Well, you'd think that after having worked on a chapter for days, I'd be able to publish something worth reading. Well, in my opinion, I haven't. Let's just hope that my next chapters will be better ... And so they will!

So now, please review and tell me how bad this was!

Chapter 10: Arrival at Tarnag

In Arya's opinion, the days that followed could not have passed more slowly, although there was both a funeral and a coronation to attend. All she wanted to do now was get away from Farthen Dûr and start the journey to Ellesméra, since she knew how long that would take, and how little time they really had. So therefore, when she found out that Orik was going to accompany them as well, she could not help feeling quite frustrated, though she had nothing against the dwarf himself.

During Ajihad's funeral, Arya felt yet again how the bitter hopelessness rose inside her, threatening to possess both her mind and body. What did it help, she thought, tears streaming down her face as she watched Ajihad lying pale and still, if Nasuada became leader of the Varden? What will we be able to do?

She could hear voices speaking all around her, some expressing their grief and sympathy with Nasuada, some trying in vain to comfort each other with what seemed to Arya more like empty words than anything else. And others, raising their voices in anger, furious at how their leader had fallen. But Arya found no reason to take part in any of these random conversations, and simply stood with her head bent down, and her eyes fixed upon ajihad's body.

However, she did look up once, when Nasuada walked forwards to see her father for the last time. She made no efforts to hide her grief, but seemed even more determinate than ever before, and Arya could not help admiring her. Because, although it was so many years ago now, she would never forget her mother's expression when her father, king Evandar, had been buried. And, once again, it occurred to Arya how much she and Nasuada really did have in common, though the latter knew little of this yet.

Directly after the funeral, Nasuada's coronation would take place in the underground ampthitheatre, which the dwarves always used for this purpose. Arya considered it quite strange to hold a coronation right after a funeral, but she also knew how little time there really was.

And, as Jörmundur announced who would lead the Varden and the humans and dwarves kept on cheering for ten minutes, Arya could not help feeling awed. However, this was not the end of it. While feeling her whole body tensing, Arya watched as Eragon stepped forwards to, as he had promised, swear fealty to Nasuada.

Once he had finished, both the humans and the dwarves stared, and the anger among the members of the Council of Elders was clear. Eragon had undermined them, and they were not pleased about it. But Arya, who had been so angry when she first heard about his idea, had difficulties hiding a smile.

As a result of all this activity, Arya felt more like resting for a week when the time finally came for her, Eragon and Orik to begin their journey. She began the day by oversleeping, and awoke first when Orik knocked hard on her door, shouting:

"Are you coming or not?"

Arya got up and dressed, still half asleep, before opening the door. Orik's face was grim, as if he had spent quite a long time waiting outside her room, which she also supposed he had.

"I've got to go", he said as soon as his eyes fell upon Arya. "I will meet Eragon and ..."

He stopped there and surveyed Arya curiously, in a way that seemed quite unnatural for him.

"Has Hrothgar told you what he is planning?" the dwarf asked.

"If you mean that we shall stop in Tarnag instead of going straight to Du Weldenvarden ...", Arya began, but Orik shook his head impatiently, saying:

"No, no. I mean his other plan, the one concerning Eragon. Well, obviously you know nothing about it. Since Saphira promised to repare the Isidar Mithrim, Hrothgar offers to adopt Eragon into Dûrgrimst Ingeitum, giving him all the privileges any of the other members can have. If Eragon accepts, I will help him to swear the oath."

Repare the Isidar Mithrim? Being member of a dwarven clan? Arya felt her head swimming at the prospect of all this. If Eragon continues like this, she thought, he will soon have no freedom at all. But if he does not agree, that will be taken as an insolt. At least, that's how the elves would react, though since dwarves were so unlike elves, Arya was unsure how Hrothgar would see it. Nevertheless, it troubled her.

"I will be at the northern gate soon", she promised Orik, who hurried off as soon as he heard the words.

Half an hour had passed when Arya finally decided that it was time for her to join Eragon, Saphira and Orik. She had not known if it was convenient for her to watch as Eragon swore the oath. If that was what he had done. But now, she felt that there was no time left to wait.

As she walked through the corridors of Tronjheim, Arya soon found herself accompanied by Nasuada and Jörmundur. Although neither of them mentioned their destination, Arya knew that they had come to bid Eragon farewell. And she wondered if they knew what Eragon had probably done by now.

Orik, Eragon and Saphira were waiting for them as they arrived, Eragon holding the reins of a white horse which Arya assumed to be his own. As he saw them approach, he averted his eyes, clearly ashamed of himself. Arya thought she knew why, but decided to let Nasuada and Jörmundur speak instead of her.

