30.5-ClosureIt was already late in the night. It was the thirteenth day since Eragon had begun the healing process of his spine. He was propped up in his bed, waiting patiently for Arya to return and to give him the tunic.
In reality, he did not know where Arya was. She and Saphira had left early that morning with Jadeir, well before dawn in fact. When Eragon had asked what they were up to, Saphira simply answered to him, I wish for Arya to be upon my back so she knows how the maneuvers I teach Jadeir feel. Satisfied with the explanation, Eragon had let the topic be, and kissed Arya goodbye.
However, the rest of his day he had been alone. He did not feel like writing, and Arya never came back when he expected. He knew something was amiss, as he could not see it taking an entire day to teach Jadeir maneuvers when he had only started to talk. He also had never spent so much time away from Arya since they had declared their love for each other.
It seemed that the abscence, contrary to what Saphira had said to Eragon, had been planned to an extent, for instead of Arya checking on Eragon, it had been Islanzadi who had been making sure Eragon was alright. When Eragon would ask where Arya was, she would simply give the same answer. Still, Eragon did not believe it. He had spent the whole day by himself, with an occasional visit from Islanzadi. He did his best to simply sleep and eat, like a baby.
A slight frustration was festering in Eragon's mind. He wondered why Arya would lie to him like that, especially now that they were mates. He was not hurt by her dishonesty, he just wished to understand her reasoning of lying to him.
Finally, when he deduced it was near midnight, he heard a loud thud outside his tent, followed by a smaller thud. About time, Eragon thought to himself tersely. Immediately he went into the partner of his heart and mind's consciousness, Saphira.
Where did you two go? You cannot honestly make me believe you went from before dawn, to after dusk, doing flips and twirls and elegant maneuvers in the air Saphira! Saphira seemed surprised by the ferocity of his declaration.
Do not be mad Eragon. Arya was afraid. She is unsure of what to do in relationships just as much as you are. She may have been Faolin's mate for near twenty years, but her ordeal in Gil'ead had made her forget how that felt. Please hear her out. She may be a bit touchy on the subject. I intend to Saphira, I love her.
Arya then entered their tent, Eragon still propped up in the bed, looking at Arya as she entered. Her eyes were shifty for a moment, and she said nothing. Finally, Eragon decided to break the silence,
"Arya, I will not be mad," he promised in the ancient tongue, "May I please know where you went, and why you were dishonest?"
Eragon saw a shimmer in her emerald eyes. She nodded once, and then sat down at the foot of Eragon's bed, and took his hand in hers. "I'm sorry Eragon. It is just that, sometimes it is hard for me to open up to people still, when I have been hurt by this world. I, like your father, sometimes wish to remain a secret. And I was afraid you would be jealous," She then added.
"Arya," Eragon then began to reply, "We will work on that. I promise you. But you can always be open with me, just like you were when you revealed what Durza did to you. I am here to be your crutch when you need one, whether you want it or not. Why would you be afraid I would be jealous?" She looked into Eragon's eyes then.
"I wanted closure with what happened to Faolin," Arya declared, sighing after saying it. Knowing that Arya loved Faolin at one point, Eragon surpressed the demon of jealousy.
"Closure?"
"Saphira and I went to the outskirts of Osilon today Eragon," Arya said, her eyes becoming more watery. Eragon was curious as to why the went out so far.
"Why would you go so far into Du Weldenvarden?" Eragon inquired.
"Eragon, I went to the place where Faolin, myself, and Glenwing were ambushed," She finally admitted. Eragon now straightened himself as best he could without triggering a seizure, eyeing Arya closely, knowing she needed someone. He touched her mind then, knowing the last time she had felt better showing rather than saying.
My love, would you rather just show me rather than speak it. A hint of relief flooded into Arya,
Yes. Thank you Eragon. The results of what I found were good, it was just that, I was still shaken. _-Flashback_
This is where it happened. This clearing in the forest. This is where they died, she thought to herself. She painstakingly went into her mind, replaying the memory, trying to remember where Faolin fell when they were ambushed. She then saw a tree, with the marks of being scarred by arrowheads. Again she shook off the tremors of what was behind her. She remembered the arrows in his heart as he fell off the horse.
There, holding back tears, she went to the tree. She needed to know if his bones were still there. She had to know if what Durza had said was true. If he had been tortured as she was, only his path was death. She rushed to the tree, and using magic, began to sift through the dirt, hoping she would find some bones. As the dug near a foot deep, her heart continued to fall deeper and deeper, and more panicky, Please! No! Let it not be so! Tears began to fall from her eyes, as she saw no bones beneath the ground. She fell to her knees.
"Dam you Durza! I curse you! You killed him! Then you tortured him, then me, and then in your final act before death you maimed my true love!" Tears fell from her face as she sobbed, her head near the ground, and she on her knees. She could not believe that Faolin had died such a painful death.
In the midst of her tears. She felt something tugging at her dress. She opened her eyes and looked to her left. She saw Jadeir there. Arya realized she had shut off her mind from him in her sadness. He then licked her a few times. She opened her mind again.
Thank you Jadeir, You have me now Arya, and Eragon.
Emerald eyes, your search was not in vein, come here, quickly!Arya scampered to where Saphira was. She saw a large bush of white roses. They reminded Arya of the flowers which Faolin had once sung for her. She then noticed that there was a golden tile at the base of the white roses. She looked at it and saw an inscription in Oromis' writing in the ancient language.
Here lies my son, Faolin of the house of Thranduin, the protector of elven ambassador, Arya Drottingnu.New hope then filled Arya's body as she saw the makeshift tomb for Faolin. She gave a wan smile, she had reached a conclusion too soon. She wondered when Oromis had time to do so, but let the question blow away in the wind. She finally had closure in knowing Durza had lied.
_end flashback_
Eragon opened his eyes then, and saw Arya. She looked like she was about to cry again, as Eragon knew she was sensitive on the subject matter. He looked at her with all the love and care he could, and pulled her into his embrace, not caring if he had a seizure or not. He then whispered into her ear,
"Can you let it go now my love?" As her soft, warm cheek rubbed against his. The scent of pine needles overpowering his senses. He then felt a sense of happiness in Arya, as he wiped the tears that had not fallen from her emerald eyes.
"Yes Eragon. Because of you, I can let go now. If it was not for you, I would have never had the courage to face that demon of my past," She answered back, locking his lips with hers in a soft, sweet kiss. Electricity surged through Eragon then as it always had when he had the privilige of being able to taste Arya's lips. He relished in the warmth of her body, as it soothed his aching back. They then broke their kiss, and lay down upon their bed, as it was a late hour.
"Then I am happy for you even more so," Eragon whispered, as the two of them drifted into their waking dreams.