So I couldn't take waiting anymore :p, lucky for you all I've decided to upload this chapter! The one you've all be waiting for! And I must tell you that the next one is halfway done so it shall be up soon and the one after that one (I'm really excited for that one) shall be done as well because I've outlined and thought ahead for that SPECIFIC chapter. Can't you tell that I'm excited? Anyways, read ahead and do enjoy yourselves :)

Eragon was alone when he woke.

He opened his eyes and stared at the carved ceiling of the tree house he and Saphira shared. Outside, night still reigned and he could hear the sounds of the elves' revels float through the teardrop hole in the tree that Saphira usually flew through. Before he could analyze the situation more clearly, Saphira leapt into his mind, radiating concern and anxiety. An image passed to him of her standing beside Eridor and Islanzadi at the Menoa tree, then she asked, How are you?

I feel as if someone tried to bash my right eye out…though aside from that I feel better than I've felt in a long time. How long have I been out?

Only an hour. I would've stayed by your side, but they needed me as well as the other dragons and Oromis to complete the ceremony. You should have seen the elves' reaction when both you and Murtagh fainted. Another image passed to him, this time of he and Murtagh lying on the ground as the elves' gasps filled the air. Arya, he saw was bent over him as well as two other elves. Nothing like this has occurred before.

Did you cause this, Saphira?

Not entirely. The memories of our race, which were given form and substance by the elves' magic, anointed you with what skill we dragons possess, for you are our best hope to avoid extinction.

I see.

Rest and recover, Eragon, and I shall rejoin you at dawn.

No, that's not necessary. Spend your time with Eridor, I'm sure he'll appreciate your company greatly.

A warm feeling from Saphira radiated through him before she left. Getting to his feet, Eragon stretched and went to the wash closet. There he retrieved the mirror he used for shaving and brought it into the light of a nearby lantern trying to see if his right eye was still there. The image that greeted him, however, made him freeze in shock.

His physical appearance that had differentiated him between and a human and an elf was blurred away, almost gone. Instead, the face that stared back at him was a slender face that was smooth and angled as any elves. His skin glowed lightly in the darkness as if emitting magic. When Saphira had changed him, he looked like an elf but there were features that made him stand out: his strong jaw, thick brows, and broad face. But now they were all gone. He was the fairest of any human and even in an elf's view, could be considered beautiful. Who was he now?

His right eye was what threw him off the most. In the brown of his iris, a violet symbol glowed menacingly. In the shape of a six pointed star, it looked as if it was burned into his eye. With trembling fingers, Eragon reached up to touch his eye. What was this? An enchantment? A spell? That was when he felt an empty calm settle over him. It must have locked the spirit away for the moment. That was why his mind felt so at ease, so peaceful. A feeling of pure elation washed over him. He was finally going to have a peace of mind for once in his life.

He dropped the mirror on the bed and garbed himself in his finest clothes: a sapphire tunic stitched with silver thread; a belt studded with white jade; warm, ebony leggings; and a pair of cloth boots favored by elves.

Descending the tree, Eragon wandered the shadows of Ellesmera and observed the elves carousing in the fever of the night. None of them recognized him, though they greeted him as one of their own and invited him to share in their saturnalias.

Not making it to the glade where the Menoa tree stood, he continued to wander throughout the forest, finally able to enjoy a sense of freedom without having to worry about having an attack on his mind. The trees seem more beautiful and the leaves a dark shade of emerald. Everything seemed much more enjoyable now than they did a week ago. Weaving in and out of trees, he came to slowly admire the elves' and their love for the forest. It was peaceful, nothing was screaming in his mind to cause him to have any aversion to the plant life about him. Following his instincts rather than his mind, he emerged into a clearing.

Moving out of the canopies of the trees, his eyes drifted upwards to the dark night sky where the constellations shined brightly done on them. It was as if he was seeing them for the first time that day. He had always stared at the stars, even as a child, but it wasn't until now did he truly see them. They were like diamonds dotted across a vast sea of ebony. Remembering what his mother used to say to him as a child, a pang of loneliness gripped his heart. He was sure that she would've loved to come and see the city of Ellesmera. He was going to take her one day. Once the war was over.

As he stood there thinking, the sound of footsteps on the ground alerted him to the presence of someone. It was feather light but it was enough to stand out in the stark silence of the clearing. Accompanying the footsteps was the intoxicating smell of crushed pine needles. He turned as Arya emerged into the clearing. As much as he was startled by her presence, her own reaction to his was much greater.

Arya looked at him and he felt as if she saw him for the first time. Her eyes widened, and she whispered, "Is that you, Eragon?"

He smiled, no doubt the expression out of place on his features, glad that at least Arya could recognize him for who he was underneath his new appearance. "My appearance may have changed but my identity is still the same. I'm grateful that you can recognize me, Arya." He frowned when his voice came out lighter and more melodious than he was used to.

"What have they done to you?"

"That I know not." His frown deepened as he thought of his distaste for the sound of his new vocals.

