Disclaimer: No Characters, plot lines, places, or anything else from The Inheritance Cycle belong to me. I simply played with them and warped them to my own twisted imagination.
Chapter 4
The group fell into silence for a brief second before Nasuada snapped back. "How dare you try and command me, when you have shown yourself to be nothing but a coward and a common whore."
The roar from Saphira was enough to knock all but Eryana and Arya to their knees. You will show the respect that my rider deserves or I will show you what it means to face an angry dragon nightstalker. Saphira cast her thoughts for all to hear. Eryana's life as the Leader of the Order of Dragon Riders and that with her mate is not up for you to question. Be silent and listen or I will silence you myself.
Nasuada cowered before the pissed of dragon. Arya stepped forward her stance threatening. "If you ever show such disrespect to Eryana again, I will personally make you pay Nasuada." Her warning was low and only the cowering leader heard it. When the younger woman did not respond Arya stepped closed, "Do we have an understanding?" It was a demand and Nasuada could do nothing but nod.
As Arya moved back to her side, Eryana noticed that they were starting to draw the attention of their men. She might have issues with the others at the moment but that did not mean that she wanted the soldiers to see them arguing. She quietly spoke several long phrases in the Ancient Language and warded the area against those who were trying to observe and spy. She then turned her attention back to the group of people who were finally starting to rise again. Taking a deep breath she spoke. Her voice, though quiet, could be heard quite clearly by all of them and the power it carried was astonishing. "Let's cut to the chase shall we. I am quite aware to I have never been anything more than a tool to any of you. Every single group has their own reasons for wanting me on their side and most of you simply want to control me and the power my position wields. Some are more honest about their desires than others." She gave a small smile in the direction of Orik. It was something of a private joke between them. The Dwarf king had always been up front about his relationship with the Rider and because of that he was only one to become a friend in the group.
When the humans of the group started to argue she spoke over them. "It stops now. You will deal with me as an equal or not at all." She could see the fear the simple statement caused. "You might not like the fact that I am a woman" She inclined her head to the Humans, "Or the fact that I am a Dragon Rider", this one to the Dwarves, "Or the fact that I am neither fully human or elf" this one to her own guards, "But the fact remains that is what I am. I am a woman who is capable of beating any single one of you in combat, or magic."
She could see them start to protest. She knew what they would say. "It is not Hubris or arrogance. It is a fact. It is the truth and I will prove it to any who wish me too. Though I really hope that I don't have to spend the next several weeks beating our own people to prove to you all how strong I have become." When they again started to argue she cut them off. "Is my training complete? No, but my training will never be complete. There will always be something else for me to learn. Can I beat the traitorous King? Not yet, but in time I will find a way. Murtagh however, will no longer be a problem. The next time we meet he will either join us or die."
This time one of Orrin's generals managed to get a few words in. "You expect us to believe that you can beat him when he easily killed your so call teachers."
Saphira let out a warning growl that sent the man to his knees in fear. The Red Dragon and his Rider would not have won if it wasn't for the interference of the vile king.
"But you are a woman." Another general spat. "There is no way you can be stronger than any of us."
Before he could finish speaking. Before he could even blink, he found himself grasped around the neck and lifted off his feet. A pair of angry blue eyes drilled into his, "I am getting tired of hearing how I cannot do things because of my sex."
Eryana dropped him to his knees and growled down at him. "It is time you get over the fact that I am a woman. That is not going to change no matter how much you wish it to. No matter how much you curse it or rail against it I AM A WOMAN. I was born a woman, I was raised a woman, I will live as a woman, and I will die as a woman. It is time that you learn to deal with the fact that your Dragon Rider IS A WOMAN."
Stepping away from the crumpled man she stood next to her dragon and smiled slightly when Arya came to stand next to her. She longed to reach out for her comfort, but this had to end before she could. "What other arguments do you have? How many times will I have to prove myself before you accept things as they are? How much time will we waste fighting amongst ourselves when we have larger enemies to battle? The soldiers beneath you cannot fight without leadership and what kind of example do you show them? How can we expect them to follow us when we cannot seem to work together? You call me the spear point of the rebellion. The Dragon Rider that will instill hope into our allies and fears into our enemies and yet how do you expect them to rally behind the point, when you do everything in your power to mock me?"
No one had an answer for her. No one knew what to say. She felt a small hand come to rest at the small of her back and she glanced over her shoulder at her mate. I do not know how much longer I can keep this up. They want to use me a Rider but they cannot even accept me as one.
Only you can make them understand, Eryana. Arya said. Only you can make them come together as you need them to be. Speak to them. Convince them as only you can.
The simple truth, the absolute belief in her mate's words did much to calm her mind. Her Dragon's words did much to fortify her strength. Little one, Emerald Eyes is right. You are the only one who can make them understand. You are the one who must make them accept you. Remember, my rider, I choose you. Over many of these people here who touched my egg. I choose you.
