I know it's been a long time since I've last updated and I apologize for the delay. I've been writing my Sasuke stories instead of this one, and I probably won't update much until I've finished it. (I'm halfway through.) And screw it, I don't know, should I make them two reunite in four chapters or six chapters?
"Natural selection. Survival of the fittest. The strong are gardeners, and the weak are weeded." –The Bene Gesserit Guide to Apotheosis, Lavina
Chapter 21: Playing with Fire
Jeannette watched as Vanir and Eragon parried and struck with inhuman agility and feral intensity. Their movements were so impulsive and swift that they became blurred blobs, their swords clashing faster than the human eye could follow. An arbitrary spectator would simply gape in astonishment, thinking that the battle was a stalemate between two masters, but Jeannette wasn't fooled. Vanir was slowly but steadily losing ground, forced back by every blow.
Perspiration slid down their faces as the sun rose higher into the summer sky. Although they showed no sign of slowing, she noticed how their movements were becoming more languid and their reflexes slowed slightly.
Jeannette's heart lurched with anticipation as she noticed a slight opening in Vanir's seemingly impenetrable defense as he tripped slightly over a rock. She knew from the victorious glint in Eragon's eye that he saw it too. In one mighty swish Eragon flicked Vanir's sword from his grasp, which slid towards Jeannette's feet. Placing Eragon's new weapon named Nýr at Vanir's throat, claiming victory.
Scattered burst of applause broke out, including from the female Shur'tugal's enthusiastic hands. She picked up Vanir's beautifully crafted sword and handed it to him, which he accepted with a scowl.
"Are you all right?" she asked, but Eragon could only manage a nod from his fervent panting. "Well, maybe you need a new partner to challenge you more. Competition always strengthens you."
"I'm not good enough for him?" Vanir's eyes sharpened.
"Good enough, but he does have more productive choices," she replied candidly. To her amazement, Vanir raised his sword to her throat, his knuckles white from clutching it so hard.
"You have no right to say such a thing, maðr (human)," Vanir spat out the last word. Jeannette couldn't believe it. Vanir was challenging her to a match right after he'd lost to Shadeslayer? She didn't know what she had done to instigate his fury. Maybe he had just been waiting for this chance. Seeing his determined expression, it was probably the latter. Well, he was in for a surprise. She was half-elf, half-human, the daughter of a king and a Bene Gesserit. She flexed her hands, recalling the hours of training she had practiced with Vluerona. Why not show them that she was not a force to be trifled with?
"Very well. Prepare yourself," she acquiesced.
"Draw your sword. I won't attack a defenseless opponent," he backed off, bracing himself. Vluerona promptly replied to his word as she unclasped from her wrist, breaking her guise as a bracelet and formed a long ivory-white spear. Vanir simply scoffed at her interesting choice of weapon.
"Stop this. This is absurd," Eragon started, trying to intervene.
"Be quiet, Argetlam," Vanir interrupted abruptly, "I have a score to settle." Eragon hushed reluctantly, ignoring a nagging apprehension at his heart.
They silently moved into a circle opposite of each other at their own rhythm, staring intently for any opportunity or slip. Vanir was the first to attack. He lunged towards Jeannette's chest, but she parried easily before his diamond-embedded sword could even get near her. Her spear had a far greater reach than his sword, which made it difficult for Vanir to penetrate her defense and gave her an advantage during attack.
They struck and parried for what seemed like hours, but neither one gave way. Every time Jeannette saw an opportunity, Vanir recomposed the next second. It took her a while to realize that Vanir was only testing her, playing with her. She gritted her teeth in embarrassment. She felt the eyes of dozens of elves on her vulnerable back, including Eragon's. She couldn't make a joke of herself now. She telepathically sent a message to Vluerona to increase her body's length at the right time. Now!
Vanir narrowly dodged the spear as Vluerona's knife-sharp tip struck across his cheek, creating a bloody cut. An expression of astonishment overcame his face.
