A/N: Alright as usual I apologize for the wait but here it is, and pretty long too. Please review!
"Saphira would you help me a little bit?" Eragon pleaded as he tried to start the fire. Saphira just looked at him and hissed in his head,
Why don't you use your magic? Eragon sighed. He knew that she was still and at him for leaving Leona behind.
You said I should conserve my magic, remember? Eragon retorted. Saphira snorted and craned her neck over to the firewood and simply blew out a flame from her maw. Eragon moved closer to the fire as Saphira nestled closer as well. There was a long silence until Eragon finally said,
Tomorrow we should be by the Beor mountains and close to the Varden. Saphira sat in silence and this frustrated Eragon so he said,
You know, she hurt me. I didn't hurt her, it's not my fault this time. Saphira sighed and said,
I know Eragon it's just that you still shouldn't have left her there. Even though she is smart you could have . . .
What? What could I do? I'm sorry, Saphira, but she tore me apart and traveling with a girl who did that to me would just rip me even more. Besides, I bet she's happy with whoever she is right now. Saphira sighed and looked to the stars then looked down at Eragon again and said,
Something tells me that she didn't want this to happen. The look on her face, it wasn't her. Eragon sighed and he got a little angry with her saying,
Saphira, you don't get it. She doesn't want to be with me anymore, alright? The reason that she didn't seem herself is probably because it was awkward being around me. She doesn't love me anymore so let's just face the facts. Eragon avoided her eyes the whole time, and when she did not say anything he decided to change the subject and try to forget about Leona.
So this weather is nice, huh? It's becoming spring sooner than I thought. He finally looked to Saphira and she was glaring at him. He was about to ask her what was wrong but he knew what it was about. He decided to set up his blanket and go to sleep trying to avoid every thought of Leona.
--
Earlier that morning.
Do you think he'll forgive me? Leona asked to Gelmir. It seemed as if Gelmir smiled as he said,
Why wouldn't he? He'll understand once you tell him what happened. Leona smiled and walked closer to Oromis's house. He spotted Oromis outside his house reading as Leona yelled to him in a cheerful voice,
"Hi Oromis!" Oromis looked from his book and looked quite surprised and said,
"Leona! I thought you were with Eragon." He got up slowly and met up with her. Leona wasn't surprised to hear that he went somewhere without her. She frowned ad said,
"No, but where is he? Do you know?" Oromis was shocked and said,
"You don't know?" Leona was more anxious to hear where he went and shook her head quickly and said,
"No, please tell me." Oromis still had the same shocked look on his face as he said,
"He went back to the Varden, Leona." Leona felt cold inside. She felt Galron trying to talk to her but she blocked him out. She didn't think that Eragon would do this. She didn't think that he would react like this. Oromis asked Leona if she was alright many times but she could not seem to hear but she finally answered,
"Thank you, Oromis. But I guess I'll chase after him now. I will make sure to visit you after the war." She hugged him and tried to go but he held onto her and said,
"Did something happen between you and Eragon?" Leona looked down and said,
"I don't want to talk about it." Oromis lifted up her chin and said,
"You may not want to talk about it, but you will." Leona sighed and told him the painful story.
--
Ah! The Varden! It's good to be home. Eragon said happily as Saphira flew over the familiar fields and woods he had missed. Saphira passed a familiar place and she said,
Eragon, I'm thirsty. Can I go down there and get water? Eragon didn't bother to look down he was admiring the view and he said,
Yea, sure go ahead. Saphira smiled faintly and slowly drifted to an open space that Eragon remembered to be quite familiar. He dismounted Saphira and looked at the trees and smiled. He tuned a little more to find Saphira drinking from a small lake that held a beautiful waterfall with the clearest waters. Eragon's heart froze, he wanted to leave immediately now that he knew where he was. But he couldn't. The water was the only thing that made him feel better. It was beautiful and clear like Leona's face. And no matter how much he tried to push the thought of her away he couldn't. The thought of her in his mind made him feel whole and alive.
Saphira raised her head from the water with water dripping from her maw and said,
Alright, we can go. Eragon looked at her and he knew why she brought him here. It wasn't because she wasn't thirsty, it was because she wanted him to think about Leona. She wanted him to be miserable again. He wanted to be angry with her and tell her to go away but instead he said,
No, I want to stay here. Saphira cocked her head but asked no further questions. Eragon walked close to the water and put his hand in it. The water was cold instead of warm like it was in the winter.
It was spring, the water should be getting cold, as Leona said, Eragon said as he smiled as he remembered that day. Eragon looked to the sky and it was streaked with shades of pink and orange. Eragon thought of the sunset and what Leona showed him. He quickly got up and said,
"Come on Saphira! The sunset!" Eragon started to run to the forest but Saphira didn't. Eragon was confused and he said,
What? What's wrong? Saphira shook her head and said,
I cant fit through that forest. The trees are so close together. Eragon sighed but then smiled and said,
Let's have a race. You can fly over the trees but stop when you get to a small hill. Saphira snorted and said,
You actually are attempting to race against a dragon when it's flying? You have gone completely crazy. Eragon laughed and said,
Afraid you will lose to a human? Saphira snorted again and lifted up into the sky as Eragon sped through the forest. He ran as fast as he did when he ran with Leona. He felt like she was right next to him running with him but when he looked he just saw trees speeding past him.
