A/N: Book 4 fic. I've committed myself to a long grind, but if you don't like it tell me so I don't end up wasting my time. I'll try and update regularly, seeing how I have more motivation for this story than the other three I'm writing.
11/6/09
Dawn broke over Feinster belatedly that morning. The dust and ashes had not yet cleared from the night past, and indeed; some fires still raged. As did many matters of contention within the Varden.
The events that had unfolded only hours ago had shaped themselves as dilemmas of great importance, to be handled with care. Namely, the problem posed by the capture of Lady Lorana. After a brief conversation with Arya in the aftermath of the battle, Eragon had stumbled upon an idea. Remembering the declarations of the matriarch's guards, he had come to realize that the soldiers only served Galbatorix indirectly. It was only through the allegiance they had sworn their superiors that bound them to the king. But if Lorana was...eliminated, the soldiers would be freed of their bonds to her, and ergo, Galbatorix. And the Varden could always use additional troops.
The only reasons that her head hadn't parted company with her body were the question of the troop's future loyalty and of course, Eragon's ever-present moral quandary. They had assured the Lady upon her arrest they would deal with her in a civilized manner, but going back on such a promise would be trivial compared to what the Varden had to gain through it. Despite this, Eragon felt as if justifying a murder of convenience as a means to an end was past immoral; it was a step closer to becoming the embodiment of that which he hated most.
Arya, however, had been all to willing to wield the sword herself. "We cannot pass up the opportunity, Eragon," she had said. "An entire city's army would be a welcome addition to our ranks." This, while logical, was hard to stomach for him. There were too many undetermined variables for him to condone Lorana's execution, one being the question of the impressed troops' loyalty in battle. However, he grudgingly acknowledged Arya's position to be in the best interest of the Varden. He resolved to broach the subject to Nasuada and the Council of Elders for their opinions.
Which was why he stood alongside Arya this morning, making their case to those present in the command tent. Eragon sighed internally. Now I see what Oromis meant, remembering the elf's assertion that elves seldom agreed, even when guided by logic. He did consider himself an elf, for among what humans would he fit in? Indeed, since his transformation many of them looked upon him with disdain, fear even.
Jormunder's voice pulled him out of his reverie. "Eragon, Arya, we thank you for bringing this to our attention. If you had not, we would have thought of no alternative for the men we captured other than imprisonment or death. You may well have saved thousands of lives with your proposal." Eragon looked over at Arya. There was no sign upon her face that she had just been vindicated. The stone facade, as always, remained in place.
"When will the execution happen?" asked Eragon, relieved to hear of the soldiers. If the alternative was massacre of an entire army, he would much rather send Lorana to the gallows. He still had his doubts, however.
"It will have to be soon if Feinster's army is to travel us to Belatona. Nasuada?" Jormunder deferred.
"I don't believe it will take any more than a week to completely secure the city. We start our march then, so it will have to be very soon," she declared.
"And what of the soldiers? Will we force them to serve us and hope they don't rebel after they find out we killed their liege?"
Nasuada's eyes narrowed. "Do we have a choice, Eragon?"
"I may be of some assistance there," interjected Arya, her mouth in a curious half smile. "You remember how Blodhgarm cast the apparition of Eragon onto Saphira? We could project another—in the form of Lady Lorana—to her subjects. Using her as a mouthpiece, we could order her troops to do anything we like. If we can do this successfully, the soldiers will believe they are upholding their oath in the ancient language, and follow 'Lorana's' commands."
Everyone stared at her, mouths open. "That's…that's genius!" shouted Ellesari.
"And in this way," Arya continued, "we may not even have to kill Lorana. As long as she is kept away from the public eye and properly incarcerated, I don't foresee any problems."
Silence.
Nasuada spoke first, as usual, cutting off any possibility of the discussion getting sidetracked. "Well, this is quite the development. I propose to we take a vote on the matter, through I think I can predict the outcome."
This was the way Nasuada like to work. Quick, efficient, with no room for the pointless dithering that had been all too common in Borremeo Castle. If someone was going to speak, it had better take the conversation somewhere. Under this unspoken standard, meetings had run much more smoothly and Nasuada had been able to run a tight ship. This was good, because the Varden was not a bureaucracy. They just didn't have the time nor the money to waste. She might have come off sharp, even brusque at times, but it was an attitude born of necessity.
Nasuada set the vote into motion, and the decision to use Arya's idea passed uncontested. Lorana's head would not roll today.
The gathering dismissed shortly thereafter, but Eragon remained seated. He was confused by Arya's sudden change of heart, and also a bit irritated. She had gone to such lengths to have him concede that finding another solution wasn't worth the time, only to change tack at the last moment. What was it, then? A joke, a game for her? Just a little reminder that she held infinite sway over him? She had rejected him before, and he had thought that their friendship was mending. It was rather cruel in his mind for her to start toying with him now.
"Eragon," she called from the entryway, beckoning him over.
"Yes?" he forced himself to say pleasantly. Then, less pleasantly: "You were going to do that all along, weren't you?" Arya's face hardened for a brief moment then smoothed over again.
"Actually, no. Do you think I would have spent my effort debating with you yesterday if I knew I was going to argue on your side the next day? You are far too stubborn to make that fun," she said with a hint of a smile. "No, it was simply the only solution I felt comfortable with at the time."
"So, what, you're saying that you came up with your idea today during the meeting?" Arya shook her head slowly.
"Of course not. You know as well as I do that I am not a spontaneous person. No, I thought of that late last night when rest would not come when I bade it. I have been far too confident of my ways for too long, Eragon, as I have told you. But—but now, I have decided to take guidance from a friend." Her voice wavered. "A friend that I have found in you, Eragon." No sooner than she had gotten the words out, she was gone.
Eragon walked back to his chair in a fuzz and plopped down. He did not get up for a very long time.
And… Saphira intoned, what do you make of it?
I don't know what to, Saphira, he replied. That's why I came to you, he added.
It seems to me you have had more impact on her than you know, said Saphira, blowing a puff of smoke into the humid coastal air. They were flying high over the flat plains between Feinster and Belatona, having been sent by Nasuada on a scouting mission about an hour ago.
How do you figure? asked Eragon. There was a long pause, with only the gentle whoosh of air past Saphira's wings.
Do you truly no know or do you just want another to acknowledge it?
I—I, he faltered. I do not know. However much time we may spend in her company, however well you might be able to read her, I will never understand Arya.
Oh, Eragon. Do not be so bitter. She gave the mental equivalent of a sigh. Listen, because I will only say this once. Do not take it as an opportunity to confront her, either. She thought of her idea solely because of you. Arya does not know everything about you, either, so she tried to see things through your eyes this once. She changed her entire thought process for you, just trying to understand your perspective.
You're saying that she tried to understand me, by being me?
Yes. And quite some good came of it, too.
How do you know all of this? he asked suspiciously.
I asked Arya, she replied nonchalantly. Eragon choked on the grape he was eating.
And she just spilled all of that? he demanded, incredulous. Arya was definitely not one to share her thoughts, especially after all she had told him today alone.
With a little bit of persuasion, yes, smirked Saphira.
Shall I dare ask what?
Probably not.
Fair enough. Look, I think we've arrived. And indeed they had. In the hazy air, there was Belatona, a smudge on the edge of vast Leona Lake. Eragon stowed his lunch in a saddlebag and grasped one of Saphira's spikes.
Take us down.
A/N: Suckish? Flames are welcomed.