A/N sorry this chapter took a lot longer than i originally intended. I finished it on sunday but when i re-read it i decided that i didnt really like it and i had to start all over. I'm still kinda setting up this story so theres not much action and although the begining of this chapter may seem kinda boring your just gonna have to trust me, its important.
A Celebration, and A Revelation
A sigh escaped Eragon's lips as dark thoughts covered his conscious like a heavy blanket. Not for the first time he found himself brooding over his past. In fact, times when his mind was entirely empty of regrets were few and far between.
As always these memories would start a chain reaction causing all of Eragon's problems to surface, flooding over him with renewed vigor. All the deaths that occurred in his life; Garrow, Brom, Ajihad, and most recently Oromis and Glaedr, rushed to the front of his mind threatening to overwhelm him. Katrina's capture, the destruction of Carvahall, Murtagh's enslavement, and the killing of so many men only contributed to his pain. The latter bothered him the most. He may have personal problems but how many had he caused for others? How many fathers had he killed? How many sons, and brothers, and husbands, and fiancés?
The sound of someone clearing their throat brought him back to the present. He looked back to see Jarsha standing about ten feet away, with his hands clasped behind his back. "Shadeslayer," he said, bowing his head "there is to be a festival tonight in celebration of the Varden's new home. Lady Nasuada requests yours and Saphira's presence at the party. It will be held in the courtyard outside the keep." He bowed again, then turned and ran off back towards the city walls. Eragon let out another sigh as he lay back on the ground and closed his eyes, praying for sleep to take him.
******
A single tear rolled down Saphira's cheek as she realized the condition her rider was in. Eragon had severed their connection when he left the city, wanting some time alone. She had watched him from the dragon hold with her keen eyes, noting the ungraceful movements that were ill-suited to his new elfin body.
He settled a few miles outside the walls on a small hill, looking out over the sea. Concerned for his welfare, Saphira re-established their connection just enough to know his general mood and be aware of his surroundings. He didn't notice her enter his mind, and that wasn't very surprising based on the utter misery radiating off his person. The pain was so overwhelming that Saphira almost fell over as it flowed through the link. She considered going to comfort him, but decided against it. Instead she continued to watch over him from the hold, ready to fly out to him if the need should arise.
A movement just south-east of Eragon's position caught her attention. She shifted her gaze towards the disturbance, and was immensely surprised to see none other than Arya herself pacing back and forth by a nearby tree. Every few seconds she would take a hesitant step towards Eragon, only to pull it back and continue pacing. The obvious uncertainty of the elf puzzled Saphira; she had never known Arya to be unsure of anything and this only heightened her concern for her rider. Deciding to figure out what was wrong, Saphira extended her conscious out over the plains and lightly touched Arya's mind.
Arya immediately threw up her mental barriers, and began looking wildly around the landscape surrounding her.
Am I not welcome to speak with you, Arya Svit-Kona? She asked, her voice filled with amusement.
What is it Saphira? Arya replied in a dry tone, ignoring the question.
I couldn't help but notice your pacing, as well as your uncertainty in approaching my rider. What is it you wish to speak with him about?
I... I wanted to ask his forgiveness for my rude behavior this morning. She stuttered.
Then why are you so reluctant to approach him? If that were truly all you wished to discuss with him than you would have gone up to him without hesitation and been gone already, so I will ask again, what is it you wish to speak with him about? She inquired icily; the elf was obviously hiding something from her.
I… well I… She was spared having to respond by Jarsha walking up beside her.
"My lady," he said, bowing. "Lady Nasuada has asked me to inform you of a celebration tonight in honor of the newly established home for the Varden. She requests that you be present for the celebration, it will start at sunset in the courtyard."
"Thank you Jarsha, you may inform Lady Nasuada that I will be in attendance." She nodded curtly and began to make her way towards the city when Jarsha spoke again.
"Excuse me my lady, but would you by chance know where I might find Shadeslayer?"
Saphira could see Arya flinch as he said the name, and a large, draconic grin spread across her face. "Yes, I believe he is on the hill over yonder." She replied, pointing to a location a short distance from where they were standing.
"Thank you my lady," he bowed again and set off towards Eragon. Saphira attempted to reconnect her mind to Arya's, intending to get the answer she was looking for. Arya quickly threw up her defenses and began walking at a brisk pace back towards Feinster.
Saphira snorted at the elf's stubbornness, anything Arya told Eragon would be known by her as well. Why keep it from her?
