Chapter twenty – Disputes
Disclaimer – I do not own or am affiliated with the Inheritance Cycle in any way nor do I own any of the characters. They belong to Christopher Paolini.
Aris rose early so he could finish his preparations for the departure; seeing as he had avoided doing so the night before instead choosing to… As he liked to put it contemplate life choices.
Arelía was sympathetic towards her rider knowing that he was wound taut like a bow string ready to snap from the immense tension building up inside of him. She wished him a good morning before setting off to help him saddle her up with all the supplies that they would need for themselves, the others having their dragons take their own supplies also.
Are you feeling better now Aris?
I am thank you Arelía. The dark haired youth replied curtly, Where are we meeting then?
The grand hall I think Finwë is already there saddled and prepared to depart.
Good, the sooner everyone is ready the sooner we can leave. Aris stated Arelía made an abrupt mental nod to show her agreement.
Quickly now Aris headed to the hall to meet up with Arelía, for he was anxious to see her again after his outburst the last night; the walk was short, taking only fifteen minutes, but he encountered no one. Even though the hour was early he suspected to have at least seen some riders or elves wandering about the forest. His doubts were soon quelled as he noticed many were gathered in the central clearingstaring in amazement at the host that waited there.
Dragons, several of them, all lay down on the short grass in front of the massive building making it seem much smaller than Aris normally perceived it as – the dragon's size making the hall shrink in comparison. He instantly noticed Arelía, her silver scales gleaming in the early morning light, along with Saphira – Eragon's dragon – and Promethia in her light blue magnificence. No other dragons had arrived yet but Aris could sense them approaching from all directions.
However, there was one person whom Aris was both amazed and please to see more than all. Finwë stood next to his dragon patting her flank. They walked over to each other.
"Aris" The elf muttered.
"Finwë" Aris replied in kind.
"It's been too long Aris. How has your training been going?"
"Good. It's been good…"
"You sound uncertain, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, nothing's wrong." He patted Finwë on the shoulder to reassure him.
"I can see that look in your eyes Aris; it's not about your lessons that you are worried? It's something else, something you believe to be more important." The elf chuckled.
Can he read my mind? Aris quickly checked his mental defences, No, good. It must be my expression.
I think it is little one. I'm looking at you now and even I can tell what you're thinking about.
Oh okay…
"Don't worry Aris, I won't tell anyone about your little love interest," He looked past Aris now to someone in the distance. It was Elena who was striding across the clearing towards them.
"I think everyone already knows." Aris said in a withdrawn tone.
"I doubt that is the case; I know more than most about what goes on in this place of safety, our sanctuary from the world outside. Are you ready to depart?"
"I need to collect some things and saddle up Arelía but once that is done we should be able to depart."
"Indeed. Ah here's Ljósgeirr now."
The dark haired elf was walking towards them behind Elena who had almost reached Finwë and Aris; the younger elf raised a hand in greeting which the other returned with a friendly and warm smile.
"Morning Aris." Elena said warmly enough but with a hint of slight anger or fear in her tone, Aris couldn't quite decipher which. "Who is your friend?"
"This is Finwë, don't you remember him? The one who was with me in Elrohir's office when I first arrived here. That was when you helped me out of course."
"Oh yes, I recall seeing you briefly. Good to finally speak to you properly Finwë."
"You too Elena; Aris has been telling me all about you."
"Oh has he now well-"
"No I haven't! We just started talking." Aris protested.
Finwë cast him a glare which Elena didn't see, "Haha, always the joker aren't you Aris?" His laugh was riddled with annoyance.
"Oh yes, of course I was saying how good you were at magic." He said half-heartedly.
"Aris that's ever so sweet of you." She hugged him lightly, "At least I didn't crush you this time,"
"It always helps." The youth admonished, "Anyway I'll go and grab my things whilst everyone else arrives.
"Do you want me to help Aris?" Finwë suggested keenly.
"Sure, why not?"
The two of them walked off into the large building and to the kitchens where the supplies waited. They were on the bottom floor to keep them out of the way of the residential and study areas of the hall. Several large bags awaited them which contained everything that Aris would need for a long journey on dragon back.
