Hey guys! I am back for chapter 11!
I want to first thank you for all the support on this story! I woke up today to find over 400 views of the story in just one day! Thank you all so much!
Huge thank you too Lari Magicfeather for the review! Your story "Of poems and maps" was a huge inspiration both for this story and for me to begin writing! I highly suggest you go check out her work as it is some of the best out there!
Lastly, I want to apologize as I had said chapter 11 would be out yesterday, but I actually ended up eating some bad Chipotle and was down and out for the rest of the day. I'm feeling much better and I hope to get both this chapter and another out today.
As always you may praise or critique me at your hearts content! I'm all about becoming a better writer and won't be offended if you let me know what I need to work on!
POV SWITCH WILL HAPPEN IN THIS CHAPTER FYI
Now onto chapter 11
Eragon's POV
Eragon awoke to a loud knock on the door. He glanced around and tried to shake the fatigue from his mind
"It's barely even sunrise, what is so important that can't wait a few more hours?"
He walked over and opened the door
Arya stood there with a large bag around her shoulders and a look of determination on her face.
"Arya is something wrong?" He spoke
He noticed the bag was full of her belongings and with a look of alarm said
"Don't tell me you plan to leave now!"
She shook her head and spoke
"No, Firnen and I still plan to leave around noon today but considering this could be the last time we ever see each other I decided to maximize our time together.
Eragon tried his best to smile at this but it came out more like a grimace
Arya noticed this and calmly stated
"I am not happy about this situation either, but I have no wish for our last few hours to be marred by grief"
Eragon nodded pushing his sorrow and frustration at their situation to the back of his mind
Arya's eyes lowered to his bare chest as Eragon realized that he had been speaking to her this entire time in only his undergarments. Blushing slightly he spoke
"Allow me to go in and change and I will meet you in a few moments"
Arya agreed and Eragon quickly went inside and threw on some clothes then quickly hurried back outside to meet Arya
"So, what is it you wanted to do?" Eragon asked her as they descended the stairs and onto the mostly empty streets
She smiled at him and responded "I thought we could eat breakfast but after that I hoped you would know something we could do; you do know this place much better than I"
Eragon nodded and smiled back, thinking about what they could do together.
He felt Saphira enter his mind and propose an idea which he immediately agreed to. He asked Arya who quickly agreed at well with a smile.
They stopped at a small café near the edge of town for some breakfast before meeting their dragons who flew off toward the looming mountain above them.
They spoke very little, simply enjoying each other's company and trying to forget what would happen in a few short hours.
They finally reached their destination as the dragons landed on a small ledge near the very top of the mountain. Below them was a sheer cliff that slowly evened out onto a plane of snow about half a mile below them.
"This is something me and Saphira have wanted to try for a long time! But we never had anyone to compete with" Eragon shouted over the strong winds
'Dragon racing!"
Arya flashed a smile at him before a look of determination overtook her. It was the same look Eragon saw when they sparred together.
"These two trees are the finish line!" Eragon pointed to two huge pine trees about one hundred yards apart half a mile below them near the edge of the clearing of snow.
"Are you ready!" he shouted
She nodded
"3,2,1….GO!"
Both Firnen and Saphira leapt off the ledge and went into a steep dive. Eragon laughed and couldn't keep the smile off his face as they flew down the mountain at incredible speeds. He could faintly hear Arya laughing as they blazed down the mountain. They began to level out and were only a hundred yards from the finish. Saphira put on a burst of speed and they passed by the finish line, first by only a few feet.
They came to a stop and Arya looked at Eragon with a massive smile on her face
"Best of three" She said with a laugh
Eragon still smiled and nodded.
They flew back to the start and were once again racing down the mountain.
Saphira was in the lead again as they leveled out but suddenly Eragon found himself flying out of the saddle and shooting forwards into the snow below. He heard Arya yell his name as he hit the snow-covered ground and was completely submerged. As he tried to dig his way out he saw a hand poke through the snow and he grabbed it and pulled himself up. Arya stood there slightly stricken.
"Are you alright Eragon?"
"Yes, I am fine Arya"
Arya looked visibly relived as he began wiping the snow from his clothes.
"What happened anyway" he asked as he turned to her
Arya looked embarrassed and slightly guilty. She reached out and wiped some snow from his shoulder before responding
"I saw you were in the lead again and decided to slow you down with magic, but I think I slightly over did it"
Eragon couldn't help it, He howled in laughter at this admission of guilt
After a few minutes he was finally was able to calm himself and he spoke
"It's my fault; I should have been strapped in. If I had been then your spell would have had the desired effect." Still chuckling "Who won anyway?"
