Chapter 24;
Something tugged against her thoughts, the solid link shoving her out of her sleep. With a jolt, she awoke, and found herself lazily gliding against the wind. She sat upon Shruikan, who had turned his massive head to look at her through intent eyes. She gripped the spike before her as he angled downwards, tilting slightly. Much to her surprise, he landed with a soft thud, his bulk lightly hitting the ground despite his weight. He curled up, laying his head on his paws. She stood a few metres away, not knowing what to do. He thought for a moment, then slowly reached forward and wrapped his tail around her, pulling her closer towards him. He placed his head next to her, and she awkwardly began stroking his brow, smiling slightly as he hummed at the feeling. She froze as his pleasure emanated from their link, and he looked at her saying,
We better get used to that, it will happen much more often. She nodded sheepishly, again stroking his brow.
What are we supposed to do? She asked him, he looked at her through a large eye,
I'm just as new at this as you are. We'll make it through; we are a rider and dragon. She smiled, comforted by the new voice in her head.
Small one, do you have any questions? He asked her, she thought then said,
What did you tell Eragon before we flew off? She asked him, he looked at her with what would be a disbelieving stare.
The elf was Eragon? He lifted his head to look down at her,
Yes, he was changed during the blood oath celebration. He nodded, and answered,
I told him we would be back midday tomorrow, and that you would explain. He lay back down, closing his eyes, and continued,
Are you comfortable with sharing dreams? His eye opened, she bit her bottom lip,
Yes. He closed his eyes, and he let their full link through. She gasped as his weariness washed over her. And her eyelids dropped closed. As she fell into her dreaming state, his dreams mingled with hers, and the fell deeper into their trance.
He looked up warily as the black dragon appeared above the horizon. Arya softly brushed against his mind, and he granted her entrance, easily letting their minds touch. He was unaccustomed to the large mind linked to her, but he asked anyway,
Is everything alright? He watched as they landed in a clearing away from camp. He lightly began to jog, and she answered,
Yes, did you-
Yes. She knows, we should have no issues. He started running faster. And soon he was free of the camp. Saphira soared above him, the sound of her wings humming slightly in the air. As Eragon came into view, he could see Arya sitting on Shruikan's snout, leaning against him, slowly stroking the tip of his tail in her lap. She looked up and smiled at him, and he drew closer. And he stopped close to the dragon's head. Bowing, he said,
'I am Eragon, rider of Saphira.' Arya leaped down, landing lightly. With a puff of smoke, Shruikan said,
It is a pleasure to finally meet you. I am Shruikan, dragon of Arya. He nodded towards Eragon, as Arya jumped off. With a shuffle of wings, the dragon continued,
I must go hunt, I will see you all tomorrow. He turned to Saphira,
Wold you like to accompany me? I would like to learn about the last female dragon. He asked, slightly shy. Saphira looked at Eragon, and he nodded with a smile. They both took off, twirling around each other playfully. He smiled as he watched them, and he turned to Arya, her eyes flicked towards the dragons quickly as he turned, and he gave her an odd look. Shrugging, he asked,
'So many things to think about. Hungry?' he asked coolly, and she nodded, her face was slightly dazed, as if she just realized what was happening. He half smiled, and tugged gently at her sleeve. She smiled back at him and they walked quietly towards the varden. Walking into his tent, he threw her an apple, and she caught it, slightly distracted. With a frown, Eragon asked,
'What's wrong?' She shook her head slightly and said,
'I'm sorry, I need to go.' With that she left, swiftly walking out of his tent. He stood ready to go after her, but he stopped, realizing she needed time alone. He gingerly rubbed the nape of his neck, sighing, and he looked around his tent, hoping for something to do. His eyes lay upon the red apple Arya was about to eat, and taking it as a sign, he scooped it up, and left the tent, following Arya.
Eragon found himself far from the varden camp, Arya just in his line of view. She was running, the soft puffs of air splaying across the ground she sprinted across. He sped up, slowly drawing closer. She veered off the plane, into a cluster of trees, and Eragon slowed to a walk as he made his way through the damp forest, following her swift form. He stopped on the edge of the tiny spot she kneeled in, and he knelt down, below the ferns. He was surprised to see a single tear run down her cheek, solitary and alone, leaving a sparkling trial down her face. She gave a muffled sob, and she said,
'Just need time alone. Need time to think.' Eragon swallowed hard, fighting the urge to go to her, and gently stepped back, going back to where he came.
He slowly stepped back into his tent, resolving to see Arya later. He flopped onto his bed, and slid his shirt off before laying down, steadily floating into dreams. it was an hour or two later that he heard Arya walk past his tent, probably picking her way towards her own, but he cracked an eye open as her foot steps stopped near his tent flap. He heard give out a shuttering breath before she knocked lowly on his tent flap. He opened his eyes and said,
'Yes, come in.' she entered as he lit a candle with a muttered word, and sat next to him, causing the mattress to bend under the new weight. She sighed, and said,
'I just wanted to ask a few questions, Eragon, is that alright?' he nodded, still slightly drowsy, but she continued.
'It's about what is going to happen. How and what are we going to train about? I know I am competent in history, and magic. But I have no idea what a rider would train for.' By the end of her sentence, her head was bowed, and she found herself tracing his stomach through the blanket. He sat up, propping up on his elbows. She immediately withdrew as she realized he was shirtless. He smiled, and said,
'Well, right now, we need to teach you how to complete aerial combat. Maybe a few instruments and you can spar every morning with me or one of the elves.' She looked thoughtful, and she said lowly, looking down,
'Eragon? I know it isn't appropriate, but can I stay here tonight? I think things are happening a bit fast.' She sat glumly on his bed, and he said thoughtfully,
'Hmm, alright, I'll just get some spare blankets, ill sleep on the ground.' He sat up in his cot, running a hand through his tussled hair. He looked gently at Arya, she bit her bottom lip, and two of her fingers pressed against his bare chest, pushing him back down. She said in a whisper,
'no, Eragon, can I stay with you in your bed… just tonight..' she trailed off, slowly leaning forward, and she clumsily wrapped her arms around his torso, and, not knowing what to say, he simply drew her closer, her cold hands warming gently against his torso. He gently covered her with the blanket, and she kicked her boots off, and they fell to the ground. He shivered as her cool face buried into his shoulder.
'Sorry' she whispered, smiling against his skin.
'How did you get so cold?' he asked, gently rubbing her arm to warm her. She moved closer, her toes pressing against his legs. She shrugged, and he shivered at the coolness of her skin. He said lowly,
'Goodnight, Arya.' Her breathing deepened and her arms wrapped loosely around him, holding him in place. Looking down at her sleeping form, he softly brushed his lips against her brow, in sleeping response; she nuzzled his shoulder, pressing closer towards him. He settled into a new position, and gently drifted into his dreams. One thing echoing in his mind;
Goodnight… my love.