Chapter 35: Loved One Regained
"Eragon? Eragon, that's you?" Arya asked, completely flabbergasted. Eragon nodded at her, then placed his sword into the ground to support himself.
I couldn't even recognize him. I should be more careful from now on, there must be more fakes around.
"I am sorry Eragon, are you alright?" Arya said hurriedly, getting off Saphira and running towards Eragon who was drooping, and his knees were trembling.
She could not believe she had failed to recognize Eragon. The one she loved, the one who loved her, and she could not distinguish the real one from the fakes. Eragon fell to the ground panting deeply before Arya could get there.
"Eragon are you alright?" Arya asked again, concerned for the one whom she loved, the one whom she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.
"Yes Arya, I am fine, but I think that diverting those flames took a lot more than expected from me. I'll be fine, just take me back the way I came." Eragon replied weakly.
"Eragon, you are sure?" Arya said, and poured some of her energy into him.
"Eka elrun ona, Arya." Eragon said, and smiled at her gratefully. Arya smiled and pulled herself into his warm embrace, and kissed him lightly. They remained like that for a while, after which an irritated growl rang in their minds.
They immediately let go of each other and Arya followed Eragon back the way he had come. She heard Eragon mutter a few words, and two completely filled Saddlebags, two sacks, and two swords, one blue and one copper in colour became visible.
Saphira came over to Eragon and touched his forehead with her snout. Eragon smiled and hugged her.
I am so sorry, little one, I thought it was another fake. What a mistake I would have made? Killing my own Rider! It is alright Saphira, I can understand your confusion. There is no need to be so ashamed. Little one, I really am very sorry for trying to burn you. I still can't understand why I was unable to recognize you. I should have paid more attention to our connection. Will you forgive me? Of course I forgive Saphira, how can I be angry on the partner of my heart and mind, the love of my being? But do you have any idea how I managed to bend the direction of your fire? I love you too, but I don't know. I think you better ask master Glaedr after we are safe.
Arya felt a small pang of jealousy when she heard their conversation, but she subdued it, reasoning that Saphira was Eragon's partner of mind, of course he would love her.
"Eragon, you carried that with you all the way?" she asked him, rather flattered by his strength.
"I had to; there was no other way to even the odd. Now we have almost… ninety-three eldunarya. The king has all the remaining. And for a change we have outmatched him in numbers and in power. The positions have been reversed. At first there was only one dragon and Rider on our side, me and Saphira, and it was Galbatorix and Murtagh on the Empire's side, and they had the last egg and almost all the eldunarya in Alagaesia. Now, our side has two dragons and their Riders, the third egg, and also more eldunarya than the King himself…. But I am worried about something." Eragon said, a sad look on his face as he placed Undbitr on his back and Naegling on his hip. Arya grabbed both the saddlebags in her hands, and saw how heavy they were.
He really must have over-exerted himself. Arya thought.
"And why are you worried?' Arya asked as Eragon stood up lightly, pulling on both the sacks on his back.
"I wonder why Galbatorix went to Doru Araeba, and I am also worried that he will attack the elves on his way. They have gone to attack Tierm, so it will be easy for Galbatorix to confront-
"Of course,I should have thought about that. Thelves don't even know about Galbatorix coming that way. I must contact my mother now itself!" Arya shouted, worry clenching her stomach as she hurriedly made a hollow in the ground, while Eragon picked up the pieces of his armor.
Once she had said the words, the surface of the water shimmered in different colours and she saw the tent and her mother standing there, talking to the Lords of the Elves. Arya gave a sigh of relief, and beckoned Eragon to come next to her. Eragon hurried to her side and they waited for the elves to stop discussing.
Izlanzadi turned to them and uttered a startled cry before saying in relief, "Thank the Heavens you two are alright. Was your mission successful?" She forsake the elven greetings completely, so Arya didn't bother.
"It was, mother, and Eragon-," She gave him a loving smile, which he returned, "-made sure that I was put in no danger. He almost lost his own life trying to keep me out of the castle." Eragon turned away from the mirror, acting as if he was shifting Naegling from his belt. Ialanzadi looked at the sword, and her eyes brightened.
"Where did you get that sword, Eragon? We looked for it for a long time before leaving Gil'ead, but we couldn't find it."
"It was in Galbatorix castle, Mutagh took the sword with him. " Eragon replied.
"Nothing to be surprised about. I see you recovered it, and many other things."
"Yes, Your highness."
"Good, very good, I thank you, Eragon-vodhr. I have been so worried ever since the both of you left for Uru'baen, I wasn't able to sleep at night." Izlanzadi said, and she looked it. Her eyes were red and swollen and her face showed signs of weariness.
