Wow! Thanks for all the reviews. This is the chapter with their sparring session, its the first duel I have ever written. Let me know how you like it. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Inheritance Cycle

Master of Mind and Metal

Eragon opened his eyes and arose from his waking dreams, strange dreams they were for they intermingled with Saphira's. She was dreaming of hunting while he dreamed of Arya as he so often did. The last dream involved Arya sitting cross legged on top of Saphira's head while giving her direction on the best way to catch her prey unaware. Eragon sat up and shook his head sat the absurdity of the thing.

Eragon got up, stretched then walked to the wash closet to begin his daily bathing and shaving ritual. While he soaked in the hot water he thought about the night before, his favorite part had been the walk with Arya. Though not many words were spoken much had been conveyed through glances, smiles, and body language. Thinking of Arya lead Eragon to remember the things he left behind when he sailed away, including Roran.

Eragon kept in contact with Roran the most after his departure. He remembered meeting all three of Roran's children using the scrying mirrors. Ismira, Torance, and Anna were all beautiful, strong, and healthy. Eragon scryed them every week, he and Roran would retail their past adventures for hours at a time.

Roran passed into the void after three and eighty years of life; leaving Palancar Valley to Torance. Katrina followed a short six months later. It was a moment in Eragon's life when he cursed being immortal.

Eragon always kept in touch with his nephew and two nieces but they have all left the earthly world as well, Anna being the last to die three decades ago after ninety years of life. Interestingly enough it is Brom the son of Torance who ruled the earldom now. Roran's children were a sentimental lot; they held the names of their ancestors and their histories in very high regards. One of the last times Eragon had spoken to Torance he told Eragon his parents would live on, and they had in name at least. Brom named his two children Garrow and Selena.

That bloodline has always been tested for Rider's, no eggs have hatched for them yet but every time Eragon spoke the name Selena he got a very subtle tingle in his gedwëy ignasia. Perhaps soon he would be teaching his great grand-niece the ways of Dragon and Rider.

Eragon shook himself and came back to the present and finished bathing. He was looking forward to his sparing with Arya this morning.

He got dressed in a simple earth brown tunic, leggings, and boots. He strapped Brisingr around his waist, then tied his hair back and set off.

When he arrived at the sparring field Nyiain was there and waiting. In the back of his mind he was aware of Saphira starting to stir. Within moments she reached out to his mind. How faired your evening meal little one?

To sum everything up quickly Eragon ran through his memory of the night before. In the forefront of his mind was his excitement for the upcoming sparring session.

Ah I see, to reacquaint yourself with Arya you want to try and hit her with your sharp-metal-fang. This I understand, when we dragons select a mate we test each other as well. Eragon blushed a bit at her statement and he felt her rising amusement when she added.

Fírnen and I will come and watch, it may take my claws and fangs to cut through the sexual tension between the two of you. He could hear her rumbling laughter through their bond as she added. Maybe you should bite her? That was all it took for me to mate with Fírnen.

Eragon shook his head. If only it was that easy. He thought back at her as he moved over to speak with Nyiain. He told her of his theories about the wards around Du Weldenvarden and his match with Arya.

"You told me she was very good. Easily a match for you before her dragon hatched you said." Nyiain said.

"Yes but I believe the wards are acting as a barrier. We shall see, meanwhile let us start the Rimgar." He replied.

They both started working through the fourth stage of the Dance of Snake and Crane which both had long ago perfected. As Eragon worked through his poses he let his tension drain away and only concentrated on his balance and flexibility.

When he and Nyiain were almost finished he noticed Arya standing to the side quietly letting him finish. She had several of her advisors with her though she kept casting glances at them as though she did not want them there.

As Eragon finished, Saphira and Fírnen landed in the clearing and curled up close to where Islingr was watching the morning exercises.

"Good morning Arya." Eragon said as he walked to where she stood waiting on him. Then he added. "I was not expecting an audience but no matter, have you kept up your skills over the years?"

She grinned at him. "I usually spar two or three time a week, for an hour each session so my skills are well honed."

"Good. Then we will put your skills to the test with both mind and metal, is this acceptable?" Eragon asked.

"It is." Was all Arya said in reply. Eragon thought it best to warn her in advance that he would not treat her as a pampered queen once they engaged.

"Understand Arya that when we step on the field all titles are meaningless and I will treat you as I would anyone of my students." He told her. This got her attention, her eyebrows creased into a deep V and Eragon could see her grip on the hilt of Támerlein increase until her knuckles turned white. Her advisors also looked up as if the thought of Eragon speaking and acting torwards Arya in anything but a queenly manner offended them.

Eragon just smiled. He wanted to see the Arya he had once known, fierce and determined to accomplish the task at hand no matter the difficulty.

He then walked to the middle of the field and drew Brisingr to guard the edge. "Come Arya. Let us cross blades once again."

