DISCLAIMER: Galbatorix owns everything.
Galbi: Yes I do!
*CP appears with sword and stabs Galbi, who disappears*
CP: I OWN EVERYTHING!
Saphira roared, blue-scorching-fire rushing out from her mouth as she blew a long stream of fire into the air. To her right, red-scales-Thorn flew; to her left, emerald-scales-Greeni flew. She had unchallenged dominance over them in her rightful position as leader-of-the-hunt. Greeni had not bothered challenging her, instead choosing to divert his energies to catching trout in Leona Lake; Thorn had considered it, but Saphira used lifted her tail lazily and bashed his head with such force that he quickly forgot about any challenge.
They had spent almost the entire day fishing at Leona Lake; although seafood was not the most agreeable to Saphira's pallet, she had not enjoyed fish for awhile and had enjoyed her hunt.
As Saphira neared Uru'baen, sounds of celebration made by two-legs drifted by on the wind; she heard pointy-ears-proud-queen-Islanzadi singing. Her ears pricked up – perhaps there would be mead to enjoy? Saphira loved the strange-funny-tickle-belch sensation that mead gave her. She was soon distracted by the presence of partner-of-her-heart-and-mind-Eragon and green-eyes-pointy-ears-Arya, and she told Thorn to go ahead and find melancholy-dark-hair-Murtagh while she and Greeni visited their Riders. As Thorn angled towards the celebrations, she promptly scanned Eragon's mind and noticed that he was finally being kissed by Arya.
Two-legs. Always the endless jabber. Too much talk, too little action, she harrumphed, glad that they had finally gotten over the talk-talk-talk phase. Still, she wondered what Greeni thought.
What is that they are doing, your partner and mine? Why are they locking lips? Is this some form of ritual? Greeni's mind thought in a different way from hers. Rarely did he express himself in ways like she did, preferring to stick to more organized thought, which was most definitely pointy-ears influence. And he asked a lot of questions. Not as much as the two-legs, but still enough to be annoying.
That is a mating ritual of two-legs, Greeni. They share saliva as an expression of intimacy. Saphira explained.
Ah. So they are in love then, your partner and mine.
For a long time they have been, but your partner has spent far too long denying it to everyone, including herself. I am surprised you did not counsel her.
Her feelings towards your partner have always been confused, or at least she deliberately confuses herself. I was unable to identify the correct strand of thoughts, so I thought it best to leave her alone.
They glided downwards, heading for the clearing Eragon and Arya were in.
Their lips were locked in a tight embrace. He could smell her scent of crushed pinecones, the warmth of her body against his, her hands wrapped around his neck. She was kissing him with a fervour and passion he did not know she had, and he responded in kind. Elfish emotions were unpredictably volatile, for elves seemed to have no emotions to speak of, but once they committed themselves to something, they threw their soul into it.
Their moment of intertwined passion and peace was rudely interrupted by two large thuds in succession as Saphira and Greeni joined the two Riders in the clearing. They immediately broke apart.
Took the two of you long enough, Saphira grinned toothily. Eragon and Arya both blushed.
Such a joyous and momentous occasion, Greeni added excitably, Shall I make announcement of this from the treetops?
"Does it matter?" Arya questioned, a look of radiant bliss upon her face, "Throw caution to the winds! Let all know that I, Arya Drottningu, love Eragon Shadslayer!"
Then she shook her head, as though recovering from a daze. She offered a weak smile. "Forgive me. Despite all appearances, elves are deeply emotional creatures. I spoke without thinking. That is the first, and last, time, that you will ever hear me say something like that. I am not sure how my mother will react, although I have gone beyond her control as a Rider, I would not want to upset our relationship."
"Perhaps it would be wise to keep this a secret for now," agreed Eragon. "I am not ashamed of my love for you, nor will I ever be, but we need to tell Islanzadi quietly, in private and as soon as possible. I for one would not like to find out something like this because a dragon was yelling it to all in earshot."
Enough jabber! I hear parties, and I thirst for mead! Saphira bounded towards the centre of the party, quickly followed by Greeni, Eragon and Arya.
What is mead? Greeni demanded inquisitively.
Saphira grinned. Greenscales, you are right about to find out.
"Do you think this is wise?" Eragon murmured to Arya.
"What? Giving mead to dragons for drinking? Perfectly fine," she smiled back.
"If I had known one kiss would make Arya so much happier, I would have given it a long time ago," Eragon mischievously replied.
"I wasn't always Arya the Ambassador, you know, fighting for my survival on a daily basis. There is still some of Arya the Elf somewhere in here," she said, tapping her brain, "and I think you will be seeing more of her around." Her fingers laced through his, both Riders headed back to the scene of the celebrations slowly, ignoring their excited dragons, who had bounded ahead to secure a few barrels of mead for themselves before they ran out.
