Birth of Hope
I'm sorry about how long it's taken me to upload this chapter. I didn't have much time to write the past couple of weeks, and I also wanted to get some information about childbirth to help me write this chapter informatively. I turned out learning some stuff I never wanted to know, but finding nothing on what I needed to know, and I had written a lot planned around this, so I had to rewrite the chapter. I promise I will post something at least stating how much longer I'll be working on a chapter if I run longer than two weeks again.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Inheritance cycle, or any of the characters. CP does.
The sun was low in the sky, with perhaps half an hour before dusk, when Horst's tent came into view. The clearing grew quiet as everyone looked toward them with transfixing gazes, tracing their movements. Why do they have to look at me like that? He thought, suddenly feeling self-conscious.
It's because they're unsure of how they should look upon us. I could growl at them if you wish. Saphira stated as she landed roughly, jarring anyone nearby. Then curling up as her rider made his way beside her, and asking. Are you going to assist them?
Not unless I'm absolutely needed, it would be for the best. He stated before explaining to her the matters of propriety and honor in child birthing. How a woman's honor was greatly tied to her bearing children and of how improper it was for any man besides her husband to be present in the delivery, except in the case their physician was a man. She then suggested asking one of their female guards to help. That would be no better, he replied, for a stranger to be present in the delivery would be almost an insult to the rest of the villagers; taking away from the sense of community. He himself feeling much more like a stranger than a fellow villager to them of late. Bah, she snorted, you humans and your propriety, you can be just as bad as elves. He chortled lightly at that. Though, in case you are needed you should at least offer your help. She suggested.
I don't know how much help I could be. Because of the little time he had to train in Ellesméra, and everything that he needed to learn, pregnancy and childbirth was the least he knew on anatomy. He made his way to the front of the tent though, where he found Ann Marie tutoring several other women on what tasks they would need to perform later. Ann Marie was an elderly lady, with graying light brown hair and about a quarter of a foot shorter than him, who held up the etiquette of their village with a strict, but malicious attitude. She always abhorred Eragon because he was a bastard child. "And what can we do for you, Eragon?" She still spoke with the same hint of disdain that she always used when scolding him in some way back in Carvahall, maybe even more so since he left, which actually pleased him somewhat. "I came to offer my help if needed." He said.
"Help with magic?" Exaggerating the word as if it were something profane, which was how many thought of magic back in the village. He took a breath, gathering himself to explain as tactfully as possible the truth of magic when another elder from the village, Tessia cut in. "Come now Ann Marie, we know better than that now after seeing the things done here with magic. Your offer is greatly appreciated Eragon, but I think it best not to unless necessary."
"Of course ma'am." He said respectfully.
He made his way back to Saphira and Baldor, taking much longer than it should've for him to move about a hundred feet because everyone who thought to greet him, and he found someone else had joined them, Roran and Katrina. "It's good to see you've finally arrived." Eragon said as he walked over, sitting against Saphira.
"Well, I had a patrol to command, and I only just finished an hour ago." He replied. Katrina greeted Eragon, Saphira, and Baldor, but then she headed to the tent to offer her help and also so she could learn anything she should know for her own pregnancy. "Are you nervous about the prospect of being a father?" Eragon asked Roran after Katrina had walked away.
"With everything that's going on, how could I not be?" He responded leaving Eragon slightly abashed. A bit of curiosity came from Saphira and she reached for Roran's mind, he impressed them with how quickly he established a defense before realizing it was Saphira and let her ask, How much longer will it be before your hatchling arrives?
"It typically takes about nine months for a baby to be born, so a little while yet." He answered aloud provoking a perplexed look from Baldor and causing Eragon to chuckle. "Saphira asked me a question about Katrina's pregnancy." He explained. They continued to speak lightly on such things, and with a few other villagers who wanted to speak with Eragon, as night took over the day. Baldor was speaking on the Varden's impending departure for Beltona when Eragon caught the aroma of crushed pine needles, standing out to him among the many other scents, announcing the arrival of Arya. Eragon stood and greeted her, "It's good to see you today, Arya, how are you?"
