'Are you trying to anger the Varden?' Eragon questioned Saphira through their bond as they raced through the sky.
'I couldn't care less about the Varden or what they think about us' Saphira huffed in response. 'The only thing I care about Eragon is you'.
Eragon's cheeks warmed at Saphira's sentiment, he still wasn't used to the amount of love and caring Saphira gave him even though they had been bonded to each other for months.
However Saphira wasn't finished talking, 'What worries me Eragon is your actions towards the Varden, I won't let you suffer trying to help people that only want to use you for their own gain. Marching a corpse through a city only serves to aggravate your scar '.
Eragon gripped tighter to the saddle as Saphira started to descend, he did begrudgingly accept that Saphira was right. Even though Eragon had respect for Ajihad he knew that act of parading his body through Tonjheim would only make him and Saphira look like the servants of the Varden.
'Even still Saphira we need them if we are to be free from the Empire' Eragon argued back.
'That maybe true, but we are Dragon Riders we must keep our independence if we are to fulfil our duty, we can do that and fight the empire'.
Independence that was what Eragon had sought. In Carvahall he was always ordered around by everyone; his uncle, Sloan, Horst and the other elders. Even when he did what they asked they would insult him or hurt him. He had always dreamed of running away, his fear of punishment was the only thing that made him stay, but Saphira and Brom had saved him and Eragon wasn't going to give up his freedom. He wasn't the crying little boy in the field anymore.
'I guess you are right. Where are you taking me then?' Eragon asked as he looked down at the remains of the shattered Sapphire in the central square.
'To our favourite witch of course, who else do you think I trust with your health' Saphira responded, her fondness for the eccentric witch hadn't faded since Terim.
Eragon frowned at his partner's response, 'Besides the fact she is the only witch we know, have you not considered that she can do nothing to relieve the pain in my back?'
'There is no harm in asking her, if nothing better you can sleep off the pain'. The dragoness concluded. Eragon sighed in frustration, ever since he had awoken Angela had forbidden him from moving out of her room until she could be sure that the curse on his back held no other effect. The constant prodding of his body had become beyond irritating and he had a feeling that Angela knew this, but arguing with Angela about leaving was an exercise in futility.
Saphira finally reached her destination and crashed down onto the stone floor making the nearby dwarves curse in anger at the broken stonework. Eragon jumped down from Saphira's back and looked down the corridor that would lead to the witch's room. Eragon looked towards his dragon 'Do I have to go?' he whined, Saphira snorted smoke from her nostrils before lightly pushing her rider towards the corridor with her tail.
Eragon trudged down the winding corridor the pain in his scar still ever present, when he arrived at Angela's room he knocked. In response the door opened and a large black cat wandered out, 'Where are you going Solembum?' Eragon asked. The Werecat in question only wigged his tail before walking in the same direction Eragon had just come from. The rider shrugged, he wasn't surprised by the Werecat's lack of an answer, and walked into the room.
'Oh hello Eragon, you're back early, I would have thought Ajihad would have kept you around for a while longer' Angela spoke as she inspected a large mushroom in one hand and held a green vile in the other while she stood over a bubbling cauldron, flashing him a quick smile as he entered the room.
Eragon walked over to his bed and sat down, 'Ajihad is dead, a group of Urgals ambushed him while he was returning' he told her as he took off his boots. He looked up to see Angela holding a pensive look, he decided not to tell her about the mental assault he got from Dazura, it was too personal.
'His death will have consequences, but I'm guessing you've already been told that. So why have you returned, did the Varden not need you? Angela questioned, her eyes locking with Eragon's. Eragon didn't want to tell Angela his scar was hurting him more than normal, but he knew that Saphira would just tell the witch instead.
'My back was acting up after I found Ajihad's body, so Saphira made me come back to you' Eragon muttered, he felt embarrassed that he had to admit he was in pain when he was so used to keeping things to himself.
Angela frowned at Eragon's answer, then a smile emerged on her lips and she started to walk towards the now nervous rider. 'Sadly I still have nothing that can treat your scar' Angela started 'But I want to try something, take off your shirt and lie down on your bed', grabbing in her hands was another one of her jars. Resigned to his fate Eragon did as he was asked and laid his head on the pillow as he waited for another session of Angela poking his back.
Only that didn't happen he felt Angela climb on to the bed, but instead of poking his back she started to rub it instead. Her hands were cold and slick with some sort of liquid that he felt being spread over his back. 'What are yo- ohh' Eragon grunted in relief as the witch pressed harder onto his back.
