Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, but this plot is my own.
Arya stared after him for a moment. Her hand rested on the pommel of Zar'roc. She felt the sudden twisting of her lower gut that she usually did now that she was put with child. She stood and looked down at Orik. "I'm going to follow him," she announced. Saphira, Galzra, help Orik guard the camp, she ordered. She walked away without another word. She found Eragon kneeling down by a small stream, washing grime from his face. Soundlessly, she unsheathed Zar'roc and walked lightly to him. She touched the back of his neck with the tip of her blade.
He twirled around and unsheathed Brom's old sword. Quickly, he sent Arya back. What are you doing?! he cried furiously.
You looked distracted, so I decided that a good sparing match would clear your mind, answered Arya. She jumped to the right and foward. Twirling Zar'roc, she swung down. Eragon blocked the blow and pushed her back. He smiled and forced Arya to take a defensive stance. He swung to her right shoulder, causing the two blades to send sparks everywhere. They danced around each other, neither of them gained a firm advantage.
They battled tiredlessly for two hours, until the sun shined brightly on them. Arya jumped effortlessly into the air. Eragon followed her with his traveling eyes. The sun blinded him and he blocked his eyes with his arm. Before he could react, a warm blade tip touched the back of his neck. "Dead," whispered Arya.
Eragon blinked and sheathed his sword. He smiled feintly at Arya. The two of them walked silently back to the camp. Orik, Saphira, and Galzra looked up at them. Orik had packed their belongings and had prepared to move their camp. "You two took a long time to return," he said, eying them under a suspicious gaze.
"We sparred," replied Eragon.
Orik raised his bushy eyebrow. "Oh," he said. "Who won?"
"Arya," answered Eragon.
"Well, I got everything that we need packed up," informed the dwarf king. "Are you two ready to move our camp?" Eragon nodded. He and Arya attatched the saddlebags onto the two saddles. Orik climbed into Saphira's saddle clumsilly. Eragon joined him while Arya jumped onto Galzra's back.
This saddle is getting too small, little one, cried Saphira sheapishly.
We'll have to make another one then while we are here, replied Eragon. He touched Arya's mind lightly.
Yes? asked Arya.
Eragon smiled, glad to just have her with him. How tight is Galzra's saddle? he asked.
He has nearly grown out of it, answered Arya. Why? Has Saphira outgrown hers?
She told me that its too tight around her girth, said Eragon. I thought that it might fit Galzra now.
I would be delighted to have a new saddle, said Galzra. This one is beggining to get hard to manuever in.
Eragon smiled. His amazement of dragons would never fail him. Then I will work to make a new one, he said.
Saphira hovered in the air. She looked at the ground bellow them carefully for a decent place that they might camp. I found a clearing surrounded by thick trees, she announced.
Arya looked at the spot carefully. It will work, she said. Land there.
The two dragons went into a full nose dive. Both riders angled their bodies so that they would not fly off. Orik cried out in fright. Eragon pushed the little dwarf down with all his strength. At the last moment, Saphira and Galzra leveled their bodies and landed softly. Orik's eyes darted around him. "Warn me next time!" he grumbled angrilly.
"My apologies, King Orik," chuckled Eragon. His tangled hair reflected his exhilluration of the flight. He jumped down and helped Orik off of the saddle. After he set the dwarf down, he removed Saphira's saddle. Arya too removed Galzra's saddle. Both dragons shuddered off the weight.
Eragon set the saddle down and looked around. "This is a good place to camp tonight," he said, pleased with Saphira's choice. "We are covered from any passing travelers."
Saphira snorted and nosed him affectionately. Galzra and I are going off to hunt now, little one, she said softly. Eragon patted her nose and watched as the two dragons took flight.
Orik walked up to them, clearly recovered from his sudden fright of flying. "Would you like to spar, Shadeslayer?" he asked gruffly.
Eragon grinned. "You're asking me knowing that you'll lose, King Orik," he said teasingly.
"Not true," said Arya. "I will join Orik in sparring with you, Eragon."
