Ill News

The sun rose in the sky upon the Dragon Hold, its rays slid down the side of the castle flowing through its many windows. Eragon lay in his bed; he lay there as the sun light filtered into the room. He was just rising from the grips of sleep when he felt a weight pressing down on his chest. He lay there with his eyes closed, yet to rub the sleep from his eyes. He frowned and slowly opened his eyes and looked down at his chest. A sea of ebony greeted his gaze, for a moment he was confused, then his eyes fully opened as he realized that it was a head. The head was attached to a body; the body was covered by sheets. His gaze returned to the head, all color left his face when he realized just whose head it was. It was Arya she was here, in his bead, he looked around and realized he wasn't even in his room; it was the room he had set aside for Arya. His predicament was one he wouldn't wish on anyone, stuck in the bed of a soon to be angry, Elven Queen. He couldn't remember what had happened the night before after they had danced. His head was slightly throbbing, and his mouth felt as if it been stuffed with cotton. He felt a sudden feeling of amusement wash over him; Saphira was laughing at him.

"Help me!" He pleaded with her, desperate for any way to save himself the pain of what was to come.

"It is best if you learned from your mistakes." She responded clearly mocking him.

Eragon hissed in anger but then went stock still when Arya shifted. When she had stopped moving he let out a breath he had unconsciously been holding. He was about to tell her he wouldn't survive this mistake when Arya stirred again. He felt her head lift slightly from his chest and then her entire body went rigid.

"Good morning Arya. Do you by any chance remember what happened last night?" he asked, hesitant least he rouse her anger.

She paused before she answered gathering her thoughts trying to figure out just how she had come to be in this current situation. She hadn't had that much to drink, perhaps the amount she had, must have impaired her judgment. As she hadn't consumed the same amount of spirits Eragon had her memory was intact.

"We danced, you were inebriated. I attempted to help you to your room but you insisted that you escort me to mine. When we got to my room you entered and collapsed on my bed. I was not about to be denied sleep by a drunken fool so I shoved you across the bed and fell asleep." She said, when she finished, she laid her head back down on his chest and relaxed.

Eragon felt her relax and he sighed in relief, so he would not die this day. When she made no move to get up or move he didn't know what to do. So he did what he does best he pressed forward. "Do you remember before I left that talk we had?"

Arya tilted her head to look up at him. "We had many conversations after you defeated Galbatorix?"

Eragon sighed there would be no going back after this. "When you told me that at that moment I was too dear to you and Alagaesia to risk and that in time who knew what would happen."

Arya met his eyes "Yes, what about it?"

Eragon swallowed "A lot of time has passed since then don't you think." He felt Arya nod.

"Indeed there has been a lot of time passed, a lot of time wasted." She said.

Eragon looked down at her "What does that mean?"

Arya shimmied up the bed until she was inches away from his face. Eragon's breath caught in his throat. Almost hesitantly Arya closed the distance between them until the smallest amount of space separated them, her eyes closed and her breathing slowed.

Eragon leaned forward and their lips met, Eragon brought one hand up to cup her face. He couldn't think he was only aware of her lips moving against his.

Slowly she pulled away, "That's what it means." She lowered her head to his chest and closed her eyes. His hand found its way to her head and he began to run his fingers through her hair.

After some time he felt the rhythmic rise and fall of her chest and knew she had slipped into waking dreams. He lay there stroking her hair and thinking, he felt Saphira entered his mind. He could feel her curiosity. So he sent her the memory of the morning before he to fell into the waking dreams.

Wolf was sitting at the desk in his chambers looking over some of the logistics it took to run the hall and small community around it. He had just finished reading a new proposal for distribution of food when a knock at his door disrupted his thoughts.

"Enter" he called to the door.

The door opened and a breathless runner entered the room. He handed Wolf a sheet of parchment, "Sir, this just came in."

Wolf took one look at the paper, he read through the words written on it and slammed his fist down on the table, the runner jumped in surprise. Wolf stood up so violently he knocked the chair over. "Get the Honor guard ready to ride; I want them packed and ready to leave when I get down there." The runner nodded and ran from the room.

Wolf strode from the room and headed towards Eragon's tower. When he reached the top he began pounding on the door. He waited a moment and when no one answered him he opened the door and barged in.

"My lord I am sorry for this intrusion but there is an urgent matter you need to address." He was puzzled when no one responded. A quick search of the room revealed that no one was there and the bed had not been slept in. He opened his mind and began to search for Eragon. He was surprised and amused to find him with Arya in her room.

