The next morning she was roused by a messenger from the king. Orik wished to speak with her again. She washed and dressed, Tracker taking up his spot outside the window. When she entered she was surprised to see Eldwin already there, dark circles from lack of sleep below his eyes. Orik was sitting with Odgar beside him, laughing as if they were old friends.
Apparently, so roused by her words last night, Odgar had ran to see the other leaders of Az Sweldn rak Anhuin, and had convinced them that a peace was necessary. He stirred the slow moving dwarves into immediate action. Messengers had been dispatched to the king, and a peace had been agreed upon that night. Az Sweldn rak Anhuin was now reinstated, as members in full of the dwarf kingdom.
"And," Orik smiled turning to Odgar. "Az Sweldn rak Anhuin's chief has a question for you." Odgar inclined his head to Orik and then turned to face Estara.
"We will put to a vote among our people," he said solemnly. "To adopt you as Hrothgar did Eragon. This has never been done in Az Sweldn rak Anhuin and likely never will be again. You Rider have restored the honor of our clan, and must be rewarded in kind." Estara's mouth hung open agape. She never would have thought that this could happen, in another clan, yes, there was precident, but for Az Sweldn rak Anhuin-the clan known for their distaste and anger of Riders-to adopt her, a orphan Rider, who's brother was a Shade, was too much for her to handle.
She stood and crossed the small room, and embraced Odgar firmly, causing laughter from all but her and Odgar. When she pulled away, she saw that Odgar was beaming. "I take it you approve." he said laughing.
If your people agree, Estara smiled I would be honored to join your clan. I must warn you though, my knowledge of your language is awful, in fact I only know curse words. The room burst out laughing, even the dragons could not contain their mirth.
"Then you will make a fine, Knurlan," Orik laughed. "With Az Sweldn rak Anhuin on board, we can discuss marshaling some troops to aide the human kingdom, against the Shades attacks. We've had trouble garnering enough votes to move against him."
Estara and Eldwin were dismissed shortly after. Eldwin had already packed to leave, but Estara argued that they should rest another night.
"We don't have time to stick around here," he said. Before Estara could object Tracker joined in,
We can rest easier when we are in Ellesmera, he said. But until then we should push forward. Time is our enemy, and we have wasted too much already.
Estara glared at him but agreed. They took off from Tarnag and followed the Az Ragni river north. The flight was much more cheerful than the several sullen flights they'd had recently. The were all talking and joking, even Eldwin. Estara watched him carefully, knowing that he felt he had an executioners sword hanging over his head.
When they made camp that night, she tried to get him to promise not to save her if the time came.
"I won't promise that Estara," he growled "So stop asking."
Eldwin, please, she begged. Please don't. I swear I'll be careful, I'll even avoid combat, but you can't give up.
He stared at her, with that look in his eyes that she couldn't name, and sighed. "I won't make any vows, not in this or any other language. I won't stand back and watch you die, if I can stop it," he said, and then he whispered so quietly that she had to strain to hear him "I couldn't live with myself if I did." Before she could protest he rose from the fire walked off alone. Gilda slowly rose and followed him into the night.
She sighed, shaking her head, trying to think of a way around her problem. She couldn't let him just die, not if she could do something about it. A now familiar pain griped her chest, and she brushed it aside, she still had no idea what it was. She was about to ask Tracker, when she heard him begin to growl.
Something is coming. he said. She grabbed Seitherblads and sent her mind out to get a glimpse of what was coming. She felt a mind, an ancient mind, one that recoiled from her contact and pushed her back.
"Calm down Rider," a woman's voice called echoing through the night. "I mean you no harm." Estara stared into the night and began to make out the silhouette of a woman and some kind of animal drawing nearer to her. A trickle of thought made it's way in to Estara's mind, and she conjured a vision to be sure before she touched the woman's mind again and said,
Hello Angela. She could sense irritation coming off of Angela in waves as the woman continued to approach. Estara fixed a smile on her face and stood, waiting. The woman walked closer to the firelight, and Estara was taken aback. This woman, looked exactly the same as the woman in the fairths in Eragon's office. She had not changed in two hundred years. Wild curly brown hair cascaded down her back, and her face was youthful in appearance with a slightly upturned nose. Her eyes flashed brightly in the flickering firelight. A large tomcat, that Estara knew to be her companion, the werecat, Solembum.