Arya did not speak a word, she only drew her sword, dulled the edge and proceeded towards him like a stalking cougar. Eragon kept his blade at his side, angled downwards. He still remembered all the tricks she once used to confuse him, which she tried now. She smiled widely, a truly breathtaking smile, it was like watching as the sun crests the horizon with the first rays of dawn.

She lunged attempting to put the tip of her blade just over his heart. Eragon brought his blade up diagonally batting hers to the side as he continued with a figure eight motion and rapped her thigh on his way down then jumped back before she could recover.

"Tut, Tut. Too slow." Arya winced then glared daggers at Eragon before she charged again swinging from shoulder to hip. He blocked, side stepped to his left then struck. He sent slashing blow under her sword arm towards her hip changed directions at the last moment and struck her other thigh then twirled away.

"Faster!" Eragon barked.

She has been idle for too long sitting on her throne. He thought to himself as he heard her let loose a low growl and charged him once again. He allowed her to slash, stab, and hack at him for a moment while he assessed her speed and strength. It seems something truly is different.

He finally retaliated and she was put on her defense as he rained three heavy blows, the last aimed at her shoulder which would have struck had he not slowed at the last moment, afraid he may truly injure her. He was already moving again when he felt Arya attempt to assault his mind.

In his mind Eragon fixed a picture Brisingr and she could find no hole, nor crack in which to enter. She seemed to realize this and began to withdraw. At the speed of thought he flashed an image of the very first fairth he had ever made of her, the one she shattered.

Her surprise was so great she faltered and he was able to firmly plant himself in her mind and could then see her every move before she made it. Arya was concentrating so hard on removing him she did not realize he slipped passed her shoulder and had his sword touching the back of her neck. He withdrew from her mind and tapped her neck twice.

Arya whipped around, saw his sword and scowled at him. Eragon raised a questioning eyebrow and stared until she spoke. "It seems my skills are lacking."

"Would you like to continue?" Eragon asked.

In answer she took four steps back and assumed the ready position. She stood waiting for Eragon to attack. He finally charged her, exchanging several blows of increasing speed then he bent low to the ground, spun around with his leg out in a sweeping motion while his sword was waist high. As he predicted she only blocked his sword and his leg caught both of her ankles and she landed flat on her back.

Eragon stood over Arya and noticed the anger in her eyes. She has not been challenged in a long time. He thought. Eragon held out a hand to help her up but she ignored it as he knew she would. "Your anger is hindering you Arya. Empty yourself. Find my weakness." He told her.

Their next engagement was much better; to make up for her lack in speed she used her agility. She spun, jumped, twirled, and pivoted to avoid his blade and landed two hits of her own. She attacked with her mind next so Eragon built his defenses and made to attack her in return.

To his absolute astonishment Arya used a memory, a memory of herself in a wash closet preparing to bathe. Eragon's defenses faltered and he stumbled earning himself a sharp blow to the elbow even as Arya took over his mind.

She entered, took control, and then said inside his head. Two can play that game Eragon. He could feel her amusement just as she could feel his embarrassment and to make matters worse she could also feel his attraction.

Blast it! He thought.

Before she withdrew form his mind he said. That was not fair Arya. Eragon heard her musical laughter when she left his mind. He knew his face and the tips of his ears were red. He then heard Saphira join in with her deep rumbling laughter. "When you're both done having a laugh at my expense may we continue?"

"You said find your weakness Eragon." Arya said as she smiled at him.

Eragon grumbled for another moment then took a deep breath to empty his mind. Arya charged him this time and proceeded to use her acrobats in an attempt to confuse him but he was not deterred. He matched her blow for blow and after a moments observation he noticed a pattern. Every time he thrust Arya would spin to his left then back flip over his head to face his back. So he waited for the perfect moment and knew as soon as it happened.

He thrust forward and sure enough she spun. Eragon turned his thrust into a downward slash, the tip of his sword traveled past his foot and continuing upwards. Arya could not see his change in direction and the moment she landed her chin rested on the tip of Brisingr.

Arya looked at the sword as if she was confused on how it got there. After pacing backwards a few paces she surprised him with an all out attack on his mind but it was empty. To Arya his mind would seem smooth as glass, like an endless pool of water with no bottom and no shadows. Their was simply nothing for her to see within his mind. Arya also attacked his body; again and again she threw herself at Eragon only to be batted away like a clumsy child.

Finally, when she was pouring with sweat and short of breath, Eragon side stepped a thrust, spun around her back to her shield arm and put Brisingr to her neck. Effectively ending their duel.

Standing there catching their breath, Eragon stared into Arya's eyes, lost in the emerald orbs. He was not aware of how long they both stood there looking at one another; it could have only been minutes, it could have been several moon lit nights, he did not care nor apparently did she. It was only the two of them.

Finally Eragon spoke in a low voice. "Thank you for sparring with me Arya. It was a pleasure."

Arya replied equally low. "You have truly become a master of the sword Eragon, as well as a master of the mind and no, the pleasure was all mine."