She smiled lightly, answering, "I am well, thank you Eragon." She in turn greeted Roran and Baldor before joining them.
"So, you now have the title of Shadeslayer too?" Baldor asked.
"I do, in all truth though, if not for Eragon I wouldn't have been able to slay Varaug." She replied.
"Well I wouldn't have slain Durza if not for you and Saphira, so you should've earned the title back then too." He said thinking of the moment when she and Saphira flew through the shards of Isidar Mithrim, her hair billowing and Saphira breathing fire for the first time. I have to make of fairth of that sometime. He thought.
I was quite the magnificent sight, wasn't I? Saphira proudly said.
Were and are, my majestic blue dragon. He told her, making her hum contently.
"What were the shades like?" Baldor asked, "We've heard many things about them in stories, but I assume much of that was as skewed as the things we heard about dragons, and riders, and elves."
"Unfortunately, most of the things told of them are true." Eragon stated, remembering what Brom had told during his narratives back in Carvahall. "They're appearance and strength is much what we heard, the only way of killing them though, is by stabbing them in the heart, which makes it a difficult feat. They are created when a sorcerer is possessed by the spirits they conjure, whether by accident such as with Durza, or intentionally, as with Varaug."
"It can happen by accident?" Roran asked.
"It can, a sorcerer might summon spirits too strong for them to control and be overtaken by them, which is largely the reason that sorcery is one of the most perilous forms of magic." He answered while shifting more comfortably against Saphira. He looked about the clearing, examining everyone there in the low light provided by many small fires. The low light didn't bother him at all though, he could easily make out everybody from Fisk and his wife, Albriech sitting with some men Eragon didn't recognize, Nolla helping serve food around, Aramen, a young solitary man Eragon's age, talking with a pretty lady Eragon didn't recognize, then his eyes fell on Joed and his wife Helen. A twinge of unease coursed through him as he thought. What did I forg- stopping mid-thought as he realized what it was, I forgot to tell Saphira!
Forgot to tell me what? She interrupted.
Please don't be mad but I kind of offered to let Joed fly on you a bit for everything he had done for us.
She growled and replied, Where you going to tell me at all, or just sneak him on my back when I wasn't looking?
I'm sorry Saphira, I just had a lot on my mind with Roran's wedding the next day, I forgot.
She relented a bit saying, Well, I won't mind it, but he has to agree to tell me of when he and Brom rescued my egg from Galbatorix's clutches.
Eragon, suddenly piqued with interest, said, I would certainly like to hear that as well.
Then perhaps I will tell you, if I don't forget. She teased back at him, making him smile.
"What's going on?" Baldor suddenly asked. Eragon realized he must've noticed him conversing with Saphira, but before he could say anything, Roran answered for him. "He's talking with Saphira, get use to it."
"He does appear lost when they're talking." Arya added with a small smile. He tried to grimace in reply, but in the humor, he turned out grinning sheepishly. They fell silent after a couple of minutes and Eragon laid his head back, gazing at the stars and determining the compass directions by their patterns, when he felt a presence touch his mind, he immediately emptied his mind of all but the image of one bright star and prepared to counter when he realized it was Arya. He glanced at her, but she was just looking to the heavens as well, betraying nothing of her psychic probing. Yes Arya? He asked after lowering his defense to speak with her.
I was curious on Glaedr's condition. Has there been any change? She asked.
Eragon suddenly felt sorrowful, No, I tried speaking with him this morning but he just continues on. I wish he would let us talk with him though, maybe then we could help him.
Yes, that would be for the better. She stated and Eragon could hear, as well as feel, her take a breath and clearing something stirring deeper in her mind. The grief of someone close being torn away is never a good thing to keep inside. Eragon held himself back as he realized she was thinking of Fäolin.
