A/n: Here's the next chapter, just a side note, Brisingr being released will not affect my story line at all, hope that's okay, please enjoy!
Damage
"Aris, I'm not courting Arya, that proved unsuccessful and she did not wish for my affections. I have not been for more than a year." He finally spoke, "Who told you that?"
"My brother." Aris answered, watching him warily.
"Well he has been misinformed." Eragon smiled. Aris just looked away for a moment.
"I see, well then my apologies for my words." She bowed her head slightly, "Thank you for your shoulder, it will not happen again."
He frowned and opened his mouth then thought better of it and bowed, "Of course, if you ever need anything, feel free to seek me out." He smiled again, hesitating for a moment then turned, walking slowly from the room.
As soon as the door shut Aris sat down on her mothers bed, fingering the tunic that lay there, letting its silky material slide between her fingers as she let her thoughts carry her away. "Mother…now is another one of those times…I need to talk to you. What is going on? Why am I so happy around him? I feel relaxed and almost content when I talk to him? Why is that? I miss you so much, you and father are together now though aren't you, sometimes I wish I could have just joined you, I'm so tired mother, tired of feeling suspicious of everyone and everything. I'm tired of feeling like nothing is worth my time, that nothing is worth a smile.
Why do I feel that way? The entire time of my enslavement I was determined to survive…but now…what purpose do I have? Where is my live going to go? Why am I so alone? Who am I supposed to talk to? Arya? No, she's as cold and reserved as I am now. Izlanzadi? No, she has no desire to hear anyone else's troubles, unless they would be beneficial to her war campaigns. Katrina? Yes, I can talk to her, you would like her mother, she is strong. But why burden her when she is so happy now? I know I will be able to talk to Oormis; I can't wait to see him and Glaedr. Really though mother, I need you, I am only seventeen years old after all, I need your advice, your lessons on how to deal with things…I've missed so much…I love you mother."
She found herself curled up on the bed with the tunic clutched to her chest, breathing deeply as she fell into sleep, surrounded by the smell of her mother.
o0o0o0o
Eragon trudged back to his house and slowly made his way up the stairs, a frown stuck on his face.
"What happened?" Saphira inquired as soon as he entered the room.
"I…I don't know, she though I was still courting Arya…" He shook his head and collapsed next to Saphira in her bowl on the floor.
"That would explain the distance today." Saphira rest her head next to his.
"Yes, I assured her I wasn't, but she was still formal." Eragon absentmindedly stroked the scales on her side.
Saphira snorted, "You didn't expect her to jump into your arms and admit to true love did you? Eragon, she hardly knows you, you may have thought about her while in Dauth, but she talked to you seriously for the first time only two days ago, then she was mislead. All of that in the midst of her past troubles, give the child a chance to process little one, it will all work out in due time."
Eragon smiled and dozed as the blue membrane of Saphira's wing extended over him.
The next morning he awoke and stretched, crawling out from beneath Saphira's wing and running a hand through his hair. Glancing through the screen that separated him from the elements he took his time in his bath until the sun had fully emerged into the sky.
Saphira yawned, her jaw popping slightly, and stood, shaking sleep from her massive shoulders. Carefully she nosed open the screen and glided from the tree to the ground, waiting for Eragon to follow. As he slid on his boots and new tunic he heard footsteps coming up the stairs.
"Eragon?" He heard his cousin call. He stood and walked to the front room where both Katrina and Roran were waiting for him. "Oh, good morning, Oormis asked me to bring Katrina along, and I know Aris wanted to so we should get going."
"Indeed," Eragon gathered his sword and followed them from his house, snatching up a honey slathered piece of bread as he walked by.
"Eragon!" Murtagh called sarcastically cheerful, "Ready? I can't wait to force myself into complex poses and difficult magic! I know Roran can't either, that's why he got us up so early of course."
"Aw shut up," Roran snapped, "Eragon, you're the only one who knows where Aris stays, can you go get her please?"
Eragon merely nodded and took off, racing through the tall house trees until he arrived at the right one. He slowed down as he walked up the stairs and paused all together when he entered the house. "Aris?"
"One moment." He stopped in the doorway as her voice called out, waiting respectively, gazing around the front room with a slight smile. It had its homey touch, there was cloth over the table, and plants on a smaller one in the corner. There were intricate carvings and figures scattered across random surfaces. Leaning over he carefully picked one up, it was a tiny bird, wings expanded as if about to take flight.
He smiled and fingered the delicate curves and detailed lines, "Beautiful…" He murmured.
"My mother's hobby, she would carve anything with a tiny knife, every night she would begin one, hence the reason they litter our home." He jumped slightly and set the bird down, glancing up for a moment that quickly turned into a minute. He swallowed as he watched her tie her hair up.
