One week after the end of Brisingr.
Eragon was awakened by the sound of roosters crying out to the sun's first light. He set about completing his morning routine: wake up, shower off, shave with magic, get dressed, and all the while talking with Saphira. It has been one week since Arya killed the shade, Varuag. One week since the death of his teachers Oromis and Glaedr. One week since Glaedr has disappeared into his eldunari. One week since we have truly been alone. One week since the Varden began occupying Feinster. They still hadn't moved on yet.
After he finished
dressing, he asked Saphira, "I am going to talk with Nasuada about
moving the Varden out of Feinster and on towards Belatona. Care to
join me?"
No, little one, I am going hunting today.
"Ok, then, but don't be gone too long. Remember, Master Oromis and Master Glaedr's funeral is today, and we will be observing through a mirror with Arya. With that Saphira took off, and Eragon just stood there for a moment, observing Saphira fly farther away with mighty thrusts of her majestic wings. He watched her until she became just a dot off in the sky, and then turned back into his tent to finish preparing to meet Nasuada.
Before heading towards Nasuada's pavilion, Eragon decided to take a walk. Upon leaving his tent, which was still camped outside of Feinster, Eragon bumped into the messenger boy, Jarsha. Annoyed that he was being interrupted at the beginning of his walk, Eragon inquired, with a hint of anger seeping into his voice, "Do you have a message for me, Jarsha?"
"Y-yes s-sir,
Nasuada sent me with a message for you," he replied, stumbling to
speak at the obviously angry Eragon.
"And what is this
message?"
"She just wanted me to remind you to be at her pavilion by noon." With that Eragon waved him away, and set off walking. He meandered aimlessly, just enjoying the day's first rays of light, and the slight wind on his cheek. His mind began to wander, and soon he found himself thinking about Arya. It has been a week since people began addressing her as Shadeslayer, Eragon thought to himself. The thought brought a smile to his face. Only four people in history have killed a shade, well only four have killed a shade and lived to tell the tale, Eragon corrected himself. Half of that group was alive today, and they were himself and Arya. During the last few days, Arya has been extremely nice to him, and they have had dinner together, as friends, for the last three days. Today wasn't going to be an exception, though, as they were going to eat after they observed his teachers' funeral. The only difference was, instead of them just enjoying the presence of friends, they were mourning very important people.
After half an hour of meandering, Eragon realized, quite by accident, that he had arrived outside his cousin's tent. Roran was standing off to the side, engaged in a conversation with Katrina, Horst, and Baldor. They stopped talking when they saw him walking up to them, but he heard part of their conversation with his enhanced hearing. "-just don't know how long she can last. It wasn't nearly this hard on her when the others were born."
Eragon strode up, and greeted each of them in turn. Then, with a knowing look on his face, he asked "Horst, how is Elaine doing?" Slightly grimacing at the question, Horst responded, "Not well, Eragon, she has been in a lot of pain recently. The trip here didn't bode well with her. I fear the worst, as her condition steadily declines." As he spoke, Eragon could see the pain evident on his face. Seeking to help, Eragon inquired,
"Where is she? Maybe I might be able to help her along."
"This way, Shadeslayer," he responded with a grin on his face. He then turned around and walked off, leaving Eragon to say good bye to the remaining group, and follow him. It wasn't much of a walk, however, as all of Carvahall was camped next to each other. When they arrived, Horst held open the entrance, and said that he would wait outside. Taking a deep breath, he stepped inside.
To his utter amazement, the only things in the tent were: a bed for Elaine (currently occupied), a bed for Horst, and some clothes piled up in the corner. This came as a shock for Eragon, probably because in Carvahall Horst lived in as close to luxury as was to be found there, and here he was very poor. It was with a pang of guilt that Eragon recognized that this was his fault. They would still be in Carvahall if it wasn't for my actions. Clearing his thoughts, he stepped over to Elaine.
He was pleasantly surprised when he noticed she was sleeping. Now I won't have to explain anything to her. He then stretched his consciousness out towards her, and searched for anything out of the ordinary. Finding none, he averted his gaze towards the baby, and realized that something was wrong. "Horst, come in here for a second." The blacksmith was in before Eragon finished speaking, however, and had a terrified look in his usually calm eyes. He managed to keep his voice in check, however,
"Yes, Shadeslayer?"
"Who all
has seen Elaine recently?"
"Most of Carvahall, and some of
the Varden." It was half of a minute before Eragon asked his next
question.
"Has any magic users visited her, maybe under the pretenses to help her, aside from me obviously?"
Horst thought for a while, apparently deep in thought, then replied after two full minutes. "Yes, now that you mention it, one did. She came a week after we arrived at the Varden." Expecting this answer, Eragon immediately replied,
"Do you remember her name, Horst, or maybe what she looked like?"
"I don't remember the name, but it was a dark haired woman. She said that there was nothing that she could do for her, but I figure that you would be more powerful than her.
Nodding, Eragon inquired in a voice as cold as ice, barely louder than a whisper, "Was she wearing a bracelet in the shape of a snake?"
Surprised, Horst replied, "Yeah, she did, how did you know?"
"It was Trianna, the leader of Du Vrangr Gata. I'm truly sorry to tell you this, but she cursed your son with dark magic. Now, please stand back while I attempt to relieve the curse." With that Eragon stepped over to Elaine, laid his hand on her stomach, and said "Waise heill." After a full minute of nothing happening, Eragon broke the spell. He then tried a spell to try and completely erase a previous magician's effect on the baby. When the dark magic started to diminish, Eragon began to think it was going to work. Then, the spell started to take its toll on him, and the strength began rushing from his body. He tried to end the spell, but realized that he was connected to it until the end. Either the baby would get better, or Eragon would die. His strength drained rapidly, and he knew that he didn't have much time. Turning to Horst, he whispered, "Get Arya," then he fell, and the entire world turned black.
