Hey guys I'm back for chapter 9! I am really happy that you guys seem to be enjoying the story so far!
The feedback has been way better than I anticipated! I plan to release at least a chapter maybe two per day for the foreseeable future!
User IDK, don't worry I am not stopping for awhile I have big plans for this story as well as a sequel if this continues to do well. I already have the basis planned! There are things in this story that are setting up the sequel! It will be more action but still have plenty ExA moments don't worry!
As always review and let me know your opinion or if you have any questions and I will do my best to address or answer them in a future chapter
Chapter Nine here we come!
Arya's POV
Arya stood atop a tall mountain; the wind was blowing all around creating snow flurries that sprinkled around her. Firnen lay next to her snoring softly and below her she could see the entire city of the riders. She frowned; something was familiar about this scene, but she couldn't place it. She looked around and noticed a hooded figure standing several feet away. With a small gasp of horror, she recognized him. "My dream! I'm dreaming!" She stumbled back muttering to herself
"It's not real, It's not real, It's not real"
The city burst into flames below them, smoke poured out of every building and even from here Arya could see bodies in the street. Firnen awoke from behind her and charged the figure who still standing, observing the flames. Without looking up the figure stuck his hand out and Firnen was halted mid jump. With a wave of his hand Firnen was thrown forcibly into the side of the mountain with a sickening crunch. The pain through their link felt very real. She could feel Firnen's bones snap on impact with the rough stone. She rushed to him, forgetting her muttering, and attempted to heal him but it was too late. She could feel their connection flicker twice and then it was gone completely. She sat stunned. She was alone, completely and utterly. She sat next to Firnen and stared at the ground tears in her eyes
"This isn't real" kept repeating over and over in her head.
"Your right, it isn't real" a voice spoke back in her mind "But it will be"
there was a flash of blue, and she awoke sweating.
She lay there for a moment trying to organize her thoughts when she heard movement near her bed and froze. Someone was standing next to her bed. Without thinking she drew the dagger she always had under her pillow and sat up and held the dagger at the person's neck
It was Eragon
Arya slowly lowered the dagger as their eyes met.
"Well someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning" Eragon joked seeming unfazed that he had almost been murdered seconds before.
Arya groaned and laid back down
"What are you doing in here Eragon" Arya sighed in annoyance
"Firnen contacted me saying that you were blocking him from your mind. He also mentioned you have been having nightmares lately so I thought I would come check on you."
"Do you want to talk about it" Eragon asked kindly
Mentally reminding herself to have a talk with Firnen about what to share and not share with others she replied
"No, thank you Eragon, but it's just a dream, they will pass in time."
Eragon nodded but looked unconvinced
"Well If you ever need to talk you need only ask"
Arya smiled in thanks
"What time is it?" She asked
"Almost breakfast" Eragon replied
"I was about to head down if you wanted to join"
Arya nodded
"I will meet you at the landing in five"
Eragon walked out and Arya began to get ready for the day.
As she changed Arya reviewed the dream she had just had in her mind. She had hoped the dreams she had were gone as she hadn't had one since arriving almost a month ago but apparently not.
After the drama of the first few day's things had started to settle down. Eragon and Arya had established a day to day routine. They would wake and prepare for the day then head down for breakfast. They would then begin training. Arya and Eragon were equals in almost everything from magic proficiency to sparring to fighting with the mind but Arya and Firnen were severely out classed in rider on rider combat due to their lack of experience in true rider vs rider combat. They were improving but it was slow. The other thing Eragon out classed her in was pure knowledge as he spent every day with the dragon's Eldunari. These two drawbacks were the main focus of their lessons with Arya spending hours a day pouring over memory after memory.
After training for a majority of the day they would go their separate ways and reconvene at dinner before going to their rooms. They would sometimes stay and talk for a few minutes before going to bed. It was rarely about anything important, but Arya greatly enjoyed these talks. She found it interesting to listen to him speak of the process of rebuilding the order while she talked to him about the events in Alagaesia. She spoke of how Nasuada was being pushed to find a husband. How Angela had mysteriously disappeared after Nasuada's laws had been implemented concerning controlling magicians. He was surprised to learn Martugh had been sighted north of Du Weldenverden but he most enjoyed hearing about what Roran was up to rebuilding Carvahall. He had talks with Roran on a semi-regular basis but hadn't heard much as of late.
The biggest thing Arya had found throughout this time was that she enjoyed it here. She felt she could finally relax and not worry about what the council or anyone else thought.
