Chapter 14: Nightmares… and Arguments.
His warm hand held hers, his other hand was wrapped around her back, and her own hand was resting on his shoulder. They danced and danced for what seemed like hours on end, but the music did not stop, it only got faster and faster. They danced, the only ones on the dance floor, and as the music ended they both embraced and kissed each other passionately, happy that they were together, happy that there was no one who could separate them. The crowd of humans and dwarves cheered around them as they let go of each other. "I didn't know you could dance so well, Faolin, you should have told me sooner. You could have helped me teach Glenwing." Faolin laughed loudly and replied, "You taught him? No wonder he was so reluctant to come here." "Well, he didn't dance anyway!" Arya laughed and kissed him again. It was the celebration that was being held at Tronjheim, the Varden's stronghold and the dwarves capital, because they had captured a dragon egg and Morzan had finally been killed. As they finished kissing, everything changed; everything was in a blur around her. When it cleared, she was in a burning forest, her sword in one hand and the egg in another. The elf in front of her changed to Durza, who was holding out his hand. "Get her" She looked around helplessly for a way to escape, but there were none. A part of her wanted to throw the egg down and attack the shade to extract her revenge for the death of Faolin and Glenwing. Yet another part of her knew that she held the last hope of Alagaesia in her hands. Finally coming to a decision, she held it up and frantically sent it towards Carvahall, towards Brom, who had killed Morzan and had recovered the egg. Durza roared, ruby red fire flying from his palm towards her. As soon as it struck, everything changed again. She was in a tower, and the Shade Varaug was in front of her. "You will die, elf, we will kill you!" He shouted while she lunged at him. Before she could strike, he hit her forearm with one hand, forcing her to drop the sword and grabbed her throat with another, lifting her off the ground. He sneered and said, "Die pretty elf, soon I shall extinguish all light from you and your weak companions." Dread and fear filled her entire being. His powerful mind attacked hers, but she managed to repel him, her barriers filled with her love for Faolin. He then turned to Eragon who was getting up, and said in a wicked voice, "Our name is Varaug, fear us." She kicked at him desperately, but it was in vain. Eragon wasn't moving, she knew he was also being attacked by the Shade's mind. Again she frantically punched his locked elbow, breaking the joint. Her legs touched the floor, and she took a swift breath before the monster's arm healed itself, lifting her even higher. "You shall die; you shall die for imprisoning us in this cold, hard clay." But then, the shade's mind stopped attacking hers, she sensed Eragon's mind acting as a barrier between hers and the shade's consciousness. She tried to break free again, but couldn't. The shade and Eragon continued their battle, but she knew that it was Eragon who would lose, for he was a single being, but the shade had multiple spirits inside him, and Eragon couldn't possibly out think all of them. Soon Varaug said, "Your ring is full of light! Beautiful light! It will feed us for a long time." She seized her chance and broke his wrist in three different places, escaped from his grip and dived for her sword. As soon as her finger closed around it, the shade bellowed and pounced on her, trying to snatch the sword out of her grip. They grappled for the sword for a few moments, then she shouted, "YOU will die here." and struck him on the side of his head with the pommel of her sword. The shade went limp, and she hurriedly moved backwards, uprighting herself. The shade began to rise to one knee, but faltered for some reason. "Get him!" Eragon shouted. Disregarding her own safety, she lunged forward and stabbed the abomination through its heart.
"Eragon" Arya muttered, as she woke up, drenched in sweat.
I wish I would not get such nightmares; they drive me to the edge of insanity, Arya thought as she let go of Eragon's back on which she had been leaning as she slept. They were still flying, but it was a bright, clear and cloudless morning. Bare regions, some clusters of trees, hills, grasslands, towns and villages flowed beneath them as they flew.
"Arya, what's wrong? Why did you call me?" Eragon said. They had left Gil'ead the precious evening and had been flying throughout the night. Arya had fallen asleep a few hours ago.
"No Eragon, I just had a nightmare, nothing more ... And well … I was scared by what I saw." Arya said, pulling herself closer to Eragon as she tightened her grip around his chest.
