Chapter 2:

Secrets

Arya walked out of Nasuada's tent quickly, so as not to talk to Eragon. He seemed more distant because of Oromis and Glaedr's deaths. He was in so much pain and she didn't like to see him like this. He didn't usually have that happy glint in his eyes anymore. He stayed in his tent most of the time. All the happiness had drained from his face and had been replaced by an impassive expression that he wore everywhere he went.

She went to her tent and picked up the gilded lily Eragon had given her while they had been making their way back to the Varden. That night while he was sleeping she had taken it out of the ground and hid it in a cloth in her pack. It was her most prized possession not because it was made of gold and diamond, but because Eragon had given it to her. It had originally been a lily he had sung out of the ground for her but the spirits had gilded it. She sniffed the flower because the lily was still alive inside.

When will I be able to tell him, she thought, I can't cause him any more pain than he has to have. His training is over so why prolong his suffering?

Just then a single consciousness brushed against hers. She drew away from it and thought only of the grass boat she had made the night the spirits appeared.

Don't worry it's just me, she realized it was Eragon. Come to my tent I need to ask you a few questions.

Okay, she replied. She made her way to Eragon's tent. It took her a few minutes to get there. When she did Saphira was lying curled up around the tent.

Hello Arya, how do you fare today?

I fare well, Saphira Bjartskular. I do hope you and Eragon are feeling well also?

Yes we feel well. He's waiting inside.

Thank you. Arya walked inside the tent to find Eragon reading Domia abr Wydra, or the Dominance of Fate. He looked up and saw her and then closed the massive book and put it next to him.

"There's a stool over there if you would like to sit."

"Thank you," and she sat, "So what was it that you wanted to ask me?"

"Well first off I was wondering why you took off in such a hurry after our battle coordination meeting? I thought it was a bit strange." He looked at her with a deep curiosity and a small smile upon his face. He tilted his head to the side a little, still waiting for an answer. Her ears burned and she knew they were red but she was thankful her raven-colored hair would shield her ears from him.

She quickly made up an excuse. "I needed to speak with my mother, Queen Islanzadi because she had asked me to inform her of our battle plans." For reasons unknown to her, Eragon found that extremely amusing.

"Yes, I'm sorry for being so nosy. I also wanted to know why you wouldn't look up at the meeting. And why you never spoke?"

"I was trying to remember everything being said so that I could relay the information to my mother. I never spoke because I had already conveyed all my opinions before you had arrived."

"Again I apologize for my curiosity, I just wanted to know."

I have a question for our fair elf, Saphira said, mentally. It seemed as though she had been listening to their whole conversation. She seemed to have an amused air about her thoughts too. Arya had no idea what made them think her answers were so funny. Why do you seem to be embarrassed? You have your head hanging slightly down as if to hide something and your ears are red.

How did she know my ears were red? She's not even in here. Maybe it was my thoughts. She cursed in her head. I need to be more cautious.

Both out loud and mentally, so that they both could hear her she said, "I am embarrassed by the silly nature of your questions and I wonder why I was summoned for such a crude trivial questionnaire. I am embarrassed by your mirthless amusement because I still cannot grasp what seems to make my answers so funny." She said it a little angrily, even though she did not mean to.

"I am sorry Arya my curiosity got the best of me. Please forgive my childish actions."

She felt bad right then and was extremely mad at herself for saying such things to her friends. "It is I who should be sorry. I should not have gotten angry, even if it was in the little bit I did."

"Would you like some tea and fruit?"

"I would enjoy some."

To them both Saphira said, I will be going hunting. Exchange pleasantries as you please, I have not eaten since the day before the siege at Feinster.

As Arya and Eragon ate and talked Arya felt happy to be spending time with him, for they had not since they had run back to the Varden. Right then and there she wanted to reveal her secret to him, but knew she could not because of the battle taking place in four days. It gnawed at her stomach until she bade him goodbye and left for her own tent.

I must wait for the right time to tell him. If I tell him at the wrong time it could destroy our plan and cause us to lose the war. It was dark out and she saw Saphira swoop back towards Eragon's tent with a dead doe clamped in her jaws.

Good night young elf.

Good night Saphira. She slipped into her tent and dropped onto her bed. She fell asleep staring at her beautiful gilded lily.