at the hands of Fäolin, and now that he was gone she still couldn't bring them down, they were the only things standing between her and her emotions.

She didn't know how long she stood at the bridge, staring out into the sunset. Her anger slowly dimmed and was replaced by sadness. Arya had always been closer to her father, and since he had died it seemed that the gap between her mother had reached a place where going back looked impossible.

"It's a lovely evening." Arya jumped as she heard Claire's voice behind her. Turning round she saw that Claire was not alone; Angela was with her, offering her friend a lopsided grin.

"What are you two doing here?" she asked. Angela leant against the bridge next to her.

"Well, we went to your house to see if you wanted to grab a drink, but when we got there all we found was your very irate mother, so we guessed we might find you here."

"What happened?" Claire asked.

"The usual." Arya sighed, looking at the river that sparkled in the late evening sun below the bridge. "I don't like fighting with her, but it seems that whenever I'm back here it just happens."

"It's not your fault." Claire said sympathetically. "This place brings up bad memories for you, and it's difficult for Islanzadí too." Arya nodded and sighed.

"I need to get out of here." she said. Angela's smile widened.

"I think what you need is a night out." Arya frowned. "Awww come on, we've not been on a night out in ages! Plus you've yet to show us night life in the city." Arya looked from Angela who was beaming to Claire who shrugged.

"She has a point."

"I do need a drink." She admitted. Angela clapped on her on the back.

"Tonight is gonna be awesome!"


Eragon and Murtagh started off the night in one of their favourite pubs whilst they waited for Chris and some of the other people who worked at Varden.

"You seem happier tonight." Murtagh noted. Eragon nodded.

"Yeah, it's nice to be able to relax, this night out has been long overdue."

"I'll say." Murtagh said, a girl sauntered past the table offering him a smile. He followed her with his eyes, a smirk appearing on his face.

"I have a feeling this night is going to be great!"

Chris arrived a little while later with two guys in tow.

"Hey man," he grinned as he spied Eragon and Murtagh. "This is Thorn and Bill." Thorn was a well built man with sandy hair and thick features. Eragon had seen him skulking round Varden; he looked nothing like an accountant. Bill on the other hand embodied nearly all of the accounting stereotypes; he was tall, skinny and wore glasses. Eragon reached out and shook both the men's hands.

"Nice to meet you guys, can I get you a drink?" all three men nodded and Eragon moved away to the bar.

Arya was glad that she'd listened to her friends and come out. It had been awkward to say the least when she had returned home to pack and head back into the city with Claire and Angela. But as usual she had come to an uneasy peace with her mother, enough to give her a hug as she left with the promise that she would be back as soon as she could.

Now here she was, in a small cocktail bar, a brightly coloured drink in front of her, and she could finally feel the tension melting away from her.

"Told you this is what you needed." Angela popped up beside her. Arya smiled at her friend.

"You were right...for once." Angela rolled her eyes reminding Arya of Saphira for a moment.

"I'm always right." Claire appeared with another round of drinks and set them down on the table.

"I've barely started this one." Arya protested.

"Well now you're prepared for when you finish it." Claire replied. Arya couldn't fight with her logic and so just shrugged and pulled both of her drinks closer towards her.


By midnight Eragon was very drunk. Murtagh true to form had dragged them all round to a handful of different bars before they had reached the club. Now they were outside standing in the line, and had been for a while.

"I thought you could get us in quickly." Eragon accused Murtagh.

The older man shrugged and peered up the queue.

"It usually works. Tonight must be different." Eragon shook his head and turned his attention back to trying to keep warm. There was a chill in the air and he had come out without a jacket.

"When are we getting in?" Thorn grumbled behind him. Eragon shrugged.

"Ask the asshole to my left." He grunted. Thorn poked Murtagh in the back and scowled at him when he turned round, the two men had hit it off instantly.

"You lied." He said bluntly.

"I didn't lie." Murtagh replied. "I just was a bit stingy with the truth. I can usually get in first, but since I got kicked out of here a few weeks ago they make me wait now."

