Adurna

Leaving Home

Chapter Twelve-

“What?” I asked in a confused whisper. My brain refused to work properly so I could not fully comprehend just what he was telling me.

“The mayor is growing skeptical of what I am doing here.” Eragon was saying quickly. He paced back and forth in front of my unmoving body. “He himself has not seen the egg, so he began sending your towns 'troops' into the woods after me. They aren’t very good, if I may add. However, I fear for you. They have begun noticing your disappearances into the woods and plan on questioning you tomorrow or even following after you. This place is no longer a secure environment for me to train you, Chrystal.”

I listened to what he was saying carefully, but everything was happening much too fast. We were leaving my home? We couldn’t just disappear one day and never come back. Will I ever return to this place? My heart hurt at the thought of never seeing my peaceful village I have always called home. This was the only place I had grown to love. The towns my parents brought me to for short periods of time didn’t make an impression on me. Rakr was all I knew. He expected me to leave all of this, my home, my memories behind? I listened as he planned what we were to do, but my mind was elsewhere.

“Leaving tonight is our best option. You can go home and gather your stuff--only pack the necessities--and I will meet you by the side of your house. Saphira will be able to carry us both since Derikia cannot fly with you yet, so no horses are needed. If there is food available in your house, take it. It will be a long journey to the Varden from here. Do you-?”

"I can’t leave my home!” I cut him off sharply with a near scream. Eragon rushed to me and covered my mouth while pushing me further into the shadows. I grabbed at his hand and he luckily dropped it. I lowered my voice into a low hiss. “I can’t just drop everything and leave. Gran! What about Gran? I…I-she-Gran is the only family I have left. What will she do without me? I have to take care of her. My father always talked about how we would come back to Gran and live with her for the rest of her life. I can’t leave her here alone, I can’t. I’m all she has, she’s all I have.”

I didn’t realize I was crying until my pleas turned into chocking sobs and Eragon’s face was blurred behind my wall of tears. I heard him sigh and shuffle closer to me. My head shook wildly from side to side. I kept muttering “I can’t leave” over and over again.

"Chrystal,” His voice was gentle as he rested a comforting hand on my shaking shoulder. “I know this is hard…but this is something we have to do. You are a part of the war now. Nothing will be the same, unfortunately, but it’s not just about what you want. You have to think about the future of Alagaesia and its people.”

“I don’t want this. I never did.” I sobbed loudly.

“I didn’t either. Think of this as protecting your grandmother. When Galbatorix found out where I was, he sent Ra’zac to kill me. However, Saphira got me to safety. But, my uncle was killed and my home destroyed. Later, they returned and destroyed my town of Carvahall and the people who stayed. If you are discovered, I fear this will happen to you. Now, I can prevent you from going through what I have endured, but only if you leave with me. Together we can stop what happened to me.”  

My heart ached for the young Eragon I didn't know. Unthinkably, I turned my head into his chest, almost like I was comforting him. He hesitated, like he has never had to deal with this before, and then wrapped his arms around me. I was lost in his warm embrace. His sweet smell of something I couldn't place and the woods I knew so well flooded into my nose. Soon, my sobs stopped and the tears forgot to fall. Finally, he released me and watched me intently. I stared at him fearfully for a long time, and then I finally nodded my head. I will protect Gran, even if I can't be with her.