For Alagaesia: 48. Best friends

Gloomy. As he went into his waking-dreams, if there was a word to describe that day at Silthrim, Eragon would choose only that. Everything seemed to have gone against him on that day. The experience at Katrina's home was the high-point of misery what with Galbatorix's attack on Roran and his tongue-slip about Arya. But the other low-point in the day was the evening event of the 'presenting ceremony'. Eragon was now accustomed to the egg rejecting every potential candidate and it was no different on that evening. But even then it hurt him for he had hoped the egg may hatch for someone in Silthrim as the egg had left its mad search for 'the one' – atleast according to Glaedr.

When presented to the three children of Silthrim, the egg had remained as unmoved as it did when it was presented to every other person. The other potential voluntaries – that is the elders who chose to touch the egg were no where near luckier than the others.

Added to that was Arya's new indifference towards him. She simply had gone back to her old ways of treating him as an ally rather than as a friend. He tried to start some conversation with her after the presentation ceremony, but she had simply cited something about being fatigued and went away.

The only solace he had got was from Katrina. His cousin had devoted her time speaking with him and trying to keep his spirits up. He stayed at her home for the night and looked after her medical needs. He felt guilty to have made Katrina stay all by herself in a foreign land. But the care that the elves took in her well-being gave him heart.

“Good morning”, Katrina said as she saw him rise from where he was resting.

“Good morning, Katrina. Have I overslept?”, he asked gauging from the streaming sun that it was the case.

'No little one. You have not.' , Saphira replied for Katrina.

“Its perfectly alright. You needed some rest. It was I who suggested to Saphira that she induce some sleepiness into your brain.”, Katrina said.

Eragon was amazed at how much similar Aunt Marian and Katrina were. Motherly love oozed from them naturally.

“Thank you.”, he said, meaning it genuinely. He really had needed a good night's sleep.

‘Get ready little one, we should be leaving soon. We have yet to travel to Nadindel, Ellesmera and other minor settlements.’, Saphira said.

‘But wouldn’t Katrina expect us to stay another day with her?’, Eragon asked.

‘She will understand, Eragon. Further, you will be of no use to her. She has the elves to take care of her health.’

‘Nothing like family.’

‘And not even family should come in the way of our duties.’

‘Oh fine, Saphira. I wanted to have Katrina around. It helps me you know. Especially when Arya is angry at me.’, Eragon admitted.

‘She is not angry, Eragon. Just disappointed. When she thinks on it, she will understand.’

“Eragon… Would you like Tea?”, Katrina asked. She carried a tumbler of tea in her hand. Eragon got it from her and said, “You shouldn’t be doing all these. You should rest.”

“Your education seems insufficient in these matters Eragon. The elves advised me to do some light work.”, Katrina answered him with a smile.

Eragon couldn’t help but smile. He sipped the tea and said, “Indeed. I have never been versed with matters of women.”

Katrina studied him curiously for a while. Eragon wondered what made her do so. Then she happily said, “You have gotten so much better from how I left you at the Varden.”

Eragon choked on his tea. Saphira laughed in his mind. ‘Really, Eragon!!’, Saphira said.

“Arya really does have sway over you.”, Katrina continued.

“Arya?”, Eragon asked blushing.

“I know, Eragon. I know of your affection for her.”

'Roran surely doesn't keep anything from his wife', Eragon thought, 'If only they knew how much I suffer because of those undestroyable and unrequited feelings.' “Oh? But Katrina there is nothing like that between us. She has made it clear.”, he said, his heart getting heavier by the seconds.

“I heard that too. Don’t lose heart Eragon. I have seen her enough to know that she cares for you deeply.”, Katrina said sympathetically.

Eragon huffed. “She doesn’t even consider me good enough to understand her. How could she care for me?”, he murmured, frustrated to hear from yet another person that Arya cared for him. He had heard enough of it from Saphira already.

“What is it, Eragon?”, Katrina asked. Eragon remained resolutely silent concentrating hard on his tumbler. Katrina tried to gain his attention by looking into his face. But he was not ready to divulge his brush with Arya and cause himself more pain.

