I'm so sorry for the delayed update but this weekend is Asian New Years and my family is getting ready to celebrate. Anyways like I promised here is the long awaited chapter. It's not like the last few in that the angst and uncertainties are gone but I hope you'll all enjoy this.

Before he woke, he knew that there was something different. He felt lighter and whole. It was a rather odd experience. Feeling a soft hand touch his cheek, he heard murmuring weaving in and out of his rather pleasant state. Then a voice was calling for him.

"Eragon."

It was Arya, he was positive that the voice calling for him was hers.

"Eragon," she called again.

Instead of waking, he tried to burrow deeper into the soft surface that he laid on. He didn't want to wake. Not now when he was having such a pleasant dream.

He heard another voice snort at his action, "You've slept enough, Eragon Shadeslayer. Awaken already before I slap you senseless!" There was a soft murmur of disagreement to the threat but he was not frightened in the least.

Instead, he was annoyed beyond anything. This was not a dream for he would never allow Angela into a dream that already had Arya in it. Blinking, he frowned when a soft light flooding in from the small flap in the tent entrance hit his eyes, momentarily blinding him.

He was lying on a rather comfortable cot and it took his to realize that the tent that he was in was his own tent. The small table in the center was clustered with weapons: his sword, bow, and quiver. And occupying the stool next to his bed was Arya. But she seemed different for some reason. Hovering over him with a suspicious bowl in her hand that was steaming a nasty murky yellow was Angela the herbalist.

She was staring down at him with bright eyes and a faint smile, "And look who decides to join us from the dead," she said reaching down to widen his right eye with her thumb and forefinger. He grimaced as the air stung his eye, relieved when she let go. "Everything seems quite normal with you." Her eyes darted to Arya, who was pointedly ignoring her stare, "At least on the outside."

Holding the bowl under his nose, he frowned as she hit his lips rather roughly with the object, "Drink up then, you'll need it if you want to go down the road of swift recovery." Trusting the herbalist more than he should, he reached out to take the bowl from her hands before drinking the liquid. He nearly gagged and was about to toss it out before another hand reached out to hold the bowl steady against his lips. Knowing that it was Arya who was assisting him he reluctantly continued to down the substance. With a great gulp, he swallowed the remaining drops nearly retching as the foul taste of rotten eggs and spoiled milk erupted in his mouth.

"Good, good," said Angela as she retrieved the bowl to set it aside before handing him a wineskin filled with water. Gratefully taking it, he took a long drink until he felt like he was bursting from the seams with the extra amount of water intake. "How are you feeling?"

He coughed before answering, his voice creaking from disuse, "Different."

Angela nodded, thoughtful. "As it should be." She turned and began to bustle about his tent. "I must say when I called your brother an idiot, I didn't expect for you to take on the ropes. That was the most ridiculous request I've heard in my entire life. Honestly, what were you expecting when you asked that of your servants?"

He blinked staring at her, "How do you know?"

"I know everything," said Angela with a reprimanding look. "Dying does not make the problem go away, Eragon. Surely you knew that."

"It seemed like the best possible solution at that time," said Eragon simply as he coughed trying to clear his throat again. "Where are they? My servants?"

"Waiting patiently outside for you to awake, it's been a rather long two days," said Angela. His eyes widened as he stared at her. Two days? He'd been unconscious for two days? It felt as if he was out for only an hour or so. "Your injuries were nowhere near light, if it wasn't for Arya you would've been teetering on the edge of existence."

He frowned. What did Arya do? Before he could ask the short curly haired woman anymore questions, she flashed him another bright smile. "You be a good dear now and rest up. Or try to after your elf is done with you and then your dragon, mother, and your liege lord. My, my, my, we may just have to bury you after all once they have their way."

Somewhat alarmed he watched as she threw open the tent flap before bustling away as if she was in a great hurry leaving him with Arya. Throughout the whole time that he was awake she hadn't said a word to him nor had she looked at him. Feeling rather cautious, he moved to sit up flinching slightly when his chest burned in protest. Pulling the sheets back slightly, he saw that his entire torso was bandaged.

