Chapter 32 is here as promised!
Thank you to everyone who viewed the story!
Guest: Yes, it is, I had an entire segment that went through Arya's thoughts and feelings during last chapter but scrapped it because I didn't like the random switch of POV. I might use parts of it in a flashback or something IDK yet. That was my first attempt at that type of scene so I by no means think it is great or anything but I am reasonably happy with the result.
As always voice your opinions about how great or terrible something is!
Enjoy the chapter!
Eragon's POV
Eragon stood upon a small boat. Wind whipped around him as he stood among the several other travelers, forcing him to pull the cloak he wore tighter around his body. The boat rocked slightly as it cut through the waves. Eragon watched as Mount Arngor slowly faded from view and wondered for the hundredth time.
"Am I making a mistake?"
He tried to shake his doubts as the boat continued to move westward. His thoughts drifted to the events of the last few weeks and a mix of feelings overtook him as he remembered the last time he had seen Arya Drottning.
Tomorrow had come as it always did and as light shone upon their forms Eragon could hear the birds begin to chirp and the forest woke as a new day began. Eragon tried to ignore the clear signs as he pulled Arya tighter to him, not daring to let go as he selfishly prolonged their intimacy.
"It seems you had an enjoyable night" Saphira said to him with a laugh
Eragon's ears reddened slightly at his dragon's words but couldn't help the smile that grew across his face
"I did" He admitted "Although you can hardly talk" he responded
"I am not teasing you" She said gently "I am happy for you"
"I know"
Silence engulfed them for a moment before Eragon spoke again
"I wish they did not have to leave"
"As do I, but there is nothing we can do to stop them. Let us enjoy these last few hours while we can"
Saphira's mind withdrew somewhat from his and Eragon refocused on the goddess that lay next to him. To his surprise she lay awake and gave him a short smile. They didn't speak but Eragon sensed she loathed to break their embrace.
Arya allowed them to lay together for longer than he expected and Eragon knew she hated to leave as much as he did.
Finally, she sat up and spoke
"I must go, Eragon"
She said it with such reluctance that Eragon almost wanted to argue with her to stay for just one more night but stopped himself. There was no need to make their separation worse.
Eragon let go of her and began to put on his clothes that had been strewn about. His body ached at the loss of contact and he wondered how he was to handle months or years without her.
Eragon was glad he had clothed when he did because as he donned his tunic, he saw Kayla approaching them. He glanced to Arya who was donning her own tunic and Eragon felt a slight warmth spread to his face as Kayla approached. Eragon hoped she hadn't seen anything although it was painfully obvious what had happened. Eragon's hair was unkempt and matted and Arya had dirt on her arms and legs and her hair was knotted.
Kayla approached and bowed to Eragon and said
"Ebrithil"
Eragon inclined his head to Kayla in response as she turned to Arya and spoke
"I am prepared to leave whenever you wish, Drottning"
Eragon watched as Kayla's eyes shifted from the dirt that coated Arya's pale skin and Eragon's messy hair and her face flushed slightly as she finished speaking.
Arya nodded
"I plan to leave within the hour, I only wish to bathe and change, and we will be off"
Her voice betrayed none of the emotions that Eragon felt through their still connected link.
Kayla nodded and all three of them started the long walk along the forest path back to the city.
The walk was silent but Eragon and Arya held a private mental conversation as the three of them walked.
"Must you leave so soon?" Eragon asked
"I must, the longer I am away the stronger Dathedr's hold on the throne grows"
Eragon understood the logic behind this but it did nothing to quell the heaviness that had begun to lay upon his chest
Eragon refocused on Kayla, who walked a few paces ahead of him. He found it hard to believe this was the very same elf he had known only a few years ago. She was more mature, and she seemed more in control of herself and her emotions than before. Most importantly it seemed her anger and frustration from her younger years had evaporated and her compassion had grown immeasurably in that short span. He mentioned his observations to Arya who responded.
"It is remarkable how a person can change so much in a short amount of time. I think Murtagh had a more profound impact on her than we realized"
"Yes, I think his own experience helped her immensely"
They were silent for a moment as they exited the forest and entered onto the busy street. Kayla bade them goodbye as they turned onto the street as she stated she had one more thing to attend to before they left.
Eragon and Arya made there way to their rooms and Arya gave him a quick smile before entering her room with
"See you in an hour"
True to her word, Eragon stood upon a small cliff not even an hour later as the elves and riders bade their goodbyes to Kayla, Arya and Firnen. Only Eragon and Murtagh knew of the true reasons they were leaving. The rest of the group dispersed and left Eragon, Murtagh, Saphira and Thorn with them.