‘He had a little difference with Arya yesterday. From then on, he doubts if she even cares for him’, Saphira replied for Eragon. ‘Which is of course ridiculous.’, she added emphatically.

“Saphira?”, Katrina asked as Saphira was flying high above them and was invisible.

‘Yes, Katrina. Its me.’

“Eragon, listen to me.”, Katrina said and waited for him to transfer his attention to her. “Love is a fickle thing.”, she said then, “Especially when you are not aware of your beloved’s feelings for you. Every little thing they say will seem exaggerated to you. The best way to solve such problems is to speak with them openly about your point of contention.”

“As if I didn’t try.”, Eragon murmured again, this time in irritation.

“Eragon, you are too much drawn into the fact that Arya rejected your direct advance to notice the subtle clues that point to her care for you.”, Katrina lashed out gently.

“She only cares for me as a dragon-rider. Not as a friend.”, Eragon retorted rather harshly.

“Would the elven princess risk her life to rescue some dragon-rider?”, Katrina asked, her demeanour still calm.

'Eragon, don't deny it to yourself. Just beneath your words I can sense your agreement to Katrina's words. Further, Arya's care for you is rather too visible to not be noticed by others.', Saphira admonished.

“Eragon, believe me when I tell you; Love doesn't become requited as easily as you seem to think. Do you think the trust and understanding between me and Roran came overnight? I was in denial for a year for fear of my father rejecting our love. Then, we had two years to correct our misunderstandings. And to this day, we have our differences. Think on it Eragon. We led a so much less complicated life at that time. But your life is different. With the future of Alagaesia at stake Arya is bound to be much more careful.”, Katrina said earnestly.

Eragon remained silent. He had nothing to say. And he had no more tea to divert his concentration. Katrina had nearly come to the conclusion that Oromis did a year ago when Eragon was still mooning after Arya: That he had to be patient and not let his emotions boil over. That if it were possible at all then it would happen by itself, given time. That he should be true to himself and to Arya and to the circumstances. Of course, Oromis was inclined towards don’t hope while Katrina was suggesting to wait and hope. In fact, he had tried to do that exact same thing until yesterday.

He realised how wrong it was of him to read too much into Arya being upset with him. The fact that Roran and Katrina – the perfect couple, in his eyes – took years to sort out their problems was testimony to two things: his cause was not lost and waiting and hoping was the best strategy.

“Eragon?”, Katrina’s concerned voice brought nim out of his reverie.

“I do understand what you mean Katrina. Worse yet, I already knew it. But I can’t seem to go with it. It torments me.”, he admitted, speaking for the first time about the pain Arya’s rejection and subsequent events caused him to someone other than Saphira.

“I know how you feel Eragon. And I am sure such pain would serve to increase your adoration for Arya. She will notice as time passes and will act on it.”, Katrina said softly.

“No Katrina. You don’t know enough about Arya. She..”, Eragon said before Katrina interrupted him saying, “I won’t pretend to know all about Arya’s life. But she looks to me like a tormented woman. Just like you. Both of you are so aloof and cold when faced with emotional conditions that it feels like you are deliberately avoiding confrontations with delicate situations. Even now Eragon I can see your face going hard as stone.”

Eragon was appalled at Katrina’s assertive tone. ‘Do I..’, he started to ask to Saphira, but she pre-empted him and said, ‘Yes you do. Even your mind is resisting this delicate conversation.’ Eragon sensed Saphira’s mind overflowing with accusations against his behaviour, but she stopped herself from direct confrontation with Eragon. ‘I don’t blame you for your demeanour. I know its out of your control. But..’, she stopped her tirade abruptly and said, ‘listen to Katrina.’

“I have known you from when you were a little boy, Eragon. You were so happy and carefree during those times. But ever since I met you at the Varden, you have been so sober and unhappy. I knew it was because of your responsibilities. But then when you returned from Uru’baen, I was afraid to even look at you. Your gaze was so cold and aloof that I thought a part of your life had died at Uru’baen. But it also gave me a glimpse of another person I had had difficulty in interpreting: Arya. I understood then that the two of you looked like that because of your torturous past.

