Popularity War

Chapter 11

Eva winced as she flexed her right hand. Brown and green splotches rested upon her knuckles where her hand had come into contact with Cassandra. She was starting to regret hitting the girl, mainly because she was concerned about the consequences. Hamish was not a kind man and she was sure he would punish her somehow. Never before had she become so violent and her outburst frightened her. Who had she become?

She continued to flex her hand despite the fact that pain erupted each time. Eva was sitting on a bench in what was once a beautiful garden behind her house. Weeds had overtaken the flowers making the area look wild. Unlike the day before, the sky was cloudy and the air was cool, mirroring Eva's mood much better. A fly landed on her hand and she shooed him away only to have him return again seconds later. Having little patience of the insect, Eva stood up and walked back inside.

Grabbing one of her favorite books, she lit some candles and curled up on her bed to read for the rest of the day.

Eva stifled the look of disappointment as she walked out of the woodshop alongside Eragon. He was trying to find her a job, but they had ill luck all morning. Eva wanted to work to earn a little extra money, but she also wanted to prove to her uncle that she could survive on her own. Working for a living may show him she can be responsible, allowing him to let her stay in Carvahall, which was her ultimate goal.

"Don't give up yet; you'll find a job." Eragon led her towards the tavern. "But first, let's have some lunch."

They entered the smoky building and took a seat along the counter. Morn smiled at them before asking what he could get them. After Eragon ordered their food, he asked the bartender if he needed any help. He explained how Eva needed a job. Next to him, a drunken man grunted and murmured something unintelligible. Eragon ignored him as he waited for Morn to reply.

"I'm sorry, but she'll be better off working elsewhere." He gave Eva a sympathetic look and then left to prepare their meal.

The man sitting next to Eragon snickered. "Serves her right; a woman like that does not belong here." He spat on the floor, his saliva almost hitting Eragon's boots.

Feeling his temper rise at the offensive man, Eragon turned to look at him. "I advise you to hold your tongue."

The man stopped drinking to glare at the boy. His dark green eyes glared into Eragon and his breath smelled strongly of alcohol. He was a middle aged man who looked older due to the constant strain of hard labor. His prominent jaw jutted out and pointed at Eragon as if it were an accusing finger. Instead of taking Eragon's advice, the man made a rebuttal. "And I advise you to take that bitch out of here."

As much as Eragon wanted to punch the man, he took a deep breath instead. Eva heard her fair share of foul language, but hearing it directed towards her made her rightfully upset. Rather than make the situation worse with choice words of her own, she grabbed Eragon's arm and whispered in his ear. "Let's get out of here." She stood up and started to walk away, Eragon following suit.

Instigating the situation further, the man said, "Hey, you forgot something." Irritated, Eva turned around and was going to tell him to be quiet, when she felt a cold, wet, substance hit her face. The beer trickled down her chin and neck as she stood stunned. In front of her, she could hear the man laughing.

Morn had returned from the kitchen to find Eva wet and Eragon slamming his fists into a man's gut. Instinctively, he ran towards Eva to escort her out of the bar. The drunken man managed to hit Eragon back, sending him to the floor. He rolled out of the way before the drunk kicked him. Standing once more, Eragon swung his arm towards the drunk, hitting him in the side. He let out a growl as he came after Eragon again.

Opening the door, Morn was ushering Eva outside. She was in the doorway when the drunk pushed Eragon. The force from the blow made him step several paces backward, but he still kept his footing. The drunk pushed him again, and this time, Eragon bumped into Eva. She lost her balance and fell forward onto the ground outside. Behind her Eragon continued to struggle with the drunk and at one point, lost his balance as well. Eva scrambled out of the way.

Suddenly, she heard a loud winey next to her, making her look up to see hooves. Eva screamed, fear gripping every inch of her body as they drew closer. She closed her eyes and placed her arms over her head and waited for the deathly impact. Images flashed through her mind about her life, starting with her childhood.

Then she remembered the day Eragon helped her out of the fountain. Back then she had no idea that he would become her closest friend, and possibly more. The last image was of her father the night they cooked together. Eva felt her eyes become wet, but she held back the tears. She was about to die and she wanted to die with as much dignity as she could muster. However, as the thought crossed her mind, she reasoned that the horses' hooves should have hit her by now.

