-25-
I open my eyes and blink several times.
"Eragon! Wake up!" One of the elves shouts. I try to concentrate on my surroundings and focus on what is going on.
"Leolynn! You are awake!" Arya says. I nod and stand up, swaying a bit at first but quickly steadying myself.
Eragon is unconscious.
"The spell he put on murtag-" they don't even need to finish before I shake him. He doesn't move.
'ERAGON!' I scream in my mind so loudly that the elves around me all grimace in pain.
He sits up looking confused. "Eragon, you need to stop the spell you put on Murtagh. He's too far away and you're going to die."
He nods quickly and severs his magical hold. "Where-"
I point to the sky where the retreating shape of a dragon is still visible.
There are horses and soldiers surrounding us. "Why aren't they killing the enemy?"
"There's something wrong. Galbatorix's army..." Arya pants from running back and forth.
Eragon and I climb onto our dragons and fly over the horses to land in front of King Orrin. We look at the soldiers from Galbatorix. They are laughing hysterically. One steps forward and is shot by an arrow that pins him to the ground by his foot. He is bleeding from a deep gash in his ribs but he is still laughing.
"What are you?" Orrin demands.
"I am a man," the soldier replies.
"You are no man! Just look at you!"
"We feel no pain. As long as we have an arm to swing at you we will kill you all and there is nothing you can do to stop us."
The archers shoot arrows at the man. He drops to the ground thanks to a shattered knee cap. But he refuses to stop and drags himself forward by one hand. "Give your ax," Orrin commands and the Urgal hands it over. It is still weird to have Urgals working with us thanks to Nasuada. The king steps forward and with one swing he chops the soldiers head off leaving the body unmoving.
"Alert the others that these things can die! They have to be beheaded!" Orrin shouts and some others race away.
We go to Nasuada. "Ask Roran if he still wishes to be married today. I would advise him to say yes. It would lighten the varden's mood to be present at a wedding."
"Okay," Eragon and I hurry around to a few others and finally reach the couple. Eragon relays the message from Nasuada.
"Yes, we have to. Today. We could be attacked tomorrow. If I died before we were wed what would become of Katrina or our..." he blushes.
"Today we will be married," Katrina agrees happily and hugs Roran.
The decorations are hung, the food was already made, and we were ready to begin finally. Elves sing songs about happiness and beauty while harpist plays. Roran is wearing a new tunic, his hair brushed, and face clean. He looks very nice. Katrina steps forward next and there are a few gasps. She is wearing a pale blue dress as traditional for woman at their first wedding. The lace train on her dress is twenty feet long which is awe inspiring. Two girls carry it for her. Her hair shines like polished copper and in my opinion she has never looked more beautiful. She is beaming with joy.
I stand to the side with a few others of importance. I am washed and dressed in nice clothes and so is Eragon. He looks very handsome. I had made him blush when I told him that.
Doves circle Katrina three times and place a crown of daffodils upon her head. This was arranged by Arya.
"Welcome one and all," Eragon begins. "Today we have come together to celebrate the union between the families of Roran Garrowsson and Katrina Ismirasdaughter. They are both of good reputation, and to the best of my knowledge, no one else has a claim upon their hands. If that not be the case, however, or if any other reason exists that they should not become man and wife, then make your objections known before these witnesses, that we may judge the merit of your arguments." He pauses. "Who here speaks for Roran Garrowsson?"
Horst steps forward. "Roran has neither father nor uncle, so I, Horst Ostrecsson, speak for him as my blood."
"And who here speaks for Katrina Ismirasdaughter?"
Birgit steps forward. "Katrina has neither mother nor aunt, So I, Birgit Mardasdaughter, speak for her as my blood."
"It is right and proper," Eragon continues. "What, then, does Roran Garrowsson bring to this marriage, that both he and his wife may prosper?"
"He brings his name," said Horst. "He brings his hammer. He brings the strength of his hands. And he brings the promise of a farm in Carvahall, where they both may live in peace."
"Do you accept this offer, Birgit Mardasdaughter?" Eragon asks.
"I do, she nods.
"And what does Katrina Ismirasdaughter bring to this marriage, that both she and her husband may prosper?"
"She brings her love and devotion, with which she shall serve Roran Garrowsson. She brings her skills at running a household. And she brings a dowry."
Two men step forward from beside Nasuada and present a metal case. Birgit opens it to reveal jewelry. Birgit names each of the rare and expensive items. Diamonds and gold and gems and more. They were thanks to Nasuada.
"Do you accept this offer, Horst Ostrecsson?" Eragon questions.
"I do."
"Thus your families become one, in accordance with the law of the land." He faces Katrina and Roran directly to say "Those who speak for you have agreed upon the terms of your marriage. Roran, are you pleased with how Horst Ostrecsson has negotiated on your behalf?"
"I am."
"And, Katrina, are you pleased with how Birgit Mardasdaughter has negotiated on your behalf?"
"I am."
"Roran Stronghammer, son of Garrow, do you swear then, by your name and by your lineage, that you shall protect and provide for Katrina Ismirasdaughter while you both yet live?"
"I, Roran Stronghammer, son of Garrow, do swear, by my name and by my lineage, that I shall protect and provide for Katrina Ismirasdaughter while we both yet live."
"Do you swear to uphold her honor, to remain steadfast and faithful to her in years to come, and to treat her with proper respect, dignity, and gentleness?"
"I swear I shall uphold her honor, remain steadfast and faithful to her in years to come, and treat her with proper respect, dignity, and gentleness.
"And do you swear to give her the keys to your holdings, such as they may be, and to your strongbox where you keep your coin, by sunset tomorrow, so she may tend to your affairs as a wife should?"
