TEN
4. Memories
By the time Will and Var were nearly ten, and Willow Jr. and Monrow were almost four, their mother was expecting again. But rather than return to their home in the Bolvek village, their parents had decided to have this baby—for it was only one this time—on the Isle of the Eldunarí.
One morning as these five were gathered in their living quarters off the Great Hall, Will—who was playing dolls with his younger sister Willow—looked up as his mother walked into the room with a large basketful of laundry perched awkwardly on her hip. He immediately sprang up and took it from her.
"Here, Mother, let me get that for you. Is it already clean?"
"Yes, honey," Willow said. "Father washed it last night. And thank you." She stretched her hips by placing both of her hands on the small of her back and pushing forward.
Will took the laundry to the sofa and set it down in front of him as he sat. "Come on, Willow," he said to his younger sister. "Let's help Mother fold this and put it away." Willow Jr. jumped up and sat by her brother. As he made his way through the laundry, he handed her socks and told her to match them together.
"Look how big Dada's are," Willow Jr. said with a giggle. The sock she held was as long as her arm.
Will chuckled as he looked up. "Yes, honey. Dada's feet are really big because he's so tall."
Var was similarly engaged with his younger sister Monrow, playing tea party at a small table near the children's toys. When their mother turned to head into the kitchen, saying something about making a snack, Var likewise arose and went after her.
"Mother, you go sit down," he insisted. "Monrow and I will make the snack. Will Father be coming back from the training fields to eat with us?"
Willow smiled gratefully at her son. "Yes, sweetie, he will. And he will be pleased to hear how thoughtful and helpful you boys have been this morning." She retraced her steps back to the living area, which was open to the kitchen, and sat on the sofa next to Willow Jr.
Var said to Monrow, "What shall we make? We need to make lots so Dada will get full."
"Dada never gets full," Monrow said in her sweet, high-toned voice.
Var laughed. "That's true, sweetie. Maybe we should make some sandwiches. And plenty of fruits and vegetables to go with the nut dip. It won't keep him full for long, but it's better than nothing."
"How about some hardboiled eggs?" Monrow suggested. "Mama says that always helps."
"Great idea," Var agreed, and they set to work preparing the food.
As they did, Will said to their mother, "Mother, tell us a story. One we haven't ever heard about your time on the Isle when you and Father were still only friends."
Willow laughed. "All right, honey. Let me think a moment about what I could tell you." She rubbed her swollen belly as the baby inside stretched. "I think I have one you'll all enjoy. It was so funny, and I know how you like the funny ones. After I arrived, Uncle Knilf and Father became better friends—before that they hated each other—but for a time there was still an unspoken rivalry as all of the men tried to prove who was the fastest, strongest, or best with a sword or a bow or an ax. They were constantly trying to determine these things through competitions with one another.
"So one day the elves decided to make an obstacle course to test our physical abilities. It had nothing to do with magic. They simply wanted to give us an opportunity to determine who could make it through their challenges the quickest. The obstacles were designed to test our speed, agility, stamina, courage, strength, and hand-to-hand fighting skills. No weapons were allowed.
"The elves designed their obstacle course and allowed us all to examine it before we began the competition. It started off with a gauntlet run, where the elves had built many contraptions with swinging clubs and mechanical levers to thrust plates and cudgels of all shapes and sizes out at us from every direction as we passed through. None of these had sharp edges, so if we misjudged and got hit, it only resulted in a bruise rather than a cut.
"The next phase of the obstacle course was a sheer climbing wall with very few hand or footholds. We had to scale the wall and descend the other side. There really were no rules for the game but to get through. If we injured ourselves enough that we couldn't continue—by dropping from the other side of the wall all the way to the ground and breaking our legs, for example—we were simply disqualified for not finishing.
"At the bottom of the wall was a patch of thick, tarry mud. If we climbed down the wall, we had to sludge through the mud to the next challenge. Or there was an alternative at the top of the wall that would potentially allow us to save some time and avoid getting filthy. It was a taut rope stretched out to another wall some distance away that we could attempt to cross over, whether by walking on it while maintaining our balance or by pulling ourselves along it hand over hand.
"On the other side of the second wall was Lake Arya. If we crossed over using the rope, we could simply dive off into the water, for the next task was swimming across the lake to test our endurance. But if we were in the mud, we had to scale the second wall before beginning the swim.
