Alagaesia High

Chapter 12

Thanks to reviewers. Here's your little note.

Du Hjlodhr Sundavar: Not sure if you technically reviewed, but you PM'ed me, which is enough. Just a little thanks to you, I hope you like the chapter. Oh, and make absolutely sure to check out and review "A Tale of Three Druids." PLEASE!

Axel 19: Well, it's a work in progress, so the characters that are in love will change. A lot. But, really, I think it's a FxA at heart. But I dunno. Next chapter's gonna come out either really anti ExA or really ExA. It just depends.

Magneseus: That was a very nice review. I appreciate that you think my fic is snarky. And yay for getting my references. That's all. Just a little thank you.

Time's-A-Tickin: Well, I try. Thanks for the very friendly review, and I hope that you managed to leech a few reviewers off me. Well, not really. Anyways, thanks!

ExA-mazing: I really sometimes wish that this story would just turn out a FxA or ExA and get it over with. Fat chance of that happening.

Rozelyn: Well, what I said to just about every other ExA fan.

VoXR: Thanks for not dropping this if it gets FxA. Just thanks.

Separate Entity: Lots and lots of reviews! Thank you!

AndyKFantasyLover: Thanks for the review. SO MANY REVIEWS. 0.0

YIKES! So many reviewers! You make me so happy.

Once again, Eragon found himself moping in his room. He sighed. Why is it, he asked himself, that he was so brutally unable to, if he couldn't get a girl, avoid those who did?

For one, Katrina was at the house about as much as Roran was. Raudhr, the ever cheerful imp, was ridiculously flirty with Trianna, (not a fun thing to see), and of course, Arya was still determined to be his friend. Which was hard with Faolin lurking around her shoulder.

Damn it all! He snarled silently. If he couldn't occupy himself with the happier things in life, he'd just go hone his NMRRPG skills. Rising from his seat, he wandered to find Roran. Found him making out with Katrina in the closet. Damn.

Okay, he thought, closing the closet door, I could ask Saphira. Jogging outside, he heard her voice in the tool shed. Of all the places, he thought, flinging open the door. And there she was, kissing some freshie Eragon didn't even know. "WHAT THE HELL?" Eragon roared, slamming the shed door.

Growling rather pungent words under his breath, he stalked the ranch, thinking of a viable NMRRPG partner. As tempting as it was to challenge Faolin, he doubted the wisdom of handing his ex's boyfriend a sword and attacking. He could always challenge Arya, but that would simply be too awkward. All right, as foolish as this is, he decided, I'll challenge Raudhr.

Hopping on his bike, he wandered the area, just, in a way, meandering for Raudhr. When he did ride past the senior, he already had his ax in his hands. To Eragon's surprise, Trianna, who trailed behind him, carried a quarterstaff.

"Hello! It would seem that you fine fellows would be armed for combat, as am I. Perhaps a little diversion would be wise, no?" He queried, clicking into role-playing mode.

Raudhr seemed inclined to do the same, calling out "Would that be a challenge, Garrowson? I am inclined to put you in your place, upstart!"

Once again surprising Eragon, Trianna followed suit, saying "I will join you in this fray, and teach you both the might of the clan Hardt!" Dismounting very slowly and deliberately, Eragon slid on his thick leather gauntlets.

"Bid your fame adieu, friends, for today I shall shame you!" He cried, slinging Brisingr from its baldric across his back. He crouched, backing away. Trianna immediately lashed out at Raudhr, the butt of her staff striking the shaft of his ax. Raudhr roared and swung the weapon in a wide arc, sending her scurrying away.

"I see you sneaking, Garrowson!" the senior bellowed, turning to Eragon, who was attempting to flank the heavily built warrior. As Raudhr charged, Eragon slung his shield from its place on his back onto his arm. Sliding the flat of his blade behind the shield, he lunged at Raudhr, who was bearing down on him like the wrath of the gods. As they collided, two things happened.

The first, Eragon bounced backwards, as did Raudhr. The second, more important thing that happened, was that Raudhr's axe struck the aforesaid senior in the forehead, dazing him.

Eragon instinctively knew to flee, for one reason only. He didn't know where Trianna was.

Even as he dove, the staff he had seen earlier struck his ankles, and a sick snapping noise floated up to Eragon. He roared with pain, tears springing to his eyes. He was dimly aware that Raudhr was tending to him. The whole world seemed hazy, everything imbued with pain.

Raudhr said something, and suddenly his ankles burst into fire. He screamed, he cried, anything to make it stop. Then, suddenly, life-savingly, miraculously, the pain went away. He gasped, tears of relief pouring down his face. Looking at his feet, he found that Raudhr had set the injury. Staggering to his feet, he thanked Raudhr.

Suddenly, a life-altering thought hit Eragon. A cruel grin played at his lips. Yes, it was dangerous. Yes, it had massive potential to go wrong. And yes, it meant seeing Arya.

Bum-ba-dum! I am dreadfully sorry for how long this chapter took, I had no good reason. I mean really, it wasn't even long, or for that matter, good. But, I use this chapter as a gateway to the glorious realm of "The Next Chapter!" Well, BAI.