Welcome back, to my twelfth chapter and another day in writing. Uh, I just want to say (I'll make the note shorter this time) that I'm going up to Michigan on the 24th till the 26th or 27th so my mom can fly up with me and get a car from my grandparents then drive back down because she needs company… too bad I can't drive yet (well, I can but I'm underage for permit even) so, just letting you know. Uh… that's in more than two weeks. Hopefully this thing will be in a good state, either finished or almost finished or even just well on its way. So... now to the story!
Disclaimer: everything belongs to CP... even Arya…
For some reason I think this chapter may be an utter fail. It's skipping to Arya's fourth month of pregnancy.
--Fourth month to the day--
Arya woke up next to Eragon at dawn. She rubbed her swollen abdomen fondly. Eragon had been sleeping in even more than her these days, and the dragons awoke at the same time as her. They had gotten so large the elves had made another dragon bed, because the two could no longer sleep in the same one. She heaved herself up off of the bed and walked to the door, bending down slowly to pick up the breakfast left at the door.
Thankfully her morning sickness episodes had come and gone two months ago, and she rarely had such attacks anymore. When she returned into the room, Bhronnë had opened one of his golden eyes.
Good Morning, Little One. He smiled upon using Saphira's adopted nickname.
"Good morning, Bhronnë." Arya sat down in a chair nearby Bhronnë's dragon bed. Just three months ago he could ride on her shoulder. She smiled at the memory.
Are you doing alright?
"Fine. I'm just tired."
You should take it easy Little One. There's another life inside of you.
"You think I'm not? I'm trying the best I can to take it easy, but being a queen won't allow me to." Arya sighed.
At that moment Saphira opened one of her great sapphire eyes. Hello, Bhronnë.
Bhronnë was distracted by Saphira now. Good morning. How did you sleep?
Just fine. A small blue flame exited Saphira's nose. Bhronnë blew an emerald flame out of his nose, copying the blue dragon.
I'm going to begin Bhronnë's training today. Saphira told Arya.
"Good! I'll keep a connection so I can learn what he learns from you."
Good idea. I take it Oromis trained you in magic?
Arya nodded. "I've been completely trained in the case of something like this happening.
Saphira flew off with Bhronnë, and Eragon groaned from the bed. "What time is it now?" He rolled over, covering his head with a pillow to block out the sunlight.
Arya patted his arm. "It's time to wake up. Past dawn, Eragon."
Eragon shot up, wincing at the sunlight. "How long have you been up? I keep telling you to sleep longer."
"I've been up since dawn. And not only do I not feel like sleeping in, I don't see the point in doing it." Arya kissed Eragon slowly, letting him make what he would of it. Eragon took advantage of the situation and pulled Arya to sit down on the bed as he kissed her passionately. They had both missed the days before when they had gone much farther than kissing, but knew that it would only be another four months until they could go back to doing it again.
She finally broke the kiss, smiling at him and telling Eragon to get dressed. Arya left the room and came back in a pair of maternal clothing, sewed by the queen's finest seamstress. She put her hands on her hips and waited for Eragon to get dressed, her thumbs going into her back slightly. She got a flashing image of the emerald dragon attempting to melt a stone with his breath. Eragon brushed her lips and she began to descend the staircase with him.
Outside, the elven city was not quite busy, but lanterns were being extinguished throughout Ellesmera. A few could be seen rubbing their eyes while they walked, or could be heard yawning while practicing swordsmanshipbehind their houses. A few elves were practicing with a friend in the sparring field, which was the direction Eragon and Arya were heading. Eragon had become rusty with his sword, and felt the need to practice. He found the stuck-up elf, Vanir, there, as he always was.
"Vanir, come here." Arya called lightly to the elf looking for a sparring partner. He walked over uncertainly.
"Yes, Queen Arya?" He asked meekly, looking as if he had done something wrong.
"I've noticed you spend all of your time here. You must be competent in swordsmanship." Vanir nodded at that comment. Arya continued, "But how are you in magic? Let me test your skills." The elf's eyes went wide, but he nodded slowly.
Arya began to ask the man questions about the history of magic. He looked confused, but passed the test nonetheless. She found that his mind had average protection, although she could easily break it, and told him to work on that. When Arya asked him to begin casting spells is when she found the problem. Vanir couldn't do much besides make a fire with magic and heal minor skin wounds.
