Blödhthringa, translates to "Blood Rain", or as humans call her, Gwen (Since she found that they had a difficult time prouncing her name; she gave herself an alias), begins her tale in the White Castle Capital of the Varden. It has been little over a decade after the Varden's victory over the Empire. People have come to look upon that time period as the Black Age, with it having different meanings, differing from person to person. She was born to an Elven couple living in Ilirea, the city had reclaimed its old name; and as the races behind the Varden came closer as a result of their victory and hardship; many Elves and Dwarves live outside of their homes for at least a generation now. Even some being born outside of Du Weldenvarden and Farthen Dûr. Blödhthringa's parents are one such example, having been enticed by the human way of life, left Du Weldenvarden and moved to Ilirea. The two modeled their lives between a mixture of Elven and human customs, including that of lifelong marriages. As Elves were known to change their fancy with the wind, the couple remained steadfast and faithful; reeling in the impulsiveness of their race.
They even relinquished their previous convictions against meat. Blödhthringa's father, Caelin, began working in Castle Draumr, Ancient Language for dream, symbolizing the hopes and dreams of the Varden's past present and future. The name was appropriate to Blödhthringa, she quite enjoyed the word play. As their family's status improved, they moved closer to the Castle, to a small tower like home, that was fancy enough for them, modeled after the Elven style of building; but with a hint of human and Dwarf intervention. It wasn't anything necessarily considered a fancy mansion, but it was noble enough and was better equipped and well off than most homes.
Around the time their family moved up to Noble-Status, was around the time Blödhthringa was born. She grew up in the "Flowing Rock" Estate, the real name of the Estate was in the Ancient Language. It was a wordplay on the flowing nature of Elvin style of building, and the Rock was a play on the Dwarvish style of building into stone/the human way of bricklaying; as the Estate was a combination of the three.
It had two layers and an attic with a balcony. The first floor contained a lobby, kitchen, large bath, and other essentials, the second floor consisted of bedrooms and offices, and another bath. Blödhthringa's room was on this level, with the a door connecting her room to her own study. Outside had a tall rocky wall around the property line with a sliding white wrought iron bar gate and fencing in front of the wall. Two large fountains, surrounded by a beautifully and tenderly cared-for garden, flanked the gate and the intricate white, gold, and purple, the colors of the Varden, brick walkway. In the back a garden with trees a gazebo and an even larger fountain, and a small home at the back edge of the property, were the servants of the household lived.
Blödhthringa lived for around two decades before her mother fell ill. Blödhthringa was forced to watch the pain and sorrow on her father and mother's faces as she was bedridden, and for fear of others contracting it too, was moved to a secluded hospital were teams of healers worked tirelessly to save her. Seline was a Lady who served Lady Nasuada and instructed her at times. She was a brilliant and kind woman, Nasuada made sure to tell Blödhthringa that whenever the two met, which was always briefly. It was within 5 years when the unknown and incurable disease robbed her of her mother, and countless others. As swiftly as it had arrived, the disease faded and as unknown as it had come.
Blödhthringa's father's original luster faded and for some time, he was a shell of what he had become. He was given time off, appropriate due to how deep the Elves' emotions run. Blödhthringa tried to comfort her father, but she kept her distance, for she knew that she was practically a spitting image of her mother, her very presence could cause her father distress and pain. For this reason her father distanced himself from her and devoted himself to his job. Blödhthringa was saddened by the death of her mother and the "loss" of her father, dedicated herself to her growth and studies. It wasn't until 13 more years, on Blödhthringa's thirty eighth birthday, when her father and her made up. The two became closer than ever, her father apologized, but Blödhthringa didn't mind. She was just happy to have her father back.
When Blödhthringa began rounding her 50th decade, her father had her begin practicing magic, she had not been immersed in magic as long as the rest of her race due to her upcoming in Ilirea rather than Du Weldenvarden. She had many tutors, in magic and in academics many of which passed before she completed her tutelage.
It was around that same 50th decade that the Varden mourned the loss of Nasuada, who lived a long fruitful life and who had married Orrin in a diplomatic marriage between the Empire and Surda, combining the two under one rule. They had a son, and since Orrin has passed many moons before Nasuada, their only son succeeded the two to the throne. He had been prepared for it, he was a man in his own right, but a boy before the elves.
