This chapter is going to be very heavy on the EragonxArya pairing. You all knew I couldn't keep them apart for any longer.

Theme song for this chapter (Islanzadí's Birthday Celebration), I've chosen the Return of the Jedi Victory Celebration from the reissue of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. I know I said I wouldn't be borrowing from GL again this story, but I couldn't resist and technically, it's John Williams.

No reviews at all last chapter? I am very disappointed.

Chapter Fourteen: Islanzadí's Birthday

Sounds of music and dancing filled the air under the bright full moon that shone above Du Weldenvarden and Ellesméra. The whole forest was alive with elven magic and a huge bonfire was the centerpiece for Queen Islanzadí's birthday celebration. The elves singing and dancing around the blaze were innumerable. In great contrast with the previous night of Oromis' final ceremonies, there wasn't anyone with a frown on their lips.

The greatest of the elves' magicians had grown flowers on the trees especially for Islanzadí, and Arya enjoyed looking at them as they strolled around the fire and enjoyed the overall effect of the party. Though she couldn't bring herself to dance, she was glad that she had a reason to celebrate. Recently, her life had been full of misery and woe with the war with the Empire and Galbatorix. The elven magic and music had driven most of the worry from her mind, but there was one thing that she couldn't forget, no matter how long she listened to the elves' music.

And that was Eragon.

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get his face out of her head. His sad and confused expression when she pulled out of his kiss was tearing her apart. Why did she continue to lead him on and then throw him down again? Why was she not able to explain to him how she felt when he had asked her numerous times? She sighed and collapsed in a chair near the fire and snapped her eyes shut, trying to lose herself in the joy of the elven party.

It wasn't long before she was aware of two people coming to sit down a little bit away from her. Curious, Arya opened her eyes. It was Eragon's cousin Roran and his fiancée Katrina. Arya watched enviously as the two sat very close together and whispered things in each other's ears. She sighed. They were the perfect couple and, frankly, Arya was jealous. She wished she and Eragon could be that way, but deep down in her heart she knew that it was near impossible after what she'd done to him.

It wasn't long before Roran and Katrina's lips met in a passionate kiss. Arya scowled. Did they have to do this to her? She closed her eyes again, but couldn't get it out of her head. Except, in her mind, it was her and Eragon kissing, not Roran and Katrina.

"Hey! Arya!" she heard Roran calling her. No doubt the new Rider had felt her eyes on him. She frowned and opened her eyes to see him waving at her frantically. The sight was enough to make her laugh.

She smiled back, despite the fact that that was the last thing she wanted to do. Katrina motioned her over and Arya groaned inwardly. Nevertheless, the elven princess got up and went over to sit with the engaged couple; she took the seat to Katrina's right.

"How are you, Arya?" Roran asked with a wide grin on his face. "Are you enjoying all this wondrous music and magical celebration? My, never before in my life have I experienced something so wonderful!"

Arya nodded slowly. "It gets a bit redundant though, when you live with them every few months. They begin to lose their special qualities."

"Why! You must be kidding!" Katrina gasped.

Arya shook her head, the surprised expression on Katrina's face making her smile. "You two seem quiet happy, though. I don't want to spoil the moment."

Roran laughed. "Don't worry, Arya," he said. "You're not ruining anything. In fact, we've been looking all over for you."

"Looking for me?" she asked, slightly confused.

"Aye," Roran answered. "We want to know what you've done to our poor Eragon."

Arya's temporary smile subsided to be replaced by a frown of fake confusion. "I don't know what in Alagaësia you're talking about," she stated.

"Aye, I think you do, Arya," Roran insisted. "Ever since he met you at Isenstar Lake, he's been moping around with this look of perpetual sadness on his face. It's not good for group moral. I demand you tell me what you've done to him." Despite his forceful words, Roran didn't seem the least bit angry. In fact, he still wore the goofy grin he'd had when Arya had first joined them.

Arya sighed. "Perhaps I had something to do with it."

"Something to do with it?" Roran asked. "I believe you had everything to do with it."

"He seems to have this… thing… for me."

"I never thought you were blind, Arya Svit-kona. My poor cousin's head over heels in love with you and you won't even give him a chance."

Arya frowned. "He is nearly a century younger than me!" she argued.

"Love has no age."

"I do not think it would be wise-,"

"Was it wise to try to trick Galbatorix, the most powerful being in Alagaësia? Is it wise to oppose him at all? I do not think so, but we do anyway. There are certain things worth the risk."

"Are you arguing that love is one of them?"

"Aye!" Roran shouted. "I most certainly am! Would you like to hear what I did for love? Well I'm going to tell you anyway. I dared to threaten the Ra'zac in their palace of Helgrind for my love. I was willing to pledge myself to the most vile man in Alagaësia for my love."

Arya remained silent and Katrina spoke, "It is quite obvious that you return Eragon's feelings. Can you explain why you continue to resist them?"

It was a moment or two before Arya answered, "I am afraid. I am afraid of being hurt. We all know that the risks you take in life do not always turn out the way you would have liked. Sometimes, they bring about great suffering. I do not wish to suffer any more than I already have."

"But isn't love worth the risk?" Roran asked again. "How far are you willing to go for the ones you love? If you're not willing to risk getting hurt, well… then your life shall be quite lonely indeed."

