Part 15 –Matters of the Heart

"What are you doing out here, Roy?" Khariaya asked completely confused as she looked at the man standing before her. Roy stared at her for a moment not saying anything, Khariaya was about to speak when he finally talked.

"I…Love you Khariaya…" he said slowly. Khariaya was shocked when he said this she wondered if it was the alcohol talking or was it him. She shook her head knowing it must have been his drinking that made him say that and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You've had too much to drink… you don't know what you're saying-" she started but was cut off as Roy firmly grabbed her by her arms and pushed her against the wall. The priestess gasped out in pain and shock as he hit her against the wall enough for it to hurt her and knock the air out of her. She looked at Roy with wide eyes as he stared straight into her eyes with his and his body was very close to hers.

"NO!" he shouted loudly at her stopping Khariaya from trying to say something else. She stared at her with anger in his yes that frightened Khariaya. "I do love you! I've loved you since we were young! I won't let him take you!" he shouted again at her his hands squeezing her arms tightly, Khariaya winced feeling his nails breaking through her clothing and scratch her skin.

"Who?" she asked quietly confused why he said some one would take her away.

"I act dumb; I can see how you look at Eragon! I can see you want him and I see he wants you too. I won't let him take what is mine!" he shouted angrily gripping her arms like a vice his nails digging into her skin and she shook her by her arms unknowingly hitting her more against the wall again knocking the air from her lungs. Tears sprang to her eyes and she whimpered in pain, she knew she would use the ancient words and free herself. But it was either fear or the will not to hurt him that stopped her.

"I won't let him have you, he may be a Rider but he won't care for you like I will! Your mine!" Roy shouted once again and leaned in and Khariaya's eyes grew wide as she tried to wiggle free but he was too strong for her. She turned her head to the side trying to avoid the kiss he was trying to give her. Instead his kiss landed just below her jaw line, Roy in his drunken state ignored her struggles and kissed along her jaw line.

"Roy! Stop please!" Khariaya pleaded finally finding her voice. Roy bit her neck trying to get her to be quite as he moved in closer to her. Tears feel from her eyes like a small waterfall as he tried to free herself, but became pinned under Roy's body.

"Stop!" she cried out again feeling his body weight on her restricting her air supply. Roy either didn't hear or ignored her cries for him to stop. Khariaya felt all her hope slip away as she gasped for breath as she tried to fight him off.

Eragon had noticed that Khariaya had been gone for a bit and that now Roy was gone too. Deciding to go look for then he stood up and slowly made his way out of the pub a few elves stopping him to ask him questions and others things like that. After answering a few and walking by the rest he made his way to the front of the pub. Not seeing Khariaya or Roy anywhere he began to wonder where they might have gone.

He walked outside deciding that so cool fresh air would do him some good and maybe Khariaya and Roy were outside doing the same. Stepping outside he looked up at the stars lost in his thoughts as he gazed at them. He concentration was soon broken when girl's cry filled his ears.

"Roy! Stop please!" the first cry went jerking Eragon's attention from the stars and he looked around. Recognizing Khariaya's voice he knew from the tone she was in trouble. He looked around but didn't see her anywhere.

"Stop!" came another one of her cries and Eragon looked to hi left at the alley way. No matter how confused he was as too why her voice was coming from there he followed her voice. What he saw disgusted him and made his blood boil with anger. He saw Roy pinning Khariaya to the wall his hands digging into her arms as blood staining her pure white priestess top, her face was stained with tear as she struggled slightly under him and Roy was kissing the side of her neck and jaw line.

Eragon sprang forward and grabbed Roy by his shoulder and pulled him off of Khariaya, he saw her out of the corner of his eye sink down to the ground. Roy looked dazed and confused on what just happened and Eragon seethed with anger, he knew that it may have just been the drinks that did this to him and made him do it but it would never go unpunished by him. Eragon punched him in the stomach and Roy fell to the ground clutching his stomach. He looked down on him making sure he wasn't going to be moving anytime soon and turned to the girl behind him.

Khariaya was on her knees her arms wrapped around her herself as her body was racked with sobs and tears fell down her socked cheeks. Eragon kneeled beside her and he reached out and touched her lightly. At first she flinched and Eragon felt his heart sink, then her head lifted and looked at him. She then threw herself into his arms and cried against his chest.

Eragon was surprised by this but wrapped his arms around her to comfort her. He rocked her in his arms trying to sooth her in any way he could, slowly her sobs slowed down and she loosened her grip on him. She pulled her head back her eyes shined with tears as she looked at him.

"I'm sorry…" she whispered as another sob came from her. She gasped when she felt Eragon take her once again into his arms and softly stroked her hair.

"Don't be sorry. It wasn't your fault." He said holding her firmly to his chest. Hearing a small groan from Roy behind him Eragon turned letting go of Khariaya so that he was between them both in case, Roy tried to do anything again. Roy looked up and saw Eragon with Khariaya and his eyes flared with anger, his eyes turned to Khariaya and she pulled back behind Eragon not wanting him to look at her.

"I meant what I said Khariaya, every word of it. I won't let you go and not to him." Roy said looking to Eragon when he said 'him'. Roy then stood up and left stumbling a few times along the way. Eragon became curious when Roy said that and turned back to the priestess who was looking at the ground.

"What did he-" Eragon started to say when Khariaya cut him off.

"Can we go back home?" she asked meaning the place they were staying in. Eragon stopped and nodded to her and picked her up to carry her back. Khariaya protested at first and demanded that he let her go but Eragon wouldn't listen to her and she gave up.

When they got back Eragon was hailed with questions from both of their dragons, Eviothx demanded what happened to her saying she was blocking him out. Eragon sighed and told them both now wasn't the time to explain, which angered Eviothx, Saphira understood that Eragon would explain later.

Eragon went to Khariaya's room and pushed the door open and walked in. He lay Khariaya on her bed and kneeled beside it and looked at her.

"Do you need anything?" he asked, the priestess just shook her head in reply and then Eviothx came in and walked over beside her bed as well. Khariaya looked to her dragon with sad eyes and then to Eragon.

"I think I should just get some sleep." She said weakly. Eragon sighed and nodded to her and stood up looking to Eviothx as he made himself comfortable by Khariaya's side and lay his head beside her on the bed. Eragon turned and walked out of the room.

Khariaya watched Eragon leave and close the door behind him, she then slipped under her covers and rolled to her side to look at Eviothx. He didn't ask her anything and looked to her and nuzzled her with his head and Khariaya smiled half heartedly and run a hand from the top of his head down to his nose and back again. She slowly slipped into the dark world of dreams.