He thanked the elves and humans who worked in the kitchen for preparing everything before heading back outside.
"Your speech is very eloquent now Aris; I could tell that you were academically gifted since I met you. The way you spoke to Elena back there was impressive, very impressive."
"It wasn't anything special. All I did was replied politely and listen to her."
"Exactly what you need to do Aris." The elf stated poignantly, "You have come on so much from the young slave boy I saved all that time ago… And we are to head back there now and I'm sure there shall be some nostalgia and some certain strange things there. Let us hope that we can fulfil the purpose of the mission."
"I hope so too…"
Even though it is most likely we shall be attacked on site. He thought to himself, Arelía obviously hearing but not commenting.
"We'd best get back to everyone else, don't want to keep them waiting."
When they returned outside the crowd had doubled in size, many young riders now clustered in little groups staring with wide eyes at the now larger host of dragons; for Ljósgeirr's dragon, a medium sized green beast, had arrived along with Heleth - her crimson scales contrasting the more vibrant colours of dragons such as Promethia and Arelía.
"Ah good, all of you are here except Luthíen. I wonder where she is." Eragon said, glancing behind him to see if Luthíen was in fact coming.
"We'll wait a few more minutes for her." The elder rider announced.
As soon as he had finished that sentence another green dragon now descended upon the clearing from the canopy above with a rider sat upon its scaled back. Luthíen, with her blonde hair flowing in the wind behind her, landed Soreth in the group of other dragons creating a large thud whilst doing so.
"Morning everyone." She said dismounting Soreth who was already saddled and ready to depart.
"Ah Luthíen we have been expecting you; I can see that you are ready to leave."
"Yes, I just need to grab something to eat then we can depart."
"Here." Finwë passed her a small bread roll and an apple, "Have these. I don't want them."
"Oh… Thank you. You must be Finwë then."
"That I am. And you are Luthíen?"
"I am. Aris has mentioned you a few times before."
The elf laughed, "I expect he has. After all I did save him from almost certain death."
"Did you? Well for that I have your thanks else I wouldn't have had a partner to train with, if one that is rather at stubborn at times."
Again he laughed, "Aris? Stubborn? I never would have guessed."
"What did you say Finwë?" Aris enquired, walking slightly closer to him and Luthíen.
"Oh nothing Aris. Don't you worry." He patted the dark haired youth on the head mockingly.
Luthíen just shook her head and chuckled lightly before heading to talk to Eragon.
"Can you not tell everyone that I'm really stubborn please? I know you've not seen me for ages but that's no reason for you to tease me. And since when were you not serious?" Aris asked in an overly loud whisper.
"I've spent far too long sitting around with nothing to do, I had to make some entertainment."
"Fair enough."
Elena now approached with a rather stern look on her face.
"Ah hello again Elena. Want to talk to Aris again?" He nudged the dark haired youth.
"I do yes. Aris, come with me."
I wonder what's wrong with her… She seemed slightly angry before but not this annoyed.
She did not take his arm but instead let Aris trail behind as she walked off into a small cluster of trees secluded from the rest of the clearing. The thick wall of leaves and branches muffled the sounds from outside but also prevented Aris from contacting anyone – as with his disability the surface was too thick to make mental contact through.
"What do you want to talk about Elena? You seemed just fine before."
"It's about you." She turned around and prodded him in the chest, Aris retreating slightly, "And your stubbornness."
"What of it?"
"The fact that you don't give anyone else any consideration; your opinions are the most important thing to you. For example – when Eragon announced this mission you were against it because you didn't want to go."
"That's because if we all go we'll be killed!"
"No we will not! Why would Eragon send us?"
Aris had never seen Elena like this, well not really. He feared for his life now with her in this state.
"Because he is unaware of it all."
Elena sighed, "Never mind... You seem to be the naïve one in all of this. Anyway I want to say," She struggled to say the next part of the sentence, as if the words were being uttered by someone else, "that I won't go any further with you until you release that stubbornness of yours and come to terms with the fact that others have opinions."
