Chapter Eighteen

When Kairin woke it was pitch dark.

Pitch dark?

It didn't seem very dark at all.

No, on second though, it had to still be evening. It was still bright enough to see clearly.

Kairin sat up, a little faster than she meant to. She was in her tent. Some hair fell across her face, and she reached up to sweep it back, expecting to feel her rough, wavy brown hair. But the strands that were on her face felt much silkier. She swept the sheet off of her and stood up, shocking herself with her speed. She rushed over to the table with the basin and lamp.

She lit the lamp, although she scarcely needed it, and poured water into the basin. She took a deep breath and peered over the side of the bowl to stare at her reflection. What she saw shocked her. Her entire face was changed completely. No, not completely; she still saw the old Kairin inside this new face.

Her old, rounded face was replaced with one much more angular. Her skin, once rough and weather worn, was now smooth and tanned. Her old brown, frizzy hair was replaced with a head of gentle, wavy hair. It was a dark, deep black except for a single streak of silver that shone as if it was polished. She looked down at herself, and noticed that her body had changed too. She was taller, thinner, and more graceful. Her legs and arms were long and slender, as well as her fingers and bare toes. Suddenly, Leaire's words came back to her.

"This spell, it... It made you a human, except for the fact that you were an elf... Yes, that's why, but the spell is wearing out as it seems... Yes, of course, but it will take a large amount of energy..."

"I broke it... on my own?" Kairin was shocked. "I didn't know I was that strong..." she said to herself. Kairin walked outside into the darkness, and was surprised to see that Eragon was there, sitting in a wooden chair just outside the tent flap with his face in his hands. When she came out, he quickly stood.

"Kairin... Are you..." He stuttered to a halt and stared at her for a moment, apparently shocked. "Kairin? Is that you?"

"Yes, it's me... I..."

"We're both as nervous as mice. What is wrong with him?"

Eragon stared at the ground. "I apologize. I shouldn't have pushed you too hard. It was your first day back after your flight through the Beors, I was foolish. Please-"

"Stop. That isn't necessary. Did Nasuada order you to do this?"

"No," he replied. Kairin was mildly surprised.

"I thank you for your concern but I'm fine," she said stiffly, harder than she meant to. Eragon looked up and their eyes met.

"I thought you'd... I thought might have been like me," he said. The last part he scarcely whispered, but Kairin heard him perfectly anyway with her enhanced hearing.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't of come here." He turned to leave and took several steps before Kairin's curiosity got the better of her.

"Eragon?" He turned. "What do you mean? 'Like you'?"

They both stood, facing each other in silence. Slowly, Eragon raised his hand back to the base of his neck and absentmindedly felt his skin.

"I used to be... Crippled, so to say."

"Crippled! You?" Saphira never told me that, Kairin thought.

"Aye," he said without thinking, and stopped himself. "I mean, yes." He seemed ashamed of it. Kairin didn't understand.

"You don't have to talk about it. It's fine." Another moment of silence followed. Unexpectedly, Eragon smiled at her.

"Tell you what. I tell my story if you tell me of yours." Kairin returned the grin.

"Deal."

A/N – Very short chapter I know, but I don't really know how to continue it. So I'm just going to start a new one.

But hey, three updates in two days.

Pretty sweet, huh?