Disclaimer: Yea, I'm updating a lot more these days. It helps having my laptop that I can take anywhere and a thumb drive to save my files on. I own nothing.
Nasuada slept in Eragon's and Arya's sleeping quarters on their bidding with Murtagh. The newborn boy kept them up most nights. Eragon and Arya took turns helping Nasuada care for her son. On the fifth night, Arya sat outside alone as Eragon was with Tasha; lecturing the young Rider. She looked up at the stars, mesmerized by their awe striking beauty. Her hand rested on her now swollen stomach. She felt the light kicking of her unborn child.
So much is about to change…again, she told Galzra.
Change happens, replied Galzra calmly. However, I hate this conflict brewing and not being able to do anything about it.
I know, agreed Arya. But soon enough and we will face our enemies. I just feel like Galbatorix doing all this.
Why is that? Galzra asked.
Anyone who opposes this new authority gets slain, murmured Arya. It doesn't feel right.
Have you told Eragon?
He is too busy with his duties, and I told myself when I took him as my mate that I would not get in the way of those duties, said Arya.
Arya, hummed Galzra. As his mate, you should be upfront and honest with him.
I know, but it isn't that simple, confessed Arya.
Murtagh began to cry to be fed. Arya sighed and went to wake Nasuada. She felt bad for doing so, especially since the Varden's ruler had gotten so little sleep since the birth of her son. "Nasuada…you need to feed Murtagh," whispered Arya softly.
Nasuada woke and went to take Murtagh out of his bed. She went to sit down in the rocking chair that was brought into the room and allowed Murtagh to suckle from her breast. She looked up at Arya. "Do you think that I could live in peace elsewhere?" she asked wearily.
"Where do you plan on going?" asked Arya. She walked with careful steps to her bed and sat down.
"Carvahall," murmured Nasuada. "I have heard that Eragon's people are returning to rebuild their village."
"It would be a dangerous road," cautioned Arya. "Eragon would not be able to follow you, nor will I."
"I will be fine," replied Nasuada.
Arya sighed. She was at a loss of words. She did not know whether or not to stand by and allow Nasuada to leave. Then she remembered the assassin that had impersonated her. She shook her head quickly. "No, I cannot allow you to do this."
"Why not?" challenged Nasuada. Her voice had a bite of resentment in it.
"You are in danger, Nasuada," answered Arya calmly, ignoring Nasuada's will to be rebellious against better judgment. "Do not forget that assassin that used my image! We don't even know who tried to kill you!"
Well, at least we can rule Tasha out…she was with us, she told Galzra with relief.
"I cannot continue living my life in fear of who's out there to kill me!" yelled Nasuada. Murtagh cried in her arms. The new mother tried fruitlessly to calm her babe.
"No, you can't," agreed Arya. "But this new assassin is far more skilled than the average thug." She sighed heavily, growing weary of Nasuada's stubbornness.
--
Eragon watched carefully as Tasha meditated, and he was reminded of the times that Oromis had sent him to do his own meditations, although Du Weldenvarden had more abundance of life, Surda would just have to do for the time. He used the time to clear his own thoughts, focusing mainly on the assassin that had tried to claim Nasuada's life upon his arrival. And Angela had just stood there when it had happened. A novice would have reasoned with fear being the motivation for the witch to do nothing, but he knew better.
What do you think, Saphira?
His dragon sat behind him, sniffing the air. She snorted and looked down at him. Ask Tasha her opinion, she answered.
What?
Teach her some reasoning skills, and at the same time, she could very well come up with at least some of the answers, explained Saphira.
Just like what Oromis did with me, murmured Eragon slowly. He sighed.
Tasha opened her eyes and blinked several times to regain her bearings. "Is something wrong, Eragon-ebrithil?" she asked innocently.
"Tell me what you have learned, Tasha," commanded Eragon, not unkindly.
"That even the simplest life form is important," recited Tasha, sounding quite bored. She went into detail about the food chain and how it affected her. "And eating meat is not necessary for me."
Eragon smiled slightly. "All is well," he murmured in the Ancient Language. "You are now ready to learn the secrets of magic. First, tell me what you know about the uses and limitations of magic."
"I do not know anything about magic other than it requires the use of the Ancient Language," replied Tasha.
"Wrong!" growled Eragon, reminded of his own ignorance when he arrived in Ellesméra. "Magic does not require using the Ancient Language, the Ancient Language only helps the magician to concentrate on his or her goal. However, you will use the Ancient Language while you train with me unless otherwise stated.
"Magic…at least for us, flows to us through our dragons. The limitations of magic are your own strength. Magic requires energy…the same amount of energy as if you were to complete the same task by mundane means. If you use up too much magic, you could become weakened, lose consciousness, and some spells may even kill you. You will have to discover how to use magic on your own…I can teach you the words. Now, if you are going to remember anything, remember this…be very careful that you use the exact words of what you intend to do.
