A/n: I was slightly discouraged from the lack of reviews on the last chapter, but considering how much it sucked I deserved it I suppose, I implore you all to keep reading, next chapter will have some much desired romance I promise!

Nice to Meet You

The next morning Aris rose to feel excitement coursing through her body, the smallest of smiles attempted to pull at her lips but she settled for just enjoying the feeling. She donned her traveling cloak and belted her two daggers in the belt around the waist of her dress. She stowed the swords in her pack.

Walking lightly from the room she made her way to the kitchens to fill up her pack, meeting Murtagh along the way.

"Oh, hello again." He said smiling as he nodded to her, falling into step beside her.

"Good morning." She nodded in return. His grin grew all the sudden as he watched her, "What is it?"

"You look…brighter this morning. Maybe we'll see you smile before this trip is over." He sounded hopeful. Aris just shrugged lightly as they entered the kitchen doors.

After gathering all the supplies needed they walked together to the courtyard where Roran and Katrina were saddling Inarkien.

"Oh hi!" Katrina grinned letting go of the strap in her hands.

"Katrina!" Roran exclaimed as the saddle slid sideways pulling him with it.

"Oops I'm sorry!" She helped him up then they finished their task Aris watching with amused eyes. Rahzin soon landed beside them.

"Good morning all." He greeted stretching out his neck as he nosed his saddle over to Murtagh.

"Morning, so are we leaving sooner than planned? You said afternoon but it seems as if we're all ready." Murtagh asked as he placed the saddle in his ruby red dragon's back.

"If that suits everyone." Roran agreed, strapping their packs on the saddle.

Aris approached Rahzin carefully while reaching out with her mind, "Do you mind if I touch your scales?"

"Not at all." He answered with a small chuckle, "It seems as if the potion has worn off of your mind, you must be feeling better."

"It's slightly disconcerting, having been blocked from it for so long and now suddenly I can read peoples thoughts leagues away again." Her minds voice echoed through their mental connection. Hesitantly she reached out and stroked a scale on the tip of Rahzin's snout, she jumped as he wrinkled his nose.

"Sorry that tickled." He chuckled.

"Oh, I'm sorry, is this better?" She reached out to his neck this time amazed at how smooth the hard scales were beneath her cool fingers.

"It's fine." Murtagh was watching this with a half smile on his face, Aris seemed to be nervous about everything. Suddenly a fly landed on Rahzin's nose in that same ticklish spot.

"oh no!" Murtagh panicked in his mind as Rahzin snorted before he could help it, flames shooting from his nose and his head jerking sideways knocking Aris to the ground.

"Aris!" Murtagh exclaimed leaping down from his perch on Rahzin's shoulder.

"I'm sorry, are you all right?" Rahzin asked turning to look at the fallen girl with a concerned red eye. Aris was sitting on the ground looking slightly shocked, suddenly she smiled. Katrina and Roran who had come around to see what had happened looked up to meet Murtagh's shocked face.

"I'm quite all right, it just surprised me." She said the slightest hint of amusement hidden in her tone. She looked up at Murtagh and the small smile slid from her lips at his expression, it was one of disbelief. "Is something wrong?" Her tone returned to normal as well.

Murtagh started and extended his hand, "No, not at all, let's go." He smiled at her, it seemed to Aris that she could still see a hint of amazement in the grin. She took his hand and he helped her up into the saddle, following closely behind her. Aris looked over to see Katrina and Roran settling in themselves. Unlike before Murtagh was behind Aris, his hands lightly on her hips as he held her steady.

Rahzin lifted his bulk from the hard packed earth and Aris gripped tightly with her knees. After a few moments she relaxed allowing her herself to enjoy the view as Rahzin followed Inarkien east into the rising sun of the morning.

It was late afternoon, the sun now hot on their backs, when the dragons began their descent. They sloped downward towards a small grouping of large white canvas tents. Shouts could be heard and miniature people began to point at the sky. The dragons came to a hard stop in an adjoining field of dirt and sparse brown grass.

Before the riders and their company could even dismount the dragons were surrounded.

"Roran! Murtagh!…Is that? You've found her, look everyone its Katrina!" A large man with a thick black beard knotted over his expansive chest shouted in his deep voice clearly over the clamor of the crowd. The noise elevated immediately.

