A/N: Here's the last of the steps. I hope everyone has enjoyed the little bit of Nasuada/Arya loving I have to offer. Read and review.

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Step Five: Give Up

Once again, the day is dreadfully long. Eragon finally returns, covered in dirt and reluctant to discuss his time with Arya. He glances at her when he tells his story, looking for some sort of support, but she waits her turn to speak. Nasuada grinds her teeth, hoping that he lets something slip, even if it's something that she doesn't want to hear. Something about Arya.

I hate him. I know what he was doing with her.

Nasuada shakes her head, feeling rather stupid about her inner voice. Her memories of their meeting make her angry. She is glad that he and Arya returned safely. After all, she is his friend before his liege-lord.

Maybe nothing happened. Don't be so foolish.

The idea of the elf and Rider stings her heart.

I don't hate him.

She slips into her white sleeping gown with a sigh. Jealousy is tugging at her thoughts, but she refuses to give into it completely. Nasuada looks down at her freshly washed arms.

Her body is at least clean now, but her cuts burn terribly from Angela's salve. She is having trouble rewrapping her injuries alone, sitting on the edge of her bed.

Hold it tighter. Don't let go. Damn it.

The white linen rolls across her rug, stopping against the tip of a brown leather boot.

Arya stands before her, the human glamour gone from her face, and asks, "May I help you?" She picks up the white cloth.

Overcome with a curious joy, Nasuada laughs out loud. She is happy because Arya is here with her lovely hair down, and it reminds her of their meeting many months ago in Tronjheim, when they were so sad, but together.

She always arrives when I need her, and leaves when I want her to stay.

"Surely you didn't evade the Nighthawks. They are the finest soldiers I have, and I'm afraid I'll have to take you up on your previous offer to be my bodyguard if you bested them so easily," says Nasuada.

The elf smiles and the room lights up. "No," she concedes. "I had to convince Garzhvog that you would allow me entrance. He wanted a fight to the death, but I said it would displease you, so he let me through. I rather like that Kull." Her smile fades, "He would die to protect you."

The elf kneels in front of her, looking like a knight before a king, and gently takes her arms. As she inspects them she says, "I was upset to see you looking ill, Nasuada Nine-Cuts. It worried me a great deal."

"It was a duty I had to perform." Nasuada sharply replies, "Just as you had to run off to find Eragon."

Don't drive her away!

Revealing no emotion, Arya says, "I did not want to leave, but life would have been very difficult for you if he had not returned." She is still wrapping her left arm and does not look at her patient.

Now you've upset her. Brilliant.

"Forgive me, please. I was worried for your welfare, Arya. My life would be very difficult if I lost you, too." The pale hands continue deftly spinning the bandage.

Oh, please don't notice my pulse.

Arya is finished wrapping her wounds, but still holds the girl's hands. She says, "I'm sorry you had to do this. I would take the pain from you if you would let me."

Their eyes finally meet.

She's so beautiful.

"Thank you," says Nasuada lowly. "But I'm trying to be manly and tough. Although, you are very tempting."

That was a stupid choice of words.

But the elf smiles again, spiking Nasuada's heartbeat, and laughs, "I can only wonder how much blood you lost trying to be such a man. Next time you decide to hack off your arm, give me some advanced warning."

The laughter subsides, and Arya stands up. She puts her hand lightly on Nasuada's shoulder and simply stares down at her. For a moment, the women are perfectly still.

Don't!

Nasuada flings herself forward, pressing her lips to Arya's, and evenly touches the sides of her face. They are locked together now; eyes closed, and blood scorching in their veins. It is a desperate kiss, as if they are both about to die from some terrible fiend.

They do not stop for words, or even for air, because if they stop the moment will be over. It could be a regret in the future, but now it is blissful and they need it like they need sunshine.

Her hands run through Arya's hair, and suddenly their bodies are pressed together. The kiss grows deeper and the elf has placed her hands on her waist and unexpectedly Nasuada feels her back against a pole. The entire time she pulls Arya closer like two magnets and they cannot let go.

Painfully, the wooden beam rubs against Nasuada's forearm and she cries out, although the sound is muffled by Arya's mouth.

When Arya pulls back, she wears a look of fear and surprise. Her face is flushed and her hair is tangled like a black web.

"I'm so sorry," says the elf, taking quick steps backwards.

"You- um- you didn't mean to hurt me, I just caught the w-wood."

"I'm sorry I kissed you," she replies guiltily.

Nasuada tilts her head, "But I kissed you."

They stand in silence, surveying the confusion on either side before they come forward again. And this time, much more slowly, they join together for a kiss. It is easier to manage on the second try, and certainly easier to understand.

When the kiss is finally broken, the brown and green eyes take in the sight before them in little pieces. It's so new and unusual, a perfect surprise.

Don't let her go.

"Please don't leave," gasps Nasuada.

Arya, still breathing heavily, laughs. She says, more to herself than the other woman, "Not even Galbatorix himself could pry me away."

Nasuada sits on the bed, still holding her hand, "Let's leave him out of this."

They laugh again, dizzy with such high spirits. Overcome with the exhaustion of the day, Nasuada yawns.

The elf looks sad for a moment, "You need to rest. You won't heal properly if-"

"Stay the night."

This abruptly stops Arya's words. She asks uncertainly, "Are you sure?"

"Get in this bed right now," Nasuada commands with a wicked grin.

She says nothing, but bites her lip and obeys, and feels the other girl shift against her when she finally sits. Nasuada twists her long hair in her fingers and Arya does her best not to shudder.

"I'm wish I didn't have to sleep," she murmurs.

"It will be a good sleep," Arya says before kissing her forehead. After the elf blows out the lantern, she takes off her boots and pulls a heavy blanket over them. "I promise."

In the dark, Nasuada tells her, "You are a very difficult woman to be around. I can't even count how many times I've wanted to kiss you, even if you would have turned me down. It was a trying ordeal, to say the least."

"I tried to ignore you, too," says Arya. "It seems that I failed." She holds the other girl closely, just brushing her lips against her ear.

"Completely failed," Nasuada says as she kisses the skin by her neck and collarbone. "Thank the gods."

They curl up, pushing thoughts of tomorrow away. They are happy to lie together silently, tracing patterns with their fingers until Nasuada falls asleep. She is under another elf-spell, although this one requires no magic words.

In her dream-state, Arya smiles the entire night.

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A/N2: How do you feel about an epilogue from someone else's POV? I already have an idea in mind about it.