She felt that Eragon had fallen asleep through their link, and wondered if she should go to him. Debating it with herself for a few minutes, she made up her mind and took off from the dragon hold. Once in the air she started to perform various aerial acrobatics, enjoying the feel of the wind on her face. It was about midday, judging by the sun's position, and the water of the sea was reflecting the light forming beautiful patterns on its surface. Saphira circled the keep casting her giant shadow across the masonry, and then glided leisurely out towards Eragon. As she landed next to him, she noticed that his physical features reflected his internal feelings. He was laid out on the grass, there were dark circles beneath his eyes and his face was gaunt. No doubt side-effects from berating himself for near an hour on everything that had gone wrong so far in his life. Nuzzling his cheek, she coiled herself around his body and covered him with a veiled wing.
Oh Little One, why do you trouble yourself so? She felt drowsiness pulling at the corner of her mind, passing though from Eragon. It was so tempting to fall asleep with him but she could not. After all, they had a party to go to.
******
Eragon awoke and was unnerved to find that he was warmer than he remembered being before falling asleep. Well that can't be right it was midday when I dosed off, it should be colder right now. He stretched out his arms and legs, his eyes still closed. His movements were extremely restricted, there was maybe a few inches on either side of him before he struck something hard. Startled, he stood up abruptly only to hit a low ceiling which forced him back to the ground. Whatever he was imprisoned in was extremely sturdy, and he began franticly pounding against all sides until he heard a familiar laughter in his head.
Now Little One, is that any way to thank me for keeping you warm?
…Saphira? Her laughter resounded in his head once again, and she lifted her wing exposing him to the outside world. The rush of light forced him to close his eyes and he buried his face in Saphira's side.
Put it back!
No Eragon, I would have woken you up soon anyway. You need to get ready for the party.
He groaned and rolled back over, as he opened his eyes he was once again blinded by the light and forced to close them. Saphira snorted and he shouted in protest as she picked him up in her teeth and dropped him on the ground in front of her. She let out a low growl and raised her lips in a snarl. The sight would be enough to send almost any man running but Eragon merely grunted and stood up to face her. Sleeping out on the cold ground had not been a good idea, and his muscles were stiff from lying in an awkward position. He stretched his back, his joints cracking to release the built up pressure. Saphira found this amusing and imitated his actions, the result causing him to cringe. The cracking of her bones was similar to the sound of her cracking open a deer's skull.
Apparently she didn't notice his reaction and crouched down low so he could climb into the saddle. As he scrambled up her side he looked at the sun to get a general idea of what time it was. About six I should think. Saphira when does the party start?
I'm not sure Little One. Jarsha said tonight, I'm assuming that it will start once the sun has set.
He nodded in agreement, and grasped once of her neck spikes as she lifted off. The ground flew by underneath them as Saphira angled towards the dragon hold. Eragon could already see servants in the courtyard setting up tables and rolling in barrels of mead for the celebration.
Saphira landed in the dragon hold with a thud. Tucking her wings to her side, she made her way over to her dais and laid down. When Eragon gave her a questioning glance she responded, You may have slept the day away Little One, but I was up taking care of you. With that she rested her head on her forepaws and snapped her boney eyelids shut.
Eragon walked to his dresser and began rummaging through it to find suitable clothes for the party. A pile was beginning to form behind him, already reaching as high as his waist from the various clothes he had tossed over his shoulder. At last he found an elegant blue tunic of elvin make. It was almost the exact color of Saphira's scales, with silver trim. He grabbed a pair of white breeches and a black belt as well, and placed them on top of the dresser. As he turned around he sighed. The pile of clothes was nearly three quarters of his full height, and he began to shovel them haphazardly back into the drawers.
A bathing room had been built and he decided it would be best to bathe before attending the party. He grabbed his clothes off the top of the dresser as well as his black formal boots from beside it and made his way down the stairs and into the keep.
A guard informed him that the baths were located beneath the keep and showed him to the stairway. There was nobody in any of the baths which didn't surprise Eragon since most people would be heading to the party soon, and he quickly jumped into the water. It took a good twenty minutes before he was sufficiently clean and he climbed out of the large basin and began to dry himself off.
He pulled on his clothes and walked over to a small mirror by the door. Satisfied with his appearance, he left the bathroom and headed towards the courtyard.
Saphira? He felt her stir as he touched her mind.
Yes Little One?
I'm on my way to the courtyard. I'll meet you there okay?
I suppose.
At the top of the stairs he ran into Nasuada and they continued together to the party. As they entered, many people turned to whisper to each other and although he knew that she couldn't hear them, his elfin ears could. Their words made him uncomfortable; apparently arriving at the party with Nasuada had given off the wrong impression. Silencing the crowd with a glare, he whispered the situation into her ear.
She laughed before replying quietly, "Oh Eragon relax, there will always be rumors about your love-life simply because many women would love to be with you." He gave her a skeptical look which she answered with a snort of impatience. "Look as long as we do nothing intimate here I'm sure the gossip will stop." She said, subconsciously raising her voice to get her point across.
Unfortunately, a man overheard that last statement and he stared at them with wide eyes obviously misunderstanding her. Eragon watched as he ran off and began whispering furiously to anyone who would listen.
