Ch.23. Chapter 22

That morning Eragon awoke to the familiar buzzing of his alarm. It was sunrise, and most of Ellesmèra was still asleep.

Eragon stretched and went to the basin to wash his face. Only after he had did he remember he needed to wake Arya.

"Arya," Eragon called out to her mind.

"What?" Arya replied a few seconds later after feeling his presence in her mind.

"It is time for you to get ready for training. Saphira and I will come round in twenty minutes to get you."

"Thankyou," Arya said before promptly breaking off the connection.

Eragon quickly got dressed, slinging his bow and quiver across his back and attaching Edoc'sil to his hip.

Eragon looked in the mirror and admired his sword for a moment before putting Saphira's saddle on and going to collect Arya.

It only took a few strokes of Saphira's powerful wings to get him to Arya's tree house.

Arya stood waiting by the window, and took no time to climb into the saddle behind Eragon, wrapping her arms around his waist. Her dragon nestled itself in her lap.

"You took long enough," Arya said sarcastically, shaking her head, and trying to look serious.

"We will spar for an hour before we go to master Oromis. I'm not sure who we will be sparing with. I generally spar with Vanir. So I'm not sure what will happen to you. I assume some one will be there to tell us," Eragon said, ignoring her previous statement.

"Very well." Arya paused for a moment before speaking again. "Have you got Edoc'sil?"

Eragon pointed to the sword that was clasped to his belt. "Of course, Rhunön said I could keep it."

"That's great," Arya smiled, patting his shoulder gently. "She must have been thrilled to see the sword once more."

"She was, but she wasn't too happy about Zar'roc," Eragon said, shaking his head sadly. "And it's entirely my fault," he whispered so quietly he didn't think she would hear, but he forgot about Saphira, and when you have someone inside your head it is hard to keep things quiet.

"Don't say that little one. Don't ever say that. It wasn't your fault. You did all you could to stop him. Do not blame yourself for something that is his fault, not yours."

"I know what you believe, but it is my fault, I should have been stronger. I should have done more training."

"You did all the training you could in a short amount of time. Knowing Galbatorix, he probably used some dark magic to increase Murtagh's power."

"But..." Eragon realised he had nothing to say to that and silenced himself.

"Exactly. Now stop blaming yourself for something that couldn't be helped." Saphira said smugly, growling slightly.

Eragon turned his head to find Arya looking at him expectantly. "What?" he asked.

Arya rolled her eyes. "I asked you 'what was that you said?'"

"It was nothing," Eragon lied, turning to face forward.

"If it was nothing, you would tell me. So now tell me, what was it?"

"I was nothing!" Eragon said angrily.

Eragon quickly glanced back at Arya, expecting her to yell at him. Instead of yelling, she looked hurt. When he faced her, she turned away.

"I'm sor-" Eragon didn't get to apologise because at that point Saphira landed with a thud on the sparring field.

Before he could attempt to apologise, she had jumped down from the saddle. Eragon sighed and followed her down, noticing the tip of her dragon's tail slip beneath Saphira's wing, hiding the small dragon from view.

Before Eragon could attempt to apologise once more, Vanir approached them.

"Atra esterní ono thelduim," Vanir said, surprising Eragon by speaking first.

"Mor'ranr lifa nin hjarta onr," Eragon replied.

Vanir proceeded to greet Arya before he spoke.

"I have been informed by Oromis-elda that you shall no longer be sparring with myself. From now on, you shall be sparring with princess Arya from now on," Vanir informed them, a hint of confusion evident in his voice.

"Thank you for your help." Without more to say, Vanir walked away from the two.

Eragon walked a few steps away from Arya and took up a fighting stance. The both began to circle each other, swords drawn.

Arya attacked first, appearing at his side so fast his brain could barely register it. He just barely blocked the blow. Eragon defended for a while before he saw an opening in her attack. Taking full advantage of it, he lunged forward and attacked her side, only to have her spin away from his blade.

Eragon leapt forward immediately, sending his sword at her left shoulder but at the last moment changing direction and aiming the blade at her legs. Anticipating his movement, Arya jumped over his blade kicking his hand hard as he brought his sword up to attack again. The blade flew from his hand, clattering to the ground almost twenty metres from where they stood.

Arya attacked Eragon with a swift string of moves, Eragon ducked out of the way of each, all the while moving further and further from where his sword lay.

With a quick movement, Eragon blocked Arya's sword with his sheath and kicked it out of her hand attempting to catch it. But Arya was faster and kicked his hand away, leaving the sword to clatter to the ground a few feet away.

Bringing her leg round, Arya sent a strong kick at Eragon's face, catching him square in the jaw.

Eragon swore and brought his arm up to block her next strike. He aimed a punch at her jaw, but she blocked it without even blinking.

Squatting down, Arya kicked Eragon's legs from under him and grabbed the sword that lay a few feet away.

Eragon jumped to his feet, but didn't have a chance to attack because she immediately brought the sword to his throat.

"Dead," she said. Both of them were panting heavily as Arya sheathed her sword and Eragon collected his from where it lay.

Eragon smiled, "Come on, we need to leave, or else we will be late."

Arya followed him to Saphira, jumping on behind him.

The elves watched in confusion as Saphira flew off. Only one golden haired, keen eyed elf noticed the small purple dragon hidden behind Saphira's wing.

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