Renewing Old Acquaintances
Eragon sat there. He and Saphira were the only ones of their group who had not fallen asleep. They were on the border of Du Weldenvarden, and though they were near Osilon, they had seen no elves. Eragon watched the fire dance. He thought about Ardis' revelation yesterday.
I was surprised at your reaction to Ardis' parentage, Saphira remarked.
Is that good or bad? Eragon asked.
Good, the blue dragon responded. You have grown wise, hatchling.
I think I should check her mind in case she means us harm. She could have refrained from harming us so that she could learn the location of elfin cities, Eragon told Saphira.
That is a good plan. Just be careful in case her mind is shielded in her sleep, the blue dragon cautioned.
Eragon nodded. He looked at Ardis' sleeping form. He noticed how different her beauty was from Arya's. Where Ardis was small and compact, Arya was tall and slender. Where, Ardis' hair was chestnut, Arya's was dark raven. Where Ardis' face was small and round, Arya's was longer and more feline. The two were indeed different. He wasn't sure whose beauty he preferred. He tested her mind. She had no mental barriers. He dove in.
A young Ardis walked along next to a woman who resembled her, though this woman's eyes were violet.
"Mother, why is father angry?" the young child asked.
"Your father can be angry sometimes, Ardis," the woman responded. There was a distinct sadness in her voice.
"Oh," the little Ardis said, "then all is well?"
The woman seemed to barely be able to bring herself to nod.
Eragon sat there. What had happened to Ardis' mother? He looked again.
Ardis walked into the room. It looked like a dungeon. The same woman whom Ardis had called mother was lying chained against the wall.
"Mother?" Ardis whispered.
"Ardis," the woman croaked affectionately, looking up. Her voice was nothing like it had been in the earlier memory.
"Mother, why has this happened?" the five-year old asked.
"I was foolish," the woman whispered. She hung her head ashamedly.
"Mother, what will happen to you? Deandra said they would burn you," the little girl asked her mother.
"Why is she alarming you? Oh, Ardis, it's true," the woman told her.
They sat there and cried and embraced for a long while.
"Listen to Deandra. She means well," the woman told Ardis as the girl left.
Ardis left the room. Two people stood there: a lanky, tawny-haired girl of about ten and a petite, red-headed woman of about twenty-two or twenty-three. The woman went into the room next. The older girl remained silent. She seemed to be focused on something. Ardis tried to talk to her twice and she only got vague, one-word responses. When the woman came out, the older girl went in. She hugged Ardis just before she did. She came out a few minutes later.
"Did she take it?" the woman asked the girl. The latter nodded.
"Take what?" Ardis questioned.
"She has escaped the flames," the tawny-haired girl said, speaking for the first time. Eragon recognized her voice. She was the tall girl from his dreams. This was Ardis' sister. This was Luce. This was the green rider.
"How?" Ardis inquired of her older sister.
"She chose to end her life before the king could," Luce whispered. She sounded sad for her sister, though not for herself.
Ardis looked down.
"Why did she choose that?" the girl whispered.
"Ardis," the woman cut, "your mother has been spared great suffering. She has died quite painlessly. Please, understand."
Ardis cried softly. Luce put her arms around her.
"Shhh, I lost my mother too. Morgana did not suffer. She is happier now. None could have saved her," Luce whispered. Ardis continued to cry, but she hugged Luce. The woman hugged them both.
Eragon sifted through Ardis' memories. He saw the game of hide-and-go-seek that had taken place when Ardis was eight. Luce had been placating her sister while Deandra had been busy. Ardis had chosen the egg chamber as a hiding spot. Galbatorix had grown angry and knocked her down. Luce had taken her to Deandra, who healed the wound.
He saw Luce, Ardis, and a boy he recognized as Murtagh learning to ride under the instruction of a man called Tornac. Eragon recognized the name of Murtagh's servant who had been killed when his brother escaped Uru'baen.
He saw how Ardis and Luce were instructed in magic. Ardis' gift was stronger, but Luce's was subtler and more refined.