She had changed her clothes. She was swathed in the delicate elvin silk, a deep blue that contrasted her skin perfectly. The tunic wrapped around one shoulder and was cinched at the waist before falling gently to just below her knees. She was barefoot and she had her daggers strapped to her hips. She had set the bow on the floor beside her and was gathering the mass of soft shiny hair in her delicate hands. Over all she was captivating, to him she looked like a mix between goddess and warrior, it left Eragon gaping.
"Yes, she's beautiful, pull it together Eragon." Saphira echoed in his mind and he shook his head half a moment before Aris turned to him.
"Her hair up like that makes her look more elf than human." He noted then smiled, "I wish I had such a talent. Are you ready?"
"Of course." She strode to his side and followed him back to the dragons. "Saphira, Inarkien, Rahzin, how are you?" She bowed her head.
"Fine, thank you." Rahzin rumbled, lowering himself so Murtagh could climb on.
"It is a fine morning." Inarkien blew lightly on her hair in greeting.
"Good morning yourself hatchling, sleep has done you well. The forest welcomes you; the morning is bright as are you." Saphira lowered her nose to brush Aris' forehead, knocking a piece of hair loose.
"You flatter me Brightscales, no one out shines you three however." Aris replied.
Saphira rumbled with a laugh and nosed Eragon in the side before Aris could catch him staring, "Shall we go?" Eragon inhaled quickly and nodded. He gestured to Aris and she walked by him, leaping up onto Saphira quickly. As usual he slid in front of her and the dragons took off in unison.
As expected Aris gripped around his waist as they first hit open air, Eragon's smile though, was caused by the fact that at the time when she would normally let go, she didn't. In fact her grip remained soft on his stomach, her cheek resting gently against his back. Saphira laughed in his mind at his smug smirk but Eragon ignored her.
"Would it be foolish to say I'm nervous?" She spoke after a moment, "I have changed, and surely the years have affected him as well. He was like a second father to me…but I feel as if I am being disgustingly optimistic by hoping for that relationship again."
Eragon gently covered her hand for a brief moment, "No, Oormis is still kind and gentle, I have no reference to how it was before but though he has been hard on me I have come to care deeply for him as well."
"You are too kind Shadeslayer, once again you have calmed me, what spell is this?" She replied.
"I…what? No, I-I'm no-" He began to deny it, believing her to be serious; she cut him off however with a tinkling giggle. He twisted in the saddle and looked at her in amazement, a slow grin spreading across his face. Her hand flew up to cover her mouth, the other one still resting on his stomach.
"Oh my," She said slowly, "that was strange." She looked at him with wide eyes, "I just teased you."
"Yes, and then you laughed." His grin grew even larger and she blinked quickly.
"How odd." She mused
"How great." He retorted, turning back around while secretly gloating, "I was the one to make her laugh the first; that beats Murtagh's smile."
"You are quite silly Eragon; you know Nasuada is the apple of Murtagh's eye."
"I know, but still…" He couldn't stop smiling. Saphira chuckled to herself as she began to descend, even if sharing Eragon sounded horrible to her, she would take it if it meant he was as happy as he was now, and Aris was a good choice.
As they neared the ground, Aris' grip tightened on Eragon's waist again, holding on as Saphira came to a jolting stop. As Saphira settled Aris remained still for a moment, then squeezed him gently, "Thank you Shadeslayer." She whispered before leaping to the ground. Eragon flushed and followed her, heading to the front of the group with his brothers as Oormis emerged from his hut and Glaedr from the trees.
Aris gasped, but hung back by the dragons as formalities were exchanged.
"You must be Katrina, it is indeed a pleasure." Oormis graced Katrina with a smile then studied her for a moment, "You have studied gramarye?"
"I'm still learning." She replied softly and Oormis nodded.
"I sense potential." He murmured then turned his face in the direction of Aris, "And, I sense power, unfamiliar power. Who did you bring?"
Aris stepped forward slowly until she passed the riders and stood before Oormis. "I have missed you both, but your training helped me survive." She spoke and waited as they both studied her face.
"You look so much like Forsythia, but your features are…this is impossible." Oormis' words were steady and calculated.
Suddenly Glaedr shot forward and licked Aris' entire left arm, "Little one!" His shout echoed through all of their minds and Oormis gasped.
"No, you're dead…" He stepped forward and touched her cheek gently and shook his head, "Impossible." He muttered once more before gripping her into a hug. She returned it willingly and sighed, fighting tears once more.
"I survived, I made it." She mumbled, "I'm here, I was strong enough." Oormis pulled back and nodded, keeping an arm firmly around her shoulders.
"We all have much to discuss, please, come in." He guided her towards his house.
o0o0o0o
"Incredible," Eragon thought to Saphira, "I've never seen Oormis so open with anyone, he looks at her as if she is a gift from the gods."
