Finally, I got this chapter done. I'm so sorry it took so long to update. I was really busy, and then when I finally sat down to write this chapter, I had major writer's block and it took me FOREVER. I really am sorry and I hope you enjoy this chapter.
What are you doing? Arya kept asking herself this as she sat inside her tent. It was, indeed, a good question. She had told Eragon she loved him, kissed him, not to mention let him put his arm around her, and she hadn't said a thing to stop him. Why not? She ran her fingers along a cut on her arm and healed it, then scratched her nameless dragon on the head. Perhaps, she thought, I should go back and tell him I did not know what I was doing, that I was feverish at the time. It was a lie, and a stupid one at that.
We cannot be together. He's just a seventeen-year-old foolish boy…but strong. We both have work to do…in the same place. It is just a big distraction…but a broken heart is a bigger distraction. We are of different races…that doesn't mean a thing. She sighed. None of the excuses, and that was what they were, came without contradictions anymore. There was no winning.
But what was winning? It seemed to be that winning in this case was proving fate wrong. Yes, that was it; it was to fate she was making the excuses, to fate and to herself. Fate was not convinced, and now, neither was she.
Arya knew she wouldn't sleep now, not after all this thinking and worrying. She paced around her tent. Why am I so worked up? Maybe Eragon won't mention anything about it. Perhaps he didn't believe it either. I won't say a word, and it will all be over by morning. Anyway, I have nothing to worry about yet. It's not like he is going to appear outside my tent and sweep me off my feet by the firelight.
Suddenly, a flickering light cast shadows on a wall of the tent. Arya stepped slowly outside, puzzled. Not far away, Eragon sat with his back to her by a small fire. She rolled her eyes. Really? She thought, looking up at the sky. Well, at least he hasn't swept me off my feet. Without thinking about it, she walked over and stood silently behind him.
"Hello, Arya," he said without turning around. It wasn't as if he had expected her, just that he was not surprised to see her.
"What are you doing out here, Eragon?"
"I'm sitting out by the fire. Why?" Any man could have told me that! She sighed.
"You decided to start a fire right next to my tent?"
"I suppose I did. I'm sorry, would you like me to move?" He looked up and asked, not unkindly. She suppressed a second sigh.
"Eragon, I need some advice, and it seemed you should be the person to ask," she said. She sat down and he raised an eyebrow. Arya ran her fingers through her hair, feeling unprepared for what she was about to say.
"What is it?"
"What can be done if one person meets another and they know they're meant to be from the start, but one of them decides they can't be together? What if there was a huge difference in age between the two? What if they would each be a distraction for the other? What if they were from two very different backgrounds? If even one of them still can't get over his or her feelings, should they try to remain apart? Should they try to deny fate?" Eragon's face was downcast, and he looked very disappointed.
"I know what you want me to say Arya, so yes, they should." He looked at her and smiled sadly, bravely. "Thank you for talking with me out here. It's cold, and I'm going back to my tent." He said it politely, but he did not even try to mean it. Arya was confused. What did I say? I must be more out of practice at this than I thought.
"Eragon, wait!" She jogged after him. He stopped and turned around, his face utterly blank. Arya finally understood. "I was not talking about you, Eragon, I was talking about myself." He looked at her, and a grin spread across his face.
"Is there any chance I can change my answer?" He asked. Arya smiled.
Arya awoke early the next morning. She had slept very well, despite the loss of half a night, and felt wonderful. Her very playful little dragon, though still small, seemed to have grown almost overnight. She felt bad that she had neglected to name him, but she did not know what name he would like.
Why don't you ask him? The voice resounded through her mind. She hadn't known dragons to talk this early, but apparently, this one did.
Alright then, what would you like your name to be?
You didn't pick your name, he replied. Arya thought a bit. She did not want him to be named after a great dragon; she wanted him to make his name great.
What if I named you…Talos? Would you like that?
Talos. He thought it over. It is fine, so Talos I shall be.
Talos was very eager to learn. Each time Arya would finish telling him something, he would beg for more. She spent days alone with the little green dragon, first inside, then outside to explore everything. When she finished telling him everything that was from long ago, she told him about herself and her travels. She told of all the peoples and news in Alagaesia.
The stories he liked most, however, were those of Eragon and Saphira, but especially the latter. He looked up to Saphira and loved to hear all about her. Sitting next to her one morning as she scratched beneath his scales, Talos asked if they
Truthfully, Arya had not noticed the pass of time very much, and when she did, she panicked. She had done nothing but talk and tell stories for the passed two weeks. It would be important to see Nasuada right away.
Come, Talos, we have spent enough time sitting around, she said to him.
Where are we going?
We must visit Nasuada now. There must be something important that needs attending-to.
Arya walked quickly through the camp to Nasuada's tent. Talos followed, and she noticed how tall he stood: an inch or two above her knee. All the guards simply let her in, and Nasuada half-smiled upon her arrival. "Where have you been?" She asked.
"I was mostly walking around outside. No one ever called us."
"No one has been able to find you. Eragon wanted to look before he left, but I told him he had no time."
"Well, I can't imagine why you wouldn't be able to find me," Arya said feeling very apologetic.
"In any case, Eragon is gone, as always, at the wrong time. I have figured out that the plan I've made won't work without him, so I will have to hold it off until he comes back."
"When did he leave?"
"Two weeks ago," Nasuada replied.
"He should be back soon, then. Good. What is your plan?"
"I feel as though we are not moving fast enough. We have sat in this same spot for quite some time, and we should move faster. We also are going to be moving in a more northeastern direction, because I feel we are still hiding, despite fighting out here like this. We are still hiding from the king, so I believe we must go and fight him and show him we are unafraid. However, being on the move more often would make us even more vulnerable, which is why I can't move until he comes back."
Arya eyed her curiously. But we are afraid, she thought. "You think that we won't get killed? It will be easier for Galbatorix to destroy us the closer we get to Uru'Baen. I think that we aren't strong enough," she finished.
"Perhaps, but we shall never know until we try." She sounded insane, but she might be right.
"You're right, though, Eragon should be back before you begin," Arya said.
I just wanted to end this chapter where it is. I hope you like it. If you do like it, review and tell me so, and if you don't like it, review and tell me why. Come on, it will make me happy! Well, thank you for reading, and I'm sorry it took me so long to update. Like I said, I was extremely busy. Anyway, thanks again.