26. Scandalized

Before any of the Riders returned to her dwelling the next morning, Rhunön was awake, having slept very little all that night. She had thought most carefully on the matter of Willow's protective coat and believed she had arrived at a possible method for accomplishing her desires, but it would require the cooperation of a specific creature, which would have no reason to offer its assistance and therefore most likely wouldn't.

Rhunön thought about Willow and how uncommon she was. To befriend and fall in love with an Urgal ram was an impressive feat in and of itself. To then conceive twins with him, learn his language, and in all other ways appear to be extraordinary only added to her worth in Rhunön's eyes. She sensed that there was even more to the unique human and determined to come to know her better. Perhaps Willow herself would be the means of garnering the collaboration Rhunön's idea required.

Rhunön was then anxious for dawn to arrive so she could commence her design. To help her patience, she began readying the forge for the crafting of the Urgal's weapon.

-:-:-

All six of the Riders returned at the appointed time, deciding independently that this was the most exciting event happening that day. Eragon and Arya also thought they might be needed to spar with Varhog and Willow. Hanin and Maehrí arrived at the same time from different directions in an amusing manner.

They were each running as swiftly as the wind, as elves normally do, though they were apparently not paying as much attention as elves normally do, for when they converged in front of Rhunön's open-walled smithy, they collided with great force.

While reaching out to steady her, Hanin cried, "Maehrí! I cry your pardon! How senseless of me!" He was panting slightly, evidence that he had been running a long while.

Maehrí was also breathless as she replied, "I am equally to blame, Hanin. My mind was elsewhere." She cut off abruptly, seeming to realize for the first time that his arms were around her and that it might be obvious where exactly her mind had been. She cleared her throat, attempting to back away, but Hanin only grinned and held her in place.

"It's no matter, Maehrí," Hanin lightly reassured. "If it means that we ended up as we now are, I'm glad for our preoccupation. What were you thinking about?"

Maehrí hardly knew what to think of Hanin's flirtatious manner. Not only was it extremely uncharacteristic for an elf in general, but it was so contrary to how he had ever before behaved. Her reply betrayed her confusion, "Um . . ." she began, staring at his chest as her emotions warred. She desired to be both honest and proper, equally important traits to an elf, but she couldn't see how to accomplish both at that moment. Hanin waited patiently, and after a time, Maehrí decided her words thus far might have already betrayed the truth, so she went with honesty. "You, Hanin. I was thinking of you." She looked cautiously back at his face.

Hanin raised his slanted black eyebrows in mock disbelief, though his eyes softened at her confession. "Is that so?" he said. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, Maehrí, for I can see admitting that causes you embarrassment, I was thinking of you." He was silent a moment as she stared at him. Then his teasing returned. "What do you suppose that means?"

Maehrí smiled somewhat, feeling bold enough from his forward manner to tease a little herself, though she was also still being honest. "Perhaps it means we like one another. Hardly surprising, at least for my part, considering how handsome and kind you are."

-:-:-

Now it was Hanin's turn to be surprised and not only in jest. "Truly?" he said. "If you mean to imply that I might not feel the same, then you're mistaken. I've never beheld a lovelier face nor met someone with a gentler heart. That I might have won your fancy is a greater honor than I feel worthy." He brought one hand carefully to her cheek, leaving the other at her waist where he had caught her. "What are we to do?" He kept asking questions that required her to reveal her feelings, for he was perfectly aware of his own. But Hanin knew he was already being far bolder than Maehrí was comfortable with, something he could no doubt attribute to his time on the Isle.

Maehrí did not withdraw from his touch nor lower her eyes, as he expected. "I hardly know," she replied. "Is the next step in matters such as these not the male's responsibility?"

Hanin grinned again, seeing in her eyes that she loved it. "Thinking ahead to that already? Although perhaps I misunderstand, in which case it might be best not to say anymore, to avoid embarrassing you even further."

Her eyes remained fixed on his as Maehrí earnestly informed him, "I want you to ask, Hanin."