He saw how Luce and Ardis were packed up to go live at an elderly earl's widow's mansion to be educated. It seemed as though Luce knew more about the reasons for this than Ardis did. They stayed for three years.
He saw how they came home around the same time of Murtagh's forced return to Uru'baen. Luce went to the dungeons to bring him to Deandra, who was an extremely skilled healer and witch, almost as skilled as Angela. Eragon saw the pain his brother had suffered. Murtagh was delirious at first. Deandra had to use all sorts of herbs to calm him. It was a week before he recovered because he had endured so much pain and torture before and after Thorn's hatching.
He saw a little bit of Thorn. Eragon noticed how the wine-red dragon seemed to treat Ardis as a sister or a child and Luce in a manner Eragon couldn't work out.
He saw the hatching of the green dragon for Luce. Her recovery had taken three days. Luce had surprised Ardis and Murtagh fully recovered with her green dragon, whom she had named Iormungr.
Eragon saw Ardis' escape, aided by Luce, Murtagh, and Shaheen. It was a daring, almost reckless plan, but it worked through what seemed to be sheer, dumb luck.
Eragon withdrew from Ardis' mind. He considered what he had seen. He had felt a surprising amount of pity for Murtagh. His brother had indeed suffered. He also noticed the difference between the way Murtagh interacted with the two sisters. Ardis was a sister, and Luce was…different.
Oh, little one, there is naught you can do, Saphira comforted him. At least Ardis is trustworthy.
The rider nodded. He felt exhausted. He leaned against his dragon and fell asleep.
The group was awakened five hours later by a sound of horses' hooves. Ardis awoke first. Something felt wrong. It distracted her too much to think about the noise. She realized what was bothering her a second later. Eragon had searched her memories!
Why would he do that? the rider asked her dragon, enraged.
I think he was scared of your parentage. Take care not to offend him. You don't know what could happen, Kazul cautioned.
I wish I were able to keep my barriers up when I'm asleep, the rider complained.
You told me only Murtagh can do that, Kazul comforted.
Luce can sometimes if she really concentrates, Ardis retorted.
I don't think she sleeps much when she does that, Kazul remarked.
True, Ardis replied. That thought had never occurred to her. She found it hard to stay mad at Eragon. He resembled Murtagh in an elfin way. Ardis found him better-looking than Murtagh, though. She smiled a little when she thought of him.
Be careful of your feelings, Ardis, Kazul told her. I sensed an attraction in him for the elf girl.
Arya? Ardis asked. She realized her dragon was right. She sighed and looked up for the noise that had awoken her. She saw five elves, all of whom were on horses. One of the elves looked very young, perhaps nine or ten years of age. His horse was smaller, and his hair was as dark as Arya's. Two of the grown elves had black hair, and the other two adults had hair like starlight and her father's. She had never thought of Galbatorix's hair that way, and it disturbed her that she now did.
The others were awake by now as well. Shaheen looked barely coherent. She was looking at the elves with a rather dazed expression on her face. Roran looked irritated at being woken up. Eragon seemed wide awake, however.
The group exchanged the traditional greetings that Eragon had taught them. The elves seemed especially interested in greeting Saphira. Roran tripped over the ancient language a bit, and one of the dark-haired elves sneered slightly. Roran made an expression close to a glare, and Eragon frowned at the elf.
"Does something amuse you, Vanir-vodhr?" Eragon asked. Roran's face showed recognition at the name.
"Nothing at all, Shadeslayer," the elf said, making the last word as insulting as possible. His eyes found Ardis. "So, this is the new rider." Ardis felt uncomfortable as he scrutinized her. She felt as though he was judging her every aspect. It then occurred to her that she was probably right.
The other elves exchanged worried glances. The other black-haired adult cut in smoothly.
"We are very pleased that you have come to us, Shur'tugal. Islandzadi Drottning was very pleased when Arya Drottningu sent word of your dragon's hatching. And what is your name, Skulblaka?"