"Islanzadi Drottning, I and Arya have something to tell you," Eragon began nervously.
Eragon and Arya had requested a private meeting away from the revelers, so Islanzadi had led them to a secluded area a ways from the party.
"Eragon-elda, my child Arya, there is no need to stand there acting like a pair of nervous sheep. I could not be more happy for the pair of you," Islanzadi reassured.
Eragon and Arya shot a look at each other.
"You know?" Eragon asked plaintively, dropping all semblance of formality.
"Elves are an Elder Race, Shur'tugal. You see me celebrate the death of Galbatorix, almost as if to wild abandon, but I am still very much in control of my emotions. Attending a few Blood-Oath Celebrations tends to grant that ability. When the two of you emerged from whatever corner you have been secluding yourselves in, the two of you may not have been outwardly displaying affection, but the eyes gave it away. My daughter had acquired that dreamy, faraway look that I have been seeing in your eyes for a while; that look which is the sole preserve of love." Islanzadi gently admonished.
"Do you…approve?" Arya asked hesitatingly.
"If you seek consent, it is unnecessary. I am staring at two mature Dragon Riders, not two lovestruck teenagers. If you seek approval, it is given. If you seek blessing, that too you have." Islanzadi completed her little spiel, looking for all the world like a proud mother, before returning to her usual regal expression.
"And now, I must return to the party. There are still more songs to sing, more about Galbatorix's death to regale, and more opportunities to celebrate!" Islanzadi slipped away gratefully, her sonorous, gifted – even by elven standards – voice effortlessly blending with the singers, who had not stopped singing since sundown.
Arya's fingers laced through Eragon's again. "I was actually expecting to do most of the talking," she observed.
"Too much talking," Eragon agreed.
Their lips met.
Eragon. Saphira's insistent voice buzzed in his head. He was still half-asleep.
ERAGON! Saphira's voice was like an icy, painful stab through his clouded consciousness.
"WHAAAT?" Eragon sat up abruptly, rubbing his eyes. Beside him, Arya looked equally disheveled.
The BOTH of you. Outside Uru'baen. NOW. Saphira's baleful voice echoed through their heads.
When a dragon demanded something, it was best to comply. Eragon and Arya got up in a hurry. They were in Eragon's bed, but they had not been having sex yet. Arya didn't want to, and frankly, neither did Eragon, despite all that postulation that all men thought with their lower halves when it came to affairs of the heart. Most men did, certainly, but Eragon was not most men. They were content to have each other close, confident in the knowledge that he loved her and she loved him.
They strode quickly in the direction of Saphira's voice.
"What could have happened to make her so upset?" Eragon wondered aloud.
Arya simply gave a noncommittal shrug.
On the outskirts of the Lower City, Saphira and Greeni were side by side, heads steadfastly looking in opposite directions, refusing to even talk.
"What's going on, Saphira?" Eragon asked concernedly.
Things. One of her dinner-plate sized eyes flicked open to look at him and Arya. We drank quite a lot of mead last night, and got hilariously drunk. The Varden and dwarves could not stop laughing.
"So the two of you have hangovers? Is that the problem?" Eragon was beginning to feel slightly irritated that Saphira had disturbed him and Arya to complain about her alcohol problems.
Oh! So this fuzzy feeling in my head is called a hangover? Thank you for telling me that, Eragon-elda! Greeni finally joined the conversation.
"Enough!" Arya commanded. "Would the two of you kindly get to the point?"
Saphira groaned. Okay, okay. We did it.
"It?" Eragon questioned.
To put it in simple terms, Greeni continued, we beat the two of you to the prize. We mated. We had sex. Would you like a more scientific explanation?
"You did WHAAAT?" Eragon exclaimed. Arya just looked shocked.
Ah yes, Saphira groused, the only predictable thing this morning. Your reactions. Eragon will now shout for about three minutes before calming down and talking about it. Arya will just stand there looking as though she would like all manner of insects to nest in her mouth.
Saphira's brand of humour seemed to add a little normalcy to the whole situation, which was becoming rather unreal.
"Would the two of you mind starting your story again, this time with a more cohesive account of events?"
We were drunk. I was already attracted to him, and he was just waiting for a chance to ask. We were too drunk to think, or to care, so we just did...it.
Brightscales, Greeni cautioned, the whole truth. Or I will speak.
You stay out of it! she growled at Greeni. Turning back to Eragon and Arya, she said only two words.
I'm pregnant.
*wink*