Okay, go and kill me -hides- I haven't update in months -dies- BUT LOOK! I updated!! I actually spend over an hour reading the whole thing :P But I am now once again, extremely familiar with the story nn. ANYWAY!:

:x:

Chapter 25 – I Don't Know

Varden

:x:

Trianna pressed her lips together in thin smile as Eragon reached for it. Now the game begins…and I shall win! He didn't seem to notice anything different with the dagger, and she watched as he examined it briefly, before placing it carefully into one of the strong pockets in his breeches.

She smiled, and dipped her head in courtesy.

"I have to run an errand- so I will leave you be now."

Eragon nodded.

"Thank you once again. I…you don't know how important this is to me." He gestured a finger at the pocket that held his dagger.

Trianna tilted her head and smiled prettily at him, before turning around to leave. Eragon thought about asking where she had found it, before deciding against it. Something didn't seem right. Could the dagger really just have slipped out of his pockets during his time here? Eragon thought it seemed a little too ordinary an event to come to pass. And somehow…he wasn't sure whether he was imagining it, but the dagger seemed to have the faintest reddish-pinkish glow about it, lightly tinting the cream-coloured ivory it was before. He pulled the dagger out again to check. He blinked. It was just as white as it ever was now. Maybe he'd imagined it, but he felt it was best to check with Garhvog sometime soon, just in case it had been tampered with.

He left for the stables. It was time to have a long, museful chat with Saphira- something he yearned to do often, but simply didn't have enough time to do it often enough.

:x:

Melisande could tell that her master just didn't seem herself that day. Something was bothering her, and it was obvious- she prided herself in having good instincts. She had mastered in calling upon the essence of any element now- she could say arget, and a beautiful silver ring would appear, and she could keep it there effortlessly for as long as she pleased. It wasn't that Arya was more silent that usual, or she was just hard and as cold as ice- she was already used to that as her normal character. Arya seemed to be in the mood to praise. A mood that Melisande was sure was unnatural for someone like her master.

She had discovered that energy didn't seem to be a problem for her at all. She seemed to have an infinite supply of it- what she needed to work on was the concentration and strength and willpower to convey such magic. It wasn't anything physical- more like mental energy that she had to learn to exert. She learned quickly, and that was the one obstacle, but once she mastered something, she would never fail to forget.

"Well done!"

Arya smiled as warmly as she could when Melisande managed to transport a heavy rock almost a mile east from where it stood before. She wasn't the least tired, and Melisande remembered the wonder in which they both felt in discovering more and more abilities that she held within herself.

Arya wondered at the full potential of the half elven girl- and the blessing and danger she would give both simultaneously at the same time. Arya patted her head gingerly, and laughed. Melisande was extremely clever and quick-witted. She now knew her well enough to know whether she was telling the truth or lying, and found that though she did not tell her everything, everything she did tell her for the last few weeks were true. She felt that maybe the girl was slightly, just ever so slightly relying on her. Arya guessed that perhaps in the past she was caught in a circumstance had an experience that had betrayed her trust, and that led to the girl becoming ever so independent and careful of who to trust. Of course she knew the top two trusted people in the girl's life: Elva and Lisette. Arya had an inkling that she might come amongst them as well.

"Arya? Are you feeling alright?"

Arya broke away from her train of thought and looked confusedly at her.

"I'm fine. Why? Do I not look so otherwise?" She winked, and added, "Why call me Arya? You only ever call me Master these days." She laughed.

Melisande looked at her in wonder. She, Princess Arya of the Fair Folk, Ambassador for the Varden, ever-so-serious powerful and strong Arya winked. She never winked, rarely smiled, and she was certain the one day she laughed would be her dying day. This was the fourth time she had laughed, and she couldn't even count the smiles. What could possibly have caused the sudden change? Melisande was sure it wasn't a character change. The laughs and smiles seemed forced- but with good intent, as if trying to please her.

"You…you seem just a little too happy," she tried. Arya laughed again.

"I often see people laughing away their worries and thoughts. I'm trying it to see if it works…I think it does. Just a little."

"So you're actually very worried," Melisande remarked. Arya sighed, and then smiled.

"Not really…just a lot to think about. I think I'm beginning to like you, Melisande."

Melisande smiled. She liked Arya praising her, but only when she really truly seemed to mean it. She liked Arya too, and was indeed beginning to trust and rely on her. She was sure she would make an invaluable ally, but that wasn't the only reason why. Arya seemed to know her…sort of like they were on the same wavelength. She found her intriguing and deep inside, she knew the ice princess had a giant heart of gold, but just feared it, and had locked it away.

"I'm beginning to like you too, Arya. And I'm not calling you Master because I'm not talking to you as an apprentice. I'm talking to you as a girl," she added.

"Now, what else should I practise?"

:x:

Little one, beware of that Trianna.

Eragon agreed.

I think she is starting to act a little suspicious. I wonder if Garhvog is still there- I need to tell him about this.

They had landed now, and in Saphira's quarters.

"I think I'll go find him now- I'll see you tomorrow, Saphira."

"Firesword! Have you any news yet?"

Garhvog was only a few yards away, and was striding down to meet him.

"Just in time," Eragon attempted a grin. He reached into his pockets, and pulled out the dagger.

"Trianna found it- you know- the leader of Du Vrangr Gata."

Eragon related to the Urgal leader everything that had happened, including his possible-hallucination of the dagger turning reddish. Garhvog was silent, carefully listening until Eragon had finished. When he did, Garhvog reached to take the dagger.

Immediately after being held, Garhvog tensed. His large hands cradled the dagger, and he closed his eyes. After a few seconds, he opened them again.

"Something is wrong with it," he said slowly. Eragon looked at him, knowing something was wrong, but still feeling the numb shock.

"It doesn't have the same feeling as it did before. This dagger is special- I can usually feel it- it's character. The feeling is gone now. I will take it now, and see what we can do. For now…trust few here, Firesword- except your dragon," he nodded his head at Saphira. "And keep this Trianna on your guard."

Without another word, he turned his back, and strode off.

Eragon looked wordlessly at Saphira, open-mouthed.

You heard him, little one. Trust even fewer.

Eragon nodded.

:x:

"I think…that your training has ended with me."

Melisande looked shocked.

"But I am nowhere near as powerful as I can be!!" she protested.

"I know someone whom you can learn with next. She will be able to fully develop your abilities. Of course I will still be by you," she added hastily.

There was silence for a few moments, as Melisande tried to register the thought of having released her master so soon.

"Melisande," Arya said suddenly. "What would you do if you met your mother?"

Melisande's eyes widened.

"You know, just curious to know what you would do…"

Melisande looked away thoughtfully.

"I…don't know."

:x:

You like?? Hopefully I will update soon! It's the holidays...but I'm actually really busy...in college and all that I have so much music work...-tired- I will definitely update soon though! If I don't, just go and bug me XXD

Quiz:

Guess who is Melisande's next master!!

No multiple choice, hehe...but I think it's pretty obvious :PP

-Evalia