"So," Angela said narrowing her bright eyes. "You know who I am, let me guess as to who you are." Estara was vaguely aware of the werecat trotting over and pawing at Tracker's claws playfully, as Angela circled the fire and stood next to her staring with an appraising eye. "You can not speak," Estara nodded "You have a gift for invading the minds of others," Estara shrugged with a smile. "And you have silver hair," Angela finished smiling. "You must be the dragon-child that I have heard so much about." Angela let out a small laugh, a tinkling sort of noise.
You know of me? Estara asked.
"Oh," Angela smiled. "I've heard of you. I tend to keep an ear to the ground for things I may find interesting." Angela sat down in front of the fire, seeming to be very at home. Estara sat a few feet from her, watching, keenly interested in this woman. She was a figure of mystery, something of a legend told on Vroengard. And here she was, sharing her campfire. She felt the werecat stretch out and touch her mind.
We have very carefully followed your actions since returning to the mainland. You are a figure of much, Solembum paused purring, as if ruminating over the words. She watched him as he stretched his long, lanky body, before finishing curiosity to us. Angela smiled at his words and nodded.
What have I done, she laughed in their minds, that is so curious? I don't think I've done anything particularly interesting.
Angela narrowed her eyes and seemed to be studying Estara. After a few moments she let out a bark of laughter. "And humble too! All that power and you are as humble as the day is long." She collapsed in laughter. "The Rider who seems to have stolen the hearts of the people of Teirm with her gentility. The woman who is the savoir and benefactor of orphans in Belatona. The savior of the people of Melian, who bravely faced down an army of undead by herself to ensure that the people had time to escape, and perhaps the most intriguing," Angela smiled and narrowed her eyes at Estara in a playful manner, "The adopted daughter of Az Sweldn rak Anhuin-a clan notorious for it's hatred of Riders." Angela indulged in another bout of laughter. "Oh how I would love to be a fly on the wall for the rest of your journey."
Estara sat in silence. She had not thought that she'd done anything particularly impressive. She had just been doing her job, something any other Rider would have done in her place. But what Angela was suggesting was that this had all been somehow important, somehow impressive. She was suddenly aware of Angela's eyes on her again. "You really don't know how special you are, which make you all the more interesting."
Angela pulled out a long stone pipe, with a wooden mouth piece, and packed some tobacco in the pipe before lighting it and placing it between her teeth. When she took a long drag off the pipe, Estara inhaled deeply. She father had smoked a pipe on occasion, and the smell of the burning tobacco made her think of home.
"Solembum," Angela said between puffs of her pipe, "Thinks I should offer to read your future."
I know more than I'd like to about my future, Estara said with bitter humor. It's the present that gives me difficulty.
"As I thought, you'd say." Angela said with a smile. "Then let me give you some advice, instead."
Advice would be wonderful, Estara said with a knowing smile. Especially from, the wise-one, the bane of Durgrimst Quan, wielder of Tinkledeath, friend of Urgals and a member of a legendary ancient race. Estara watched as Angela grew still, stiller that she had ever seen someone get, a scowl plastered on her face. She heard a coughing purr from Solembum and realized that he was laughing.
"You gleaned more from your brief contact than I expected." Angela said solemnly her eyes boring into Estara.
No, Estara said simply Just putting the pieces of the puzzle together. Angela cocked her head to one side, much the way that Estara did when she was confused or working on a difficult problem. Angela nodded, seeming to accept Estara's explanation. Angela closed her eyes for a moment, before taking out a pouch and pulling out what appeared to be dragon knuckle bones. Tracker, who had been simply observing the exchange, growled at the sight of these.
"Calm down, hatchling," Angela rolled her eyes at Tracker. "I did not kill the dragon for these, and it was even with his permission that, after his death, I collected and use them, so don't get your tail in a knot." Estara stole a glance at Tracker to see that he was still lifting his lip in a silent snarl. She looked back to Angela, who cast the bones on the ground and studied them a minute before picking them up and placing them back into her pouch.
Then Angela did something that surprised Estara. She stood, taking one more long drag on her pipe, before bending and tapping the ash out on a rock. "Two things you fear will come to pass," Angela said crushing the embers from her pipe under her foot. "One can be rectified, the other can not. Remember that you posses power than no one else does, and do not fear to use it." With that Angela turned to leave, without another word.