"You dick." Thorn muttered. In front of them people were moving, slowly but surely they were getting closer.

"I knew I still had it!" Angela hooted gleefully as they slipped in through the front entrance of the club.

"Still had what?" Arya laughed.

"My sexual appeal of course." Angela winked. "Those bouncers were practically falling over themselves to let us in." Arya glanced at Claire who was rolling her eyes.

"Angela, you're 25! You're not gonna lose your sexual appeal any time soon." She tutted. Angela shrugged and made a beeline for the bar causing Arya to laugh, the small woman was a bundle of energy who hadn't stopped since they had gotten out of the taxi.

Arya herself was finding that the drink was doing wonders for her. She was quite drunk and was enjoying the buzz and it allowed her for one night to stop thinking about all the things that were plaguing her mind. She followed her friends willingly and even participated in a round of shots. Wincing as the liquor burned the back of her throat and slid down to linger in her chest.

"It's busy in here tonight." Claire yelled in her ear. Arya cast her eyes round the club, people were already packing onto the dance floor and the booths that lined the side of the lower level of the club, the metal winding staircases spread in the four corners lead to a top floor where there were another two bars and more seating areas.

"Plenty of talent in here tonight." Angela rubbed her hands together gleefully.

"Talent?"

"Yep talent. Men. Maybe we'll even find someone for you here." Angela said, noting Arya's expression of shock she laughed. "Don't worry, we're not looking for anything long term, but who knows maybe a passionate shag will be just the thing you need." Arya rolled her eyes again, Angela had no qualms about one night stands, but Arya had never seen the appeal.

"Leave her alone Angela," Claire scolded the smaller woman, earning an eye roll for her trouble.

The bouncer looked Eragon and Murtagh up and down and raised an eyebrow.

He's not going to let me in. Eragon thought. I knew I should have stood next to Chris when we came in.

"In you go." The bouncer finally said, but as Murtagh and Eragon went to go past him he grabbed Murtagh by the front of his shirt and yanked him upwards, so that his feet were dangling a couple of inches off the floor. "If I have any trouble from you tonight, you'll be taking all of your future drinks in through a tube." He growled. Murtagh nodded.

"Of course, no trouble from me." He said meekly. The bouncer set him down on his feet and they both scurried into the club.

"Jesus Christ, what the hell did you do to piss him off so much?" Eragon said in astonishment looking back at the door where the bouncer was still watching them out of the corner of his eye.

"I can't remember." Murtagh admitted. "I was very drunk, and that part of the night is a big blur, I remember a fight though." He thought for a moment. "I think I lost." Eragon laughed.

"Well don't do anything like that tonight, because I am NOT bailing you out!" he warned. Murtagh gave him a smile that Eragon didn't like.

"Can't promise anything there." He winked. By this time the others had joined them, and they were all laughing about what had happened with the bouncer at the door.

"You are wild mate!" Thorn boomed thumping his new best friend on the shoulder. "I think that deserves a round of shots!"

"You read my mind!" Murtagh grinned and began to push his way through the people to the bar.


Within half an hour Eragon had lost everyone that he had come into the club with. He wasn't sure how it had happened, but one minute he had been laughing and drinking with them, the next he was surrounded by a sea of people that he didn't know. For a couple of minutes he stood, rooted to the spot, his drunken brain trying to process what it is he should do next. Deciding that the bar was the best place to find people he turned on his heel and began to slink through the people to the closest bar he could find, which luckily for him happened to be largely empty except for one woman.

Eragon leant against the bar and sighed, running a hand through his hair. There was no barman so Eragon had a couple of moments to try and get his bearings, the club was sweltering and he could feel a sheen of sweat covering his body.

Looking to his right Eragon noticed the woman who was standing down the bar from him. She looked very familiar and Eragon squinted and slyly moved a little closer so he could get a better look. She was slim and dressed in beautiful blue dress that hugged her body in all the right places.

