Disclaimer: I do not own the Inheritance Cycle.
Author's note: Please, don't kill me! I beg you! lol Okay, I'm totally sorry for the super duper late update. I did mention that school already started, yes? Now I only have time to update on weekends and that's if I don't have homeworks and take-home projects to do. ): Aaaw...I'm really sorry. I will try to update every week.
So here's chapter 10 and I hope you like it. :)
Chapter X: Delivering News
The night after leaving Kuasta, Eragon, Arya, and Saphira made their camp on the mountains overlooking the Woodark Lake. After eating a quick supper which consisted of roots and herbs that Eragon collected, he shared his memories of what happened in Kuasta to Saphira. As he did this, he watched Arya walk to the other side of the camp. Kneeling, she dug a hole on the ground and said, "Adurna risa."
"What are you doing?" Eragon asked her while he stroke Saphira's neck.
"Islanzadi asked me to report to her when the opportunity presents itself," said Arya, waiting for the water to fill the hole that she had dug. "I suggest you do the same with Nasuada. She'd be anxious and worried if she doesn't receive any news from us. Letta." And the flow of water ceased.
"Right." Eragon stood up and walked to the other end of the camp behind the trees so Arya could talk freely to the Queen without being overheard. Imitating Arya, he dug his own hole on the ground and filled it with water using magic. He then intoned the words needed for scrying and soon, Nasuada's face appeared upon the surface of the still water. "My Lady," Eragon said and he bowed.
"Eragon," she replied. She looked surprised by his sudden appearance but she quickly hid it. "Where is Arya?"
"She is speaking with Queen Islanzadi."
"I see." She let out a sigh of relief. "What news do you have for me? Is everything alright? Have you discovered anything? How is Glaedr?"
Eragon blinked. He had almost completely forgotten Glaedr's Eldunari. Cursing himself for being so careless, he said, "We are all well and completely healthy, my Lady. As for Glaedr, he is still recovering."
Nasuada took a deep breath. "And what of your quest? Have you found any yet?"
Eragon shook his head. "But I do have good news to tell you." And he told her about everything that transpired in Kuasta. Nasuada listened intently, her face devoid of any emotion until Eragon mentioned that the leader of Kuasta wanted to arrest him and Arya. She cursed under her breath and her hand balling into fists but her expression quickly changed when Eragon finished his tale.
"That is very good news indeed," she said, smiling. She appeared to be really pleased. "I'm glad you were able to convince those people to help us. We need all the help we can get. Though," her face became stern. "That was a dangerous thing to do. What if the city was in fact, in Galbatorix's side? They could have easily contacted the Empire and the King could have sent Murtagh and Thorn to your place. You have no chance of defeating them without the help Blodhgarm and the other elves. They could have easily overwhelmed you, Saphira, and Arya. You would be in Galbatorix's hands by now and he would bind you to his side using the Ancient Language. If that happened, all hope would be lost."
"Perhaps, yes. But we were fortunate and things didn't go that way. Murtagh and Thorn didn't come and the people of Kuasta are now heading towards your location to help us," said Eragon. "Let us not darken this conversation with thoughts of what might have happened."
Nasuada pressed her lips together. "I will let it go…for now."
Eragon chuckled. Changing the subject, he asked, "How are things there in the Varden? I hope that everything's alright…and are you well? I hope that your arms have fully healed by now and they're not causing you any discomfort."
Nasuada's face softened. "We are nearing Belatona and would be there by the day after tomorrow at sundown. If everything goes well and as planned, the city would be ours at sunrise the next day. As for my wounds," she smiled, displaying her teeth. Eragon couldn't help but notice how much they stand out in contrast to her dark skin. "Yes, they have healed completely, thanks to Angela. Though she suggested that I do not join the fight in Belatona since it might reopen some of them that I…ah…cut too deeply." She grimaced as if she remembered how much pain the wounds caused her. "They would surely leave scars now but I would take them as a reminder of what I had to do and what I must still do for the people of Varden. They will serve as a token for my achievements and I will wear them proudly."
Eragon smiled. "You are a very wise woman, my Lady. The Varden is really fortunate to have you as their leader."
He wasn't sure if he had imagined it but it seemed to Eragon that Nasuada's face turned to a darker shade. She suddenly became interested to her fingernails. "Oh…I…yes. Thank you, Eragon. Now, if you have nothing else to say, my attention is needed elsewhere."
