NOTE: This story is not meant the follow the canon ending of Inheritance or emulate the writing style of Paolini. Artistic liberties have been taken with some of the elements from the concluding scenes and altered to fit with the vision the author has as an alternate end of the series. Most if not all of the outstanding questions WILL be answered in some way and will continue beyond the confines of the book to develop the story just a little more.
NOTE 2: Apologies for the relative shortness of the chapter, but I wanted to submit at least one more before Christmas. And besides, Murtagh needed a nice ending, even if he will be appearing later on!
Inheritance: Alternatives
Chapter 3: A New Queen And A New Rider
With Galbatorix's remaining forces slowly succumbing to the news of their King's death, Alagaesia was quick to become swept up in the winds of change inevitable after such a shift of power. The Varden had mended the wounds as best they could, paid their respects to their dead, rebuilt what had been lost with the help of both the Riders. They worked to erect new walls, new homes for those who had been without such things for so long, keep the peace whenever a still loyal troop was found and dealt with. Change did not always come welcomingly to some people, after all. That much was clear with various groups beginning to call for a new King or Queen. So soon after the fall of the previous and given the damage that had been done would be considered foolish in the eyes of many, but these people did have a point to their desire for order. Without an appointed ruler of the Empire, it was sure to crumble soon like it's leader had done unless it could be turned into something the people could feel safe and secure under. And that was why Eragon was currently sat in the room he was in, a small enclosure in the Varden camp that still stood outside the ruins of Uru'baen. A lot had happened in the weeks after Galbatorix's death. Naturally, the people had rejoiced and Eragon had done his fair share too. He had learned about the strange magic he had conjured against the king from Umaroth, hearing that he had essentially made an Empathy Spell. With no words, he was already aware of how powerful it was, but it was when Umaroth explained that he had drawn strength from all of the Eldunari did it hit home. Galbatorix had been inflicted with all of the pain, the sorrow, the negative emotions that he had inflicted on people himself. He had almost used the same magic that Thuviel had used at Vroengard to try and end it himself. Eragon had managed to stop him, an act that would usually make him feel repulsed. But in this case, he felt proud of being able to have done such an act. Thanks to Murtagh of course. He had heard his half-brother's tale of keeping Nasuada safe throughout the inhumane torture, the illusions and from the king himself. It was because of this act that both he and Thorn had changed who they were, releasing them from Galbatorix's grip. If he hadn't have used the Word, then Eragon couldn't be sure he'd be even alive to be a part of this meeting. Murtagh had helped in the rebuilding process after that, regaining the people's trust a single being at a time. It was difficult, but it did seem like things were going to be worked out for the better. Although, given how he had a natural distaste for being involved in the politics of the land, he wasn't exactly in the best of moods all things considered.
Surrounded by various rulers of the factions that had helped play their part in the role from the werecats to the elves, the young Rider felt tense, his leg twitching in his seat as the numerous people continued to babble all of the topics he would usually distance himself from. Both Nasuada and Arya were present and seemed much more involved in the proceedings than he would ever hope to. A fact that the otherwise occupied Saphira could sense in him even when she was far away from the meeting.
"You seem anxious, little one"
"They should know I'm not wanting to deal with politics…" he answered, that last word almost being spat out with some venom. "You get to enjoy some flying with Thorn and I'm stuck here listening to them bicker"
"You're a Rider, Eragon. Your very presence alters things for Alagaesia, they wouldn't have called you unless it was important"
"My point still stands"
"You've faced worse. And I can say that with some degree of certainty now" she snorted back at him, eventually cutting off their conversation to work on outmanoeuvring her red companion. Eragon sighed softly to himself, eventually perking up when the noise of their discussion eventually died down. Nasuada, Arya, Orik, Orrin, the elven lord Dathedr and even a feline-like Grimrr took their seats as the leader of the Varden stood to address all of them.