But yesterday, I also happened to notice that in each other’s company you both were different. I actually heard Arya laugh heartily for the first time yesterday. Maybe you aren’t aware, but there is something between the two of you that makes you happy in the presence of the other. You, I can understand – you love her. But Arya? She too looked cheerful – atleast much more than when I met her at the Varden.”

Saphira alighted on the ground just outside Katrina’s home. Eragon turned to look at her and slowly walked outside to join her. Katrina followed him outside. Her words had deeply engraved themselves in his mind. They gave him both immense pain and enormous happiness at the same time. Once he reached Saphira, he put one hand around her outstretched neck and hid his face in the nook of her shoulder. Tears threatened to overcome him.

‘Little one…’, Saphira said enveloping his mind in a loving, protective layer of thoughts and feelings.

She extended her neck and touched Katrina on her brow with her snout. ‘I am glad Eragon has you as a relative.’, she said to her. Katrina smiled.

‘Arya is here. We are to leave for the other elven towns now.’, Saphira announced. Sure enough, Arya was walking towards Katrina’s home, a large bag slung across her back. Katrina went to the gate to welcome Arya.

The elven princess walked in, eyed Eragon who was trying hard to conceal his emotions and then addressed Saphira, “Are you ready? We are running late.”

‘Yes, Arya. We are.’, replied Saphira.

Katrina went into her home and brought an impressive assortment of fruits with her. “Take these with you. They will be enough till you reach the next town.”, she offered them to Eragon.

Having tackled his emotions – with much less effort than he had perceived would be needed(once he saw Arya, the emotions hid themselves deep inside him eerily reminding Katrina’s assertion that he was avoiding delicate situations) – Eragon answered her, “It won’t be necessary, Katrina. We will only be staying for a night in the forest. Saphira can take us to the next town in a day.”

“I know she can. These will be useful atleast for that night. You won’t have to live of wild fruits and vegetables seeing as you don’t even touch meat.”, Katrina said. For the umpteenth time Katrina reminded him of Aunt Marian. Both had the same eye for even the simplest of matters like food for one night. Regretting the fact that he won’t be able to spend time with Katrina as he ought to till the end of the war, Eragon took the basket of fruits from her hands.

“Thank you.”, he said. Katrina punched him slightly on his arms and said with a smile, “Who taught you to thank your sister when she offers you something?” Eragon smiled too. Katrina’s pure affection was contagious.

Arya stood by Saphira shuffling her feet and completely ignoring Eragon’s presence. Only the brief pauses on his face in her sweeping glances were indications of her acknowledging his presence. She was visibly tensed.

“Lady Arya, Thank you for visiting me yesterday. I didn’t get the chance to thank you yesterday.”, Katrina said to her – in an effort to make Arya feel easy. Eragon could only pray that Arya doesn’t vent her anger at him on Katrina. But Arya’s reaction, to his surprise was one of cordiality – in the true sense. “It was my pleasure, Katrina. I had to be sure that my guest was taken proper care of.”, she said. There was warmth and genuine care in her voice.

‘The sun is moving fast toward the western horizon, little one.’, Saphira reminded.

“Take care of your health, Eragon.”, Katrina said, “And remember what I said.” Eragon nodded, his discomfort obvious. He managed a shaky smile. “I will.”, he said.

‘Remember the ring at all times, Katrina. If there is any problem, anything at all, contact us and we will be at your service.’, Saphira said.

Katrina bowed her head slightly. “I shall remember, Saphira”

“Don’t worry about Roran too much.”, Eragon said to Katrina, “An elven army is marching to Teirm to assist him. And I will always keep an eye out for him.”

Katrina smiled wryly. “I will try not to.”

“Look Katrina, you came here so that you won’t have to worry about the war and burden your child. You know Roran. He will do everything he can to return back to us.”, said Eragon. He was disturbed. He even felt guilty. He had to be by Roran’s side fighting the battle – not assure himself and Katrina that he would be fine.

“Don’t feel guilty, Eragon. We all have obligations to fulfil. Yours and mine are to be here now.”, Katrina said.

Stunned, Eragon looked into Katrina’s face: he had not let any emotion to play on his face. “I know how much you care for him.”, Katrina explained. Eragon nodded. He often forgot Katrina now knew nearly as much as Roran knew about him.