"You accepted?" Nasuada asked in a surprisingly gentle tone, and as Eragon nodded, she continued: "I wondered if you would. Now, all three races have a hold on you. You are a member of one of the strongest dwarven clans, the elves will train and shape you, and you have sworn fealty to me - a human. Perhaps it is best that we share your loyalty."

With a look of surprise on his face, Eragon shook hands with Jörmundur, who said:

"Have a good trip, Eragon, and guard yourself well."

Then, when Arya found it impossible to stay any longer, just to exchange even more polite expressions, however important they might be, she said:

"Come!"

And she hurried ahead of the others, into the darkness of Farthen Dûr.

It would take them several days to get to Tarnag, even though the tunnels they used were the shortest way to get to the city from Farthen Dûr. Arya did not enjoy the journey, and she had a feeling that neither Eragon, nor Saphira did. But for Arya's part, it was also a question of fighting against troubled thoughts, as well as trying to ignore that terrible feeling of being surrounded by stone.

She had never, as far as she could remember, managed to visit Tarnag without starting to argue with one dwarven preast or another. But now, she knew that they must just pass through the city quickly, so that they could continue to Ellesméra. What she needed to do was simply keep quiet and follow the others, ignoring all those things which used to upset her.

Nevertheless, she knew how glad she would be when they left the dwarven city behind them and continued on their way.

They came out of the tunnel after two days, in the warm light of the newly risen sun. Eragon plagued Orik and Arya with questions all the way down to Tarnag, most of which Arya let Orik answer. She was too busy looking around, trying to get rid of the anxiety that filled her body.

Seven dwarven guards came out of the city, riding on Feldûnost, to guard Eragon and Saphira and guide them all into the city. Although, of course, both Orik and Arya knew the way perfectly well themselves.

As they entered the city, Arya saw the suspicious and sometimes even angry glances that the dwarves they passed threw at Eragon and Saphira. And she wondered if it had been that wise of Hrothgar to adopt Eragon into his clan. If the king wanted to stay popular among the people, maybe he should not have done it.

Arya's thoughts were interrupted as several dwarves, all with veils over their faces, rushed out in front of them, forcing the group to stop. It could easily be seen that they belonged to Az Sweldn rak Anhûin, and they looked furious.

The leader of the group before them began to shout about how he did not consider Eragon and Saphira welcome in Tarnag, after Az Sweldn rak Anhûin had almost been extinguished by Galbatorix and the Forsworn. Arya flet anger stirring within her when she heard this, but did as she had promised herself, and remained silent.

One of Eragon's dwarven guards had, however, interrupted the other dwarf, and the two of them were soon shouting at each other, seemingly oblivious to all the others watching. As they talked, Eragon leaned forwards to get a better view of what was going on, revealing his helmet with the symbol of Dûrgrimst Ingeitum. The dwarf froze. Then, slowly, he took a ring from his pocket, twined three hairs from his beard around it and threw it on the ground. Then, without another word, he and his dwarves turned and rode away.

Arya stared in shock at the ring lying on the pavement, and so did Orik and the seven other dwarves as well. They all knew what it meant. In that short time, Az Sweldn rak Anhûin had declared themselves Eragon's blood enemies. Arya knew, of course, how much they had against dragons, Riders and everything else that had to do with Galbatorix. But she had not thought that they would do a thing like this. Not when Eragon had spent so little time among the dwarves.

And how would this affect Hrothgar? Would he lose all the support Az Sweldn rak Anhûin had ever given him, however little it had been before? Of course, there were still eleven other clans which could support him, but she still supposed she had better ask someone about it. And also, she knew someone had to explain all this to Eragon, who clearly understood nothing of what had just happened.

They walked in silence into Ûndin's hall, where the clan chief sat together with Gannel, waiting for them. Ûndin greeted them all, before Orik showed him the ring he had picked up from the ground.

"Who gave this to you?" Ûndin asked in a shocked tone.

"It was Az Sweldn rak Anhûin", said Orik. "And it is not meant for me, but for Eragon."

Alarm spread among the dwarves immediately. Eragon was guided to a room by a servent, while Arya sat together with Orik, Ûndin and Gannel to discuss the happenings.

After Orik had, in short words, explained what had happened out in the street, Ûndin cursed and then said:

"I know Az Sweldn rak Anhûin would not be willing to help the new Rider, but I had not expected this."

"I do not think any of us had", Orik muttered. "But now, we must just try not to upset Az Sweldn rak Anhûin even more while we stay here."

"And try to leave as soon as we can", Arya added.

As she said this, she noticed the expression flashing across Ûndin's face in the fraction of a second, and she understood that he was offended, though he did not want to show it. And, once again, Arya had difficulties hiding her feeling of anger and confusion. The dwarves were so different, and she did not think she would ever manage to fully understand them.