"After the swim, we had to run back around the lake to where the others were waiting and crawl through a series of small hoops lined up in a row. Since we weren't allowed to use magic, we had to do this while dripping wet and exhausted. And the hoops were placed in the same thick, tarry mud that was between the two walls, so there was no avoiding it this time. We knew we would all get filthy at that point.
"We faced the final challenge upon emerging from the hoops. Blödhgarm had made himself into the likeness of a huge bear. We had to somehow pass the bear to reach the finish line, but again, there were no rules as to how to accomplish that. Once we were past the bear, we were finished.
"All of the men—Uncle Eragon, Uncle Murtagh, Father, and Uncle Knilf—were full of anticipation at the opportunity to test themselves and compete with one another. I thought they were all ridiculous, but I too was expected to take part in this contest as one of the Dragon Riders.
"Always gentlemen, they all insisted I go first. I secretly think they simply wanted to see someone pass through the obstacle course to improve their own performances. This happened while I was still sixteen, before Uncle Hanin had even arrived on the Isle.
"There was nothing for me to do but go and do my best. I was smaller than any of them save Knilf, but I was much slenderer than he, so I made it through the gauntlet run rather easily. We could use any of our Rider abilities besides magic, so I simply entered my fighting mind the entire duration of the course and it was especially helpful while running the gauntlet. The increased awareness allowed me to anticipate each threat and hurriedly dodge and duck my way through.
"The climbing wall was slightly more difficult for me because the hand and footholds were quite far apart. There were some tiny lips and ledges in the wall that were there to help, I suppose. I could barely fit my fingertips on some of them, and I had to briefly support my whole weight on my fingertips while reaching for the next hold. But I soon made it up the wall.
"Once at the top, I immediately knew I wanted to avoid the mud, so I determinedly made my way out onto the rope, first intending to walk across it. I made it about halfway, but when I took my focus off the rope for the shortest second, I lost my balance. Fortunately, I was able to catch the rope with my hands as I fell, and I swiftly swung the rest of the way to the second wall and pulled myself up.
"I've always been defiant, and I wanted to show all those men that I wasn't weak or cowardly just because I was the only girl and the youngest. So I dove straight into the water and began swimming as fast as I could across the lake. It was very tiring, but I pulled myself out and began running back around toward the final two challenges.
"I was small enough that I could crawl through the hoops on my hands and knees, and this I did as rapidly as I could, given how tired I was and how difficult it was to maneuver through the mud. I stayed in the last hoop for a few seconds to catch my breath and prepare to face the bear. I already knew my only hope of triumphing in the last stage was by using the same method I had learned while fighting Father. I didn't think I would be able to get around Blödhgarm quickly enough to reach the finish line without getting caught. As an elf he was much faster than Father.
"So I exited the last hoop ready to pounce on his back, and I was able to do so on his first attack. As soon as the bear dropped to the ground under the effects of my stranglehold, I released my grip and dashed across the finish line. All of my brothers were duly impressed that I had not only finished, but gotten through so speedily. It took me about half an hour.
"After me they went in order of seniority, which meant Uncle Eragon was up next. With the grace and agility of the elves, he did amazingly through the first several challenges. The gauntlet was very easy for him, but since he was bigger than me, he had to be more careful not to get swiped by one of the cudgels. At the wall he simply jumped up in one leap to catch the top edge and pull himself up. He walked across the rope in mere seconds with nary a wavering of his balance.
"He swam across the lake very fast and ran back around as swiftly as the wind. But he was too big to crawl through the hoops on his hands and knees and the mud sucked at his whole body as he struggled to squirm through on his belly. He lost a lot of time there. He had chosen to perform the obstacle course without a shirt on—he rarely wore a shirt in those days since he was always so miserably hot—and that decision proved unwise once he finally made it through the hoops to confront the Blödhgarm bear.
"I was in my usual leather riding clothes, complete with leather gauntlets over my arms, which had protected me from the swiping claws of the bear as he attempted to remove me from his back. But Uncle Eragon was bare-skinned and we weren't allowed to protect ourselves in any way with magic, not even with wards. He was able to dodge the bear very easily, just as I did, but the bear was about seven feet tall and incredibly strong. Eragon tried to wrestle him to the ground, but he soon saw that wouldn't work and got himself some nasty cuts in the process. So he then tried to just run around the bear, but since it was Blödhgarm controlling the bear, he was just as fast as Eragon and intercepted him before he could reach the finish line. Then Eragon tried my method and finally succeeded in subduing the bear long enough to reach the finish line. But his arms got cut to pieces in the process, since the bear was able to use his claws on Eragon's bare arms.
