The Thruth in a Name

Eragon join Arya where she stood, waiting for him by the two rows of elves. They stared at each other for a handful of heartbeats, and then Arya said, "Eragon." She had drawn her cowl as well. Eragon could she little of her face in the pale moonlight.

"Arya." He looked down the silvery river and then back at Arya. He gripped the hilt of Brisingr. He was so full of emotion, he did not want to leave, but he knew he must. "Stay with me-"

Her gaze darted up. "I cannot"

"...stay with me until the first curve in the river."

She hesitated, then nodded. He held out his arm, and she looped hers through his. Together they made their way towards the ship and stood on the prow. The elves followed shortly behind. Once all were aboard the gangplank was pulled up. Without wind or oars, the ship moved away from the stony shore and began to drift down the long, flat river.

On the beach, Roran stood alone, watching them go. Then he threw back his head and uttered a long, aching cry, and the night echoed with the sounds of his loss.

For several minutes, Eragon stood next to Arya, and neither spoke as the watched the first curve in the river approach. At last Eragon turned to see her, and he pushed away from her face to see her eyes. "Arya," he said.

There was someting in her eyes, something he had not seen before. He decided it was not of importance. "It must just be this situation. Having the dragons leave Alagaesia and not knowing when they will return," he thought.

She whispered his true name in response, and a shiver ran through him. He whispered her true name, nothing happened. Puzzled, he repeated her true name, still nothing.

Arya then took a step closer and whisper in his ear, "Eragon, stop. No matter how many times you say that name it won't work. My name has changed."

He only stood there, stunned. "What? How? I mean, when did this happen?"

"Before we left, I had time to reflect. Reflect on the war...and about you. Afterward I tried to say my true name in order to remind myself that I had no feelings for you other than those of a friend. However, I soon realized that it had no effect on me. I spent the next night pondering what my true name could be, and now I know." She told him her true name.

In her name he heard everything he had already knew about her, but in it he also learned something more. She loved him. She loved him almost as much as he loved her.

"So, what will become of us? I asume you will have to return to Du Weldevarden soon."

"I renounced my role as queen, declaring that I was a rider and thus had to be a seperate entity from all nations and races. Reluctantly they agreed and now I am a rider above everything, except your mate, and I'd never leave my mate," she said with a smile.

"M-Mate? You mean, you'll stay?" He barely managed to choke out.

"Yes, I will my love, I'll stay with you until the end of time."

They smiled, tears running down their faces. Above them Saphira and Firnen roared, dancing around each other in a dance only the could do. Shooting fire every few seconds, setting the sky ablaze with streaks of blue and green.

The fateful curve that was to seperate them now lay far behind them. It had not seperated them, instead it had united them forever. It was then that Eragon remembered Angela's fortune. Eragon's thoughts came forth unbidden, "It ended well, a love with a princess that ended in happiness."

"What?"

"Long ago, the witch Angela told me my fortune. She said I'd have a romance with a princess but she didn't know if it would end well. She also said I was doomed to leave Alagaesia and never return." Upon saying this he lowered his head in defeat.

"Oh. Wait, why must you leave?"

"There is no home for the dragons. I searched everywhere, but I couldn't find anything suitable for the dragons."

"What about the Hadarac Desert? We could sing to the land and revive it, and it would be the perfect place."

At the thought of this Eragon contacted Saphira. "What do you think?"

"Yes! Of course! I can't believe I hadn't thought of it. If the elves were to sing to the land and with help from the Eldunari, it's very possible that it could be the perfect home for the dragons. It was their ancient home."

"So it's settled, we'll stay." As he returned to himself he noticed Arya was staring at him intently. "We'll stay."