Hey guys I am back for chapter 15!
I got a ton of reviews last chapter and I want to respond really fast before the chapter.
I got reviews from IDK, A random guy and Suspense commenting on how sad they were about the end of last chapter and that they couldn't wait for the next one. That makes me so happy because that was the point of the chapter! I am glad you guys care so much about the characters and are emotionally invested in the story!
User Hmmmmmm- I don't worry much about Favs on my story. This started as just something for me to do for fun and I never expected many people to read it so the fact that I have even one reader makes me happy. Besides I prefer reviews and views because I can get a better sense of how people feel about the story and they can provide feedback.
User IDK- Thank you for the constant support on this story! I think you will really enjoy chapter 16!
Chapter 15!
Arya's POV
Arya awoke in her bed suddenly. She was sure she had been back atop the mountain once again but for whatever reason she couldn't remember any details other than a flash of blue and a cold laugh. Shaking the wariness from her body she stood and changed as she thought over the night's events.
She was certainly displeased with his actions last night especially because she had revealed so much of herself to him only to be shut down. Arya wondered briefly if this was how Eragon felt every time she had shut his attempts down, but she knew this was different.
Arya understood he didn't do it because he didn't love her. Eragon had stopped it because he felt guilty about not being honest to her. Arya found that she was not overly mad that he hadn't told her everything, She had suspected as much and besides she had secrets of her own. What made her worried and nervous above all was what he had said directly before walking out.
"I am afraid"
"Of what?"
"That once I have told you everything you will no longer feel as you do"
This disturbed Arya more than anything else. Eragon had seen the depths of her feelings in her true name so he must have felt he had done something very bad to believe that her feelings would change so easily.
Arya finished changing and decided to get to the bottom of this right away so she walked across the stone landing and knocked on Eragon's door.
A soft voice answered "Come in"
Arya entered to find Eragon staring out the window overlooking the city. He looked terrible, His hair was unkempt, and he had dark circles under his eyes. Arya doubted he had slept last night.
"Eragon are you alright?" she asked concerned, forgetting her anger for a moment.
Eragon tried to smile at her but there was no joy behind his eyes.
"I….. No I'm not" He said bluntly
"But it is my own doing Arya"
Arya had never seen Eragon look so scared and defeated. Even when they had been at Glabatorix's mercy there had been a glint of defiance in his eyes. They now looked crushed and filled with despair and fear.
Eragon spoke in a crushed voice "Have you ever wondered if you deserved all you were given? Why it was you who was chosen? I have made many mistakes in my life Arya and after each one I tell myself I will learn from it but I go make the same mistake over and over and I wonder…."
He broke off and Arya was alarmed to see tears in his eyes
Arya moved closer to him until she was standing next to him
"Eragon, I am far older than you and have made many more mistakes than you ever have. I have come to learn in that time that mistakes do not define us. It is our actions we take to fix the mistakes we make that define our character."
"Talk to me Eragon I want to help you" She stated gently "This is not a burden you should take on alone"
Arya saw his eyes liven up slightly
"Eragon you must trust me"
Eragon finally seemed to make a decision and spoke
"I promised you yesterday I would tell you everything and I intend to keep that promise but can you promise me to allow me to completely explain everything before you come to a conclusion?"
Arya swore she would, and silence engulfed them for several minutes
"I am unsure how to begin this" He said honestly
"There are several things I must tell you and I don't know which one to start with"
Arya said nothing awaiting his decision
Eragon took a deep breath and spoke
"Are you connected with Firnen?"
Arya nodded
"Good, he has every right to hear this as well"
"Arya…..Saphira laid an egg several months after you left….. and Firnen is the sire"
The distant roar of Firnen could be heard from Eragon's room as Arya stared at him
Arya wasn't sure how she felt about this. She was happy of course but she couldn't help but think "Another tie that makes it harder to return home" Firnen was an odd mix of overjoyed at the news and angry that they had not been told sooner.
"Why did you not tell us?" Arya asked still deciphering her feelings
Eragon seemed to study her intensely for her reaction before responding
"Saphira and I both agreed that this was news that should be told in person, but we didn't want to distract you from your duties in Ellesmera or force you to return before you were ready"
Arya thought about his reasons and found them to be sufficient enough that she couldn't be mad at him.
"This cannot be the reason for him acting so guilty" she thought as she spoke again
"Thank you for telling us Eragon" Arya felt Firnen contact Eragon and thank him as well even though he clearly was still unhappy he had been kept in the dark.
"This is not the only thing you had to tell me is it?" Arya asked hoping she was wrong and he was simply over reacting.
"He smiled sadly "No it isn't"
"When you left last, I went to find Kayla and confront her as you know.
"As I told you I learned that she had told the elven lord Däthedr but there was much more to the conversation than that"
Arya had suspected that was the case. Eragon had never gone into detail about what had happened that night
Eragon spoke in a monotone as he explained every detail of the night. Arya grew more and more angry the longer he spoke, not just at Eragon for basically betraying her but also Kayla who had perfectly played Eragon into getting her off easy.
Once he finished, he looked at Arya for her reaction. Arya was barely containing her anger at him.
With a voice of forced calm Arya spoke
"You plotted against me…. Why!"
"I didn't plot against you….. "
"You withheld information from me that could have helped me"
"You knew the what the result could be once lord Däthedr learned of…..us"
"I didn't know Kayla's intentions"
"The result would have been the same if you knew them or not"
"For someone who feels guilty you are defending yourself rather strongly"
Eragon looked at her and she realized
"He feels bad but this isn't the reason for the guilt either"
"Eragon she manipulated you badly"
"I know" he said sadly
"If you knew then why did you let her!?"
"Because a part of me wanted her to succeed!" He said in a voice of self-disgust
Arya starred shocked at his response but knew she had found the source of his guilt
"You don't approve of me being queen do you?" She said with anger
"It isn't that simple!" He replied sharply
"Then explain!" Arya said hotly
Eragon's anger seemed to melt and his self-hatred had returned
"Arya you are a great queen for your people. You are kind and fair and selfless. I wish I possessed half your qualities, but so long as you are queen there will always be a wall between us I cannot breach. Your duty will always hold you in Alagaesia while mine will always remain here. I don't even know if I can return to Alagaesia at all and seeing you a few weeks every decade isn't enough."
"Are you saying this is over?" Arya said shocked
"No! far from it!" Eragon said desperately
"I wish I wasn't so selfish but…I need to ask….."
Eragon was clearly trying to tell her something that had been on his mind for a while. Something that was causing him great guilt
Arya suddenly realized what it was he was trying to ask her
"You want me to leave the throne." It was a statement not a question
Eragon nodded looking guilty " I love you Arya and I will do anything for you to be happy but it seems to me you are unhappy on the throne. You certainly seem happiest here than I have ever seen you. I can handle the constant separation of you remaining on the throne if I know you are happy but you clearly aren't…I don't know if I can handle this
Arya knew he was terrified he was going to lose her for good because of his actions
"I'm not going anywhere Eragon" she assured him
Eragon gave her a look of intense fear
"There is something else" Eragon spoke with a tone of self-hate
"The night you left I got drunk….very drunk…. I don't remember much but when I woke up…."
Tears began to fall from Eragon's face
"Kayla was next to me"
Arya stood quickly and walked to the door
"Arya! Wait!" Eragon called after her
But she was already down the stairs and out the door
What did you guys think
I hope you liked it! Next chapter will be out tomorrow!
As always let me know what you think!
Stay safe!