She came to him, her feet gliding over the forest ground with the grace of a dancer. Coming to a stop before him, he stared down into the emerald of her eyes knowing that she was taking in the violet glow of his own right eye. "I can assure you that my right eye is unharmed. The glow will fade away eventually."

Her expression showed that she believed otherwise but she remained silent on the matter before gesturing for him to follow her. Together, the two of them wandered the dense woods, which echoed with fragments of music and voices from the festivities. Little was said between them but the silence was not awkward. It was comfortable and soothing. They stopped on a bank of a narrow stream so clear, it was invisible in the faint light. The only thing that betrayed its presence was the throaty gurgle of water pouring over rocks. Around them the thick pines formed a cave with their branches, concealing Eragon and Arya from the world and muffling the cool, still air.

They stood there for a moment before Eragon spoke. "I can imagine how Murtagh looks now. If anything, he looks more elf and the weal and scar that Durza had given him should be gone."

"He must be overjoyed." Arya said.

Eragon nodded. "No doubt, it would give him some security in that he isn't the weakest human or the strongest elf."

"And you, Eragon? What of your abilities?"

He hadn't thought of that before. His curiosity piqued by Arya's question, he bent down to scoop up a handful of rocks from the side of the stream. And with a moderate amount of pressure, closed his hand around it in the form of a first. The sound of grinding met his ears and when he opened it, dust covered his hand. "It seems as if my abilities have reached a paramount level."

"That it does."

Silence settled over them again before Eragon who spoke. "I heard from Murtagh that you were planning of leaving Ellesmera to return to the Varden, Arya."

"I am." He waited for her to explain. "I've tarried here for far too long. My training as a Rider may be great but I also have to fulfill my duties as ambassador of my race. I've already spoken to Oromis and he has agreed that I've enough wisdom and knowledge to forgo my training temporarily."

He nodded before turning to face her. "In that case, I shall also be accompanying you on your way back to the Varden." Said Eragon. Six days ago, he had came to the conclusion that though he was under Oromis's training in Ellesmera that he had to fulfill his own duty to Nasuada as her vassal. He was glad for the months that he had spent in Ellesmera and he would never forget the generosity of the elves during his stay but he couldn't bring himself to ignore reality anymore.

Her expression was one of shock as she took in the information, "But your training—"

"I don't require anymore training than you, Arya," Eragon said. "Do not forget that I grew up underneath Galbatorix's tutelage. If anything, I may know more about the Riders than you." He smiled slightly, knowing that the thought of it might displease her. "I've already spoke to Oromis and Islanzadi Drottning, though displeased, they agreed on the necessity of my return to the Varden."

She didn't say anything else, but he could tell that she was slightly irritated by the lateness of him telling her his decision. Suddenly remembering something, he bent down on the ground again and began to lightly sing in the ancient language, still alienated to his own voice. He was sure that in the grounds of the forest, there laid the one object that he needed. Again and again, he quietly sang. It was slow at first, a stem slowly rose from the soil, lengthening until it began the decent height and a single petal grew in the center of the stem. Continuing his song, he watched as a white rose matured before his very eyes, perfect and beautiful as his mother often sang when he was a child.

Once he was done, he gently reached forward and with a spell cut the stem diagonally as close as he could to the ground. Gripping the white rose, he stood and turned to Arya and handed it to her. "It's not a Black Mourning Glory, but…" he smiled and shrugged.

"You should not have," she said. "But I'm glad you did." She accepted the flower and softly caressed the petals, an emotion crossing her face. Lifting to smell its scent, he watched as her posture relaxed to the utmost without a burden on her shoulder weighing her down. And for that he was glad for once morning came, they would both be journeying back to the land of cold reality.

"A symbol of our friendship," said Eragon. Arya nodded, her eyes bright.

Turning away from her, he caught his faint image in the stream and just a little his mood soured lightly. How was his mother going to react? He didn't look anything like he used to be and it saddened him somewhat that even as he grew slowly his identity began to leave him to be replaced by a mold of himself carved and shaped by the individuals about him.

"Is something bothering you, Eragon?" He turned to Arya, subconsciously pulling at his skin as if trying to rip it off to find the person underneath. Rip off this fake skin…suddenly remembering those words, he dropped his hand.

"I don't feel like myself." Eragon replied honestly. "Everything about me seems like a different person. My appearance…my voice…" he trailed off unable to hold off the nostalgia of who he was and how he looked like originally. It pained him to no end. "I'm grateful for the gift, truly, but I just wished that I could remain who I am and be seen for the person rather than the image."

As he spoke she remained quiet, glancing down at the rose in her hand. And it just wasn't a matter of who he was but what he was. Was he human? Was he elven? Or was he a hybrid of both? So many questions and so little answers. "Eragon," he turned to find Arya staring at him intently and raised a brow. The next words she spoke struck him to the core. "I see you."

It was as if one of the dragon's tails slammed into him, knocking him out of breath as he stood there staring at Arya in shock. His mind took a moment to process what she said and when it did he felt as if he was going to cry from relief or warmth. But he didn't. Instead he stood there, rooted to the spot as he stared back at Arya. She had meant it, for she saw deep down who he was, what he desired, and what he chose to believe in. After a moment, Eragon said just as quietly, "As I see you, Arya."