By then Arya had mounted Saphira and was waiting for Eragon. Saphira moved forward and touched Katrina on her brow. ‘Be safe.’, she said. Eragon stepped forward, hugged Katrina and said, “Take care. I will contact you often.” Katrina nodded. Then Eragon swiftly climbed into Saphira’s saddle and seated himself in front of Arya.

Katrina bowed to Arya. “Lady Arya, let fortune favour you in your endeavours.”, she said. Arya nodded and replied, “To you as well, menskr-kona.”

Saphira didn’t wait for anymore to be said. She dug her talons deep into the ground and with a huge thrust shot up into the air leaving Katrina staring with awe at her. Eragon looked on as Katrina turned smaller and smaller till she was a little dot on the ground. Soon Katrina's figure became unintelligible hidden by trees and distance and Eragon looked onward towards their destination – Nadindel.

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The cold evening breeze whipped on his face, a reminder that the winter was harsher than usual this year. The sun was setting into the horizon and Eragon felt the usual euphoria that accompanied the dusk – a vestige of his days as a farmer, when nightfall meant respite from work and joyous chattering with Roran under the colourfully painted skies.

'Eragon, I am planning to travel all night so that we could reach Nadindel by sunrise.' , Saphira informed.

'What? No. We need rest.', Eragon answered her.

'Why so?'

'Its cold Saphira. So cold that by flying at this height, we will be frozen like rocks when you land in Nadindel.'

'I can shield you from the cold.', Saphira offered. She was quite eager to reach another elven city. She had two motives to be so eager – one, she may get a new companion(or competitor) of her own race in the other cities and two, if the first failed, they could go back to the Varden soon and protect the fragile beings there from being wiped out by Galbatorix. The second wish had been constantly pricking at her mind ever since they had seen the state of the elves at Gil'ead.

'But it will only serve to weaken you. Nature can't be controlled even by you, the strongest of beings in Alagaesia, Saphira. That was why we left Dras Leona – believing in the weather to shield the Varden from Galbatorix.”, Eragon reminded Saphira.

'I can shield you' , Saphira insisted. Her pride was not giving way to accepting the fact that she wasn't strong enough to counter the forces of nature.

'This, Saphira, was the attitude that got you into trouble with the Menoa. Accept the fact that there are greater forces than us, the dragons, in Alagaesia. I learned it the hard way, when I lost my leg.', Glaedr spoke for the first time since they had left Silthrim. His tone was one of quiet understanding. He, obviously, knew how Saphira's mind would play out.

Glaedr's words had the intended effect on Saphira. She still vividly remembered the terror at being caught by the roots of the Menoa tree. 'Fine. We will stay for the night.', she gave up.

Arya who had been silent for the whole while talking only to Saphira and that too rarely, now seemed interested. “What happened with you and the Menoa?”, she asked, her tone one of bewilderment.

Eragon was pained that yet again Arya was ignoring him and addressing only Saphira. But he hid the feeling deep inside him, being careful not to show it even to Saphira lest she get upset on account of him. Arya's only words to him in the whole day were the formal 'thank you' and 'Are you finished yet?' - both spoken during their subdued lunch. Katrina's excellent fruits tasted bitter with Arya turning a blind eye on him.

He could now feel a series of images – memories – passing from Saphira to Arya. Arya's back went stiff at seeing them – Eragon could feel. After a while Arya said, “That....” She struggled for a few moments before she managed to say, “That... was rash of you.”

'It was necessary.', Saphira said still stubbornly refusing to feel guilty, 'It was the need of the hour.'

Arya fell silent again as Saphira began to search for a place for them to spend the night. Eragon thought they needed a sheltered place away from the biting cold of the winter night. For some reason the winter was so harsh that even the forest of Du Weldenvarden which was mostly shielded from extreme weather by the elven magic felt cold.

‘The winter isn’t unnatural child. Yes, it is a bit more harsher this year, but that is no reason for the loss of protection in the great elven forest.’, Glaedr said, ‘It is the passing of time. Elven magic is losing its strength and in the past few years, the fall has been accelerated. At this rate, they will be reduced to how they were before they met with us, the dragons, in another hundred years.’