She finally pulled herself out of her thoughts and joined Eragon on the landing to start the day.
The day went quickly and after a particularly grueling series of duels with Eragon and Saphira she collapsed into her bed exhausted.
After only a few hours she heard a soft knock on her door
Wondering who would be wanting to talk to her in the middle of the night she opened the door to find Eragon, full of energy and a bag on his hip. Arya spoke
"What is it Eragon?" exasperated that he needed something at this time of night
"I need to show you something" He said his voice shining with excitement before dragging her out of her room and down the stairs.
"Eragon can't this wait!" Arya stated angrily
"No, it can't" He replied shortly
They walked the empty streets for a while taking the path the she knew led to the sparring field, however, when they were halfway there, he turned left onto a narrow, seldom used, forest path she had never noticed before.
Finally, after walking for several minutes, Eragon stopped and turned to her
"You need to close your eyes for this"
She looked at him questioningly
"Do you trust me?" he questioned
"I do" She replied and promptly shut her yes
He led her forward for a minute and then said
"Open your eyes"
Arya opened her eyes and gasped, it was the most beautiful place she had ever seen.
They had stopped at small forest clearing. In the clearing was a pond that was perfectly clear. She could see an almost mirror like reflection of the mountain that loomed above them. A small waterfall emptied into the pond spraying a faint mist into the air. Arya looked around and gasped again. They stood in a small field of golden lilies that glowed faintly by the light of the full moon.
"It's beautiful" she stated slightly embarrassed as she felt her eyes begin to water.
"Aye, it is" He responded "I had to wait for the full moon to get the full effect, seeing as you are only here two more days, I was happy we got a chance to see it"
Arya didn't say anything still trying to take it all in.
"Here" Eragon spoke as he pulled out two blankets and laid them out a few feet apart so they could sit and see everything.
They both sat down and watched nature in silence.
Eragon spoke a few minutes later "I found this place the third year we were here, I thought it was the second most beautiful thing I had ever seen"
"What was the first?" she asked questioningly
Eragon looked at her but didn't say anything.
Understanding what he meant Arya fought hard to keep the blush from her face.
Instead she changed the subject
"How did the lilies get here? They clearly weren't here before you were."
He chucked "No they weren't, When I left Alagaesia I took one flower with me, to remember. When I found this place, I planted it here and when I came back a few months later they had taken over" he said with a small laugh
"I am not surprised; it is a resilient flower"
"That it is"
"Have you had any success in hatching any other eggs?"
"No, they remain motionless"
"How many wild ones have you hatched?"
"Only three"
Arya didn't say anything else on the matter.
They both laid down on their respective blankets savoring the peacefulness of this neck of woods.
Several minutes passed in comfortable silence before Eragon spoke again this time in a slightly nervous voice.
"Arya, what is to become of us?"
Arya stiffened slightly, she understood plainly what he meant by the question, but it still caught her off guard.
She thought for several minutes trying to decide the best way to approach the question.
She had said before, in time if his feelings hadn't changed it was possible something could happen between them. She clearly saw in his true name his feelings not only hadn't changed but had grown despite the time apart. She was also sure that she had feelings for him as much as she didn't want to admit it. He was the most trusted and important person in her life other than Firnen. The question was how deep did her feelings go? She wasn't sure.
Finally, she responded
"I told you before that if your feelings hadn't changed that in time something could become of us"
"They haven't" he said confidently
"I know" She responded gently "But the circumstances have changed"
"Our five year…. break….. changed things between us and we are just now getting back to what we were before. I have no wish to tarnish it again if the relationship were to end badly." She looked directly into his eyes as she continued
"It isn't that I do not care for you Eragon. You are my best and most trusted friend but because of that I need to be one hundred percent sure before moving forward."
Then more quietly she said
"I can't afford to lose you too"
Eragon responded with such conviction that she really wanted to believe him
"you won't, I promise"
She looked at him sharply as he had said it in the ancient language, but she declined to comment.
Eragon spoke "Very well, I will wait for you as long as you need, weather it be one year or one hundred, I will wait"
Arya laid back down suddenly tired and pleased he had taken it so well.
"It was a sign he had grown"
Several minutes passed and the mix noises of the forest and being so close to Eragon slowly sent her to sleep. Against her wishes waking dreams took her again.
Hope you guys liked it! The beginning I feel isn't the best, but I am very proud of the middle and end of this chapter.
Let me know what you think!
Stay safe guys