Blödhthringa hoped he would prove as good or even a shadow, of the leader Nasuada was; and hoped he gained her brilliance through her genetics. He proved to have her level head, however, for he did not gain the throne uncontested. One of Nasuada's rivals, a man in his 30th decade, who had opposed Nasuada, a man who had served the Black King and who did not accept it when Nasuada assumed the throne. Evidently, his affiliation with the Black King and traitor proved to be his downfall for he was swiftly beaten by election by Nilfiem, Nasuada and Orrin's son. Rorik, was the man's name, he and his companions left the city soon afterward, where they went or why, Blödhthringa knew not, but she had hoped (as did many others) they, along with the memories of the Black Age, would fade away and soon.
Blödhthringa rounded her hundredth decade when this story begins. She lives with her father, who had found her a teacher, a man in his 40th decade, considered wise beyond his years, considered a brilliant philosopher by the humans, who had lived in Dras Leona before her father hired him.
The man's name was Desmond, and he proved as brilliant and wise as the rumors, Blödhthringa found herself intrigued in their lessons and often drifted into her own thoughts; and found herself dwelling on them long after he had left that very day.
From what her father had told her, and from what was public knowledge, Eragon and his contingent had found land around the 3rd decade of Nasuada's rule, and had begun to hatch dragon eggs and found himself a hall for raising and training dragons and riders.
It was in the final decade of Nasuada's life, that Eragon had sent a ferry, containing 5 eggs and two elven riders that had Graduated Eragon's teachings.
They were regarded with warm welcomes and bombarded by many questions. They happily answered all they could and stayed until Nasuada's death, cut their visit short, two eggs had hatched for two humans; left the remaining three in Nilfiem's care, but not before ensuring that they would be cared for and looked after. The reason they had cut their visit short, was on the account to take the new dragons and their riders to Eragon to begin their training, and to inform Eragon of Nasuada's passing.
There is a network of mirrors that the Varden and former Queen if the Elves Izlandi, had set up during the Black War, connected with Eragon overseas, but apparently there is an interference between their connections, the connection is one way. They cannot reach Eragon, but Eragon can reach them. So to inform Eragon of Nasuda's passing, they would have to either, return to Eragon on his new continent, or wait for Eragon to contact them through the mirrors.
They said that they had yet to fully explore the vast continent that they had discovered which took 5 full days to traverse by boat, arriving on the continent by early morning on the 6th day. The first thing you notice is the tall trees and warm climate. The sandy beaches were blistering hot, almost as hot as the Hadarac Desert, but continuously cooled by wind coming from the sea. They searched for proper land to raise dragons, and found that the forest was teeming with familiar animals, deer and pigs alike, for it surprised them to find them in the wild. However, they did find dangers and unknown animals, such as bears and wolves, and combinations thereof. They found a clearing between the great jungle and the great forest beyond that, that led to the base of a continuous mountain range that made Farthen Dur look like a sapling next to the large trees of Du Weldenvarden. There, Eragon, Saphira and the Elves accompanying him sang magic into a hall they had built, still far from finished, but a beginning. Once they fully suited themselves there and warded as efficiently as they could, they tried the eggs and around four hatched. The two who came over with the eggs, were seniors of the other two.
They had departed the night Blödhthringa began her first lessons with Desmond. At first, he had become increasingly frustrated with her constantly losing herself in her thoughts, especially when he told her about dragons and the Black War. Eragon was her idol and she loved the Dragon Rider lore. She loved that, in the face of a monster like Galbatorix when he was but a baby in Elven terms, Eragon faced him with immense courage; showing his brilliance and strength.
Their lessons ended when her father would return home from work briefly, and would have a dinner and drink with Desmond. Blödhthringa joined them for dinner and occasionally joined them while they drinked. Of course, she did not partake, but only joined their conversations. However, she did not interrupt or insert herself, only speaking when she was spoken too, or when the situation arrived. Eventually, Desmond became used to her episodes and would snap his fingers in front of her face, snapping her out of it. Usually it was a chance that such a thing would snap her out of her episodes, but she found that he never failed to rouse her when he did it. She did not know why or how only he was able to snap her out of it, quite literally, like he does.
The tale of Blödhthringa begins on a cold winter day.