The sunset is beautiful, Saphira said to him with a chuckle at the end telling him that she was there already. He finally escaped out of the forest and saw Saphira sitting on top of the hill with her wings neatly folded. Eragon continued to run up the hill and finally saw the blazing light that was the sun. He sat down quietly next to Saphira and watched the sun slowly meet the ground. Eragon remembered this is how their adventurous day ended. Eragon missed Leona even more watching this sunset and he became wounded again when he repeated her words in his mind.
I have fallen in love with someone else! Eragon looked down and then back at the sunset and quickly got up. He did not want to waste another minute here.
Come on Saphira we should be going. Saphira sighed and said,
Oh let's just wait a few more minutes. The sun gets more beautiful as it gets closer to . . .
No! Eragon shouted. There was a silence until Eragon said, Look I'm just really tired and I want to see how everyone is, alright? I didn't mean to yell at you like that. Saphira just simply nodded and got up as Eragon mounted her. They flew in silence their whole way back.
--
"Oh Leona. You poor thing," Oromis said as he pulled her in for a hug. Leona let the tears roll down her face as she embraced him tightly. It was hard for her to remember what she had done to Eragon. It was even more painful to think back to when Murtagh threatened to kill him. She remembered his cold fingers around her neck as he roared in her face,
"If you want Eragon alive, you will listen to every damn word I will tell you!" Leona left tearstains on Oromis's tunic as she raised her head away from him and said,
"Well I better go too. I will miss you, Oromis. Thank you for your hospitality." Oromis chuckled but said in a serious voice,
"You're not going to travel alone. I will not allow it." Leona was confused and said,
"Well I have Gelmir, Oromis, and who would travel with me anyway?" Oromis said with a smile,
"Me." Leona smiled back and said,
"Oromis, no, you don't have to do that for me. I will be fine." Oromis shook his head and said,
"Yes you think you will be fine, Leona, but I don't trust it for on minute. What has happened to you may happen again. Murtagh has come to you twice in a week. Chances are he may show up again for another one of his torture games. I am coming to protect you Leona. And . . . it would be a lot of help if there were three riders against two." Leona was mortified and said,
"No, you cant! Oromis don't be foolish you have been in enough battles already." Oromis smiled and said,
"Yes, but this is the war that will end them all! Don't you see Leona? Galbatorix old now and he is still powerful but he is weaker than he was in previous wars. And Leona, I want to be alive when the King who caused all of this misery and hell upon our beautiful Alagaesia dies. You don't know how long I have waited for this battle to happen. So please, Leona, let me be in a battle that I have always wanted to fight in." Leona smiled at his courage. How could she possibly say no to this sweet old man?
"Alright, Oromis, you win. Just please be careful when your out there." Oromis laughed and said,
"Leona, you are sounding like me! Relax! I have been fighting battles for almost all my life." Leona smiled as Oromis walked into his house as Leona followed. He grabbed a bag and went to his room and came back with the bag filled with clothes. Then he grabbed another leather bag and tossed to Leona saying,
"Here. Put as much food as you can in that." Leona nodded and went to his kitchen and put apples, peaches, carrots, and bread carefully in the bag. Oromis came to her and said,
"Alright. Now that we have that I must get Elondmir." Leona was confused and said,
"What do you need to get?" Oromis smiled and said,
"Follow me." Leona followed him to a room in the back of his house. It was small, like a large closet. But she ignored the small space and looked upon a large golden sword that was hanging above of the most beautiful armor she has seen. It was the shiniest silver and gold with Elven designs carved into it. Oromis quickly grabbed the large golden sword and held it in front of him and said proudly,
"This is Elondmir." Leona was about to touch it but Oromis walked out of the room swiftly and said,
"Well come on now! We must be off to your place." Leona looked back to the armor and said,
"Aren't you going to bring this" Oromis frowned and said,
"I would love to fight in that, Leona, but it would just be impractical to carry around on a three day journey. They can provide me with armor there I am sure. Now come on! Get to your place while I get Glaedr." Leona nodded and left quickly.
When Leona entered her tree house she quickly told Galron what was happening and got her things together. She looked around her room, or his room. Leona could not believe what she had done to Eragon. She did not think that he would be this hurt. And she did not even think she would be this hurt. She knew that she would not get to Eragon this easy but she would try every way that she could. She realized how much Eragon was a part of her. She wondered if he felt the same way too or if he was glad she left her in heartache. But she remembered that she was the one that left them both in heartache. She knew that she could not forget about him even if she wanted to. She took one last look at his room. She sighed and left to find Gelmir at the base of the tree waiting for her.
Are you alright? Galron asked sincerely. Leona nodded faintly as she climbed down the tree. Leona knew that Galron would not leave it at that so she was not surprised when he asked,
Do you want to talk about it? Leona shook her head and said,
No, we must go. We can't leave Oromis waiting.
When she reached Oromis's house she saw Glaedr and Oromis standing in front of their house with their backs to Leona. She figured that they were saying their last goodbyes to the house for what could be the last time. After what seemed like a few minutes Oromis turned around and said,
"Leona why did you not tell me you were here? Would have wasted a lot less time if you told me." Leona muttered,
"Sorry, I was caught up with my thought as well." Oromis smiled and said,
"Well shall we be off?" Leona faintly nodded as she watched Oromis climb his large dragon and finally settle his saddle. He frowned a bit as he sighed out,
"Well goodbye my Ellesmera." He lifted off in the sky as Gelmir followed after him. When Leona was above all the trees she looked behind her to see the beautiful land that she grew up in. She frowned and said faintly,
"Goodbye."
A/N: Next Chapter is Luthien and Gelmir! REVIEW!!