Part 9 – Decisions

"I'm still not sure." The young priestess said to Eragon as they walked back into the temple. Eragon looked sideways at her, he was still trying to figure out what he had seen in her eyes only a moment ago, but it still hadn't come to him.

"You know it's not as bad as you think." He said hoping to help her in some way but he wasn't as sure he was of any help.

"I don't want to fight because I don't want to hurt anyone who is innocent, and well… this may sound selfish but… I don't want to die…" she said whispering the last part feeling ashamed of what she said. Eragon chuckled a bit at what she had said; Khariaya snapped her head to him and frowned.

"What are you laughing at?" she snapped a little more harshly than she meant but she felt hurt when he laughed at her.

"No one wants to die, but you die when it's your time right?" he asked her glancing sideways at her smiling at her as well. Khariaya's cheeks reddened and she turned her head away slightly so Eragon wouldn't see.

"I guess your right, but I just want to be ready for when I die and not know if the next day will be my last." She said lowly as they walked along the side of the courtyard towards the building their rooms where in.

"I guess so, but I never really thought about it that way." Eragon said pondering weather he was ready to die, if tomorrow he was killed in a battle. He thought it over and glanced at Khariaya how didn't see him do so.

I know what your thinking little one. Saphira added in teasingly to Eragon's thoughts. Eragon snapped his head to look at her over his shoulder.

And what would that be? He asked sharply narrowing his eyes at her. Saphira laughed through their mental connection, but that made Eragon's frown grow deeper.

If you were to be killed tomorrow you wouldn't be ready to die. You think that you'll die unfulfilled in a way you never loved; you never got a chance with….Khariaya. Saphira replied smoothly creamy on the last part with a tone that made her sound all knowing. Eragon's eyes widened in the fact he did feel attracted to Khariaya in that way. But why? All this time and effort he spent his heart and affection over Arya, and suddenly those feelings have changed so drastically.

"Eragon?" Khariaya asked prying his attention from his inner thoughts, he blinked a couple of times and looked to Khariaya. He noticed that they were now standing infront of the building and he nodded. Saphira flew over to the other side of the building where Eragons room was to wait for him.

"What about you?" he asked turning to her when Khariaya didn't follow him to the building doors. Khariaya smiled to him and shook her head.

"I'm going to spend more time out here with Eviothx." She said motioning her hand for Eragon to go.

"You must be tired, don't worry." She said and turned back to Eviothx and glanced at him quickly over her shoulder before heading out to the sacred tree in the middle of the courtyard with Eviothx. Eragon watched her go then went in and headed off down the hallway to his own room.

Your thinking about it too much. Saphira said lazily as she watched Eragon pace from the bathroom to the the garden door for the hundredth time that evening. Eragon only glanced at her and paid her comment no mind. He sighed and fell down onto his futon bed lazily closing his eyes and sighing once more.

I don't get what happening to me! Eragon vented in frustration pulling a pillow over his face, almost hoping the pillow would absorb his problems and worries. Saphira sighed and gave a small laugh at him.

Your growing feelings for the priestess, whats so difficult about that? She asked him looking at him from where she lay. Saphira was laying on the low deck that wrapped around the building, the front half of her body was inside the room and her neck the turned to look at Eragon as he lay on his bed.

But I don't get how fast I've grown feelings for her that she's on my mind more than Arya is. Also why do I have feelings for her it doesn't fall into Angelena's fourtune telling. Khariaya isn't of noble birth. He reasoned with Saphira throwoing the pillow over to the side so he could breath once more. He stared up at the ceiling blankly as he thought waiting for Saphira to answer him.

But she's a priestess, it could be like a noble birth if you think that she is to become th next head priest. Saphira replied sleepily resting her head down her eyes now only half open.

But she wasn't born into a lingage of head priests or priestesses so that doesn't count. He said sitting up and looking at Saphira with firm eyes as she started to drift into sleep. Saphira cracked her eyes open more and looked at him.

Maybe. But we don't know of her blood line so we can't say for certain if she is of noble blood or not. Sapira siad as she closed her eyes and turned away from Eragon signaling to him she was going to sleep.

Eragon sighed again, Saphira was right neither of them could know if she was or wasn't of a noble birth. He remembered the medallion she had, if that could help her find out who her parents were then they would know.

Eragon stood up and walked to the door, it had been almost a couple of hours since he last saw her and he had a question to ask her. So he set off to go find Khariaya.

Eragon found her still in the courtyard with Eviothx, except not in the same state as before. Eviothx lay curled under the sacred tree his wing spread out covering his belly and legs, his head curled down around his body half asleep. The black dragon opened an eye as Eragon approached and lifted his head as he came closer.

Where's Khariaya? Eragon asked, even though he had a good idea of where she was. Eviothx raised the wing he had spread out revealing a sleeping Khariaya as she lay her back against Eviothx belly.

Eragon smield inwardly seeing her like that, and it made him remember when he slept like that against Saphira for warmth. He watched as Khariaya's chest rose and fell with her breathing and he shook his head slightly.

She seemed troubled when we parted. Eragon said to Eviothx and Eviothx looked at eragon for a second then to Khariaya.

She was but I think she knows what she must do. Eviothx replied still looking at the young priestess who moved in her sleep slightly. She raised a hand rubbed her eyes as they fluttered open and blinked a few times. She looked at Eragon then to Eviothx and smiled to them.

Sorry I must have fell asleep. She apologized siting up some more and looking to Eragon. Ergaon grinned back and shook his head slightly.

"That's fine Khariaya." He said and looked at Eviothx for a second then back at her feeling a bit nervous.

"I've made my decision." Khariaya said calmly looking straight into Eragon's eyes. Eragon was caught off guard that she was telling him now, but nodded to her to tell him. She sighed and opened her mouth to tell him her final decision.

"I will join you and the Varden."

Authors note: Yes I have decided to make it a Eragon/Khariaya fanfic. But don't worry about the details they are taken care off, and don't worry about what will happen to Arya I've got that covered too! Anyway please review with any thoughts, comments, or ideas they are always welcomed and appericated.