Chapter 25. Wedding Day

Part 1. Vows of Love

In the early morning hours before sunrise the women of Carvahal are working with a few of the Varden's cooks to prepare enough food for Katrina's wedding. Roran is up as well with huge smile on his face. Today is the day he would wed Katrina and start the first day of the rest of their lives together. He quickly got dressed and as soon as his socks were on a bunch of men from Carvahal entered his tent for the roasting tradition. They blindfolded Roran and placed a sack over his head and carried him away from the camp. As the men made sport at his expense Roran divided his attention between them and mentally watching Katrina. After an hour they return to camp for the ceremony.

It is Horst and Birgit's job to make sure everything is flowing smoothly and that all the requests of the Bride and Groom are met. They also inspect the food and wine that will be served at the wedding dinner.

"Never thought I would see this day…" Birgit says to Horst.

"Nor I…" They look at each other and smile as Eragon takes his place.

The guests stand up as a horn sounds and the bride enters. Nausada is dressed in a white blue sparkling gown. Her hair is pinned up in a tiara and she wears a diamond necklace. Roran awaits her and when she joins him Eragon takes a cord and ties their hands together. Then Horst takes his place behind Roran while Birgit takes her place behind Katrina.

Eragon smiles taking a deep breath, as Saphira stands beside him. "Lords and ladies…Friends…Welcome…I Eragon Shadeslayer Son of Brom stand here to unite in marriage my brother…Roran Garrowsson and his chosen bride Katrina Ismira's Daughter…Who stands with these…"

"I Horst Son of Ostrec stand for Roran…"

"I Birgit Daughter of Hirum and Ileena…Godmother to Katrina…"

"And what does Roran Stronghammer bring to this marriage…"

"Roran brings his skill as a farmer and a mage…his hammer as a warrior…And this chest of gold…" A wave of whispers cross through the gathered guests as Albriech and Boldur bring forth an iron chest filled with gold. Eragon smiles as the Dwarves of Dugrimst Ingeitum had sent a chest of gold at Eragon's request. He was after all adopted by Hrothgar and intitled to a portion of the Ingeitum wealth. "He also brings his love and devotion…His vow that he has not trifled with the hearts of other women or foolishly spread the seed of his body…"

"And what does Katrina Ismira's daughter bring to this union…"

"She brings cloth to build a home and make clothes…Her skill as a cook…She brings jewelry and gold…" This time Nausada smiles as she is the one who provided Katrina with a dowry. "Katrina also offers her tokens of virtue and chastity…She is pure and has never been with any man…"

"Do you Roran Stronghammer agree that Horst Ostrecsson has represented you honestly?"

"I do…"

Eragon turns his attention to Katrina, "And you Katrina Ismira's Daughter, do you agree that your godmother Birgit has represented you honestly…"

"I do…"

Eragon nods with a smile, "Then as appointed minister of these proceedings I ask that you both declare your oaths of love and vows of dedication…"

Roran takes his free hand and holds Katrina's free hand staring her in the eyes. He smiles, "I Roran Stronghammer…Son of Garrow…Vow from this day forth to love and protect you Katrina Ismira's daughter…I take this vow without reservation…And I swear that we shall return to Carvahall and build our home and family…"

Another wave of whispers flow across the gathered guests. Katrina smiles, "I Katrina daughter of Ismira vow to be a wife to Roran Stronghammer…I am his in mind and body…I will be a mother to his children and be wise with his gold…I take this vow without thought of reservation or hesitation…"

"Roran and Katrina have made their vows before the gods and men…" Eragon places his hands on their heads, "I bless this union…Atra gülai un ilian tauthr ona un atrau…You may kiss your bride…"

"HIP…HIP…HOORAY!" Jormunder shouted and was joined by the guests. Saphira added a roar to the cheers as Roran and Katrina walked through an honor guard who held swords in an upside down V above their heads. The last two soldiers lowered their blades forcing Roran and Katrina to stop and kiss…

Part 2. Uninvited Guests

As Roran walks Katrina towards the bridal table he stops and frowns. "What is it?" Katrina asks.

The answer to her question comes in the form of a Dragon's roar that echoes from across the river. "No!" Katrina says placing a hand over her mouth.

Roran grabs her arm after he breaks the string, Eragon joins them, "I must help the Varden and Eragon fend off Murtagh and Thorn."