His tone was sad and forlorn. It showed his genuine care for the race that had been intertwined with the lives of dragons for thousands of years. The elves were the lone reminders of the glory of an age gone by – in which Dragons ruled the land in harmony with Elves, Humans, Dwarves and to a smaller extent, the Urgals. Of all the races they had much in common with the Dragons after all. Those two – Elves and Dragons – were the first to form the bond that had shaped and will still shape Alagaesia’s history. It was natural for Dragons to feel protective of the elves just as Elves felt guilty about having failed the Dragons. Humans it seemed were still not as integral to the bond as the other two races. They were later additions anyway – just one thousand years had passed since they were included in the bond.

Glaedr had earlier explained that the speed of fall of the elves won’t be reflected in the humans as they were not as intimately connected to the dragons as the elves. ‘The fall of one race means the fall of each of our three races’ – Glaedr had explained during Eragon’s tutelage.

For all his powers and intelligence, Galbatorix still didn’t see this and it felt odd for Eragon. However vile and twisted the evil King had become, he still was a bright student during his days in the order of the riders. So he should have seen the fall. He must even have noticed his own fall from strength.

‘Master, isn’t Galbatorix losing his powers too? Hasn’t he realised yet that he is not helping the cause of Alagaesia?’, Eragon asked. Eragon had a pretty good idea about Galbatorix. The evil King wanted to be in power. But he wanted to be the ruler of a ‘greater Alagaesia’. His intention was to give good life to his people – who were his slaves.

‘It is one of the most unfortunate happenings, Eragon. Galbatorix isn’t aware of the strength of the bond between our races. That is a reason why he feels he should be the most powerful person in the world. He doesn’t treat others as his equals because he doesn’t know that they are his equals. He tries to treat them as subordinates who are well-maintained in his rule. The fateful part in all this is that Galbatorix isn’t losing any power. In fact he is gaining in strength as the years pass. It is the effect of the bond that connects our races. The dragons in the Eldunari are feeding him with strength while their strength is needed for the whole of Alagaesia. Galbatorix thinks that he gets his strength from his dark magic. But that is not the case. So he is completely ignorant that he is depriving the inhabitants of Alagaesia, the much needed strength of the dragons and also unaware that the dragons that loath him and serve him unwillingly are the real reasons for his marvellous increase in strength. He only thinks that he derives energy from large spherical orbs that can store vast amounts of energy. It is just too late to make him understand all this. He is blinded by his own arrogance. I don’t think he will ever try to undo his doings for he has gone too deep into a pit from which the only respite is his defeat and death.’, Glaedr lectured.

Eragon marvelled at Glaedr’s ability to still maintain an untainted view of Galbatorix - even after he had caused so much loss to the great dragon. And he felt pity well up inside himself for Galbatorix’s ignorance. He hadn’t thought himself capable of ever again feeling pity for Galbatorix. But this was a part of himself that he discovered now: he still could reason with Galbatorix’s doings – even after being the object of the vile abomination’s cruel experiments for well over a month and a half.

‘That is only for good, little one.’, Saphira said, ‘But as for me, I am not going to even try to show any mercy for him. When I get the chance, I shall crush him. He has to repay for all that he has done to us.’

Even though Eragon could feel Saphira and Glaedr sharing their thoughts with Arya, she kept her silence. It seemed she was more upset with him than they had originally thought. But Eragon could feel a distinct determination-sort-of-feeling flow through their complexly joined mental connection which had not the makings of a dragon’s thought. It should have come from Arya, he concluded. ‘Atleast, she is listening to what I have been saying and doing.’, he thought dryly.

‘I have found a perfect place for us to rest. It may shield you better from the cold although I can always give my wing’s warmth to keep you from freezing.’, Saphira announced and without waiting for anyone to respond dived down towards a rocky terrain in the middle of a dense forest covered area. In the process of her landing, she broke the branches of many trees thus accommodating space enough for her.

Eragon surveyed the area where Saphira had landed. It was a nest-like structure formed by rocks that surrounded it on all sides. The rocks were big enough to be considered miniature hills but not big enough to call them hills. He wondered how Saphira’s eyes could find such a secluded place in low light. Even an elf would have to strain to see it from the height at which they were flying. But he knew that the dragon’s sight was far more superior to that of the elves and so chose to ignore the incredible find without acknowledging Saphira.

