Chapter 15

The next day's travel is uneventful as the verdant forest slowly starts to thin as they continue heading to the south east. By the time they camp for the night, some large shrubs are all that remains of plant life in their vicinity. They again set up camp and savor a delicious rabbit stew that Eragon made before Brom addresses the elephant in the room. 

"Eragon… Arya has been poisoned and I don't think she will survive the trip to the Varden. The cure for this poison is very rare and the only real option to acquire it is to get her to the Varden for treatment. Even with your cart, it would still take at the very least a week before we arrive."

Eragon rubs his chin in thought for a moment. "Let me have a look at her, maybe I can figure something out. Finding unorthodox ways to fix my problems does seem to be my specialty."

Brom shakes his head with a slight smile on his face. "Knock yourself out. Just don't use a mental probe to try and access her mind. The minds of elves are far different than those of men. Many a magic caster have become vegetables from peering into their minds."

Eragon gives a solid nod before sitting on his knees next to her. He holds his hand over her and casts Weiss Heill (be healed), repairing some of the cuts and bruises she has while also seeing if he can stimulate her liver and kidneys to fight the poison. His spell seems to have little to no effect so he changes his approach. Eragon spends a few minutes combing through his knowledge of the ancient language before formulating a new spell that has a higher probability of removing the poison. 

"Atra Eitrum Eitha Onr Blodh (may poison leave your blood)" Once Eragon casts the spell, Arya's body jerks slightly and a black substance starts to ooze from her pores. The smell from the black, tar-like liquid is the nastiest thing Eragon has ever smelt causing him to pinch his nose in disgust. 

Only moments after the poison has been removed Arya wakes up and leaps towards Eragon, wrapping her hands around his neck in a vice grip. Caught completely off guard, Eragon struggles to free himself from her grasp, desperately trying to get air into his lungs. All the while, Arya's pretty elven face which is distorted by rage is mere centimeters away from his own. They struggle for what feels like minutes before a powerful roar breaks the quiet in the clearing. Arya looks up and sees a dragon with blue scales diving towards her at full speed. Seeing her approaching demise, she releases Eragon and rolls to the side, just barely avoiding Saphira's sharp claws. Eragon gasps for breath whilst trying to calm Saphira as he doesn't want Arya to get hurt. 

"Wait…" Eragon devolves into a coughing fit for a few seconds. "We mean you no harm… Eka Ai Fricai Un Shur'tugal (I am a rider and a friend). 

Arya continues to stare at Saphira while in a battle ready stance before hearing Eragon's declaration. Startled by his words, she looks between Eragon and Saphira, noticing the Gedwey Insignia on Eragon's palm. Her angry expression changes to one of horror as she realizes what she has done. She quickly bows towards Saphira then speaks in the ancient language. 

"Forgive me Oh, great and mighty dragon. My time in captivity has weakened my mind and spirit. I did not dare to hope for rescue. I mean your rider no harm." 

Saphira snorts and gives her a death glare before going over to Eragon and nuzzling his chest with her snout. Eragon gives her a lazy smile and rubs the top of her head and she closes her eyes, reveling in the sensation of his cold hands on her scales.

"Are you all right Eragon? the elf didn't cause any lasting injuries did she? I will rip off her arm as compensation if she has."

"Calm down Saphira. You heard her apology. If I was in her shoes, I would have done the same thing. I do appreciate the help though. Knowing you have my back reassures me greatly." 

"Anything for you, Eragon" 

just when Eragon finishes his conversation with Saphira, Brom sprints into the clearing and sees Arya standing to the side and Eragon sitting in the grass rubbing his throat while petting Saphira to calm her down. Upon seeing Brom, Arya's eyes widen and she smiles at him. 

"Brom, so it was you who rescued me. And I assume that this dragon hatched from the egg I sent you. I'm so glad you received it safely." 

"Not quite." Arya turns towards Eragon once he spoke. "You were in a hurry to cast the spell so instead of sending it to him you sent it to his son instead." 

Arya looks between Eragon and Brom, putting two and two together. "Your Brom's son?" 

Arya walks forward but stops when she hears Saphira growl at her. Eragon flicks Saphira's snout.

"Behave, she means us no harm. It was just an accident… Right?" 

Arya looks down for a moment before locking eyes with him. "I humbly ask for your forgiveness. My actions could have taken your life and I regret it deeply." 

Eragon waves his right hand in front of his face. "I forgive you. When I cast the spell to remove the poison I should have expected you to react this way as you have been imprisoned for almost half a year." 

Arya closes her eyes as she seems to relive to pain of her torture once again. "Only half a year! It felt like an eternity. The poison drained me of all my strength and blocked my use of magic while Durza tortured me for days on end." 

A smug smile appears on Eragon's face. "Well you don't have to worry about him anymore. I defeated Durza, then we escaped before the guards even knew what was happening. It's been two days since we rescued you from the prison in Gilead." 

Arya raises an eyebrow in disbelief before looking at Brom. "You expect me to believe that this child of yours defeated a Shade in battle, Durza no less!!!. 

"I hate to admit it but my son is telling the truth. When I failed to defeat Durza he ran up and fought the Shade with precision and power that rivaled its own. He is a prodigy unlike any I have seen before. The mere fact that he cured you mere minutes after I left the clearing tells how adept he is at using the ancient language." 

Arya looks at Eragon, examining him from head to toe. For a human of only sixteen years, his body is well defined and muscular. As Eragon is petting Saphira she notices how he carries himself with confidence not born of arrogance but of experience. This natural aura that everyone has tells a lot about a person and Eragon's aura reads as someone who is strong and resolute, a capable warrior. but there is something else... Something in his bearing that feels off for some reason...

Brom clears his throat. "What do you plan to do Arya? I will be taking Eragon to Farthen Dur where I will continue training him until such time that I deem him capable enough to seek council with the elves. I'm sure Queen Islanzadi would like to know that you are still alive and well. I really don't want them to go to war with the empire until Eragon is ready to face Galbatorix." 

Arya's eyes widened in shock. "A shade I can accept, but do you really expect him to have a chance against Galbatorix? I think you are letting your blood ties cloud your judgment." 

Eragon raises an eyebrow. "Why, that's quite rude. You don't know anything about me or my abilities. How about this… you travel with us until you fully recover, then we spar. If I win, I will get one favor from you in the future." 

Arya's brow furrows. "And what do I get if you lose?" 

Eragon flashes a devilish smile at her. "You get one favor from me. I will do any one thing you ask of me without question." 

Arya seems to contemplate his request. "Sure. Once I'm at full strength, I will prove to Brom that putting his hopes in you is a mistake." 

With that, Arya storms off into the woods. An exasperated sigh escapes Brom's lips. "Don't mind her Eragon. She hasn't seen what you're capable of yet." 

Eragon turns to look at Brom. "Don't worry about me father. My feelings aren't so easily hurt and my resolve to face Galbatorix will not waver." 

Brom smiles. "That's what I want to hear… Let's get something to eat before we head off."