"Of course," he immediately acquiesced, though her behavior was slightly alarming. Nasuada had already left by this point, so Eragon turned to Saphira and his guards.

I shall meet your at your tent, little one. She took off without another word, the draft from her wings filling the surrounding air with dust. Through it, the Rider saw Blödhgarm share a glance with Arya before he too left with the rest of the elves.

Arya began moving in the opposite direction, and Eragon quickly followed after her. For a time the two walked in silence side-by-side, and he relished this opportunity he had to accompany her. The sun had already fallen, leaving the moon to light their way. Greetings of "Shadeslayer" were called to both of them as they followed the path between the tents and accepted with a nod.

He'd just grown used to the quiet when she spoke. "I never thought I'd hear that name again."

Eragon waited a moment to be sure she had finished before asking, "Why?"

Hunching her shoulders, Arya turned her face to the night sky, and for a moment he was as entranced by her beauty as he had been the moment he'd first seen her. "I was only five years old when Leafë left Ellesméra. It was towards the end of the war, only days after Evandar left to lead the army against Galbatorix in one final battle on the plains of Ilirea."

Shuddering for just a moment, she straightened her spine and continued. "When we first realized she was missing, our mother was terrified. Leafë and our father had always been close, and Islanzadí was sure that my sister had snuck off to follow him into battle. But we soon learned the answer was much worse: she had stolen a dragon's egg."

"An egg?" Eragon could not halt his exclamation. "But earlier you said that she'd just stolen scrolls."

"I lied." Her bluntness surprised him further. "I wanted to see if the triplets knew of the true crime Leafë had committed. But it was not just any egg that she stole - it was Glaedr's own son. His and Vervada's."

Luminous's brother, he thought to himself, keeping his mind shielded from Saphira as he realized, And Saphira's, as well. "...Vanilor. The egg had to be him." Gods above, she'd seen her own brother's death and hadn't even known it.

"You're right!" Arya gasped. "Saphira...what shall you tell her?"

He swallowed before murmuring, "The truth, I suppose. But she shall no doubt wish to tell Luminous."

"Who will go on to tell her Rider." The elf sighed as they came to a stop before her tent and said, "It cannot be helped. Saphira deserves to know the truth."

"As does Nia." She looked at him, and he held her gaze as he told her, "Leafë was her mother."

"I know."

"...and that makes her your - "

Eragon was sharply cut off as Arya spit out, "No, it does not! Leafë has been disowned. She is no longer a member of my family, which means her children are not members as well."

"But blood cannot be disowned," he protested gently, placing a hand on her upper arm. "And neither can love."

It was only when she glanced at him and the moonlight lit the dark depths of her eyes that he realized the double meaning in his words. But it seemed as though the elf hadn't, for she merely lifted her own hand to squeeze his once. He released her, fending off the encroaching blush as she bid him goodnight.

Walking from her tent afterwards, Eragon could have sworn he caught a glimpse of a white shirt and dark hair, but when he turned to look again, there was no one present. Reaching out with his mind for Saphira's, he said to her, I am on my way...and there is something I have to tell you.

***************************************

Niaomi doubled over, gasping: one part because of the mad dash she'd made to avoid being spotted by Eragon, and two parts because of the pain.

They'd warned her. Her brothers, her godsisters, Ruby, Luminous - all of them had warned her against trying to pursue him.

"I just don't want you to get hurt," Nathan had sighed.

"You're setting yourself up for heartbreak," Nicholas had warned.

"Be rational about this," Renata had pleaded.

"He's already in love with someone else," Rosaminda had reminded.

"You must put such thoughts out of mind and focus on your duty," Ruby had informed.

Your happiness is mine, just as your pain is, Luminous had said.

All of them had warned her, and she'd ignored them all. Even when she'd seen for herself how he felt about the elf, Nia had only grown more determined. Not even when traversing Alagaësia had she ever hated her gift more. If she hadn't had the visions of him nearly every day, then she wouldn't know him. Or, at the very least, not enough to be so hopelessly in love with him.

Her grip on her chest tightened as Niaomi tried to press the shards of her heart back together. Even seeing them together now, in person, she still wanted him. He was compassionate and brave, strong and gentle, handsome and chivalrous: how could she have not fallen in love with him? And how could she stop now when he saw who she had been, who she now was, and could still smile at her?

Nia struggled further to keep her thoughts shielded from Luminous. She did not want her to feel her heartbreak, not when she knew how happy the dragon was with Silveran. It was that happiness that had further prompted her to pursue the young man, and she had believed that they could have found the same sort of happiness together...

"Well, well, what's got you all bunched up?" a familiar voice inquired, and the Rider peered up through her tears to see a short curly haired woman standing before her. Hazel eyes widened as she moved, and suddenly she was being hugged as Angela said soothingly, "Tell me what's amiss, child."

Sobbing onto the shoulder that had been provided for her, Niaomi admitted aloud in a hoarse whisper for the first time, "I'm in love with Eragon."

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A/N: Several allusions to Niaomi were made at the end - check it out by clicking the external link below. I know I was supposed to post Destiny (Volume N: Alalëa) the same day I posted this volume, but I couldn't finish the author's note in time. Therefore, it will be posted after the tenth chapter of Niaomi to coincide with the interlude I'll post in it, since chronologically volume zero comes before the prequel. Picture up above is of our other leading lady invented by moi - but will she become Eragon's leading lady? Thanks for all the lovely comments, and adieu till next Sunday for part eighty-seven! (:)