Hey another Chapter! Quite amazing for me. I wrote this quite late so expect a lot of mistakes and odd phrases.
I walked into a gunfight with a knife to kill you
And cut you so fast when your blood spilled it was still blue
I'll hang you til you dangle and chain you with both ankles
And pull you apart from both angles
I wanna crush your skull til your brains leaks out of your veins
And bust open like broken water mains
So tell Saddam not to bother with makin another bomb
Cause I'm crushin the whole world in my palm
Got your girl on my arm and I'm armed with a firearm
So big my entire arm is a giant firebomb
Buy your mom a shirt with a Slim Shady iron-on
And the pants to match ("Here momma try em on")
I get imaginative with a mouth full of adjectives,
a brain full of adverbs, and a box full of laxatives
(Shittin on rappers) Causin hospital accidents
God help me before I commit some irresponsible acts again, Eminem, Still Don't Give A F***. Have I mentioned how much I love Slim Shady? He just cracks me up with is quack rhymes.
Hope You Enjoy.
The clang of steel against steel produced a melody not unpleasant as Eragon strode through the training field, his Elven guards padding silently in his wake. Quite a distance still remained to the agreed meeting place with Arya. The reason behind which still eluded him. But he got the feeling that Blödhgarm and his kin were privy to the details: if the urgency in their not so quiet 'whispers' was anything to go by.
"I agree they know, this wasn't some friendly invitation from Arya, it reeks of importance."
Eragon turned his head skywards just as Saphira pulled out of a particularly frightening dive. Her scales scintillating from the suns dazzling display.
"Hmm...Yes your right," Eragon replied.
She gave an arrogant snort and said, "Off course I am silly little two-legs; in any case I wish to hunt, keep your mind open and don't go picking fights with men who have very long knives."
A small smile carved it ways onto Eragon's face at the last remark, "Don't worry I won't."
With one last roar Saphira raced westwards and soon became a speck in the cloudless sky. Blödhgarm walked closer to Eragon.
"Shadeslayer wher..."
Raising a hand Eragon quickly, with as few words as possible stated, "Do not worry, she has gone off to hunt she will be fine... Blödhgarm... about this meeting what are the reasons behind it?"
The blue-haired elf gave a small shrug before responding, "Tis nothing secretive, I assure you, we are just going to discuss your training."
Eragon stopped and frowned, "My training?"
"You shall see," he answered and then joined the other elves a few feet behind; leaving Eragon to ponder his words.
The sound of fighting started to die down as the company reached the end of the field and the tree line started. For a while the crunch off booted feet upon compact dirt was all that could be heard and the underbrush grew thicker; leaving Eragon to question how far this strange meeting was to take place.
Their long march through the woods gave Eragon ample time to think and to remember. The pain of Oromis's death was still fresh thus Eragon tried his utmost to stop his thoughts from straying there; instead he relived his childhood memories, his life and friends before Saphira and the simplistic way of life he still loved. Eragon surprised even himself when he discovered the almost unbelievable yearning deep within his heart to return to his previous life. "What could have happened by now if not for all of this?" he wondered. His excitement and sense of loss building, "New life, or maybe I could have been married by now!"
Blödhgarm's voice cut through the nostalgia, "We are almost there, the clearing is just ahead."
Reality clawed its way back into picture with elf's words. Eragon fought the congregated sadness and trapped it from whence it came; ignoring its sharp protests, "At least for the present," he thought. He turned his focus back to the meeting.
True to his words the trees began to thin out and the distance between one to the next began to increase; until finally the clearing came into view.
Eragon's eyes instantly began to take in the details. A small stream ran through the middle of the clearing, the grass smelt fresh and the trees around the edges were still quite young. New life permeated through the area.
Arya was sat next to the gurgling stream, her knees brought up to her chest. Eragon felts himself drawn to her many curves and features. She looked stunning and majestic.
Without turning to face him she said in a clear flutelike voice, "Come here Eragon, sit down next to me."
With a backwards glance at his guards who seemed to have stopped at the tree line he did as she told him. Her alluring smell of pinecones became almost unbearable as a result of their closeness. Crossing his legs underneath him Eragon waited for her to speak, instead she turned her gaze onto him and her eyes flickered from his feet to his face as if measuring him and then looked him in the eye. Eragon returned her gaze without blinking until she finally turned away much to Eragon's surprise. No word or greeting came his way for a few minutes. Eragon started to wonder if she even planned on talking. As if reading his mind she turned her face back to him and Eragon's concentration wavered.
"I arranged this meeting so that we could discuss your training."
"Yes... what of it?"
