Christopher Paolini (INHERITANCE CYCLE series) discussion

What are your thoughts for the character Arya in the fourth book?

Here are some of my thoughts as far as Arya go:

What I hope for is that Islanzadi will get killed and send Arya into a grief-stricken depression. That will bring out Arya's true emotions and Eragon will be right there. Remember how he was there when she told him about her elf boyfriend, what's-his-name? She CRIED. That is so not the Arya we're used to, but that was my favorite Arya moment. Arya needs to show some major emotion and break out of the shell she's been living in for decades. And Eragon will help her through it, along with Saphira, and possibly Greeni, who I personally think will be Arya's dragon. Eragon will help Arya through the tragic death of her mother and help her through it, and Arya will realize that she's in love with Eragon. In the meantime, Nasuada will be all gooey-eyed for Eragon and Arya will get jealous, another major emotion that will come out. Throughout the whole book, Arya will be uncovering tons of emotions and falling in love with Eragon.

The only thing that bothers me about that is that if Arya ISN'T the new rider, then she will be the new Queen of Elesmera and she will never be with Eragon. :/

Oh I don't know.

I like your ideas :)Arya is one of my favorite characters so I hope she really does come out of her shell in the fourth book. I think she's going to be the next rider so maybe that will bring her and Eragon closer? I hope so.

The whole love triangle thing is a bit...off though. I just don't know if that will play into the whole story but it would be interesting for sure if it does.

I do think Islanzadi will die so that part I agree with. I hope Arya does get to show her emotions a lot more through the book. Although, if Islanzadi dies, how will Arya be with Eragon because she will be the new queen of Ellesmera. Oh it's all so complicated!

But I do love Arya. She's honestly probaby my favorite character, besides Eragon. She's strong, beautiful, cunning, smart, etc. etc. I think she is the epitome of a female heroine. I wish CP (or another aurthor) would make a spin-off series of books based on only Arya and her life. That would be AMAZING! Lol anyways, yes I agree with you that Arya is one of the greatest characters :)

My thoughts for Arya? I think she should die. Her character just rubs me the wrong way.

Well that's not very nice...

Brittany wrote: "I like your ideas :)Arya is one of my favorite characters so I hope she really does come out of her shell in the fourth book. I think she's going to be the next rider so maybe that will bring her a..."

I completely agree!! I would totally read it if that were the case... which sadly, it is not. :*(

Look, you asked for my thoughts. Those are it. Not trying to be mean, just sharing my thoughts. I didn't say that you guys had to think that too. Just that that's what I wouldn't mind happening. I'm fully aware that it won't but I have my agency. I didn't read your post or Megan's so please do not take it as a response to them at all. I only read the first post. Not trying to push my opion on anyone just sharing.

Now, on a more..."I predict this" note, I agree. Islanzadi will probably die. But there is the possibility, which I think is more likely, that her death will, yes send Arya into a depression, but Arya won't show that that's the case. She'll carry on and snub people off(including Eragon) until Eragon actually takes and stand and she decides to open up. Which she'd open up because we all know they'll end up together.

Stephanie wrote: "My thoughts for Arya? I think she should die."

Why do you hate Arya so much? Because she's reserved... doesn't show a lot of emotion? Because she's too tough?

What, just because she's a little emotionally reserved after living four or five decades with dwarves in complete exile from her mother and her people? Because she's too tough because of the fact that she had to watch as Faolin, the most loving companion she'd ever had, get killed before her eyes? Because she's a little roughened up because she was murderously tortured by Durza for getting Saphira's egg into Eragon's hands?

Well, dear, dear. Maybe, if you were exiled from your own mother, sent to live with a species you loathed for decades fighting a huge cause, if you watched as the love of your life was murdered, then was hideously tortured for doing the absolute right thing, then maybe you wouldn't be so quick to judge Arya's lack of happiness and emotion.

If you're not a little tough and emotionally reserved after all of that bull then inform me as to when I'm to start bowing to you.

Brittany wrote: "I like your ideas :)Arya is one of my favorite characters so I hope she really does come out of her shell in the fourth book. I think she's going to be the next rider so maybe that will bring her a..."

I remember the guy's name!! Faolin, right?

Megan wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "My thoughts for Arya? I think she should die."

Why do you hate Arya so much? Because she's reserved... doesn't show a lot of emotion? Because she's too tough?

What, just becau..."

Okay...no. Look, her personality just rubs me the wrong way. I don't like her character. I personally think she's kind of flat. Sorry, I offended you- if that is the case. Truly, I am. I don't mean to upset people.

I have no idea why I can't express my disatisfaction with her character. I wasn't responding to your second post in anyway. I just barely read it. Once again, I apologize.