Solembum, stretched and trotted off after Angela. As he crossed the fire he paused at look Estara directly in the eye. Remember that a few moments of peace before the end of ones life, can change a person, gives them the chance to confide their secrets. Don't forget that dragon-child. We shall see you in Ilirea. And with that final word, he trotted off into the dark.
Estara thought about Angela and Solembum's parting words. She toiled over what they could have meant. Tracker commented helpfully once in a while but eventually said,
I assume, as with some of your visions, they will not make sense until the time is right.
You're probably right, Estara sighed. Do you think we should tell Eldwin and Gilda?
That I can't answer. Tracker hummed comfortingly. The words seem rather personal, and may have just been intended for you. Estara shrugged, knowing that it was unlikely that the other pair could shed any light on the parting words, and dropped the subject.
She stoked the fire, and finally saw Eldwin and Gilda flying back to the camp. They landed, and Gilda lumbered over to Tracker, nuzzling him affectionately. Estara felt a pang of longing, and stole a glance at Eldwin, who was staring directly at her. Anything interesting happen while we were gone? she asked curling up next to him.
Angela and the werecat were here, said Tracker casually, watching Gilda and Eldwin closely for the shock and surprise. Gilda's surprised was evident thought her connection to their minds.
"Wait," Eldwin asked in obvious confusion. "Angela? The Angela?" Estara nodded, a smile on her face. She and Tracker hadn't planned the ambush of information, but they both found it funny to watch the faces of their friends. "Did she say anything?" Eldwin asked watching Estara closely.
A few things, Estara shrugged. None of which make any sense.
"I've heard that's her way," Eldwin said with a nod. He walked around their small campfire and sat next to her, staring into the heat of the fire. "I'm going to compromise with you," he said not looking at her. "I won't put myself in unnecessary danger, if you don't, but if you are in a situation where it comes down to you or me," he paused and turned to her looking at her with his intense eye that flickered and seem to change color in the firelight. "I choose you."
Estara reached out and grabbed Eldwin's hand, weaving her fingers though his. Her heart caught in her throat, and she couldn't think of anything to say. She nodded, and prayed that it would never come to that, but his words touched her, eliciting sorrow and overwhelming new respect for him.
A cold wind blew from the south, and she shivered, only partially from the cold. Eldwin rubbed a warm hand over her chilled arm and hesitantly asked, "Should we sleep nearer each other tonight?" Estara blushed, glad for the pervasive darkness and hoped that it would be enough to hide it from him. She thought about saying no, but another gust of wind shot across them from the cold, Beor Mountains, and she nodded.
They went about silently, moving their bedrolls next to each other and pulling out the cloaks from Estara's saddle bags. She climbed in to her bedroll and shivered again as the wind picked up. Eldwin draped the cloaks over the bedrolls, and then climbed under himself. Tracker and Gilda had agreed to keep watch, and soon the human and elf were drifting off to sleep, with their backs to each other.
The next morning, when she woke, Estara found that sometime in the night, she shifted. She had rolled over on to her other side her head nuzzled under Eldwin's chin, and her hand gripping the front of his tunic. He too had shifted rolling over as well, one arm thrown over her waist holding her close and the opposite hand buried in her hair.
Estara blushed, her cheeks feeling feverish. Eldwin was clearly still asleep and Tracker and Gilda were speaking rapidly in the dragon's native tongue. She blocked her thoughts from Tracker, and took the quiet time to try and sort through her thoughts on Eldwin. He was irritating, and often abrasive, seeming to have none of the calm restraint that most of his race possess.
However in the last few weeks, she'd seen something in him that she never had thought was even there. He was kind, and doting. At times he seemed to care more about her well being than his own, even saying that if it came down to it, he'd willing die to save her. Her heart clenched tightly at the thought and she was left with a dull, throbbing ache in her chest.
She looked up and studied his face in his sleep. His face was youthful, and angular, very masculine. She blushed felling silly for just staring at him as intently as she was. He really was incredibly handsome, the ache in her chest disappeared at this thought, and was replaced by a flutter. She sighed, realizing what this was. She had feelings, much more than simple friendship. But how much more? she asked herself.