"As you are all aware, given recent events, Alagaesia is now without a leader to command her. Without such a figurehead, the people will not have direction, nor with they have the safety of someone looking out for their wellbeing"
"Bah!" Orrin suddenly interjected, the Surda leader waving his hand as if to dismiss her claims. "Galbatorix claimed he all those things in mind and look where that got us!"
"Galbatorix had been driven mad by his power and what he had lost" Nasuada snapped, pausing a moment to calm herself so that a conflict would not arise. It was not needed now. "The one set to replace him on a throne is already in far better a moral position than he had been"
"She speaks true, Orrin" Grimrr said, idly licking at one his paws for a moment. "Any one of us in this room would be worthy of the role, though some more than others…"
It was at that moment that the gaze of everyone seemed to suddenly shift towards Eragon. The Rider's blank stare in the recesses of his mind was broken when he felt the eyes on him, jumping up a bit in his seat their gaze seemed to almost burn into his skin. Not in an accusing way, but almost expectantly. He cleared his throat, addressing Nasuada more than anyone else.
"Y-You're not suggesting…?"
"And why not, Eragon? You were the one to take down Galbatorix, a feat none of us had even come close to achieving. We played our part but it was you who did the deed. It would be more than a fitting reward" Nasuada said clearly, a light smile crossing her lips. Arya glanced quickly to Dathedr beside her with a bit of a surprised look, like she hadn't expected to hear the proposition. Eragon shook his head, almost chuckling at bit at the mental image of him being on the throne of Alagaesia.
"I truly am honoured, but I have other responsibilities, I couldn't accept such a role. With what me and Saphira found in the Vault Of Souls, I can't just leave such things as they are" he explained, gesturing with his hands every so often to emphasise a point. "Besides, I don't think I have the right character to become a king"
The last few words made Arya smile, a fact she quickly tried to cover up with a cough. Orik gave Eragon a bit of a look that seemed to be grateful he'd turned down the role, almost agreeing with his reasoning as Nasuada's expression turned more thoughtful. She nodded in acceptance at Eragon's refusal, casting her eyes around the rest of the room's occupants.
"Well, that does makes things more complicated…" she started, only to be interrupted by Orrin once again as he stood up.
"If he won't take up the title, then I put forward myself!"
Nasuada scowled at him, usually finding his self-importance grating at best when it was away from such important matters. Now it was just that bit worse.
"Orrin, please, this is not a role for self-gain…"
"I already know that granting such control to an Undying such as Eragon would not be the best solution to this problem. It would simply yet another Rider on the throne. My work has been important to advancing our understanding of the world, a work that I think a king could put to good use for the rest of Alagaesia"
"Does that mean you have the necessary skills as a leader over the whole of our lands?" Arya interjected. "You may have knowledge to share but you are already in control of a land under your responsibility. Also, as far as I am aware, you did not want your country to be a part of this war until you felt it necessary. Would you have the same attitude to everything else?"
"Arya is right, Orrin" Grimrr agreed. "You already have Surda to rule, to make you rule over all of the other lands would be unfair at the very least."
Orrin's expression turned a little sour as he sat back down. Eragon couldn't help but think he was simply trying to gain more influence over Alagaesia given how Surda had stayed out of the affairs of the war for so long. Regardless of this, there were a few moments of silence that made him feel more agitated as he sat. The sooner this discussion would be over with, the better it would be for the land to start healing from the battle that had scarred for so long, or so he thought. He was actually surprised no-one had chosen his ideal candidate, coming to the conclusion that him speaking would at least cause things to progress.
"What about Nasuada?" he suggested, the leader of the Varden seeming just as surprised as he had been at being asked minutes earlier. "She has the expertise of uniting people to the Varden's cause and has proven herself to be as dedicated to Alagaesia as anyone given what she went through at Uru'baen. I think she would be the ideal choice"
Nasuada said nothing, speaking her surprise with her expression rather than words and instead trying to gauge everyone's reactions to the proposition. Arya and Dathedr seemed to nod to one another in support when they considered Eragon's words, Orik and Grimrr doing much the same. Even Orrin seemed to eventually come around the suggestion when he observed everyone else supporting her through their expressions. He wouldn't want to be the odd man out here. Eragon then stood from his seat, seeming to address the room to make sure this choice was the consensus from everyone.