Her eyes flashed in anger, "Don't be a fool Eragon the answer is obvious: you are not ready for what needs to be done, you need to nay must improve if our cause is to succeed."
Eragon recoiled in shock at her tone.
Seeing this Arya gave a quiet sigh.
"Forgive me Eragon; events of late have been difficult."
Nodding slightly at her words he said, "What do you mean improve?"
Arya was silent for a moment her eyes downcast and then, "I will train you in swordsmanship and magic, not too thoroughly of course you are already naturally gifted with the blade and your skills with magic are sufficient for the task to come, although I will show you small ways to improve your casting," she took a small breath and continued, "You should also start to meditate again if you have not done so already."
Eragon took time to digest everything she had said and then replied, "You probably know quite a few things about magic that I do not, I concede that freely... however how will you teach me swordplay? I have already beaten Vanir and he was not your average opponent."
Arya tensed slightly, "Don't be so naive Eragon: Vanir's skill with the blade cannot be compared with mine."
He may have been mistaken but Eragon thought that Arya's tone became proud for a second.
Saphira linked herself with him once again and said in a playful tone, "Seems as if Arya has once again put you in your place little one."
Eragon growled at that, "Shut up."
Saphira's amusement only increased. Eragon turned his attention back to Arya; she was watching him again.
"I see... when do you plan to begin?" he questioned.
"Now."
With that said she lithely got to her feet and drew her sword; then she re-located herself across the clearing.
"Draw thy sword Shadeslayer."
Standing himself, albeit without Arya's grace, Eragon too drew his sword. Brisingr seemed to sparkle with delight. Guarding Brisingr's edge Eragon assumed a crouched position and eyed Arya warily. If what she said was true than this would be quite the challenge.
An unnatural quiet settled over the clearing as both combatants circled each other slowly. Eragon turned his eyes to the left seeking Blödhgarm and his elves.
That was when Arya struck bounding across the clearing in a flash and bringing her sword up in a wide cleaving motion. As it was Eragon was barely able to bring Brisingr up to block the strike. His arm instantly went numb.
"Hellfire!"
"This should be fun," Saphira laughed.
Before Eragon could even resume his stance Arya danced to his right in a blur of movement and Eragon just stopped a strike to his ribs. Continuing her offense Arya put together a combination of light and heavy blows that had Eragon using every defensive technique in his arsenal. Eragon got the feeling that Arya was holding back somewhat and this only served to anger him, he had never felt so helpless, not against Druza, not against Vanir not even against Murtagh.
"I will not go down so easy," Eragon promised himself, determination taking hold.
Their duel went on through most of the morning; Eragon putting everything he possibly could into the fight. But the result of the dance was never in question. Arya was amazing in combat: she stretched in unimaginable ways and struck with the speed of a desert snake and unlike Eragon, who near the end had sweat coursing down his face; she still looked as she had at the start.
Playing her sword in a quick lunge she struck Eragon upon his shin causing him to bend slightly in pain, using his small lapse in concentration she quickly disarmed him with two quick blows: Brisingr flying high and then burying itself in the mud.
Eragon stood panting for a few moments as Arya went to retrieve Brisingr for him.
"She is amazing," he murmured to Saphira.
She grunted in agreement.
Returning Arya placed Brisingr in Eragon's sheath and then turned to look at him; she had small smile on her face.
"I find myself very impressed Eragon."
"Why? I lost," he groaned in response.
"Do not be so hard on yourself I have had many years to practice and improve you have only had two," she paused and then said "I have never seen a person so naturally gifted with the blade in all my years."
"Even still I doubt that is much help if I cannot improve," in spite of everything Eragon felt warm pride at Arya's words.
"Maybe not," she agreed.
Eragon let out a small laugh at her words.
The smile slipping from her lips she whispered, "You should and rest now Eragon, meet me here tomorrow at the same time."
"I will do... Arya would you like to dine with me?"
She stiffened and watched him suspiciously.
"No I did not intend anything of the sort..." Eragon reassured her.
Her face softening she replied, "Not today Eragon maybe another day... do not dwell too much upon Oromis Eragon... May the stars watch over you Shadeslayer.
Eragon gave a small bow, "Off course, as you wish... Shadeslayer."
"How did she know?"
Turning her back on him she walked away back to the camp, soon disappearing amongst the trees.
It may just have been the peace before the storm, but Eragon suddenly felt content with his lot in life.
"Maybe this bloodshed and chaos is just the beginning of my new life."
"Off course it is," Saphira interjected, "Now get on my back before I lose my patience."
Slight redo.