Chapter 11. Tortured Mind
Vanir and his dragon Invore were puppets of the Emperor of Shynendar. The Emperor had taken control of their minds a year after Eragon left Alagaesia. It was a subtle thing to do, amplifying Vanir's dark secret emotions and causing him to challenge Murtagh at every turn. What else could be expected from the son of Foromir and Kialandi.
("Get out of our heads!") Vanir screamed in his mind, being held prisoner by the alien mind.
("Come now Vanir we have much work to do you, Invore, and I… We must make the riders fight amongst themselves so that my army can invade Alagaesia…")
("We won't let you… Invore and I will fight you with our last breath…") Vanir was trapped, but Invore was able to create a safe haven for the both of them despite the Emperor's ability to speak through them and control their actions. ("When the Riders learn of you they will destroy you…")
He started laughing, ("Come now… Eragon can't communicate with his family, because I am preventing it… I control your body and that of Invore's and there is nothing you can do about it… I am more powerful than Eragon, more powerful than Galbatorix ever was… And soon I will be more powerful than the werecat king… The world will belong to the children of the foresworn…")
Vanir sighed, ("Eragon defeated Galbatorix… We shall defeat you…")
"Why do you deny yourself… You know you want these things… You know you want the humans removed from the oath… Enjoy the ride…")
("Get out of my head!") Vanir screamed again, but all the Emperor did was laugh.
The possessed Vanir sat at his desk writing letters while his possessed dragon lay on his dias. There was a nock at the door, the young elf maiden Shui was behind the door when Vanir opened it.
"Atra estern à ono thelduin" Shui said, but Vanir just sneered and turned his back on her. "Have I done something to offend you?"
("If you hurt her I swear I will make you suffer!") Vanir said. Invore couldn't talk because it was taking all his strength to temporarily house him and Vanir in his Eldunari.
("Perhaps I can have some fun with her… she is beautiful and this body has yet to experience the pleasures of a female… Shall I seduce her for you Vanir?")
(You bastard!")
"Why do you ask?"
"You have been back now for more than a week and you have yet to visit my family home…"
"I have been busy with my new order…" He stood up and walked around the table, "But you are right I have been neglecting the love of my life…" Vanir started acting very inappropriate with the young maiden and when Vanir kissed her she slapped him.
"Did I offend you?"
She took several steps back to the door, "What is happening to you?"
He smiled, "Perhaps you should leave…" Shui left with tears streaming down her face. ("I have always found women to be emotional creatures… but with magic you can remove those emotions and they make better companions… especially in the bed… Don't you agree Vanir…") He refused to answer.
As the days passed Vanir secretly assembled an army against Arya, because the Emperor knew she would never oppose Murtagh as long as he showed himself to be above the evils of his father and Galbatorix. He had over forty percent of the elves on his side. And of the En'Ihateihf or the order of Elven spellweavers he had fifty on his side. Including the new leader of the order the Elf Numela.
"My lady our position is precarious…" Lord Dathedr said. "Vanir has been plotting against you… And if you refuse his request I believe he will depose you as Queen… Perhaps we should seek aid from Murtagh and his riders…"
Arya sighed, "No I do not wish to shed blood in the streets of our city… If we must we shall flee to Cueneon… King Roran will aid us and let traitors follow us there…"
"But my lady…"
She raised her hand, "No… My mind is made up… Lord Dathedr I do have a mission for you… take ten of my finest and most loyal Elves… Go to the Dragon Queen and let her know what is happening…"
He sighed, "I obey my lady…"
Dathedr and his guard left at sunset in secret and it was Gilderien who helped them leave the city in secret. Dathedr and his Elves rode on Elven horses to the deepest parts of the forest. It was on the fifth day that they were ambushed by Vanir's followers. Two Elven Riders named Fuilqor and Liegh were among the ambushers. Their dragons white and black killed most of Dathedr's guards.
"Why do attack us?" Dathedr demanded.
"Why do sneak away as thieves… Lord Vanir knew of your treason and sent us to stop you… Now Lord Dathedr will you aid us or will you follow the madness of Murtagh Son of Morzan and all who has been bewitched by his darkness…"
"It is Vanir who has taken to madness…"
"Let them go!" A voice menacing and ancient echoed in the forest. It was a sound more terrifying than the voice of a Razac, it held equal parts death and hope. One of the elves pointed at a shaggy haired girl in the road. Her eyes were the color of blood like a shades. "You consider them enemies, but have you considered the enemy within… Elves were once the enemies of Dragons and yet they knitted their souls with yours in oath… You dishonor the dragons by not giving the humans the same courtesy…" The weight of the girls words drove all the elves that attacked Dathedr and his group to their knees in sorrow. "And you oh dragons why do allow your riders to commit such autrousities… Shame you bring on yourselves…" The dragons moaned in shame.
Dathedr watched in amazement as the girl drew twin blades and ran with a speed equal to that of an elf. She beheaded, stabbed, and slashed all the elves that attacked them.
Then she turned to the dragons, "You are free… and feel no guilt about your dead riders they were weak and lack the skill to see the truth…"
The dragons looked at the girl snorted and flew away. When the girl turned her red eyes on Dathedr and the remaining elves they quickly began placing up wards to keep the girl from enchanting them as she did the other elves.
She laughed in a voice well beyond her age and Dathedr was reminded of another girl, Elva the far seer. "Your spells are unnecessary Elves… If I wished you harm, believe me there is nothing you could do to stop me…"
"Who are you?" Dathedr asked.
She smiled the smile of someone with power to take lives for her personal amusement. "I am many things to many people… I am both friend and enemy… but you may call me Meera... I shall tell you a secret Lord Dathedr, but you must swear in the ancient language to never reveal it to another living being… and before you ask why should swear know this… I helped you because it was not your destiny to die here in this forest… Your death is a long way off... and you owe me this small favor…" Reluctantly Dathedr agreed and swore in the ancient language. She whispered many things into his ear and left him dumfounded as she vanished into the depths of the forest.
"Who was that girl…" One of the four remaining Elves asked.
"I know not…"
'What did she say to you my lord…"
He shook his head, "I cannot speak it… Let us be off…"
Dathedr spoke with Arya five days after he was ambushed via an enchanted mirror. "Yes my lady the Dragon Queen will aid us when the time comes…"
"I can't believe Vanir would sanction an attack on you…" The Elf Lord Nero said.
"Madness has taken his mind…" Arya said, "When shall I expect you back Lord Dathedr…"
He sighed, "It is best if remained here my lady for time being…"
"Very well…"