Before she could delve into this, she felt Eldwin stirring around her, and she froze. She closed her eyes and tried to calm herself, into a near sleep-like state, and she mostly accomplished it, except for the rapid beating of her heart. She felt Eldwin stiffen around her, and then he began to slowly, and gently extricate himself from their precarious position.
Estara felt her heart drop, I guess that answers how he feels about me, she thought to herself. She listened to him as he moved around the camp, re-starting the fire, and digging around in their now meager supplies for something to eat. She remained where she was, feigning sleep, so that he wouldn't know about her thoughts or that she had watched him sleep.
After what she thought was an appropriate amount of time, she began to rouse herself. When she sat up, she saw Eldwin watching her cautiously from the other side of the fire, resting against Gilda. She rubbed her eyes, and rose, beginning to pick up the cloaks and bedrolls that had made up their bed the night before.
What's wrong with you? Tracker asked.
What do you mean? she asked sharply.
You've been stomping around all morning. Tracker said, irritation clear in his voice. So I ask again, What is wrong with you?
Estara bristled. Nothing is wrong, she said. Can't I just be in a mood without everyone questioning it? This came out harsher than she had intended. Tracker gave her a glare and puffed smoke out of his great nostrils. Estara sighed. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound so harsh, I just have a lot on my mind. She placed a hand on his great head and began stroking that spot between his eyes again, making him purr.
Anything you want to talk about? he asked. Estara thought about it for a minute. Talking to Tracker may give her some clarity on the subject, but her own thoughts were just so tumultuous that she decided it was best to keep them to herself for now.
Not yet. she said. But when I do, you'll be the first to know. This earned an appreciative rumble from him and he withdrew, leaving her to her own thoughts. They left camp about a quarter of a hour later, the cheerfulness of yesterday's flight a thing of the past.
They flew for two days. Each night they camped, and each night the cold wind blew causing them to shiver. But Eldwin didn't offer to sleep near her again, and Estara never bothered to bring it up, instead she curled up under Tracker's wing to keep herself warm, the steady breath of the dragon doing much to keep her thoughts at bay.
Strong winds gusted against them as they drew closer to the elves city of Silthrim. They wanted to push through, but it was quickly seeming futile. The landed in Silthrim, to cries of laughter and joy. Estara was amused at the joy elves took when seeing dragons. It was as if they were children playing with a favorite toy.
She was shown to a room, that had been made available for her use, and relished the chance to have a proper bath for the first time since Teirm. She soaked in the water and scrubbed every inch of her body clean of grime and dirt, then drained the tub and filled it again, to simply relax in the hot water. Long after her fingers and toes and begun to look like dried fruit, she got out and dried off.
She walked back into the main room of the living space, and saw that Tracker was curled up on a dais, snoring away. She moved to the bed, to see that a dress had been laid out for her along with a note. She read the note, written in the Liduen Kvaedhi, in an elegant hand.
'Estara-Elda,
Tonight seems to the annual 'hjarta abr du wleden', a festival of sorts that the elves conduct to aide in the flourishing of the forest. If I had known I never would have let us stop here, the whole ritual tends to stir the blood up into a frenzy. We've been invited to participate in the bonfire tonight, and seeing as it would be excessively rude to say no, I agreed on our behalf. The elves do you a particular honor, as no outsider has been invited to attend in centuries. The fire begins at sundown, I will see you there.'
Estara knew it was Eldwin, even though he had not signed it. She stared at the lack of signature, and it puzzled her. She assumed he couldn't think of a proper way to end the letter and simply abstained. She turned her attention to the dress on her bed. It was a dark green in color, with thin straps not more than a inch in width. The dress hung loosely on her slight frame and the fabric pooled in a wide skirt just below her knees. She was just about to grab her belt, to cinch in the waist, when she saw an intricate bodice, made of heavy fabric and beaded with intricate starburst design.
She frowned, lacing herself into the bodice. She thought this was a little to intricate, too cold to wear on such a chilly night, but above all, too revealing. She was completely uncomfortable showing as much leg, and arm that this dress showed. The elves may have been more liberal when it came to exposed skin, but back in her home village, anyone wearing this would have been deemed a harlot.
She looked in the mirror and stared at the woman looking back at her. She looked stronger, older, more confident than Estara felt at this moment. She heard a deep rumbling laugh from behind her and turned to scowl at Tracker.
What's wrong? she asked.
Nothing, he bared his teeth in a smile. You just look different, that's all.
