Thank Mya for the edits on these chaps everyone so far she has gotten two of them done and i am all the grateful since I am exceedingly busy with school I havent had the opportunity to do so
CHAPTER TWO: TEACHINGS AND HEARTACHE
An hour later, Essora walked into town to have her lessons and pick up a few things. She walked into a small house at the edge of town after she had been given permission to enter. She entered into a fair-sized room that was decorated in rustic things. Piles of books and maps were scattered here and there, and beside the fire sat an old man that she called her mentor.
"Hello, Essora. Get the book we were studying from last night and come sit by me," requested Brom.
He always called her by her full name because she never liked being called Charlie - it sounded too much like a boy's name. She adopted the name when she was ten – she had always done things that boys normally did and, on top of that, she liked playing the rough games the boys played. So, they had given her the name Charlie, just because it was easier to pronounce in a game of Dragon Tales. She was grateful to the few who called her by her name – her mother, Brom, and Eragon.
She did as he requested, pulled up a chair, and sat next to him by the fire.
"Recite to me the passage we have been studying over the past week," he told her.
She did as he asked and recited it word for word, with no mistakes.
"You are my brightest student, Essora, and I'm very pleased to call you that," Brom told her, beaming.
"Thank you. I'm proud that I please you. It was, my mother told me, my father's wish for me to learn, and I want to do my best to be as educated as I can be - in his remembrance. And may I also remind you that I am your only student," Essora added, with a laugh.
"You make a good point, but I have a feeling I'll have two students before long."
"Who will be your next student, then?" asked Essora with interest.
"Eragon."
"Really?"
"Yes, ma'am! Now go over there and get that brown book."
She got up retrieved the book, and then returned to her spot next to Brom. He opened the book and she recognized the ancient language.
"I'm going to teach you how to use magic, Essora. I feel that you're to the point that it is a good time for you to learn, and I have great faith that you'll be a natural at it."
"Really? You're going to teach me how to use magic? I don't know what to say. Thank you!" Essora said, in shock.
"That's alright. You can express your gratitude by majoring in it, just like everything else I've taught you."
And they set about teaching and learning the many forms of magic.
It was an hour before sundown when Essora left Brom, heading off to buy some meat from Sloan, the butcher. She had practiced using magic by lifting a tiny pebble and she was surprised at how difficult it was. She learned that it was dangerous to use magic to such an extent that you started to get dizzy, and that if you used magic that was too strong for you, it could kill you because when you use magic, it draws the strength from your energy source.
As she neared the butcher shop, she heard Horst's and Sloan's voices. She rounded the corner to see Sloan give Eragon some meat, and Horst pay for it; she knew that that wasn't going to please Eragon's uncle, Garrow – Garrow didn't willingly accept charity. After they walked out of the shop, she waved to Eragon and Horst, and she walked in. As she did, she found a boiling Sloan, but his face brightened a little when she walked in.
"Good evening to you, Miss Essora, what can I do for you?" he said, pleased that he had an honorable customer.
Essora smiled awkwardly. "I would like one of your leanest roasts and three slices of venison, please."
"Coming right up," Sloan said, and he disappeared into the back room.
While he was gone, Essora fumbled with her handkerchief and pulled out what she owed him. When he returned with the meat, she asked for it to be wrapped into a neat bundle, and she handed him the coins. After a moment, he handed the package to her, and bid her farewell, and she warmly did the same
She walked out of the butcher shop, only to scream as she was scared from behind by no other than her best friend, who she had seen only moments before.
"Aah! Eragon, what are you dong playing childish games? We are both going to be turning sixteen in a matter of months!" She scolded him good-naturedly.
"You sound like your mother. Who cares if we still play like children? I sure don't," he said, smiling the smile that always made her melt.
"That's easy for you to say, but I have to keep my reputation in good order so that I can find a decent husband. I need to marry someone who doesn't think he's marrying a little girl."
"Oh, since when did you start caring about your reputation, Charlie?" he asked teasingly, emphasizing her nickname, which he knew would send her chasing him out of town.
"Oh, you're going to get it now!" she said, and Eragon started to run. She took after him, clutching the bundle so it wouldn't fall. Just as he had thought, she chased him down the road and out of town before she caught up to him.