It was at the moment that she turned to face the bar and he could see her profile, and recognition dawned.

"Arya."

Somehow she heard him over the roar of the music and turned fully to face him, shock flitted across her face first, and then she smiled almost nervously.

"Eragon. What are you doing here?"

"Dancing, drinking. Fun." Eragon said. Arya nodded. When she looked up again he could see that she was quite drunk, her eyes were a little unfocused and she seemed to be leaning on the bar more than necessary.

"Well this is awkward." He said trying to alleviate the tension, with a smile. Arya smiled as well.

"Yes." It was at this moment that the barman reappeared and gave them something else to focus on.

"Can I get you a drink?" Eragon asked, fully expecting her to say no, but instead she smiled and nodded.

"Yeah thanks," Eragon ordered two bottles and pulled out his wallet. Passing one of the bottles to Arya he took a drink from his own, realising that he should probably stop drinking now that she was here.

"Who are you here with?" he asked, pocketing his change. Arya looked around.

"Some people from home. What about you?"

"Some people from the office." Arya looked a little surprised, they both became silent again, and sipped casually at their drinks.

"Do you fancy a shot?" Eragon asked a few minutes, feeling bold that she had allowed him to buy her a drink. All of the anger that he had been feeling towards her was being suppressed by the insane amount of alcohol that was coursing through his blood. Once again Arya surprised him by nodding.

"Sure why not," Eragon grinned and turned his attention back to the bar and waved his hand to get the barman's attention. As the shots were placed in front of them he gave Arya another smile and picked up his glass so that he could clink it against hers.

"Cheers." Tipping the liquor down his throat he winced. Arya was doing the same.

"I wouldn't have expected to see you out tonight." Eragon commented as she placed her glace back down on the bar.

"I felt like I deserved a night out." She said, sipping at her beer. "It's been a...difficult weekend."

"Why what happened?"

"I went home to see my mother."

"And how did that go?" Eragon asked. Arya help up her drink with a smirk.

"Not as good as it could have been." She said. "My mother has a way of getting under my skin. She's headstrong, and we often argue."

"That sounds tough." Arya nodded and pushed herself away from the bar.

"Yes. But I didn't come out to talk about my mother, I'm going to dance. Are you coming?" she shot him a smirk over her shoulder as she brushed past him and made her way towards the dance floor. Eragon followed immediately, entranced by the subtle movements of her hips and she weaved her way through the crowds of people to find a space where they could dance.

Eragon could feel his latest shot as the alcohol raced around his body; he could feel himself getting a little lightheaded and his movements becoming more and more erratic.

He was once again captivated by Arya's dancing, he had been out with her before, but this was the first time that they had been on their own on the dance floor, and it seemed that perhaps Arya was as drunk as he was, if not more so. It was yet another side of Arya that Eragon had not seen, and another one that he vastly enjoyed.

After half an hour of dancing Eragon was once again parched, motioning to Arya he moved to the bar and leant against it to get his breath back. Arya appeared at his side a moment later, her eyes sparkling in the strobe lights of the club.

"You buying?" she asked. Eragon arched an eyebrow.

"I think it's your round." He smirked. Arya tilted her head to the side and thought for a few seconds.

"Fine." She conceded. "What are you drinking?"

"Just a beer." Arya nodded and turning back to the bar ordered them a couple of drinks.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself." Eragon noted as Arya paid.

"It's been known to happen on occasion." Arya replied handing Eragon his beer. He laughed and drained a third of his beer in one go.

"It's nice to see." He said, sincerity creeping into his eyes. Arya licked her lips as her eyes locked with his. She looked like she might speak but after a moment of silence she just smiled.

"Drink up. We have more dancing to do." She took a large gulp of her beer and moved away from the bar and back into the throngs of people.

Back on the dance floor it was packed, and as a result they had to dance closer together, every so often the tips of Eragon's fingertips would brush against her body, and he revelled in the resulting shocks it sent coursing through his blood.