He turned and left the room pulling the door shut behind him. Wolf headed down the stairs towards the guest chambers, after many twists and turns he finally arrived. Standing before the door he raised his hand to knock.

Eragon was roused from his dreams by a quiet but consistent knocking sound coming from the door. Arya lay still asleep with her head resting on him. Not wanting to wake him up he reached his mind out to whoever it was outside the door. He relaxed when he felt the mind of Wolf.

"Enter" he called to him with his mind. The door was slowly opened and Wolf stepped in. Seeing the position of his lord and the elven queen he couldn't help but smirk.

"What is it" Eragon whispered.

"I have just received this from Alagaesia." He handed the parchment to Eragon.

Eragon read over the lines of script printed on the paper. He set it down and rubbed his face with his free hand. "How old is this?"

Wolf shrugged "Based on the time it would take for it to travel here from the Spine. I would say no more than a week."

Eragon groaned "A week there is no telling to how far they could have travelled." He sighed and began to think about what he was going to do. "Alright, I assume you are ready to move out." Wolf nodded. "Good take four elders and their apprentices have them fly to Alagaesia and scout around. Warn the King and began searching for them, investigate any strange deaths near towns or settlements. Also ask the urgals if they have detected anything in their lands." Wolf nodded and turned to leave.

"Oh and one more thing" Wolf turned to face Eragon.

"I can trust you not to speak of what you have seen correct." Wolf simply smiled and nodded before leaving.

The moment the door shut Arya spoke. "What has happened?"

Eragon chuckled "I knew you wouldn't have missed him coming in." He handed her the parchment. She read it and immediately sat up. "Barzul, how could this have happened?"

Eragon shook his head. "Galbatorix bragged there were more eggs than the ones we destroyed I always thought he was bluffing."

"But why now after all these years?" Arya asked.

Eragon shrugged "I doubt anyone will know, perhaps they felt that their position was strong enough that they could hide from us. Either way I have already sent some riders and the Honor Guard to deal with the situation. The elves have nothing to worry about there is no possible way for the Ra'zac to enter Du Weldenvarden, but they have returned and they will be dealt with."

Arya relaxed, Eragon was right the elves had nothing to fear. She turned to look at him and she was struck mute. He laid on the bed the sheets covering his body up to the waist. From there up he was bare. His head rested on an arm tucked behind his head, his eyes were closed and a smile was on his lips. When her gaze fell upon his lips she remembered their conversation from the morning, and their kiss. Her face heated up and it felt as if little dragons were flying around in her stomach. She put her hand on his chest and lay back down the closer she got to him the more the feeling increased.

She had just closed her eyes when Eragon spoke, "You didn't come here just for training did you?"

Arya rolled over so it would be easier to look up at him. "What makes you say that?"

Eragon laughed, "What could I possibly teach you that you didn't know or haven't learned already."

Arya cracked a smile. "You're right I had other motives for coming, this was just the first time where circumstances allowed me to travel and I had enough reasons for coming."

Eragon ran his fingers through her hair one more time. "Oh and what were they?"

Arya laughed and Eragon's heart skipped a beat. "I needed to ask you something."

"Something you couldn't ask me in a letter?" Eragon said.

Arya nodded "I wanted to ask you to forgive me." When Eragon started to stammer, she placed a finger on his lips silencing him. "When I told you I could not go with you to raise the riders I made a mistake. I allowed my mind to rule my actions when I should have listened to my heart. I abandoned you and I have never regretted anything as much as I regretted that, for that I am sorry."

Eragon sighed "Arya you were doing your duty, you have nothing to apologize for. We each had our own duties at the time."

Arya nodded, "Yes, and now our duties are not as demanding as they once were."

Her emerald eyes met his brown ones and an understanding past between them. Eragon pulled her up to him and kissed her "Perhaps now we will have a chance to pick up from where we left off."

Arya smiled "I would like that."

It was at that moment when everything seemed perfect, that there was a knock at their door. Eragon groaned and rose from the bed. He opened the door enough to look out. In the hallway there was a messenger with a sheet of paper. He handed it to Eragon who scanned the lines quickly and crumpled the paper and threw it down. He look at the messenger, "Go tell Wolf that I am going with them." And shut the door. He turned to a confused looking Arya his eyes full of rage. "Carvahall has been attacked and ransacked.