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Post by Lindariel on Jan 19, 2010 19:35:03 GMT -5
Lin swallowed as Eragon touched her cheek again. He kept doing that. She liked to be near him, she realized, and she didn't mind when Eragon did little things like play with her hair. If anyone else had tried to pull of that stunt they would have been lying unconscious on the floor with several broken bones and a bloody nose before they could blink. But she stayed her hands and her tongue, sitting there in silence for a moment and staring up at him. Lin reached out and caught one of his hands in both of hers, turning it palm upwards. She smiled, then ran her fingers down the well-worn skin.
"We're so different." She laid her smooth, slender hand next to his, and marveled at the difference. "Yours is a hand of a fighter. Mine ..the hand of a healer. We are so different. Your hand is built to hold a sword, and mine to hold a needle or arrow. Your hand is mighty, while mine... mine is meek. You are the warrior who protects us all, but I am the healer who saves the lives of those who would otherwise die." Lin grew flustered, and pulled away, her back to Eragon again.
"What am I saying?" She asked in a low tone, almost talking to herself.
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Post by Eragon Ládin on Jan 19, 2010 21:06:07 GMT -5
Eragon smiled at Lin's words, and was seemingly entranced.
"My hands are calloused, and ugly. Yours are...sweet, tender, loving..."Eragon shook his head,"I would never describe you as weak." While he said this, Eragon took one of her hands while he was behind her, enclosing it in his, and smiling. He wasn't quite sure what he was doing, but he didn't really care at the moment. It was as if Lin had put him under a spell, and his whole demeanor on life had changed; he didn't mind. He wrapped his fingers around hers gently, and his breath touched lightly against the back of her neck.
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Post by Lindariel on Jan 19, 2010 23:32:13 GMT -5
Lin smiled sadly. "I have watched too many lives pass through my fingers, Eragon. Too many lives that I could have saved, if I was just that much faster, that much surer with my choices. There are many who have died because I couldn't save them." She sighed softly as Eragon easily closed one of her hands in his. "Your hands are those of a brave man, one who is not afraid to do what must be done. Mine are small, and timid. They hesitate when choices must be made, and while they will knock an arrow to a bow they will not carry a sword." Lin closed her eyes.
It was an odd feeling, being with Eragon. It was like she could say whatever she wanted, and he wouldn't care. It was like some magic had been woven around her, some magic that made her heart beat faster and her feelings stronger. To tell the truth, Lin felt happy around Eragon. Happy in a special sense. It was the sense for which all the ancient stories used another word, rather than happiness: Love.
Lin leaned back and looked up at Eragon. She didn't care. This was all probably just some fluke, some chance. Perhaps he was under a charm, or a spell, or maybe she was. But he was the Head of the Dragon Riders...too far away from the healer who rarely came in contact with a dragon. It had to be some fluke. It had to be. But, as long as he was with her for that moment, Lin didn't care.
"My hands are not one of someone who has loved, Eragon. My hands are cracked-" She turned her free hand so he could see the dry skin and chap marks on her hands where the herbs and the mortar had rubbed against her hands. The skin was cracked in some places. "-and worn over the years from so many different herbs mixed, arrows shot, wounds sewn... My hands aren't strong like yours. You're the strong one, Eragon." Lin turned and put her free hand on his shoulder.
"You are Eragon, Head of the Dragon Riders. I am just Lin, healer. I doubt that many of the few elves that know who I am think that my name really is Lin, instead of Lindariel. And I bet that more of them could not say which House I was from, nor where I live or what I look like. But you..." Lin smiled wistfully. "They all know you."
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Post by Eragon Ládin on Jan 20, 2010 19:20:51 GMT -5
Eragon smiled, amused by this.
"Maybe physically, but not in spirit, Lin. You have strength there that even I envy. And you underestimate yourself. You are the best healer around, and you do what you can. Healing can only go so far, though. You've devoted your life to it, obviously. But don't you think there should be a break now and then? For laughter? For love?"Eragon asked, looking her in the eyes.
He shifted from foot to foot, and took Eld Moi off of the table he was on.
"This sword has been by my side for over 70 years, and I have used it multiple times. But it is not what makes me strong. What makes me strong are my friends, especially my dragon. What makes you strong, Lin?"he asked, looking her straight in the eyes.
