Hello again!! I know this is a really fast update since I just posted the last chapter last night but, I have inspiration! Yay! I promised maddy midnight that this chapter would be happier than the last one...and it is at the end. I like the ending. :)
So anyways I hope people will still remember this story and check to see if it's here, and thank you to you faithful reveiwers who have stuck with me! Here's the next chapter, enjoy!

Dissclaimer: I dont own anything in the Inheritance Trilogy, Christopher Paolini does.


The Next Generation

Chapter Fifteen

Forgiving

Jaide lie on her bed, face buried in her now-soaked pillow. I am such an idiot, she thought. I can't believe what just happened…Eragon…He must be furious with me. I can't believe that I let Kale do that…

She turned her head a bit so that she could take in some cool air, instead of breathing her own breath again and again through the pillow it was trapped in. She breathed deeply, and let it out, trying to calm her emotions. She closed her eyes and saw the picture of Kale, sitting close to her, kissing her, then seeing Eragon there, and his face, that expression he gave her…She broke into tears again.

Meanwhile…

Eragon slowly made his way towards the rooms, thinking about what he was going to say to Jaide. He was still angry with her and especially Kale, but he realized the truth in Arya's words. I don't believe she did that to you on purpose…you need to talk, calmly this time.

I know she is right, even if I don't want to admit it…He thought.

He found Jaide's door, and raised his hand to knock, but instead leaned his head close to the door pressing his ear against it.

Jaide forced herself to sit up on her bed. She asked herself whether she had feelings for Kale like that, and thought about it. But she found that she loved Eragon. She said out loud, barely realizing that it was out loud, "Kale…" No, I don't love him…She thought.

Then she thought of Eragon. "…I love him. I know I love him."

Eragon pulled himself away from the door. He had heard enough. This was too much for him. He heard her say Kale's name, and then she said that she knew she loved him…

Eragon felt as though his heart was being ripped into with a dagger. She loved Kale? But what about him, Eragon? I thought…

Instead of talking to Jaide like he was supposed to, he instead went into his room, slamming the door so it was loud enough for Jaide to hear. I can't believe this…He kept thinking to himself.

Saphira contacted him, feeling the hurt and sorrow reverberate across their link and emanate from him. Little one, did you already talk to Jaide?

No. And I never will. Never again.

Then Eragon went on to explain what he had heard her saying, how she had said Kale's name, and how she had said that she loved him.

Oh, little one. I'm sorry. Take some time to calm down and reflect. Then when you need me contact me and we will talk.

Alright…Thanks Saphira. I love you.

I love you as well, little one.

Saphira stopped talking with Eragon, but she kept the connection open enough so she could feel what he was doing. She didn't fully believe that Jaide really meant what she said, so she asked Arya to go talk with her, to see what was really happening.

Jaide was sitting on her bed, with her back against the wall, her knees pulled up against her chest, when she heard a soft knocking on her door.

"It's me, Jaide, Arya. May I come in?"

"Sure." Replied Jaide, not really wishing to talk to anyone, but she allowed Arya to come in and talk with her.

Arya came in and shut the door behind her. She sat on the edge of Jaide's bed, and looked Jaide in the eyes.

"Will you tell me what happened?"

Jaide took in a deep breath and averted her eyes so that she was looking at a vase of flowers instead of Arya's eyes. But Arya still studied her face.

"Kale…asked me to come find him when we were done speaking with Nasuada and the Consuls. I didn't want to tell Eragon because, he would have gotten mad at me, and gotten really jealous and I didn't want him to take it out on Kale because he's my friend you know?"

Arya nodded understandingly but remained silent.

Jaide took another breath.

"I told Eragon that I was going to walk alone instead of telling him the truth because of that. So I found Kale on the Sparring Grounds, and we went for a walk in the forest. I thought it was just friends, nothing like what he must have been thinking. We stopped by a small brook and sat down. And then suddenly he was getting really close to me, and then he kissed me. I didn't know what to do, I didn't want to like, slap him or anything you know and it confused me because I didn't know he felt like that about me, because we were always pretty close before but never like that."

She looked to Arya now, with tears forming in her eyes again. Arya nodded again, realizing that it wasn't at all how Eragon thought it was. Jaide started again.

"Then he pulled away and I saw Eragon by a tree that was facing Kale's back. He gave me this look, like I just stabbed him with my own sword." Jaide's voice broke some, and she caught it again, knowing she had to finish the tale for Arya.

