Disclaimer: I do not own the Inheritance Cycle. Christopher Paolini does.

I don't own the song "All Around Me" either. This song is by the amazingly talented band Flyleaf. Oh, and I know that this song can be taken religiously as being about God, but for the purposes of this Fic its about how Arya feels for Eragon, kapeesh?

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There is nothing but this. The flash of steel, the smell of blood, the longing to defeat the enemy, I, Arya, think.

I am fighting Murtaugh in what, everyone fervently hoped, would be the end of the revolution. I am forced to block both his mental and physical attacks again and again…. and I have no more strength. His spells are indescribable. Dark and overwhelming. I have never experienced their like before, in my over a century upon this earth.

I hope I will not eventually lose. The battle could be lost. My people would forever be oppressed. And I don't just mean the elves of my homeland either… the dwarfs who opened their home to me, my human friends, the Varden… and my rider. The last one. Eragon. He is fighting Galbatorix at the moment. My heart fears for him, if Murtaugh is the apprentice what could the master's skill be like?

He will persevere… he always has, I think, deflecting Murtaugh's ruby blade, Za'roc, again.

Even in courting me he had perseverance. He never gave up. The thought brings a smile to my tired lips, remembering his words, his expressions, the many times he had attempted to woo me. I had always had to refuse. It was never the right time, the right place…. and at first I hadn't really wanted him. I had had my heart broken before by reckless elf lords, and then again by the death of my friend Faolin.

I had never approved of the elven custom of "mates" for short periods of time. It made it too hard for me to be happy. I wanted to be swept off my feet and loved forever. Like Eragon had done.

I sigh again; the strength of skipping around Murtaugh's blade over and over is exhausting. All I can do is hope I can doge him long enough….

"Think of Eragon," I mutter to myself as I throw off yet another mental attack.

If we both live through this, I intend to accept him. What did age, race, species, matter when someone makes you feel this way? What a miracle to love and be loved. He just didn't know of my love yet, of course, it would have distracted him from his training.

Just another sacrifice for the good of Alegasia, I think to myself. One of many.

But after this awful battle……….

I picture myself going to his tent after dark . I would tell him, and he would understand. I could picture his beautiful smile, hear his laugh as I would tell him how very much I had learned to love him….

In my split second of blissful distraction, my opponent sees the opening and charges. I feel Za' roc, once my beloved's blade, spear through my left side.

Murtaugh laughs in triumph, but before I sink to the sandy battleground, I use my falling momentum to swing my sword and behead him.

I fall to the ground beside Murtaugh's severed head, frozen in an expression between maniacal laughter and shock. Every breath is a strangled gasp. I can see my heart's red blood pour out onto the dusty plain.

After what felt like ages I hear our forces cheer as you defeat Galbatorix. I am so proud of you Eragon. My rider……

(A/N cue start of "All Around Me" opening guitar solo)

My hands are searching for you

My arms are outstretched towards you

Or rather, my mind is searching Eragon , I have to find you, to tell you…

I feel you on my fingertips

Ahh, there is your familiar mind, and by some miracle -despite the barriers you have placed- I can slip inside. Find me please Eragon, find me lying here!

My tongue dances behind my lips for you

It's so wrong for me to feel this…lust… for you as I lay dying, but also so right. My heart beats faster to even think of you this way, pumping more blood onto the sand.

This fire rising through my being

Burning I'm not used to seeing you

It hurts so bad Eragon! I hear your thoughts, and though you are tired and dirty, you search for me as well, expecting the worst. Why can't you find me?! Why can't you hear me begging for you in your mind?!

I'm alive, I'm alive

I practically scream this into your mind, I need you here Eragon. I'm not gone yet! Don't mourn as if I have! Is this negativity why you cannot find me?

I can feel you all around me

Thickening the air I'm breathing

Holding on to what I'm feeling

Savoring this heart that's healing

I do try to savor this feeling for you. It is all I will take with me into the void. I sigh audibly; I can barely hold on.

My hands float up above me

And you whisper you love me

I hear you, Eragon. Saphira wonders why you still search for my body and you whisper in reply: "I loved her Saphira, in ways you cannot understand." My broken -literally and metaphorically- heart swells at your declaration of love. Do you know I hear you?

And I begin to fade

Into our secret place

I can barely feel your mind anymore. I begin to float away.

The music makes me sway

The angels singing say we are alone with you

I am alone and they are too with you

If I am alone, how is this heaven? I force myself back to the plain where I brokenly shout into you mind again:

I'm alive, I'm alive

This time you hear me. I mentally send you my position and I feel you rush towards me on your great sapphire dragon.

I can feel you all around me

Thickening the air I'm breathing

Holding on to what I'm feeling

Savoring this heart that's healing

You kneel beside me, cradling me in your strong arms. "Eragon…" I whisper . You try to heal me. Saphira tries. I even try myself. We are all too weak, even with our strength combined. I am resigned now: I am going to die.

I can feel you all around me

Thickening the air I'm breathing

Holding on to what I'm feeling

Savoring this heart that's healing

You kiss me, your lips soft as rose petals and so hesitant. I feel your surprise as I return the kiss deeply. Again and again our lips meet. I can taste tears, both yours and mine. You will not give up trying to heal me, but I fold my hand over your own. "Don't Eragon," I murmur like a caress "Stop, you have so little strength , and I don't plan on taking you with me into the void." I sigh again. "Just hold me…"

And so I cry

The light is white

And I see you

Although Saphira's wing shades us, I can see a bright light behind you. I choose to ignore it, knowing it has come to take my spirit to the void. I memorize every plane of your face. I will miss you, my rider, my love…

I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive

I think for the last time, pausing to thank whatever greater forces there may be in the universe for letting me live this long. Long enough to let me kiss you, to tell you how I feel… alas… I haven't done that yet. What should I say to make you see how much I love you?

I can feel you all around me

Thickening the air I'm breathing

Holding on to what I'm feeling

Savoring this heart that's healing

In the ancient language I whisper to him:

"Take my hand

I give it to you

Now you own me

All I am

You said you would never leave me

I believe you

I believe

I love you, my Rider, if only I had shown you earlier we would have had more time."

You pause, more tears streaming down your handsome face, and kiss me again, ever so gently. Then you say, "Don't say goodbye yet, Arya please, I cannot bear it! Wait, help may still come. I won't let you die! You will not die! Not now!" Your pitch rises in panic.

I can feel you all around me

Thickening the air I'm breathing

Holding on to what I'm feeling

Savoring this heart that's healed

"I love you, Eragon" I think in the ancient language, again.

I push this last thought into his still resolute mind.

Then I give into the light, and feel nothing at all.

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Now comes the exciting part: you will have to review to tell me whether you want Arya to live or die!!!! Whichever option gets the most reviews is the second chapter I will write!!!!

-or you could vote to end the story there I guess……

Ha-ha there is some incentive for ya'll 2 review!!!! Please do! *puppy dog face* it will only take a sec, and constructive criticism is appreciated… so as should go without saying no flames please.

Thanks a million to my beta reader: Niah-Miyoki!!!! You rock!!!!

bookworm-with-bite