Chapter 24

Three days passed and they were off traveling once again. Each step brought them closer and closer to Gil'ead which meant closer to the time when Tristan would depart. Despite her feeble attempts to focus on pleasant thoughts, she always managed to envision Tristan getting captured, killed, and even deny his love for her. At night, when everyone was asleep (this was during her shift to keep watch), she cried.

One night, Tristan had a hard time falling asleep and heard Selena weeping. Alarmed, he got up and approached her. Placing his hand gently on her shoulder he asked, "What's wrong?"

Startled, Selena brushed off his hand. "Nothing. I just got something in my eye."

Tristan sat down next to her. "If you say so."

Selena said nothing in response. She stared out into the darkness wishing she could just disappear.

"Look, Selena, I am sorry about the other night, I should never have kissed you."

Selena continued to stare off into space.

"Please say something."

"What do you want me to say?"

"Anything, I like hearing your voice."

"What?" Selena shot a disturbing glance towards him.

"What I mean is that you have a very beautiful voice."

"Oh…thanks?"

"You're welcome?"

Finally Selena cracked a smile.

"Yes, there is some life in you still."

"What does that mean?"

"It means, well, it means that…crap…I just lost my train of thought."

Selena stared at him blankly. Tristan, sighed. He was nervous sitting next to her. At long last, he stood up and walked back to is bedding. He lay down and stared up at the stars in the distance. Soon, he dozed off only to be awoken by Selena. "Tristan wake up." She whispered.

He rubbed his eyes and looked up at her. "What do you want?"

"It's your turn to take watch."

"Oh…Ok" He had hoped that she had awoken him to talk some more, but apparently not. With a yawn, he got up. Selena was heading for her bedding, but stopped. She could not defy her heart any longer. She spun around and ran off into the woods.

Tristan heard her run and ran after her calling her name. "Selena, where are you?"

"Over here," she said, panting.

Tristan walked until he found her next to a tree. Annoyed, he said, "What do you want from me?"

Selena stepped forward, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. "Do you love me, Tristan?"

He shook his head unsure if he heard her correctly. When she repeated the question he said, "Yes, I do."

"Why?"

"How can I not?" Tristan started to become emotional. "Selena, from the day I saw you, I swore I fell in love. Not only are you beautiful on the outside, but you are beautiful within as well. I love you because of the way you make me feel alive, you give me a reason to live and move forward in life. I want you to be happy, but lately I have failed you in that regard. For that, I am sorry, but it cannot be helped."

"Do you really mean that? Men have a way with pretty words, and I need to know that you truly feel that way."

Tristan repeated his words in the Ancient Language. When he finished, he asked, "Do you love me, Selena?"

She looked at him, tears in her eyes. "I will be honest, Tristan. I do not know whether or not I truly love you, but I do know that I dearly care about you, I know that when we are apart, there is a hole in my chest and nothing but your return can fill that void. I know that when I am near you I become nervous, like I have butterflies in my stomach. My hearts pounds faster when you are near and my palms get sweaty. That is what you do to me. Tell me, is that love?"

"Oh Selena!" Tristan embraced her and kissed her gently, this time without Selena trying to slap him. When they parted, Tristan looked deep into her eyes. "Well?"

"I don't know, Tristan, all I know is that I want you to kiss me again." He did, again, and again.

Selena kissed back and wrapped her arms around his neck. After a time, Tristan dared for a deeper kiss, and when his tongue met Selena's, she immediately pulled away. "Please, don't. I feel like you are going too fast for me."

Tristan did not complain or feel cheated, he respected her caution. "I'm sorry, I…I…I just…oh never mind. I have no excuse for that. I should not have tried to push you further. Please, forgive me. I do not wish to tempt you."

Selena laughed.

"What?"

"You, you are just, just so cute when you falter."

"You think I'm cute?" He looked at her slyly.

"Yes, I do." She placed her hands on her hips.

"Well then, in that case…Hmm…you know, I don't know."

Selena's merriment escalated.

"I love your laugh."

Selena stopped laughing to look at him."You like my laugh?"

"Yes, I do" he said mimicking her, he even placed his hands on his hips. After, they both laughed.

"Oh Tristan, what am I going to do with you?"

"I don't know, maybe kiss me again."

She smiled. "I think I can do that." She leaned in to kiss him. He kissed back and grabbed her by the waist. Then, he twirled her around making her squeal in delight.

They began kissing again until a twig snapped. Tristan spun around, dagger in hand. "Who's there?"

"Tristan?" Eragon's voice resonated through the crisp night air.

"Oh, it's just you. You scared us."

"Us, as in you and my daughter-right?" Eragon finally came into view.

"Aye." Tristan said, with confidence. He was not afraid to admit his love for Selena in front of him.

"What are you two doing way out here? I was worried when I awoke and found you missing."

"I apologize for leaving my post, but Selena wandered off again and I had to follow her."

Selena smacked Tristan upside the head. Tristan winced for a second at the contact.

"Selena, is this true." She glared at Tristan for a minute before turning to look at her father.

"It is true. But I have my reasons."

"Do tell." He said, raising an eyebrow. After, he glanced at Tristan and crossed his arms.

Tristan did not falter under his gaze.

"I just wanted to talk with him alone, ok."

"So you mean to tell me that all you did was talk, out here, all alone?"

"Yes." She sneered.

"I know you are lying, Selena, your mother looked the same when she lied."

"Well…"

Tristan cut her off. "Eragon, I know this looks bad, but we were talking things out, and it is apparent that we are together, and now I guess I ask for your blessing."

"My blessing. Hmm." He looked Tristan from head to toe, then looked at his daughter, who just smiled weakly, shrugging. "Oh, all right, you have my blessing." He smiled.

Tristan and Selena both sighed in relief. Eragon took notice and said, "Did you really think I wouldn't give you my blessing? I had hoped you two would get together."

"Thank you."

"That being said, Tristan," Eragon waved him to talk with him in private.

Tristan complied. Out of earshot of Selena, Eragon turned and looked at Tristan. "Now that you are officially with my daughter, I have a few things to say: you will treat her with respect, you will take care of her and love her, and you will not compromise her honor in anyway. Is that clear? If you hurt her, I will not hesitate to beat you to a pulp, that is if I get to you before Shikaru."

Tristan nodded. "Sir, upon my honor, I will do everything in my power to protect and love her. I have no intentions of compromising her honor. I only want her to be happy, and as she finally admitted tonight, she is happy with me."

"You are a good man, Tristan. I would never have given you my blessing otherwise. Still, you are a man, like me, and I was young once to know how young love works. Just be careful-ok. I will be fair here for a second, I know that there might be a time when you will be tempted, and I really hope you resist, but if something should happen, I will be in a fowl disposition, but if Selena is fine with it, then I can cope, if not…." He trailed off.

"Only a good father would be that concerned for his daughters honor. If something should happen, I promise I will own up and continue to care for her, especially if I got her pregnant. I have no intentions to leave her, I only wish her to be my wife one day."

"Well spoken." Eragon put his hand out. Tristan shook it. "Come, let us head back to Selena."