Author note:
Some quick notes to my reviewers:
Uchiha-Dani-Uzumaki, Leopardsky, JustCallMeWhatever, Auguruj, Guests and others: thanks so much for all your lovely comments!
As Auguruj and Guest noted in the reviews, bringing necromancy and new plot items into the story runs the risk of it getting incredibly convoluted...
I set out to try and give a voice to many of the characters that were underrepresented in the books, and so Shruikan, Elva, Angela and many others will be having a big effect on the plot... which necessarily changes some things.
Also, my OC count is getting bigger all the time... I'm going to have to cut back there as well. Although I am following the main plot of Paolini's books, I really hate repeating scenes that he wrote; I write in the in-between spaces.
If you feel things are getting too loopy and you're getting lost, please let me know! I'm writing this because I enjoy it, but your opinion is also important.
I really love this chapter... Enjoy!
Chapter 29: Recovery
"Perhaps I was a little... overzealous." Admitted Arya, with a frown, as she turned away from the scrying bowl. She didn't enjoy conversations with her mother.
They were in Lady Nasuada's tent - Arya, Eragon, Blödhgarm and Lady Nasuada - and had just finished a tense conversation with the Queen about the latest developments in the war... and Alice's incident.
"I apologise for my recklessness." Arya said, uncharacteristically humble. Although Queen Islanzadi had been horrified that necromancy had been used to bring a human healer back from the dead, she had acknowledged that Alice was not subject to elvish law - she was Lady Nasuada's responsibility. Blödhgarm's role in it was another matter, however...
Eragon restrained his sigh of relief - he'd hated fighting with Arya. And although he agreed that Alice's actions were dangerous, he also felt that there was no right or wrong side to this issue... If he had known of his own or Saphira's imminent death, and had a way to circumvent fate... he would have acted the same.
Perhaps it is because Alice and I are human, Eragon mused to Saphira, who waited outside the tent, Our lives are short enough as it is.
That no longer applies to you, pointed out Saphira with a satisfied rumble.
Yes - but I feel the same, nonetheless. He looked at Arya and Blödhgarm, who were conversing quietly about the Queen's orders. They have already lived several human lifetimes - perhaps death is no longer as terrifying.
All creatures fear death, said Saphira firmly, Perhaps they simply have the wisdom to accept it when it is time.
Hmph. Eragon snorted at her high-and-mighty tone, but sensed her amusement through their connection.
"When will you return to Ellesmera?" Lady Nasuada asked Blödhgarm, who seemed rather relaxed, given the circumstances. She doubted she'd be able to look so... cheerful... after getting an earful from the formidable elvish queen.
In fact, Blödhgarm was relieved that their conversation with Queen Islanzadi hadn't been worse. He had to return, as he'd promised Hedara, to face a council who would deliberate on his actions, but the Queen had been deliberately vague about when he was required to be back. He was a powerful spellcaster, and they needed him in this war. He was perfectly happy to put off his fate as long as possible.
In response to Nasuada's question, he shrugged expressively. "I will remain with the Varden for now," he said, his gaze darting to Eragon, "If you still have need of me."
"Good," said Lady Nasuada decisively, "We most certainly shall." He inclined his head.
Eragon rejoined the conversation, frowning at the elf, "Blödhgarm, this morning Hedara was outside my tent... Is it true you no longer command the elves?"
"That is correct." He confirmed, prompting identical surprised stares from Arya and Nasuada. His mouth curled into a sardonic smile. "It was the only way to prevent Hedara from attempting something..." his eyes flickered to Arya's, "...drastic, last night."
"It was an understandable reaction." Muttered Arya, and Blödhgarm dipped his head in respectful agreement. "There was a time when the practise of necromancy almost wiped out the elves," Arya explained to Eragon and Nasuada defensively.
"Of course, that was long ago... Many centuries ago." Blödhgarm said calmly, "And this situation is different."