"Is that so?" Hanin said again, suddenly feeling the more awkward of the two. "In that case, I will, but not now. We have a most eager audience, and that question is one I would prefer to ask without spectators, especially when I'm still unsure as to whether I correctly understand you." Her eyes left little room for doubt, but Hanin hardly dared hope that Maehrí might be insinuating what she seemed to be. He released her face and waist, hoping the cessation of contact wouldn't somehow break the spell of the moment.

Maehrí didn't step back, as she had tried once before, but kept her gaze on his face. Hanin noticed her hand twitch slightly as if she wished to hold his, but she was too civil to initiate the touch. Using proper manners, he extended his hand and asked, "May I?"

Maehrí accepted his hand, smiling shyly, which made her all the more breathtaking. Hanin's breath did catch, and he followed her face with his eyes as she turned toward the others.

When he also looked over, Hanin immediately noticed how joyful Arya and Willow were, each smiling in open delight. Eragon and Varhog were grinning in knowing understanding. Hanin couldn't keep a similar expression from crossing his face as he raised his eyebrows, tilting his head slightly toward Maehrí as if to say, 'Did you see that? Can you believe my good fortune?' Both men nodded encouragingly.

Rhunön's reaction was most amusing of all. She sourly grunted, "I must be getting slow in my advanced age. I waited too long to make my feelings known, and now the handsomest elf I have ever known has bestowed his affection on another." She grimaced, but her eyes revealed her approbation.

Everyone laughed, and Hanin said, "Come now, honored one. I know you'll never love another like you do your forge and hammer. How would I feel in a few months when you abandoned me for them once again?"

Rhunön's face twitched, and though she tried most admirably to suppress it, she failed. A bark of rough laughter escaped her mouth, and once it started, she allowed it to continue unhindered for some moments. When she was able to regain her composure, she wiped her eyes and, with a still-merry expression, said, "Well, we've lost enough time as it is, though it was on a most worthy cause. Come, Varhog. Let me see how you fight."

-:-:-

Eragon stepped forward to volunteer himself as Varhog's opponent, and Hanin offered Varhog his sword. Varhog was an excellent swordsman, having learned alongside Eragon on the Isle for nearly the same length of time. He hadn't possessed the same powerful drive toward mastery—using it as an attempt to forget Arya—as Eragon, but he had nonetheless been fiercely determined to excel in all areas as a Rider. The main problem he had faced was having a blade large enough. He would use the largest sword from their collection of Rider's blades, but none of the ancient Riders had ever been seven feet tall.

Varhog looked forward to having a sword that fit his height, though he knew it would be a formidable weapon and he hardly knew what good it would do. As Willow had said, the main uses he could anticipate were training and sparring on the Isle.

He and Eragon faced off, as they had countless times before, though not recently. Actually, once Varhog thought about it, it had been some years since he had even practiced swordsmanship, since he so often fought with Willow instead. His main lessons had been in his first years on the Isle before Willow had even arrived. He worried slightly that he would be rusty, but it was of little matter. Eragon had always been his superior, even when Varhog had practiced daily.

They had at it with enthusiasm, grateful for the physical exercise, as they had been sitting for so many days on their flight to Ellesméra. Eragon was still superior, but Varhog held his own, tapping Eragon with his sword once for every few times Eragon did the same. Varhog put his enormous strength to good use, and it was gratifying to know that he didn't have to rein it in at all for the sake of the sword. More than once he slashed Brisingr from Eragon's hands, driving it to the ground with his sheer raw power. Unlike on the Isle, where such tactics had been met with frustration and rebuke, now Eragon simply laughed good-naturedly and carried on after retrieving his sword.

-:-:-

Rhunön observed intently, but she had such an expert eye that the task did not require her full attention. She sidled up next to Willow, who was watching the match with the others, and casually said, "I wish to know more about you, Willow. Tell me of yourself."

Willow turned to her in surprise. "What do you want to know, honored one?"

"Anything. Everything," Rhunön replied in an offhand manner, trying to appear less interested than she truly was.

"Very well," Willow said slowly. "I'm not sure where to start."

