A.N. Wheee, two chapters in two days! I'm on a roll! The thing is, I've been ill, which, while deeply unpleasant of course, does give me a lot of time lying around not doing much, so I used the time for something (sort of) constructive. And I'll be away most of next week. It's just possible that I may get another chapter up before I leave, but I'm not making any promises. So most likely this'll be the only chapter for another ten days or so. Hope you enjoy!
Brisingr, page 312
Arya thought quickly. Spinning around, she faced Nasuada and Orrin. Her heart was beating fast and there was an unpleasant taste in her mouth.
"Nasuada, Your Majesty, you have to stop those soldiers before they reach the camp." stumbling slightly over the words in her haste, she rushed on. "You cannot allow them to attack our defences. If they do, they will sweep over those defences like a storm driven wave and wreak untold havoc in our midst, among the tents, where we cannot manoeuvre properly."
As soon as Nasuada grasped Arya's point, she began to throw out quick-fire instructions, dispatching Orrin, Garzhvog and Jormunder to their places on the battle-field, but keeping Narhiem the dwarves' general with her. She had barely silenced his complaints when a horrible shriek echoed through Arya's mind. Ah, no help me! They won't die! Angvard take them, they won't die! She saw from the shock on her companions faces that they had heard it too. The sudden silence told Arya the man had died and she felt a chill settle on her heart at his words. They won't die? What abominations had Galbatorix wrought here?
Murtagh's amplified voice cut across their reactions to the scream. "Eragon!" he bellowed furiously. "Eragon! I see you there, hiding behind Nasuada's skirts. Come and fight me, Eragon! It is your destiny, or are you a coward, Shadeslayer?" Arya winced slightly at his words, but Saphira answered defiantly, roaring loud enough to shake the earth and sending a jet of blue flame fully twenty feet high into the air. The horses bolted down the embankment, leaving Eragon, Saphira and the elves alone.
On impulse, Arya walked over to Saphira and laid a hand on Eragon's leg. He looked down at her in surprise. "Accept this from me, Shur'tugal" she said, pushing energy from her own body into his.
"I thank you" he said softly in the ancient language. Arya's gut twisted with anxiety as she looked at him. "Be careful, Eragon. I would not have you broken by Galbatorix. I..." she trailed off, unsure how to voice what was in her mind, and very conscious of the elves standing a few feet behind her. She hesitated, and stepped back.
As she did so, one of the female elves standing next to Blodhgarm caught her eye. Her name was Anierin, and she was the daughter of one of Islanzadi's nobles. Arya had known her most of her life.
Anierin raised an eyebrow very slightly, a tiny gesture, but Arya set her mouth in a firm line and ignore her. Whatever she was suggesting, it wasn't true. And yet, it was close enough to the truth to bother Arya deeply. She pushed it aside as she watched Saphira rise into the air to meet Thorn and Murtagh. There were more important things to worry about.
A.N. One other thing… almost 100 reviews! Yay!