Chapter Twenty-one

Repercussions

Disclaimer: See Chapter One

Aragon sighed as he stood from where he'd been kneeling beside the river, and quickly dried his hands on his breeches.

He sighed again, and looked back to the brook again, and took an involuntary backwards step when he found that it was no longer the silvery flowing water it had been, but a mirror smooth plane, through which Eragon was watching him.

Aragon hastily touched his fore and middle fingers together on his lips, before beginning the traditional elven greeting.
'Atra esterní ono thelduin.'
'Mor'ranr lífa unin hjarta onr.' Replied Eragon.
Deeming the third line of the greeting irrelevant at the present moment, Aragon cut straight to the heart of the matter with all the subtlety of a war hammer.

'What's changed master? Do you have fresh news?' Asked Aragon, before Eragon could speak.
The old elf gave Aragon an amused look.
'I see that apprenticing you under Elmïra wasn't the brightest thing I've ever done; you're learning her mannerisms as well as her skills.' Said Eragon dryly.
Aragon remained silent, then asked. 'But what news do you have master?'
Eragon sighed and muttered a quiet curse to himself.
Aragon didn't hear all of it, but he heard 'impatience of youth' mentioned, and drew his own conclusions.

'I take it from the scenery around where you are, you're about a day's flight from the Ninor river, in which case, I think I'd best warn you that there have been reports of people going missing in the region, but no bodies being found; we're not sure yet if it's Ra'zac, a shade, urgals or slavers, or- and I don't think this likely,- a dragon that's developed a taste for human flesh.' Finished Eragon grimly.
Aragon looked revolted at hearing the last possibility, but the other ones were likely enough, and he felt himself pale at the possibilities.
'Anything else?' Asked Aragon weakly.

'Yes, I sent Jarren and Sarah to investigate, and they know you're out there as well, if you find each other, I've given them instructions to help you and Thelduin back to the city as quickly as is humanly and draconically possible.' Said Eragon brightly.
'As for you, Aragon, your orders remain unchanged: You and Thelduin are to make all speed back to Ilirea.' Finished Eragon.

'Yes master, we're heading back as fast as we can, another day or two and we'll be there; Just one question, have you told everyone of my survival?' Asked Aragon tentatively.
Eragon gave a small chuckle. 'Never fear, I've put the word out, and everyone is satisfied with my recollection of our last talk for the most part, but actually seeing you alive in person seems to be the only way to convince everyone I'm not telling them a lot of blood-and-thunder.' He explained.
'We will return with all speed.' Promised Aragon.
Eragon nodded once. 'Very good.' He said, then terminated the spell.

Aragon wearily made his way back into the small camp he and Thelduin had cleared.
A small fire was crackling, and curled beneath the shade of a tree was Thelduin.

Aragon couldn't help but smile to himself as he saw the scene, beautiful simply by it's peacefulness and simplicity.
Thelduin raised her head as Aragon entered the clearing, and then proceeded to place the rabbits he'd hunted over the coals to cook.

Aragon, said Thelduin seriously.
Yes Thelduin? Asked Aragon.
We need to talk. Replied Thelduin.
We are talking, or did you have a specific topic in mind? Asked Aragon.
Come, walk with me Aragon, this isn't the sought of thing we should discuss sitting down. Said Thelduin, crouching down.
Aragon climbed onto Thelduin's back, and took his usual place just below her shoulders, before laying on his back and looking to the sky.
Are you comfortable back there? Asked Thelduin dryly.
I'd love some mulled cider, but yes, I am immensely comfortable. Said Aragon in all seriousness, as Thelduin walked out of camp, back towards the river.

So what do you want to talk about? Asked Aragon curiously.
Silence was all the answer he got for a moment.
You need to be more careful. Said Thelduin quietly.
Huh? Asked Aragon confused.
Aragon, it isn't just thoughts and feelings we share, when you broke your leg a month back, I felt it, when Morzan was tormenting you, I felt it every time you jarred your leg, when that girl kicked you between the legs,-even though it wouldn't have affected me usually, being female,- I felt it, and when that traitor stabbed you in the heart, I felt it, and I felt all the agony of it as you died, before finally all I was left with was darkness; I have suffered much because of you, either through your own ineptness, recklessness, bad fortune, or some other trait of yours that leads to you getting into tight spots; In short, we share pain as well. Explained Thelduin.
Fairs fair, what about all the times you've hurt yourself and I've felt it? Asked Aragon.
Name one time when I have been injured to the same extent as you. Challenged Thelduin.
When that Ra'zac hit you, when Mûnnguldûr blind-sided us and we ended up fighting him. Said Aragon after a moment.
Damn it Aragon, I don't ever want to lose you like I did the other day again, it was horrible, it felt like half of me had died with you, and I don't ever want to feel that way again. Said Thelduin, finally losing her temper and upsetting Aragon's balance, before pinning him to the ground, so he had to look her in the eyes.

That was when Aragon figuratively sat up and paid attention.
Despite her wont to deck him with her tail when he said or did something she considered foolish, wake him up on cold mornings by up-ending his bed, or paradoxically, pulling him close to her warm belly and coiling her tail around him when he attempted to do the waking, Thelduin had never done anything in true malice to him.
The fact she'd thrown him off her back, then pinned him with her talons made abundantly clear to Aragon just how distraught Thelduin had been, and how worried she was that it would happen again.

Now that Aragon actually looked back over his actions, he saw that Thelduin had a fair point: most of the times he'd ended up injured, it'd been his own fault.
Alright, I see what you mean, I'll start being more careful, but for the love of Vroengard, don't start playing nurse-maid, it's not as if I can't take care of myself. Said Aragon.
Promise? Asked Thelduin, her talons tightening, and the weight on Aragon's chest increasing fractionally.
Is that really nescessary? Asked Aragon.

Thelduin nodded slowly.
'Alright, I promise I will start being more careful.' Said Aragon with a sigh.
Good enough. Said Thelduin, and let Aragon to his feet.

Yet again, no change.

No One-liners.