He hadn't expected that. Reaching forward lightly, he touched his chest wincing when he felt sharp daggers of pain erupt in the area where he had touched it. It hurt quite a lot. "Blodhgarm's managed to heal the damage but you have to give it time or else the wound will open up again."

It was the first time she had spoken to him when he had waked. He turned to her to find that she was now facing him her eyes indiscernible. What was he supposed to do? Where were Eridor and Saphira when he needed them. Wait…where were they?

"The dragons are hunting, they'll be back soon," answered Arya her emerald eyes showing signs of exhaustion. Ignoring the pain, he moved into a sitting position as he turned to face Arya. There were no secrets now. Not anymore. "The battle with Galbatorix's men has been over and the Varden has been recovering since. Your cousin, Roran, had decided that he would marry once you've awakened and are well enough to attend."

He frowned as she was deliberately avoiding the subject at hand. Not one for patience, he stared at her with such an openness it would have been insulting if it weren't for the fact that he was her mate. "And what of you Arya?" Eragon asked softly.

He saw the skin around her eyes tighten and her hands shake slightly. He knew her long enough to know that these were signs that showed that she was immensely distressed. "What will you have me say?" her words were those in the ancient language and they came out harsh and biting. "That everything is well and merry?"

He stared at her; he had only seen her mad once and that was after he had sworn his first meeting with the council of elders. She seemed very close, he thought, to hitting him. But if she did, it would immensely relieve him. Trying to seek words to expression his feelings, did Eragon tentatively speak, "I am sorry for deceiving you about my condition," he stared into Arya's eyes unwavering, "And I am sorry for the request at the time, it seemed to be the only option left available to me."

She sighed before standing to pace before him. If she was angry before, she was furious at the moment. He had never seen her so agitated. "If you went forth with your condition we would've been able to help you. Is it too much to let go of your hubris to acknowledge that, Eragon? That sometimes even you would need help?"

He felt his own temper being to rise, "I thought what I was doing was best. How could you have helped me?"

She turned to him, pinching the bridge of her nose as if she had a migraine. "Anyway I could have if you had just let me. How did you think Saphira felt when she heard from the others of your foolish request? How do you think your brother felt?"

He frowned, knowing that she was right in saying so. "You were being selfish," Arya said.

"I was not," he denied, resolute in the fact that what he was trying to accomplish was for the benefit of his loved ones. "I was trying to protect the people I love from the monster I was becoming. There was no other way around it Arya. I was running out of time!"

"Be that as it may," she said her voice low and dangerous, "You should not have lied so. How do you think relationships work if you base them off of lies? What happens to the trust that others have for you when they find out that they'd been lied to?" He blinked seeing the toll of the past few days on Arya. It looked as if she needed more rest than he did.

"Arya—"

"No!" He instantly quieted, he had dealt with angered women much of his life, from his mother to Saphira to his servants, and he knew when an inevitable explosion was coming. This was one of those times, though it was rarely expected. "Why are you always so reluctant to allow others to help you? Why do you always have to take on the burden by yourselves? Do you believe us incompetent?" he opened his mouth to protest but she thunderously continued as if trying to vent all of her pent up frustration. "Did you not believe in your own future? Is that why you choose death over living?"

"That's not true!" he exclaimed, surprised that she would even think that. "I would never give up living knowing that the people I leave behind would suffer beyond anything else."

"Then why?" she asked quietly.

His shoulders slumped as he tried to think of an answer, "I was weak," he finally said in a low tone, unable to meet her eyes. "I didn't want to worry you over my condition. I was afraid of the fact that I would have to leave you, Saphira, my mother, and all those I cared about. And so I thought that it would be easier to just ignore it altogether." He sighed rubbing his face with his right hand. "I'm sorry."

"Eragon," she knelt before him, her head lifted so that she could stare at him from his slumped position, which made his chest burn. Her hands came up to take rest on either side of face. "Do not let fear overwhelm you. We are here to help you no matter how hopeless the cause is. If you do not try then how will you know the outcome?"

"I just didn't want to burden you," he murmured quietly.

"You will never be a burden to me or those who care about you," said Arya gently, her previous anger gone. "You have seen to it that those about you are happy but you won't allow yourself happiness. I want to see you happy; everyone wants to see you happy. Why can't you see that? Depend on us, Eragon. We are here for you."