"I made a mistake once while not entirely knowing what I was doing. When I first came to the Varden, I blessed a babe…or so I thought. I ended up placing a curse on the girl that could have taken her life. Luckily, I was taught how to reverse the effects of the curse."
"You mean Elva?" questioned Tasha.
"Yea," murmured Eragon. "Now, I want to set aside this subject for now…we have a dilemma that we must deal with. Nasuada was attacked by an assassin impersonating Arya. What do you think should be done?"
"Protect Nasuada and Murtagh at all costs," answered Tasha.
"That much…is obvious," stated Eragon patiently. "What about our would-be-assassin?"
"Well, it's possible that the Black Hand still exists," replied Tasha. "This assassin could be in league with them. We could hunt down known members and interrogate them."
Eragon nodded. That was a possibility. Yet it seemed unlikely to him. "How do you suppose this impersonator took Arya's form?" he asked.
"A potion possibly," answered Tasha. "Or a spell. The latter is highly unlikely though. If what you lectured is correct and a spell takes up as much energy as if the task were completed by mundane ways, then the spell would have killed the assassin." She sighed. "Yet, from your story…you were able to catch the assassin at the last moment. The impersonator was not able to copy Arya's mind…something that is impossible…even for the most accomplished magicians."
Eragon nodded, impressed with her reasoning skills. She may not have been able to get any further than he had, but she was able to begin backing up her points…something that she had to know how to do no matter what she did with her life after peace was finally made. "Very true…at least we have limited our possibilities to those interested in potion making. Or those close to making potions." He sighed and picked up a pebble. He tossed it to her. She caught it and looked at him with a confused expression. "I want you to raise the stone with magic. The proper phrase is Stenr reisa."
Tasha looked down at the small pebble in her hand. She looked back up at Eragon, and blushed at his pure beauty in her eyes. He's with Arya though…and they are expecting a child soon, she reminded herself.
You could kill Arya and take Eragon as your own, said an evil voice in the back of her head.
I would be killed before I even got close enough to Eragon, she replied and didn't even know why she was talking to herself. She thought that she had ridded herself of this internal conflict. Then what Trianna had said about holding Galbatorix's memories came back to her. Impossible…I hold my memories, and mine only.
"Eragon-ebrithil, what is the point of this exercise?" she asked. "Being able to raise a stone with magic won't help me at all."
Eragon frowned. "If you cannot complete this simple task, you will not be able to go into battle." He sighed. "Practice the spell tonight and tomorrow, I will see if you have progressed." They walked together to the castle and went to their separate rooms.
The young hero entered his room and found Arya and Nasuada in the middle of a heated argument.
"No, you can't," agreed Arya. "But this new assassin is far more skilled than the average thug." She sighed heavily.
"What is the problem?" asked Eragon wearily.
She wants to go to Carvahall, but it's too dangerous of a journey for her, explained Arya through their mental link.
Eragon sighed inwardly, appalled by Nasuada's will to be wherever there was trouble. He looked into the eyes of his liege. "Nasuada, I really don't think that it's a good idea for you to leave the safety of Aberon," he said calmly.
"Safety?" chuckled Nasuada. "You call being attacked in your own room by someone you think to be a friend safe? I would hate to see what you consider truly dangerous."
What is with her? Eragon wondered.
It could be the stress of motherhood, suggested Arya, but she doubted her own words. She also has not gotten much sleep. She frowned and placed a hand absentmindedly over her swollen belly.
"Nasuada…if you leave, Arya and myself will not be able to protect you," reasoned Eragon.
"I do not need protecting, Shadeslayer," hissed Nasuada.
"Nasuada, please, listen to reason!" pleaded Arya.
Nasuada sighed. "What else am I supposed to do?" she murmured. "Aberon is not safe."
"At least stay here until Arya has the baby," requested Eragon. "Then we can escort you to Carvahall before marching off to battle."
Eragon! What are you doing?
Compromising, answered Eragon.
Arya frowned. I do not approve, she murmured.
How else do you suppose we keep her here? Eragon asked. At least this way, we could try and convince her to stay here where it is safe.
Nasuada yawned. She placed Murtagh back in his bed and crawled into her bed and closed her eyes. "We will talk about this later," she murmured.
"Sleep well," murmured Eragon softly.
He turned to Arya and kissed her softly on the lips. "I have began teaching Tasha how to use magic," he told her in the Ancient Language.
"Are you sure that's a good idea so soon?" asked Arya.
"We are on a time limit," replied Eragon. "I do not trust her…but we need her strength if we are to succeed in having peace."
--
He reached out from the shadows of the shop that he had found so many months ago. He knew what the item he sought out was, and he wanted it more than anything. He took the silver stone and ran off into the night.
Disclaimer: Oooooh, a mysterious person! Who is he? I know the ending sucked, but there's a reason for it being worded the way it is. Please review your thoughts on this chapter.