"So, how did the hunt go?" she asked, when they stopped to catch their breath.
"How does it look like it went when I have to buy meat from Sloan?"
"Not too good."
"Exactly, but I did find something that may be worth something," he said, and he pulled out a sapphire stone from his pack.
"That looks a lot like the black stone I got last year in from my mother for my birthday celebration.
"Yes it does, doesn't it? Essora, when we pass your house, you drop that meat off and come walk with me the rest of the way home. Well, if it's alright with your mother," Eragon suggested.
"I guess I could. I'm grabbing my shawl, though, it's getting cold."
"Of course. Let's go," he said, and they walked off.
They walked to her cabin while talking about what had happened during the last three days he was out hunting; they talked about what she was learning from Brom, though she never told him the things (like magic) that Brom requested she not tell anybody else, except her family, who were told by Brom himself.
When they arrived at the cabin, they walked in to find her grandfather and mother sitting by the fire, talking.
"Hello, Eragon," greeted her mother, as she put the meat that Essora gave her in the icebox to keep it fresh.
"Hello, my boy. How are you?" said her grandfather, giving her a suspicious look, concerning her lie about not being interested in anyone.
"I'm as good as you can be after returning from three days in the Spine hunting deer that would not cooperate."
"Well, that's normal for a hunter."
"Mother, Eragon wants me to go with him to visit Garrow and Roran and keep him company on the way to his house. May I go?"
"Yes, just don't stay late because you have to be sharp in the morning for your chores and your lessons. And take something to keep you warm."
"Yes, Mother," she said. She headed to her room to get her shawl, and they left.
When they had left, Essora's grandfather said, "You know, I really like him. He would make a good candidate for Essora's husband."
"Papa! Let them be, and it will blossom in due time."
He mumbled under his breath, and she smiled to herself, thinking back to when Essora was a little girl.
Essora and Eragon made their way through the early evening, jesting and chasing each other, and sharing the burden that Eragon carried. When the cottage came into view, it was early sundown, and as they walked into the cottage, Roran was coming in from the barn and greeted both of them warmly, and they all entered together.
When Essora saw Garrow's face when he saw the packaged meat, she could tell he had a burning question, but he didn't ask it, and instead greeted her.
"Essora! How are you my dear?" he asked kindly, hugging her.
"I'm the best that I can be. The crop is and stored, Grandfather is well, and Mother is doing fine," she said, returning the hug.
"Come on, what about me?" asked Roran teasingly, approaching her with grime all over his clothes from the day's work.
"I would, but seeing you're dirty, I think maybe next time will be better," she said, making a face and putting her hand out as if blocking him. At this, they all laughed.
"Ah, it's been a while since we've all had a good laugh," said Garrow. He sat down and beckoned for her to join him.
Roran headed to his room to wash, and Eragon put the meat away.
"Yes, it seems that when comes winter, comes grief, and it so dampens everyone's spirit."
"Couldn't have said it better myself," chimed in Eragon, as he pulled a chair up next to her.
"And speaking of the beast of winter, it looks like we will have another one of those frosts, and it will be getting cold soon," stated Roran, coming back into the room in clean clothes and washed.
"I had better get home so that Mother and Grandfather don't worry," Essora said, standing up. Eragon followed suit and walked with her to the door.
"Tell your grandfather that I'm glad he's better, and that I'll see him when the caravan comes," shouted Garrow, as she walked along the path leading to the road.
"I'll make sure to let him know."
"Goodbye, Essora," they all said in unison, as Eragon closed the door.
When she was a few paces away, she heard Roran tease:
"Don't let her get away, Eragon, otherwise she'll be married by the time you get to her."
"Yes, I agree, and I'm serious, Eragon, you shouldn't let a girl like Essora escape into the night," added Garrow.
"Oh, Garrow, we're only friends, and that is all I consider her as."
"But is that the only way she thinks of you?" asked Garrow.
Essora heard every word that was said, and to hear the boy that she cared about so much confirm her fear, gave her an immense heartache, and she walked along, feeling the need to get home into the quiet of her room, and cradle the black rock that brought so much comfort to her.
So what do you think? Please tell me I look most forward to your reviews, helpful what ever you call is appreciated just dont be nit-picky.