He blinked feeling his eyes water and tried to lift his head from Arya's grasp but she kept a firm grip on him, her green eyes abnormally bright. "Believe in me, Eragon," she smiled and the next words she said shocked him to the core. "For I love you."

He blinked and to his irritation tears began to follow from his eyes at her words. It was as if nothing else in the world matter but Arya at the moment. That all of his life he had been running but this moment with her, he was able to finally slow to a walk. Burying his head against her neck he cried for the first time in a long time within her arms. His lungs heaved and his chest hurt but he didn't care. The past few weeks were just too great for him to reign in. He had to let it go.

In the back of his mind, he felt embarrassed for being so incapable of controlling his emotions but Arya didn't seem to mind his tears as she held him in her embrace. After a moment, he calmed until he felt an agonizing pounding in his head from his frustration and tears. Pulling away from her, he sniffed wiping at his face as he caught her eyes.

She was smiling up at him softly as if her confession had lightened her being as much as it did his. He tried to regain his breath and said rather unevenly, "As I you," he blinked again, coughing, feeling his face flush and his ears grow red. "I love you, Arya."

She bestowed upon him a gorgeous smile before her expression became more serious. Standing, she went to resume her seat on the stool as she motion for him to lie down, propping his pillows up against his back so he didn't strain his chest muscle. "Though I am still angered about your deception, I must admit that to see you so well and recovering makes me beyond euphoric."

He snorted; she still looked like she wanted to badly hit him. When she asked about the source of his amusement, his explanation made her smile slightly. "I would be lying if I said that I did not want to, but seeing as you are recovering I can make this one exception. But see to it that you make note of this, Eragon Shadeslayer."

"Nen ono weohnata, Arya Drottningu." As you will, Princess Arya.

She nodded for a moment, satisfied before her expression grew curious, "Do you feel any different Eragon?"

"My chest aches and my muscles are stiff, other than that I do not think so."

"No, not physically but mentally. Just think for a moment and tell me what you feel," she stared at him her eyes hard, giving him no choice but to contemplate her words. Concentrating on his mind, he tried to block out every other thought and emotion coming from the direction of the Varden's main body. But there was this one part in which he couldn't block.

The familiar eerie melody softly floated through his thoughts and soul, weaving in and out of his own minds. And he felt it, a presence that was not his own but yet intertwined with him. It was a soft and warm presence, touching his chest he glanced at Arya surprised. Other than that he felt stronger mentally and whole. "What do you feel?" Arya asked.

"You," it came out bluntly and feeling as he had offended her, he went to explain but she merely shook her head.

"That was to be expected," she murmured lightly, her own hand coming to rest over her heart.

"What was to be expected?"

"That you would feel a part of me, no matter what," she answered throwing him into a world of confusion. He stared at her no comprehending what she was saying. "When you were dying…I found the other half of your soul which Jeremiah was carrying with him and it was locked away in this mirror. So when I destroyed it, your soul dragged mine into your body. I did not know what to do or how to reconnect your souls but this presence told me that I had to connect my own soul with yours to save you."

"So you used your soul to reunite my own?" Eragon asked at a loss for words.

Her eyes were downcast as she nodded, "I had no other choice," her voice grew lightly strained, "If you preferred that I did not—"

"Never!" Eragon said reaching out to grip her hands as he felt a part of her emotions flow through him. Though she didn't show it on her expression, he felt her hesitation and nervousness. "Though I think you might come to regret it someday."

She glanced up to give him a questioning glance, "Why's that?"

"Because now you can never get rid of me," said Eragon simply.

Her lips curved into a smile, "I do not plan to, you and I are mates…this just solidifies that fact even more so than before."

Trying to keep his own happiness at bay, he could feel the effects his emotions were having on Arya. She shifted lightly in her seat her muscles relaxed and her expression light. The only way to perfect the moment was if he could lean forward to kiss her lightly but his chest hurt too much. As the emotion passed through him, Arya raised a brow at him.

"Sorry," for some reason, with his other half reunited; he felt a stronger pull towards Arya. It was too hard not to ignore. She laughed before acquiescing to his silent request. Leaning forward, she lightly kissed him and as he raised his head to deepen the contact she pulled away much to his disappointment.