"Start at the beginning," Rhunön suggested. So Willow did, telling Rhunön of her origins; her childhood; her mother, brother, and father; how they all died; how Sunset hatched for her; of her time on the Isle; her friendship with Varhog; the role she had played in establishing peace and brotherly regard between the Riders; and so on. The two fighting seemed content to carry on a long while, apparently enjoying the exercise and challenge immensely.

Rhunön continued to observe Varhog's fighting style, but she had already gathered more than enough information to know what his blade should be like, so she then watched his body to help her anticipate how to use it through his mind. He was so much larger and stronger than she that she knew it would take some adjusting. But since the men were happy to carry on, she carried on with Willow, listening raptly to every animated word Willow shared.

When Willow seemed to run out of things to say, Rhunön prompted her with, "Tell me of your time among the Urgralgra."

That was more than enough to get Willow to talk for another hour, and yet the men continued.

Around this time, Hanin and Maehrí took up their own match off to one side, something they had done numerous times in Rhunön's atrium. Arya gladly lent Hanin Támerlein, since his blade was being used. As the two elves began, Eragon and Varhog paused long enough to strip off their sodden shirts, mop their faces, and toss them to the side so they could take up their efforts once more.

When Willow once again felt silent, Rhunön pressed, "Do you happen to like animals?" She hoped her question wouldn't seem odd.

Willow didn't seem to think it odd. "Oh yes!" she cried. "And it has only increased since becoming a Rider. I was mesmerized when I learned how to observe the life force and energy of living creatures. It made my interest so much deeper and more substantial when I could recognize the valiant efforts of the tiniest creatures. They toil so untiringly to fulfill the measure of their existence. The strangest thing happened in Varhog's village . . ." And she delved into a fascinating tale of how she had befriended a pack of wolves intent on killing her. "It's amazing!" Willow concluded after her lengthy explanation, which had been punctuated by many pointed questions from Rhunön.

"Yes, I agree," Rhunön said, attempting to suppress her excitement. Her plan just might work after all. By then the men finally showed signs of tiring, and they approached the grassy area where the women were sitting.

Eragon wiped his brow with the back of his arm. "Sorry, ladies," he said. "We got carried away, didn't we?"

"Not at all," Arya assured him. "I enjoyed the spectacle immeasurably. Even more so after you took off your shirt." She smiled sweetly, and Willow nodded her agreement.

Varhog said, "I'm surprised I could keep at it so long. It feels like I haven't exercised that hard in months."

"Really?" Willow asked in mild surprise. "We must have different definitions of intensive exercise."

"That must be it," Varhog allowed with a grin. "You do keep me quite busy most nights."

"Of course!" Eragon realized. "That explains it. I hardly felt winded at all. Thank you for helping me maintain my stamina, my love." Arya reached her hands up toward him, and he pulled her up. She put her arms around him.

"Arya," Eragon objected. "I'm a dripping, smelly mess. Don't get yourself dirty."

"Mm-mm," Arya denied. "This is just how I like you best. Although it's even better when I'm responsible for getting you this way." Eragon creased his brow in confusion, looking hopelessly at Varhog.

Varhog chuckled sympathetically. "I don't understand it either," he admitted. "Willow says the same thing whenever I smell horrible."

"Like now," Willow said with a teasing smile. She had awkwardly gotten to her feet, taking Varhog's hand when he offered it to her, and did just as Arya was doing. "But you do smell slightly different than after my favorite form of exercise. Now we know what to do with our husbands whenever we want a midafternoon nap."

"Yes, we must simply send them to find one another," Arya agreed. "But only after giving them a good warm-up round. I can't ever seem to lie down without wanting some time with Eragon."

Willow giggled. "We'd best not dwell on it much longer. It may lead to some awkward moments for Hanin and Maehrí. Wasn't that perfectly wonderful earlier?" She was addressing Arya, unaware with her view blocked by Varhog's huge body that her words carried to the two dueling elves, though they were on the other side of the clearing.

"Perfectly," Arya said, giving Eragon a quick kiss as he began to pull away.

"Rhunön-elda, is there a place nearby where we might find some water?" Eragon asked. "I'm so thirsty."