'Is this helping or should I stop?' Angela asked, Eragon could almost hear the smile in her voice.
'No please don't' Eragon begged, he couldn't feel the pain in his scar for the first time and he wanted to savour the feeling.
'Well I guess I can keep going for a while' Angela teased light-heartedly. The massage continued for several minutes, a couple of times Eragon thought he was going to fall asleep but he kept himself conscious.
Angela eventually perked up 'You know your back may not hurt as much if you weren't so tense', Eragon's only reply was a whimper as Angela continued her rubbing.
'Well if that's how it's going to be...'
The hands on Eragon were then removed, before he could protest the hands returned to his sides and started to tickle him. Eragon laughter was muffled by the pillow he was lying on, he soon turned his head on his side so he could breathe but Angela's fingers didn't relent and his laughter echoed throughout the room. He tried to turn over but he felt a weight fall on his lower back, Angela had sat on him!
Angela's tickle torture kept Eragon wriggling and writhing uncontrollably for a couple of minutes, eventually the weight on Eragon's back lifted and he took the opportunity to finally turn himself over. He looked up and saw Angela smirking down at him, her curly hair tickling his nose. Suddenly her hands shot out and pinned his arms by the side of his head.
When next Angela spoke her voice was deeper than usual and her eyes held a strange hunger, 'You have a great laugh, you should use it more'.
Eragon's didn't have a chance to respond as Angela descended on him, her lips smashing into his own. Her lips were wet compared to his dry mouth as she pushed harder, trying to get a reaction from him. All Eragon could do was shake protest, the small witch was surprisingly strong.
Angela eventually pulled away, a satisfied smile graced her face as she got up from the bed and walked back to her cauldron. Eragon sat up, breathing heavily and quickly put his clothes back on. Only when he dropped Zar'roc while fumbling with his belt did Angela turn around, 'Eragon what are you doing?' she asked. She didn't get an answer as Eragon rushed out of her room.
Eragon fell to the ground outside of Angela's room, he couldn't concentrate. 'Eragon come to me' Saphira urged as she tried to stop the fear that was growing in his mind. Accepting his dragon's orders he ran through the corridor that led back out to the courtyard where Saphira was, he couldn't stop shaking and his heart was pounding against his chest. When he arrived in the courtyard he saw Saphira waiting for him. Without another thought he leapt up to her saddle and the dragoness jumped into the sky.
The feeling of the wind through his hair and Saphira's peaceful humming started to slowly calm the panicked rider as the pair glided through the air. Eragon didn't protest as Saphira looked through his memories of what had occurred in Angela's room.
'Well this is surprising' was Saphira's conclusion.
'What do you mean? You aren't angry?' Eragon questioned, his dragon was being strangely calm about the situation.
'Oh I very angry no one touches my rider, but I am curious as to why Angela was so forward with you'. Eragon did agree with Saphira's point, Angela's behaviour was certainly weird.
'Then again Angela has always been interested in you' Saphira said, before Eragon could voice his confusion She continued 'She gave you that prediction in Terim for free and then she volunteered to care for you while you were in your coma'.
Eragon sighed, before now he had liked Angela, her eccentric behaviour had been a nice change to the grim nature that had been his life for the past couple of days. 'What should I do?' He asked Saphira, he was stumped.
'You need to talk to her about this' Saphira advised, then sensing Eragon's anxiety at such a situation she continued 'You don't need to do it now, just do it before we leave'.
'But what do I say? I'm confused Saphira, I thought we were friends'.
Saphira's humming picked up again 'Little one you need to know your own feelings, I can only see so much in your mind'.
Eragon thought for a while, did he enjoy his kiss with Angela? Thinking back to it he was still unsure, he was too in shock at the time but now he just didn't know. What if Angela was just playing around, maybe she wasn't trying to be serious and was trying to cheer him up. Then again she could just be trying to get close to him for her own ga-
'Eragon stop' Saphira advised, 'it's obvious you don't know her intentions so stop trying to guess them'.
'Sorry' Eragon responded, realising that his quick thoughts were probably giving her a headache.
Looking back at his reaction to Angela's kiss he frowned 'What is wrong with me Saphira?' he asked, worried by what happened to him.
'You were scared Eragon, and your mind and body reacted' she comforted the distressed rider.
'Just rest for now little one, we have had a long day, I will keep you safe' Saphira told her rider soothingly as she hummed him to sleep, all the while she sailed peacefully in the sky.
