Hmmm... Two chaps and still no feedback; damn my story must really suck, to be expected I guess. Oh well I don't really care its fun just writing it. I have a huge problem with chapter length, can't seem to write more than 2000 words, this chap is only 1200. Probably a whole host of mistakes here.
"You're not concentrating Eragon."
He and Arya were sitting in the very same clearing they had been using the previous day and Eragon was supposed to be meditating. However he was finding it difficult to focus with Arya so close; she played on his senses like a lodestone and seemed to demand his undivided attention.
"I worry for our cause Eragon, all Galbatorix has to do is replicate Arya's scent an-."
"You're not helping Saphira," he growled back to her
"Just what are you doing Eragon? What part of concentration do you fail to grasp?"
Arya's tone clearly required an answer.
"I am trying princess, I assure you, you talking isn't helping the matter," Eragon responded tersely.
Her eyes flickering to his face Arya stared him for a moment and then nodded slowly, "We will continue for a while, if you do not improve we shall just have to leave it for the time being... or perhaps I could get another tutor for you: my presence seems to be having negative influence on you," amusement trickled into her voice at the look on Eragon's face, "What? You think I did not notice you staring out of the corner of your eye?"
"Yes," Eragon agreed, "You do look quite... ravishing this evening," his tone light but the words true nonetheless.
"Eragon!" Saphira roared in his mind. He flinched mentally.
"Not one my smartest comments, but it should have interesting results either way."
Arya denied a response for so long Eragon began to worry if she ever would.
Finally she replied in a tense voice, "I thank you for your kind words Eragon... now if you do not mind I believe I shall retire; we will carry on tomorrow." That said she climbed to her feet and quickly walked past Saphira to the edge of the clearing. Eragon watched her leave with a small smile.
"What is so amusing?"
The confusion she felt was very clear to Eragon.
"Oh nothing... it's just that I have never seen Arya look so awkward, I might have to make more remarks like the one I did."
"I would not push my luck if I was you little one."
"Why not... the look on her face was well worth the risk."
"Yes, only now she knows just how much you wish to bed her," Saphira replied cheekily.
His face growing hot, "It was... nothing of the... sort," he spluttered back to the dragoness.
"You cannot fool me Eragon; in fact with the way your face is glowing at moment I doubt you could fool anyone."
Unwilling to suffer anymore embarrassment Eragon stood and followed the route, that Arya had taken only minutes before, back to the Varden's camp.
"I shall race you back," Saphira challenged as she took of behind him.
"I wonder who will win," the sarcasm heavy in his voice, "The over-grown lizard with wings or the human."
Shaking his head at the almost childish smugness he could feel radiating from her, he continued on his way. Leaving the now silent clearing behind.
(Time Slip Here)
No matter how hard he tried to understand them, the battle maps spread out in front him refused to yield their secrets and to his untrained eye resembled little more than a slew of lines and crosses; instead Eragon turned to Nausuada.
"So you will not wait for Orik to arrive before you attempt to take Belatona?"
The dark skinned women gave a exasperated sigh before responding, "I understand your concern Eragon but we cannot afford to wait here: the longer we keep off the offensive the more time the Empire has to consolidate its position and reinforce their cities," she paused to consult the maps, "In any case we do not require the dwarfs assistance to take Belatona." She looked at him with her eyes narrowed, "You know this so there must be another reason for you wishing to wait."
"Yes," Eragon said simply, "And it is quite obvious: the upcoming winter, the men cannot be forced to march through the snow and cold, it would quickly drain their reserves and sap their morale."
"They can and they will, and you cannot faze me here," her outlook was dismissive.
"So I guess that method is stalled,"
"It seems we can do little but obey," Saphira agreed.
"I don't like it."
"You don't have to like it."
Eragon returned to himself just as Nausuada started her sentence, "What of Murtagh and Thorn Eragon?"
Grimacing at the mention of the Dragon and Rider Eragon put Nausuada concerns to rest, "Worry not; they suffered heavy injuries during their fight with my... masters, they should be out of the picture for at least a week or two."
Relief spread across her face, "I am glad, we should be in control of Belatona by then at the very least."
"If everything goes to plan that is, one can never be sure of anything but death in war," he cautioned her.
A stiff "Off course," was his only reply.
Nausuada turned her eyes back to the maps laid out across her mahogany campaign desk; clearly in deep thought. Leaving Eragon to fidget with hem of his tunic. A couple of minutes passed in silence. Then Nausuada looked back up at him, her eyebrows raised slightly as if in surprise.
"What of task I assigned you Eragon? What have learned about these Dragon Hearts?"
"Well to be honest nothing," he admitted, "I am waiting in the hopes that Glaedr wakes soon; he is the only way that I can think of learning more." He shrugged helplessly.
"Tell me why fate is never kind to us?"
"I beg to differ," Eragon argued, "We finally have a hope, even though it is small, of finally ridding the world of Galbatorix... but then again doing the right thing was never meant to be easy, for if it was there would be no need for people to stoop to evil."
He looked up to see Nausuada wearing a faint smile, "You have grown Eragon, and it will be interesting to see where you go from here."
"That it will," Saphira conveyed to both of them.
Straightening her back Nausuada drew herself to her full height and said, "Enough of these politics and this inordinate amount of planning; tell me has anything interesting happened to you two whilst we have been recovering here?"
Her bearing was pleasant and her posture friendly and instantly Eragon allowed himself to relax.
"For once nothing out of the ordinary has occurred for the last few days, life seems almost normal for the time being."
"I guess that would depend on your definition of normalcy, "said Nausuada.
"Oh you know lessons, training, getting annihilated by Arya in duels; all the usual stuff for Eragon," Saphira recounted lazily.
Nausuada gave a small laugh at the mortified expression on Eragon's face.
"I wonder how the men from your village would respond knowing that you had been beaten by a women." The merriment clear on her face, despite her efforts to conceal it.
Grumbling to himself Eragon said "I would tell them to duel Arya, it would be amusing to see how flustered Roran would get."
Nausuada agreed, "That it would."
The rest of the day passed in similar fashion: two friends laughing and jesting, discussing everything and nothing.
"Remember me rider..."