An emotion flashed in her eyes before disappearing leaving the two of them to gaze at one another as if trying to figure the other out. That was when he felt it, a warm—no, heated emotion coming from Saphira through the thin connection between their minds. An image flashed in his head of her baiting Eridor in an area away from the Menoa tree. Eridor snapped back at her but not in an offensive manner but rather like a game between the two. Then it quickly passed. A smile slowly stretched its way on his face.

Before him, Arya stood smiling as well, and for once, he thought she truly looked happy. And he had to admit that she looked beautiful as she did so. "It seems like the two of them have finally decided," murmured Eragon.

She nodded, her long hair caressing her skin as she glanced up at the sky as if expecting them to be up there. Eragon followed her gaze. A minute later, he heard a roar echo through the night followed by a jet of azure flames that lighted the night sky revealing Saphira. Another roar followed in response, this time deep and masculine and to both his and Arya's surprise, a torrent of emerald flames shot through the darkness, briefly showing Eridor's form.

"Oh!" exclaimed Arya, sounding delighted. "That's the first time he has breathed fire!"

"It certainly won't be the last," said Eragon to Arya's light amusement as she continued to stare up at the sky, her eyes following the barely visible figures of the two dragons. Farther off, he could hear the cheers of the elves, no doubt happy to hear such sounds again in their quiet forest.

He felt himself smile faintly at the two dragons and their new founded happiness in one another. Though seeing that the slight emotions he felt from Saphira were so alien to him, he couldn't help but feel his ears grow hot. Arya, was also staring up at the sky with a faint smile, and her eyes shone brighter than usual, as if the sight of the two dragons filled her with pride and happiness.

Torrents of fire filled the sky once more before the dragons turned to fly off together. Standing there with Arya, he felt a stronger connection to her more than he did moments before. A connection that he was sure she felt as well. It was so strong, so deep that the feeling filled his heart to the brim of her and Eridor. Still glancing up at the sky, he chuckled. "I'm happy for them, though I hope Saphira could restrain her feelings. It is rather uncomfortable."

"It's beautiful." Said Arya.

"Though the courting of dragons is no gentle affair," he said to Arya.

"Did you expect soft words and gentle caresses?"

"I suppose not." He took in a deep breath, his happiness for Saphira filling him with contentment. "But I'm glad…ever since she'd hatched she'd always longed for a mate. And Shruikan wasn't an option, seeing as he was bent and twisted by Galbatorix and his desire to destroy everything and anything that existed." Arya took great interest in the information he gave her but otherwise remained quiet. "To know that she was the only female of her race pained her. But to have Thorn, Glaedr, and especially Eridor, she began to change if only slightly. And for that I'm glad…I can never give her what she wanted no matter how hard I try. But to know that Eridor can makes me feel relieved."

Arya nodded. "It must have been hard for her the past four years to live knowing that she could only find a mate in the remaining eggs if they ever hatch for someone."

"It was but it has changed since we met you, Murtagh, and Thorn." He turned to Arya smiling lightly at her. "So in truth, though I may have rescued you three that night at Gil'ead it was you who saved me. I would've gone mad as the person I was. Leading a life behind stone walls behind a mask. I may have been born Eragon but I didn't become him until then."

He turned to fully face her now. In the faint light, he could see the very essence of her beauty. Reaching forward, he gently gripped the hand that held the flower only for a moment. She didn't flinch nor pull away but waited for him to continue. "I will always remember what you've done for me Arya and I want to thank you, though late as it is in coming."

He removed his hand and continued to gaze at her. He wasn't normally outright with his emotions but he felt the strong need to tell her what he thought. Whether it was brought on by Saphira's emotions or the magic of the celebration, he didn't know but the urge was too great to staunch. Then for a slight moment he felt an unmistakable tenderness for Arya that surpassed everything else. Her emerald eyes, he thought, was the flames that ignited his own fire.

I know some of you are disappointed that Eragon and Arya don't get together in this chapter but I've written it two ways. This way and another way that didn't fit with what I'm trying to do. It just felt wrong for them to get together here. Call it writer's intuition or something. But I just couldn't see them getting together here. But you will not be disappointed with the following two chapters because we are going to see some EragonXArya action! Finally! After about 35 chapters of this build up of character! But that's all I'm going to tell you. But expect an epic beginning for the epic romance that we failed to read in Inheritance! (Not that the book wasn't good itself-personally I loved the action and ExA moments its just CP left so many things unsaid and unaccounted for. Where is Eragon going? What will happen to Arya? Does Murtagh become a recluse? All of this stuff that I want ANSWERS for. But I'll just use my imagine to fill in the blanks.) But it makes me smile when I think of how Eragon's love for Arya (and maybe hers for him?) will outlast hey, maybe she gets tired of being queen or something, and after six millenias she'll decide to join Eragon? Who knows I think she might or might not (seeing how Arya is) but enough of my rambling, I'll see you next two chapters! I can't wait!