A/N: Here is the compelling conclusion (in my opinion ;) to The Cycle Continues. If you are reading this note and have not yet read Parts One, Two, and Three of The Cycle Continues, go find them and read them first. Then this will make sense! They are respectively entitled Reunited, Beauty and the Beast, and Full Circle.
I have finally finished my personal revisions of Part Four. Lucky for you, if you're reading this for the first time, you'll never know the difference. As with all of the other parts, one of the biggest changes I made was in the discussion and portrayal of intimate love. Such scenes are much briefer, less detailed, and tamer, and I have included A/Ns at the end of preceding chapters to warn readers who may want to bypass the mature love scenes. For the sake of flow and pacing, I have also removed several chapters that once told yet another love story. Consequently, this listing is now nearly 40,000 words shorter than what I originally posted. Hope it helps! Thanks for your continued interest! ~Autumn :)
1. Time in the Meadow
Time in the meadow passed impossibly quickly. Arya let Hanin and Maehrí hold Brom before they left for the Isle the next morning.
"You should have seen how effortlessly he took to Eragon last night," Arya bragged, addressing all of the Riders. "Eragon is the sweetest father. Your fearless leader will provide an unerring example in yet another way. Brom was perfectly content to sleep on his chest after being soothed to sleep by a sweet lullaby. Similar to me."
Eragon laughed, and everyone joined him when he contributed, "We also determined that he inherited my fondness for her breasts. He never let go the rest of the night after we finally stopped talking. Or after I finally stopped talking, I should say. Anyway, I've never had a turn that long. I told Arya how indescribable it was to fall in love so quickly, and I'm excited for the rest of you men to have the same experience when the time comes to meet your babies."
It was a welcome picture for each of his brothers to anticipate, since they knew their futures would bring them all to the same place of joy by the end of the year. Hanin and Maehrí left not long after.
For another ten days, Murtagh, Nasuada, and Elva remained in the meadow. Nasuada and Elva had many opportunities to hold Brom, who remained as content and happy as at first. Murtagh even once accepted the invitation to hold his tiny nephew, who was just then starting to fit the small outfit Angela had given Eragon and Arya on their wedding day. Brom favored him by opening his eyes when Murtagh spoke to him in the sing-song baby voice they all unconsciously adapted.
"I do believe they're becoming greener," Murtagh observed with a delighted grin as the baby looked at him with alert eyes. "My voice must sound enough like Eragon's for him to be so comfortable with me." It was obvious that, whatever the reason, Murtagh was extremely gratified the baby had shown him such an honor.
When his turn was over because Brom needed to return to his mother, Murtagh returned his hands to Nasuada's womb, his expression revealing his excitement for the time when he would have such a tiny creature to hold as often as he was able, though he knew his child would be a daughter.
When Brom was nearly two weeks old, and Nasuada was thirty weeks pregnant, they decided to return to Ilirea, and they left with many promises to scry frequently as the time for the birth approached and to keep all the others abreast of the situation with the Urgal king.
Once Thorn was finally out of sight, the four remaining members of the party looked at one another.
"Down to five from thirteen when we left Ellesméra," Willow commented. Her womb was now larger than Arya's had been right before Brom was born, and she was leaning into Varhog, who looked as if he wished he could hold her. But even that was getting hard for Willow since she couldn't bend at the waist as easily. "And that's after one joined us from the heavens and two took his place there. What amazing experiences we've had in this meadow. I'll always remember our time here." She had her hands resting on the shelf of her belly, and her babies moved noticeably.
"They're getting so big," Arya said. "How are you feeling, Willow? Why don't we go sit down? We've all just had breakfast, including Brom. Would you like to hold him?"
Willow laughed as she began moving in the direction of the four logs. "Yes, they are getting big. I hope all this time spent squished together will encourage them to be friends."
Arya invited, "Come into the cottage. You're sure to be more comfortable on the sofa."
Willow nodded gratefully, changing directions and continuing to respond to Arya's questions, "I feel wonderful. Really. Just more and more awkward every day. I can't believe I still have ten more weeks if I carry them to full term. I don't know how my belly will stretch that much. I'm already getting the most attractive stretch marks all over my skin. I'm sure Varhog will just love that once the babies are born."
"You know I don't care, Eartheyes," Varhog insisted. "You're the most beautiful woman in existence, though I know Firesword would disagree. I'm so grateful that you don't hate me and how your body is necessarily changing so much to grow my babies."
Willow smiled at him. "No, sweetheart. I'll never hate you. And I'm honored for the opportunity to grow your babies. They'll be strong and handsome like you, if they're sons. And in answer to your last question, Arya, I'd love to hold Brom, if you're willing to relinquish yours."