It's not as simple as that. Saphira joined in, Oromis was part of his own mind, his identity, now he has to continue without that, it may take some time for him to overcome the loss. They ended their conversation and Eragon noticed Roran looking at him curiously, Eragon just smiled slightly at him, not wanting to broach the topic of his mentors anymore. They continued to sit there silently, Roran and Baldor looking at the fire, Arya gazing at the stars, and Eragon trying to keep himself distracted from her by doing likewise until a loud moan pierced their musings. Everyone looked toward Horst's tent and the ladies who were bustling around, making certain everything was ready for the babe, and Birgit announcing the progress. "The child shouldn't be much longer now." Arya commented.
"Have you attended any childbirths before Arya?" Roran asked.
"Yes eleven, most were while I was with the Varden in Farthen Dûr, but two were in Ellesméra." She answered, gaining a surprised look from Baldor.
"Alanna and Dusan." Eragon said. She looked at him with a blank expression, concealing what Eragon guessed was surprise, then smiled lightly and said, "Yes, twelve years ago, I didn't realize you had met them."
"Hardly, I just saw them last I was in Ellesméra with Rhunön-elda." He replied.
"Ellesméra and Farthen Dûr, what are they like?" Roran asked after a moment.
"Ellesméra is the capital of our nation and lies deep within Du WeldenVarden, unlike the other races, we elves have integrated ourselves into our environment with magic." She explained, "Farthen Dûr is of the Beor mountain range, and it houses Trojehiem, the great mile high marble city and capital of the dwarves."
"And that's where you slew Durza." Roran said to Eragon.
"It's hard to believe sometimes, everything that's happened, and everything you've done." Baldor said.
"Well all of you have done things just as amazing. Fending off Empire soldiers and the Ra'zac, and crossing the Spine as well." Eragon replied.
"You could've done that Eragon. You were never too scared of the Spine." Baldor stated.
"Well," Roran interjected with a smile, "that wasn't always so." Eragon moaned inwardly, knowing the story about to be told. Saphira was curious and asked him about it, but he just said, Listen and you'll hear all about it. "Eragon went into the Spine to hunt for the first time when he was thirteen," Roran started, "he was very successful and amazed everyone in the village by it. He boasted quite a bit over his feat and became overconfident. The next time though, while he was stalking some deer, he unknowingly snuck up on a sleeping buck, startled, it leapt up, swung it's head around, hitting Eragon in the head with it's antlers and knocking him unconscious." Arya and Saphira both burst out laughing then, joined quickly by Roran and Baldor, catching everyone's attention. They laughed on for a good minute while Eragon sat feeling rather sheepish, then after their mirth died down a bit, Saphira said, It's a good thing I hatched for you, little one, I'll keep you safe from the wild deer. They proceeded to talk lightly for a while, exchanging stories and commenting on each others adventures until an agonized scream pierced the night, causing the entire clearing to grow still with anticipation, hoping to hear the bawling of a newborn baby. "How much longer do you think it will take?" Baldor wondered aloud.
"It is never a certain thing, but it shouldn't take to much longer." Arya said.
"Oh, that'll be good." He stated, then said after a moment, "So this is your twelfth birthing to attend, it's kind of hard to believe for one as young as yourself." Eragon immediately grinned in amusement at Baldor's ignorance of Arya's true age.
She smirked lightly before saying, "You're confusing appearance with age, one thing commonly stated of elves that's true is long life, I'm actually quite older than I appear."
"Oh," Baldor exclaimed dumfounded, then continued slowly, "how, um, how old are you, if you don't mind me asking?"
"I'm actually a hundred and four years old." She answered, leaving Baldor gaping in astonishment.
"A hundred!" He spat after a moment. "It's, it's just hard to believe."
"I know, the thought of such a lifespan seems almost to vast." Eragon said.
"Does it have something to do with magic, is that how Galbatorix has lived so long?" He asked.