Stephanie wrote: "Okay...no. Look, her personality just rubs me the wrong way. I don't like her character. I personally think she's kind of flat. Sorry, I offended you- if that is the case. Truly, I am. I don't mean..."

Brittany wrote: "Well that's not very nice..."

No, it's definitely okay. I get it now. I know, some characters in other books are like that for me, too, so I kind of understand where you're coming from. For me, it was Cho Chang in Harry Potter. I just hated her for no apparent reason. It was just uncontrollable how much I hated that character and I didn't know why.

So I understand how you feel and I really should have thought of that before :( Sorry!

We can agree to disagree, I guess. I do get how you feel though :)

Stephanie wrote: "Look, you asked for my thoughts. Those are it. Not trying to be mean, just sharing my thoughts. I didn't say that you guys had to think that too. Just that that's what I wouldn't mind happening. I'..."

It's okay :) You can have your opinion, no one should tell you that you can't. I was being totally immature... as I created the topic, I should have been prepared for disagreements. :)

Oh my gosh! That is what Arya is like for me. Sorry- just identifying with you. :D Cho Chang...I didn't really care about her character, she was just one of those whatever characters for me. I should've been more considerate- and I get where you're coming from. I really should have been more careful with my opion- I can get pretty upset when people start saying things about some books.... :)

Stephanie wrote: "Now, on a more..."I predict this" note, I agree. Islanzadi will probably die. But there is the possibility, which I think is more likely, that her death will, yes send Arya into a depression, but A..."

Yeah, you're theory definitely works as well... that WOULD be typical Arya... to snub people off like that. I was about ready to punch her in the face in Eldest, but whatever. Yeah, that could definitely happen, and that's just as likely as anything else... Islanzadi dying, sending Arya into depression, and instead of her opening up, Eragon will "take a stand"... yeah, I could see it.

And yes, we all know that they will be together in the end.

I swear, if it's Nasuada at the end, I will absolutely die. I mean, I love Nasuada's character, but if she was Eragon's LOVE INTEREST... just no.

I definitely have faith that Arya will open up at the end. I think in Brisingr, Eragon really backed off a lot, did you all notice? Yeah, he SERIOUSLY backed off. Maybe Arya needs this time to think or something... Maybe Eragon just needs to grow up and FINALLY turn seventeen and maybe Arya will get this ridiculous prejudice out of her head that Eragon is a baby and that it would never work between them because that is RIDICULOUS... we all know it will. Anyway, with Eragon backing off, Arya will soon start to open up... whether it be slowly, or whether it takes a trauma, like Islanzadi dying... I don't know.

Stephanie wrote: "Oh my gosh! That is what Arya is like for me. Sorry- just identifying with you. :D Cho Chang...I didn't really care about her character, she was just one of those whatever characters for me. I shou..."

Yeah, don't worry about it :)

Megan wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "Now, on a more..."I predict this" note, I agree. Islanzadi will probably die. But there is the possibility, which I think is more likely, that her death will, yes send Arya into ..."

I personally hope Eragon takes a stand and acts more manly. He needs to find a spine when it comes to Arya. I mean, she scared him away! Yes, I'd be scared of her too, but he's a dragon rider- she won't hurt him because, at this point, he's their only chance to defeat Galbatorix. But we also have to realize on Arya's part that, compared to her, Eragon really is only a baby. Like you've mentioned earlier, she's lived decades upon decades.

I don't think there's anyway Eragon will get invovled with Nasuada. And Nasuada's so propper that she won't either. She'll just sit around waiting, hoping, and doing her job. Unless, of course, he's going into danger and she has to give him that goodbye kiss you see in a lot of stories which would totally *cough cough* sorry, I don't swear, so let's say...upset Arya. Although, I didn't see Nasuada liking Eragon at all. So why do we think she could be a love interest? I mean it'd be interesting if she did like him and actually showed it because Arya would so..yeah. But Eargon wouldn't return it at all.

If anything happens with Eragon and Nasuada it'll be a one scene thing, if you ask me.

Sorry Stephanie I didn't mean to sound rude...I know you're just expressing your opinion like the rest of us...So sorry for sounding like I was singling you out for not liking her. It's just that Arya is my FAVORITE character lol that's why I got so defensive. Sorry about that!

Megan, I agree with everything you said about Arya. I absolutely love here and she is by far my favorite character of any fantasy series/book. The short story I am writing was pretty much based on a character like Arya with all her personality traits (although maybe a tad more emotional expression). But my character is strong, smart, beautiful, agile, witty...etc. just like Arya and the rest of her fellow elves.

If Nasuada is Eragon's love interest in the end I think I will scream...or likewise if Arya dies...that would be horrible and I would never forgive CP for that. Ever.

I can't wait to see what happens in the last book :D

I also apologize to you too, Brittany. And I'm going to sound like a total snob, but I really don't want to type all of my apology all over again. So see other posts? Wow- that was totally snobish and lazy- I'm sorry.

