~The Marvelous Adventures of a Mary-Sue: IC~

Chapter 8: Nasuada's Wrath

After about half an hour, Emerald and Sarra had landed in front of the entrance to the Varden.

"…Half an hour?" Eragon asked incredulously.

"It would normally take two to three days to make a trip from Helgrind to the Varden," added Roran.

Soldiers paused from their work to look up at the beautiful newcomer. Emerald sent them a casual smile.

"Hello, would you all happen to know where your leader i—" Just then, the rebel leader came out of her tent, her dress and hair disheveled.

"I'm here…" She paused and looked Emerald up and down, swaying slightly on her feet, as if she was a bit tipsy. 'How irresponsible,' Emerald thought in distaste. She also dully noted that though Nasuada was a supposed leader of the Varden, her demeanor gave off one of a drunkard than that of an honorable woman. Nasuada seemed to get her bearings a bit, and moved to stand in front of her soldiers, attempting to look important. To Emerald, she merely appeared arrogant and powerless; an incompetent woman with more power than she could handle. The rebel "leader" was very plain-looking, especially compared to Emerald on the majestic Sarra.

Arya had to pause from her reading due to stitch she was getting in her side from trying to restrain her laugher, along with the rest of the room. Meanwhile, Nasuada was turning an interesting shade of red.

"Nasuada drunk. That's a sight I'd like to see," Eragon whispered to Elva, making her dissolve into a giggle fit.

"Murtagh, I might just join you in separating her head from her body," Nasuada said darkly.

"Rider! Come no closer!" she called.

"As if she could stop us!" said Sarra.

Emerald allowed herself a smirk. That puny woman could never order her and Sarra around! Still, because she was kind and did not want to make Nasuada feel bad about herself, she had Sarra land a distance away from the tents.

"Rider! Are you loyal to the empire?"

"No, we wish to fight for you!" called Emerald. She dismounted the dragon and sauntered over to Nasuada.

Standing next to the Varden leader, it was clear who was the more desirable woman. While Nasuada had no figure and looked like a young boy, Emerald was well-filled-out and feminine. She caught many of the soldiers eying her. Emerald wrinkled her nose in disgust. Nasuada was shorter and did not have the same air of command Emerald effortlessly gave off.

Nasuada glared even harder at the accursed book. When this was over, she silently vowed that she would see that putrid green leather burn in a stack of firewood until it was reduced to ashes. She began to finger the dagger she always kept in her belt…

"If you wish to fight for us, you must pledge your allegiance and allow our riders to examine your minds," said Nasuada, attempting to regain control of the situation.

Sarra growled while Emerald tossed her hair to the side with one hand. "I swear allegiance to no one! And no one is looking through my mind, either! Accept me or I will leave!"

"Yes! Leave!" said Roran, nodding.

"No! No, you cannot! We will talk about this…from the moment I set eyes on you I realized how powerful you are. Come, let us discuss this in my tent." Nasuada unwillingly agknowledged Emerald's superiority.

Nasuada, again, glared menacingly at the book, mentally plotting her revenge against the fictional character who was rapidly becoming the bane of her existence. 'It's just a stupid story…it's just a stupid story…' she thought in a mantra, hoping to relieve some of the oncoming insanity that was sure to come by the end of this ridiculous novel.

Emerald had begun walking toward Nasuada, when she suddenly noticed she was not the only rider there: Eragon and Murtagh stood beside Saphira and Thorn respectively.

"Really? She didn't notice two freaking dragons for what, five minutes?" Katrina asked sarcastically, rolling her eyes.

She passed by her once-husband without a word, though she felt his eyes on her the entire time as she left the room.

"Ooh! Emerald's MAD! You better watch your back!" said Eragon sarcastically.

Nasuada and Emerald sat in Nasuada's tent, discussing the requirements if Emerald indeed, would fight for the Varden.

"Why do you come to the Varden?" asked Nasuada, propping her feet up on the table and leaning back on her chair in a lazy slouch. Meanwhile, Emerald was sitting politely in her chair, up straight with the air of dignity and poise. Quite the opposite from the woman across from her who was now openly using a nail file to get the dirt from under her fingernails. ('Stop glaring, Nasuada. You're going to burn a hole through the book' 'That's the idea!')

'What a slob of a woman,' thought Emerald before she primly got up from her chair.

"I will not swear fealty to you, but I will fight for the Varden, because it will eventually bring my father down from the throne. If you cannot accept this, I will leave and…return to the palace." Emerald knew she would never willingly return to her father, but it was a bluff. And she was sure Nasuada was stupid and dimwitted enough to believe the lie.