"Yes, and no," Arya answered, "we were once at war with the dragons, and as a means of peace, we made a magical pact to bind our races, so war would not easily break out between us again, and we established the riders as keepers of this peace. We both were changed as a result of our binding however. For the dragons, they became tamer, and acquired the common use of language, as well as other smaller changes. Us elves though, were changed greatly. Our lives stretched on continually, and we developed greater strength and grace as the pact welded stronger between us. For those who become riders, however, they become stronger and gain greater longevity still, as they become most closely joined with the dragons."
As she spoke about the effects on the two races from the pact, Eragon couldn't help but comment to Saphira, I wonder from which of them the vanity came from. She just snorted in response. Baldor was looking at Eragon now with a look of amazement that made Eragon a little uneasy and asked, "Does this mean that you also will live on...forever?"
"Well," Eragon started his reply, "no one has yet to live forever, but pretty much, as long as sword or sickness doesn't take us, Saphira and I will endure."
Baldor looked thoughtful before looking to Arya again and asking, "You said after the pact occurred that you gained such a lifespan. What about us, humans? Has it changed us much?"
"It has," she answered, "humans before were apparently much like the elves were before the pact, although more belligerent than we ever were, and their typical lifespan was about sixty to seventy years. After they joined the pact, the human race became tamer, stronger, and their lives began to last longer. Although, since the fall, all of us have become less than we once were." Baldor was about to say something more, but as he started to speak, Elain's scream rose louder and more piercing, so much it made Eragon want to claw at his ears. Everyone once again became mute, waiting to hopefully hear a baby now, but as her cries died down there were no baby's to replace hers. They sat there for a few minutes, letting a little silence creep in between them, until Eragon couldn't take the only sound being Elain's cries. "Are you nervous about being a big brother, other than with everything that's going on?" He asked, trying to avoid the same response from him as from Roran.
"Well, no," he replied, "the thing I worry about most is their health, actually. Do you remember little Cindrea? She nearly died and she was two then, and that was in the village, not in such a mass where sickness could easily break out."
"Aye," Eragon replied, "but, you'll have me and several others who could easily help heal such ailments, it won't be as bad as it was in the village."
"It never was bad in the village," Roran commented, "I mean, I can't remember but a few who died of sickness, including you Eragon, when you nearly died."
"When was this?" Arya asked suddenly.
"Yes, when was that?" Eragon asked, not remembering.
"It was when you were a baby, mother used to talk about it all the time." Eragon began to remember it as he continued. "You had the flu or something, and mother and father took you to Gertrude and you got better. She said it was a miraculous recovery though, they were afraid you wouldn't make it."
"I remember now," Eragon said, "she told me I may have not gotten better and Gertrude wasn't sure herself, then overnight I seemed to recover from it." He sat in thought for a few moments before saying, "I wonder, I wonder if Brom may have had something to do with it." Finishing with a small grin.
"Maybe so," Arya said, "being your father he would want to see his son safe and healthy." Eragon started to go over as much of his life in Carvahall as he could think of, wondering if his father had intervened at any other point without him realizing it.
"That's another thing I find hard to believe," Baldor started, but before he said anymore, Roran cut him off.
"Katrina! Is everything alright?" He asked apparently able to see something was wrong by just looking at her. After Eragon looked more closely, he could see it too. She held more tension in her bearing than was usual. She tried to smile after reaching them, but it was quite flat, and her eyes betrayed the worry she was concealing on the whole.
"Elain is having some trouble," she started after greeting them, "Gertrude isn't sure how bad it might be, but Ann Marie is encouraging Horst to just continue on until she does." Eragon grimaced, he understood Horst's position wasn't an easy one, and Ann Marie being so stubborn in upholding formalities that she might endanger their health like this frustrated him. "Eragon, you have to help." She finished. Baldor looked to him almost desperately and Eragon noticed once again that many in the clearing were gazing at them. He hesitated however, feeling unsure of what to do, What's wrong little one? Saphira asked.
