Chapter 6 - Mourning

He woke up and by the light streaming in through Saphira's wing he surmised it was early in the morning. He nudged Saphira and she opened her wing letting him out from her warm side. As he got out he saw that Arya was already awake, but Brom was nowhere to be seen. He decided that if it were anything important he would've told him. Arya eyed him carefully but with a guarded expression. He decided to introduce himself as he sat on the log besides her.

"Good morning, how are you feeling?" he asked with genuine concern tinting his voice.

"Morning, I am feeling better…"

"My name is Eragon, it is nice to meet you," he said introducing himself

"It is nice to meet you Eragon, my name is Arya, do you know where the wolf that saved me is?" she asked, and he realized that she didn't know what he was. Even though he was told that elves looked upon his kind kindly, he was still nervous about telling her.

"Oh, that was me, I am a werewolf." he said hoping he could trust her "But can you please not tell anyone else without my permission?"

She was stunned but slowly she said the binding words in the ancient language "Then, Eragon, thank you for saving me" she said

"My pleasure" he said and pointed towards Saphira "And this is my dragon, Saphira." Arya's eyes widened and she looked even more stunned by the news; maybe she thought that she was Brom's.

"What? So you are a wolf and a rider?" She asked

"I guess so, have you seen Brom? He asked

"Yes, he went to take a bath he said that he needed it." She answered back "What are your plans now? Brom didn't say anything"

"We are going to the Varden, Brom is training me in both swordsmanship and magic. I am a good fighter as a wolf, but I don't think they would react kindly to seeing my other side." he said.

Arya was about to answer when Brom stumbled to the camp looking troubled. "What's wrong?" he asked standing up.

"Eragon, listen to me" he said slowly "I received a letter from the village through one of my contacts, the Ra'zac attacked Carvahall looking for the dragon egg. Because you and I were the only ones not there, they assumed that you had it. They killed Garrow trying to get your whereabouts out of him, the rest of the village is safe for now." he finished.

Eragon looked at him like he was joking, he tried to get Brom to say that it was a lie and that he was joking. But he didn't. He started shaking with anger at the man in front of him. "You said that we had to leave, that they were safer if I wasn't there" he screamed, "I trusted you, and now I've lost someone who was like a father to me and I couldn't even say goodbye." His anger got the better of him and he phased, he burst out of his clothing, and he snarled at Brom. Not wasting anymore time he ran towards the nearby forest, letting his inner wolf take over. With his inner wolf in control his feelings were buried and he escaped his sadness, the only think he was aware of was Saphira in the back of his mind sending waves love through their link.

Back in the camp Brom and Arya were quietly sitting beside each other. No one talked as they waited from news from Saphira.

He has gone wolf, she said projecting her voice to both Brom and Arya.

"What does that mean?" asked an overly preoccupied Arya. Saphira believed that the elf was also feeling the pull that Eragon was feeling, but to a lesser extent.

It was Brom who answered, "It means he let his inner wolf take over, he is being driven by instinct alone, burying his feelings deep inside. That is bad, he needs to mourn," he concluded.

Saphira was watching the conversation unfold, all the time making sure to keep an eye on the elf. Across her face danced a number of subtle emotions, anger, sadness and determination. She suddenly got up and walked in the direction that Eragon had left.

"I'll get him," She said in a determined voice "I owe him for saving me" and with that she ran towards the near forest.

Arya didn't really/know why she had volunteered; all she knew was that there was something pulling her towards him. In the short conversation she had with him she felt peaceful and somewhat protected. He talked to her like she was an equal, not like he thought she was a weak woman that needed his protection. When she saw his face after Brom's news her heart almost broke at the amount of sadness she found there. She kept running, following the feeling that was pulling her to him.

Suddenly a heart-wrenching howl pierced the forest and she knew that he was in pain. She didn't know what exactly the relationship was between Eragon and the man called Garrow, but she knew he was like a father to him and that he must be feeling exactly what she felt when her father died. After her father passed away she closed herself from everyone including her mother who had exiled her when she decided to help the rebellion, something her father would have approved of.

She hadn't had a close relationship with anyone since then, except her friends Glenwing and Faolin who had protected her while she ferried Saphira's egg. But apart from that she had had no other friends, family or mates. She came across Eragon's scent and followed. She came into a clearing and saw that the massive wolf was lying down on the grass with his eyes closed. As she got closer she saw that fist sized tears were coming from his eyes. She was careful when approaching him, she didn't know how he would act and she had no desire to be injured again. Eragon opened his eyes and saw her, she thought he was going to attack her like he almost did Brom, but instead she heard a whine coming from him.

She approached him and laid down besides him, leaning her head against his warm side. "I am sorry about what happened," she said, and in her heart she knew that she was doing the right thing by trying to comfort him even if she didn't know him that well, "If you want to talk, I'll listen."

During the rest of the day she listened to him talk about his village and family and how he had turned into a werewolf and found Saphira. She felt strangely happy that he had decided to confide in her. He then asked if it was okay to ask about her past. She thought about it and decided that it was okay. She even told him that she was a princess and how she had ferried the egg across the Varden and Du Weldenvarden. She talked about her two friends that had been killed by the shade Durza, at the mention of him she shivered and he coiled around her giving her a sort of hug. She immediately felt better at the contact, she found that she felt comfortable and warm besides him and she found his fur soft and comfortable. He also heard what she had to say and comforted when she needed it.

She was surprised because she didn't feel any feelings of lust like she did from other human men. The only thing she felt was a desire to protect her, and surprisingly she was starting to feel the same towards him. It was getting late so they decided to head back to the camp. She started to get up when Eragon spoke to her.

If you want you can climb on top of me, that way we'll make it to the camp faster. His voice reverberated in her mind.

I thought your kind didn't let anyone do that? she asked surprised.

Its ok, we are friends right? She smiled when he said that.

Yes, we are she said as she climbed onto his back and he started running May I ask why you seem to spend more time in your wolf counterpart than in your human one? He seemed to think about it for a minute and then he answered.

I don't know, I just feel more confident, stronger, and in control of my emotions, which is why I changed into it when I received the news he said But I guess when we arrive at the Varden, it'll be a while before I can turn into a wolf.

She silently agreed and they made their way back to camp.