"Angela had told me to make sure that you do not overexert yourself," said Arya at his expression. He frowned. He did not see where that fell under overexertion. Curse you, Angela. He blinked when Arya laughed again and he felt his face flush, his emotions must have washed over her to his slight embarrassment.

They were constantly aware of each other now and of the other's emotions. It was as much as a blessing as it was a curse. He was never going to be able to hide his emotions behind a mask of indifference when it came to Arya anymore.

Their souls were intertwined…

"What happened to Asura?" Eragon asked finally remembering about the spirit.

Her expression grew into one of pleasure piquing his curiosity. "His soul was consumed by yours," she said as her fingers glided over the skin of his right hand. "When your other half was reunited with you, and then intertwined with mine, the force of it consumed his soul in the merging. His was too weak to fend off our combined powers. Not only that but you've inherited his powers."

"Powers?"

"The injury that you sustained was too much for magic to heal but Asura's magic healed the muscle and the skin within mere seconds, something that would take even an elf a minute or two to do," said Arya.

He stared down at his chest surprised; he had not expected that in the least. How ironic it was that Asura had been determined to consume his soul but had ended up being consumed by him instead. He snorted, "For some reason, I think I've gone mad."

"Hmm?"

"My soul is back, my wound healed, and my soul a part of your own," stated Eragon. "I don't think I've ever been happier than I am now." He thought for a moment before smiling at her. "And I love you."

"I think I've known for a while," Arya said quietly, "That my feelings for you were more than just merely ardor. I am glad, however that we both know and see it." She laced their fingers together. "Be that as it may, you are not out of the flames just yet Eragon."

He didn't have the chance to ask what it was that she meant as a roar sounded overhead, causing frightful shouts to erupt from the Varden's tents. Ten seconds later the ground shook as a heavy body landed on it and his tent flap was pushed aside as Saphira snaked her head in, ignoring the furnishings she crushed in the way.

Eragon nearly jumped when she snapped her jaws angrily at him but Arya remained still as if she did not see the anger of the dragon before her.

You fool! He winced when he felt her voice thunder in his mind, far from happy. A small jet of flames leapt from her maw, nearly singeing his cheek.

"Saphira," Arya said softly as she put out the fire that caught on the corner of his tent.

I've waited for two agonizing days for him to wake and now that he is, I will make sure he hears what I have to say! Saphira roared. How could you do that to me, Eragon?

He closed his eyes lightly as her pain, anger, and grief washed over him through their connection. Arya's soul that was intertwined with his own flared slightly coming forth to shelter him from the torrent of emotions. It was able to ease the pain, if only momentarily.

How could you? She repeated. Why did you lie to me?

Because I wanted to protect you! Eragon said both verbally and mentally. I didn't want to see you saddened over my condition, over what Asura was doing to me! I love you Saphira, and I just didn't want to see you hurt!

Protect me? I am a dragon, do not forget that Eragon! I am your dragon, it is my duty to protect you, her anger dimmed slightly, but you didn't feel the need to honor our bond anymore.

That's not true! I'm honored to be your rider, I'm honored that you'd hatched for me! I didn't deserve you, Saphira. All I've done since you've had hatched was drag my feet through my life. I was chaining you to the ground when you could take to the skies.

Eragon, you idiot, Saphira said her thoughts a mix of exasperation and anger. I don't see you as a burden, I'm your dragon and I want to fly with you, always. Use my wings for you have none and I shall take you wherever you wish. I love you and it just hurt too much when Desdemona told me of your request.

I—I'm sorry, it sounded meek, even to his own ears but he couldn't find another way to word it. Never again, shall I deceive you Saphira…I understand if you're angry at me.

Angry? She snorted; angry does not even come close to describing my feelings towards you at the moment. If you weren't injured, I would've thrown you on your head…until I felt better.

Unable to help himself, he laughed at her words promptly easing her anger, she huffed slightly, at least you are whole now.

Am I different?

You are still you; her sapphire eyes bore into him before she blinked satisfied with what she saw. She turned her head slightly, knocking over his table to stare at Arya. I'm afraid you'll have to always keep one eye trained on him from now on Arya.