Bad different? Estara asked turning back to the mirror. This earned another laugh from Tracker.
No, he laughed. Not at all. You look lovely…for a human. Estara shot him a playful glare. Why do you care so much about your appearance tonight? Estara's heart started beating faster as an image of Eldwin popped into her head. She was able to block her thoughts from Tracker, but not the reaction that her body had. He narrowed his eyes and seemed to search her for a minute before laughing to himself and suggested that they leave for the bonfire.
He prodded her the entire short flight to the bonfire, about her reaction to his teasing, but she still thought herself silly, so refused to confide in him. The air around Estara was chilly, and she thought about returning to her quarters to change into something warmer, but when they landed she was grateful for the skimpy attire. The air surrounding the fire was thick with heat. She looked around the bonfire and saw that all the elves were dressed in a similar fashion, the women in dresses just like hers, the men in light weight leggings and boots. Most men went bare chested, but the few who wore shirts, she noted wore nearly identical billowy shirts of muslin that had a low cut below the neck to let in air.
She spotted Eldwin on the far side of the fire, speaking to an older elf that Estara assumed was his father. The looked a lot alike. Same dirty blond hair, same tan skin, and the same jaw line. She watched as they stopped speaking and both turned at once to look at her. The older elf smiled at her, but Eldwin's face was locked in a scowl. The two walked over to her and she bowed to the new elf, he returned the favor. They both place their fingers on their lips in the standard greeting, but before Estara could speak, the elf began the traditional greeting-surprising her. After the formalities had been observed the elf spoke,
"It's a pleasure to meet you Estara-Elda," he said. "My son has told me much about you and the things that you have accomplished since leaving Vroengard. I am Elmar."
The pleasure is all mine, Elmar-Elda, she said, eliciting a smile from Elmar. It's so wonderful to meet a relative of Eldwin's.
"You did not mention," Elmar said with a laugh. "How charming she is, Elwin." Estara smiled at the praise and her gaze flickered to Eldwin. He was staring at her with worry.
"Yes, father," he said with a warning look in his eyes. "She is very charming." Estara looked at him with a curious look, she just couldn't figure out what he was worried about. Just then, drums began to beat loudly.
"Ah," Elmar said with a wide smile, "I must excuse myself." With that he bowed to Estara and left to join the musicians on the other side of the fire. Her smile left when she turned to Eldwin.
What's wrong with you? she asked him You seem worried.
"I am," he said exasperatedly "Did you get the note?" Estara bristled when she thought of the unsigned note left on her bed.
Yes, she said calmly, trying to mask how upset she was. What about it? Eldwin opened his mouth to respond, but whatever he said was lost in the chanting and music. The festivities had begun.
The rest of the night was a blur. She danced with wild abandon around the fire, being spun about by several partners in a dance that seemed to have no end. Her heart fluttered in endless joy. She excused herself, from a dark haired elf, to catch her breath and try to escape the stifling heat. As she walked away from the fire she saw Gilda and Tracker curled up in the heat, humming contentedly.
She leaned against a tree, trying to gather herself,the fluttering joy turning into a fluttering pain, growing more unbearable the farther she got from the fire. The pain seemed to stop and she found herself in a strong pair of arms, held closely against a bare chest. She looked up to see who was there, only to have a pair of lips crash down upon hers.
She had been kissed before, by a few of the various Riders on Vroengard, but this was something else, something entirely different. She threw herself into the kiss with a wild enthusiasm, that she would have never believed she possessed only earlier that day. Every touch, every kiss left her burning with an exhilaration that she had never known, and didn't want to end. For the first time in many weeks, she felt happy. A happiness so encompassing that she didn't know how to stand it.
She returned to the fire, dancing fervently between kisses that took her breath away. Once again she escaped to the forest to clear her mind, but this was impossible. The strong arms encircled her waist and simply held her tenderly. She reached out with her mind, and whispered Stay with me. She was rewarded with another searing kiss. And a familiar voice whispered in her ear "Always".
Author's Note: So the Hjarta abr du Welden, literally 'heart of the forest', is supposed to be based off of the events in Eldest, when Eragon and crew were stuck outside an Elvish city, and the singing drove them bonkers. Saphira was also driven to frenzy and began then to yearn for a mate. Hopefully you enjoy what's coming next.
