A/N: As promised, I won't criticise my writing in my note, but if I was going to, I migt apologise about the short length of this chapter. However, I believe that this works better as a shorter one. Just a reminder: this is set about five months after the last chapter.
* * * Eragon POV * * *
"Vanir-vor, have you anything to report?" Queen Islanzadi asked, beginning her consultation. Apparently the Elven Queen held such sessions every lunar cycle.
I glared a little at Brom and Ilia when they giggled, clearly not paying attention, silently cautioning them to pay attention to their lesson in Elven politics. Arya's grip on my hand tightened. She'd been getting twinges in her lower back all morning. She said they felt just like she'd trapped a nerve. I rubbed my thumb over her hand and squeezed it in sympathy.
I turned my attention back to the meeting, and maintained a watchful eye on Brom and Ilia. However, I son got bored and decided instead to listen to Saphira teaching Aura about Dragon Riders. Although Aura was a wild dragon, Saphira wanted her to know about dragons that were bonded so that she would know how to react if she ever met any beside Saphira, Groenur and her siblings.
I was pulled out of that conversation as Arya gripped my hand harder than before. A second hand grabbed onto my bicep and tightened around that as pain washed through her. I stared at her in shock, her face a picture of agony.
"Arya?" I whispered urgently. She didn't answer me; her lips were mashed together, most likely restraining a cry of pain. I turned to her and used my free hand to rub up and down her left arm. Once the pain passed she looked up at my eyes, and extended a tendril of thought towards me, easily slipping through my defences. She knew them so well now.
Arya, what is it?
Eragon, I think I'm going into labour.
My eyes flickered down to her stomach. It had ballooned outwards five months ago. I looked back up at her.
Now?
She nodded. I squeezed her hand slightly, and signalled Islanzadi with a wave. She looked over at us, taking in Arya's panicked face, which suddenly transformed to reveal her pain, and then Arya's mother stood from her throne. Her red dress, which looked so similar to the one I'd first seen her in, tumbled to the ground, and sashayed as she walked towards us.
"This meeting is adjourned until tomorrow morning. I need to speak with my daughter and her mate."
The rest of the elves gathered mumbled an assent and filed out through the double doors.
"The baby?" Islanzadi asked, sounding truly concerned. Arya could only manage a bob of her head. "Has your water broken yet?"
"Yes, this morning," Arya groaned from between her gritted teeth, as another contraction washed through her.
"What? You knew you were going into labour and you stood here the entire morning?" I asked a little angrily.
Arya gave me a flat look in response. I knew she would never let anything, even the birth of her child, get in the way of her duty as a Rider or the Princess, just like she had never let anything, like a relationship with me, get in the way of her duty as ambassador to the Varden.
She yelped as a stronger contraction hit.
"Where can we take her?" I asked Islanzadi, rushing my words.
"There's a passage to my chambers behind the throne – we'll take her there."
I nodded and lifted Arya with ease into my arms. She hit me around the back of my head and tried to get out of my arms, muttering something about how she wasn't a helpless human woman and could walk. Honestly, she'd think I know that by now, wouldn't you? I said exasperatedly to Saphira, who sent back the mental equivalent of a laugh.
Tell her to cross her legs until Groenur and I get there, she said in my mind. I want to see what your hatchling looks like, Little One.
Okay, Saphira, I'm not going to pass that message along. Do it yourself, she won't hit you.
Brom and Ilia followed Islanzadi and me as we entered the huge chamber of the Elven Queen. I laid Arya down on the bed and was shooed from the room by Islanzadi. I lifted Ilia into my arms, who whispered into my ear, "Is Mummy going to be okay?" I hugged her tighter, recognising the fear in her voice.
"Mummy's going to be fine. But you're both going to have another brother or sister to play with."
I sat down on a low wooden bench beside the door, pulling Ilia onto my lap. Brom sat beside me, holding my hand.
A young-looking elven woman ran past and into Islanzadi's chamber. I could hear Arya screaming inside, and hummed loudly to stop Brom and Ilia hearing it.
Two hours later I was still sat outside with Brom and Ilia, who had fallen asleep against me, waiting for my child to be born. I sighed and leant against the wall behind me, tipping my head back, resting my eyes. I cracked open an eye, as I heard footsteps coming towards the door. The door opened and I leaned forwards in anticipation.
The woman who had run in came out and stood before me, looking worn out. "Your child awaits you, Sir." She bowed her head and walked off down the corridor.
I picked Brom up and tucked him under an arm, doing the same to Ilia but with my right arm, and nervously walked through the open door to meet my new-born baby. I spied two small armchairs by the door and placed Brom and Ilia in them. As I turned back away from the door, my eyes were drawn to the dark crop of hair poking out from the blanketed bundle in Arya's arms. She was smiling at our child, oblivious to my approach. At least I thought she was, until she whispered my name.
"Eragon, come and meet your daughter."
"My daughter?" I asked, my voice shaking with emotion. I crept quietly to Arya's side and looked at the little girl sleeping so peacefully. My breath was stolen and I was overjoyed by my beautiful daughter's sweet face. "She's beautiful."
Arya looked up at me from the bed. "She looks just like you."
I looked back at our daughter. It was true. Her hair was the exact same shade as mine, her eyes were not blue, as other babies' were; they were a chocolate brown. Her skin, however, was honeyed toned like Arya's.
"I'm so proud of you," I said in hushed tones, placing my lips on Arya's damp brown. I pushed her hair off her forehead where it had gotten stuck and climbed onto the bed beside her to embrace her. "You should sleep. You look tired." I was rewarded with a small glare from her, but she acquiesced, silently handing me our daughter.
Saphira looked at the sleeping baby through my eyes. What are you going to call her? She asked, echoing my question from so months ago.
I don't know. I looked over at Arya to see her sleeping soundly. I'll ask Arya when she wakes. I settled in a rickety rocking chair which I thought Islanzadi might have had brought in especially for the occasion, and just stared, content, at my daughter.
A/N: Well? How did I do? I know it's a one sided chapter, but I didn't really know what Arya would be thinking, whereas I knew Eragon was going to worry sitting outside and be a bit impatient, so I just wrote Eragon's POV. Their daughter shall be named in the next chapter and they will leave Ellesmera: something to look forward to, I hope. Please review to tell me what you thought of the chapter. :D