Although I do agree that if Nasuada ends up being Eragon's love interest I will be severly displeased. He and Arya do belong together.

That's alright Stephanie you don't really have anything to apologize for...you were just sharing your opinion which is what the discussion boards are for right? :) Truce? Lol

Yeah Eragon and Nasuada are totally wrong for each other. It would ruin it for me if they became an item.

Haha- truce.

Yes, I agree. That'd kind of ruin it for me too.

Stephanie wrote: "Megan wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "Now, on a more..."I predict this" note, I agree. Islanzadi will probably die. But there is the possibility, which I think is more likely, that her death will, yes s..."

Brittany wrote: "Sorry Stephanie I didn't mean to sound rude...I know you're just expressing your opinion like the rest of us...So sorry for sounding like I was singling you out for not liking her. It's just that A..."

Yeah, now that I think about it, Eragon really DOES need to be more manly! For real, I mean Arya kinda scared him off, and he backed off, but now he really needs to grow up. But I do disagree that Arya should be thinking of Eragon as a baby. You see, I think it has a lot to do with comparison. Arya is really a teenager compared to other elves, if you think about it, not to mention the Eragon is a dragon rider and I'm sure he'll be even wiser than her one day. They're both teenagers to their own race. So I really think that Arya just needs to get over herself and stop thinking that she's too good for Eragon. It's bull.

The reason Nasuada even popped into my brain was because when we are first introduced to Nasuada, I can't remember if it said something specifically or if I just got a vibe, but Nasuada (this was back when she was ditsy-ish)was all starry-eyed for the new dragon rider... maybe it was just a vibe, but I don't know. That, and because Nasuada, in the first book, is described as about sixteen years old, which is, of course, opposite of Arya. But like I said, it probably won't happen and there will be a lot of upset people if that's what happens.

I think that if Eragon mans up to Arya, that even those who don't like Arya will be satisfied, you know? Even those who don't like Arya can't deny that they would make an AWESOME couple. I mean, it's a win/win.

But honestly. I really do think that Islanzadi will be killed, in which case, if Arya ISN'T the new rider, that would mean that she would have to be the new queen, therefore, making the Eragon/Arya love story a complete waste of time. Unless, of course, she uses her badass/Arya/ninja skills to make sure that she isn't queen if she doesn't want to be, which she won't, because she will want to be with Eragon.

Jeez. CP must certainly be having a job with this one.

I'm guessing that's why we have to wait basically another whole year...this is some serious plot intertwining that he must be dealing with lol

I agree with Eragon man-ing up! He's sort of immature just in every sense because he is so new to the whole dragon rider/responsibility thing. But I think he will impress us all in the final book...even Arya ;)

Brittany wrote: "I'm guessing that's why we have to wait basically another whole year...this is some serious plot intertwining that he must be dealing with lol

I agree with Eragon man-ing up! He's sort of immatu..."

YES!!! I totally agree :)

I can't wait to see how Eragon will surprise us!! Personally, I'm really eager to see some Ninja-Eragon... some kicking-of-the-asses with his incredibly cool new sword!!!

OKAY EVERYONE... I HAVE A NEW ARYA THEORY.

I have believed from the start that Arya would be the new rider. We all know CP well enough to know that he wouldn't be that obvious. Exhibit A:


Murtagh. Think about it. If we had hypothesized at the end of Book 1 about a new rider, who would have been the obvious choice (other than Arya)? Murtagh. Murtagh becoming a rider was MODERATELY predictable.

But look at the CIRCUMSTANCES Murtagh is under. He may be the predicted rider, but was it predicted that he would be fighting for GALBATORIX? Now, there's a different story. If we were to predict a new rider at the end of Book 1, it would have been Murtagh. But we NEVER expected that he would be fighting for Galbatorix.


So. This leads me to believe a similar conflict will be the case with Arya. I think Arya will DEFINITELY be the new rider, HOWEVER, I think that there will be a freak circumstance. There will be a catch. A twist. SOMETHING that will make Arya being the new rider UNEXPECTED. Now, what that freak circumstance might be, exactly, I don't know in the slightest. That's CP's job.

But we all know that CP will be unexpected in almost every aspect of the fourth book. The new rider is of PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE to the plot... do you really think he would be predictable with this? Arya is the only character that makes sense. But who's to say that there won't be a HUGE twist?

Megan wrote: "So. This leads me to believe a similar conflict will be the case with Arya. I think Arya will DEFINITELY be the new rider, HOWEVER, I think that there will be a freak circumstance. There will be a catch. A twist. SOMETHING that will make Arya being the new rider UNEXPECTED. Now, what that freak circumstance might be, exactly, I don't know in the slightest. That's CP's job.

