Heritage
Author's Note: I've had this idea for awhile now. I finally put it down on paper. I hope you like it! Please, please, please let me know if the characters seem too OOC. They're going to obviously be a little OOC considering a few years have passed since Inheritance, but if it's major, please let me know! Thanks! :)
Chapter 1: The Enigmatic Visitor
Arya
What could possibly be better than this? Being in the air with Firnen was the one time Arya could let go and be herself. Not the Queen of the Elves. Not who everyone wanted her to be. She was completely free up here. Arya wondered if this was how Eragon felt on Saphira.
Firnen started laughing.
What? Arya asked. He was always teasing her. It was reciprocated, though, so it must be deserved.
You're thinking about Eragon, Firnen said, again.
Didn't he have anything better to talk about? Like the progress they've made in Ewayena? Or in Luthivira? No. He always talked about Eragon. Or Saphira.
I was just thinking of how great it is up here and if Eragon has always felt this way, Arya replied, even though she knew he knew why she was thinking of him. Although he probably hasn't always felt this way considering everyone was trying to kill him for a time.
I bet that's not the case now, Firnen said. Anyways, I'm just simply stating that out of all the dragon riders, you thought about Eragon.
Because he was the first one! Arya exclaimed. She wasn't about to let him win this one.
Firnen just smiled, amused. Keep telling yourself that.
She knew it was useless to argue with Firnen. Firnen always knew everything about her, normally before she herself accepted it. She had tried hard to hide her feelings for Eragon from him for the past five years to no avail. She sighed. She thought of him more each and every day. Even though five years was a blink of an eye for elves, it felt much longer without Eragon. He was her best friend, beside Firnen, and she didn't want to lose him.
It's not fair. You know me before I know myself! she complained.
We are partners of body and soul, Firnen replied. That's how it works.
Arya sighed. Well I won't see him again, so it doesn't matter.
Firnen recoiled. It does matter. Whoever makes you happy, makes me happy. That's another partners-of-body-and-soul trait
You're just saying that because of Saphira, Arya remarked.
Young'un, Firnen sighed, if you miss him so, let us go to him.
And leave? I would not abandon our country. Not when we've gotten so far on rebuilding what Galabatorix destroyed. No leaving, Arya said with finality.
It would only be for a week. The elves could live without us, and if they cannot, we really haven't helped to stand on their own two feet.
Arya stayed silent.
Promise me you'll think about it? Firnen asked.
Fine. But that's not a yes and it probably never will be.
The wind picked up. The elves were signaling them to come back.
It must be urgent, remarked Firnen. They've never called to us when we were in the Crags.
Arya sighed. It was hard every time she had to go back to the ground. We should go.
To see Eragon? Firnen asked, hopefully.
No! To see what all the commotion is about!
Alright, Firnen said regretfully.
As they neared the entrance, they noticed Nari, a tall elf with silver hair and a grand singing voice.
I don't like this, said Arya. The last time Nari came to our home, he was criticizing us.
Act with an open heart and mind, Young'un, Firnen reminded her. People look up to you now. You must control your temper.
I know.
When they landed, Nari bowed. Arya nodded.
What brings you to the Crags, Nari? asked Firnen.
Nari looked startled that Firnen remembered him. Arya tried to hide a smirk.
"W-well," Nari faltered, "y-you see, it's…"
"What is it?" Arya asked. Her patience was running thin.
Nari seemed to pack up some courage. "There's a girl here, Arya Drottning."
"What do you mean 'there's a girl here'?" Arya asked impatiently.
"I mean, she's not elven," Nari said, "at least, not as far as we can tell."
"Why did Gilderien ever let her in then?" Arya asked, referring to the guardian of Ellesmera.
Nari sighed. "No one knows. But she's demanding to see you. Immediately."
There's a twist, remarked Firnen. The queen is being summoned.
Ignoring Firnen, Arya asked, "Where, exactly, is this girl?"
"She's waiting for you, Arya Drottning. I can take you there."
Well, said Firnen stated, let us go meet this enigmatic vistor.
"Very well," said Arya.
Nari took the lead taking them through Ellesmera to her mother's old home. She had pointedly tried to avoid this place. Why would they put a stranger here?
"She's inside," Nari said, almost in a whisper.
Arya pushed through the door. Inside was a petite girl who had long hair that reminded Arya of Eragon. Her eyes were sharp and gray. Though she showed no outward appearance, rather than being human, Arya had a sense of something different about her. She didn't like it.
"Put that down!" Arya said, referring to the fairth of her mother.
The girl fumbled and put it back where it was found. She turned to Arya.
"What was it?" she asked, innocently enough.
"A fairth," Arya said, "of my mother."
"Who made it?" she asked. She was very inquisitive, wasn't she?
"My father, before I was born," Arya replied. Why did she need to know?
There was a spark in the girl's eye for a second. "Oh."
"What is your name, girl?" Arya asked.
The girl answered cautiously. "Jezebel."
"And what is your purpose here, Jezebel?"
Jezebel cleared her throat and smoothed out her cream colored dress. She took a deep breath.
"When the dark falls,
And the sun once again shines,
You shall reveal yourself in time;
For heritage runs in the veins,
And they'll not be wrong;
No help given,
Not one tip;
The long awaited secret will be shown,
As sure as fire, grass and water will make royalty."
Arya stared at Jezebel suspiciously.
"What is the meaning of this?" Arya commanded.
"That's what you're supposed to figure out," Jezebel replied quietly.
Irritated, Arya replied, "Do you just go around to random people giving them a riddle you yourself don't even know? In case you haven't noticed, Jezebel, I don't have time for a riddle. My country is in the middle of rebuilding what was lost to us. Your timing could not be worse. Now if you could please get out of my mother's house, I would appreciate it."
Jezebel looked like she had been struck. She silently walked by Arya out the door.
That was a little harsh, don't you think, Young'un? Maybe she really did have something important to say.
Oh, be quiet, Firnen, Arya said with little enthusiasm.
Arya turned and walked out of the house. She shut the door, spun around to continue down the road, and almost ran into a petite figure.
"Is there anywhere I could stay?" asked Jezebel.
You may stay with us, Firnen replied.
Jezebel looked hopeful. "Really?"
"No!" Arya said. "Absolutely not."
Jezebel's face fell.
Young'un…
"No it's alright," Jezebel said hurriedly before Arya could reply. "I'll just camp for the night. It shouldn't be that bad. I've grown up to it. I'll be fine. Seriously." She sounded like she was trying to convince herself more than anyone.
You will not be staying in our wonderful city and have to camp. I insist you spend your time with us. Just ignore Arya. I put her in a foul mood before we came.
"I guess…" Jezebel said, unsure.
Arya, what do you have to say for yourself?
"One night" was all Arya grumbled as she climbed onto Firnen's back. She looked down expectantly.
"Well are you coming or not?"
Jezebel looked startled. "Oh-Oh, oh yes!" she said beaming.
She climbed onto Firnen with ease.
"How di-" Arya shook her head, "Never mind. Hold on tight."
I hope you're sure about this girl, Arya said, quite accusingly.
Firnen's body shook. Don't worry. I am.