"I pushed away Kale because that's what I was going to do anyways, even before I saw Eragon, and I got up and chased after Eragon, thinking that I was going to explain. But when I caught up with him, I couldn't find the right words. We fought about what had just happened, he thought that I wanted to see Kale just so I could be alone with him, but that's not true!" She thrust Arya a pained face, and continued with a voice that was bubbling over with emotion.

"I tried to explain to him that Kale and I were, -are- just friends, but he was too upset to listen. Then he left me. Kale came up to me after that and I told him that I had no intention of seeing him like that ever again, and that I only loved him as a friend. Then I returned to my room."

Jaide had tears streaming down her face now, and she buried her face in her hands.

"I see," said Arya, now understanding what happened.

"But there is still one more thing that isn't clear to me. I told Eragon that he should go talk to you, and when he came up to your door, he heard you say that you love Kale. What did you mean?"

Jaide looked up with a confused frown. She searched her mind, and then she realized it must have been when she was talking to herself out loud.

"Oh! Oh no he heard that? I was…half talking to myself in my mind and out loud. I thought of Kale, then I said out loud his name, then I thought about it and in my mind resolved that I didn't love him. But then I thought of Eragon…and I said that I did love him, Eragon that is, not Kale. Eragon must have misunderstood…" She said very quickly, trying to straighten out this misconception.

Arya's face looked relieved at now understanding it all.

"But wait how did you know that?" Asked Jaide, wondering how all this had gotten around so quickly.

Arya shrugged, then explained,

"Eragon told Saphira, Saphira told me, and asked me to investigate."

"Oh…I see."

"I was relaying everything you said to Saphira, and now she understands. She will tell Eragon to listen to you, but you must tell him the truth of the events that just took place. He deserves to hear it from the one he loves." ( NOOO I didn't just steal a line from Everafter…)

Jaide sighed, and then said, "I know."

Arya left, saying that she would let her choose if she wanted to tell Eragon herself or not, but that if she didn't tell him with in the next hour, she and Saphira would, 'assist' her. Jaide delayed a few moments, knowing that it would be hard to face Eragon again, but also knowing that it would probably feel better once she did. She took a deep breath, then got up and walked out of her room.

As she stepped out, she noticed Orik, Alavar and Arya down the hall, and it sounded like Arya was explaining things to them. When they saw her they all grew quiet, and watched her for a moment before turning away, glancing back every now and then. Jaide had to smile and chuckle a bit at this, despite her current mood. She took a deep breath and knocked softly on Eragon's door. When no one answered she stepped in anyways, after an encouraging glance from Arya.

He was sitting on the edge of his bed, with his back to the door. He had his face in his hands, and his shoulders were slumped, he was crouched over as though all of his spirit was gone. Jaide frowned at the sight of him like that, and it made her want to start crying again knowing that it was her fault. But she kept strong and held it in. Instead she walked over to Eragon and sat down next to him, but not too close to him.

Eragon turned away from her and wiped the tears from his face, then sat up straight, facing Jaide. Jaide took in another deep breath; she couldn't look Eragon in the eyes. Not just yet. She started by saying,

"I came to explain to you….No Eragon please don't try and run away again. I must say this to you."

Then she told Eragon everything, she held nothing back. She poured it all out in front of him, until there was nothing left in her but the hope that he would believe her and forgive her. She ended her explanation with what Arya had told her, that he heard her say that she loved Kale. She explained what he had heard, and why he had heard it. He was staring at the floor, with a frown still on his face. Jaide knew he wasn't ready to answer her right now, so she said,

"Eragon, I'm sorry. I'm a fool; I should have seen what Kale's motives were. I should have told you where I was going. I'm sorry for causing you so much grief. It's your choice whether to believe and forgive me or not, I will leave that up to you."

When he didn't respond, two tears fell from Jaide's face. She got up and walked out the door, shutting it softly. She avoided the eyes of Arya and the others, and she quickly retreated to her room again. She sat on her bed, and felt an overwhelming sense of fatigue. I doubt I will hear from anyone until the morning when we are to leave. I might as well go to sleep now, so I can get enough rest for tomorrow. She thought as she removed her boots, and her vest and heavy over-shirt. She had a light white undershirt on and she changed out her rough pants for some soft ones that she happened to bring.

She slid under her covers, and let her head rest on the pillow. She stared at her door for few minutes, trying to hear any sounds that might come from next door. There were none. She rolled over so that her back faced the door, and she closed her eyes and let the tears fall, rolling down her cheeks as she drifted into sleep.

Eragon sat in silence, contemplating what Jaide had said. He was still hurting, and he couldn't answer her when she addressed him. He let her leave, wanting to stop her, but not having the courage or the emotional strength to do so. He thought about what he saw, he played it in his head over and over again. And the more he did so, the more Jaide's story and explanations made sense to him. He knew she was telling the truth, just as she was telling the truth that first day she woke up in Ellesmera, and told them all of her journeys and plans with Galbatorix and her Dragon.