"You are banned from the sparring fields and sword practice until you can show me more with you magic. You may think that swordsmanship is more important, but we find magic using much more helpful. You will study with Illyria, and will present your progress to me or Eragon in two months. Are you clear with me?" Arya said, and Vanir looked like he would protest, but didn't. Instead he nodded, and left to Illyria's house, his sword in its sheath.
Eragon had found an opponent and Arya stood to watch him. She saw that the two were using magic also, trying to break into each other's minds but not break them. Eragon had the mind advantage, but was barely able to block his opponent's swift attacks before they hit his skin. He began a complicated series of strokes; his blue bade shining in the now-bright morning light. The duelists both had sweat springing to life on their foreheads and suddenly they stopped, Eragon's blade on the throat of the other elf. They shook hands and walked away from each other, satisfied with themselves as you could see on their faces.
"I immobilized her once I got into her mind. Strong defense, she has." Eragon commented when he stood beside Arya. She nodded. "A valiant fight, you and her," She added.
Eragon sheathed Brisingr, his sword, and stood straighter. "I should practice my magic in the next arena. Why don't you go and sit down while you wait?"
Arya opened her mouth to protest but was once again silenced by Eragon's tongue. She enjoyed the kiss for a moment and then broke it, surrendering. "I will contact Katrina to see how she is doing." Eragon nodded and waved as he trotted to the magic arena. Arya strode to Tilidarí Hall; her normal quarters, and found a mirror on her wall. She muttered a few words in the ancient language and an image was conjured in Nasuada's tent. Katrina was there already.
"Katrina! How are you doing, my dear sister?" Arya asked.
Katrina turned to face the mirror, her large abdomen not looking as large as when she stood profile. "I'm doing fine, what about you?" Her voice was quiet and serene, as Arya noticed her voice was doing; turning motherly.
"Also fine, Eragon wishes you and Roran the best with your child. You are due in two weeks, correct?" Arya calculated the time in her head absently, her mind on the conversation more than on the math.
"Yes. And I have a feeling we have twins." Katrina smiled and flipped her copper curls over her shoulder.
Arya could tell that Katrina was glowing. "Congratulations. I just wanted to know how you were doing and all. Contact me soon after your birth, okay?"
Katrina nodded. "And same goes for you, Arya Dröttningu." Katrina had a tongue for words in the ancient language. Arya wondered if she could become a magic user, maybe even a Dragon Rider. She smiled and disconnected, retrieving her bow and walking to the archery field.
She noticed her aim had actually improved through months of not using her bow, but practiced for an hour all the same. She always hit vital areas; the armpit, head, chest, knees, and once when everyone in the arena laughed –not knowing who had shot the missile there: the groin. And it was an accident, too.
She unstrung her bow, returning it to her unused quarters, when Eragon caught her stowing it. "You've been to the archery range, eh?" Arya nodded, and to her surprise Eragon had thought that was beneficial. He had said, "That's something always being able to be practiced by anyone." He kissed her gently, but openmouthed. She kissed his back just as lightly, Eragon breaking the kiss a few minutes after starting it.
Arya sighed. "I'm missing back when we were able to do more," she murmured. Eragon agreed strongly with that proposition and Arya laughed quite a bit at little jokes he decided to speak one after another. Soon she could barely breathe from his new-found humor, and was using a wall as support as she gasped for air. Eragon laughed with her and waited until they had both gained their breath once more before leaving Arya's room and crossing the city once again, their goal being the treehouse.
Arya got a wave of emotion coming from Bhronnë, and a few images. She blinked, stopping in her path immediately. She opened her mouth, unsure if a dragon noise would come out or not. "Eragon…. Did you see that too?"
Eragon, who was under the same spell, nodded. "…uh-huh."
"Maybe we shouldn't go back to the treehouse just yet…" Eragon shook his head violently. He didn't want to walk in on two mating dragons. Eragon and Arya wandered around the city for a few hours before confirming it was safe to retire into their treehouse.
I had to do it. I just did. So, any of my readers willing to review? Please? I'm begging…
Next chapter may or may not be up tomorrow. Just letting you all know.