"You used magic, didn't you? Your spear grew longer that second," he hissed. Ignoring him, she continued her onslaught. If this had been a real battle, Vanir would have already lost- Vluerona's tip was poisonous. Since this was only a practice match, she didn't want to debilitate him for life or hear his incriminating, pestering accusations.
He scowled and suddenly his entire demeanor changed. His movements became faster and more capricious. Her arms smarted painfully as they could barely keep up with Vanir's sweeping blows. For minutes she was forced back, until she arrived at a corner with nowhere else to run. As Vanir swung for her shoulder, she grew desperate. Vluerona coiled around Vanir's sword as a flexible whip, surprising him once again, but this time, he was expecting such a thing. He pulled hard, since he had the stronger brute strength and Vluerona escaped the red-haired Rider's grasp, leaving her unarmed.
She cursed and screamed as she closed her eyes. Vanir's sword flew towards her face, cutting through her wards like they were air... and stopped in mid-air.
As she opened her eyes, she was amazed to realize that it was Eragon who had saved her- Vanir had been using magic to get through her wards.
"Lög afren (Shame on you)," Eragon hissed at Vanir, "You could have killed her." In compensation, Vluerona transformed into snake form and bit into his wrist and slithered up Jeannette's leg. He shouted in pain and cursed as he began healing his wound.
"I apologize. I should have foreseen and prevented this," Eragon approached her, his face livid. She had never seen him this distraught, this furious. "That arrogant fool... what does he think he's doing, narrowly slaying a Shur'tugal like that? Are you all right?" Her heart still pounding, she could only manage a nod.
Jeannette, are you all right? Lenora's voice suddenly penetrated her mind, alarmed at her moment of distress.
You're a bit slow, don't you think?
I'll take that as a yes. Lenora withdrew her mind.
"That weapon is fascinating. Where did you acquire it?" Eragon asked, always curious.
"I..." she started, not knowing whether to mention her Bene Gesserit heritage.
"It's fine. I've always enjoyed the challenge of solving mysteries. You are one yourself, after all. I can't imagine what you do spending hours inside of that decrepit tree," he half-teased, half-mused. Thanks to her recent training, she managed to keep her composure without a slip of her emotions or actions.
"Where're we going?" she asked as she noticed he was taking her further into the forest, isolating them. She was surprised to find him nervous, averting her gaze.
"Do you know about Meöal Sumar Veizla, the Mid-summer Celebration?" he inquired, his voice hesitant. She shook her head, curious. Why was he nervous?
"It occurs every 50 or so years in Ellésmera where all the elves gather. It's essentially a festival that lasts all throughout the shortest night in half a century, which will be in two weeks," Eragon explained.
"A festival?" she repeated, raising her eyebrows, "And why are you telling me this?"
"At midnight, there is a dance celebrating the wonders of life. Even the plants and animals sing and dance along with us. It's always been custom for the Riders to begin the dance, and let the others follow," Eragon explained. Jeannette smiled and chuckled at what he was insinuating.
"I see." Poor Eragon must have faced Arya's sore rejection, which is good for me or else I'd be dancing with air. "Of course I'll join you. Who else could I ask, Vanir?" With her growing empathic abilities, she felt a wave of relief wash over him, which both piqued her curiosity and interested her. Why was he so nervous about asking her? It's not like she had any better choices.
"I'm glad." For a moment his eyes were aloof and Jeannette was sure that he was communicating with Saphira.
We're coming back now, Jeannette. Saphira is so... Through their bond, Jeannette felt the same reverence, elation and awe that Lenora felt for Saphira. The two female dragons spent quite a bit of time together, not unlike Eragon and Jeannette. Saphira had become almost like a big sister to Lenora, nurturing and teaching her. In return, Lenora would lag behind her tail like an ecstatic child with an insatiable curiosity, constantly fascinated and obedient to Saphira's teachings. Jeannette was grateful for what Lenora had learned: flying, hunting, evading.