Eryana sighed slightly as she looked back around at those gathered. Her elvin guard had come to stand on the other side of Saphira and behind herself and their Princess. She knew that they might not all like who she was, but they would all fallow her. They would fight for her, and die to protect her and Saphira. They might not all agree with Saphira's choice but they did respect it. And they respect you my love. They have grown to respect you and who you are.
As she looked over the rest she briefly wondered where the Urgals were, but she knew that they really could care less. They would fallow the strongest leader and they really wanted nothing more than to fight. Orik stood slightly to the side with a frustrated expression on his face. It was no secret that dwarves had no real respect for Dragons or those who were riders. There was too much bad blood between them in the past. They did respect strength and power, and Eryana suspected that in time they would come to accept hers. As it was they would fight alongside her, no matter how reluctantly. It was the humans who were her biggest problem. No matter how much she tried they could not seem to get past the fact that she was a woman.
Actually she knew that what she said before wasn't the whole truth. The soldiers would follow her, and many of them did respect her and who she was. A simple farm girl who had a chance to become so much more. Who had the chance to rise above her lot in life and become a thing of legend. She had learned over time that even though most men saw females as week, many were able to look past that at some point in their life. After all they followed Nasuada as their leader. They had accepted Nasuada as their leader yet they could not seem to accept her. Why was that? What was it that separated the two of them?
After a moments deliberation she finally understood. "What bothers you more?" She asked quietly, but they question could be heard by all, "The fact that I am woman or the fact that to you I am, in your eyes, nothing but a peasant?"
She felt the shock from Arya at her statement through their link, followed by the same understand that had hit her not a moment before. It wasn't so much the fact that the Rider was a woman, it was that she was one of what they saw as common birth. A bastard child with no family and no name. They couldn't respect her because they didn't believe she deserved it.
"A silly little farm girl like you doesn't deserve the power and fame of a dragon rider." One man finally hissed. "It should have been one of us. It should have been someone of noble birth."
"So you fight against me at every turn, because to you I am a simple peasant?" It was much more a statement than a question. "It's interesting that you have all hated me for reasons that are completely false."
They all looked at her in confusion before Nasuada finally spoke for the first time since her initial outburst. "You cannot tell them Eryana. I forbid it."
Both Dragon and Elf growled at the young Leader but Eryana ignored them, "I thought we had already discussed the fact that you no longer command me, Lady Nasuada. Or the fact that details of my personal life belong to me, my dragon and my mate and no one else. That they are mine to disclose as I please. You would do well to accept that fact Lady Nasuada and learn to work with me instead of trying to control me. You should understand better than anyone what it is like to be a woman fighting for respect in the company of Men. After all you were not born of noble birth instead you earned it. Why do you seem so intent on denying me of the same right?" She could see the shame fill Nasuada's eyes as the realization of truth struck her.
"I am curious, Lady Eryana." King Orrin finally spoke, "What did you mean when you said that our reasons were completely false?"
Saphira? It was a simple question but the Dragon understood.
I believe that it is time that they know who you really are little one. It is time that the truth will out.
Arya? Eryana asked her mate.
I love you, my rider and your dragon is right. It is time that they know who you truly are. You have nothing to be ashamed of.
With the support of those she loved most she turned to the Surdan King. "It is simple, Sire. I might have been raised in Carvahall, but I am not the simple village peasant that you take me for. While my mother was Selena of Carvahall my father was Brom. The same Brom that help found the Varden. The very some who was a Dragon Rider before me, the Same Brom that was descended from Vrael, the last leader of the Dragon Riders." There was shocked silence all around. Most did not know that Brom was a Dragon Rider and only Arya and Saphira knew that he was in truth descended from Vrael and not actually from Kuasta. "So you see. You despise me for something I am not. You choose to fight me at every turn and deny me the respect that I have earned because you think I am something I am not. If the only thing you people respect is blood then there you have it. I am of noble birth, and my blood is a lot more noble than most of yours."
"We show you hatred and distrust and yet you tell us a secret that could be dangerous to you. Why?" Orrin asked.
"And how can it be dangerous to me?" Eryana asked, "it's not as if you can disrespect me any more than you already do. It's not like the Empire can hurt me with this knowledge. It's not like I have anything to be ashamed of. I have no reason to fear the truth."
When no one made a move to speak, to shed some light on their thoughts, to give any indication that they heard or understood, Eryana sighed. "I think we have hit our limit for the day and to be honest I have other places to be and much more important things to take care of."
"I suppose you are referring to being with your…Mate" Nasuada still spit the word. "You shouldn't let your personal life interfere with your responsibilities."
"I do believe you are being just a tad bit hypocritical Nasuada." Arya threw out.
Eryana smothered a laugh at Nasuada's frown, "What I choose to do in my spare time, what little of it there may be, is my own business. Now Saphira and I have been going none stop for months now and I am in desperate need of a break. Therefore, we are taking the next three days to try and regain our strength before we march on Belatona. I do not wish to be disturbed unless it is of the utmost importance. At sunset on the fourth day we will reconvene the war council where Saphira and I will share what news we have with you. Until, then I bid you good day."
Without another word Saphira launched herself in the sky and Arya and Eryana made their way towards the City with their guard following them.