I don't think I should be the one to help Elain, I could just make things worse, he thought, but Arya wouldn't. "I don't think I should be the one helping Elain." He voiced aloud, hardly more than a whisper as he had a tough time admitting so before his friends.
"Mother needs your help Eragon, if not you, then who?" Baldor exclaimed. Eragon looked to Arya in response and Baldor looked slightly worried, Arya, however, looked impassive as she spoke, "It's true I would be able to help, but I don't think my help would be accepted." She also reached and spoke telepathically to Eragon, I could remain in contact with you as to help with her delivery.
But I wouldn't understand it, and it would be easy to make a mistake endangering them. He replied mentally, and spoke aloud. "I will speak with Horst and convince him to let you help," Eragon met Baldor's worried gaze, "she is the best person to help your mother, I don't know enough about pregnancy and could cause more harm than good if I tried anything." He said to reassure him. Baldor looked at Arya, back at Eragon, then his gaze shifted around the clearing until it fell on Albriech who was now standing behind Katrina, he nodded to his brother before looking back at Eragon and Arya saying, "Please help however you can."
Eragon made his way to the tent with Arya close behind him and Blödgarm had moved toward the tent also, no doubt curious of their actions. He was highly aware of every eye on him that was making him feel very nervous and self-conscious. It's okay little one, don't fret over their gawking. Saphira said comforting him.
Thank you, Saphira. He replied as he came near the tent and Tessia, watching their approach, said, "Eragon, it appears we might need your help after all."
"That may not be true." Ann Marie, who just stepped out of the tent, stated.
"Marie, she is not doing well, it would be best to take whatever help we can get for her. All formalities aside, this is what's best for her and the baby." Tessia countered.
"We have lost everything, our homes and land, the least we could do is keep our traditions, or do they not matter anymore either." She exclaimed making Tessia seem a bit abashed.
Eragon thought he should say something, "I would not have to betray our traditions, but we are talking about Elain and her child's life. Certainly they're worth setting etiquette aside to save." He said, causing Ann Marie to relent slightly.
"Perhaps." She stated.
"Marie, Elain needs help, and even though it's improper, Eragon is the best person to give that help." Tessia said and Ann Marie seemed to relent a little more.
Eragon thought he should correct what Tessia said and told them. "It may be improper, but if Elain needs help, then it should be the best person to help her, that is why it's not me who should go in but Arya." He finished introducing her to the elders. Tessia expressed shock while Ann Marie appeared angered and she said, "Going against what's proper isn't enough, now you want to go against the village and bring in a stranger, not only to our village, but to our race! You go to far Eragon." Eragon could hear Saphira growling back where she lay and his temper was beginning to turn hot.
"I'm trying to do what's best for Elain and the baby." He stated in a controlled voice.
"Why can you not help her, Eragon?" Tessia questioned.
"I'm not as capable of helping them as she would be, and I trust her to do so." He answered, while speaking the last bit to Ann Marie.
Ann Marie glanced at Arya with distrust and replied, "You'll dishonor Elain by bringing a stranger in like this."
"Would you allow harm come to her and the child just because you're unwilling to do what's necessary?" He asked, at this point wanting to provoke her.
"You wrong me." She said, "I would never let harm befall anyone of my village."
"Then let us help." He said, pushing past her into the tent to speak with the one she couldn't override, Horst. He heard gasps, as well as felt the surprise, from behind him as he entered the tent. He saw Elain laying on a cot toward his left, with Gertrude tending to her. Isold was standing on Elain's right with a cloth in her hand, and Calitha was on the right side of the tent over a pale of water. Horst was on Elain's left side, with his back to Eragon. Gertrude looked to Eragon and asked, "Eragon, have you come to help?"
"Of course he has." Horst interjected, "It's good you came lad, we're in need your help."
"Horst, it's not me who should help here. I simply don't know enough about child bearing to be of much use to you, but my friend, Arya, can help." Eragon turned, opening the tent flap for Arya to come in, eliciting a reaction from Calitha and Isold, and Ann Marie followed in shortly behind. Horst glanced at Arya, and looked back to Eragon and asked, "Are you sure lad?"