"The other elves immediately healed him once he was finished, but his lost time through the hoops and fighting the bear actually made him slower overall than I was, which shocked me.
"Uncle Murtagh learned several things from watching Eragon. Though he didn't have the same elf-like abilities as Eragon, he still had Rider abilities, and he was much stronger than I, so he made it through the gauntlet and up the wall without any difficulties. Rather than try to walk across the rope, Murtagh simply crouched down and grabbed it with his hands. Then he swiftly swung himself across hand over hand.
"He swam across the lake as fast as Eragon and ran back quickly—faster than I did, but slower than Eragon. He too had to shimmy through the hoops on his belly, which was easier fully clothed than it had been for Eragon bare-chested. And he immediately subdued the bear as I had done, with his arms protected from the slashing claws by leather gauntlets. As a result, his time was shorter than Eragon's, which provided him endless gratification, as I'm sure you can imagine. Murtagh and Eragon were always engaging in friendly sibling rivalry. So Murtagh was in the lead at that point, because he finished faster than I.
"Father went next. He was easily the strongest Rider—well he still is, actually—but he was also the biggest. As a result, the gauntlet run was far harder for him. He was hit several times, but it really didn't do much to slow or hurt him. He's so tall that it wasn't difficult for him to reach the top of the wall by jumping, as Eragon had. He tried to cross the rope by walking across it, but his balance wasn't as good as Eragon's and he slipped partway over. He caught the rope—as I had—while falling, but the momentum of his falling weight was too much for the rope to support and it snapped.
"It was so funny watching him crash into the mud below. And though it was very thick mud, it still splashed as he hit it. He sank deeply into it because of how heavy he is, so it was very difficult for him to sludge his way through to the wall. He made it of course, and he climbed this wall more slowly because of how slick his hands and feet were when covered with mud. By then I was laughing so hard I could barely breathe.
"I think he was grateful to jump into the lake, since it rinsed off all the muck. Father told me after that he was sure the elves had mixed some of the animal manure into it as a mean joke. I didn't think the mud under the hoops smelled like that, so maybe it was only between the walls. Or maybe Father only made it up. At any rate, he swam across the lake and ran back around very easily. But he once again ran into problems upon reaching the hoops. He was too big to fit through them, even on his belly. His shoulders were too broad.
"All of us were laughing by then, but no one more than I. He finally ended up ripping the hoops open so he could fit through them because the elves wouldn't let him crawl on top of them. He was so angry by the time he faced the bear that he immediately slammed it to the ground. He was more used to hand-to-hand fighting and also better at it with an opponent his own size than any of us. Blödhgarm was momentarily stunned by the force of Father's blow, and Father stalked across the finish line without a backward glance, completely covered in mud again and looking quite a sight. I couldn't stop laughing for at least five minutes, which made it all the worse, I'm sure. His time was the longest of anyone's. Father was in a sour mood for some time, but I think my cheerful teasing finally helped him get over his wounded pride.
"He rinsed off in the lake while the elves repaired the obstacle course for Knilf. Knilf had also found Father's run through the obstacle course immensely amusing. Their rivalry was about like Eragon and Murtagh's, though not yet quite as friendly.
"So Knilf was the final Rider to attempt the elves' game. He is shorter than I am, but much broader and more muscular. He made it through the gauntlet run just fine. The wall was tough for him, since he had even farther to reach with his shorter limbs than I did. But his hand strength was greater and he was able to make better use of the small ledges on the wall.
"He copied Murtagh's approach to get across the rope, pulling himself along hand over hand. His swim and run took longer because of his smaller stature, but he crawled right through the hoops on his hands and knees. His confrontation with the bear topped all of ours. The first time Blödhgarm lunged for him, Knilf dove right under the bear's hind legs and rolled his way over the finish line. It was hilarious. But ingenious. And it gave Knilf the second shortest time by only a few seconds. Which meant that Murtagh won, Knilf was second, I was third, Eragon was fourth, and father was last.
"Before the obstacle course, everyone always assumed Eragon was just the best at everything. But we all—especially the elves—had a lot more respect for Murtagh and Knilf after that. One thing we learned was that each of us had different strengths and those gave us unique advantages. It's not always just about being the tallest or the fastest or the strongest. Sometimes the smallest or the scrawniest will be more suited for a specific task. You boys remember that. All of you and your cousins near your age are so different in size and appearance, but you all have unique gifts. And your recurrent dreams with Angela seem to support that notion."
