Here I am again with a brand new chapter! I couldn't let Arya, Eragon and Saphira just fly back to Feinster without a bit of trouble and as most have you have guessed I obviously did not kill off Arya. Murtagh and Thorn, however, are an entirely different matter. I will keep my promise though, you haven't seen the last of them :)
So, what do you guys think about Faolin being alive? I wonder what Arya might think when she finds out he's alive mmmh this is going to be interesting :D Anyway, thank you all for the reviews and here's chapter 11! R&R!
Chapter 11
Arya awoke in a unfamiliar room and in a unfamiliar bed. She turned her head to find no other than the blue Rider asleep in a chair beside her. He looked so peaceful as the troubles of the world could not disturb him in his dreams. The elf slowly began to remember the events before she lost consciousness.
Murtagh.. Eragon.. the fight.. Saphira.. Thorn.. Eragon.
"Eragon!" she breathed.
She frantically started to search for any sign that he was hurt; when she found none she let out a sigh of relief. Arya attepted to sit up, but a sharp pain manifested itself in her lower abdomen, preventing her from moving. Barzul! she cursed.
Unable to make any kind of movement without injuring herself, she settled with watching Eragon sleep. It a calming and soothing effect on her as she quietly watched her beloved Rider dream.
His final words were what she remembered with most clarity and she cherished them.
"Arya... Arya. I love you. Stay with me." he pleaded with tears flowing down his cheeks.
"Eragon..I..I.." she said in a cracked voice tha was barely audible.
She had been so close to admitting her true feelings for him and now they were both stuck in the same awkwardness as the week before. Arya knew that Eragon would not jeopardize their friendship by renewing his sweet words, as he vowed not to.
The elf noticed a change in the Rider's breathing, meaning he was beginning to awake. She did not know what to do: should she stay awake and confront him or feign to be asleep and avoid the conversation altogether. I will not be a coward she promised herself. Eragon stirred until he finally opened his eyes. He was a complete wreck: there were deep shadows under his eyes and he looked like he had not slept for days. The first thing he saw was a stunningly beautiful elf staring at him with two glowing emerald orbs.
"Um..Arya, I was just.." he said, fumbling with his words, trying to form a coherent sentence.
"It is quite alright, Eragon. I was merely going to inquire after your health." she said while gracing him with a small smile. It was short lived, however, as another wave of pain shook her body. The concern was evident in his face.
"I am fine.. just tired." she said, answering the unspoken question.
As she glanced once more around the room, she noticed something was missing. The egg!
"The egg! Eragon, where is the egg? It was with Saphira, but then she.. How is Saphira?" she asked in a sudden panic. All she remembered was Saphira trying to reach Eragon before he hit the ground. Arya tried to get out of the bed, but as soon as her feet touched the cold marble floor, she collapsed into Eragon's arms who was trying to steady her. He sat her back down on the bed, making sure that she did not attempt to run.
"Arya, calm down. Everything is fine. Saphira is alright; a few scratches, but they're nothing too serious. The egg is safely stored in my room, guarded by wards." he said while reaching out to gently rub his hand down her arms.
"Everything is fine." he repeated.
"What happened after I.. lost consciousness?" she was about to say ''almost died", but then decided to spare him at least that.
Eragon visibly cringed and a frown appeared on his face. "After you collapsed, I carried you over to Saphira. But she was in no condition to fly... I didn't know how far away we were from Feinster when Murtagh and Thorn showed." he said, as tears started to form in his eyes.
"We weren't that far, fortunately" he continued "so I carried you back to Feinster, where I informed Nasuada and Blodgharm on what had happened. Saphira joined me later that day after she had fully regained her strength. You had lost a lot of blood and... I didn't think you would make, but you did."
"What of Murtagh and Thorn?" she asked somberly.
"I..killed Murtagh. Thorn fell to his death whilst trying to save him." he replied sadly. "He was carrying ten Eldunarì with him."
Shock, amazement and disbelief took over the princess as she replayed Eragon's last statement in her mind. "You.. killed him when.." she did not even complete her sentence, but Eragon nodded.
"How?" she breathed.
It was I, Drottingu. I sensed Eragon-finiarel's distress and it awoke me. My rage towards the hatchlings that killed Oromis overwhelmed me and I managed to send the Shadeslayer enough energy to overpower the Red Rider. I do believe I owe you my congratulations, Drottingu as you have accomplished the same feat; you are just like your father. I have mourned my Rider long enough and now I will assist you in training the new Rider whoever he or she shall be.
Just as quickly as he entered, Glaedr withdrawed from their minds and retreated to his solitude.
"Eragon, how long have I been unconscious?" asked Arya, changing the subject. She sensed that Eragon did no longer want to speak of the deaths of his brother and his dragon.
"Six days. You were in the same state as the first time we met, except that I could not enter your mind." he replied "I do not know why that happened though." he added, noticing the confused expression on her lovely face.
"I wish to return to my tent, I have to contact my mother and inform her that I am well." she said after a few minutes. Anticipating his refusal, she continued "I have several duties that require my attention and as you can see I am awake and well. Eragon, what do you wish to do about the egg? You are the Lead Rider and I must know what course of action you wish to take."
Her question took him by surprise. "For the time being, I want you to rest." he said with a grin "and then, once I have assessed you welfare, you may resume your duty as egg-carrier." His grin disappeared when he caught sight of her death glare.
"Eragon, I am not some human woman that requires your every attention. I am quite capable of looking after myself!" she growled.
"I know, Arya. Believe me, I know. I care about you and I just wish you well." he said quietly, trying not to upset her further. Seeing acceptance in her eyes, he helped her stand despite her best efforts to thwart him from doing so.
He walked to his room where the egg lay safely guarded on a table. It was surrounded, from Arya managed to gather as several very powerful wards. Eragon released them and cast a spell to prevent unwanted listeners from eavesdropping.
Arya continued to feel pain in her body whenever she moved, but bravely pulled through as she walked as carefully as possible towards the egg. She caressed the smooth edges with her soft fingertips.
A crack started to appear upon its surface and with a surge of green magic, it shattered to reveal a small emerald dragon hatchling.
And we have the green Rider! I was planning on making him hatch during the flight and then he uses his dragon magic to save Arya, but then I thought it would be too much to have all that happening in one chapter.
I'm just going to say that Arya is going to give Eragon hell in the next chapter and a very unlikeable character returns. And maybe, just maybe I'll give you a few hints to the infamous spy's identity ;)
R&R!