Hey Guys! I'm back for Chapter 8!
Thank you to madhatter,IDK, and an unnamed account for the reviews! The support for this story has been incredible!
Some of you were confused about what Eragon "understood" last chapter so I thought I would clarify because it is a crucial part of the story.
Eragon DID NOT realize that Arya has romantic feelings toward him in this moment, he still has no idea. The entire argument was because Eragon felt he was unimportant to Arya, that their friendship meant nothing to her and he had been forgotten. Remember they almost didn't speak at all over the five years they were apart. Seeing the fairth made Eragon understand that he was important to her because , had a fairth of him, 2. The fairth had tear stains on it, and lastly The blurred background is significant because when you make a fairth your emotions play a large part in the outcome of the image. The background being blurred signified she was so emotionally distraught she couldn't focus properly and also proved that it was Eragon that had caused the pain as he was in focus for the fairth
Sorry for the long explanation but it is important to understand so that you know where we are relationship wise
To the guest reviewer regarding building up each moment (You know who you are) Thank you for the feedback! I have been trying to find the fine line between too direct regarding dialogue and plot vs overdoing it and boring readers because nothing happened and you're a thousand words in. I feel I did a bit better this time around so let me know what you think!
Now to not waste any more time
Chapter 8!
Eragon POV
Eragon groaned and rolled over in his bed. A mix of tiredness and pain from his pounding headache. Sunlight streamed into his room from the windows causing him to squint as he walked over and pulled the drapes over the windows significantly darkening the room.
"It is still early" He thought "I can sleep a few moments longer"
He climbed back into bed and was on the verge of sleep when the events of last night came rushing back into his mind. He sat up quickly, suddenly not at all tired.
"Oh I am such an idiot" he cursed himself for being so stupid
"I am never drinking again" As he considered his pounding headache as well as how poorly he had treated Arya. While Eragon still stood by what he had said he wished he had done so in a kinder and more controlled way. He supposed the alcohol in his system hadn't helped his self-control either.
Sighing, Eragon stood and changed for the day. He bathed and shaved the shadow of a beard that had begun to grow over the last few days using the spell he had devised so long ago in Ellesmera. He stared into the mirror hardly believing the reflection was still the same being who had made the spell in the first place. He had been so young and foolish then. Remembering last night, he thought
"Perhaps I haven't changed as much as I thought"
"Not quite as young but quite as foolish at times" Saphira spoke quietly in his mind
Eragon was about to argue but thought better of it
"What am I to do Saphira?"
"The only thing you can do" She spoke gently "Go to her and ask for forgiveness and hope she does give it to you"
"Very well, Saphira, I will find her immediately"
Saphira sensed his apprehension about this and spoke again
"I do think the two legged elf deserved what you said to her for the pain she has caused you little one, but it is better for all if you and Arya are at least on speaking terms"
Eragon agreed and walked over and knocked on Arya's door
There was no sound from with in
He knocked again
"Arya, I need to speak with you"
Still no response from within. Eragon went to his last resort and spread his mind into the room. It was empty.
Sighing Eragon walked down to street level and began to search the many shops and buildings for Arya.
He began to grow worried she had left the city altogether and decided to leave for Du Weldenvarden without saying goodbye when Saphira spoke
"Firnen is here with me…. she hasn't left"
Eragon was relieved to hear this but was still frustrated that she was clearly avoiding him
Eragon's students were with Saphira learning the secrets of the dragons so he had plenty of free time to look
Finally giving up he headed to the sparring field. He found sparring cleared him of his worries when nothing else could. He entered the field and was unsurprised to find it empty. Not many people used the field because there just weren't many people on Mount Arngor besides the 4 dragon riders and 12 elves that actually sparred regularly. The sparring field was one of Eragon's favorite places in all the city. It was a large grass field at the base of the mountain surrounded on all sides by smaller mountains that made it feel secluded. Eragon started by simply preforming the first three stages of the Rimgar to warmup his tight muscles before drawing his sword and slowly going through the forms: focusing on technique rather than speed. He spent about a half hour doing this before taking out several practice dummies from a nearby storage building. He spent some time slicing and hacking at them simply enjoying the exercise. He was so focused that it was several minutes before he felt the eyes on the back of his head. He turned and there stood Arya not ten feet from him.
Eragon mentally cursed himself for letting someone, even someone he trusted as much as Arya, to sneak up on him.
Arya walked forward until there was less than five feet between them. She stood and stared at him for several moments. Eragon took this moment to speak
"Arya I am so sor—"
He was interrupted by a sword swinging at his head
Eragon parried instinctively and held Brisingr in a defensive stance
"Arya what are you d—"
He was interrupted by another swing at his midsection
He parried again and this time he struck back with several moves aiming for her shoulder. She parried two of them and stepped inside his guard. Had it been a real fight Arya would have stabbed him in the gut and killed him but instead she kicked him with such a force he landed on his back. Arya's blade swing down at him and Eragon was forced to roll back to avoid obtaining several new scars.
Landing on his feet Eragon began to push the offensive. He swung his sword with such speed Arya only had time to parry before a new attack was already on its way.
Finally, he began to tire, and Arya moved to block his incoming attack. Their blades locked and they pushed against each other each trying to overpower the other. Eragon starred into her eyes, her determination matching his own
During their struggle Eragon spoke
"Arya I am sorry" he didn't speak it loudly, but she had heard him
Her eyes widened and she pushed him hard causing him to stumble back
He saw a flash of green and the pommel of Tamerlein smashed into his face break his nose and he heard his wrist crack as it too broke upon impact with the ground.