Murtagh helped Aris down and she inconspicuously slid out of the crowd, her heart beating uncomfortably as she looked upon the mass crowd of strangers. Laughter was ringing in the field and Katrina was all smiles, receiving hand shakes but mostly hugs from her fellow villagers. Aris played with the end of her braid resisting the urge to run back into the direction they had arrived, an unreasonable discomfort had risen in her chest.

Murtagh and Roran were hailed similarly when the fawning over Katrina was complete, grins and hearty slaps on the back received by both. It was then that Aris was noticed, a small blond woman, apparently married to the big black haired man, was watching her curiously.

"Hello dear, you must be a friend of Katrina's." The woman smiled kindly at her, the small little girl waving at her with the hand that wasn't clasped around her mothers.

"Yes, this is Aris, she saved me from the slavers multiple times." Katrina stepped next to Aris, breaking through the crowd.

"Slavers? What exactly happened to you?" A villager called.

"Please, let them sit down and eat before we bombard them with questions." The blond hair woman gestured for them to follow and the girls were joined by the riders as they made their way into the canvas village.

After a few moments the group of four were comfortably settled on the ground, their back resting against a log. Katrina and Roran sat holding hands, Aris on Katrina's other side with Murtagh on the end. A large cauldron of stew was cooking over the bonfire a few feet away. The villagers settled themselves in a similar fashion and a "Let's hear it." rang through the village.

Aris merely listened as Katrina recounted events, not reacting to gasps nor to the words of praise that repeatedly leapt from the villagers mouths. Murtagh was watching her curiously, his eyes showing the slightest of concern.

"Are you all right?" He whispered to her as Katrina told of their escape.

"Fine." She answered monotonously.

"Don't lie, you look uncomfortable." His eyebrow rose, and her violently blue eyes flashed up to meet his warm brown ones, "That's all right you know."

She remained silent and he smiled in understanding refocusing his attention to the villagers. Katrina finished the story quickly, just in time as the smell of dinner wafted through the air. After a bout of questions, laughter recommenced as people made their way to get a portion of the makeshift feast.

Murtagh stood up and looked at Aris expectantly, "Coming?"

She stood and smoothed her dress, looking at him nervously, "Murtagh…I was raised with elves…I don't eat meat."

A grin blossomed on his face, eliciting a confused look on Aris face, "It's fine, neither do I or Roran, they made a smaller pot of just vegetable stew for us, don't worry about being rude."

She followed him around to the pot and thanked him as he filled the bowl a villager had placed in her hands. They made their way to where Katrina and Roran were sitting with the black haired man and blond woman.

"I don't believe we were properly introduced Princess, so if I may be so bold, My name is Horst, and this is my wife Elain." The bearded man stood and bowed to her with a smile.

Aris dipped her head in return, "Please, call me Aris." She smoothed her dress beneath her as she sat down.

"That might take some getting used to." Horst laughed, "I'm a afraid you'll be addressed as my Lady more often than not."

"Can I call you Aris?" A small girls voice came from behind her, "That's my daddy, may name is Arabella. I'm the youngest, I have two brothers named Albriech and Baldor, they're old, I'm only four and a half and Albriech is already getting married. Mommy says I wasn't real-" Horst had gotten up and gently placed a hand over his daughters mouth.

"She'll talk your ear off she will." He chuckled, "Sorry about that."

"I don't mind in the least." Aris hoped her face showed some of the amusement she was feeling, she liked that the little girl was talking to her completely without inhibition. "Would you eat by me Arabella?"

"Yea!" The blond little girl smiled and clambered next to Aris, an almost exact miniature of her mother. "Your dress is real pretty."

"Thank you, I must say I envy your hair, it has a very pretty color." Aris complemented her in return. The little grinned so big that Aris wondered how her lips stretched that far. The rest of the meal was consumed in near silence, she was delighted to find that the vegetable stew was delicious and she didn't have to force it down.

The sun had now mostly disappeared beneath the horizon yet it seemed like the merriment had just begun. The groups that had separated during dinner rejoined around the bonfire and seemingly out of nowhere instruments were produced. Flute and fiddle made an odd yet pleasing combination as they played together in the night air, coaxing dancers into the clearing.

Aris made her way to sit on a log just out of the way of the dancers, Arabella's tiny hand made Aris' seem large as it disappeared in her grip. The little girl really did talk quite a lot, but Aris didn't mind.

"Are you gonna dance Aris?" She asked as they sat down.