‘After all, strange things happen around dragons.’ – how he was fooled so easily by Brom’s lies that he simply happened to know so much about dragons. ‘I was a child.’, he thought, a small smile reaching his lips at the thought of his father.

The sun, it seemed, hurriedly went into the horizon and darkness fell upon them in no time. Soon, it emerged that they could not have any respite from the cold even in the secluded and rock-locked nest.

Eragon saw Arya – who was seated opposite him a hundred paces away - shivering slightly in the cold. But she didn’t make any move to grow a fire or ask any help from Saphira to keep her warm. So he rose from where he sat resting his back to a huge stone and started collecting dried twigs and leaves that were found in abundance around there. Saphira watched him closely as he made a huge pile of fuel near where Arya was sitting. When the pile was large enough that Eragon felt it could sustain a fire for the whole night, Saphira blew fire onto it and soon a roaring bonfire was alight.

As the fire increased the brightness and temperature of the area, Arya raised her head and glanced at Eragon who had taken a place beside her by the fire and then looked intently at the fire. If they had been on better terms then Eragon would have been fooled by her seemingly passive countenance. But as it was, he could clearly see the pain in her beautiful emerald eyes.

He remembered Katrina’s words: “The best way to solve such problems is to speak with them openly about your point of contention.” He sighed heavily, making up his mind to talk to Arya.

“Arya”, he called keeping his eyes glued to her face. He had no intention of letting the difference grow. It had to be solved. After a while, Arya turned towards him. Her face was smooth – betraying nothing. Not even the slightest of emotion was visible on it.

‘Curse the elves for their control.’, Eragon swore to himself. Nevertheless, he knew that he had Arya’s attention and so said what came from his heart, “I don’t know what I said. But it must have been something unthinkable if you are this… disappointed with me. I regret it, Arya. Whatever I said, I regret saying it. I have never meant to hurt you. And I will never.” His voice became shaky. It took every ounce of his control to continue talking. He found that after a level, it was just impossible to hide behind the impassive mask that he had put over himself. The emotions were too strong to hide – especially when they pertained to Arya or Saphira. So he gushed out whatever he felt like saying, “I wasn’t myself Arya. You know, you know that I have none left in my family… none other than Roran. I was distraught, Arya. When he was in danger I lost all semblance of sanity. The only things that meant to me then were Roran and his life.” His voice sounded close to someone’s who was angry at his listener. He was. He was angry at Arya for not understanding his state. “I… I don’t even remember saying anything to you… I… you know… I won’t say anything bad about you. You should know, Arya. You…”, he was stammering through his words when Arya raised a hand and signalled him to stop. He wasn’t going to, but Arya spoke then.

“You have been a true friend to me, Eragon. You were there whenever I wanted comfort. You have been so kind to me despite…”, Arya stopped abruptly and turned away slightly. Eragon had an inkling that he knew what Arya was about to say.

She didn’t have to harbour such thoughts – he had accepted that she didn’t look at him in a romantic light and had tried to move on. It was painful, yes, but there was nothing in it for Arya to be guilty. Those were his feelings and his deeds. For the first time, he understood how much her rejection of him might have hurt Arya too.

“You have listened to me like no other and you have understood and accepted me as I am.”, Arya said now looking away from him. But then she turned back towards him and meeting his eyes confidently said, “You are my best friend, Eragon. I haven’t had such a close friend. Never before have I trusted anybody as I did you. Faolin was there. And then it has been you.”

Eragon simply couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He had known that Arya considered him her friend. But best friend? He had no idea. He had only hoped to win back Arya’s good will through his words. But he never thought his words would have such an effect on her.

Arya continued, “I will admit it Eragon… You brought me out of my grief. I had thought that life was over for me with Faolin’s passing. But you, through your friendship, helped me find purpose in life again.” Her tone was unwavering and confident. But the undercurrent of guilt was so palpable that Eragon felt an impulse to punish the person responsible for it. But he obviously couldn’t do anything for he knew that it was him that caused Arya to feel guilty.

