A/N: I am soooo sorry it took me so long to update my sister has had a load of homework and I rarely get to use the computer. Any way here it is and I hope you enjoy.
Ch. 5 Chapter 4
When they arrived in Surda they were greeted by Horst and Elaine. When they got down from Saphira's saddle they noticed two things 1) Elaine was thinner than when they had left, 2) She was carrying a tiny bundle in her arms. Eragon and Roran stood back as Elaine put the bundle into he husbands arms and ran to Katrina engulfing her in a hug.
"Oh you are ok. Thank the gods." Katrina returned the hug.
"I have missed you too Elaine"
"I have been so worried I thought you were gone."
The two friends broke apart and walked over to the baby held in Horsts arms. They were closely followed by Roran but Eragon stayed back and watched from a distance. While everyone crooned over the newborn Eragon had other thoughts running through his head.
'This is why I have to defeat the Empire. Children and babies should not have to grow up like this. They should not live there childhood with a war raging on around them.'
Eragon turned and left silently. Saphira was the only one that saw him leave as he soundlessly walked across the plains.
Eragon went and sat in one of the high branches of the tree near the sparring field. When they came he would have to kill his brother. He would do it for the good of the future. He would do it so children would not have to grow up in war.
Eragon only felt anger now. He would do anything in his power to take down the empire. It was their only hope.
Seeing Elaine's daughter had given him new hope. Something to fight for. He would finish his training, and when the next battle came to pass he would go in prepared.
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"Arya"
"Saphira, is that you."
"Yes"
"What is it?"
"I'm worried about Eragon"
"What is it is he ok" she asked hurriedly getting up. 'Please let him not be hurt.'
"He is fine… physically" Arya relaxed and sat back down.
"Well before we left I'm sure you noticed he wasn't quiet himself"
"Of course. He was far off. I remember he was always in that tree staring into the distance."
"Well, after he killed the Ra'zac it stopped. He was fine back to his usual self but now…"
"It has started again hasn't it? Do you have any idea why?"
"I have my suspicions. While we were heading back someone tried to scry him."
"Why would that..." then it clicked "Murtagh."
"Yes. He knows what he has to do and it hurts him more than anything."
"What can I do if you or Roran can't help him, what can I do?"
"I don't know. Try to cheer him up, try to talk to him. Even if you can get a single word out of him that is better than me or Roran."
"I can try." Arya walked away, she had a feeling about where he would be.
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Eragon climbed down from the tree and sat on one of the roots where he had a clear view of the sparring field.
He watched everyone he had grown up with training for war. He could make out horst, Roran, Albert, Baldor, Bridget and many other familiar faces. He saw Elaine watching her husband from the sides. Everyone had changed. When the next battle came the whole of Carvahall will be apart of it.
He new he should go down and practice but he couldn't. He still felt awful. He was the reason the whole of Carvahall had to leave their homes.
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'I knew it' Arya watched Eragon climb down from the tree and settle on one of the roots. She slowly began to walk over.
'He hasn't noticed anything. He is to busy staring at people training. This will be fun.'
She continued to creep closer to where Eragon sat.
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Eragon sensed Arya's familiar presence coming up behind him. He decided to play dumb because this wasn't the first time she had tried to sneak up on him.
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'This will be easier than I thought. He is too caught up in his own thoughts to notice.'
Silently Arya unsheathed her sward and held it up in front of her. She was about 6 feet away but when she got close enough she was going to frighten him by putting her sward to the back of his neck.
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Eragon had a pretty good idea of what she was going to do. Before the Blood-Oath Ceremony she had done this a lot and said to be more aware of what was going on around him.
Clearly she had forgotten the Blood-Oath Ceremony had enhanced his senses. Boy was she in for a surprise.
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Arya was about 3 feet behind him and began to slowly raise her sword.
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She was right behind him 'NOW' something screamed inside him.
With impossible speed and grace Eragon flipped over her head at the same time as unsheathing Yawë and put it to her throat just as she had turned around.
"Dead" he said. He was surprised he had caught her off guard. He had expected her to pair the blow. He stared at her oblivious to the crowd that had formed very few had seen Eragon or aria fight. They new it would be amazing to watch so none were going to miss it.
Eragon realised he had not fought Arya since the change. Everyone was waiting for them to fight. They wanted to see the elvan princess against the first rider of the new generation.
"Shall we?" Arya asked as he lowered his sword. "At least now you will last longer than a few minutes but can you beat me."
"Let's fid out."
The pair blocked their swords and began circling each other.
"Ready"
"As ready as I will ever be"
Eragon sprung forward and aimed his sward at her left side which she blocked with ease. Then with speed she came up aiming at his shoulder which he blocked with equal speed and strength. Eragon went at her left again except this time he changed at the last moment aiming for her right shoulder which she barely blocked.
The two fighters went all out neither gaining the upper hand.