Kazul. May I ask all of yours? the purple and silver dragon answered.
The elf laughed and replied, "I am called Lifaen. These are Vanir;" (the other dark-haired one) "Edurna;" (one of the silver-haired elves) "Celdin, cousin of Edurna;" (the taller of the two silver-haired elves) "and Dusan, younger brother of Vanir." They all greeted Kazul with as much zeal as they had greeted Saphira. Kazul looked unnerved by the attention.
You'll get used to it, Saphira comforted.
Are they always like this with dragons? Kazul inquired.
Indeed, Saphira answered. Only Ardis and Eragon had heard this conversation.
"We must get to Osilon before dark, Lifaen-vodhr," Dusan put in nervously. He seemed in complete and utter awe of Saphira and Kazul, who was only the size of a dog. Saphira touched his cheek with her snout, and Kazul wrapped around him briefly. Eragon patted his shoulder, and Ardis smiled encouragingly. Dusan beamed at Ardis.
Lifaen nodded his agreement.
"We brought horses for you all because Lifaen said that Captain Damitha thought it would be awfully rude to make you," Edurna put in.
"We personally didn't want to walk either," Celdin added. Dusan put a hand in his mouth to smother a laugh. Vanir rolled his eyes. Lifaen looked upset at his friends' joking.
"We should go now, Shur'tugalar and Skulblakya," Lifaen said.
They all mounted their horses and rode off. The older elves were all mostly silent except when Edurna and Celdin burst out laughing like a waterfall at a joke the other had made while they mind spoke. Dusan rode his horse next to Ardis and talked to her occasionally. He once whispered, "Lifaen is so concerned about Captain Damitha's opinion of him. It's a bit of a joke to Vanir. He says Lifaen likes her, and she's more formidable than a dragon. No offense to Kazul or Saphira, of course. She scares Edurna and Celdin. Vanir thinks that is funny too." Ardis smiled in amusement. Lifaen once commented about the beauty of Kazul and Saphira's bond of sisterhood. Eragon once asked Lifaen about the whereabouts of an elf called Nair. Lifaen said he was in Ellesmera. Edurna and Celdin told occasional jokes that weren't overly familiar to the group. Vanir was silent throughout the entire trip. Roran and Shaheen did not start a single argument in the elves presence. Eragon seemed as relieved as she was by this. All the adult elves, especially Vanir, seemed to be judging them.
They reached Osilon by nightfall. Ardis didn't see as much of the city as she would've liked. They were greeted by the governor of Osilon and given rooms and bathes in an indoor creek. Ardis was pleased to be clean. No one else in the city was alerted of their presence. They continued early in the morning.
They reached Ellesmera after two more days of traveling. They were greeted by an ancient elf named Gilderien the Wise who had guarded the city since the days of the dragon war, or so Dusan had said. Eragon and Ardis showed him their palms. He spread his arms to welcome them. They rode past him, and he vanished.
As, they entered the city, Ardis gasped at the sight. When she had been younger, Deandra used to tell her all the legends and rumors about the elves' legendary city. Even Luce, who wasn't fond of legends and myths, had found these stories fascinating. Deandra's wonderful tale-telling hadn't even come close to this city.
Ardis seen very little of Osilon and in the dark at that, but it had impressed her. Ellesmera compared to Osilon as a village like Carvahall would compare to Uru'baen. They were in an empty glade at first. The ground was covered in beautiful flowers. A stream flowed. Animals were here in abundance. There were hidden paths everywhere once you looked.
She asked Eragon where the city was. He was going to answer. Vanir seemed amused by her question. "If you look closely, Ardis-vodhira, you will see that those paths are the entrances to buildings sung from trees. Perhaps, you fail to see." It wasn't a question.
Ardis looked and saw that the insufferable male elf was right. Every building was made of trees. They were beautiful unique buildings. She watched as the elves of Ellesmera came into view.