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Post by Lindariel on Jan 20, 2010 19:39:46 GMT -5
Lin looked straight back at Eragon, unable to break his gaze. "What makes me strong...?" Her voice faded to a whisper. "When I feel like I can't go on anymore, I look outside. I watch the apprentices practice, and I see the dragons flying. I remember all the lives I should have saved, but couldn't. I remember the blood on my hands as they failed to grasp the fragile life that slipped through their fingers. I remember the tears of the loved ones as their friend or family passed away. I remember the times that I was just missing one herb, one flower, or I didn't have enough to save them. I remember how it felt to shoot an arrow and how it felt to kill. Then I look at the apprentices and dragons and Riders again, and I ask myself, 'How many will die if I give up now? How many will die pointless deaths because they could have been saved by even the simplest of treatments? How many people will I kill if I fail to live up to my standards?' And then I know that I can't quit, because I have sworn never to kill another unless I try my absolute hardest to save them first. I am bound to this, Eragon. And maybe if I could free myself then I could have more time for laughter and for love. But when so many lives ride on your abilities, you cannot help but to keep working, no matter how much sleep you lose or how many nights you spend just waiting for the inevitable to come. My life is a hard one, Eragon. Your sword does much of your fighting. You wield it, but how often are your hands covered in the blood of a dying man? How often have you wished for nothing more than to leave, to be free of your life, but found yourself bound to the earth by some invisible hand? I by no means want to die, Eragon, do not mistake my words. But there have been many days that I wish that I could be as carefree as I once was. When you watch elves die slowly, bit by bit, taking hours to find their eternal sleep, you must steel yourself against the pain. So many that I cared about have died, Eragon. The only reason why I can continue is because I will never let another die as they did, because I hope that someday...someday...someday I can make up for letting my loved ones die."
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Post by Eragon Ládin on Jan 20, 2010 21:54:36 GMT -5
Eragon's mouth went dry for some reason as he watched Lin speak, not really comprehending her words, but getting the tone of her emotions well enough to understand how she felt. He found himself getting closer to her as he studied her, somewhat entranced.
"You didn't let them die. Some things are beyond are power. And we can't blame ourselves for it. It's the way the world is. People die, but everyday there is a new birth,"he sighed. He frowned for a moment, and then leaned forward, inches from Lin's face.
"I don't blame you, and no one else should,"he whispered, putting his hands on either side of her face and kissing his forehead softly. Eragon paused for a moment, and then brought his lips down so that they touched Lin's lightly.
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Post by Lindariel on Jan 20, 2010 22:08:25 GMT -5
Lin bit her bottom lip as Eragon tried to console her. "But I could have-" She was cut off as he kissed her forehead, and then her lips. She was rigid for a moment, disbelieving, then relaxed. It felt right, being there with Eragon. It felt right to her, and she felt warm and loved for the first time in a long while. Lin kissed him back for a moment, then slid her arms around his neck and hugged him tight, breaking their kiss. "Thank you." She whispered in his ear. She didn't want to let him go, didn't want to let that moment go.
"Eragon." She whispered softly. "Do you really think....you and I..oh, I don't care! I don't care! I don't care if this never happens again, if I never see you like this again." Lin hugged him tight, then kissed him again. "Something...makes me feel strange today. I don't know what. But, oh, Eragon! As long as you're here, I can forget everything else..I can make time for laughter..." Lin smiled. "At least for right now."
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Post by Eragon Ládin on Jan 20, 2010 22:12:54 GMT -5
"Mhmm,"Eragon said, perfectly content when Lin thanked him. He hadn't been content in a long while.
Hmph. You owe me thanks, Bid'Daum said in the distance, but Eragon ignored him. He watched Lin with a small, somewhat shy smile as she spoke, and then felt a jolt of surprise when she kissed him.
"I know what...I know what you mean about it being...strange. But wonderful,"Eragon added, his arms around her and keeping her close to him. He blushed slightly, unused to this sort of thing. Here he was, over 100 years old, blushing like an adolescent. He chuckled lightly at the thought of it.
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Post by Lindariel on Jan 20, 2010 22:31:12 GMT -5
Lin was blushing, too, although Eragon couldn't see it. She had been born about ninety five years ago-she was almost a century old- and yet she found her cheeks pink and her heart racing. "A couple of old fools, aren't we?" Lin said softly. "The apprentices...they might laugh, because to them it's not as special as it is for us. Not as confusing, not as fine, not as wonderful. At least for today." Suddenly, Lin pulled away, hugging herself tightly.
"I've been so mean to you over the years...so inconsiderate...and you're...you're the Head of the Dragon Riders. I'm just a healer, so what..." Her voice trailed off slightly. "What do you see in me?"