"I am, she has been my closest friend for a while now, and I would trust no one to do better." Eragon said glancing at Arya before returning to Horst. Horst was staring at the ground, apparently struggling in thought, for almost a minute.
Horst glanced at Ann Marie, then to Arya and asked slowly, "Can you help my wife?"
"Yes, I have helped with a few deliveries before and am skilled with magic." She stated plainly. Horst looked to Ann Marie then back at Arya again.
"Then please do so." He said firmly.
"Horst!" Ann Marie started, but Horst cut her off saying, "If anyone questions the dishonor of this, let them question me, cause I'm asking for their help now." This seemed to silence her and she withdrew herself from the tent.
"Okay, I'm going to need your help over here now." Gertrude said, "Eragon, wait outside please." Eragon gave Arya a quick glance, then looked to Horst.
"Everything will be alright Horst, she knows what she's doing." He said before leaving, hoping everything would be.
He left the tent and started back to Saphira, highly aware of all the awestruck gazes upon him, when Blödhgarm stopped him, saying. "Eragon-elda, I wanted to commend you for taking such action as you did. Even against such opposition as those to whom you belong with." Eragon wasn't sure which part of what Blödhgarm had said surprised him more, that he used such an honorific suffix as elda for him, or that he addressed him by his name.
"I thank you Blödhgarm for honoring me so, but I don't feel as if I belong anymore." Eragon said.
"I don't believe that's so, Shadeslayer." Blödhgarm stated. "You are no longer the person you once were in their eyes, but you are still one from Carvahall to them." Eragon smiled his silent gratitude to him.
When Eragon made his way back to the others, Albriech and Baldor jumped up and inquired of their mother. "Arya is with her now, and I'm certain she can help no matter how bad things are." He told them wishing for it to be true. He took his place by Saphira and continued speaking with Roran and Katrina, while Albriech and Baldor resigned to wait in silence. They didn't have to wait long, about half an hour later, Birgirt announced the birth of a baby girl. Arya left the tent and made her way over by them with joy in her eyes as she did. Horst came out moments later, beaming joyfully toward the bundle of cloth he held in his arms and showing her to everybody present. Baldor and Albriech were quickly by their father's side, meeting their baby sister, while Eragon followed Roran and Katrina over to Horst.
"She's so precious." Katrina stated as she first glimpsed her. Baldor held her for a moment, smiling at his baby sister before passing her to Albriech and then back to Horst, who afforded Roran and Katrina a closer view. "What shall you name her?" Roran asked.
"Hope, Hope shall be her name." Horst answered in a voice clogged with emotion. Horst then turned to Eragon, giving him his first view of the baby. She was so small, with bright blue eyes and wispy light brown, almost blonde, hair. Her eyes captivated Eragon for a moment, So innocent. He thought. "Thank you Arya." Eragon suddenly heard Horst say, he looked up to see Arya smiling brightly at them and she answered, "You are most welcome, nothing is more important in all the world than our children. For they are our future."
"Aye, that they are." Horst replied looking at his baby, then glancing at Albriech and Baldor before returning his attention to the others gathering around for a chance to meet the newcomer.
Eragon walked back to Saphira, glad that everything had turned out alright, except for perhaps his reputation among the villagers after having stood up to an elder the way he did, but it was for the best. He rubbed Saphira's side, letting his love flow between their connection, To think, you weren't much bigger when you first hatched. He said to her.
Maybe, but I'm much bigger now, and I'm the one who holds you. Little one. She replied, with a slight teasing to her voice.
He chuckled lightly at her and stood silent for a moment in thought about Hope. She's sweet. He thought slowly, unable to think of any other words for her. An idea began to form in his mind and he was mulling over it until Arya made her way over to him. "It was good she had my help. They may have not made it otherwise." She stated.
"Was it really that bad?" He asked.