He sighed and unsheathed Silbena garjzla. Orik took his battle axe carefully into his hands while Arya unsheathed Zar'roc. Orik and Arya carefully circled him. Eragon took several calming breaths and held himself in a defensive stance. Orik charged first. His axe hit Eragon's blade. The sound echoed throughout the wood. Sparks flew to the ground. Eragon stepped away and Orik fell foward. He placed his blade to the dwarf's back, but before he could speak, Arya charged foward in a blur of light. She slashed fiercely at his side. He blocked the blow and the swords clashed.
All three blades clashed together, sending down a fire of sparks. Eragon rolled on the ground to avoid Orik's axe, which came crashing down and swished above his head. Arya stabbed into the earth, barely missing her target. Zar'roc and Silbena garjzla clashed with a loud echoe following. The two Riders looked into the other's eyes, caught in that brief moment that stood still.
Orik's axe came crashing down. Eragon rolled foward and stood, panting slightly. He jumped high into the air to avoid Zar'roc. When he landed, both of his oppenents pushed him onto his back with their blades.
Arya took that opportunity to end it. "Blöthr!" cried Eragon at the last second. Arya stopped, with Zar'roc a foot away from his throat. Eragon jumped away. He parried a blow from Orik and quickly brought the shining sapphire sword back up and pointed the tip to Orik's beard. "Dead," he murmured.
Arya charged at him and sent him blow after blow of attacks. Eragon parried all of them, but did not have time to strike back. "Malthinae!" cried Arya. Eragon found himself unable to move. His mate forced Silbena garjla out of his hands. Zar'roc's tip touched his neck. He stood in silence and time seemed to stretch on. "Dead," she whispered. She muttered the words to counter her spell.
They sheathed their blades and made camp. "You fought well, Eragon," commented Arya when they finished.
"But I lost," replied Eragon.
Arya shook her head helplessly. "You were against two strong foes," she said. "And you nearly prevailed. You should be proud." She smiled brightly at him. Eragon smiled back and looked up at the pale blue sky. "Its beautiful here."
Eragon nodded. "But not nearly as beautiful as you are, Arya," he said. He gently caressed her cheek and moved a stray strand of black hair from her face. "When I first laid eyes on you, I thought that you were an angel who dropped from the heavens."
She blushed. Eragon, Orik is standing right next to us! she cried disaprovingly.
I care naught, my love, replied Eragon calmly. I was denied for so long the ability to voice my feelings to you and for them to mean anything to you.
Arya pulled her mate close to her. Her arms shook, shocked that he loved her to no end. They did mean something to me then, Eragon, she cried. Tears fell from her eyes and down her cheek. They meant the world to me, but I was too damned blind to really acknowledge them. It hurt me too to deny my love from you. But what done is done, and now we can love each other to the end of time. She kissed him pationately.
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Nasuada sat on the bed in the room that the elves provided her with. She rubbed her stomach where Murtagh's child grew. It would be four months before she would give birth to the child. The thought brought her happiness, yet chills went down her spine. She would be alone in bringing this life into the world and raising the child. This brought memories of her father, Ajihad. He alone had raised her with the Varden. When she was five, she asked where her mother was and he had told her that she died shortly after bringing Nasuada into the world.
A knock echoed from her door. The sound pulled her from her thoughts. "Who is it?" she asked coldly.
"Roran Stronghammer."
"Come in."
Roran opened the door. He wore a pale tan tunic and on the belt, he wore his warhammer. He bowed. "Lady Nasuada," he murmured.
"What brings you here, Roran?" asked Nasuada eagerly. Her dark eyes pierced through him.
"I have just heard that a sorcerous by the name of Trianna has committed treason and is responsible for Elvira's death," informed Roran quickly. "She is running out of the forest."
Nasuada frowned. "Trianna, you say?" she stated, fearing the worse.
"Yes, milady," answered Roran.
Nasuada nodded and looked at him thoughtfully. "Do you know how far she has gotten?" she asked.
"No, but the elves were outraged when they found out and are tracking her down," said Roran. "They sent me to tell you of this, and . . .that if they find her that they'll bring back her head."
Nasuada sighed. In that moment, she looked older than she really was. "I only pray that they're careful then. Trianna, though young, is very powerful and my best spellcaster . . .apart from Eragon." She closed her eyes for a moment. "You are dismissed Roran."
Roran took one last bow before leaving the young ruler in peace.
Disclaimer: Thank you so much for the reviews. They came in so fast that I just had to update soon.