"Another similarity," Willow murmured. But all who were near had ears keen enough to hear, and Eragon grinned.

"There's obviously drinking water in my kitchen," Rhunön began, "but I don't feel like these dear ladies. I don't want you in there in your current state, so make your way to the stream in those woods and wash up while you're at it." She pointed in the right direction, and the men laughed appreciatively as they turned to go.

Rhunön then stood, walking over to a couple of close-growing trees near one half wall of her forge and beginning to sing to the lowest branches.

-:-:-

Willow and Arya sat back down, this time facing toward Hanin and Maehrí. As she pulled her knees up toward her chest, wrapping her arms around them, Willow groaned, "So much extra weight. These will no doubt be big babies with such a huge father. I hope I can carry them to full term and bear them without too much difficulty."

"Willow, you'll do amazingly," Arya reassured. "You now know nearly as much as I about labor and childbirth, and I'll be there to help you. It will be so wonderful to meet these babies." Arya rubbed her belly and smiled lovingly as her baby moved inside, making an obvious lump stand out under her shirt. "Hello, baby," she murmured.

"It looks so much like the Rimgar," Willow commented on the two fighting elves, who looked as if they were dancing, thanks to their natural grace.

Arya smiled in amusement. "Do you remember when we fought on the Isle and I broke your thumbs?"

"How could I forget?" Willow cried.

Arya proceeded to tell Willow of the morning she and Eragon had done the Rimgar together in their room, including all that followed.

Willow nodded. "It's unbelievable how powerful the pull is sometimes. Lust seems a good way to put it, though I've always felt that no matter how passionate we are, it's still pure and appropriate, since we're married and so wholly committed to one another. It's always very selfless for us, though it's also immensely self-gratifying."

"That's exactly how I feel too. Eragon was so apologetic that morning, feeling it must have somehow been wrong because of how focused on himself he was, but I just couldn't see how something that amazing and binding could be wrong, especially since we had waited until we were married." She paused for a moment, laughing softly at a move Maehrí made that was obviously flirtatious. Then she said, "I've always wondered what you meant when you told me I should have seen what a simple kiss did to you at first."

"Oh yes," Willow said with an indulgent laugh. "That led to some really interesting experiments." And she explained to Arya exactly what she meant, recounting some of her and Varhog's more memorable moments.

"How interesting," Arya mused. "Is it the same for all Urgals?"

"Myrin assures me it is," Willow said.

"But I've seen you kiss often, and it seems not to be a problem," Arya pointed out.

"Yes, after that night when I had the most powerful reaction, Varhog gained absolute control over when he would make love to me. He knew control would never again be hard to come by when his semen nearly killed me." Willow shuddered slightly.

"That makes sense," Arya said. "I take it you haven't had problems since your treatment?"

"No, none at all. That expression is as wonderful as ever. Thank you so much. You gave me back my life. I don't know how I would have endured if my reaction had only gotten stronger. It was physically agonizing for me and emotionally agonizing for both of us, but especially Varhog. And I can't imagine if we'd had to leave each other."

"I'm so glad I was able to help," Arya said quietly. With her eyes fixed purposefully on the two fighting elves she then asked, "I remember you telling Yvenna during her Preparing the Bride ritual that you've used your mouths instead of your bodies. How was that?" She smiled slightly as Hanin nearly dropped his sword, and Maehrí stumbled, almost colliding with him. They were the first clumsy movements from either of them, and they both briefly looked over at her. Arya's smile widened. Willow didn't seem to notice, perhaps because she had rested her cheek against her knees and was looking at Arya.

"Amazing," Willow answered. "It was so intense. The only thing I didn't like was that I couldn't touch Varhog very much or kiss him at all. Since that first time, we've enjoyed that on a number of occasions, though I still prefer the more traditional arrangements. Have you tried it yet?"

"Not yet, but Eragon suggested it once as part of a long list of ideas we were coming up with to be more creative. Actually, you indirectly inspired us after using the chair. We tried that by the way, and it was incredible. Especially for Eragon. He experienced the longest release he ever has. Funny it happened right after all that joking about Varhog's semen." Arya couldn't help but smile again at the reactions of Hanin and Maehrí.