Eragon woke to find he and Saphira were still gliding around in the sky, when Saphira felt her rider's mind become more active she started to descend towards one of the food halls and told him that he had slept through the whole day.
'So how do you think the Varden will choose their new leader? Eragon questioned Saphira as they both dug into their respective meals, Saphira growling whenever someone dared approach them.
'Maybe they fight for it? The Varden is just an army without a state after all' Saphira hypothesised, the pair continued to eat in silence, savouring each other's company.
Saphira was the one to break the silence 'Eragon, there is a child here that I cannot scare away? Should I eat him?' Eragon rolled his eyes at Saphira's antics and turned to see a quaking pale boy looking at Saphira.
'What is it boy?' Eragon asked.
The boy in question jumped slightly before bowing then speaking 'The council of Elders have summoned you Argetlam'.
'Who are they?'
The boy looked confused by his question 'They are… the council is… they helped Ajihad as advisors, and now they wish to speak to you' he nodded and smiled 'it is a great honour!'
Eragon looked at his empty plate and then to Saphira who was absently lick the large slab her meal had been on, 'Are you to lead me to them? Eragon questioned.
The boy nodded and seemed eager to leave. Eragon rose from his spot, perhaps too quickly as a painful sting from his back sent the breath out of his lungs and his body falling, only Saphira's head stopped him from hitting the ground.
'Thank you' Eragon told her gratefully as he stood back up, patting her snout appreciatively.
Saphira's mind probed at the pain he was feeling, the itch emanating from his back had fully returned. 'I wish I could burn the shade for a hundred years for what he did to you' the Dragoness growled.
Eragon smiled sadly at her sentiment, 'Just say close to me' he muttered in return.
'Always'
Eragon finally turned to the pale boy, 'Lead on' Eragon instructed, the boy nodded and they made their way out of the food hall.
'What is your name?' Eragon asked as they made their way through the city.
'Jarsha sir' the boy responded, eyeing the hilt jewel on Zar'roc.
Eragon smiled at Jarsha's interest in his sword 'you have done you task well Jarsha' he informed the boy. Jarsha's smile grew and he led them through a large set of stone doors into a circular room with the stars and sky adorned to the roof. At the center of the room was a marble table with five people sat around it, Eragon recognised one of them as Jörmmundur.
'You may go' Jörmmundur informed Jarsha, who ran out of the room.
Eragon approached the table but made no inclination to sit, after a couple of seconds Jörmmundur decided to stand and bowed to Eragon 'Thank you for coming Eragon' he spoke before reseating himself. Eragon nodded as he gripped Zar'roc's handle.
Jörmmundur then motioned at the four others in the room, 'This is Umerath, Farberd, Sabrae and Elessari'.
Eragon eyes all of them for a second before nodding again 'Why have you summoned me? Eragon asked impatiently, while he held no ill will against Jörmmundur he had no trust or patience for the other four.
Jörmmundur was the one to speak again 'We face a crisis that must be dealt with quickly if we are to keep the support of our allies. To make it plain Eragon if we cannot agree a successor to Ajihad the Varden will fall apart. To make matters worse the faction of magic users, the Du Vrangr Gata, may choose to oppose our choice if they do not agree with it'.
'So where do I factor into this?' Eragon asked.
'We need you Eragon to help legitimise our choice, if you agree with our choice then the magic users wouldn't dare to challenge us'. Jörmmundur calmly explained.
'So we already hold influence in the Varden' Saphira mused.
Falberd rose from his seat and slammed his hands down onto the table 'the five of us have already agreed on how shall be the successor, there is no doubt amongst us'. He exclaimed, 'but before we reveal it to you, you must swear to not speak about any of this discussion outside of this room'.
Eragon frowned at the fall one's demand. 'Say no Eragon, they need you more than we need them' Saphira urged.
'No'
The five around the table all held expressions of surprise. 'If you need me my assistance then you shall tell me everything or else I shall leave' Eragon spoke.
The council murmured to each other before nodding and Jörmmundur spoke 'We have chosen Nasuada, we tell you this as a sign of trust'.
Eragon was surprised by their choice, Nasuada was of a similar age to him and wouldn't have had much experience in dealing with politics. 'That maybe why they chose her, they could easily influence her if she had little experience' Saphira told Eragon 'though she may hold the same fire as her father' she added.
'Why did you choose Nasuada and not one of the five of you?' Eragon questioned, hoping to weasel out the reason, 'I mean Ajihad called you his right hand Jörmmundur, surely you are the first choice?'