The song changed, and the beat changed, a faster one that caused Arya to move closer still. Her chest brushed against his and he resisted the urge to pull her closer. His eyes locked with hers and this time the emotion in them was blindingly clear, there was lust swirling in her emerald depths, she gave him a mischievous smile leaning ever closer, he knew what was about to happen next, and the sensible part of his brain was trying to reason with him, saying that if this happened, if he allowed it the ramifications could outweigh the pleasure.

But Eragon was too drunk to listen to his more cautious side. His eyes flickered down to her mouth and taking a deep breath her threw all of his inhibitions.

Time seemed to stop as their lips met, for a split second he could see everything, her eyes closing lazily as she leant up to meet him. The dancers around him, the thumping of the music reduced to a physical vibration reverberating towards him, it was like seeing clearly for the first time.

But then the second of clarity was over and time sped up again, whizzing by in a blur of sensations and raw emotion. Her lips were soft and tilting her head she pressed herself flush against him, he could taste the mint and alcohol on her breath, or is it his breath? He couldn't tell and he didn't care, his fingers were digging into her arms with a painful intensity and she let out a gasp into his mouth, her lips curling into a smile against his won.

The kiss could have lasted for a minute, it could have lasted forever. He could not fathom how much time had elapsed, nor did he want to. His mind was fixed firmly in the now, he could not dwell on images of the past, or drift to aspirations of the future, the here and the now was all that mattered.

What felt like an eternity later Arya's lips pulled back from his own. His eyes, which had drifted shut snapped open, as he caught one last glimpse of her emerald fires before they danced away from him into the throng of dancers, and like a fire extinguished in the dead of night they were gone.

Eragon stood, almost paralysed as the aftershocks of the kiss continued to course around his body. Arya had been swallowed up by the crowd, but the look in her eyes as she had walked away had been very clear. Shaking his head to try and clear it enough to move his feet Eragon set off after her.

For a couple of heart wrenching seconds he thought he had lost her, his eyes scanned the crowd furiously searching for her. Then as he tilted his head upwards in defeat he caught sight of her on one of the staircases that led up to the second level of the club. Scrambling through the people he took the stairs two at a time until he was almost behind her.

She led him up the rest of the stairs and onto the second floor. It was quieter up here, with about half of the booths full. Her destination was an empty booth in a corner of the floor, which seemed darker than the others. Looking over his shoulder Eragon followed her into the shadows, he was starting to feel nervous for the first time, the kiss had been everything he had been dreaming about since he had first seen Arya four months ago.

Arya's eyes glinted as she sank down into the booth and sat with one leg crossed over the other. Eragon hesitated a moment before he sat down, sliding close until his thing brushed against hers.

Both of them leaned forward again until their lips were mere centimetres apart, here they both stopped, each not knowing what quite to do next. It seemed that both came to the same conclusion at the same time, they both leant forward together, their lips colliding.

This kiss was slower than the first; Eragon could appreciate how soft Arya's lips were against his own. One of his hands wound its way up into her hair, pulling her against him. Her hand was on his chest, twisting a handful of his shirt. She was by no means meek; she knew what she wanted and was taking control of the kiss. Eragon found himself smiling; he wouldn't have it any other way.

After a couple of minutes the need for air pulled them apart, both were breathing heavily and Eragon kept his hand on her thigh.

"I can't believe this is happening." Eragon breathed, somehow Arya heard him over the noise of the music.

"Neither can I." She admitted. Picking up one of his hands she played with his fingers. "It is all a bit surreal." Eragon couldn't help but smile at the nervous look on her face.

"This is the first time I've ever seen you look nervous." Even in the dim light he could see her blushing at his words. It was so cute that he couldn't help himself, he leant forward and kissed her again, feeling bold he ran his tongue her lip, delighted when she opened her mouth and her own tongue duelled with his own. Arya leant forward her arms winding round his neck, Eragon found himself pulling her closer, his hands resting on her hips.

Arya pulled away, Eragon could see a smile on her face and a sparkle in her eyes that he hadn't seen for a while.