He looked up at Arya who stood over him, Blood streamed out of his nose and he let out a gasp of pain as his wrist moved slightly. She sheathed her sword and looked down at him
"Not here, not now" She said firmly before walking away, leaving Eragon as confused and in pain.
Eragon sat at dinner that night pondering the words Arya had said. His now bandaged wrist still hurt terribly and while he had stopped the bleeding from his nose his face was badly bruised, and his nose remained broken. He could have healed them in an instant if he so wished but decided not to and let nature take its course. When his students rushed over to him after seeing his condition, he had declined their offers to heal him and explained that "Sometimes it is good to have reminders of your mistakes". They asked how he had become injured to which he simply replied, "My own foolishness".
Eragon looked around for the fourth time and didn't spot Arya anywhere. He wondered if she had decided to skip dinner and was about to try to find her when she appeared through the entrance hall"
Arya made her way over to their table and sat with a small plate of vegetables. She glanced up at him and although she tried to hide it from him, he could tell she was shocked he had not healed himself yet. She didn't speak to anyone throughout the entire dinner despite his numerus attempts until at the end of dinner when they were getting up to leave Eragon leaned in and whispered into her ear
"I need to speak with you, will you come with me?"
She looked at him seeming surprised and slightly nervous
Eragon understood what she was thinking and quickly put her mind at ease
"Nothing like last night will happen I promise" He stated in the ancient language
She sighed and replied "Very well" then got up to follow him out
Much like the night before they walked back to their rooms only this time it was a silent walk, both seemingly absorbed in their thoughts
When they arrived at the tower, they walked up to the landing much like the day before but this time Eragon led Arya into his room. As she looked around his room, he sat down on the bed.
Arya walked over to the wall where her Fairth hung and studied it for several moments before turning to studying the rest of them. While still looking at the images she spoke
"You miss them don't you" she said, referring to the image of Oromis and Gleadr
"I do" said Eragon "More and more each day"
"How fares Glaedr?"
Eragon winced as he moved slightly
"He grows worse, once we had this place up and running, he began to speak less and less. He keeps insisting "The void calls me" and as much as we have tried to convince him he continues to slip farther and farther inwards."
Arya's face shone with sorrow, but her voice was controlled when she responded
"It is not our place to decide this for him. It is up to him if he wishes to enter the void. It would be selfish to hold him here where he is in constant pain"
"I agree but Saphira doesn't"
Arya nodded in an understanding way
"It must be hard for her to lose one the last of her race for good"
Eragon nodded but said nothing
Arya came and sat down next to him looking slightly more relaxed than before.
Eragon spoke
"Arya I wish to apologize for my actions yesterday, It was unfair for me to lash out at you like that and I am truly sorry"
Arya stayed quiet for a moment digesting his words before responding
"You are not sorry for what you said only how you said them… correct" She said it quietly but Eragon still drew back slightly and tried to respond but the lie he attempted to tell fell from his lips, the ancient language stopped him from lying
Seeing this Arya smiled without humor
"You forget I was raised by elves; I am used to how they frame words to mean one thing but think the other."
Eragon was rattled, this wasn't how this was supposed to go at all.
He began to speak but Arya cut him off
"You are forgiven Eragon"
Eragon was shocked at this
"What….Why?" "why are you forgiving me so easily"
Arya looked him with disgust on her face and for a moment Eragon thought it was directed at him, but she spoke and he realized it was self-disgust.
"Because you are not to blame for our five-year silence, I am"
"What you said last night was true…. Every word" She said each word with such bitterness and regret Eragon wished she would just yell at him instead
"But why? Why stop all communication with me other than the bare minimum?" Eragon said still slightly hurt
Arya sighed and seemed to sink even lower onto the bed
"I was scared"
This shocked Eragon completely. Arya never admitted when she was scared
"But why? Were you scared of…of…of me?
Arya shook her head
"Of myself"
Eragon waited but she didn't elaborate as to what she meant by it
"Eragon you seem to forget that you were not the only one hurt by your departure as you discovered yesterday" Arya spoke in the same bitter voice
Eragon shifted guiltily in his seat but Arya didn't mention it
"I thought if we didn't speak, I was protecting us from even more pain"
Eragon smiled slightly at this which caused her to frown and look up
"What's funny about this?" She asked somewhat angry
Eragon looked at her
"I remember the last time you tried that same thing and I ended up with elven speed and agility. I wonder if I will be able to fly this time" he joked
The mood in the room shifted as they both laughed and Eragon suddenly gasped in pain as his wrist jolted painfully.
Arya stopped laughing at once and asked
"Why did you not heal yourself?"
"I told myself I would not heal my injuries until you have forgiven me." Eragon said in a pained voice
Arya looked upon his injuries and stated in an apologetic voice
"It was not my intention to hurt you so severely"
"I know, to be fair I deserved it"
Arya shook her head in disagreement but let it slide
"I must get going, this is the second night in a row we have stayed up far too late"
"Of course," Eragon responded as he walked her to the door "Thank you for being open and honest with me Arya Svit-kona
For a moment Eragon thought he saw a look of guilt upon her face, but it was gone seconds after.
Arya didn't answer but instead raised her hands. Her Gedway Insignia glowed as she muttered "Waise Heill"
Eragon sighed in relief as he felt his bones snap back into place and his pain disappear.
Then, without looking back, Arya turned and walked toward her room
"Goodnight Eragon" was the last thing he heard before her door shut
"Goodnight" he replied softly, a smile still on his face.
Hey guys! This was a longer chapter than normal but it was necessary!
Thank you all for the reviews and support it means a lot!
Not sure if the next chapter will be up today or tomorrow
Review and let me know how I can improve!
Thanks again guys and stay safe!