CHAPTER 1

Cynthia's pov

I was lying on the grass peering at a little lily. I twirled it in my fingers, admiring its smell and its soft touch.

The sun dropped its beams on me, tickling my cheeks.

It wasn't hot today. A light wind was blowing mixing my long hair.

I allowed the warmth to penetrate into my heart and soul and restore every cold feeling that was left from yesterday's rain.

There was a thick smell of burning wood in the air.

I couldn't understand whether this smell came from our or Mr. Garrow's chimney next door.

I was able to see Roran, Garrow's son, from where I was lying. He has been chopping woods for half an hour now.

He had his t-shirt removed because of the tiredness and the heat, and his muscles were visible.

I looked away. I wouldn't like it if he saw me gazing at his body.

I thought about his cousin, my best-friend, Eragon. He was at the Spine, gone hunting as he always did.

I thought about his brown hair, his expressive eyes, his talent at archery…

«Aren't you tired yet, Roran? »I yelled at him, so he could hear me. I was not shaken,nor one inch from where I was lying.

He placed another wood on position and raised his axe. «No, I'm not done yet, if that's alright with you»he said with a smile.

I smiled back at him as the axe fell on the wood.

«Cynthia» screamed my mother from inside the house.

«Guess you won't be here to see me leaving» said Roran.

I smiled at him as I opened the door.

«Yes mother, I'm here»

I found her at the kitchen washing the dishes.

«Oh, Cynthia-»said my mother when she saw me standing right opposite her«can you do me a favor? »

«Of course mother»

«Can you please go to the butcher's? We've really run out of meat»

«Sure mother»I said and made my way to my room. I couldn't go to Carvahall without having my dress changed.

I put on my blue dress, which had a rose embroidered on its upper part.

«My purse is on the table by the door»yelled my mother when she heard the door suddenly opening.

When I closed the door behind me, having my bonnet tied and my brown basket on my hands, I realized that Roran had finished his work.

I made my way through the roads full of mud, holding the end of my dress, as I didn't want to make my mother clean this as well.

Roran's pov

I was looking outside the window at Cynth, as she made her way to Carvahall.

I gazed at her figure, her body's movement.

I gazed at my petite friend and I was able to understand why my cousin loved her so much.

It wasn't only the appearance that made him love her, though just one look at Cynth's face is enough to make you like her.

She was so smart and polite,like an angel.

I couldn't possibly think that there could be so much kindness in a person,until I met her.

I deeply loved Cynth, just not the way Eragon did.

I continued gazing at her slim body, until her long blue dress wasn't visible anymore.