They were all as fair as the ones Ardis had traveled with. They all had hair of silver or raven-black. They had the same feline elegance. Ardis had never seen a people so fair, so wise, so strong, or so old and still youthful.
The elves had clearly heard of Eragon's return with his cousin and a new rider. They all ran to greet the dragons. Saphira seemed pleased by the attention, and Kazul was warming to it.
When Ardis asked how buildings could be sung from trees, Eragon laughed and said, "I asked Arya the same question. They are sung from them."
"How-?" Ardis began.
"You will learn in training," the rider explained.
The group walked up steps formed from roots. A door was imbedded in a wall of saplings. It was incredible how everything came from trees. They walked through the door and into a hall formed from the ancient branches. They saw twenty-four elf lords and ladies, all wearing swords and circlets.
Queen Islanzadi sat at the center in a throne positioned in a white pavilion. Ardis saw the resemblance between her and her daughter, Arya. The queen was beautiful as was the rest of her race and just as proud. She wore a dark green tunic and a scarlet cloak. Her girdle was made of pure gold. Ardis had never seen anybody look so much like a queen.
A white raven who called out, "Wyrda!" as soon as he saw them was perched on the crosspiece in the queen's left hand.
Eragon and Ardis bowed first, then Roran and Shaheen, and then the elves.
Islandzadi stood to greet them. As she did, the white raven looked at Eragon and said:
"Oh, foolish human man,
Why do you still not understand?"
Eragon looked at it strangely. Ardis, Shaheen, and Roran all cast him inquiring glances. Islandzadi looked angry and embarrassed.
"Hush, Blagden," she said imperiously. "Shadeslayer, I apologize for my raven's rude behavior. He is as incorrigible as ever."
"I am not offended, Islanzadi Drottning," Eragon replied, making the twisting gesture with his hand. The elves and Shaheen did as well. Ardis and Roran remembered their lessons just in time. They made the gesture before they appeared discourteous.
"And what are your names, rider and dragon? I have already heard how your hatching came about," the queen inquired.
"I am called Ardis, your majesty," the female rider answered respectfully.
And my rider named me Kazul, Ardis' dragon replied.
"Your presence indeed raises hope," the queen began, standing, "but that hope comes at a price. The king has gained two new riders since Eragon Shadeslayer's last visit. The training of our two riders must be done well. Oromis-elda and Glaedr Bjartskular shall do their best, I am sure. We elves will fight Galbatorix ourselves. We have already sent spell-weavers to the Varden. The elfin soldiers Lifaen, Nari, Edurna, Celdin, and Vanir shall go to the Varden when Eragon Shadeslayer and Ardis return. Our armies shall join them soon. This battle against Galbatorix can still be won. Remember that, my brethren and be comforted." The elves all cheered, and Islanzadi clapped her hands. The plates filled at that moment. Ardis frowned. She knew that sound could not realistically control magic. She had even asked one of Galbatorix's magicians, Adion, if this was possible. He had said no.
"How is it that she can control magic with sound?" Ardis asked. She had assumed Eragon was near her as she sat down. He was actually talking to Lifaen and another silver-haired male elf that Ardis assumed was Nari. Vanir answered instead.
"I hope you are a quick learner, Ardis-vodhira for you have much to learn," the dark-haired elf said.
Ardis turned and looked at him. She couldn't resist saying, "Do not worry, Vanir-vodhr. I am."
Vanir looked mildly surprised.
"Oh, Vanir, she had only just become a rider. You really mustn't tease her, brother," a female voice called out. Ardis turned to the source of the voice and saw a raven-haired elf-girl who looked to be the same age as Dusan.
"It is good to see you again, Alanna," Vanir said, picking up the elf-child and swinging her around in his arms.
"Where is Dusan?" she asked eagerly.
"You are missing your twin more than I, sister?" Vanir teased.
"Oh, Vanir, I just have to make him tell me everything that happened while he was away. Do you know that he was insufferable about being able to go while I was helping Mother?" Alanna told her brother.