"So, we are in agreement over our ideal choice?"
"Aye" Dathedr spoke up, standing from his own position with Arya quick to follow. Grimrr nodded his head, his shaggy tail swaying left and right seemingly content with the issue when Orik stood up as well with a similar reply of 'Aye". Orrin nodded in silent acknowledgement as he stood to join them. Eragon's smile finally showed itself after it had remained hidden throughout all of this discussion, directing it towards Nasuada. She cleared her throat, shifting slightly in her place to better address.
"Do you give your consent to this, Rider?" she asked, trying to keep things formal as best she could.
"You have my consent and blessing, Nasuada" he responded, bowing his head. "I am sure you will be more than a worthy Queen". The former Varden leader didn't hide her smile this time when the rest of the room seemed to bow their heads in respect, Grimrr opting to blink at her in his feline form. Her expression stayed glued to her as she sat back down in her place. Queen of Alagaesia? It had a nice ring to it.
"Well, is it done?"
"Yes. We chose Nasuada"
Eragon was making his way towards Saphira outside of the gathering who had landed mere minutes after the decision had been made. Murtagh and Thorn were a few metres behind them, seeming to be busy in some sort of other activity for the timebeing. The gentle hum Saphira offered showed her support of the choice they had reached.
"I hope you gave…
"…her my blessing, of course" he interrupted her. She snorted as she got into a more comfortable seating position, bringing her head down to his level so he could touch her snout.
"She will make a fine Queen. She has done more than most have for Alagaesia"
"Aye, there's no doubt of that"
"No disputes? I know how you two-legged-round-ears like to debate…and debate…and debate…"
"Almost" he chuckled, finding her use of the term for humans amusing. "Orrin needed some convincing afterwards, seemed a little sore he hadn't been honoured the role himself. Nasuada eventually agreed to let him have the lands south of Belatona to please him"
"That's quite a lot to bargain for. If I were in Nasuada's position, I would've simply told him to accept it. She is the Queen after all"
Eragon patted her snout gently with another smirk, casting his eye behind her where Murtagh and Thorn seemed to be preparing supplies. Probably a task they'd been assigned given how busy they had been over the recent weeks. He was about to suggest they should do the same when Saphira beat him to it in her questioning.
"So what are we to do now? Beating Thorn in races can only amuse me for so long and it's not like there are any kings to kill" she said, her tone seeming more relaxed that Eragon could remember it being for probably years. Their defeat of Galbatorix probably did that.
"Well, there's not much for us here. Arya left rather abruptly when it was over and Nasuada is still busy trying to organise the official ceremony of her crowning. That leaves our duties to the eggs and the Eldunari"
Saphira's expression altered a little, seeming to cast a curious gaze over him.
"It won't be something we can fix immediately. As joyous as the news is that so many of them exist, I don't think staying in that Vault will help"
"No, it won't…I shall have to dwell on it more" he admitted, gently scratching under Saphira's chin to elicit another quiet hum from her. "Since this can't be rushed, the best thing we can do is…well…"
"We have all the time in the world now, little one. Such big choices do not need to be rushed. I told you that much when you were in that meeting"
"Lucky for me everyone seemed rather supportive of Nasuada" he responded, making his way past her to check on Murtagh and Thorn. Both he and his half-brother had been too busy to really talk informally like he was planning to. But the young Rider was curious when he noticed that Murtagh was attaching small bags and objects to the red male's saddle. Was it a long distance trip?
"Murtagh? What are you doing?" he asked, coming up to stop beside his fellow Rider. Murtagh didn't answer immediately, trying to fix one such bag onto one of the hooks until he let it hang loose against the dragon's side.
"Getting some things ready. I think we'll need it"
"Are you going somewhere?"
