Part 8 – What to do?
The sun was low in the western sky when Khariaya's story had been retold and explained to the head priest Damion. She went into exact detail about certains times or situation over the time that she had kept Eviothx hidden in the forest. It was a long tale to tell and with many questions from the head priest, Arya and Eragon inbetween it took even longer to tell.
The head priest nodded to Khariaya once she finnished telling them her story. Her head bowed a bit then she looked back up at him trying to read his expression. He face reflect calm, collectivness as he thought. The priestesses hands gripped and ungripped as she rested then on her lap nervously.
"What do you plan to do?" he asked after a long silent pause. His head tilted up and his eyes looked straight into hers.
"I don't like to fight, but I don't suppose I have a choice." She said looking aound at Arya and Eragon before continuing. "The varden will want me on their side and that means I must fight."
"You don't have to join the varden. But if you don't you are in great danger, not to mention you don't have anyone to rely on, when Galbatroix comes to make you join his side. If he comes to find you, you won't be given a choice. He'll either kill you or make you join him." Arya explained to her calmly with little emotion showing in her voice. Khariaya nodded in response and was quiet for a minute.
"Can I have time to think it over?" she asked looking from Arya to Eragon then back again. She bit her lip nervously as she did not knowing what to expect in the response.
"Of course." Arya said shortly giving an encouraging grin to her. Khariaya gave a short nod and stood up walking silently over to the open door that looked out into the back gardens where Saphira and Eviothx stood in listening to them. Khariaya walked up to Eviothx and placed a hand at the base of his long neck and walked off slowly with him.
They all watched her leave without a word until she and Eviothx where out of sight. They then turned and looked at eachother his nervous and concerned eyes.
"This is a difficult situation we have here." Arya pointed out looking at Damion. The head priest nodded solemnly and looked up at her.
"I know. But it is her decision and I will support her with what she chooses." He said firmly leaving no room for arugment. But still Arya pressed onward.
"She lives in a Varden village, surely she is apart of the varden. And will-" Arya started but was cut off by the priest.
"Khariaya didn't have parents who lived in this village. Her mother left her in my care before she died, who and what her parents were are anyone's guess." He said firmly cutting Arya off. "Seeing as such she never declared if she sided with the Varden, even though she doesn't like or believe in Galbatroix's control and idea's of leadership."
Eragon felt what he said hit home, he never knew his parents or what they were as he grew up. He didn't remember their faces, or what they were like. And his uncle didn't speak much about his mother as he grew up. Only after his encounter with Murtagh was it revealed to him who his parents were. And even now it tore at a part of his heart he thought was safe from harm. Eragon abruptly stood up and walked out and followed the way Khariaya went, Saphira following behind him.
Khariaya sat just outside the temple near the steps leading down into the village, the sky was tinted a deep red as the sun set in the west. Eviothx lay on the rocky ledge between the temple wall and the steep edge of the hill the temple stood on. Khariaya drew her knees up to her chest and hugged her knees firmly with her legs.
What do you think Eviothx? She asked her companion quietly not prying her eyes from the view of the village under the red sky. Eviothx was quiet for a moment before answering her.
We have limited options, the Varden will protect us and train us like Eragon and Saphira, but if we don't want to fight then we should join them. But if we don't then Galbatroix will come after us eventually and it's like the elf said either we join him or die. The dragon answered after giving it some thought. Eviothx looked to Khariaya and she huffed leaning her head forward.
So we just don't have a choice. Fight or die, but if we fight we might die. She said frustrated and disappointed on how things turned out.
We could run but that would mean we would have no allies other then ourselves. No doubt we be pursued by Galbatroix, and won't find refuge with the elves or Varden easily. Eviothx pointed out with a huff back trying to make a point that she was over working herself. Khariaya smiled slightly at that and nodded to herself.
"You must be confused right now." Came a voice from behind her. Khariaya knew who the voice belonged to; she looked over her shoulder at Eragon as he stood there. He walked forward a stride and sat beside her on the step. Saphira laying comfortably in the Temple entrance gates and looked to Eviothx who lay on the ledge a few feet away. Khariaya merely nodded in response and looked back out onto the view.
"You know… I didn't know anything about my parents either." He said slowly in a low voice, a tone of sadness showed in his voice. Khariaya looked sideways at him slightly shocked at what she heard.
"I take it you now know about them." She said quietly, Eragon nodded back not looking at her.
"I found out through the blood brother I never knew I had. My father was Morzan; he was one I grew to hate early in my days as a Dragon Rider. But then I found out he was my father and I just wanted to die, knowing his blood flowed in my veins. My mother Selena gave me to her brother, my uncle, to keep me safe from him." Eragon said only looking at Khariaya he was finished talking. Khariaya nodded to him and sighed.
"I only know one thing about my parents." She said reached to her neck and pulling out a necklace from under her priestess hario. Strung on the string was a golden medallion with symbols and patterns formed into it. In the middle lay a red jewel that gleamed in the last of the suns rays.
"My mother left this with me when she brought me here. Damion told me that she told him, that it would help me find my way home. But I don't know how it will do that." She said looking at the medallion in her hand, before putting it back.
"Maybe some day you will be able to find your way home and your family." Eragon suggested to her and Khariaya nodded with a hopeful grin. She looked to Eragon and smiled at him, and there Eragon saw something reflecting deep in her eyes. Something he found strange but it disappeared to fats for him to recognize it.
"Thank you Eragon." She happily and stood up and offered her hand out to him. "We should go in now."
Eragon nodded and took her hand and she helped him up. The two looked to theirs dragons who had been talking to each other about their life experiences and Saphira told Eviothx about the different stuff she had learned. They stopped talking when they noticed the two humans looking at them and followed them back inside just as the set finished setting, and the stars began to shine in the night sky.
Author's Note:I know last chapter was short I hoped to make up in this chapter for it! >. I'm debating with myself to make an Eragon/Khariaya pairing in this fiction. But I need your advice, do you guys like the idea or should it be Eragon/Arya and a Khariaya/OOC? I have it planned out to go either way but right now I really thinking about a Eragon/Khariaya pairing but I need you help to decide! Please reviews with your thoughts on this!
Translator note:
Hario - A japanese top, much like a kimono but is formed like a shirt.