"You must help Mother, daedrin," Vanir explained, smoothing back Alanna's dark hair. (A/N: Daedrin is not an actual word in the ancient language. It's just a pet name a made up for the elves to call girl children. Vodhira is the femine version of Vodhr that I made up.)
"I know," the little girl sighed.
Ardis felt awkward eavesdropping on a family reunion. She went to fetch Dusan, who was in a conversation with Edurna and Celdin.
"Vanir and Alanna are looking for you," Ardis told him.
Dusan stopped talking and smiled at Ardis as he thanked her for telling him.
"Don't see why that child would want to see that kind of a brother, but…Oh, sorry Argetlam," Edurna said, stopping when he saw Ardis.
"Edurna doesn't know what he's saying. I think Vanir's a decent brother to Alanna and Dusan. He's a good soldier too. He's just..." Celdin trailed off.
"He just has a problem with jokes," Edurna finished. The two elves laughed. Ardis laughed with them. Her laugh sounded harsh to her own ears when compared with theirs. They didn't seem to mind. Ardis left them and sat down between Eragon and Kazul to eat.
The food is excellent. The elves make good conversation once you can get them to stop being adoring too. I wish there was some meat though, Kazul told her rider.
Ardis nodded because she had a mouthful of food.
Shaheen sat down between Ardis and Eragon.
"Well, this is lovely. I met an elf who visited my tribe. We used to trade this rare plant that didn't grow anywhere else and the elves couldn't sing for their food," the former slave explained between bites.
"What kind of plant was it?" Eragon asked.
"It was the plant that makes Tunivor's Nectar," she explained. "It is only grown in certain regions of the Hadarac Desert. We traded with the elves, the Varden, and the Empire. It was quite good business."
"I'm sure it was," Roran said as he sat down between Eragon and Shaheen. His tone made it apparent that he thought trading a plant for food and supplies ridiculous.
Eragon leaned over to explain Tunivor's Nectar to his cousin. Roran looked embarrassed.
"I-uh-I'm sorry," he told Shaheen.
"So you do have manners, Stronghammer," Shaheen said exuberantly as she gulped down a bottle of some strange liquid. She appeared to be getting drunk.
Ardis looked nervously at her friend. She leaned over and whispered, "Do you think you might want to not drink so much?"
Shaheen looked at her and said, "Oh, right. Thanks." She put the bottle back. "It's just really good. You should try a sip. I think its called faelnirv."
"Yes, it is good, Ardis. Try a sip," Eragon agreed.
She took a sip. Kazul, you have to try this, she told her dragon.
Kazul took a sip and agreed with her. Soon, all four humans were merry and laughing. Islanzadi at last stood up and declared the banquet to be at an end.
All four humans stood up. Roran, Ardis, and Shaheen looked at Eragon for instructions. Eragon looked unsure of what to do. Alanna came running up to them.
"Islanzadi Drottning says that I am to escort Shaheen and Roran to their rooms in Tialdari Hall. She also says that the riders and dragons should go back to the tree house. A new set of rooms has been added. And then she said that the riders and dragons should go to see Oromis-elda and Glaedr Bjartskular tomorrow," the girl told them.
Roran and Shaheen followed the nine-year old, and Ardis followed Eragon. The rider led her until they came to the base of a large tree. There were stairs grown into it. The two riders began the climb. Ardis was panting half-way to the top.
"How-can-you-stand-this?" Ardis asked, clutching a stitch in her side.
"I had trouble before Agaeti Blodhren last year. The spirits of the dragons changed me," he explained.
Ardis nodded to indicate that she understood.
"You'll get used to it," he told her.
They finally reached the top. They climbed through a trap door. They saw a vestibule that could showed four screen doors. One was a dining room, two were bedrooms, and one was a large depression Ardis thought must be used for bathing.
The riders each went into their respective rooms, curled up with their respective dragons, and went to sleep.
That chapter's done, and it was long. I hope you liked it. Please review. If you have any constructive criticism, please give it. Thanks. Bye byes.