Ok I know I really should stop doing this but I just can't help it. I have rewritten this chapter once again. It has not totally changed but it is now longer and smoother.

I am soo sorry for the incredibly long time it took me to update.

Disclaimer: Not mine. I own a copy of each book but owning the book itself ummmmm….. that's gotta be a no

Eldest page 237

' "This is where the leader of the Dragon Riders would dwell while in Ellesmera. I give it to you now, for you are the rightful heir to that title… it is your inheritance" Before Eragon could thank her, the queen swept past and departed with Arya who held his gaze for a long moment before vanishing deeper into the city".'

Just because

She comes off strong,

Doesn't mean she doesn't

Go to bed crying.

And even though she acts

Like everything is fine

Maybe

Just maybe

She's really good at lying

Normal POV

Arya contained a sigh as she dropped Eragon's gaze and followed Islanzadi into Ellesmera. She had a vague idea of where they were going- either the private study behind the throne room or the Queen's private quarters. She had an idea of what Islanzadi wanted and was resigned to it. She had to ask sooner or later and Islanzadi usually asked sooner.

Islanzadi led the way to the private study where she knew that they would not be interrupted. As she walked through the quieting city and along the hidden paths she wondered what exactly she was going to say, she knew what she wanted to know but after her own daughter had to be backed into a figurative corner to recognise her… she didn't know how to ask. As little as she wanted to admit it her daughter had changed almost beyond recognition.

The Queen and Princess made their way quietly through the city each lost in their own thoughts. They arrived at the private study and entered without speaking. The study was large and elegantly furnished. A large wood desk stood at the back of the study, covered with beautifully detailed carvings and three matching chairs with stood in front of it. Behind it was a high backed chair with a forest green cushion. The walls had many fairths and a large intricate map of Alagaesia. Islanzadi walked over to the desk and stood in front of it while Arya stood near the door.

For a long time they stared at each other both waiting for the other to break through the thick silence. Eventually Islanzadi broke the eye contact and sighed before hesitantly stepping towards Arya and raised her hand to brush some of Arya's hair back. She searched Arya's face for something but seemed unable to find it. Her hand dropped to her side and she stared at a fairth on the wall. The fairth was of Islanzadi, Evander and Arya sitting together on a summer's day. Arya followed the path Islanzadi's eyes made and her eyes came to rest on the fairth as well. For a while they both stood in silence and remembrance.

Eventually Islanzadi returned her gaze to Arya's face which held no emotion at all before saying quietly "You have changed much since we last spoke. You were so happy and free when you first left for the Varden but now you are sombre and guarded, even before Gil'ead you were guarded" Islanzadi hesitated before continuing "You may not know it but when my anger eventually faded and during the many times you returned to Ellesmera… I often watched you for I longed to be reconciled with you but my pride would not let me voice it and often I feared that even if I did, you would deny me as I did to you when you accepted the Yawe. Can you forgive me?"

At hearing this Arya's expression softened slightly and a sorrowful expression briefly flitted over her face before she replied in a quiet yet strong voice "You may be older than I but you have not seen the same things that I have. You have killed, but you have never been in the same positions that I have been in and am constantly in, I have seen too much death and taken too many lives and that would change anyone and I am clearly no exception. I am not the happy, naive child I was when you knew me. I may eventually forgive you but it shall take time. I have endured much in the last 70 years."

Islanzadi seemed a bit shocked at her daughter's words but nodded and murmured "Of course". Arya inclined her head slightly before drawing herself up, all emotion carefully stored away and said "It is late and I am weary so I would take my leave from you". Islanzadi frowned but agreed and as Arya was turning to leave she asked "Arya, please come to my rooms at sunrise. Although you have travelled far I believe that it is time for Eragon to finally meet Oromis and I wish you to be there" Arya paused and without turning around replied "As you wish" before continuing and slipping gracefully out of the study and leaving her mother staring after her.

Islanzadi POV

Islanzadi stood staring after her daughter for a long time, lost in thoughts and memories of days long gone before the war started and Evander was killed. Days when Arya would run and laugh and dance around Ellesmera often coaxing some of the other elves to play with her, if the elven princess wanted something the elves were more than happy to help. From an early age Arya had an almost unhealthy interest with Rhunon and her forge. Before Arya learnt the way to the forge she would ask many elves to take her, and they would lead their chattering elven princess to Rhunon.

Eventually Islanzadi had to ask more and more elves to stop showing Arya the way but by then she knew the way. Soon after Arya learnt the way she almost lived with Rhunon and showed up at almost every hour of the day or night. Islanzadi remembered walking though the leafy pathways of Du Weldenvarden, sitting down to eat dinner with Evander or even lying in bed when she would feel a mind tapping at her defences and Rhunon's voice would fill her head asking her to "Come and get your child again! I do not know how I ended up as her babysitter and I have other things to do with my life!".

Arya POV

Arya left Islanzadi's study and immediately went to her rooms and unpacked the small bag that contained all her belongings that she needed when she was with the Varden. She then changed out of her black leather clothing and bathed before returning to her bedroom. As she looked up her eyes caught on the fairth of Faolin and the Black Morning Glory he had sung for her that lay beneath it.

As she saw them her emotionless façade vanished and her eyes immediately filled with tears. She closed her eyes willing the tears to go away and choked a sob back. Eventually she regained control of her emotions and walked to her bed, slipping between the sheets as the room fell dark on her soft command. The hours passed and she seemed fast asleep until the moonlight flooded her quiet room. A soft beam of moonlight fell across her face, lighting up a single tear on her cheek and empty eyes that finally closed as all the mental and physical exhaustion since she had left Ellesmera a year before caught up with her.

Islanzadi POV

Islanzadi eventually roused herself from her memories and walked, deep in thought through the Tialdari Hall gardens towards the Menoa Tree. Shortly after she and Evander became mates they would walk through Ellesmera to the Menoa Tree after sunset. They continued this until the war began and Evander left to fight. Islanzadi still continued the walks every night, even after his death as they helped her think and she felt closer to him during these walks than during any other time of the day.

Islanzadi sat on the roots of the Menoa Tree as her thoughts raced around her head. Pushing everything from her mind she reached out with her mind as far as she could. She was the trees swaying in the light breeze and the animals moving, eating and sleeping. For over an hour she sat quietly listening to the sounds of Ellesmera at night. She slowly returned to herself and the days events immediately flooded her mind. Arya, her daughter was home! But this Arya is nothing like the Arya that had been her daughter. Her daughter had been happy, friendly, free and naïve. The girl that she had seen today looked like her daughter but did not seem to be.

Opening up her mind again Islanzadi searched all the elves in Ellesmera until she found the mind of the one she was looking for. She lightly touched her mind and recoiled slightly when she felt an immense, unbreakable wall of steel and spikes closed around her daughters mind. When she had touched Arya's mind earlier it had been just as guarded. While all elves protected their minds there were rarely little more than minimum defences when they were in Du Weldenvarden especially when they were in as far as Ellesmera.

As these thoughts lay jumbled in Islanzadi's mind she sadly accepted that her lost little girl was gone forever.

Pleasee reviieww =D it would make me happy :Pxx