"Quite." Said Lady Nasuada dryly. Elves, spellcasters, dwarves, Urgals and dragons... why did everything have to be so complicated?
Arya sensed her tone of dismissal and bowed from the waist, before leaving the tent. Blödhgarm followed.
Eragon looked like he wanted to follow them, but Lady Nasuada held up a hand. "Eragon," she said, "Remain here. I need to talk to you. The dwarves are withdrawing in order to crown a new king, and I have a mission for you... In Tronjheim."
Their voices faded as Blödhgarm exited the tent. Once outside, he was confronted with the blank stare of Hedara, who had taken over his duties as Eragon's escort. If Murtagh and Thorn attacked, or the King, he had no doubt the elves would call on him for help. Despite his recent actions, he also knew that they trusted his leadership over hers. He hadn't asked for their aid in saving Alice, after all. The loss of his position didn't bother him overmuch, all things considered.
No longer caring what she thought of him, he gave Hedara a mocking smile and an exaggerated half-bow, before stalking arrogantly past. Her eyes followed him, but her face remained slack, like a mask, and she showed no response to his rudeness.
Pity... he thought, wishing she would accept his challenge. She'd been a thorn in his side for weeks.
Leaving her behind, he loped through the camp until he reached his destination.
Pausing at the entrance, he scowled as he recognised a particular, masculine scent.
"...But you do look pale," Coram was saying in a worried tone, sitting at Alice's bedside, as the elf entered without announcing himself. Blödhgarm was annoyed to see that Coram was ardently clasping her hand.
"I'm fine." Said Alice, in a slightly exasperated tone that told Blödhgarm that she'd repeated the assurance several times already. It was with some relief that she saw Blödhgarm enter. She gave him a tentative smile, but seemed anxious, as if afraid he would start yelling at her.
Coram turned and scowled at the sudden interruption. He opened his mouth to say something, but Alice spoke first.
"Coram," she said softly, her voice still raw from her ordeal. He instantly returned his attention back to her. "Could you give us some time?"
He looked as if he was swallowing something nasty, but his polite upbringing wouldn't allow him to refuse the direct request of a lady. "Of course." He said stiffly, and forced a smile, pointedly ignoring the elf as he marched out.
"No shortage of well-wishers, I see." Remarked Blödhgarm casually, taking Coram's position next to her bed.
Alice looked at her hands, uncomfortable. "Blödhgarm, the spell-"
"Is in the past." He said firmly.
She looked up with a frown. "I need to know what happ-"
"It's over. Can you not let it be?" He sighed, and folded his arms, his gaze settling on her face with an expression of intense displeasure.
A lesser person would have flinched under his gaze, but Alice was wise to his tricks - if he was trying to intimidate her into submission, it just meant he was hiding something.
"You helped - Angela told me." She said seriously. His jaw tightened slightly, but his expression remained impassive. "I would never have asked-" she stopped. "I knew the spell was dangerous, Blödhgarm." She said, and her gaze flickered to the table beside her. Blödhgarm was irritated to notice the hateful grey-black cover peeking out from under some papers. Why was it here? Of course - this was Alice. Of course she would have agonised over every little detail of her spell, once she'd known he'd been involved.
"You should get rid of it." He said. She nodded. "But it is protected by magic, isn't it? Perhaps we could-"
"Don't change the subject!" she said, getting upset. He stopped talking and just looked at her. Her eyes were tortured. "Why did you get involved?" she asked.
"You knew the magic in the crystal wouldn't be enough." He said, the realisation flooding through him.
She swallowed and looked down again, then nodded. "I created the spell to specifically take power from only the crystal," she started haltingly, "I knew it would fail, but... that was okay." She looked up, and a tear streaked down her face. "Once I knew I was going to die, I had to do something - anything... The spell gave me the strength to face it, somehow. It was cowardly... but I didn't want anyone else to be in danger-"
"That is not cowardice." He said softly, "It's instinct. Survival is a primal urge almost impossible to deny." He shifted in the chair, and a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, "To refuse your fate even at your darkest hour... that takes courage. You saved yourself, Alice. My actions were my own."