"In a way, yes" he answered, eventually casting his grey-hued eyes towards Eragon with a partially regretful expression. "I don't think me and Thorn are needed here"
Eragon's face turned serious he stopped Murtagh's hands from raising up to attatch another satchel of supplies. He wasn't sure what his half-brother meant, but it didn't sound all that promising.
"You're a Rider, Murtagh, Alagaesia needs us to help it through the change"
"Does it?" the darker haired one replied, brushing some of it out his line of vision. "I became a Rider through the darkest means one could imagine. How much help can I be to a land that already scorns me?"
"They don't scorn you, not after what you have done for us when Galbatorix fell." Eragon assured him. "Breaking from his control is proof enough you have changed who you are for the better"
"There's still a darkness in us, Eragon. Both I and Thorn can feel it, an anger that isn't going to subside. We need to be away from here, away from all this so it can leave us without any harm"
Eragon frowned. Murtagh certainly seemed more than determined on the matter. Even Saphira seemed to be concerned, feeling her loom over his shoulder as she tried to back up Eragon's points. He scowled, still keeping his companion's hands frozen where they were.
"Don't do this, Murtagh! You killed Galbatorix with your power just as much as I did with my blade"
"He is right, little one" Saphira spoke. "Without you, that vile man would still be on his throne"
"I killed hundreds more, hundreds who didn't deserve that fate!" Murtagh spat, seeming to both a mixture of pained and rageful as a testament to how he felt inside. Thorn crooned softly to Murtagh, shifting in his position to brush through the long locks of hair that fell in front of his face. "Eragon, I killed the dwarven king! I killed your master! You may forgive me for that, but it's not just you that I need!"
"Murtagh!"
The booming voice of Glaedr suddenly interjected all of this, Eragon feeling both the prescence of him and Umaroth in their minds. The golden dragon seemed to subside for a moment to let his white other speak.
"Those actions were not your own, Murtagh. Even we in our solitude could see that" Umaroth said. "You would not have done them had Galbatorix not been in control, you know that even amidst your regret and anger"
"Dragon, I killed one of your own. In the time we live in where you are as rare as precious stones, that was unforgivable…"
"My race is more safe, young Rider" Glaedr assured him, voice gruff in tone. "Before all this, I would've made you leave"
The words of the golden one seemed to make Murtgah flinch a little, but his continuation evoked a different sort of reaction.
"However…As much anger towards you I had felt when Oromis slipped into the void…I realise now that it would not be right of me to do so. The real perpetrator of these acts is dead. And Alagaesia owes you a lot more than an apology for helping that to happen"
Eragon's expression softened, noticing that Murtagh was trying to fight back tears in his eyes. His half-brother bit his lower lip for a moment to regain composure before looking at Eragon square in the eye.
"You really think there is still a place for me here?"
"Murtagh, I can't rebuild the Riders without others I trust at my side. I need you for your strength and your support" he murmured, keeping their gaze focused even as Thorn brought forward his own opinion.
"He is right, Murtagh. It is not just him that needs you. If you cannot stay for him…at least stay for her"
The young Rider was surprised Thorn was getting involved in such a conversation. But was more so by the words he chose to use. For that moment, he had forgotten how Thorn was aware of his feelings towards the future Queen of Alagaesia. Murtagh's hands let the bag in his grasp fall to the floor, the thud making the ground near his feet shudder somewhat as he sighed. Eragon's head tilted somewhat as he opened up his arms, an invitation Murtagh seemed to more than willing to accept. He took a step forward, gripping his half-brother's back as he continued to hold back his regret.
"If you and the dragons can forgive me…then I will try" he spoke, eventually loosening his grip around Eragon to sniff for a moment. "I will try…to repay the debt I owe"
"I won't ask for more than that…brother"
Murtagh blinked at Eragon's choice of term. But weren't they only half? He was about to object when he saw the other Rider smile, Saphira's head hovering above his shoulder with a content growling rumbling in her throat. For what had felt like the first time in ages, Murtagh smiled.
And it felt good.