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Post by Eragon Ládin on Jan 20, 2010 22:37:10 GMT -5
Eragon's eyes narrowed as she spoke.
"Iron Hands with a lack of confidence?"he teased her lightly, then became serious.
"I don't know. You're the only one who stands up to me. I like that. I like it when you hit me. It's refreshing. And when you boss me around. It keeps me on track. And you never cease to surprise me, whatever you do. And...you're compassionate. You're a healer. I only seem to cause destruction. Also, Lin....you are quite beautiful,"he smiled, blood rushing to his cheeks heavily.
"I've feared for long years of always being alone. I decided a long time ago that love wasn't for me. I either was too busy for it or everyone was too busy being polite to become interesting to me,"Eragon said, looking up, and then gulping," Oh...sorry. I don't know what I'm saying,"he frowned, mentally cursing at himself for telling her so much. He didn't want to scare her away or anything like that.
Eragon studied the patterns on the floor, quite embarrassed with himself for revealing all that he had. His shoulders tensed as he waited for Lin's response.
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Post by Lindariel on Jan 20, 2010 23:00:35 GMT -5
Lin turned back to Eragon, blushing. She laced her fingers around his neck again, making him look at her. "You're a hero, Eragon. Everyone knows you. You're tall, you're handsome, you're strong, you saved all the elves and dragons with Bid'Daum's help. You're a teacher, a mentor, not just to some students and Riders in particular, but rather to every single one of them. You're always there to help, and you have friends that would die for you. Everyone loves you, Eragon. You're their hero. You're strong and you're brave, and you aren't afraid of anything. I've spent nearly all my life alone. No one outside of Vroengard probably knows my name, and on Illium they most likely regard me as sort of a phantom-there one second, gone the next. You.." Lin smiled. "You're strong, strong like stone. You have so much responsibility, and yet you are still so kind.
"I don't think either of us knows what we're saying, Eragon. We've both been afraid of spending our lives completely alone-our work came first to us. But, like you said. Make time for laughter." The healer's honey-brown eyes softened as she looked up at Eragon. "Make time for a little love."
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Post by Eragon Ládin on Jan 20, 2010 23:16:19 GMT -5
Eragon shrugged.
"Just...don't praise me...it kinda makes it worse, you know? I hate being a hero, actually. I've been thinking about retiring from the position of Head Rider for quite awhile now. Don't get me wrong, I love my job, but I've just become increasingly weary of it. I'm old, older than most elves now. And even those who are older me still defer. It's...well, I'm just tired of it. I am the richest person in the world, and I'm not happy. Is that a bit selfish? Maybe, but, I really just can't stand going on like this any longer."
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Post by Lindariel on Jan 20, 2010 23:33:20 GMT -5
Lin looked at Eragon for a moment, then slapped him hard with her open hand. "I was trying to be romantic, dummy." Her tone was snappy as she glared at him. "You don't go and ruin the mood like that! This is probably one of the only times in our lives that we two can be happy, away from our work. And you have to go and spoil it with that? A complaint? A selfish complaint. You could be enjoying the moment with maybe the only girl who doesn't give a whit what your position is and you interrupt it with a complaint? 'I can't stand going on like this any longer'? Some elves would die for your position! And you have the nerve to stand there, in front of me, and complain about it?"
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Post by Eragon Ládin on Jan 21, 2010 22:30:58 GMT -5
Eragon jumped back a little, shocked by Lin's outburst. He then laughed at the situation- she didn't think she was strong?- and grabbed her shoulders, pulling her to him and kissing her fully on the lips. Lin was just what he needed to keep him on track.
If you don't stop, pretty soon I'm going to be kissing her Bid'Daum told Eragon in an irritated voice.
Shush, Eragon replied, continuing to kiss Lin, but a bit bothered by the image of Bid'Daum trying to kiss Lin. He held her closer to him, feeling overpowering emotions run throughout him.
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Post by Lindariel on Jan 21, 2010 23:10:19 GMT -5
Lin smiled at Eragon when he kissed her. She kissed him back for a moment, then pulled away slightly. "Eragon..." She kissed him again. "Eragon. What if someone sees?" She held him back for a moment, looking at him. "There are windows. Someone might-" Her voice was cut off as a creak came from the outside room. It was just the older part of the wood making noise, but she stared as if it was a person come to find them. "What if someone saw us...together...What would they say?" Despite that she didn't care mostly what people said, Lin looked more worried about Eragon's reputation than hers.
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