Eragon 2.0

Fix #1: Arya & the Ramr

Saphira touched down gently at the bank of the Ramr River, her claws leaving deep impressions in the soft mud. Eragon slid off her back and washed his face in the current. The water was cool against his skin, and he allowed himself a moment to enjoy the breeze, watching the eddies in the current flow past and savoring the brief respite from his duties. Since becoming High Queen, Nasuada had demanded more of him as a Rider than as her friend, and although he acknowledged the difficulties of her position, he missed the pleasures of their casual conversations. What with Arya's absence, Roran's fatherly obligations, and Orik's responsibilities as king of the dwarves, Eragon had not been able to discuss his tangled thoughts and emotions with anyone but Saphira, who was swamped with even more tasks than he. Nonetheless, they shared a sense of stagnation, as if this period of turmoil was but a stepping stone in the great journey that was their lives. Saphira had not dwelt on it much, as she was more solitary than Eragon and did not take issue with the absence of their friends. Her indifferent attitude comforted him some, but not much.

Saphira suddenly crowed, snapping Eragon from his reverie. What is it? he snapped, irritated. He would have noticed if Arya had arrived, as the land around the river was flat and barren and the air was clear of fog.

Look up, little one!

Eragon glanced at the sky. I don't see anything. What do you – Before he could finish his sentence, Saphira directed his gaze to a point on the horizon, far above the ground. There, a small green shape that reflected the sunlight was fast approaching, growing larger every second. A pair of dark green wings became clear, then a sea-green underbelly, then a majestic head framed with spikes, then individual scales that shimmered between different shades of green depending on the direction of the light.

Eragon shouted joyfully and pulled himself onto Saphira's back. The egg hatched! she exclaimed, and he felt her excitement mix with his as she leaped into the air, great wings beating on either side of his legs.

The green dragon and Saphira circled one another, both roaring as they snapped playfully at one another. On the dragon's back was a slim figure dressed in black leggings and a simple but obviously elven-made tunic. The figure's long black hair obscured their face for a moment, but a gust of wind from the dragon's wing blew it back, and Arya's dazzling smile hit Eragon like a punch to the stomach by one of the dwarves' fists of steel. He almost howled with joy before suspicion kicked in, and he tentatively reached out to the person's mind. As soon as he felt the familiar faint strains of music, he laughed like he had not laughed in months and waved at his elf friend. Arya waved back with her right hand, and Eragon saw the bright flash of a gedwëy ignasia on her palm, confirming what he had guessed. He shouted over the roars of their dragons, "So he hatched for you!"

Arya laughed, her cheeks flushed. She looked happier than he had ever seen her. "That he did," she called back.

"I have much to tell you," he said.

"And I you!" Without further discussion, the green dragon and Saphira dove downward, chasing each other's tails and, in Saphira's case, belching large streams of fire at the blue sky. Once on the ground, Eragon and Arya ran toward each other while the dragons began their silent communication, each poised upon their haunches as if about to pounce. Eragon grasped her long-fingered hands in his own.

"How have you been?" Arya asked warmly. "Well enough," he replied, not wanting to show how much he had missed her, nor how much he had resented her lack of communication. Arya knew him too well not to see what was troubling him, however, and she placed a cool hand on his cheek. "I am sorry for not writing sooner, but I could not risk Fírnen's discovery until he was large enough to defend himself. Even Nasuada could not know, and therefore you as her vassal could not know. And you know I could not bear to lie to you."