Lover of the Legacy: A Hidden Desire

Chapter 7: I Love You

Eragon yawned and stretched his sore muscles. He had fallen asleep on his desk and had just woken up. He stood up and walked outside into the cool morning air not noticing Satine asleep on his bed. He stood outside and continued to stretch the way Oromis had taught him. About five minutes into his routine, he heard a panicked voice approaching him.

"Eragon, thank goodness you are awake, have you seen Satine by any chance? She is not in her tent and we have been frantic trying to find her." Nasuada said, panting.

Even after exercising, he was still very tired. "No, I haven't seen her at all."

"Well if you see her, let me know right away."

"Of course."

Nasuada nodded and started to walk away. Eragon stood there thinking of any place that Satine might have run off to. "Good morning, Eragon." The melodic voice penetrated Eragon's ears startling him. Turning around, he saw Satine yawn and shake her head trying to wake up. It was then that Eragon realized that she has fallen asleep in his tent.

"Oh, and Eragon…" Nasuada stopped short when she saw the princess with Eragon. She had turned around to ask Eragon a favor. "Eragon!"

Eragon knew how bad the scene looked and tried to find a way to explain to Nasuada that nothing happened between them last night. "Nasuada, I…"

"You said you didn't know where she was, and yet she emerged from your tent wearing the same clothes that she wore yesterday. I never thought you were the type who would take advantage of a woman! Wait until Orrin finds out about this…"

"Nasuada!" Satine yelled at the woman to get her attention. "How dare you accuse Eragon of such treachery? I was with him last night and he let me read a poem he had written and I fell asleep on his cot. While I was reading, he was going over spells that he could use in the upcoming battle. That is all that happened."

Nasuada looked both of them up and down. "Why did you say you did not know where she was when I asked you, Eragon?" It was obvious that she didn't buy what Satine had told her, even though it was the truth.

"I just woke up and I did not see her asleep!" He was on the defensive to preserve his honor, and more importantly, Satine's honor.

"Really?" Her sarcastic tone infuriated Satine.

"Ask Saphira if you don't believe us. She will not lie to you." Eragon was shocked by the venom in her voice and made a mental note to never make her upset.

The two women looked as if they were about to attack each other. "No. I will not do that, but you must swear to me that you are telling me the truth."

"I swear to you that we are telling the truth." Satine pleaded.

"Fine. Just don't let this happen again."

Satine scoffed at that but said, "I think you owe Eragon an apology."

Nasuada narrowed her eyes at Satine silently fuming. After a few moments she looked at Eragon. "I am sorry, O Dragon Rider. I hope that I have not offended you too greatly."

"Don't let it happen again." Satine smiled at the authority he assumed in that moment.

"Of course." Nasuada actually looked afraid as she dipped her head and left them.

"I'm sorry to have caused you so much trouble, Eragon." Satine was looking down at the ground, kicking at the dirt.

"No, I should have noticed you sleeping. It's my fault. Oromis said that if I am not fully aware of my surroundings, bad things happen. He was right." He sighed.

"Don't be so hard on yourself; mistakes happen."

"True, but if I make a mistake like that in battle, it can cost me my life."

The thought of Eragon dying tore at her heart. They were inside his tent again, totally alone. "Don't talk like that, it scares me."

Her words filled him with gladness and he smiled. "Sorry." He paused for a second then said, "You really care for me?"

Satine looked deep into his eyes. "I love you, Eragon, so yes, I care for you more than anyone." She approached him when her words left him speechless, and kissed his cheek. "I have to go, now. I will see you later, I hope." She then turned and left him to ponder what had happened.