He also knew that he had to go and tell her that he did believe her after all, and that he forgave her. He inhaled, slowly, and exhaled slowly. He stood up and walked out his door. He had heard her door earlier just after she had left, and he hadn't heard it again, so he knew she was still in her room. It was very dark; no light came in thru the top of Farthen Dur. He knew that it was night and soon they would have to wake again in the morning and face the task that they had all been discussing in the past weeks.

He stopped outside of her door, listening for any movement. He heard nothing. He gently knocked. No answer. He opened the door slowly, silently. He peered into the even darker room, not lit by the candles and torches in the hallway. His eyes adjusted quickly, and he could see that she lay on her bed, asleep. He stepped into her room and shut the door quietly behind him.

Eragon wanted to just let her sleep, but he knew that he had to tell her tonight, and stop the suffering for both of them. He walked to the other side of the bed, to where she was facing him. He knelt down so that their faces were level. He watched her for just a moment, her slow, level breathing. He saw that her face was still a little wet. He put the tips of his fingers on her cheek, and slowly, gently stroked away the tears.

Her breathing quickened, but she kept her eyes closed. He wiped away the tears on her other cheek. When he started to pull his hand away, she reached up and caught it, and put it back on her cheek, holding there. She opened her eyes, catching his and holding his gaze.

"Jaide…" He whispered.

She smiled, then let go of his hand and sat up, motioning for him to sit on the bed next to her. He did so.

"Jaide, I…I thought about what you said. I know you are telling the truth. I'm sorry I couldn't listen before. I know you were being honest with me now."

"Does that mean that you'll forgive me?" Jaide said, eyelids brimming again with tears.

He nodded and pulled her to him in a tight hug. The tears found their way once again down Jaide's face and now onto Eragon's neck. Jaide put her arms around his back, and they sat there for a few moments, just holding each other. When Eragon pulled away, he smiled at her and took her head in his hands, wiping again at her tears with his thumbs.

"Of course I forgive you. How could I not? I don't think I could live with you just as a friend now. I love you, Jaide."

She hiccupped and smiled at him, then let herself fall softly against him again in relief. He put his arms around her again just held her for awhile. It felt good to hold her there, to feel her in his arms, with her leaning against him for support. He sighed again but this time contentedly. After some time had passed Jaide pulled away from him and said:

"I'm glad we could work this out. We should get some rest now. We have a long and tiresome day tomorrow."

Eragon nodded as he yawned, and Jaide slid under her covers again and lay down. Eragon was about to leave, but he had a better idea. He took off his boots and slipped under Jaide's covers as well. He turned her over so that they were both facing the door, and he wrapped his arms around her, feeling content now. They fell into a restful sleep after that, happy once again just to be together.

Arya woke earliest in the morning, and she planned on waking the others as soon as she herself was awake. They had to leave before the sun came up. She walked to Alvar first, and woke him with a knock. As soon as he was up and she was sure he wouldn't go back to sleep, she walked to Eragon's room, and knocked. There was no answer. She opened the door, saying,

"Shadeslayer, it is time to-"she stopped herself when she saw that he was not in his room. She frowned, puzzled at this and decided to try Jaide. She knocked on her door, and again no answer. She opened the door and smiled at what she saw. She motioned for Alvar to come and see. He too smiled contentedly. Orik walked up and said,

"What are you two staring at?"

"SHHHH" they both said at him, and motioned for him to take a look. He looked at them quizzically and then peered into the room as well. He chuckled at the sight of Eragon and Jaide, Jaide was wrapped in Eragon's arms, sleeping very contentedly. Eragon was asleep as well, with his head resting on the pillow next to Jaide's. He held her like a teddy bear. Arya closed the door quietly and turned around to face the others.

"I knew they would work it out." Said Orik, content that they were both happy again.

"What do you say we let them sleep a bit longer? We will get all the things ready, then we will only need to wake them and eat, then we can be off." Suggested Alvar.

Arya nodded. "I think that's a very good idea." She said.


How was that? I will be updating more than every three months now that I have inspiration again. Thank you for reading and PLEASE REVIEW!! You guys are great! Oh and PS I will probably be on a ranting writing spree once I see the Eragon Movie. I hope they dont screw it all to heck...they already got the wrong guy to play Eragon...I find the guy who plays Eragon and the guy who plays Murtagh to be...well Ugly. But enough of my opinions go reveiw!!!