Willow finally ended her long tale, which had earned many giggles from the children, especially the account of their father's experience through the obstacle course. Right at that moment, the door swung open and their father strode through, tall and strong. The boys and their small assistants had long before finished their chores, and all four were gathered around Willow on the sofa.
"Dada!" the girls shrieked in delight. But the boys said nothing, and all of the children stayed where they were, for they knew their father would first greet their mother, just as he always did. They had learned long ago as one of their earliest lessons that Mother was the most important person to Mother, and he showed it every way he could.
Varhog smiled at his daughters as he approached the sofa. Willow began to laboriously make her way to her feet, but Varhog knelt down in front of her and said, "Hello, Eartheyes. You needn't rise. You look so comfortable there."
"I am," Willow said. "And you would be so proud to know that your sons insisted I sit right down and relax while they took care of the laundry and preparing our snack. They wouldn't let me do anything but tell them a story as they worked."
He leaned forward and kissed her, resting his great hands on her pregnant belly. "I am indeed very happy to hear that," he said, glancing at either of his sons. "Hello, Will. Var. Thank you for helping Mother. Have you also attended to your studies this morning?"
The twins nodded, and Var answered first. "Yes, Father. I read from some of our books on ship building and sailing. I wrote in my journal, read to the girls, and we were playing before we helped mother."
"Well done," Varhog approved. He turned expectantly toward Will.
"I also read, Father," Will said. "But Var and I are anxious to begin actually building the ship. May we as a present for our tenth birthday?"
"Mother and I will discuss it," Varhog promised. "I agree that you should begin soon. Surely you wouldn't be receiving such insistent advice to learn about ships unless you will one day actually need to use it. Did you work on writing or another subject?"
"I practiced arithmetic and spelling. Mother helped me with some vocabulary. There were some big words in my book."
Varhog smiled and offered Will similar words of praise. He finally turned his attention to his daughters, who patiently waited their turn. "Hello, girls!" he said, scooping them both into his long arms and hugging them to his chest. "How have you been this morning? Did you get plenty of playing in?"
Willow Jr. and Monrow each gave their father enthusiastic kisses and hugs.
Monrow exclaimed, "Yes, Dada! Var played tea party with me. And while he and Will were studying, Willow and I played with Sunset. She was willing to take us for a ride, but Mama thinks we're still too small."
"I agree," Varhog gently said. "I don't want anything to happen to my precious girls. Did you also have fun, Willow?" he asked his other daughter.
"Oh yes!" she gushed. "But my favorite part was hearing Mama's story! I couldn't stop laughing!" She giggled again, and Varhog chuckled at the adorable sound. The twin girls looked so much like the miniature Willows they had both always pictured.
"I would love to hear about it," Varhog said. "How about you tell me while we eat? I'm hungry."
"All right, Dada," Willow Jr. agreed. "You're always hungry."
Varhog laughed again. "So I am, sweetie. Did you help make our snack?"
"No, that was Monrow and Var. I helped Will with the laundry by matching the socks. See?" She scooped up the pile of folded socks, and several of the bundles fell to the floor. "Oops."
Varhog gathered them together. "Good job, honey. I'm so proud of what wonderful helpers you are for Mama. Now run to the table so I can help her up."
The girls jumped up off his lap and obeyed their father. Varhog stood and pulled Willow to her feet. They embraced and kissed again. She gave him a tender smile, one that clearly communicated how much she adored watching him interact with their children.
Once they had all taken their seats at the table and Monrow had offered a blessing, Varhog said, "So tell me about Mother's story."
The children eagerly delved into the tale, each taking turns relating the account they had just heard. Willow laughed again at their childlike joy and amusement. Varhog also chuckled as his children reminded him of his experience going through the obstacle course. When they were done, he emphasized the same lesson Willow had.
"I want you children—especially you boys—to remember that. The oldest children of the most senior Dragon Riders are being prepared for something. Each of you has received repeated instruction to master a specific skill. Mother, myself, and the other parents all believe it is because you will be expected to overcome a difficult challenge or problem. If you each work together with your unique strengths, you will be able to overcome anything. As a team you will be stronger than if you compete with one another."
The boys nodded to show their understanding, then the family happily carried on for the remainder of their midmorning meal.
