Renewal

Disclaimer: I don't own Eragon or Eldest, just Arianna and Nolan

Chapter 2: Choices

Arianna walked back experience deja-vu but she knew that this had to be said now. Codas glided on the ground casting the shadow of a rider and dragon; he growled a little asking why they had to be the ones to tell them.

"Eragon won't speak to him and I'm the only rider other than him." She said, bluntly. "Besides Codas, what options do we have?"

She entered the tent unsure of how to tell him about his choices; despite the little recovery time, she walked gracefully and over to Angela who pulled her off to the side. She looked worried that what she was about to say would hurt their chances. But Arianna reassured her that it wouldn't; she had some degree of control over him. She sighed now, sitting beside the bed watching him think. She put her hands in her lap.

"Murtagh, I can't put this any other way but you have choices to make." She said.

"What choices?" He asked, flipping over.

"You can stay with us." She said, looking towards the light. "Or go back to Galbitorix. I'll give you time to think about it."

"If I decide to leave?" He asked, looking away.

"Then I won't stop you." She said. "And neither will anyone else."

"If I stay?" He asked.

"We won't stop you then either." She said, getting up. "While you're healing, I want you to really think about it."

She got up, feeling a little better that she had given him the choice but what she wanted for him felt selfish. She realized that if he stayed, they had an advantage that would promise a victory. If he left, he was a liability. They were being hunted and she knew either decision would have an impact on how everything would happens. Arianna looked down for a moment; she hadn't changed his mind yet. He would leave again and this time, they couldn't stop him. Codas seemed smug about it. Arianna thought about her troops again, knowing how much more they would need to sacrifice. She would need to her now about a lot of things.

She walked past Eragon and her brother who walked behind Saphira casting the same shadow; they had mixed feelings about having Murtagh here. He was a liability and that could get them exposed to Galbitorix and the wrath of his army. But Arianna was leading them and they both knew it weighed on her. It was a tough call for her to make. Her brother decided to follow, since it felt like the brotherly thing to do. He sat outside in the tent; listening with Codas.

"Arianna, I understand why you're doubting yourself but you shouldn't be." Nasuada said. "You're one of the greatest soldiers we have."

"I know but I realize after what happened, I'm not strong enough yet." Arianna replied. "With Oromis dead, I can't go back to Ellesmera."

"Rather quick to draw conclusions, aren't we? I assume you can have Eragon train you." Nasuada said, reassuring her.

"It seems like I have no other choice." Arianna replied. "I still have a lot of healing to do."

She got up and walked, Codas following her seeming to glide on the ground. Nolan followed only to see her exhausted, only Codas acknowledging his presence. He nodded, knowing full well that everything was catching up to her.

She's not saying much, Codas said.

Give her time. I think she's been through so much that it's hitting her now.

He nodded, keeping an eye on her seeing her walk into her tent where he laid in his designated area close to it. He went in seeing her sleep again, then he left giving her the peace.

In the healers' area, Murtagh mulled over what Arianna said earlier. He knew by her expression that she knew his choice. He wanted to leave here but they were hunting him, all the soldiers knew he had gone against the king. Thorn was outside the tent seeming to wait for him to leave. She was right; he had the choice to and she wouldn't stop him. However the next time they met, her and Eragon would be strong enough to beat him. He saw that dark place in her, how much disdain she held for the king. For what he did to her. Thorn looked at him with the same look. He shook his head indecisively. Either way he had an impact on who would win this long battle.

No, we have to stay here. As loyal as I am to the king, the Varden is turning out to be our best bet to stay safe.