Departure
Eragon groaned as he awoke the next day. He knew what he had to do today. Go by horse to the city of Fiom to retrieve an egg of a dragon
that would help the Varden destroy the Empire. What was worse he would be doing it all with Arya. Then memories of the previous night filled
his mind, and he smiled. He could still feel Arya's lips on his. Getting up he decided to go and see Roran and Katrina before he left. They would,
of course, be there when he left but he wished to say farewell without the added hardship of public speaking. When he got to the tent they
shared he saw that the tent's flap was closed. He walked over to the wooden beam propped up right that severed as a door knocker for every
tent he said, "Any one in there." From inside came the voice of his cousin Roran. "Eragon come in." He pulled the flap aside and to his both
astonishment and pleasure found himself facing Arya. The elf was garbed in a same black outfit he had first seen her in. Eragon had to fight to
look away from her to Roran. His cousin was by his and Katrina's bed, holding a mirror to his face and shaving. Arya was looking at Eragon with
her wonderfully beautiful smile. Eragon could not for the blood in his veins look away from her. Roran noticed it. He started at the two of them
for several seconds and then said, "What the blast is going on here?" Eragon gave his cousin a quick look and then returned it to Arya. "H...Hi
Roran." Roran scowled and got up.
Walking over to Eragon his stamped his foot on Eragon's. Eragon jumped a foot in the air. He had been so focused on Arya that he hadn't even
seen Roran move. "Now then, are you ready to listen?" Roran part glared part frowned at Eragon as he spoke. It was clear that he would do it
again if Eragon even so much as looked at the elf standing behind him. Eragon let out a sigh. "Yes Roran I am." He smiled. "You still haven't
forgotten that that works on me." He thought back to his childhood when he would still stand in one place and ignore Roran completely. Roran
would say nothing but simply walk forward, crush his foot, and ask if he was ready to listen. Roran smiled to. "It does work." Eragon was about
to reply when Arya stepped in front of him. Leaning forward she kissed him again. Eragon found himself quite by accident holding both his arms
around her and kissing her so deeply that his lungs began to scream for air. Roran started at him in dumbfounded astonishment. Arya soon
broke the contact much to Eragon's displeasure. She smiled and said, "I will be waiting inside Nasuada's tent for you Eragon." And then she
left. Roran was still staring at him with a look that said, "Did……did I miss something?"
He smiled and said, "Long story." Roran shock his head like a bull getting rid of flies. "A story that you are going to tell me." And with that
Eragon made a full account of what had happened. Roran walked over to him and put his arms on his shoulders. "Well done Eragon. Well
done." And shaking his head again he walked out of the tent. Eragon stood there savoring the last tastes of Arya that he had. He loved it when
she kissed him. Almost without him telling them to his legs started to walk towards Nasuada's tent. Not because of Nasuada but because of
Arya. He found her inside Nasuada's tent, with a pack and her white stallion. Nasuada beckoned him over. "Eragon are you ready to go?" He
nodded absently as he stared at Arya as she stared at him. Nasuada looked at him. "Eragon? Can you hear me?" Then she noticed who he was
looking at. "Arya!" The elf snapped to attention. "What is going on with Eragon?"
"Nothing, my lady," Eragon said. When she had addressed Arya he had regained his senses. "I am ready to leave. We may depart." They
stepped outside to what seemed to be a third of the Varden. The men stared at him and Arya. The witch Angela stepped forward. "Make sure
you get that egg Eragon." Eragon looked at Nasuada. "You told the Varden this time?" She nodded. "I did. There was no reason not to." Then
Arya tugged on his shirt. He mounted the horse that had been loaned to him. Arya got her stallion as well. Then, in full view of the Varden, Arya
leaned over and kissed Eragon. The crowd up until then had been cheering but when they say Eragon and Arya kissing a hushed silence
provided around the camp. From the mouths of nearly a thousand men and women came gasps. And then Arya touched her heels to the sides
of her horse, as did Eragon, and they were gone.