Sighing, he left Nasuada's side and made his way over to the mead. He grabbed two mugs and sat down on a bench overlooking the dance floor. The sight of young couples enjoying each others company restored his ugly mood from earlier in the day and he took a long draught from his mug.
A loud thud announced Saphira's arrival, and he watched as she wandered over to him with several barrels of mead in her jaws. She curled up beside the bench, then using her teeth she put two holes in the top of a barrel and lifted it between her jaws. Five long gulps was all it took, and she tossed the barrel aside shattering as it hit the ground.
Is there any particular reason you are sitting here moping instead of dancing and enjoying yourself? Saphira asked, fixing him with a giant sapphire eye.
With whom would I dance, O Great Dragon? He replied sarcastically, leaning back on the bench and closing his eyes.
Well to be honest Eragon, I would imagine you could dance with whomever you wanted to. And what about Roran? If you are hell-bent on avoiding a dance you could at least spend some time with him.
He's not here… and neither is Katrina.
Oh. She replied catching his drift. Well there's lovely young lady here to see you, so look sharp.
He opened his eyes to find a girl who looked about his age. She had long dark brown, almost black hair and pale blue eyes. For a human, she was astonishingly beautiful. She wore a blue gown the exact shade of her eyes and as he stood up he noticed she was quite tall for a woman, only several inches shorter than himself.
"Can I help you?" He asked politely. Looking around he noticed many eyes observing his conversation.
"Yes actually, would you care to dance Shadeslayer?" She asked smiling, exposing her brilliantly white teeth.
Caught off guard by the question, he stammered "Well I, I…" A voice in the back of his head cut him off.
Oh just go with her, it's just one dance. And besides, she is very pretty is she not?
Biting back a smart remark, he spoke to the girl again, "I would love to…" He left his sentence open, waiting for her name.
"Tara," she replied, grabbing his hand and leading him to the dance floor. A new song had just started and it was one Eragon was quite familiar with. They danced in time, both enjoying the moment. Tara didn't speak much but he didn't mind. After several minutes the music came to an end and Tara ran off to a group of girls who were all grinning from ear to ear. He chuckled softly before returning to the bench and taking another drink of mead.
Did you enjoy yourself, O Great Rider?
He smiled at her mocking of him, and leaned back and closed his eyes. I did, in fact I wouldn't mind another dance or two before the night is gone.
Wonderful, she said, her voice brimming with amusement. Because there are a few more ladies here for you.
Eragon opened his eyes to find a crowd of at least thirty women in front of him, and Saphira with a large draconic grin spread across her face. A few? A bit of an understatement, don't you think?
Eragon spent the rest of the night dancing with the various women and after several hours he could hardly move. Excusing himself he wandered towards the bench and was surprised to find Saphira gone. Even more surprising was who had taken her place. Arya sat on the bench, staring right at him. She wore a beautiful green dress, and her hair was up in a messy bun. Unnerved, he walked over to her dodging the remains from Saphira's barrels of mead. As he neared her she greeted him with the traditional elvin phrases, to which he responded in kind.
"Arya," He started before she interrupted him.
"Yes Eragon?" Her words had an edge of anticipation to them which threw him off.
"Er, do you know where Saphira is?"
"Oh," she replied sounding slightly disappointed, "Yes she's just over there." Eragon followed her gaze to find Saphira passed out on the ground, half buried in the remains of mead barrels.
"Oh, thanks." He scurried away hoping to escape the awkward conversation, but stopped when he heard Arya sigh. Her strange behavior was really unsettling. If he didn't know any better, he would have thought Arya wanted to dance with him. Well that's clearly not the case, he thought to himself.
Soft footsteps sounding behind him caught his attention. He turned around and found himself face to face with the beautiful elf. "I…Would you like to dance Eragon?" she said, sounding uncertain and once again Eragon found himself stuttering, completely taken aback.
"I, I… sure." He managed to say.
She took his hand in hers and led him away to the dance floor, which by now was starting to empty. The song being played was an old love ballad that Eragon had heard many times while living in Carvahall. They started off slow, and began to move faster and faster as the music picked up. Their elfin grace earned them many "oos" and "ahhs" from the crowd but Eragon hardly noticed. He stared down into Arya's eyes, which were filled with happiness and contentment. For the third time this night Eragon was at a loss for words, Arya was acting very strangely.
The song ended and Arya thanked him and walked away. Eragon stared after for a few moments, admiring the sway of her hips, before walking towards Saphira's bulk. As he lay down by his side, he began trying to puzzle out what had just happened. Arya had asked him to dance.
A/N if you are following this story plz review! Im trying to decide if this should be an ExA fic or Eragon and someone else. I will have some romance in here one way or the other but i would like some opinions before i make a decision.