A/N: This is more of an experiment in writing than fanfiction, but I couldn't resist using a femslash pairing from Eragon. I want Nasuada and Arya to go make lesbian babies.

Also, this entire story is more pre-femslash than anything else. It contains Eragon and eventually Eldest/Brisingr spoilers. Read and review.

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Step One: Ignore Her

Do not cast another spell.

She swings her blade across an Urgal's throat.

Do not look at her.

Another one, a Kull, replaces his fallen comrade.

How did you even spot her?

He roars, hefting a giant hammer over her head.

You were looking again. Pay attention!

Arya's eyes tear away from the city walls just quickly enough to parry his blow.

Duck! Idiot. That will bruise. Stop looking at her and fight your own battles.

Because she is logical, Arya feels a great deal of pain when she thinks of Nasuada.

Now you've dented your armor, fool. Cast a spell if you must. A little one.

Arya hurdles the Kull and Saphira rips him to shreds behind her. An incantation for protection flies from her lips and places a shield around the young woman. No arrows will hit the little archer.

The elf wants to smile, but she doesn't and returns to Eragon's side instead. He is sweating and battle-worn, but still manages to watch her when her back is turned. She can feel it.

As she fights, she wonders if Nasuada can feel her looking up from beneath the wave of enemies. She is not entirely sure how she noticed the human in the first place.

Among all the archers of the Varden and dwarves, your eyes were drawn to her, standing there in men's armor, no way to distinguish her from her fellows.

She realizes that it was in the way she stood. Her head was tilted down to survey the battle, shoulders back, hands gripping the bow without fear. Her legs were planted strongly in the ground, as if calling out a challenge to her adversary. It was unique. And compelling. And wrong for Arya to think so.

Clear your thoughts! You'll be gutted, stupid princess!

Her mind-voice reprimands her and she spins, landing a solid kick on a nearby Urgal. She falls among a row of archers about to shoot down their human counterparts on the wall.

In a mad dash, she throws herself into them. She cuts bowstrings, throats, muscles, spines, anything her sword can touch. But she is not fast enough to kill the end of the row. One brief moment passes, and she is fully aware of their line of sight. They take aim, sending arrows whistling through the air.

"No!"

For once, her mind and her heart say the same thing.

Energy is sapped from her, not a terrible amount, and she searches the parapets with darting eyes. Nasuada is standing, still shooting, and completely unaware that an arrow is lodged in the wood over her head.

A warm elation spreads across Arya, leaving her slightly dazed. But this passes as she sees the Urgals fleeing her wrath. And then her hunt begins.

The first one she beheads, thinking that his arrow could have struck Nasuada's face. It would be marred forever.

She slices the arms off of the second one, imagining how unhappy Nasuada would be if she could never shoot a bow again. This fuels her rage even more.

The third one is short, and she drags her blade from his chest to his groin. She sees the color of Nasuada's skin when it is blood-stained, permanently scarring her beautiful features.

The final Urgal archer is much farther away at this point. She sees him scramble, hoping to blend in with the crowd. He is too far away to chase on foot and he keeps turning to be certain of this fact.

But Arya is logical. She pulls off her bow, nocks an arrow, and blasts it through his eye. He howls and shrieks and isn't quite dead until a horse tramples his body.

All the while, she envisions the girl archer.

You are a fool.

Nasuada turns, felling enemies with her arrows.

She can keep her head.

She shouts a command, leaving the other archers to stare.

She isn't distracted by you.

They have just realized that they fight next to Ajihad's daughter.

You should ignore her.

A battle cry sounds and the archers move as a single unit. Nasuada commands them now.

You mean nothing to her.

And for a split second, their eyes lock. They recognize each other and Nasuada gives her an almost-smile. Arya is now in pain. A searing, warm, lovely pain.

Wonderful.

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