Roran swears he will.
"Katrina, daughter of Ismira, do you swear, by your name and by your lineage, that you shall serve and provide for Roran Garrowsson while you both yet live?"
"I, Katrina, daughter of Ismira, do swear, by name and by my lineage, that I shall serve and provide for Roran Garrowsson while we both yet live."
"Do you swear to uphold his honor, to remain steadfast and faithful to him in the years to come, to bear his children while you may, and to be a caring mother for them?"
"I swear I shall uphold his honor, remain steadfast and faithful to him in the years to come, bear his children while I may, and be a caring mother for them."
"And do you swear to assume charge of his wealth and his possessions, and to manage them responsibly, so he may concentrate upon those duties that are his alone?"
Katrina swears she will.
Eragon smiles and pulls a red ribbon out. "Cross your wrists." The couple extend their left and right wrist and cross them. Eragon winds the ribbon three times and ties it in a bowknot. "As is my right as a Dragon Rider, I now declare you man and wife!"
The crowd erupts into cheers as the couple kisses. Saphira and Crystalina touch each one on the brow and say 'Live long, and may your love deepen with every passing year.'
The couple raises their joined arms in the air and Roran declares "Let the feast begin!"
Eragon presents his presents to them. I had helped him enchant them magically. He tells Roran and his wife what they will do. If they twist the ring once and say 'Help me Shadeslayer, help me brightscales' we will hear them. If either one is close to death it will alert the other and us. And as long as their rings are touching their skin they will always know how to find each other no matter how far apart. He also gives them his horse Snowfire.
People dance and eat and party.
"Eragon, will you please join us for this dance, you being my cousin and even more like a brother to me."
"Umm..." Eragon is caught off guard.
"Will you ask someone to join you?' Roran questions.
"Yes," he nods. I expect him to ask Arya for a dance but instead he takes my hand. "Leolynn," he grins making me grin too. "You are always by my side and I would love it if you would dance with me at my cousin's wedding. You are the most important person in my life and I would like it if you were at my side this important day."
"I would be honored," I reply and step to the dance floor with him. Everyone is staring at us but I don't really care. Everyone who knows us personally is already suspicious of our relationship. The way we look at each other, the way we never leave each other, the way we hold hands, the things we say to each other, how we sleep in the same tent with our cots against each other... It all looks kind of suspicious. The elves themselves had witnessed our embrace on the battle field and the words we spoke to each other. He had said to me 'I will not let anything separate us, not even death. I love you.' And Arya had witnessed my jealousy and how I sleep in Eragon's arms every night. Many people are already guessing about our feelings for each other.
I dance with Eragon even though I am clumsy and awkward on my feet. Luckily it is a short song. 'People are staring at us Eragon'
'I don't care. Let them stare'
'But Nasuada warned-'
'I know what she warned but people are already guessing about us so it doesn't matter. Besides, I am meant to dance with my love at this wedding and no one else. Roran knows that and so does Katrina. I love you more than anything. If they take away my rights as a rider and force me to leave and whatever else they want to do to me when they find out, let them. All that matters is that I have you. I love you so much Leolynn.'
'I love you too'
He waits no time pulling me into a corner behind a table and kissing my lips. I wrap my arms around him and kiss him back.
"Eragon," Nasuada says. He stops kissing me but keeps his arms around me. "I'm sorry for interrupting but both of you will be needed to heal our soldiers at sunset."
"We'll be there," he promises.
"I'll see you then," she seems upset about Eragon and I being together but says nothing.
Eragon and I continue kissing for a long time and then we walk around with the others. He never lets go of my hand nor I his.
"We have matters to attend to with Nasuada now Roran," Eragon tells him.
"Yes, go. Thank you so much and I love you both," he hugs us both. So does Katrina.
Eragon takes my hand in his again and we go to find Nasuada. We heal people then escort Nasuada to her pavilion. Then we go to our tent. "I love you," Eragon tells me. We are sitting together against Saphira's warm belly.
"I love you too."
"I know I never stop saying that but it's because I will never stop loving you."
"Nor I you."
He pulls a small black box out and opens it to reveal a gold ring with an intricate engraving on the outside. Two wavy lines crossing each other in more than one place. The lines come to the front of the ring where they two lines attach to a heart on either side. The two hearts cross and in the middle where they intersect a small diamond is there. I stare in awe.
"Leolynn, I know we can't be married but...this ring is a symbol of our commitment to each other. With this ring I ask you to stand by my side forever and to love me for all eternity and I vow to do the same for you. There's so much going on right now. The war and Arya and having to hide that we are in love...I married Roran and Katrina and it was beautiful. It made me realize that I needed to do this for you and for me. I love you so much. You are my world. I couldn't live without you. I want to be with you forever because it is you that my heart beats for and nothing will ever change that. This ring proves my love for you and your love for me and our commitment to each other. No matter what happens I want you to know that I will always love you. So please say that you feel the same and wish to spend eternity with me and accept this ring as a symbol of my everlasting love and commitment for you."
"Yes, of course I will Eragon. I love you!" I wrap my arms around him and kiss him happily. He laughs and kisses me back. We make out until we can't breathe. "Eragon, it's beautiful," I say admiring my ring.
"I'm glad you like it."
"Did anyone else know you were going to do this?"
"I told Roran first and then Katrina. And then Angela who was happy. She said our fates were already intertwined and that we were meant to be together. She suspected our feelings for each other. And Elva had suspected it too. You know she can tell the future sometimes. She has visions and can foresee events. She said that the king himself would accept us being together so that helped."
"A lot of people suspect us being together."
"I know."
"I'm glad that we are together."
"Me too," he kisses me and we snuggle together against Saphira, her wing on us.