Chapter 17 – Approval
Arya watched as everyone exited the meeting room where they had been talking with her mother, she paid special attention to the increasingly decreasing form of Eragon and sighed, she ad gotten used to being close to him and she would definitely miss it now that they were in Ellesmera, and even though she loved him she couldn't afford having rumors flying around about her and Eragon without first talking about it with her mother.
The problem was that she had no idea how to breach that topic with her mother, yes they had reconciled a few hours ago, but that didn't mean that she could just resume their relationship like nothing had ever happened, and it would take time before she was confortable approaching her about her feelings. The only way she could possible tell her mother was if she asked first.
As if the universe had heard her quandary, her mother who she had not noticed had been looking at her while she had still been looking at Eragon's back and deeply thinking, spoke. "Daughter" she said in a soft voice that she hadn't expected could come from her mother "may I ask what has happened between you and the rider?"
She sighed, this was exactly what she had wanted, an easy way to start the topic, but it was still hard to talk about it with her mother. "Ever since he rescued me from Gil'ead, we became friends and have grown closer as time moved own. Every night I would get nightmares, and Eragon took them away, I slept beside him every night." She felt her mother stiffen "with him I feel safe, protected and loved. It took me a while to understand that what I was feeling wasn't just a bond of deep friendship, it was love. Mother I love Eragon".
Her mother was quiet for a moment "And when did you realize this?" she asked.
"In the last week of my stay with the Varden" she said, "you see Eragon told you he killed the shade that had taken me captive, but he didn't tell you how." She stopped and her mother urged her to continue, "during the battle we were separated from each other, and once the shade had appeared I knew I was not strong enough to fight him. So I contacted Eragon, but while I was talking the shade attacked me and I was knocked out. When I woke I was with Eragon and I had no idea what had happened, so Saphira showed me his memories. In it I saw that Eragon had phased in front of everyone in order to get to me as fast as possible, when he arrived at the hall and saw me get hurt I felt his rage at the shade through his memories. He jumped in between the shade and me and then attacked him and he was merciless. He risked the hate of the dwarves and the fear of the Varden because he loved me, and ever since he had rescued me he had bowed never to let anything happen to me. It was then and there that I realized that I felt the same way, I too would never let anything happen to him, and not because he is a good friend, but because if he is in pain the I am in pain."
She finished, and she felt better about finally telling someone how she felt. She waited as her mother mulled over everything she had told her. I took short of ten minutes but she spoke. "Have you told him of this?"
Arya shook her head, "there hasn't been a right moment for me to do so, but I plan to do so." She took a deep breath and continued "I wanted to tell you first because you are my mother and queen, but know that no matter what you say I will tell him, I plan on asking him to be my mate, and if you don't approve then you can disown me if you want, I will be with him no matter what."
"Arya" she said as she got closer and hugged her "never again shall I send you away from me. I know that if you love him then he is someone worthy of your love. It is true that I don't know him, but I saw they way he looked at you and the way he made sure you were ok. And the fact of the matter remains, that I owe him more than he knows, for he has saved my daughter and kept her happy. I will tell you this now; I give my approval for you to make him your mate. Just let me know when it happens, for I must tell our people that their princess has found a mate, and I must plan a ceremony."
Arya was pleasantly surprised, she hadn't expected her mother to be so understand "Thank you mother" she said and held her tightly for a moment. After their conversation she bade goodbye to her mother and made her way to her quarters. There she changed into her sleepwear and fell asleep dreaming of the man she loved.