Lover of the Legacy: A Hidden Desire

Chapter 6

Eragon's lips were soft and warm and at the touch it felt as if an electric current penetrated her body, sending chills down her spine. The feeling was unlike the kiss shared with Orrin, which was dull to say the least. Her head was spinning and she was unsure if she should kiss back or run away, after all she is still engaged to another man. Eragon had already pulled away by the time she made up her decision.

"I'm sorry, I should not have kissed you." Eragon stumbled out his excuse.

"I am not mad at you, Eragon. But, you should refrain from kissing me until I cancel my engagement with Orrin." Satine thought what could have happened if someone spotted them kissing and shuttered.

"Yes, yes of course…" he said before he realized what she had said, "Wait? Cancel your engagement?"

"I don't know why you are shocked. I just about to say that before you cut me off with your kiss."

"Are you sure that is what you want?" Yes, he liked her, a lot, and he knows that she likes him, but he still felt that wasn't enough to cancel an engagement. She has known Orrin a lot longer and we still barely know each other.

"I think so." Her uncertainty shocked her. Will I ever know what I really want?

"I promise not to kiss you again, but you must also promise not to break the engagement until you are absolutely sure that is what you want."

"How about I talk to him about it; we have been engaged for months and a date still has not been set, and now I am leaving. It's not really working out, and if this is how the engagement is like, then I can't imagine being his wife."

"Sounds like a plan. Let me know how it goes- ok"

"Deal." Satine departed to find Orrin. She found him in his study. "Orrin?"

He was still upset about their earlier conversation, but welcomed her in anyways. "What is it?"

"We need to talk about us. It's just not working…"

Orrin became annoyed. "Satine, it's been a long night and we could both use our rest, especially you since you are leaving tomorrow. We can discuss this once you get back."

Satine wanted to scream at him. "No, we really need to discuss this now."

"Satine, I know we have our differences and with everything going on, we have been in a short temper, but that does not mean that I don't love you. I do." He raised his hand to prevent Satine from cutting in. "When you get back, I promise you we can be married then. Now what did you want to say?"

Satine sighed heavily and said, "Fine, we can discuss it later, but heed my words when I say that I cannot promise you anything."

Orrin rolled his eyes. "Right, now is there anything else? I have a lot to get done before I turn in."

"Well since I am suddenly a nuisance, I will be leaving you. Good night." She left him before he could speak again. Her heart was heavy realizing the double meaning behind her last statement with Orrin. She maneuvered around the castle avoiding the guards until she found herself outside Eragon's bedchamber. When Eragon opened his door, she entered and told him about what had happened. Eragon understood the gravity of the situation and told her that she did not have to worry about him breaking his promise.

The trip to the Burning Plains was long and arduous. When they finally arrived, they set up camp and waited for Galbatroix's army to arrive. The third night on the plains, Satine found Eragon in his tent looking over a scroll. He had kept his promise truly making him a man of his word, a trait that Satine really admired. She herself kept her distance allowing herself to get to know him more.

She waited until Eragon looked up from the scroll before speaking. "What are you up to?" She was bored and wanted to find something to do. Earlier she was with Angela, but she could only be with her for so long after she got bored. The witch reminded her of Orrin and thinking of Orrin reminded her of their last conversation. It bothered her that her affections waned for him the more she fell in love with Eragon.

"Not a whole lot really. Just reading a scroll that Oromis gave me; it's been a while since I have sat down to read and I have gotten rusty. I was also going to practice writing as well."

Satine plopped down on his cot. "That bored, eh?"

"Shut up," he chuckled. "What are you doing here anyways?" He asked out of curiosity rather than being rude.

"Nothing to do, so I figured I see what you were up to." She looked around his tent aimlessly looking for anything that might catch her eye. When she saw nothing she asked, "What exactly are you reading anyways?"

"A book of spells. I figured some might prove handy in the upcoming battle."

"Ah." She fell back on his cot and stared up at the tent's ceiling. "Where's Saphira?"

"Hunting." When she remained silent, he resumed his reading.

Satine continued to stare at the ceiling, bored out of her mind. As she rummaged her brain for something to do, a tune from an old song popped into her head.

"What song is that?" Eragon asked. He was no longer at his desk and was standing at the edge of the cot.

"Huh?" Satine sat up, puzzled.

"The tune you were humming. What song is it?"

"I was humming?" She had no idea that she was voicing the song she heard in her head.

Eragon laughed. "Yes, you were humming, and very loudly too. You really are bored, aren't you?"

Satine's cheeks flushed red. "Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you."

"It's fine. Please, tell me, what song it it? It was very beautiful."

Again she found herself blushing. "The song is called 'As Long As You're Mine.' It is from the epic entitled 'Wicked', a play that I got to see when I was a little girl. It is also a novel, but I liked the play much better."

"Do you think you can sing me the lyrics?" He was very curious what her singing voice would sound like.

"It is a duet, so keep that I mind." Eragon shook his head and sat down next to her. Then she began to sing the love ballad. The lyrics were romantic and listening to the words filled him with the longing to be with Satine in a more intimate setting. When she finished, he clapped his hands.

"Bravo."

"Thank you. Now I am sure you want to hear the back story, don't you?"

"Indeed, I do, but we can save that for another time. I should get back to my scroll." He pointed to his desk.

"Very well." She began to feel the sting of boredom again.

"You know…" Eragon leaped off the bed and rummaged through his pack until he had found what he was looking for. In his hand was a thick scroll. "This is a poem I wrote while I was with the elves. You can read it."

Her eyes brightened with excitement. "I didn't know you were a writer?" She took the scroll and unraveled it.

"Eh, I can't guarantee that it is very good." He shrugged.

"I will be the judge of that," she shooed him away as she began to read his work.