"Strange thing Elena;" Aris said, defending his position, "I have lived on my own for several years fending for my own life! How can you expect me to care for others when no one cared for me?"
"What about your parents?" Elena retorted.
"Father, dead. Mother, most likely dead."
"Well I'm sorry to hear that."
"You should be. I shan't talk to you then until you can come to terms with the fact that I am how I am. If you don't want me to be like this you don't want to be with me – it's as simple as that."
"Fine! Good bye Aris son of none. Best of luck on the mission."
With that she stormed off.
Aris could not hear what Arelía was saying but he felt the hate and resentment for what he had just done pouring through their link; he had to confront Arelía about it though as it was his decision to say those things to Elena, even if he had been slightly rash about it.
I am too hard hearted for my own good… And I turn on people too fast when they accuse me of something. It's like I have some kind of bipolar personality. He thought bitterly.
I'm sure you don't have that; anyway there's nothing you can do now little one. All you can do is try to forgive and forget.
Forgive? Forgive her for what? Confronting me then insulting me?
Arelía sighed, I give up…
Her rider didn't even reply he was so shocked; never had Arelía given up on him in any matter before it was a foreign concept. She had always been there to help him or aid him but now he was alone in this matter with Elena.
Heading back into the clearing once more Aris observed the group that lay before him admiring the dragons, trying to forget about Elena for the moment.
Eragon called to him, "Aris, come over here." The dark haired youth jogged over to Eragon, "I want to say sorry."
"Sorry for what?" Aris asked with surprise in his tone.
"For being inconsiderate towards you; I should have understood that you would not be keen to return to your past. But-" He paused for effect, in this time Aris noted Elena listening in with a scowl on her face, "It is important you learn about your past. There are some things that can be… Uncovered given the right resources and time."
"Okay…"
"You seem worried Aris but you shouldn't be so. You were just being yourself."
The elder rider then left Aris contemplating the meaning of that sentence as he went to check that everyone else was prepared for the long flight ahead of them.
Once Eragon had checked around everyone and decided that the supplies were packed and other such things ready for departure he walked into the centre of the small circle of dragons and amplified his voice, with what Aris assumed was some kind of spell, so that everyone in the clearing could hear.
"Today witnesses the beginning of another mission for the dragon riders. Our promising young students, Elena, Luthíen, Ljósgeirr and Aris along with their dragons Heleth, Soreth, Feranth and Arelía; also Finwë our ex-ambassador shall accompany them with his dragon Promethia. I wish them fare well and good luck!"
The announcement ended and several groups slowly made their way back to their various abodes but still many people remained waiting for the spectacle of the dragons taking off. There were several wide eyed children in parent's arms looking at the riders with awe; Aris did not know that children resided at the sanctuary but he assumed they must be the sons and daughters of dragon riders, with the slight irony that they were amazed at the dragons yet their parents may well have their own dragons themselves.
Everyone mounted their dragon and looked around checking that everyone was ready. Aris fastened his leg and feet straps so that he was secure in the saddle before glancing across to Finwë who nodded an affirmative before Promethia took to the skies.
To the skies Arelía! Our fate lies ahead! Aris shouted mentally to his dragon as she took to the heavens above towards the foe that had once been, and still was. The most deadliest foe in the whole land.
The past.
Author's note: A rather abrupt sentence to end there. Anyway just a quick note about the upcoming updates; I've already planned out the last 10 or so chapters for the story but I'm writing about one a week at the moment I'd say. However, I am getting Guild Wars 2 on Wednesday so I'm going to be on that quite a bit; it's just forewarning you guys in case I don't release a chapter next weekend. As for college it's going well. I'm managing to get all my work done during college hours so I'm completely free once I get home to write, play Skyrim and Guitar Hero (soon GW2 too :p) and do whatever I want. So to summarise apologies for any lack of updates for the next few weeks but you can blame ArenaNet. But anyway I'll try my best to write a chapter a week. Again, thanks for reading and putting up with my long author's notes, don't forget to rate and review and the next chapter shall be out soon! Ish.
Note: I edited this slightly to try and make if better, thought you guys and girls may want to know :p