"I'm so glad I was able to help," Willow said lightly, repeating Arya's phrase of a moment earlier. "So Eragon suggested it. Are you nervous? If you like that part of his body, you'll like it, trust me. It makes me feel so powerful to bring about that response in Varhog, although I can from pretty much any position. And it's fun to taste it. At least, I like it."

"Really?" Arya said. "What does it taste like?"

"Not much really. Slightly metallic and salty. But it's not unpleasant. I'm sure it has something to do with how healthy Varhog is, and Eragon doesn't even eat meat. Maybe I just like it because it doesn't hurt me anymore." Willow seemed to be enjoying the conversation, and Arya was too, immensely in fact, but for reasons different from Willow's. The two dueling elves were hanging on their every word, though they attempted to appear indifferent. Willow asked, "What's your favorite part about it?"

"Everything," Arya said with a laugh. "I can't narrow it down to just one moment." And she listed in specific detail, for the sake of Hanin and Maehrí, every part of making love that she loved, which was all of it. She laughed partway through her account when Hanin actually did drop his sword.

"I couldn't agree more," Willow said. "Those are my favorite parts too. Did you come up with any other interesting ideas?"

"Probably nothing you haven't already tried. On the sofa, on the table. We even joked about doing it in front of everyone. Eragon loved that idea but insisted it not be in the Urgal village. He was sure his pride wouldn't have been able to handle the humiliation after learning what he did about the Urgal rams and their amazing ability. He suggested we do it here in Ellesméra, which got a good laugh out of me. He figured we'd get some properly scandalized expressions here, and I think he was exactly right." Arya said this as she observed both Hanin and Maehrí with just such expressions on their faces. The two had long before removed their topmost shirts, and Arya thought Maehrí was now regretting that decision, since her form was so much more obvious under her fitted sleeveless undershirt.

Maehrí's relief was apparent when she noticed Varhog and Eragon returning and more particularly because Willow and Arya were laboriously making their way to their feet. She withdrew from the fight, swiftly rejoining the other four Riders. Hanin followed after her, amusement and longing in his eyes. After returning Támerlein to Arya, Hanin once again took hold of Maehrí's hand, which she allowed, though she didn't look at him.

"Those were some interesting conversations we just had the unique privilege of overhearing," Hanin quipped. "Such discussions do not often take place in Ellesméra, in public or private."

Arya teased, "They were as much for your benefit as our amusement."

Willow giggled. "I didn't think about how you would be able to hear all of that."

"Well, I must confess that I continued fighting for as long as I did with the hope of hearing more," Hanin said. "The properness of our ways makes it most difficult for an elf to gain much enlightenment about these matters."

"Which should make it even more fun, what with all of the experimenting you would need to do," Willow joked. "If you really want some interesting insight into marital love, you should spend some time with a few married Urgals. With them, it's almost inappropriate not to talk of it."

"You must have fit right in with them, sister," Hanin laughed. "You're always so open about everything. I doubt, however, that there's much even they could add to your priceless evaluation just now."

"Most likely not," Willow agreed. "You need only ever ask, and I'll share as much or as little detail as you might desire. Probably more than you'd care to hear, knowing me."

"I'll keep that in mind," Hanin promised with a grin. "If Maehrí comes to feel such sisterly affection for you as Arya seems to, perhaps she will be the one to benefit from such a discussion."

Arya laughed. "Don't let her timid elven manners deceive you, Hanin. If she's anything like me, her blood will run as hot as an Urgal ram's when she's with the man she desires. Just ask Eragon."

"It's true," Eragon said proudly. "I never would have pictured Arya as such a wild, insatiable lover, but I'm grateful every day. Literally. At least once." Arya blushed slightly and leaned into him. Her blush was nothing, however, compared to Maehrí's.

Eragon softly stroked her cheek. "I love seeing you blush." Hanin looked over at Maehrí, apparently wishing he could do the same.