"Go both of you and be safe…"

Roran kisses Katrina and runs off with Eragon who quickly dresses. Roran joins the Elves to help them channel energy to Eragon in his fight with Murtagh. His voice enhanced by magic Murtagh issues a challenge to Eragon. As Eragon flies off Roran unites his mind with the Elves to enhance Eragon's magical abilities. Roran listens as Eragon informs Murtagh that he can free himself from Galbatorix by changing his true name. They argue then the fight starts, Saphira and Eragon are rested and with Roran and the Elves boosting his abilities they outfight the red Dragon and his Rider. Soon Thorn and Murtagh and retreat from battle.

("ERAGON AWAKEN AND RELEASE YOUR MAGIC…") Roran shouts as Eragon had been knocked unconscious by Murtagh before he retreated. At the last minute Eragon managed to ensnare Murtagh. The spell was sapping a large amount of energy from the Eves the farther away they got.

Eragon jumps up and looks around spotting Thorn and Murtagh miles away. In his mind he can feel several Elves pass out.

("Is everyone okay…") He quickly asks.

("We…will…live…") Blodgharm says trying to catch his breath.

With Saphira and Eragon safe Roran turns his attention to King Orin. Sensing great danger Rora, Arya, and several Elves run towards the commotion. The King and his troops ran over the two hundred soldiers as if they were nothing. "I don't see what the witch child was so concerned about…" Orin's captain says.

"They offered little resistance…" His words stopped in his mouth as he was shot in the throat by an arrow, the Captain fell from his horse dead. One of the enemy soldiers was back on his feet bleeding from his head and knocking another arrow. The whole time he is laughing. One of the Kull was killed by a spear thrown from another man who was impaled with the same spear.

"By the goddess Nauri…" One of Orin's guards said.

Enemy troops get back up from the deadliest wounds inflicted by Orin's troops. Some are missing arms. One man has an arrow still in his head. "Rally to me!" Orin says and they gallop away and turn in unison with the Kull running in their ranks. Then Orin and his troops engage. Orin is thrown from his horse as one of the men stab his horse with a spear. "My king!" One of Orin's Royal guards tackle the man from his horse and as they wrestle across the ground Orin gets up and beheads the man.

"Their heads! Cut off their heads…" He screams as two dozen archers join them.

That is when Roran and the Elves join the battle.

The fighting lasts another hour one man is left and he is surrounded with several arrows in him. A spear is in his leg holding him to the ground. "I said stay back!" Orin yells. The Kull and soldiers keep their weapons pointed at the man who refuses to die. "Now…" Orin points his sword at the man. "I demand that you tell me what you are and how you got like this?"

The soldier pauses in his laughing as Thorn flies away overhead, "Failed again…Dam you Red Rider…"

"Put another arrow in him…" Orin orders to his archer. He fires and hits the man in his stomach.

The soldier looks down and laughs again, then he looks up at Orin, "I and my comrades were promised great wealth by the king…Our families will live like gods…In exchange for our cooperation the King made us this way…We feel no pain, no fear, no man, Urgal, or Elf Surdan…You will all drown in a sea of blood if you continue to defy Galbatorix…"

Orin snatches an axe from a Kull, "No unholy monster…It is Galbatorix and all who fight for him that will die…" Orin swings his axe and beheads him just as Nausada and her guards ride up, "See they can die…Mount their heads on poles and let all our allies no that they are not to be feared…"

"What happened?" Nausada asked joining Roran.

"They wouldn't die…" Roran says as they are joined by Eragon and Saphira.

"We rode through them like a wind storm through grass…We thought we had killed them all…Then they got up and started fighting…My eyes could not believe it…" Orin's Captain says speaking up

"More of Galbatorix's tricks…" Nar Grazvhog says.

Waden nods, "Cut their arms off and they still keep moving…stab them in the head gut them…I disemboweled one of them and still he lived…"

"How many did we lose…" Jormunder asks.

"Too many…" Waden says.

"More than half my forces…The only reason we are still alive is because of the archers you sent…" Orin said.

"They died with honor…" Nar Garzvhog said.

"And honor is what they shall receive…Jormunder a guard for the dead…And see to the wounded…"

Roran walks up to King Orin, "If you wish I can heal your wound sire…"

Orin looks at him for a few seconds, "That won't be necessary Stronghammer…I have mine own healers…"

Despite the uninvited guests Nausada and the leaders decided to return to the wedding feast where gifts were presented to the newlywed couple. "Tomorrow I report for duty…" Roran says to Katrina who lies in his chest. The feast is over and the two are alone in their tent.

She sighs, "I know." She looks up into his eyes, "Come back to me…"