"May I see it? I might be able to help you." Eragon asked, concernedly.
Arya thought for a moment, He is my companion anyway, he would be concerned. It won't matter much, he already knows about my love for Faolin.
"Fine, just do not think badly of me after you do see it." Arya replied and joined her mind with his.
She showed him her entire dream. She could feel uneasiness in him as he saw her kiss Faolin, rage when he saw Durza and complete outrage when he saw Varaug.
Arya, you should not keep these thoughts to yourself, they will only torment you, and you will be forced to live with secrets all your life. You should confide in someone, I am always there for you. My father had grown into a habit of living with secrets, and when it came to revealing them, he was reluctant to part with them. He had lived with them for so long that he felt it best to just keep them, suppressed in him, but when he finally revealed to Saphira that he was my father, the tension that eased from him was astounding. He seemed to have grown several years younger with the joy he felt at finally telling someone that I was his son. Don't put a stopper to these memories Arya, let them flow out of you, don't keep such thoughts that can drive you insane within yourself, let them go.
He has changed so much, there is no way that I can mistake him for the immature child who lusted for me. He has become a great man, a wise man, whose wisdom far exceeds the limits of his age.
Gratitude flowed from Eragon's mind when she thought that, and she began to fall asleep again.
Sleep Arya, I won't let you fall. Eragon said and withdrew from her mind. She drifted off onto her dreams again.
She was in the Tialdari Hall. It was completely empty, there was no one in the rooms, and there was no one anywhere in Ellesmera. No one except… "Arya" "Faolin" She cried and ran up to him, embracing him tightly. His hands closed around her, but he, somehow, seemed reluctant to stay. There was silence, after which Faolin said: "I loved you Arya, but you must not continue to linger on the past, it is long gone, and will never return…" She began to cry when she heard this. "I am no more Arya, I am dead, and you must not linger on me, for you cannot hope to find me again. I loved you with all my heart, but we were not to be together. You must move on Arya, you must move on…"
"Arya" Eragon muttered, trying to look around and get a glimpse of her, but she was hugging him too tightly.
"But Faolin, who will I move on to? Who will I love? There is no one for me." "Look into your heart Arya, the person is there, you just have to recognize him. And believe me, he has done a lot for you, still is. He is concerned for you at this very instant." Faolin said to her, and gently pushed her away from him, Arya reluctantly let go and took a few steps back. She looked at Faolin as he began to walk away from her. "You know who it is, don't you?" He said just before he vanished. "Eragon…"
"Yes Arya?"
Faolin vanished, and a tall, handsome and muscular elf appeared before her. It was Eragon. "Arya" He said, and she ran up to him and hugged him tightly, crying her entire being onto his chest. "Eragon, I am so sorry for the way I have behaved with you, for always treating you as a child…" "Arya, what are you talking about?" He asked, "Time to get out of your dream Arya, wake up… wake up, I am waiting for you." She looked at him and realized that Eragon had contacted her through his mind, but had been dragged into her dream.
Everything became black as she woke up, but kept her eyes closed. Tears were flowing unchecked from them. She knew that she was more than just a friend to Eragon, he was more than just a friend to her, but what he?
She opened her eyes slowly, everything a blur due to the tears that obscured her vision.
"Arya, are you up yet?" Eragon said.
"Yes Eragon"
"You sure get odd dreams, what were you apologizing for? You have done nothing wrong; it was I who acted in such a stupid manner which forced you to behave in that way. It was not your fault."
Can't you two refrain from talking for a while, or from crying every two minutes, we are not a comforting party you know. Saphira said in a frustrated tone. Quite Saphira, how can you say something like that? Well, Arya is my friend and I WILL help her whether you like it or not. And you should be a bit more grateful, it is thanks to her that I am your Rider
And it is thanks to us that she is free from Durza. Saphira counter-argued fiercely.
Arya was shocked by the venom in her voice, and it seemed so was Eragon, but he continued to defend Arya anyway.