"The other elves also helped...?" her expression told him that she knew. She knew how close he'd come to following her into the abyss. He couldn't stand her looking at him with that expression... like she regretted living.
"What's done is done." He said firmly.
"But-"
"That's enough, Alice!" he said, in a tone he'd never used with her before. She flinched.
"I'm sorr-"
"Hold your tongue, and just listen..." he stood, too aggravated to remain seated. "That spell was the most irresponsible, dangerous, idiotic thing you've ever done!" his words fell like strokes of a whip, causing her to shrink with each one. "And you've done your fair share."
He started pacing. "Really, creating a spell you barely understood on the eve of a battle... while you were half-asleep, as I recall! Using forbidden magic, you had no way of knowing whether it would work or what effect it might have..."
"So you regret it." She mumbled, betraying her biggest fear. Her hands twisted in the bedclothes in her lap. "You do regret saving me."
Blödhgarm gave an irritated sigh. "Of course not." He said firmly, waving her words away as if they were nothing. "I would do it again in a heartbeat." He said in the ancient language, proving it was his true feelings.
She stared at him in shock for a few seconds. "Y-You would?"
He gazed at her seriously. "Who else would irritate me to the point of distraction, if not you?" he rolled his eyes at her.
She stared at him.
Then she tried unsuccessfully to stifle a startled chuckle - in a round-about way, he'd just said something incredibly sweet.
His mouth twitched, but he maintained his stoic posture, ignoring her mirth.
A wide, genuinely happy smile broke out across her face, and it was as if the words he'd said had taken every single one of her worst fears and effortlessly cast them aside. "Alright, then." She said, and gave a sigh like an enormous weight had been lifted off her chest.
Blödhgarm's expression relaxed, and he smiled back. The Queen, Hedara, Arya... all of their opinions seemed so meaningless all of a sudden. "Alice, necromancy aside... You saved so many lives yesterday. Do you realise that? You knew what would happen if you came to the battle, and you went anyway."
"Self-sacrifice is only noble if it actually occurs," Alice said dryly, smile fading. "I didn't die to save anyone."
"You did die, though." he said, when Alice didn't look convinced, "When you came to the battle, you were prepared to die. You didn't think the spell would work. You just... covered all your options. I only wish..." he sat down again, this time on the side of her bed. He leant forwards slightly, relishing the sound of her heart rate increasing in response. "I wish that you'd told me. You didn't have to bear the burden of your fate alone."
"It was my burden to bear." She argued softly. He decided not to tell her of the dream he'd had that night... he hadn't been able to save her, anyway. If he'd been more careful, maybe none of this would have happened. He had his own burden of guilt to deal with.
"Anyway... You wouldn't have allowed me to do the spell." She continued logically, meeting his eyes.
He considered this. "Maybe." He admitted at last. "But you can tell me anything, Alice. You know that, don't you?"
She gazed at him for a long moment, and nodded. She was suddenly tempted to tell him... everything. But she couldn't bear the thought of him recoiling from her in disgust, hatred... if he knew who her father was. Would he be able to see past it? Perhaps... but it was too big a risk to take.
"I am glad I'm alive." She said instead, "I won't forget what you did for me."
He shrugged, as her thanks made him uncomfortable.
"I owe you my life..." She said, "Again." Feeling that her words weren't enough to convey her sentiments, she put her hand lightly over his which lay between them on the bedclothes.
He shifted, his eyes flickering down to them, then back to her face. "Get some sleep." He ordered, and pulled away.
"Will you come see me tomorrow?" she asked hesitantly, colour rising in her face at her own audacity.
His dark eyes were unreadable. Then he inclined his head, "If that is your desire," he said, and then left.
Walking away from the tent, he flexed his hand self-consciously.