Aris watched the dancers and they're firelight made shadows flicker on the ground, "I don't think so."

"Why?"

"Nobody has asked me." Aris answered, excluding the fact that she wouldn't feel comfortable dancing with just anyone.

"So, I'll dance with you." Arabella offered her eyes bright.

"Actually Arabella, I was wondering if I might." Murtagh came from beside them.

"Yay! Now someone has asked you." Arabella squealed in excitement.

Aris looked up at Murtagh, "I don't want to leave her here by herself." Aris politely tried to figure out how to say no, dancing was not something she looked forward to.

"I'll go dance with Baldor!" Arabella chirped already skipping away to her older brother.

Aris stood slowly and looked up at Murtagh, wondering if perhaps he thought of her differently than he might other women. "I appreciate your offer, but-"

"Nope, you're dancing with me, Katrina told me to make sure you were having fun." He grinned at her as she pulled at the sleeves of her dress and reluctantly took his arm. They made their way out to the clearing and he took her hand in one of his, her hand now feeling small. His other hand rested on her back, thankfully in the middle.

He began to guide her around in circles, keeping the steps simple and easy for her. He moved slowly and she almost rolled her eyes.

"I know how to dance Murtagh, I simply haven't in a while." She spoke after a few moments, he nodded and sped up, their movements somewhat in time with the music now. She had no trouble keeping up, but he occasionally glanced at his feet, not as graceful as she in his movements.

Finally after several long songs they sat back down. Aris sighed internally as a slow ballad started, she would not have wanted to dance to that. "Thank you, I did enjoy myself." She nodded in appreciation.

One of his eyebrows lifted, "Why are you always so formal? I saw you smile this morning, so I know you can instill emotion into your face and voice, why don't you?" He asked, his brow furrowing.

Aris looked up at him, his tone confusing her, it was almost impatient, "Why does it frustrate you so?" She asked.

"I just want to know why, I've dealt with hard situations, so have Roran and Katrina, Eragon more than any of us, yet he still manages to laugh and talk so that people don't know when he is bored and can tell when he actually wants to continue the conversation. With you…nobody ever knows if they should continue to talk or walk away." He sighed, and shook his head, "Your free remember, you don't have to be a stone anymore."

Aris looked away and stood quickly a rush of emotions heating within her. A mix of indignation, frustration, sadness, and reluctant resignation, thrashed around inside of her. "Thank you for the dance." She managed before she walked away.

She headed for Katrina, who was talking with a times hardened woman and a young man about eighteen or so. She saw her approach and smiled at her brightly.

"Aris!" She said hugging her, "Are you enjoying yourself? This is Birgit and her son Nolfavrell."

"I am, of course, pleased to meet you both, and yes I have enjoyed myself immensely, but I am tired, and I was wondering where it was that I might retire." She tried to keep her face normal though at the moment an overwhelming panic was consuming her. What if Murtagh was right, if she was like this forever and nobody could bear to be around her. She remembered Orin's look after the assembly, it had been a disturbed almost frightened glance.

Deep down she knew her fears were childish, she knew each day she was getting better, but the sense of being without a friend amongst strangers once more…she couldn't bear it a second time.

Katrina was watching her she realized and she wrenched herself from her thoughts.

"That's what I was talking to Birgit about." Katrina said slowly, "I'm sleeping with Elain and Horst, so is Roran. Murtagh is staying with Albriech and his wife, I thought if it was okay with you, you could stay with Birgit."

Aris nodded, "As long as it's no trouble."

"None at all Milady." Her son spoke, "Our tent is huge, and there is a divider so you will have privacy." He grinned at her with wide eyes.

"If I am indeed not putting you out, then that would be most agreeable." She nodded, and bowed her head at them. She could feel Murtagh's consciousness approaching, Aris did not want to speak with him again. "If I could retire now?"

"Of course, show her to her room Nolfavrell." His mother smiled and Aris quickly followed her son through slightly dusty white canvas tents. The moon was bright in the sky now, the full moon only days away. Out here in the open, she would love to sit and watch the full moon, it was her favorite time. But, she would not be left alone that late at night, no, surely she would need protection of some sort.

o0o

A/n: So I don't know that this chapter was much better, I tried really and I had to have another chapter before the next or things wouldn't flow right, so please don't give up on me. Reviews tend to heal self-esteem so please, review.