Chapter four here. Remember, this is in Keridyn's past. Here, you may want to pay attention to certain details, they'll come up later, but you will find out why she is alive in the next chapter. Trust me, it'll be a shocker.~ melonkitty

Tears of the Wronged

An Inheritance Fanfic

Note: based after Brisingr

Four: The Hourly Pain

"Keridyn." Her mother called. "Come on, wake up." She sighed. "Your father would be so disappointed in you."

"Father wouldn't care." Keridyn told her as she got up.

Keridyn was older, maybe thirteen, and was a full fledged rider, having been given her sword a few months ago. She and her mother now lived in Illrea, capital of the Broddring kingdom.

Her dark grey eyes looked at her mother sleepily.

"You have the strangest eyes. Eyes like your father." Her mother told her with a smile.

Keridyn got up and dressed in dark green clothes, strapping on her silver sword that matched Faloreon with every hue.

"Honestly, Keridyn, you look so…"

"'So…' what?"

"Perfect. I may have said once that I didn't want this life for you but now, I think you were born for it." Her mother told her. "But that doesn't mean that I approve of you doing this."

Keridyn smiled. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you."

* * *

Faloreon, a little higher, I think we can catch them! Keridyn told her dragon as they flew following another dragon and Rider.

I have the feeling that this may not end well. He told her with a mental smile. For them, that is.

Then let's get them.

They flew on through the azure sky, happy and enjoying the nice and kind weather.

They dived and rose, bobbing like a floating leaf on a stormy sea, all through the sky.

The dragon in front of them was growing tired, they saw that, and they went on after them.

The dragon in front of them pulled into a dive, Keridyn and Faloreon following with greater speed. The wind tugged at her clothes but she ignored it as she pulled the string on her bow taught and knocked a blunt, chalked, tipped arrow, aimed, and fired it at the other Rider.

Faloreon pulled out of his dive and flew to the battlements of Illrea.

A moment later, the other Rider on a blue dragon approached. Keridyn grinned when she saw the massive white chalk spot on his back.

"You got me good Keridyn. I'm tired why don't we go get a bit to eat 'eh?" Brom told her.

"Indeed, that was quite a show you two." Came a voice from behind her.

Brom went as white as the chalk on his back.

Keridyn turned to see Vrael standing on another part of the battlements.

"I'm glad you think so, Rider Vrael." She said.

"I've never seen a better shot from dragon-back, excluding my own of course." He said. "It's been a while Keridyn."

"It has, but we have duties, a year or two is nothing." She told him with a smile.

"I wanted to talk to you. I'm thinking of sending you to your cousin in DuWeldenvarden." He told her.

"Pardon me, but I'll excuse myself now." Brom said walking away.

"Brom is a good sport to put up with your games." Vrael told her.

"He's a good friend." She replied. "So, you're sending me Ellesmera, in DuWeldenvarden, to Evandar?"

"Not to Evandar, to his daughter, your cousin, Arya." Vrael corrected her.

Keridyn eyed him suspiciously. "Why?"

"You're a good Rider, Keridyn, I can't keep you here. I have to send you where I must." He told her.

She sighed and looked out at the sky. "You know how the elves distrust me."

"I do. But you won't let that get in the way of your duty. That's why I'm sending you. Also you have more sway there, I believe you'll be fine." He told her.

"I don't think it will matter." She told him. "The last time I went to Ellesmera I nearly died, that is why."

"You sound as though you are afraid."

Keridyn looked at him. "I am. I fear their judgment because what they are is a part of me, almost as though if they hate me I begin to hate myself."

"Then don't hate yourself." Came another voice.

Keridyn looked at the elf that came to stand next to Vrael with wide eyes. "Arya?" She asked.

"Keridyn." Arya said with a smile. "Has he asked you yet?"

"Asked me what?" Keridyn asked looking at Vrael.

Vrael sighed. "I don't have to ask her because I already know, Arya Drottingu. I need not ask what I already know."

Arya looked as though he had slapped her. Then she turned her attention back on Keridyn. "I saw the shot you made. Quite impressive for one so young."

Keridyn smiled. "It's all about training." She said. "If you don't mind, I'm going to take care of Faloreon and change."

Both Vrael and Arya shook their heads.

"Go on Keridyn, we can finish this later." Vrael told her.

Keridyn smiled and, after bowing, walked to her dragon and took of in a glimmer of scales.

"Vrael, I know you like treasure her like your own daughter, but she has a father, and his situation is not the most desireable." Arya told him.

"I know Arya." He said as he watched Keridyn fly away. "But spare her your feelings, you heard her."

"Yes." Arya said in reply. "That isn't something that can be helped, with her being who she is."

* * *

Arya walked through the halls of Illrea later that day, when she ran into Keridyn.

"Excuse me." Keridyn said bowing.

Arya laughed slightly. "Stand up, cousin, humility is not like you." She told her smiling.

Keridyn smiled as she straightened. "It's been a while, cousin."

"Five years if I remember correctly." Arya told her. "How have you been? Forgive me for not coming to your ceremony, I was needed and was unable to attend."

"There is no need for forgiveness, I'll not hold it against you. And I've been great. What about you and your mother?"

"Not on the best of terms, she disapproves of mostly everything, but she is my mother and I respect her. I came here to see whether or not you're going to take the task in Ellesmera." Arya replied.

"I go where I am needed, you know that Arya. If I'm ordered I will go to DuWeldenvarden, though I doubt it'll be for long, the elves are a peaceful race." Keridyn told her.

"Keridyn, do you want to go to Ellesmera or not, you're avoiding the question." Arya told her.

Keridyn sighed, and replied in the ancient language. "I cannot bear the judgment. If I could avoid it, I would not go. My fear prevents me from knowing who I am."

Arya was slightly surprised. "Cousin, do you remember the fight we had when you were only four years old?"

"Yes." Keridyn said with a smile.

"Do you know why I fought you?"

"No." She replied.

"I sought you out and fought you because I discovered that you were half human." Arya said with downcast eyes. "But when I fought you, you fought better than most elves, and at a younger age. I judged you because I did not know you. If you hide from them they will think you a coward. If you continue to run in fear not only will you not learn of your heritage, others will not get to know you for the person you are."

Keridyn was rendered speechless.

Arya smiled.

* * *

Keridyn was eating with her mother when she noticed that her mother wasn't eating.

"What is it, mother?" She asked.

Her mother set down her utensil and looked at Keridyn seioursly.

"It's about your father." She replied to her daughter.

"What about him?" Keridyn asked.

"His dragon was murdered the other day…"

Sorry for the cliffhanger. But let's see how much you got from that as well as in chapter five, when most things are revealed, and I won't leave it open. Cause that would be torture. :)~ melonkitty