The crowd stared goggle eyed at the fight going on in front of them. None of them had ever seen anything like it. They could barely see the swords at the speed they slashed through the air. Each block let off a spray of sparks.
Those who had had Eragon running around the town for the past 16 years were more amazed than anyone. This innocent boy had changed. He was a man, a worrier. They new being a rider changed things but they never expected him to change this much. They had only heard stories about the elves power, but if he could match one then they definitely had a fighting chance against Galbatorix.
Eragon saw as she fought her left was less protected. As they fought he searched for an opening.
Arya swang at his shoulder which he blocked then with lightning speed he hit her left shoulder. She faltered for a split second and that was his opening he flipped over her and brought his sword up. Arya realised what he was doing and managed to bring her own sword up in time to pair the ferocious blow aimed at her shoulder.
They continued fighting for a couple of hours neither faltering nor backing down. Neither managing to get the upper hand again.
Eragon found a pattern in her fighting and an idea came to him. He wasn't positive it would work but he wouldn't lose anything trying.
Getting bored Arya lunged at him and Eragon saw his chance. At the last moment he flipped into the air. He landed behind her. She realised what had happened but was too late. She turned around but before she could block him he had Yawë up under her chin.
"Dead" Eragon whispered. It was so low she could barely hear him. It was still sinking in. He had one. He had beat Arya. But it was a close battle. He was no stronger than her; it had been her misjudgement that had cost her the battle. The only person who had ever matched him this closely had been Murtagh. The name no longer hurt or brought pain, now it was just anger like a million fires burning within him. The pain was still there it always would be but now he new what was to be done and now he had accepted it.
He may have beaten her but it would take more to beat Murtagh or Galbatorix. Arya was skilled but she wasn't the best. Murtagh could have beaten her as easily as he had beaten him. To beat him he would need to complete his training and have the luck of the elves with him.
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The moment Yawë had come to her neck the crowd that had gathered erupted in cheers. They had herd rumours of Arya's skill in the past, and current ones of Eragon. But now that they had seen them in action they would never forget. It was the most amazing fight they had ever seen.
Now that they had seen him fight for themselves they new Eragon had a fighting chance against Galbatorix. If he could beat Arya an Elvin worrier then he had a chance. He was there only hope. The Varden's lives rested on his and Saphira's shoulders.
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At first she was too shocked to process it. He had won. She new he had changed but now she accepted it. The weak little –actually not little but who cares – Eragon she new and loved was gone. In his place was a strong and handsome man – 'no bad Arya' (she mentally slaps herself).
She moved her eyes from the sword and looked into his hansom face – 'hey where did that come from. I am not allowed to think these things'- and angled features. There eyes locked and she found herself locked in those swirling brown pools. The eyes of a true rider.
In his eyes she saw pain. Along with that wisdom, wisdom far beyond his years. There was loss and anger, betrayal. It hurt her to see it. When she had first seen him there had been happiness there. He had been so naïve. There had still been pain and loss but not like this. It has all changed the happiness in him has been suppressed, until he was ready to let it out again.
But behind all that. And his emotionless mask there was hope for the future and …love, yes love for those he cared about. Love for his friends, family and … her. A tingle went down her spine. He loved her. Her expression stayed the same stony mask but inside she was leaping for joy and a certain someone could see it in her eyes.
She realised they were staring at each other and turned away to hide the blush creeping onto her face. But he had seen because for a second he smiled. But only a second.
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Eragon looked down at the girl in front of him. She was a bit shorter than him and looked a bit fragile. But if you judged her by her looks woe betide. He looked at her face trying to work out what she was feeling. But her angelic face – 'bad Eragon, she doesn't think of you that way' – betrayed no emotion.
He caught her gaze and their eyes locked. He looked deep into her beautiful emerald eyes. He got lost in those swirls of green finding the emotions she kept hidden from her face. He saw the pain of her past but very little there was happiness and care.
Suddenly everything left and all that was left was pure joy, it was radiating off her like intense heat. Her eyes were dancing. Then he saw a blush creep onto her face. He smiled quickly but hid it before anyone could notice.
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Eragon brought down his sward. "Good fight" Eragon said absent mindedly. 'Why had she blushed? This was the first time he had seen her blush. And why had she suddenly been so happy.'
"Good fight" she said as absentmindedly as he did. The same thought were wondering through her head. Why had she been so happy? She didn't like him,-did she- no she didn't she was way too old for him. And her mum would kill her if she admitted her feelings-what feeling. She didn't have any feelings for him-. Plus he was probably over her; she had been so harsh when she had rejected him. She had cried after but she new it was for the best.
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The crowd had no idea about what had happened between the two. They were too busy cheering on their young rider to notice the two were now extremely interested in there feet.
"Goodbye Eragon" Arya said absent mindedly before turning and walking to her tent
A/N: well that is it. I hope you liked it review and tell me what you thought. Even if you didn't like it please say so. Oh and thanks to everyone who reviewed for the last chapter I really appreciate it.