They sat and conversed in the small sitting room of Ellei-an's cottage. Willow held Brom until he began squirming, and Eragon helped him go potty. When he came back Eragon said, "Did I tell you that Brom first relieved himself on me? That was funny." He handed Brom to Arya because the baby had been attempting to eat Eragon's shoulder on the way back. "He seems to be hungry again, my love."
"Look how he's finally starting to fill out," Arya proudly said as she began nursing her son.
"It's true," Willow agreed. "I was thinking he's actually starting to look chubby. He's so darling. I think Murtagh was right that his eyes will be green. How do you suppose his and Nasuada's daughter will look? I'm sure she'll be stunning. She'll no doubt have some combination of their skin, so maybe light brown. What if she got his eyes? That would be striking. Not quite as nice as yellow and gray, but I'm a little biased." She smiled as she looked over at Varhog, who returned her expression in like manner.
"There's no appearance lovelier than brown eyes, fair skin, and brown hair," Varhog returned. "I hope our babies will have all three."
"Our babies will have the most potential for interesting combinations, won't they?" Willow mused. "I wonder if they'll grow horns. What would a mix of gray and ivory skin be like? I suppose a blend of our eyes would be nice. Some kind of golden brown or something like that. Can you believe we get to meet them so soon, Yelloweyes?"
Varhog smiled again as she used his nickname and replied, "When you used to call me that on the Isle, I never believed I'd one day be your husband, with you expecting my babies. I'm more excited than I can say for that time, Eartheyes. But I'm worried about you and your comfort in the coming weeks of travel. I've been meaning to bring it up with Firesword and Arya."
Varhog turned to the other couple, who had been partly listening to Willow's and Varhog's exchange while keeping most of their attention on Brom.
On hearing himself addressed, Eragon looked up and said, "We're listening."
"For Willow's sake, I want to return to our village as soon as possible," Varhog began. "Are you both still set on staying here another week? I know Willow doesn't want to leave you, but I've also thought you might not object to some time alone as a family, when you know no one else will secretly be wishing to hold Brom and you won't feel like you have to entertain guests. How would you feel about us going on ahead? Or perhaps leaving earlier?"
"I have no objections to leaving earlier," Arya said. "I get so much time with Brom that it's not as hard as I thought to give him up for a few minutes. Especially since I know I'll get him back so soon when he's next hungry. Thank goodness he likes to eat so often. It might be slightly harder in Ellesméra where all of the elves will surely want to hold the former queen's baby, and since he'll be the only baby there. It's so different from Varhog's village, where it sometimes seems there are more babies than arms to hold them. What do you think, Eragon? Would you object to leaving earlier than I originally planned?"
"Of course not, my love," Eragon said. "You know I don't. I'll follow you wherever you go, Arya, whenever you want to go there. You know you're really the one in charge here." He smiled at her amused expression of agreement.
"That was easy," Arya said. "Well, there you have it, Varhog. We'll go whenever you're ready. I have the sling to carry Brom in, and we also thought of some wards to cast around our dragons' backs to keep him from falling, so that will be an extra reassurance, though I really don't think we'll have much to worry about. When would you like to go?"
"Willow is twenty-nine, almost thirty weeks along," Varhog said. "I've tried to be generous in my estimates, knowing how uncomfortable it is for her to sit so long in a hard saddle, and I truly think it will take a month of flying to get back home. If we can leave tomorrow, that would be my preference. We'll stop for a couple of days in Ellesméra to get her armor from Rhunön and be on our way again as soon as we can."
"We can be ready by tomorrow," Arya said. "Raising a baby the Urgralgra way requires nothing but a way to carry him about attached to my body and my breasts. So easy. Nothing fancy. Just the way nature intended, I'm sure."
"Thank you," Varhog earnestly said. "Since I'm responsible for getting her this way, I want to do my best to ensure that Willow is as comfortable as she can be. As the weather grows warmer, that will also be a consideration. I'll feel much better when we're safely back in my village with my mother and sisters all around to help."
"I completely understand, my friend," Eragon said.
"Thank you, Varhog," Willow said. "You're always so thoughtful of me. I can make it through this next month knowing I have you to look after me." She placed a hand over her belly where a large lump pressed out. "They're wrestling again," she said with a laugh.
Varhog put his hand over the area. "Or dancing," he joked. Then he leaned down to kiss her belly, careful that his horn nearest Willow would not graze her body.
Arya smiled at the exchange. "I love watching you," she remarked. "I'm grateful Willow helped me overcome my misconceptions about Urgals. I've learned so much from you, Varhog, and your people's ways. I'm honored to call you brother." Varhog murmured his thanks, and Arya continued, "There's really not much to do. We might as well spend the rest of the day relaxing. Won't you two join us for lunch?"