"Yes," she answered, "they wouldn't have survived if not for you."
"Me." He said bemused, "You were the one who helped them."
"But if not for your insistence they wouldn't have had the help they needed. It was very good of you to take the stance you did." She commented to him with a light smile and her eyes betraying her pride in him.
"Thank you Arya," He replied with a smile of his own, "I wish there was more I could've actually done for them however." His eyes drifted off slightly as he became thoughtful again.
"Do you have something in mind?" She asked.
Am I that easy to read? Eragon thought to himself as he replied, "I have an idea, I'll tell you more about it tomorrow. I should know by then if I'm able to make it."
"I could be of assistance if your struggling with it." She offered.
"Thanks, but I want to try and figure this one out myself. We'll talk tomorrow?" He asked.
"Yes," She said, "It's late and I'm tired. Tomorrow then." With that, she turned and left for her tent. Eragon looked to the stars and judged the hour to be about midnight, We should get some rest too. he said to Saphira, and they took off for his tent.
After Eragon arrived at his tent he continued to mull over his design for another hour until he figured out how he would construct it. It should be a good gift. Saphira commented.
Aye. He replied, It's nice to do something other than march and fight, it feels as if-
As if you have more in life than just this war. She concluded. They sat in thought for a few minutes before Saphira said, Tomorrow then, and the next day you will give your gift.
Yes, then after that-
-it's back to marching. Such a slow and boring thing it is for you two-legged ones to do. She commented.
Eragon chuckled lightly and said, We'd better get to bed, we have a lot to do tomorrow. Goodnight Saphira.
Goodnight little one. And he quickly fell to his waking dreams which consisted of the constellations dancing around the moon to a hypnotic rhythm.
Eragon arose at sunrise the next morning and began his morning ritual, while he was halfway through his rimgar exercise though, he was surprised by Arya. "Good morning Arya. I must admit I wasn't expecting you this early." He said greeting her.
"I'm sorry Eragon, Nasuada has requested our presence in a meeting to take place in about an hour. I thought we could speak on the way." She told him.
"Thank you, I would like that, but first I'll need to wash." He said and she left to give him some privacy. He filled a tub with water and heated it to take a quick bath, changed and had a quick breakfast consisting of warm buttered bread and a fruit pie before beginning to make his way to the citadel with Arya and Saphira for the meeting. He explained his gift idea to Arya while they walked. She thought it was good and she offered her help with the energy his gift would need which he gratefully accepted. Upon arriving, Nasuada greeted them saying, "Eragon, Arya, thank you both for coming. This meeting is to make certain all is ready for our departure and it's been requested that you would scry Belatona for us to see if there has been any change. If you would." She said gesturing to the same mirror Eragon had brought in when he first scried the city there.
"Of course, my lady." He said, and did so revealing nothing new. After a lengthy discussion about Belatona's defenses and supply trains, the meeting came to a close. Afterwards Nasuada asked if everything went well with the delivery last night. "Roran told me about it when he gave his report last night." She explained to him.
"Oh, they had a baby girl." He answered, "Her name is Hope."
She smiled, "Hope, that's a good name." She said and he agreed.
Eragon left the chamber and was dismayed to find Arya had already left him, Saphira said she had other things to see too, and would return later. He still wanted to spend the time with her though. He left the city a ways to escape any prying eyes, and also for the lumber he would need, and began to work on his gift with some help from his guards. They worked for a few hours on the construction of his gift and discussed his training for while they're traveling. Mid-afternoon, Arya contacted them wishing to join them and also told Eragon that Roran was looking for him earlier, and she helped them finish the present. He didn't want to take it with them back to camp however, so he convinced Saphira to fly it in when he would present it for them. So they hid it by a tree and returned to camp quite tired from the work, but very satisfied with the results.
The next morning, Eragon got up and had breakfast, then Roran approached breaking his routine for a second day in a row. "Morning." He said simply in greeting him.