Arya contemplated his words for several moments. "Perhaps you are right," she said in conclusion, rising from her chair. "Thank you," she said as she turned and left. She would go and find Eragon. She would apologize for her rude and stupid behavior. She only hoped he would forgive her.

Meanwhile, Eragon had let the elven music and magic take him away to a place in his mind without worry or sorrow. Not that he had forgotten about Oromis, his recent dilemmas and Arya, he was simply living in his happy place. At the moment, he was dancing with a beautiful elven maiden with long, golden yellow hair.

She smiled all the time and laughed at all his bad jokes. She was a good dancer, but Eragon couldn't help but compare her to Arya. He couldn't help but think that Arya was so much prettier than this girl was. He enjoyed Arya's company a lot more, but this girl didn't lead him on and then push him away, repeatedly. In fact, all she'd done this entire party was flirt with him and bat her long eyelashes.

"I like you a lot, Shadeslayer," she was saying at the moment. "And you look so much like an elf."

He hadn't noticed how close her face was to his until just now. If he had wanted to, he could have counted every single one of her eyelashes. He sniffed and got a huge whiff of her lovely perfume. Why was he even thinking of Arya? He'd given up on her.

Suddenly, he didn't quite know how it happened, the elf was kissing him. Eragon didn't resist; she was an excellent kisser, not that he'd had much experience, but all the while, he couldn't help but compare her to Arya. He found Arya so much more… alluring. He pulled away from her and sighed. She was very pretty and he hated to turn her down, but it had to be done. Hopefully, she wouldn't be too upset.

"Look," he began. "I don't know how to say this but…" He found himself unable to finish his sentence. He was too amazed and shocked by what was happening to the maiden. Her pure golden hair was beginning to darken, as was her skin, and her elven features diminished until they became just like those of a human. In only a few moments, her hair was raven black, her skin was tanned and the Dragon Rider recognized her.

It was Circe the shapeshifter.

He gasped. "What just happened? Circe?" He was unable to say anything else as Circe put her fingers to his lips to silence him.

"Je t'aime, Eragon, mais comme un frère," she whispered in Kylrese. I love you, Eragon, but like a brother. She pulled her hand away. "Now what did you feel just then? When I kissed you?"

Eragon ran his hand through his hair as he tried to come up with a response to her strange question. "Nothing," he finally answered. "I couldn't stop thinking about Arya."

"And there is a reason for that," she answered with a smile.

"What would that be?" Eragon asked curiously. "I've given up on Arya. It's time for me to move on."

Circe shook her head. "No, it's not. You can't get Arya out of your head because she's the one that you're meant to be with. There is nobody else out there for you. In Kylrian culture, we believe that the gods make us all to in special companionship with another being. Once you find that person, you can't let them go. If I know anything, Arya's pining for you as much as you are pining for her."

Eragon let out a deep sigh. "I know," he admitted. "Somehow I've always known. It just gets so frustrating!"

"The harder your try, the more satisfied you'll be in the end," Circe smiled. "Now, what are you waiting for? Go now! Tell Arya how you really feel."

Eragon nodded, smiling. "You're right, Circe. Thank you so much."

Circe watched him leave with a satisfied smile on her face, and Murtagh approached her from behind. "Care to dance?" he asked with a crooked smile.

Eragon found Arya standing by herself away from the main party. It was darker in the little grove of trees that she'd chosen to isolate herself in. Eragon cocked his head curiously and watched her. "What's going on?" he asked as he came up behind her.

Arya whirled around angrily. "Like you don't know!" she snapped. "I thought you cared about me."

Eragon was thoroughly confused at these words. "I do care about, Arya, more than you know. What makes you say those horrible things?"

Arya nearly snorted in disgust. "Who was that blonde wench with her tongue down your throat?" she spat. Seeing Eragon's look of shook and surprise, she added, "Oh yes, I saw you. Disgusting display of affection!"

Eragon sighed. "Arya, you don't understand," he began.

"What's there to understand?" she demanded. "Mad about my rejecting you for the third time, you threw yourself at the next thing you saw!"

"It's not like that at all," he insisted. "It wasn't some blonde elf at all. It was Circe."

"Are elves not good enough for you now?"

"No," Eragon told her. "I love the elves. Circe was trying to teach me a lesson."

"Oh, really?" Arya shouted. "What was she teaching you? How to kiss properly?"

"She helped me realized how much I really care about you, Arya Svit-kona."

Arya's expression softened. "What?" she asked.

"I realized that you're the only one for me, Arya. I can't give up on you because you're the only one that I'll ever love. I love you Arya Svit-kona, more than you can ever know."

Arya flung her arms around Eragon and engulfed him in a humongous hug. "I'm so sorry," she whispered in his ear. "I'm so sorry I've hurt you, but I was only trying to not get hurt myself. I learned something tonight too."

"Oh yeah?" Eragon asked blissfully. "What's that?"

"Love is worth the risk, Eragon. I love you." Elf and Rider smiled at each other before giving in to a long kiss. Finally, they could agree that they loved each other.

Roran, Katrina, Murtagh and Circe stood at the edge of the fire watching the two lovebirds. They were all wearing large grins.

Roran looked around at the others. "Well, my friends," he said. "I'd say we've been successful."

"Aye," Murtagh agreed. "Our little plan had worked."

Katrina turned to Roran. "Now we can work these two," she said with a smile.

Murtagh and Circe gave each other looks of confusion and Roran laughed.

"I have no idea what you're talking about!" they shouted at the same time.