But we all know that CP will be unexpected in almost every aspect of the fourth book. The new rider is of PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE to the plot... do you really think he would be predictable with this? Arya is the only character that makes sense. But who's to say that there won't be a HUGE twist?"

I never thought about it like that but you know what? That sounds incredibly plausible. It does make sense that CP would incorporate a twist with something so obvious as Arya becoming the new rider...just like he did with Murtagh. Good work Megan :) That does make a lot of sense now that you say it. I have to agree with you on the idea that CP will throw in a bunce of twists to spruce up the fourth and final book (oh man, did I just say "spruce"? Lol).

Brittany wrote: "Megan wrote: "So. This leads me to believe a similar conflict will be the case with Arya. I think Arya will DEFINITELY be the new rider, HOWEVER, I think that there will be a freak circumstance. Th..."

Thanks! :) The more I think about the fourth book, the more theories I just keep coming up with. I can't wait!!

Same here :) I'm so excited!!!! We'll have to keep all the Eragon fans pre-occupied to pass the time until the new book comes out lol

I know!!!

CP not be predictable? Sorry but he can be pretty predictable. I'm not saying there weren't somethings I wasn't surprised about but...I do believe he will be that predictable and just make Arya a rider. And him takign so long to write the darn thing? I suspect he hasn't been writing it for that long which is why he's taking so long....

It doesn't really matter if Arya is a teenager in the elven race. She's still so much older than Eragon. I'm not saying she should think of Eragon as a baby just that in more than one way he is compared to her.

Stephanie wrote: "CP not be predictable? Sorry but he can be pretty predictable. I'm not saying there weren't somethings I wasn't surprised about but...I do believe he will be that predictable and just make Arya a r..."

Maybe you're right... I'm just making theories :)Oh well, Eragon is going to be so cool in the fourth book that it won't even matter whether or not he's a baby compared to Arya :D

Lol, perhaps...they'll be together either way so, it doesn't really matter. And perhaps I'm totally wrong and you're right, we just never know...won't until he finishes at least...

Stephanie wrote: "Lol, perhaps...they'll be together either way so, it doesn't really matter. And perhaps I'm totally wrong and you're right, we just never know...won't until he finishes at least..."

Lol, this is true :)

And he's taking FOREVER!

Stephanie wrote: "And he's taking FOREVER!"

I know! I'm gonna be in high school by the time this book rolls along!! (I'm in eighth grade :D) I mean SERIOUSLY!! When did the third book come out? Not to mention that he already had some of it written- and just split it in two!!

I can't wait for the fourth book to come out. I want to see Arya warm up to Eragon way more than she has. Regarding personality and emotions, she's pretty much an ice queen. It's so very irritating when you just want her and Eragon to be together!

I can't believe he's taking so long to write the fourth book! I mean I agree with you Megan he already had some of it written so why is it taking him so long to write it? Ugh it makes me so mad! I'm very impatient because Eragon is one of my favorite books/series of all time! I just want to know how it all ends!!!!

Because he's convinced it has to be a thousand pages this time!

I think arya will inheret the throne, but refuse it.

That sounds like Arya too...

I don't think she'll refuse...that would be dishonoring to her mother and her people...but I don't know how it will work if she's the new queen of Ellesmera AND the new dragon rider...that's a lot of responsibility for one elf...

If she's a dragon rider then she'll refuse. At least that's a possibility in my mind...

Or... her mother probably won't be dying..

Yeah either of those are possible options...but I don't see how she could become the new dragon rider AND be the new queen of Ellesmera. It's just too much, even Arya couldn't do it I don't think...

maybe if she becomes dragon rider...she may have to renounce her position as princess of ellemeralda (sp?)

Maybe...

yeah...maybe is the key word.

Lol, true.

Stephanie wrote: "Because he's convinced it has to be a thousand pages this time!"

Haha lol!!! So true XD

When Nasuada and Orik were suggested as the new dragon rider, it was said that they already have too many responsibilities... Nasuada being the leader of the Varden and Orik being King of the dwarves. Why is Arya being the Queen of the elves any different? If Arya is the new rider, which I am POSITIVE she is, then there is just no possible way that she will take the throne, tattoo or not. She can't be the Queen AND the new rider. Rider's have to keep the peace of all of Alagaesia- that is the Rider's official purpose. Arya obviously can't rule the elves AND keep Alagaesia at peace-not that it ever will be at peace with Galbatorix going all psycho trying to capture Eragon and Saphira. But that's beside the point. Arya cannot lead the elves AND be a dragon rider. It just can't happen.

So this also means that Arya must become the new rider BEFORE Islanzadi dies. If Islanzadi dies beforehand, Arya will have to take the throne immediately. Then she will never be the new rider.

Gosh.

Which is the reason I think Islanzadi dying probably won't happen.