"As long as you are watching him with another then it will be an easy task," Arya said with a slight smile. "And if he does do anything to anger us, we shall make do on our threats Saphira."

She snorted with amusement before opening her maw light to lick Eragon's cheek with her tongue, he blinked, recover swiftly Eragon, I shall be nearby with Eridor if you need me.

Fly safe.

Rest well, she withdrew her head effectively crushing his table as well as ripping the tent flap with one of her spikes. He sighed falling against his pillow. All that was left was to face his family and Nasuada. It was a good thing he was injured for he was sure that Arya and Saphira really would have attacked him if he wasn't.

"She wasn't really going to attack you," Arya said lightly at his disgruntled expression.

"I am not quite sure that I agree with you," he rolled to her slightly, somewhat restless that he had to continue to rest in bed. "When will my chest fully heal?"

"Another day most likely, the muscles and bones that you tore are still freshly healed and if you irritate them, it will hurt," her free hand came up to trace the lining of his sheets against his chest stopping in the middle of his torso.

That was when he realized that he was entirely bared underneath the sheets. Heat flushed through him. "Do not worry, Angela did not attend to cleansing the filth from your body," said Arya as if reading his mind.

He glanced at her, she smiled, "I took the liberty to do so."

If anything, he grew more mortified as he stared at her, his mouth agape. She took the liberty? That meant that she saw—well everything! Unable to stare at her anymore, he rolled away from her, turning his back to Arya, mortified. He heard her make a sound between a scoff and a laugh before the feeling of her hands on his back and arms made his skin tingle.

"Eragon, it was necessary, you reeked terribly and Angela did not want to tend to a patient who smelt like the dead," he refused to turn to her, her words causing his embarrassment to peak.

He felt a light kiss under his ear and his resolve slightly wavered. No, he had to remain steadfast. Feeling Arya's amusement swirl within him, he tried to move away from her. Her arms came to wrap around his torso lightly careful not to inflame his healed chest and he felt her nose nuzzle his neck. Don't give in, Eragon. He told himself.

He lay there, refusing to give into temptation. He was still mortified by the fact that she was the one to bathe and clean him. "You are being foolish, Eragon," she whispered lightly against his skin. He fought the urge to snort when he felt her smile against his neck he knew that she felt his emotions through their link. A kiss was pressed against his neck. "You've seen me once…devoid of a shirt."

That was true, when he went to fetch her from Durza, she was half dressed. A different kind of heat stirred within him. "Not on purpose," he protested weakly as her right hand began to trace the contours of his muscles.

"For me as well, you see," she kissed his jaw. "Angela demanded that you were to be bathed before she can continue to oversee you. And Nasuada had planned for one to do so," she kissed his chin. "You must understand how the thought of having another woman bathing you must have felt to me," somewhere in his dazed mind he thought of how annoyed Arya might have been. A kiss to the corner of his lips erased the thought from his mind. "Surely you would not let another take such a liberty if you were in my position," just the thought of someone other than him seeing Arya made his blood boil. His hand which had came to rest on her hip as she half laid on him tightened. This time she kissed him, her lips brushing against his own.

He responded quite brutally to her kiss, the thought still stuck on his mind as he raised his head to deepen the kiss, finally feeling her tongue brushing against his. When they broke apart, he was panting slightly as he stared up into her eyes. A corner of her lips was drawn into a smirk as she studied him.

"You should not worry too much Eragon," her emerald eyes twinkled. "You are beautiful."

He blinked. She thought he was beautiful, he thought with a touch of pride. Suddenly forgetting his initial embarrassment, he reached up to kiss her again. "I love you," the words came out without hesitation or doubt.

"And I you,"

She spent another hour with him before giving him a tonic in which he was to drink that made his rather drowsy. Before he fell into the warm embrace of sleep, he vaguely smelt the fragrance of spice and crushed pine needles in his nose as she'd bent down to kiss him light on his brow.

"Sleep well, Eragon."

So what do you think? I've been dying to write an AxE moment. And I love it! I hope you all do too. But anyways, leave me your reviews! Don't forget that the plot shall be picking up quite steadily from now on!