Nasuada weighed her options. She could let the princess go, but it would be costing her much. Three riders instead of two could give them just the advantage they needed to win the war…and Emerald was very powerful. Nasuada could tell. To let her go would be too much of a sacrifice.

"Alright. You've got a deal. When can I expect—" Emerald immediately cut the other woman off.

"You can expect anything you want. But I do things on my time, and when I feel it is right to do them. Now if you would show me to my tent, please." Nasuada tried her hardest not to cower at Emerald's terse, barely veiled command, and quickly complied.

"Of course…this way."

"End…chapter," Arya managed through her oncoming peals of laughter at the murderous look on the rebel leader's face.

"We're going to vanquish this thing. I'll read next," said Nasuada with a glint in her eye that frightened everyone in the room.

The next day, a messenger appeared at Emerald's tent.

"Lady Nasuada decrees that you will be tested in your powers as a dragon rider," said the messenger boy. He looked afraid of Emerald's amazing powers, and of Sarra's deadly magnificence, but Emerald fixed him with a beatific smile.

"Not a problem. Where do I go?"

"The training fields. I will take you." It was clear the poor boy was besotted with Emerald. Although, really, nearly every man in the Varden fell under that category.

"He'd better not try anything," growled Sarra. "Anyone else breaks your heart and they will find me not so lenient.

"Hush," said Emerald. "Be not filled with anger, Sarra. It is better to forgive and move on."

"Of course..you are right, as usual."

"The arrogance is really starting to make me itch," said Angela.

Out in the field stood Arya. She was clearly in awe of Emerald. The rider inclined her head. Might as well flatter the elf.

"I'm going to kill her," said Arya in a terrifying, low voice.

"No, I'm going to kill her, but you can help," said Murtagh.

"I have been told to test you in arms and magic. Draw your sword," said Arya.

Emerald complied. Arya attacked, with a difficult attack that most would not see coming. Emerald knew it well. She blocked, and almost disarmed Arya, but chose to keep playing with her. Arya renewed her efforts. They were dancing in a complicated, deadly dance. Finally, breathing hard, Arya called a halt.

"Enough. You are beyond competent. You are the best swordswoman I have ever seen!"

"You know, I have never seen you compliment anyone. Come to think of it, I have never seen any elf compliment anyone, unless it was a formality," said Murtagh.

"Shut up because I kill you like I want to kill her," said Arya. "The insolent little bitch, how dare she dishonor me?"

"Calm down, at least you haven't had to shag her," said Orik dismissively.

Then everyone in the room got some highly disturbing mentally images, and there was a break in the reading where everyone pummeled the dwarf.

Emerald modestly brushed the compliment off, and tried to ignore the stares. People had abandoned their posts to watch Emerald and Arya spar.

"Now I shall test you in magic. Lift that stone into the air," said Arya.

Emerald performed every task Arya gave with ease.

"Can she think of nothing harder?" asked Sarra with disgust.

"Peace. Do not look down on those below you said Emerald.

"Hypocrite!" shrieked Nasuada.

"I think I'll use fire…" said Arya musingly.

"You are the best fighter I have ever seen! We shall go inform Nasuada," said Arya in awe.

Emerald followed her to Nasuada's tent. After gaiing entrance past all the guards (because Nasuada was a coward)Arya explained that Emerald was a great fighter. Nasuada looked disappointed, but knew better than to question Arya. Even that weak woman stood above the leader. How sad.

"Weak?" Arya shrieked.

"I'm not going to say anything, not going to say anything…" muttered Nasuada.

"Wow…you know, I wonder how Murtagh's going to react to all this," Eragon said in fake wonder, casting a sly glance at said brother.

Murtagh glared, but suddenly plucked the book from Nasuada's grasp. She hadn't even noticed. She was resting her hand on the hilt of her dagger. She fingered the blade, her body stiff as a board, her hand itching to unsheathe her blade.

Murtagh skimmed the next few pages before starting to smirk wickedly.

"What?" Eragon asked as he suddenly felt the chill of unease creep up his spine.

"Sweet, sweet justice," said Murtagh, his grin broadening.

"What?" Eragon now felt a full on alarm from the expression his half-brother was sporting.

"This next chapter…it's about you."

Hey everyone! Evanescence2189 here to say thanks for all of your lovely reviews. They are much appreciated, and I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter as much as we enjoyed writing it. Please read and review! :D

-E2189 and Witchy Pixie