REALIZATION
Summary
After the battle of the Burning Plains, Arya's heart helps her relinquish her hold on her former mate and points her toward the one she was destined to love.
Note
This is just a short story.
Arya sat in her tent after the battle on the Burning Plains and thought of Eragon. When he hadn't returned from the rock ledge where he'd been fighting Murtagh, both she and Nasuada had thought he was dead. The thought had brought an unexpected feeling of loss and heartache that had frightened Arya.
This cannot be, Arya thought, hugging her knees to her chest. He is young and I am old. He is a human and I am an elf. He is a rider and I am a princess. He is not a fit match. I cannot love him!
Her thoughts whirled around in her head as she tried to reason with her heart which was almost as stubborn as Saphira at times. The thought of Eragon's dragon made Arya smile. They would always have one another. Saphira would never hurt Eragon as she had hurt him.
With a groan, Arya flopped back onto her pillows.
What about Faolin? Her head shrieked.
Faolin would have wanted you to be happy, her heart replied. He would not want you to cling to the past, Arya. You know yourself that holding onto his memory will not bring him back. Move on and take comfort in someone who can love you from Earth and not the void.
Arya's eyes filled with tears.
I don't want to let him go. A part of me keeps hoping that if I hold on tight enough and miss him hard enough, Faolin will be sent back to me.
Arya, her heart said gently, he is not coming back.
The tears slid down Arya's face as she realized that her heart was right. No matter how hard she clung to Faolin, he would never return to be her mate again. She had to move on, and there was a young man across the plains that had promised her everything, and told her he would do anything to win her hand. This young man she had spurned with little regret, unaware that she had loved him all along.
Arya stood and left her tent. She knew where she was going. Her legs carried her over the baked ground, past tents of sleeping warriors toward a giant sapphire blue dragon asleep outside a small, two-man tent.
When she reached it, Saphira raised her head and blinked at her.
"It's about time," she said before closing her eyes and going back to sleep.
Arya crept quietly into the tent and over to Eragon's blankets. Without a sound she pulled them back and slid in beside him.
Eragon stirred as he felt someone lie down beside him. Turning his head he was stunned to find that the person was Arya.
Arya stared at Eragon who was now fully awake.
"Arya," he breathed.
Arya put a finger to her lips and motioned toward the sleeping Roran.
"Speak to me in your mind."
Eragon did so.
"Arya, what has gotten into you? Are you sleepwalking? Am I dreaming?"
With a smile Arya sent a sharp mental probe into Eragon's mind, pinching him hard at the same time. Eragon swore and pulled away slightly, only to roll even closer to her.
"You're not dreaming. I'm here to tell you that I have wronged you. It has been you all along, Eragon, I just never allowed myself to realize it. I thought it was Faolin I was still in love with, when in truth it was you. Will you forgive me, my love?"
There was a pause. Then Eragon leaned over and captured Arya's lips with his own. She melted against him, her arms winding around his neck as he caressed her back and stroked her midnight hair.
"Yes, Arya my love," Eragon whispered in her ear when they finally parted, "I forgive you."
His lips came down on hers once more, and Arya knew, despite what her race believed, that there was a Heaven somewhere, and hers was right here in Eragon's arms.
