Chapter 6: The Awakening

"How do you feel?" Eragon heard a distant voice say.

"Okay I guess," came another voice that made him shiver.

"Oh look he's awake," Eragon heard the first voice again. He opened his eyes and looked around the room.

"Saphira!" Eragon exclaimed as he saw her sitting in a chair by the table.

"Eragon!" Saphira exclaimed mockingly.

Eragon jumped out of the bed and ran over to her picking her up in his arms and swinging her around.

"Ok I'll leave you two alone." Angela stood up and headed outside.

"She told me that you were by my side every second." Saphira gazed up at Eragon as he sat down on the bed, her still in his arms.

"Yeah, I could never leave you." Eragon laid her down and laid down beside her. He picked up a string of her hair and started to play with it in between his fingers. "I love you."

"I love you too." Saphira closed her eyes as Eragon gently moved his lips along her jaw. Slowly he moved them along her cheek and then to her lips, where he gently place them and held them there for a few seconds.

"I wish it could be like this forever." Eragon removed his lips to speak. He looked at her and took her hand in his knitting them together.

"So do I," Saphira said as she sat up and leaned against Eragon, who was now leaning against a bed post, with a sigh. "Angela spoke of a party coming up and I was wondering if you wanted to go."

"Well the question is if it is you I would go with." Eragon smiled and looked down at Saphira who was now looking at him.

"I would have it no other way." Saphira took her gaze away from Eragon and looked out the window. The sky was bright and it had to have been early morning.

"Good." Eragon picked her up again and kissed her. He headed outside.

"Where are you going?" Saphira followed him.

"To change and shower. There's a nice lake nearby and it would be very pleasing in this weather." Eragon stopped and looked back with a grin.

"You had better keep on shorts!" Saphira ran back into the hut and grabbed a pair of shorts and a shirt that was sleeveless—Angela had brought them previously—and ran back out after him. They got two horses and rode off towards the lake.

"Thank-you for coming with me." Eragon laughed as he spoke.

"Well I didn't have anything else to do." Saphira laughed as well.

Eragon reached over and took her hand in his and kissed it gently.

"I'll race you." Saphira rode off leaving Eragon stunned behind her.

"Oh no you don't." Eragon chased after her on his horse and the race was on.

It took them a little while to get to the lake, and when they arrived the sun had become blistering hot.

"You picked a good day to wake up," Eragon said as he laughed a musical laugh.

"Well I don't know for sure." Saphira jumped off her horse and sat down on the ground.

"What's that suppose to mean?" Eragon sat down by her and took her hand in his rubbing it gently.

"I wanted to be with you the whole time I was asleep. And in my dreams I was, but then I would reach you but you weren't you. You were Murtagh." Saphira looked away from Eragon when she said this afraid to upset him.

"It's fine you're with me now and nothing can separate us." Eragon lifted Saphira's head towards him and placed his lips on her. He stood up and pulled off his shirt revealing his toned, tanned upper body. He quickly slipped off his shoes and ran and jumped in the water. "The water's grate today!"

"Hold on." Saphira ran behind a tree sure no one could see her and slipped on the shorts and shirt. With a laugh and a scream she ran and jumped into the water as well.

"Told you so," Eragon said as Saphira's head poked out of the water right next to him. He swam closer to her and kissed her lips again. Once he released her he splashed water in her face.

"Oh it's on." Saphria splashed him again and again until she couldn't anymore, so Eragon took to splashing her. The rest of the swim consisted of talking, laughter, giggles, and splashing as they had fun becoming young and childish again.

"The stars are beautiful." Saphira was laying her head on Eragon's chest and looking up at the sky. Darkness had fallen and the night was crystal clear.

"Yeah," Eragon sighed as he gazed up at them. He shifted his gaze to Saphira and gently shifted around to where he was on his side and her head was rested on his arm. He gently traced the outline of her jaw first with his finger then his lips.

Saphira closed her eyes enjoying the gentle touch of his skin against hers that took her breath away each time he did it.

Eragon gently placed his lips on hers leaving them on there longer this time. He breathed, "I love you."

With a sigh Saphira replied, "I love you too." She fell asleep in his strong, protective arms.