Frowns adorned the council's faces. 'Because' Jörmmundur spoke carefully 'Ajihad was talking about purely militarily matters and not the political field. Also I am a member of the council which would fall apart if one of us became the leader'. The council relaxed as Jörmmundur finished his explanation.
Eragon shot off his next question 'Is Nasuada experienced enough to lead the Varden?'
Elessari was the one to answer this time 'I have watched her grow into a wonderful woman in the past seven years, she maybe a tad lightheaded, but that is nothing me my friends cannot stamp out. If it is needed the council will help guide her' she spoke, tapping her chest when she talked about herself.
Eragon frowned at this knowledge, 'You were right about them needing a puppet' he told Saphira. She raised her head and growled quietly at the council.
Umerath stood up, ignoring the growling dragoness and started to speak 'In two days we will bury Ajihad, directly afterwards we will plan to appoint Nasuada as our leader, though we have not asked her she will accept. We want you to be present, no one will find issue with this. We then want you to swear fealty to the Varden' he grinned 'This will help inspire the Varden and stop anyone from trying to break the Varden apart'.
'And there it is' Saphira spoke into Eragon's mind 'See how they don't want you to swear to Nasuada but to the Varden itself. You cannot accept this Eragon'. Eragon was already ahead of Saphira.
'What if I was to reject your offer?'
'Offer' Falberd asked puzzled 'None of course, but I wonder what the effect could be on Nasuada and the Varden if there hero wasn't present'.
Eragon clenched his teeth, they were trying to bait him into giving up his freedom.
'I will not be swearing fealty, to any person or the Varden' Eragon said as eyed every member of the council with hatred. 'I am a dragon rider, my duty requires me to have independence and you would insult me by asking me to give it up. You disgust me, you are no council of Elders you only hunger for power!'
The members of the council looked shocked by Eragon's declaration, Saphira rubbed her jaw against Eragon's head to show her support. 'You have reminded them of what we are' she spoke.
The council members turned to each other and started to whisper, when they had finished Jörmmundur rose from his chair. 'Very well Shadeslayer, however you alone will reap the consequences of not agreeing with our suggestion' the general said gravelly.
Jörmmundur then called for the return of the boy Jarsha who rushed off to fetch Nasuada. When the door next opened Nasuada walked an overly complicated dress that showed off her lithe form, behind her was Arya and Jarsha with his eyes wide and fixed on the embroidery of Nasuada's dress. Jörmmundur dismissed the child and helped Nasuada to her chair.
Arya stood by Eragon looking at his disgruntled posture for a second before looking towards the table. Jörmmundur nodded to Arya before looking towards Nasuada.
'Nasuada, daughter of Ajihad the council of elder would like to extend our sincere condolences for the passing of your father. The loss of a family member is a tragic affair'.
Nasuada nodded and wiped a tear from her eye 'Thank you' she muttered.
'However' Jörmmundur continued 'With the passing of your father, the position of leader of the Varden has been left open. The council cannot lead. As the sole heir of Ajihad you have been chosen as his successor, the Varden expects it of you'.
'I never thought I would have to take my father's place so soon... but if you insist then I shall embrace the office' the now crying woman responded. Eragon sneered, the council were pressuring a mourning child to take the place of a leader. 'We are leaving' he told Saphira, she agreed eagerly as she wanted to stretch her sore wings. Eragon walked towards the exit, ignoring the calls from the council to return, and Saphira slammed the doors open with her head.
Free of the room Eragon sighed in frustration, he had wanted the council to prove Saphira's assumption wrong. He feared his rejection of the council's ultimatum would only worsen the Varden's situation.
'Eragon!'
The rider looked to the voice to see Arya running after him. 'You should tell her what transpired in your meeting, she could have a solution to our dilemma' Saphira suggested. Eragon nodded and walked to meet the elf.
'Arya we need to talk, I fear that I will be needing your aid once more'.
Author's note
Yeah it's Angela and Eragon, no one guessed it, kinda happy about that. I know I didn't hint it so it was more of a shock (hopefully it was for you guys). As a sneak peak into what will happen to the pair, they will have a talk and Angela's forcefulness will be explained.
I published this chapter early, partially because I finished it early and also I wanted to gauge the reaction in the pairing, like I said last chapter I am willing to bend the knee if the reasoning is good. That's all from me, no chapter on Monday obviously but because I finished this one early the next one may be too, at the latest it will be out on the 27th.