“But when you spoke those words – you who know me better than anybody – I was hurt. And in my fury, I didn’t even think of your state at that time. It was my folly. I was selfish… I..”, Arya couldn’t continue anymore. She looked at Saphira who had stood and spread her wings. Arya’s look meant only one thing: ‘Explain to him.’

‘It is for the two of you to solve. As for me, I knew all along that you were blowing a no-issue into a huge problem. I know you both. You have great respect and care for each other. It was the circumstances that made you doubt one another. Besides, who can we vent our frustration on when you are desperate than your dearest ones? We dragons are closer to Humans than to the elves in that respect. And how much ever Eragon changes and learns, remember that he is human and will always be one.’, Saphira said.

“Forgive me. I forget that nowadays.”, Arya said.

“If you think that I need explanations from Saphira to understand you then you have not understood me fully. I know what I said hurt you immensely. The implication of those words more than justifies your actions. Besides you did help with Katrina even after I derided you.”, Eragon said.

“Yes… how can I leave my friend to suffer?”, Arya said as if stating something obvious. Eragon stared at her in wonder. But she had gone back to gazing at the fire. Now, though, Eragon felt blissful. Katrina had been right after all. He too joined Arya in gazing at the little sparks that rose up from the fire into the night sky as if to join its sisters in the sky – the stars.

‘It is late. You have to sleep if you want to be ready for the formalities that occur tomorrow.’, Saphira reminded them. Eragon and Arya snapped their attention from the enthralling view of the night. Arya extracted her blanket from her pack and spread it on the ground. When she prepared to sleep, Eragon offered his blanket to her. “I will sleep against Saphira anyway.”, he explained when she tried to refuse. When she accepted it, she looked grateful. She covered her whole frame in Eragon’s blanket and closed her eyes wishing Eragon good night with a slight smile.

Eragon smiled at Arya, relieved and happy that their issues had been sorted.

‘See little one? It was a no-issue.’, Saphira said as he rested his head on her belly.

‘Yes, Saphira’, he replied. Even as the peace settled over him, he had a burning desire to see what he actually said that made Arya so furious with him.

‘Could you show me that memory?’, he asked bluntly knowing full well that Saphira knew what he was asking for.

‘That is unnecessary, little one.’

‘But I need to know…!!!’, he exclaimed. He really wanted to. What could he have said to make Arya feel betrayed?

‘Fine. But don’t take it seriously and remember that you weren’t yourself then.’, Saphira warned. Then a series of images – memories – flowed from her to him.

A pool of water containing Roran’s tense and forlorn face… “Get away from there Roran. I know you can do it. Do it for Katrina. Do it for your child. Get away from there, Roran.”, Eragon saying… Roran’s face taking on a confused, pained and lost look… Roran smply ignoring everything being said to him… Arya trying to get Roran’s attention… Roran trying to raise against an elf’s hold… Arya getting upset and closing her face with her hands… Eragon looking lost… “Well done, Eragon, you have helped your cousin to his death.”, Arya stating in hopelessness… Eragon getting unreasonably and uncontrollably angry… “What else do you expect me to do Arya? What do you know about Roran? All you know is the war and ways to win it. I know Roran. I know my cousin. This will help him. He WILL escape.”, Eragon screaming at Arya… Arya’s face instantly contorting with pain… But then Arya hiding her disappointment and fury and trying to help Roran…

The images stopped. Eragon was shaken. ‘That… that wasn’t me.’, he managed to say to Saphira.

‘I know little one. Don’t worry about it. Its after-effects have passed.’, Saphira comforted him. But the words refused to go away from his mind… What do you know about Roran? All you know is the war and ways to win it…. The peace that had settled just minutes ago left him.

A few minutes later, after thorough thought he said, ‘I wouldn't have forgiven my friend if they had uttered such words.’

‘You would have, Eragon. I know you better than yourself.’, Saphira said as she lulled him to sleep.

Early in the morning, when the sun was showcasing its red rays before actually making its appearance, Eragon was awoken by a shrill squeak.

Author's Notes:

Nothing much to say except that Arya and Eragon have accepted that they are each other's best friends. It is a development, don't you think? And did you notice that last line? I am excited.