Murtagh stepped forward and embraced Kayla and they had a quick conversation that Eragon didn't catch.
Kayla turned to Eragon and to her surprise, Eragon also embraced her briefly before pulling back and speaking to her.
"We have had our differences in the past Kayla, but you have grown and matured into a great friend. Keep yourself and the others safe while you are gone"
It was simple but Kayla looked shocked
Kayla seemed at a lost for words for a moment before quickly pulling an object from her bag and tossing it at Arya, who caught it, startled
Eragon recognized it as a flask of faelnirv and looked at Arya questioningly
Arya laughed and smiled at Kayla before pocketing the flask.
Arya walked over to Eragon and all she said in explanation was
"An old debt she owed me"
Eragon didn't really understand this but didn't ask
Arya wrapped his arms around him in a tight embrace before pulling away and kissing him softly.
Eragon was surprised at this and whispered in her ear
"What of Kayla?"
Arya gave him an amused look
"She already knows, I think that today made that pretty obvious."
he ran his hand along her black hair and caught a glimpse of Kayla behind them who was pointedly looking everywhere but at them
"True, and Murtagh?"
"I think we can trust him to keep a secret for a little while longer"
Murtagh was watching from a distance with a small smile upon his face
"Very well, but I will speak to him to ensure he remains quiet"
Arya nodded and as had become tradition, whispered his true name in his ear and Eragon felt himself shiver in her arms before he responded, and she shivered in response.
Arya muttered one more thing into his ear
"Once I am home again, you may tell whomever you wish"
Eragon smiled wide and kissed her forehead tenderly before she withdrew and Eragon watched as she and Kayla mounted Firnen. Eragon reached out and connected with Arya's mind who let him in immediately.
Saphira spoke to all of them
"May the winds be fair and the sun be forever at your back"
Eragon spoke out loud and simply said to all three of them
"We await your return"
Arya smiled at this, but Kayla gave him an odd look that he couldn't quite distinguish. He didn't have time to ponder as Firnen lifted off and with a roar, climbed into the clouds. Eragon held the connection with Arya for as long as he could until he could barely feel her. He spoke to her then and said simply
"I love you"
Faintly he heard her respond
"I love you"
Before the connection was broken
Eragon began to feel a familiar ache the second the connection broke
He walked over to Murtagh who was chuckling to himself
"So, you and the queen, huh? Forgive me but you guys are a bit obvious"
Eragon glared at him but despite his sorrow he was laughing as well
"Not a word to anyone" He said in a serious tone, but a smile had donned his face
"Eragon, I think they already suspect. Even I have heard rumors and I haven't even been here a more than a month!"
"Suspecting and knowing are completely different things, as you well know."
Murtagh nodded and tried to act serious
"My mouth is sealed; you have my word"
Eragon nodded in thanks and Murtagh spoke again as he mounted Thorn
"Come on Eragon! Bargin hasn't trained with you in so long I think he has forgotten that you are still his teacher"
Eragon laughed and responded
"It's true, I haven't seen him train in person in ages"
Eragon mounted Saphira and they took off after Thorn.
Little did he know that would be the last shred of happiness he would have for quite some time.
That night was the first of a nightmarish hell that he experienced every time he slept.
Eragon stood in the middle of a large hall. Elven bodies lay all around him as Dathedr stood in the middle of the room. Arya lay before him, covered in cuts and bruises. She was bleeding profusely from a gash on her head and her sword lay limply at her side. Daethdr turned and looked at him. A cold smile grew on his face as he drew his sword, "Too late Shadeslayer" he said before his sword swung and impaled Arya in the chest."
Eragon screamed as he awoke, his mind raced as he lay in his bed. Even though it had been weeks since Arya had left, he never gotten used to the empty space next to dream haunted him like no other had before. Every time his eyes shut, he found himself staring at the same scene. At first Eragon had confided in Saphira who suggested it was a result of the poison as well as Arya being gone. Eragon had not accepted this view though. The poison had only shown memories and Eragon had certainly never seen this before. His fear and anxiety had only increased as the days passed, and the events of the dream became more and more plausible. Saphira suggested to speak to the Eldunari for advice but Eragon had refused. He had no wish for the Eldunari to lose any more confidence in him than they already had.