In other respects, Jeannette was uncomfortable to notice the subtle ways that Saphira condescended Lenora, sometimes ignoring the brown dragon in annoyance or flicking her tail in Lenora's face in disdain. Saphira, certainly, was not a humble dragon. Lenora was too pre-occupied with Saphira's noble demeanor to notice anything of the sort.
The two Riders heard their screeches overhead, their eyes squinting at the blinding azure sky.
You two lovebirds enjoying your time down there? Saphira teased.
Humph. Eragon failed to cover a slight blush. To think that the Rider was used to his dragon's witty retorts by now, Jeannette thought.
Enjoying yourself, Lenora?
Very much so. We visited the Wroengaer earlier today. The view was spectacular. I'll show it to you sometime.
I'm looking forward to it.
---
"Those who think they know everything have barely scratched the surface. Paradoxically, once you realize and accept your eternal ignorance, maybe you are getting somewhere." -The Bene Gesserit Guide to Apotheosis, Lavina
"You are only a mere child in the Sight as well as life. There is so much you have yet to understand. What makes you think you are ready for this?" Lavina asserted, her feet moving so blithely that she seemed to be hovering over the ground like a ghost.
"I may be a child, but I have so little time to grow. Challenges delight me," Jeannette justified.
What a foolish child. Her arrogance has clearly gotten to her head, Lavina thought bitterly. "These 'delightful' challenges may get you killed. Do not come weeping to me on your journey through death."
"I know my limits and abilities better than anyone else," the younger Bene Gesserit rebutted, dismissing her mother's warnings, "Give me the Opeira Véui." Testily, after a moment of hesitation, Lavina put her hand on the bowl and a greenish liquid dripped from her fingertips.
"You are not ready for this. One drop will kill you," she warned icily. Jeannette detected no deceit in her voice, but how would her mother know the future? She was sure that she would succeed, just like all of those other so-called 'impossible' tests.
"Well, trying is the only way to know for sure." Confident with her abilities, Jeannette brought the poison to her lips. She only needed to convert one sip of this virulent poison into something harmless. It sounded easy, but it was no such thing.
She took a small sip.
Her hands trembling, the bowl slipped through her grasp and shattered onto the ground. Uncontrollable spasms wracked her body as she convulsed, her body trying to retaliate by purging, but that was not her mission. Fighting to regain control of her body, she tried to contain the poison so it would not spread any further into her system.
She felt Lenora trying to contact her, strengthen her, offer her support, but Jeannette pushed her away forcefully. This was her struggle, her problem, her challenge, and she had to finish it by herself. She could not be distracted now.
The toxin was spreading exponentially, so rapidly that Jeannette could not believe such a venom could react this quickly. It protruded her lungs, making it a tremendous effort to inhale and exhale, and waves of pain passed through her. She clutched the edge of the table, but she collapsed onto the floor anyway, her fingernails digging the floor. She tried everything in her power, but her efforts were like small buildings against a tsunami.
Her heart pumped furiously, working like a madman, but the muscles were freezing like as if her blood was clotted and an invisible hand was fixed upon her heart. She wheezed and gasped, her eyeballs rolling to the side of her head. The agony was excruciating, overpowering any control or thought. Only Lenora's bond kept her body from failing into eternal rest, but even then, with time, Lenora's strength waned, and she collapsed as well...
Although Jeannette was beyond thought, her mother, watching her daughter's death indifferent nearby, her eyes reflecting pity and disdain, she muttered, "Now you suffer the consequences of disobeying me."
Just to tell you all, yes, Jeannette is dead. DEAD, I tell you. You don't believe me? Fine then, be that way. The reason I decided to kill her is because I'm tired of this story. I no longer have motivation to continue it. Shocking, yes, I know, but why'd you think that I didn't update for such a long time? ;;P Please don't kill me! If you don't believe me, re-read the memo. What, are they going to reunite in death or something? Haha, that's funny. I may actually do that.