Her behavior towards me has changed a lot.
"Your Highness, are you close to Teirm right now?' Eragon asked in an hurried voice.
"Indeed yes, we are going to attack tomorrow, why do you ask?" Izlanzadi said, her eyes narrowing.
"Galbatorix has left Uru'baen. He is currently heading for Vroengard. . . He might attack you, and I and Arya was worried. That is why we called." Eragon said, and worry was visible on his face.
"He wouldn't dare attack us Eragon. He hasn't forgotten the strength of the elves. And if he will attack us alone, even with Shruikan, he can't defeat us. All of us shall combine our strengths and attack him in return, and even he can't resist against an attack of that magnitude."
Arya smiled, and Eragon also seemed relieved, but he said, "One more thing, Your Highness, there are fakes of me and Arya around." Izlanzadi and the other Lords and Ladies raised their eyebrows at him, "They were made by Galbatorix, but there is a way to find out the real me from the fake. The fakes don't have a Gedwey Ignasia." Eragon said, and showed them his right palm, "but I don't know how you can find out the real Arya from the fakes." Eragon finished.
"Just ask them who my great friend is. . . . The answer is 'none'. I don't have a great friend anymore, because he became something much better and lovelier." Arya said, and looked at Eragon again. Eragon blushed and moved away.
He really is shy. That's odd, he can be courageous enough to confess his love for me a second time, and still be shy in front of my mother and other elves.
"Arya, I need you to return to us as soon as possible." Izlanzadi said, a longing in her eyes.
"Why is that?" Arya said, snapping her head to face her mother.
"I am too worried for you Arya, and we will need Eragon's help for capturing Teirm. Can't the two of you come here together?" Desperation evident on her face.
Arya looked at Eragon, who nodded, then began to grab the saddlebags.
"Yes mother, we will be there after a few days, we need to get to the Varden right now." Arya replied, and took her leave. She cut off the connection and saw Eragon waiting for her.
"Let's go." Arya said, and she got onto Saphira. She sat in the front of the saddle for a change. Eragon raised an eyebrow as he tied the saddlebags and placed his armor and Naegling into another bag.
I wonder what it feels like to really be a dragon Rider.
"Time to fly" Eragon said and jumped to the place behind Arya, just as she finished strapping her legs in place.
Eragon kissed her on the cheek, which made her smile. He wrapped his hands around her waist and said, "You are going to find out what it really feels like to be a Dragon Rider, mistress of my heart."
And they took off, heading for the skies. Thorn roared and followed. Arya had not heard him or Murtagh speak at all. Then she realized that they might be already talking to Eragon and Saphira, so she entered Eragon's mind.
It's fine brother, I am alive. There is no reason for you both to regret anything. Right… Thanks Eragon.
Fine, now we are heading for the Varden in Belatona, after which I and Arya are going to leave for Teirm and capture it. You both better stay with the Varden, they will need your help. All you need to do now is earn their trust, and the best way to do that would be fealty… not to Nasuada, though I think you were hopeful that would happen- No I wasn't.
Murtagh, I am in your mind, it is quite easy to tell that you like her, or rather love her. Just confess that you love her, let us have no more secrets from each other. Eragon I- I'll tell you my secret if you tell me yours. Fine… I confess, I do love her. I loved her ever since I saw her, but I hid my emotions. I thought I might have another chance to tell her. But, it was not to be… You have a chance now, when we return to the Varden Yeah, you are right, I don't need to eat my head on that anymore.
Great, now what I am saying is that you would have to swear fealty to me, since I am the new lead Rider. Are you? Who made you the lead Rider? My mentor, Oromis, decided that it would be fitting for me to be the Lead Rider. And well … I agreed. Of course, it's a good thing…I trust you more than anyone else, except Thorn of course. Now, what was your secret? You honor me. And Murtagh, this might be a bit of a shock, but we are not full brothers, but half.
Shock, pain and downright astonishment were evident in Murtagh. He looked at eragon, hurt and surprise visible in his expression.
W-What? Yes, Murtagh, I am not the son of Morzan, I am the son of Brom. We had the same mother, but not the same father. From whom did you learn this? From my mentors, and from Saphira. Brom gave her a memory, and he confessed it all to her so that she could show it to me if he died… which he did, thanks to me!
Eragon, don't blame everyone's death on yourself. It was the Raz'zac who killed him, and you got your revenge on them as well. There is no need to blame yourself needlessly, and Brom did what he did because he loved you. Arya said soothingly in his mind, driving away all his thoughts and feeling his mind with her love for him instead.
Thanks Arya, I love you. He kissed her cheek again, but kep his lips on her face.
Moving her face so that their lips would meet, she replied, I love you too.