"Good morning Eragon. Where did you go yesterday, Katrina wanted to have you over for lunch." He asked and Eragon explained his gift for Horst and Elain, and that he would present it in a couple of hours.
"That's a great gift." Roran praised, "Could you possibly make one for me and Katrina when our child comes?"
"Perhaps if you become able to use magic, you will make one yourself." Eragon replied with a small grin.
Roran sighed and said, "I'm starting to think that I'm not able to do so, some people can while others can't, right?"
"That's how it is, but the only way of knowing is to keep trying. I just don't know any way to explain it. I'll try and find out more to see if we could find out whether or not you're capable at least." He told him. After promising Roran he'd wait for them to be there when he presented his gift, Roran returned to Katrina, leaving Eragon and Saphira with a couple of hours to themselves. It was an hour before noon when Eragon made his way toward Horst's tent where Roran and Katrina should already be, and he'd meet up with Arya on the way. Saphira was on her way with the crib, so he would just meet with Horst and Elain to see how their preparations where going. Once Saphira was approaching to land he explained, "We have made a gift for Hope and we all wanted to be here to present it to you. Saphira brings it now." They looked as Saphira landed softly and set the crib on the ground. Eragon and his guard sung and shaped it from an oak tree outside Feinster, it had four, curved legs, and rose four feet tall, and had a screen to lift over the baby's head. It also had four crystals embedded in each leg where they formed at the bed that contained a large store of energy that Eragon, Saphira, Arya, and his guard had poured into it, to sustain the spells he had cast on it. "There are two spells over the crib," he explained, "the first will keep the crib rooted in place, in case someone were to bump into it, the second will keep it warm so she'll not catch a chill. There should be enough energy in the crystals to last two years, but that's not certain. To activate the spells, touch the crib and say 'trérom', resume, and to deactivate them, say 'letta', stop. It's important to stop the spells so the energy won't be quickly depleted." They thanked them greatly for the crib, but then asked Eragon if he would bless her.
"We would like having the blessing of a dragon rider over her." Horst said. Eragon prepared himself for the blessing and placed his right hand on her brow, then he smiled as he thought of something to add and spoke, "Atra guliä iensta un ilian tauthr ono un atra ono waíse sköliro fra rauthr." May luck, hope, and happiness follow you and may you be shielded from misfortune. He expected to feel the drain from the magic that he did but was still surprised by how much it took out of him. Well, that should definitely help her, I hope. He thought. As he stepped back from them, Saphira brought her head down to touch the babe in benediction, but she held the position for nearly a minute making Horst a little uneasy. Eragon was about to ask what she was doing when she snorted and pulled away revealing a patch of Hope's hair, at her bangs, that turned gold and shone as if they were lit up. Horst looked at Saphira, then to Eragon for an explanation. I wanted to give her a gift so she will never be disregarded. Saphira told him. Tell them since they did much for you when you were younger, I wanted to do this for them. And Eragon told Horst and Elain. They looked to Saphira and gave her their gratitude before giving the same to Eragon, Arya, and his guards again.
Eragon was left going back to his tent with only Saphira and his guards because everyone else had to finish packing to start moving out the next day. He thought then to see if Jeod would be able to have his ride with Saphira now, lest he forget again, and Jeod immediately said yes. So Eragon was now left sitting alone in his tent, reading Domia abr Wyrda and feeling a little uneasy at the thought of Jeod flying with Saphira, even though it was originally his idea. The sun was beginning to set when they came back. It's about time. He said to Saphira.
Are you jealous much? She retorted.
"I thank you, both of you, greatly for this. It's worth more than any amount of gold to me." Jeod told them after he dismounted. Eragon felt warmth rise in him and said, "You are very much welcome." Jeod took his leave and Eragon laid down next to Saphira to rest with her while she told him about their flight, and of the story of how Jeod and Brom saved her egg from falling back to Galbatorix. They laid there watching the stars as they fell asleep, still sharing thoughts and their dreams.