Rhunön joined them once again, her first words perfect evidence that she too had overheard everything. "Enough of such talk, you young lovebirds," she chided crustily. "I must keep up appearances, and we can't have anyone knowing that old Rhunön secretly enjoys these conversations." Her rough laugh rasped forth, and all the others joined her, though Maehrí only reluctantly.

"I'm sure this next part of the process will only make it all the worse," Rhunön continued ruefully, "when I have to start forging a blade through the body of this enormous specimen of manliness." She looked pointedly at Varhog, who still had his shirt off. "I don't have an apron or jerkin big enough to fit you, young man," she apologized.

"My hide is tough enough," Varhog replied. "The heat won't bother me."

Rhunön looked at Willow. "I can understand why you said what you did. I don't know how any female could resist such massive power."

"You have no idea," Willow agreed fervently. "I'll keep your secret if you help me keep mine. Urgal rams are Alagaёsia's best kept love secret."

Varhog shifted uncomfortably, glancing at Willow in exasperation. Arya knew that his modesty made this talk unwelcome.

"His shyness is a learned behavior," Willow teased. "Most Urgal rams brag from the mountaintops about what fantastic lovers they are, each seeking to best the next with their sounds of passion and feats of love. We had a most amusing demonstration one night. His uncle—now our father, since he joined with Varhog's widowed mother—produced the loudest rumbling as the largest ram. That was a fun night, wasn't it, Yelloweyes?"

"It was, Eartheyes," Varhog allowed. "Thanks to you. Now can we be done talking of this?"

"As you wish, sweetheart," Willow dutifully replied. Then she asked, "Rhunön-elda, may I fight Arya now? I don't know how long it will take you to forge Varhog's blade, but I fear if I wait much longer, I might be unable to, even in a couple of weeks. If you observe me now, will you remember what you need to?"

"Of course I'll remember, Willow," Rhunön said. "And yes, you may. Do you object, princess?"

"Not at all," Arya replied, waiting until Varhog had retrieved Willow's brown sword before unsheathing Támerlein. She and Willow were both tall and strong, standing with perfect posture, so their pregnancies didn't excessively encumber them, at least not in their current stages. They moved with their usual grace as they withdrew a short distance from the others. But they did fight more cautiously out of instinct, knowing that a sharp blow could still inflict damage, especially to a developing fetus or two, even though the blades were dulled with magic.

They only fought for a few minutes, exchanging a flurry of blows and parries, before Arya stopped with a gasp, leaning on her sword and clutching her belly with her free hand. Eragon was by her side in an instant, a look of worry on his face. "Are you well, my love?" he asked as he provided her body with support, which she gratefully accepted.

"Well enough," Arya panted. "My womb tightened, and the baby's heart rate slowed noticeably. I'm always aware of it. It was so powerful. I never would have imagined." She cut off as her face tensed. Eragon took her sword and cast it aside, which didn't even bother Rhunön, so he could gently lift her. "I'm fine," Arya insisted. "It's good to experience this. It will help me prepare. It's just alarming that the baby's heartbeat drops so drastically. It hasn't ever happened before. I wonder if that forceful movement yesterday at the Menoa tree changed its position to somehow create this response. I'm sure these are nothing compared to true opening surges during labor, and I worry to think what this might mean."

"Was that sufficient?" Willow asked Rhunön in concern.

"More than," Rhunön said tersely. "Take her home and let her lie down on her left side," she instructed Eragon. "Make sure she has plenty to drink. A restless womb is a sign of dehydration. Also make sure she is well-fed. And whatever you do, don't make love to her for a while, no matter what she says!" Eragon nodded gratefully and strode swiftly away.

-:-:-

Turning to Hanin and Maehrí, Rhunön said, "You two may stay or go. Thank you for lending Varhog your sword, Hanin. We'll begin now on his blade."

Hanin inclined his head in acknowledgement then glanced at Maehrí. "What do you prefer, Maehrí?"

"Either way," she said uncertainly. "It's up to you."

"Let's go, then," Hanin said more decisively. "Farewell, Willow and Varhog." He handed Maehrí her fitted jacket, which he had brought with them when they finished their sword fight, pulled his own shirt on, and took her hand, walking with her into the forest.