Eragon was confused by her sudden awkwardness but he decided not to ask so he said, "That is all, my Lady. I will contact you again as soon as possible. Have a pleasant evening." He bowed and ended the spell.
"Draumr kopa."
The water went completely blank and after a moment, an oval shape brightened in the middle of the water. A tall elf with silver hair and armor entered Arya's field of vision. It was Lord Dathedr, Queen Islanzadi's adviser and Arya's friend. When Dathedr saw her, he touched the first two fingers of his right hand to his lips and said, "Atra esterni ono thelduin, Arya Drottningu."
Arya duplicated the gesture with her fingers and replied, "Atra du evarinya ono varda, Dathedr-vor."
"Un atra mor'ranr lifa unin hjarta onr," Dathedr completed the ritual. Then he spread his arms as if he was going to envelop her in an embrace and sontinued in the Ancient Language, "Arya, my friend, I am glad to know you are well."
"And I, you," said Arya, beaming. "It has been a while."
Dathedr nodded. "We all longed to see you again, Princess…especially your mother."
Arya pressed her lips together. "About that…I would like to speak to her, Dathedr. Can you call her for me?"
"Of course, Arya Drottningu."
"Thank you."
Arya waited patiently for the Queen as she scribbled glyphs on the ground. Then a fluttering of cloth was heard as the tent flap was pushed aside and Queen Islanzadi came into view.
"My daughter," she said.
"Islanzadi Drottning…mother," said Arya, touching her fingers to her lips. She was a bit reluctant to address the Queen in that way. This, however, pleased Islanzadi for a faint smile touched her lips. "I have come to deliver news to you like you've asked me to."
"Ah, yes…and how is this quest of your and the Rider Eragon been? I trust that everything is well?"
"Yes. We had just left the city of Kuasta and are now headed towards Teirm. Eragon was able to convince the people of Kuasta to join the Varden and they're now marching towards Belatona to help seize the city."
"Nasuada probably is pleased with this particular news," Islanzadi said. "I should be glad about it as well and yet I do not share her bliss." She paused. "The elves are still mourning for our great loss."
The elves were able to seize Gil'ead the same day that the Varden seized Feinster. Murtagh and Thorn fled after they had killed Oromis and Glaedr, so the elves had no difficulty defeating the human soldiers. But after seeing what happened to Oromis and Glaedr, howls of anger and sorrow was heard all over the city. They wanted to bring their bodies back to Du Weldenvarden to be preserved there but to do so would require a lot of time and effort that the elves cannot afford. So Oromis and Glaedr's bodies were burned in the middle of the city, the elves gathering around them, singing their lamentations to the skies.
Arya clenched her fists. "What Galbatorix did really made our race mad with rage. He has made us more formidable and we will not stop until we have our revenge. We will march to Uru'baen to kill Galbatorix and rescue the remaining egg or die trying."
Islanzadi nodded. Arya said farewell and was about to end the spell when Islanzadi stopped her.
"And Arya," she said, her tone serious. She met Arya's eyes with her piercing gaze. 'Guard your heart well. You would do well if you focus on the task at hand and that task alone. Do not welcome any form of distraction and do not let your guard down. May the stars watch over you, my daughter." And then she disappeared in front of the mirror.
Eragon walked slowly back to the middle of their camp. Before he emerged behind the trees, he saw that Arya was already there sitting beside Saphira. Eragon stopped to admire the scene before him, engraving t to his memory. This was one of the very few moments he could stare freely at her.
Arya's chin was resting on top of her knees as she stared deeply into the fire. A slight pout was forming on her lips and her eyebrows a bit furrowed. She appeared to be thinking deeply – again.
Does she have nothing else to do than to think? Eragon thought to himself. Is this her new hobby or what?
Still hiding behind the trees, Eragon said, Saphira, What's wrong with Arya?
I am not certain, Little One, but I think it has something to do with her conversation with the Queen.
Ah, said Eragon as he emerged behind the trees and walked towards Arya. Let us try to confirm that, shall we?
Eragon sat down on the ground beside Arya and she looked at him. "You seem troubled," he said. Then in a joking tone to lighten her mood, he added, "You can always talk to me, you know."
Arya smiled. "It's nothing, Eragon. I don't want to bother you with unimportant matters."
Not giving up, he continued. "Can you at least give me a clue as to what it is?" He gave her a playful wink.
Arya laughed. Eragon's stomach did back flips. "Let's just say that sometimes, I prefer talking to humans and dwarves than to elves. They're much easier to understand." Then she and Eragon both laughed.
Gaaah...elves. Review!