She saved me from being killed by Durza, and allowed me to kill him instead. You saved her from being killed by Varaug and allowed her to kill him instead. I don't take any credit for it, and I am allowing myself to be in her debt. You are a fool then. Saphira why are you behaving like this? I thought you liked Arya. And anyway, she taught me how to dance and saved me a lot of embarrassment.
The tips of Arya's ears went red when she heard that. Eragon was going to defend her until Saphira gave up.
And you made up a beautiful move at the end of the dance spared her the shame of having to kiss you. Saphira you-
But Arya cut him off.
I would not have been ashamed of kissing Eragon, Saphira, you must know that. And we have helped each other out equally, so there is no need for this argument. Arya, what do you mean it would not have embarrassing for you to kiss Eragon?
Eragon remained silent, heat flooding his cheeks and ears.
It would have been embarrassing, yes, but not because I was kissing him, because of the fact that we were stupid enough to dance on that ballad. If there would have been no other choice but to end it with a kiss, I would not have minded it so much, he is my friend anyway, so what's the problem? ARYA!
When the dive was over, Arya jumped down before Eragon hurriedly got away from Saphira, as her feet began to give took off as soon as Eragon got off. Eragon's face was still pink and he was avoiding Arya's eyes. Arya sat down and spread her legs before they could give way and make her fall.
"She is going to hunt." Eragon said, as he gathered wood to build a fire.
"Eragon, there's no need to be embarrassed, it's just me here." Arya said, beginning to laugh at the effect of what she said had on him. Then she realized that Eragon was fighting with himself, and trying to find out why in world she had behaved like that.
Why did I behave like that? It wasn't right, and maybe I didn't mind being kissed by Eragon but there was no need to tell them that. I am behaving like a fool, again…
"What's wrong with Saphira, Eragon? Why is she behaving like this with me?" Arya asked, trying to change the subject.
"I don't know myself, and I am not going to try and find out right now, since she is the one who'll be flying us to the Varden. The last time I tried you know what happened." Eragon said, and muttered 'Brisingr' to start the fire and yelped as his sword also burst into flames.
I should not have behaved like that. Things will get extremely serious if that happens again.
Then suddenly a voice sounded in her head, it was the like Foalin's. Move on Arya, you cannot love a dead person. I am dead and nothing you do will bring me back, let go of the past Arya, let go and move on, move on towards a much better future. And I know, Eragon will do things for you that I never could have. He knows this; all you have to do is reach out to him and…
"Arya? Are you present or are you lost in your own thoughts?" Eragon asked, looking at her.
"Oh sorry Eragon, I was just thinking . . . What is the condition of the Varden, they must have left for Belatona a few days ago."
"Oh yes, you're right, I'll contact Nasuada right away, we might be heading in the wrong direction if they have already gone too far." Eragon said hurriedly and made a hollow in the ground, brought forth water and said the words.
Nasuada's face appeared, she was in complete armor and was discussing something with King Orrin and Roran, who also seemed armed for war.
When she looked at him and Arya, she stood up and literally shouted, "Where have you two been? I asked the queen last night and she said you had already left, I have been waiting for you to contact me ever since morning, EXPLAIN YOURSELF ERAGON!"
"My Lady, we are on our way to you right now, we'll arrive by nightfall tomorrow, and why are you in complete armor, have you already laid siege to Belatona?"
"No Eragon, we were attacked by Belatona's entire force which was intent on stopping us. It was an open battle, which the Varden won, though we suffered numerous casualties. Our numbers have been replenished by the people from Melian, who surrendered to us without hesitation. What is the situation with the elves?"
Arya replied, "The elves are going to send three-fourth of their force to Teirm, which as you know is the center of trade, and capture it. There are many merchants of the Varden still trapped there, whom we must free. The remaining part of the army will continue at a slower pace towards Dras-leona. After capturing Teirm, the rest of the army will also head for Dras-leona with haste."
"That's good; we will need them there. I am expecting to see you both here by tomorrow. Goodbye for now." Eragon ended the spell.
"Looks like we should leave soon" Arya said, Eragon nodded and called Saphira.