They sat in silence, staring at each other, neither knowing what to say. Eragon allowed his hand to run up and down her arm, enjoying the feeling of her skin underneath his fingertips.

Arya leant forward a moment later, pressing her lips to his he could feel her smiling and returned the kiss with vigour, he didn't think he could ever get used to the feeling of her lips on his, nor did he want to.

But their perfect moment didn't last for very long. A very loud throat clearing pulled them apart. Looking up Eragon saw a woman he didn't recognise standing next to the table, a big grin on her face.

"Well, well, well, I wondered where you'd got to." She laughed sliding in opposite them and beaming at the two of them. "I told Claire there was no way that you were hooking up, but it seems I was wrong." She winked at Arya. Eragon looked between Arya, who was blushing and trying to hide it and the other woman who was still smirking.

"Arya has no manners. I'm Angela." She shouted to be heard over the music and held out her hand for Eragon to shake.

"I'm Eragon." He shouted back.

"What a lovely name. And how long have you two known each other?"

"4 months!" Arya finally found her voice and cut in as she could see exactly what Angela was thinking. "We work together."

"Oh how intriguing!" Angela's smile broadened. Eragon suddenly felt very uncomfortable.

"Well. I should probably go and find my friends." He said. The look Arya gave him was a cross of disappointment and relief.

"Ok. Thanks." She said, seeming to revert back to her old self. Eragon thought about kissing her again but the look on her face warned him against it. Instead he nodded to Angela and stood up slid out of the booth. With one last smile he walked away as fast as his dignity would let him.


"Where the hell have you been?" Murtagh roared when Eragon finally rejoined his friends at the bar.

"I've been around." Eragon replied scratching his head and trying not to let his eyes wander back to the booth where he knew Arya was sitting.

"You missed a fight." Murtagh said gleefully, Eragon felt something pushing against his hand and looking down he saw Murtagh pushing a shot glass at him. Taking it he threw it back before Murtagh could finish handing them out.

"Bloody hell." Thorn laughed raising his own shot to his mouth, "Someone's keen." Eragon laughed along with the rest of them, but his head wasn't in it. His head was back up in the booth, with a certain brown haired beauty.


"You are a dark horse." Angela gave Arya a smirk as she pushed a drink towards her. Claire had joined them and Angela had wasted no time in getting her up to speed. Both of them were now sat opposite Arya, the exact same expressions on their faces.

"What?" Arya protested. "Let's not make a big thing about this." She said, knowing full well that that's exactly what they would do.

"But this is a big thing." Claire said, for once losing her mask of composure. "Have you kissed anyone since Fäolin?" Arya chose not to answer the question, but her silence spoke volumes.

"Besides." Angela grinned. "He was hot."

"I didn't see him." Claire pouted.

"You missed out." Angela waggled her eyes at Arya, who couldn't help but smile.

It was 3 o'clock by the time Arya, Claire, and Angela left the club. Arya allowed her two friends to lead her to a taxi, speaking only to tell the driver the address. She was still drunk, but was sobering up quickly. Quickly enough to know that come the morning the full force of her actions would hit her like a ton of bricks.


Eragon giggled to himself as he stumbled into the flat. Closing the door as quietly as he could he crept into the kitchen to get himself some water. Draining the first glass he refilled it before tiptoeing back through the living room and into his bedroom.

He pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it onto the floor. His head was spinning slightly as he unbuttoned his trousers and let them drop. Crawling between his covers he stared happily at the ceiling. The night had been the best of his life, and although he knew his happiness would probably be short lived he would always have the memory of what had happened.

That night Eragon drifted off into sleep, remembering the touch of Arya's lips.


Well I hope you all enjoyed that. I'm hoping because we're finally at the prologue I'll get lots of reviews. I can't promise this period of Eragon/Arya fluff will continue, but I hope this is enough to sate you all for a while. As usual leave me a review letting me know what you think. Until next time!

Pirate-x-Girls