"I believe her feeling towards him as a father figure occurred both ways, he cared, no, cares for her deeply." Saphira replied, looking in the window as did the other dragons. "Hearing the entire story now though, I believe her rate of recovery is quite astonishing, it's been only weeks and already she has laughed."
"Once, and only for a moment, she stopped as soon as she realized what she was doing." Eragon mentally shrugged, "Everything makes sense now though." Saphira silently agreed and returned her attention to the pair.
Aris had just told her story to Oormis, omitting no details, and everyone had heard it. Just then Oormis rose.
"Are you sure?" He asked and she nodded solemnly, "All right, Riders, she wishes to join your training, which, we will begin now." All three of them smiled and nodded, walking outside and preparing for their task. "Very well, begin with Rimgar."
Aris' brow furrowed for a moment as she fought to remember then slowly eased her body into the poses, relaxing as her body twisted. Her balance was unsteady for a moment then she regained herself, flowing from one form the next easily as they continued.
If Rimgar didn't require all of his focus Eragon would have delighted in watching her. He made do with the images Saphira provided as she watched.
When they finished Oormis had them duel, Murtagh and Roran paired together and the two with elf speed faced off.
As the duel began Eragon was wary, she was armed with two daggers and she was wearing a tunic, how could she possible fight effectively. But, when she struck out at him for the first time and almost clipped his side he toughened his stance. He struck back at her and was amazed at how easily she parried his blade; he only just got his sword around to block her other dagger's strike. He pushed himself then, using every intricate technique he had ever learned.
It wasn't long before he saw her knees start to shake. She retained her speed, there was a steely determination in her eyes, but her breath began to shorten and grow louder as their fight continued. Against his belief she held out for a few more long minutes until she unexpectedly faltered. His sword was in mid strike as she stumbled; even her eyes looked panicked as she fell into his swing.
Eragon didn't move fast enough to change the swords direction. He winced as a crack echoed through the air as she hit the metal. She rolled to the ground and let out a muffled groan, clutching her side in pain. He automatically dropped the sword and knelt beside her, his hands poised over her carefully, unsure of what to do.
"Aris? Are you all right, what broke? I'm so sorry, let me heal you please." He said, words spilling from his mouth almost too quickly to hear.
"A-" She began then gasped again, her fingers gripping at the material on her side, "All is well Shadeslayer, do not fret." She spoke again and slowly sat up, "I've had worse."
"Will you at least let me heal you? It is my fault." He begged, still hovering next to her. Murtagh and Roran had stopped, watching them two warily. Oormis remained sitting next to Glaedr, calmly sipping his tea.
"No, I will tend to it myself." She ignored his hands and forced herself into a standing position. "If I hadn't been so weak it wouldn't have occurred."
"Oh c'mon, you're just barely recovering, it's to be expected! I was not quick enough to move my blade." He protested.
"Enough, be glad you imbued the blade with guarding spells, a broken rib is slight compared to what it could have been. I will handle it myself." She drew her shoulders up and walked to pick up her daggers where she had dropped them.
"But…you are tired, please let me help…" He sighed.
"I can handle it." She retorted. Aris closed her eyes and Eragon shook his head as she sheathed her daggers. He glanced at Saphira in irritation and resignation then flinched as Aris suddenly opened her mind. He immediately felt the rush of magic through her, and, judging by the others reactions and Oormis' small smile, so did everyone else.
"Waíse heill." She commanded, her hand held over her side. The magic stayed as it was in her mind. Her eyelids fluttered and she opened them, her gaze saturated with confusion. Oormis stood now, walking towards her slowly. "Waíse heill!" She grit her teeth, focusing on the magic. Still the magic stayed.
"What is blocking it?" Saphira asked to everyone.
"Aris cast a different spell." Oormis told her quietly.
She nodded and glanced at a rock to the side of her, "Stenr rïsa." She spoke, and the rock shot up into the air effortlessly. She released it and looked at Oormis.
"Cast a spell on me." He told her.
"Thorta du ilumëo." She said embracing her magic, still nothing changed.
"You have brown eyes." Oormis spoke. Aris swallowed hard and closed her eyes.
What did she say?" Katrina whispered.
"She ordered him not to lie. It didn't work." Roran told her.
"Adurna rïsa." The water from the stream rose up and drifted towards them, "Letta!" She said and it stopped, splashing to the ground. "Why is that working but nothing else?"
"Aris let me into your mind." Oormis gently placed a palm on her forehead, she extended her mind and Oormis dove in. After a long minute he winced and pulled back, moving his hand to cup her cheek gently. "The potion they gave you, it was more than once a day?"
She nodded and watched him warily, "What has happened to me ebrithial?"
"That much of that particular potion…it has broken something in your mind." He spoke carefully, "From the looks of things, you can cast spells, except for on people."
Aris' face went blank as she watched him for a moment. Slowly she turned and walked away muttering what sounded like, "I am broken."
A/n: Please please please review with any thoughts, comments, or questions! :D