Eragon?

Eragon groaned, swatting at thin air with a sleepy frown. "Go 'way," he mumbled through tired lips. Outside, Saphira chuckled her deep, throaty dragon laugh.

Eragon! Awake!

Eragon merely turned over, his back to his sapphire dragon, who did not take kindly to being ignored.

ERAGON!

With a startled yelp, the young rider clattered onto the grassy floor. He glared sleepily at Saphira's deep blue eye- the only part of her that he could see through the door of his tent, which flapped in the light summer breeze. Why did you wake me? He grumbled, but allowed her a small smile: he was pleased that she was speaking to him again after he had ignored her advice the night before. Saphira laughed once again.

Little one, Arya seeks an audience with you. She waits at the Eastern gate.

Arya, Eragon thought, and a thrill of nerves, excitement and fear rushed through him, tying his stomach into a tight knot. Did she say what she wants?

Saphira turned her large eye away from him at this, avoiding his gaze. When she answered, it was much too innocently. No.

Eragon narrowed his eyes and examined her closely. You're not telling me something, he concluded.

Arya wishes to speak with you. You will be late. With a groan, Eragon pushed himself from the floor and vowed not to let this matter drop. Saphira snorted. She did not pursue the subject after that.

The pair walked in companiable silence to the Eastern Gate, shoulder to shoulder. Eragon's bright mood was tainted only by the thought of having to speak with Arya: furious with himself, he pushed the thought from his mind. He was not a boy anymore; he should be able to control his feelings and do what was best for him and others. Saphira acknowledged his thoughts with a fierce rush of pride.

You've come far, Little one. She then showed him several images of the young man; seeing his dragon for the first time, building a fire, training with Brom… the pictures brought a lump to his throat. It was like watching a younger brother that he had lost long ago, and yet not realized it until now.

I know.

By then, the pair were within sight of the Eastern Gate. Eragon stopped in his tracks with a sigh. Arya had not yet seen them. He looked up at his dragon, who was looking down at him expectantly. Goodbye, he said sadly. She curled her lips in a strange dragon smile and departed. Arya had seen them by now, and was staring hard at Eragon, who sighed again and strode over to her.

"Good day, Eragon," Arya said, slightly stiffly but not coldly. Eragon kept his eyes on the horizon as he answered her.

"Drottningu."

His cool response seemed to displease her: she seemed to deflate, defeated. Out of the corner of his eye Eragon could have sworn he saw a tear glistening in her emerald eye, but when he looked at her it had vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

She seemed to be waiting for him to speak. A little puzzled, Eragon spoke. "Saphiraa told me you wished to speak with me?"

Now, it was Arya's turn to look puzzled. "I'm sorry?"

"She said you sought an audience with me."

Arya shook her head. "No, I was told that it was you which sought an audience with me."

Something suddenly clicked into place in Eragon's mind, and he laughed softly. The elf before him watched him in confusion. "What?" she asked. "What is it?"

The rider grinned. "It seems, Lady Arya, that we have been set up."

"I don't-"

Eragon laughed even more as Arya froze and understanding lit her eyes. She joined him in laughter, and Eragon found himself rejoicing in the sound: it seemed to awake him from a deep sleep, lift a heavy weight from his shoulders. When the laughter died down, the silence was no longer uncomfortable. Eragon broke the silence. "So…"

"Indeed."

Arya took a deep breath. "I'm… I am sorry, Eragon. I have behaved most childishly."

Eragon inclined his head. "The sorrow is all mine, Drottningu."

When he straightened up, he saw Arya shaking her head. "No… It is not your fault. Any of it."

"You've said that before, Arya!" Eragon burst out. Arya winced.

"I know. And I'm sorry-"

"Then tell me the truth!"

Arya sighed. "I… I can't."

"Why not?"

The elf shook her head sadly. "I wish I could, Eragon. I wish I could, but…"

"But what? But I'm not an elf? But I would not understand? But I'm just a stupid, worthless human?"

"You are never worthless, Eragon. But I can't tell you. I swore to…"

"Swore to what?" Eragon burst out: he could no longer control himself. Saphira looked on in concern from the depths of his mind, but he brushed her away like a fly mentally, too irritated to give any excuse for his behavior. Arya pulled herself up and looked the man in front of her in the eye.

"That is no concern of yours."

With a growl, Eragon spun on his heel and made to stride away from her, but a slender hand caught his wrist and he found himself face to face with the elf once again. She spoke softly. "And Eragon?"

He gulped. He had not been this close to Arya since… well, since that night on the mountain. "Yes?"

"It would not do you any good to get close to Nienna. Stay away from her."

And then, she was gone.

Eragon sighed, watching her stride away from him. He half hoped that she would look back- she didn't.

Well, that was nice of you, Eragon thought sarcastically. Saphira pretended she had not heard him.

Well? How did it go?

Horribly, Eragon grumbled. He was going to continue, but at that moment he spotted Nienna, who was walking across the clearing with her head down. Blodhgarm was behind her, walking in the opposite direction, but Eragon ignored him. "Nienna!" Her called to her, waving and ignoring Saphira's grumbles in the back of his mind. The elf jumped and faced him. Her nervous expression soon vanished as she saw Eragon walking towards her.

"Eragon!" She smiled, closing the last few feet between them. "How are you?"

"I am fine. I was wondering if you would like to walk with me?"

Nienna's face fell. "I am sorry, Eragon, but I have… personal business to attend to."

"Oh. I see." Eragon paused. "Maybe another time."

"Yes," Nienna smiled. "Another time."

Then, the rider watched as she walked away from him. Don't trust her, Saphira thought immediately. I don't.

You don't trust any woman I speak to, Eragon snapped in return.

I trust Arya, his dragon replied.

For that, Eragon had no answer.

"Atra esterní ono thelduin."

Queen Islazanadi sighed. "Un du evarínya ono varda." She was on her way to train, and was not in the mood for intteruptions. Not now, her face clearly read. However, the messenger pressed on.

"My Queen, you have a visitor." The Queen frowned, but before she could protest the elf spoke quietly. "She said you would know who she was."

Islazanadi froze. "Ah," she said. The elf nodded, smiling. "Thank you." He nodded, then turned and ran away from her. The Queen wasted no time debating what she had just heard: she turned on her heel and strode- almost ran- in the direction she had come.

"Atra esterní ono thelduin." Her visitor said as soon as the Queen entered her tent, breathless.

"Un du evarínya ono varda." The Queen seated herself at her desk, clasping her hands together nervously. "What news?"

The woman before her smiled impishly, and the smiled was rich with devilish implications. "The best."

Islazanadi raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"Yes." The elf woman smile grew even more. "Everything is going according to plan."

AN: Well, I hope you enjoyed it. Brilliant reviews, guys- they're like crack to me (lol). They make me feel all warm and fuzzy… Keep at it!

LoveMuchly

Arya x