Jadeir
Arya awoke to see her mother and Eragon staring at her. She looked at her mother and saw her hands were not marked. She then looked at her right hand. A jade colored gedway ignasia had left its mark on her. She was shocked. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. She had become the next rider of the dragon order.
"You've become the next rider of the new order." Eragon said. It took a moment to let the idea sink in. In only a little over a year, the three eggs and hatched. Moreover, one of them had hatched for her.
Islanzadi had a look of shock and relief at the same time.
"Mother, what is wrong? You have not looked at me that way since that quarrel we had that separated us for 70 years. You are not upset that the dragon chose me and not you are you?"
"Arya, I am happy that you are the next rider. You will make a splendid rider. On top of that you already know how to use magic. We will not have to do as much training with you as we did with Eragon. You will only need to learn the ways of the riders from him, and other things he deems fit."
"That doesn't explain the look on your face."
"Did I ever tell you why I did not want you to bear Saphira's egg or accept the yawe? I believe I just yelled at you in anger and banished you."
Arya nodded.
"I should have explained my anger my daughter, I apologize." The queen said firmly.
"That was many ago, and we reconciled, now you were saying?" Arya spoke half amused.
The queen took a deep breath. "Arya, I had just lost Evandar, and I was afraid that I was going to lose you. I knew that ferrying the egg and being the representative of the Varden was going to put you in grave danger. Remember, when you accepted to be the elven representative of the varden, you were still very young, a teenager by elven standards. I was afraid like all mothers are for their kids safety. I thought you were being young and reckless. But also, I was afraid I would never see you again, which was why I was angry when you accepted the yawe against my will.
Now you are a rider. A rider, as you know, is very powerful. They are treated like a king or queen, and sometimes are even at a status higher than that. However, you must now take up the standard of bringing order and peace to the land. And at the moment, that means you need to help slay Galbatorix. I do not want to see my daughter killed by him." The queen paused for a moment as Arya nodded. She then began again.
"Arya, do you remember when you were still a child and I yelled at you to back to sleep one night?" Arya nodded again, "Arya, that was the night I learned of Evandar's death. After my outburst at you Vrael pointed out to me Evandar lived on in you. From that moment on I promised to my self that I would make sure you were never in danger. It was not you wanted, but it was what I wanted. I had forgotten when you were at a young age that you were your own person, not just my last memory of him." The queen finished her talk.
Arya saw Eragon stand by her now. Eragon then said in the ancient language, "Your highness, I promise to you as Arya's mate and as the elder rider I will not let anything happen to her. So long as I live, I will not let any harm befall her."
Islanzadi smiled and looked at Eragon. "Faolin once said oh so similar words to me Eragon when Arya decided to do what she did."
"Aye, but while I am sure he was one of the most skilled elves, he was not a dragon rider."
Arya's eyes watered a little. She wiped them when she remembered that Faolin had wanted her to move on. Eragon must of noticed because he looked at Arya and said, "I'm sorry if I said anything offensive."
"It is ok, I am with you now. Faolin wanted me to move on. And mother, he is right, Eragon is a dragon rider."
Islanzadi looked comforted. She then asked Eragon, "How and when do you intend to train her? Her dragon will not be able to return to the Varden for a while."
"I do not intend to return to the Varden for a time. I will speak with Roran on the matter. I do not think we will be needed until Dras Leona, and we will be combining forces there, so I do not need to return. I can remain here to train Arya and her dragon. I will train her the things only riders know. I wish I had more of Oromis' scrolls with me so I could help teach her the history. Also, Glaedr told me that he would help me teach the next rider. As for magic and the sword, we know Arya is equal to myself in each matter, so I will not need to train her in either."
Arya then saw Eragon look at her.
"Arya, you should really pick a name for him now."
Arya saw the dragon hatchling. It had just hatched and was starting to walk on its feet. It was more of a waddle. Arya was amused by seeing Saphira sniff him. She snorted. You do call me little one Saphira.
Hrrrmph. I hope he grows big and strong fast. I do not like the idea of mating with a hatchling. It will make me look like a pedophile.
Yes my lady? Arya chuckled for a moment at the thought.
Don't call me that! I hate formalities! A twinge of amusement appeared on Eragon's face as she thought that.
Of course princess. Eragon joked.
Eragon! Arya gently patted him on the shoulder.
You will call me ebrithil or master, but not by my name. Eragon, stop fooling around! Ok, sorry, what is it that you need? I am trying to think of a name for him like you said.
It is up to you Arya, he is your dragon. Arya I sense something else. What's wrong? I am not sure if I am up to it.
What? You would make a great rider. Of that I am sure. She felt Eragon's hand clasp her on the back in comfort.
What makes me so special? What made me special? I was just a farm boy living in a small village. Your father was a rider. And your parents were royalty, and your father one of the greatest spell casters of his time. What if I do not live up to the challenge? You will do fine Arya. I know you can. I will be there to support you. And thank you. For what? Now Saphira and I are not alone as the only free riders opposing the dark king. Our burden has become lighter because of you. Now go and pick a name for him. He's a nice shade of green, like a jade gemstone. What of Jadeir? It would fit perfectly as Saphira is named after a sapphire. Perfect as always love.
"And what did I do to deserve that? Before it would have been a slap."
"With that attitude your about to get one." She smirked.
Arya was happy with Eragon. She could joke with him, be open with him, and just being around him made her happy. She hoped the same feeling would be between Jadeir and Saphira.
Arya then said, "I name my dragon Jadeir." She repeated the phrase in her mind to Jadeir.
"A wonderful name to match Saphira's my daughter." Islanzadi said.
Aye, a good name, though now this runt must match me in size and beauty.
"I can help with that. Murtagh told me a spell, that is not dark magic, that can make Jadeir grow twice as fast in mind and body. I have reviewed the words used. It should work. With your permission Arya?" Eragon approached Jadeir. Arya consented. She gave him energy as she knew he was still hurt from his torture.
Eragon muttered, a long, complicated spell and his palm grew very bright. It seemed like it took at least five minutes and Eragon started to shiver from the loss of strength. Arya felt Saphira pour even more energy into her rider. As Eragon was muttering the spell, Arya touched Saphira's mind.
Saphira, aside from the fact he is small at the moment, are you happy with Jadeir? I will need to wait to find out his personality. Right now he is still too small to talk. However, yes I am happy emerald eyes. I finally have a dragon whom may grow up to be my mate and to call my own as Eragon does with you. You get to be the mother of a whole race. Imagine that. Thats thinking a little too much into my future. I am a free dragon who roams the world, not a homebody. Of course Saphira.
Finally, the spell ended. While the spell would work progressively over time until Jadeir matched Saphira, Arya already noticed the effects. The small, waddling dragon had grown alot in size, and was now walking , Eragon fell on the ground, clutched his back, and screamed in pain.
"Eragon!" Arya ran to her love, concern in her eyes. He had fainted again. The last time he did this was after Durza wounded him! But he hasn't had that problem in ages! Does he have a wound like Oromis had where now he cannot do spells requiring a lot of energy?
"Mother, what is going on! He fainted the last time he used alot of magic too!" Concern was replaced with fear.
"I do not know my daughter, and fear not, I do not think it is like Oromis' condition. We should hurry him back to Gil'ead to discover what effects Galbatorix's torture had on him.
The three of them got on Saphira's back, Jadeir in Arya's needed to be dragged on as he was not conscious. They attached the sack of eldunari to Saphira's armor and they headed for Gil'ead.
