AN: Thank you so much to those reviewers who came up with ideas for Nienna. I'll probably use all of them…
Sorry it's so short- I wanted to leave you on an evil cliffhanger (mwahahahaha!!).
This chapter is for Tom, who sang me the song that inspired some of this chapter. Ta, duck!
On with the show!!
Little one, I am going scouting. Come with me?
Eragon looked up from the fire that he had been staring at whilst Saphira slept, into her fiery-blue eyes; he glanced away quickly, knowing that if he allowed her to tempt him he could not deny her. And there was something that he really needed to do…
No… I am tired. Perhaps tomorrow?
She agreed happily- if a little suspiciously- and made her way to the sparring ring to take off. Nasuada had asked that she only fly in an open area, and not near any of the tent's that littered the Varden's camp: it would be all too easy for Eragon's great dragon to clip a tent pole with one of her large wings, or to knock something flying with the torrent of wind she caused whenever she moved her wings.
Smiling wryly, he watched her out of sight before returning his gaze to the flames that flickered hungrily before him with a sigh. Reluctantly acknowledging the fact that he had to speak with Arya before the night was over, get this all over and done with, he pushed himself off the ground with a throb of nervous excitement and trudged in the direction of Arya's tent.
On the way there, partly to occupy his mind and partly to convince himself that he was doing the right thing, he kept up an endless flow of arguments to support his decision: one, he had to know if the kiss had been a mistake on her behalf, or perhaps a misunderstanding: two, he needed to know where this… event left the two of them, and how their relationship would continue- if at all: three, he wanted- no, needed to know if… if she felt the same way as he did…
With a start, Eragon realized that he was outside Arya's tent. Hesitantly, he raised his hand to knock- but upon what? The door before him was one of cloth, not wood. Lowering his fist and feeling more of a fool than ever before, Eragon cleared his throat awkwardly and said "knock, knock."
No answer. He tried again, but slightly louder.
Still nothing…
With a frown, Eragon squeezed his eyes shut and extended his mind in all directions, searching for the bright spark that was Arya's consciousness. Quite by chance, he happened upon one old, sleeping woman who dreamt of her husband and her past home; a horse that shied away from his mental presence with a nervous whinny, and he also stumbled upon Angela.
She's by the lake on the mountain side, the herbalist informed him. Not bothering to ask how Angela knew who he sought, he thanked her and withdrew from her mind.
Saphira! He yelled mentally, scanning the skies with his elf-like eyes: he spotted his magnificent dragon just in time to see her do a loop-the-loop and head straight down towards the ground, her neck and tail artfully positioned in a careful dive. Grinning, Eragon ducked his head and sprinted towards the sparring ring that she was fast approaching.
Where to? She enquired him as soon as she had landed and he was clambering onto her back, and don't you wish to use the saddle? You know what happened last time.
No, no time! To the lake!
Saphira grunted her amusement and raised her wings; Eragon pressed his face into her scales and clung to her neck, gripping her with his legs as tightly as he could whilst Saphira leapt off the ground. Don't choke me, she berated him. He loosened his hold marginally.
A few minutes later, Eragon cried out as Saphira angled suddenly into a sharp dive. The wind bit at his face and he felt himself slip, but Saphira soothed him. Be calm, little one. I will not let you fall.
They landed a few moments later in the glade that was just a hundred meters or so away from the mountain lake that he and Nasuada had once visited together. Saphira took to the skies once more as soon as Eragon was a safe distance away. He did not questioned her as she flew away from him.
As he walked nervously towards the lake and, hopefully, Arya, Eragon began to question his motives once again. What if she didn't want to see him? What if- and Eragon shook with the thought- she was bathing?! Maybe I should just call Saphira and wait at the camp, he decided. He was already turned halfway back towards the way he had come when he stopped in his tracks, spellbound.
Song, beautiful, melodic music drifted through the forest and enticed Eragon through the trees. The song was sung in the Ancient language, and although he did not understand all of it, the haunting melody brought a tear to Eragon's eyes. The hairs on the back of his arms and neck stood up. Arya was singing.
She must have heard him approach from where she stood on the water's edge, but she made no move to turn as Eragon pushed aside the last of the branches that separated the two of them and stepped out into the open air. He never took his eyes from her perfectly still form.
When her song ended, Arya stared out over the water before Eragon spoke. "That was… beautiful. Is there a translation?"
Without introduction, Arya sang:
"Oh what wonderful treasures laid out for the wise;
Richest in value and Glorious in prize,
More precious than diamond's on Prince's brow;
More wealthy than royalty can bestow."
Eragon, too, stared at the smooth surface of the dark, deep water. With a sigh, Arya tore her gaze from the lake and faced him.
"Good evening, Shadeslayer."
"And to you, Arya Drottningu."
Arya ambled over to a nearby fallen tree and seated herself gracefully- in this moment, she reminded Eragon more of a princess than ever before. She indicated that he should sit beside her, and he hurried to do so. He tripped over a tree root in the process and fell toward the dry ground; at the last moment, Arya caught him, and for a few moments, Eragon's face was mere centimeters from her own.
Unable to stop himself, he pressed his lips to hers.
AN: Well, whaddaya think??! Nice little cliffhanger for you to enjoy! (lol.) I WIlL NOT BE CONTINUING THIS STORY UNTIL I HAVE FIFTEEN REVIEWS ON THIS CHAPTER. Don't you just love blackmail?!
LoveMuchly,
Arya x