Slowly putting her arms down, she saw the legs of the horse only about any inch away from her body. "Eva!" Eragon's voice rang loudly in her ears. He was kneeling next to her with a relieved visage. "How are you? Are you hurt at all?"

"I'm fine," Eva said quietly, her head still reeling. She looked at Eragon briefly before shifting her eyes at the tavern entrance. In the doorway she saw Morn holding back the drunken man, who still looked like he wanted to fight.

"She said she is fine so will you get her out of my way?" A gruff voice sounded from above the horse.

"Can you stand up?" Eragon ignored Hamish, the man sitting on the horse, to focus on Eva's condition. She nodded and placed her hand in his for some help. When she was on her feet she could see Cassandra's father with an annoyed look on his face.

"We're out of your way now, so you can go." Eragon was impolite back to Hamish.

Hamish clicked his heels against the horse to make him move. A few paces away, he stopped the horse, shifted in the saddle to face Eragon and Eva, and said, "You know, she deserved a scare like that after what she did to my daughter."

The two said nothing back to the tax collector. When he disappeared around the corner, Eragon turned to face Morn. "I'm sorry about all this."

"Don't be; it's not your fault."

"Yes it is, in a way." He took a deep breath. Moments later he addressed the bartender again, "Well, I'd better take her home."

Morn nodded. "You take good care of her."

"I will."

That evening, Eva sat next to the fireplace in the sitting room. She was on the floor since the only chair in the room was occupied by Gertrude, but she did not mind. The only sounds that could be heard were the popping of the embers and Gertrude's light snoring. The woman had fallen asleep while sewing. Eragon was sitting next to Eva, thinking. His mood had not improved much since the incident at the tavern, so Eva and Gertrude had left him to his thoughts all evening.

"Eva?" Eragon asked quietly to avoid waking Gertrude.

"Yes." The young woman tore her eyes off the non-existent fire to gaze at him.

"I'm going to talk to my uncle again."

Eva caught her breath. "You sure?" Garrow had made it clear that he did not want Eva living with him and his family unless she could not find a job in the village. She had only been job hunting for a day, much too soon to give up. However, Eragon had a different opinion on the matter.

"I'm serious, Eva. After what happened earlier today, I feel that it is too risky for you to be on your own. You keep getting harassed and no one wants to give you a job. I'll explain to my uncle the situation and I doubt he will deny you a second time. We did try, which is what he wanted us to do in the first place."

"I suppose you are right." Eva yawned.

"I'll make him say yes." Eragon insisted.

Eva chuckled. "I'd like to see you try."

Eragon smiled and laughed with her. His uncle was a stubborn man, like a mule. Actually, the mule they owned caved better than his uncle. However, Eragon believed that given the circumstances, he would not deny Eva a place to live and work.

They sat in a comfortable silence for several more minutes before Eva stood up. "I should wake Gertrude. I don't want her sleeping in the chair all night."

Eva lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Eragon and Gertrude were in their rooms, asleep most likely, but she could not sleep. Her thoughts were keeping her awake. Eragon's words swam through her mind and she tried to picture living on the farm with him. The idea should have been comforting, yet it had the opposite effect on her. Living near Eragon in Carvahall was fine, but living on his farm left her stomach in knots. She was worried that she would not be of much help and become a burden.

As the night wore in, she drifted into a restless sleep. In her mind, she dreamed of a middle aged man with black hair and eyes. The rest of his face was not very detailed, but he was wearing a red cape over his elegant clothes. The man was staring at her, as if waiting for her to replay to something he had said. Before she had a chance to speak, Eva awoke with a start.

Her room was still dark and she wondered how long she was asleep. Her brow was covered in sweat, so she got out of bed to wash it off. She stood at the water bowl trying to remember what made her frightened. She knew she dreamed of a man with dark hair, but why he scared her was unknown. She took some deep breaths, rinsed her face again, and feeling more refreshed and calm got back in bed to snuggle under the covers. She fell asleep again, this time having no dreams.