What was worse was Eragon hadn't heard from Arya since she had left. It wasn't surprising as they had only been gone a few weeks and once they entered Du Weldenvarden they would be unable to contact each other, But it still concerned him.
Eragon had began sleeping less and less as the days and weeks passed. The vison grew worse and worse as time went on. He was constantly exhausted, and the constant stress was taking a toll, and it was starting to impact his daily life severely. He was unfocused and unmotivated, and people began to take notice.
Murtagh pulled him aside after a sparring session about a month and a half after Arya had left. Murtagh had beaten Eragon far too easily even though Eragon was a superior fighter in almost every aspect.
"Eragon, something is terribly wrong with you" Murtagh said factually
"You look dead on your feet"
"I'm fine Murtagh" Eragon said annoyed as he rubbed the circles under his eyes
He didn't want anyone thinking he was weak or incapable of being lead rider
"Let us go again" Eragon said trying to sound enthusiastic but Murtagh studied him before lowering his sword
"No" Murtagh said firmly "There are rumors swirling that you are cracking Eragon. You need to figure this out and if you will not tell me what is wrong then you need to find someone you can speak to"
Eragon lay in his bed that night as he stared into the ceiling and thought to himself
"How pathetic, Eragon Kingkiller is afraid of simple dreams"
A voice suddenly spoke in his head and Eragon startled slightly as Uramoth spoke to him
"There is nothing pathetic about it Eragon. Our minds are often our worst enemies. They know every dark fear and worry we hold and can lay them before you."
Eragon shook his head as he tried to focus his tired mind
"What can I do for you, Ebrithil?" Eragon asked the old dragon
"Nothing Eragon, it is my turn to do something for you….. Saphira has informed me of your constant visons"
Eragon cursed out loud at these words and vowed to speak to Saphira about this as soon as he could
"Do not blame your Dragon for looking after your wellbeing. It is often the ones closest to us who know what we need more than we do ourselves"
Eragon breathed deeply before asking
"Master, you called these visons, do you believe that what I am experiencing is the future?"
"I do not know if it is a vison or a dream or a warning, but I do know this, YOU believe this is real, Do you not?"
Eragon nodded and said
"I do"
"Then my opinion does not matter does it?" He responded with a small chuckle
Eragon was dumbfounded
"Of course, your opinion matters! You are one of the wisest of the order!"
Uramoth laughed at his outburst
"I am thankful you think so Eragon, but tell me, If I told you that I believe these are only dreams, would it change how you feel at all?"
Eragon's silence seemed to be enough of an answer for the great dragon
"The only person who can help you, is you. Tell me Eragon, what do you your instincts tell you to do?"
"I don't know!" Eragon said frustrated
"Yes, you do, little one, you are only afraid of what we will think of your decision"
It was not Uramoth who spoke, but Saphira.
"I already know your decision Eragon. You have been pondering it for quite some time. I am simply waiting for you to say it out loud"
Eragon felt slightly cornered but spoke confidently
"My instincts tell me that I am needed elsewhere. That something big is happening in Alagaesia and I am a crucial part of it"
Eragon paused and his confidence vanished
"But I cannot go, I am needed here. The dragons and elves-"
"Will get on without you for a time. Murtagh can handle your duties for a short time." Uramoth said
"What of the wild dragons? Our relationship is delicate, and I do not feel comfortable with anyone but me or Saphira dealing with them."
"I quite agree Eragon, and that is why I will not be joining you" Saphira said quietly
Eragon was flabbergasted and Saphira spoke again
"I hate it as much as you do but it is the only course of action."
Eragon took a moment to collect himself before shakily speaking
"Very well, but if Saphira is remaining here then how am I getting to Alagaesia?"
"A boat leaves for Silthrim in two days' time. Once there it is a straightforward journey to Ellesmera"
"And if I get there and all is normal?"
"Then you can return knowing your dreams are unfounded and the real Eragon can return"
Saphira said softly
Finally, Eragon relented and as he did so he felt himself smile despite everything
He was returning home
Eragon was shaken from his haze as a particularly large wave crashed into the boat causing him to stumble slightly. He made his way below decks and climbed into a small cot. He shut his eyes and prayed for a dreamless sleep although he knew it was unlikely.
His final thought before his awareness vanished was
"Time to see if Angela was right"
Hopefully you guys enjoyed the chapter!
We are in the final stretch! By my estimation there will be about 7-10 chapters left as well as an epilogue!
Thanks for everything guys!
Stay safe!