"Me and Firnen did" she smiled slightly "We did cheat though"
Eragon shook her off and said
"You didn't cheat, you took advantage of an opponent's weakness"
She laughed at him as he asked to go once more to decide the winner
She nodded still laughing and they returned to the ledge for one more round
As they sped down the mountain the final time. Eragon's eyes met Arya's and, in that moment, he felt their minds press against each other once, twice and then they fully melted together. Eragon could feel her enjoyment and excitement through their link and returned it back to her. He could see her hair blowing in the wind and a massive smile on her face. She had never looked so beautiful in Eragon's opinion. She seemed to feel his emotions through their link and instead of ending the connection like he feared, she deepened it, joining their minds together until they were not entirely sure who's thoughts were who's. Eragon didn't even remember who ended up winning the race, it didn't matter to him, All he cared about was one thought as the race ended and their connection began to fade. Careful to hide the thought from Arya he focused on one thing
"This will not be the end; I refuse to allow it"
An hour after the race ended Eragon stood in new, dry clothes outside the entrance/exit to the city. Arya was to leave any moment and Eragon wished to see her off before attending other matters. Eragon heard Firnen land behind him and Arya dismount.
Eragon turned, Meeting her eyes as they both shared sad smiles.
Eragon spoke, trying very hard to hold back tears that threatened to fall.
"I have a gift I would like to give you"
Arya gazed at him before nodding
Eragon reached into his pocket and withdrew two rings.
They were simply designed, just a band very similar to the ones he had given Roran and Katrina all these years ago although one was green, and one was blue to match their dragon's colors
Arya took the green one from him and studied it.
"Do you like it?"
She nodded still studying the ring
"These rings are enchanted; they will allow you to know when anyone is scrying you and it will also let us know if the other is in danger. They also have some healing properties that I hope you will find useful. I hope you agree to wear one"
Arya nodded and slipped the ring onto her finger
To Eragon's surprise she leaned forward and embraced him
He startled slightly but returned the action
"I will miss you" She stated simply still hugging him
Eragon didn't respond but continued to hug her. Tears were beginning to fall as they slowly pulled apart
"Arya-" Eragon started
"Do not ask me to stay" She responded sharply
Then quieter she continued "Don't make this harder for us"
She turned to mount Firnen
Eragon spoke again causing her to halt
"Can I ask you something"
Arya turned back toward him, her expression unreadable
"Of course"
"Will you keep in contact once you have returned home?" Eragon asked, hoping she understood he wasn't simply asking about their formal meetings.
She seemed to understand his question
"I will" She spoke "But Eragon we must be careful, Kayla -"
"I will deal with it" Eragon responded
Arya looked like she wanted to ask how but thought better of it
"So, this will continue?" he asked pointing between them
"I learn from my mistakes, Eragon" was her reply as she mounted Firnen
Eragon nodded, relieved by her response
She locked eyes with him and spoke
"It will not be five years this time" she spoke it in the ancient language, so he knew she wasn't lying.
Eragon smiled slightly as Firnen took off
Under his breath he whispered her true name
Eragon felt the familiar shudder up his spine and knew without hearing that she had responded.
"Farewell Eragon Shadeslayer" She called back to him
Eragon, suddenly having a flashback to the last time he had heard these words, responded softy
"Farewell"
Eragon stood with Saphira watching Firnen grow smaller and smaller. Finally, once they had disappeared, he spoke
"This feels so familiar and yet it isn't any easier"
"No, it never will be"
Eragon agreed and turned
"Now, where is Kayla?"
Arya POV
Arya watched as Eragon's shape grew smaller and smaller until it disappeared. She finally let the tears fall freely then. She felt a void where Eragon had been. She felt something shift inside her and instinctively knew
Her true name had changed
She frowned and tried to figure out what had caused the change.
Firnen spoke incredulously
"Really?"
"What? Do you know what caused this?"
"I do"
"Tell me!"
"This is something you must find yourself"
She spent much of the rest of the day trying to figure out her new name. Firnen refused to give her any hints which frustrated her greatly
It wasn't until they stopped for the night that she finally found it
They had stopped at the very same island they had stayed at before arriving at the city. It was late in the night as Arya stared into the dying fire. Firnen was curled around her sleeping softly.
Arya already missed Eragon terribly and as she thought of him a new name burst into her mind. She uttered it and gasped as she heard the sentences that defined her very being.
"I love him" She thought shocked
Firnen grunted in response as she slowly fell into a deep slumber
Bad timing for Arya lol
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter because I have to say it is one of my personal favs so far.
As always let me know how I can improve!
Keep being amazing and stay safe guys!