Hi everyone! Thank you soooooo much for the lovely reviews! They're so sweet. Alright, so in this chapter, Ardice is about seven and ½ months pregnant with Pedr/Murtagh's baby, and Arya and Eragon are taking a break from their hectic schedules to come down to the (now empty) Willow Wood. Pedr left Ardice (against his wishes) to try to track down the Knights and bring them back to allegiance with the King. Ardice wanted to go in his stead, but hey, seven and a ½ months pregnant? She didn't think so, so he's been gone about three months (he left shortly after Chapter 33). So, on with the storie!

Chapter 35: Misery

Three Months Later

Becc cocked his golden head and cooed softly, imitating a common pigeon. Ardice smiled at him and stroked his neck with her forefinger as he sat, perched contently on the side of the stone throne. She heard Eragon climb quietly up the steps of the Conference Circle. "May I ask, Ardice," he said. "Why do you remain in your throne if their's no one here to discuss anything?"

"We're discussing," said Ardice softly. She sighed. "We're discussing right now."

Eragon smiled at her wit and took a seat across from her in the granite chair that Brennan often occupied. Becc flew to him and landed on the arm, waiting for his neck to be stroked. Ardice sighed and closed her eyes. She could never sleep with her bulging stomach, and the lack of husband next to her. Eragon sensed that she was thinking about Pedr again.

"Any word?"

"No. Not a word," she said, eyes still closed.

"I am sorry."

Ardice's eyes fluttered open. "Don't be," she said, a little louder than before. "Tis not your fault. He did what he must. I would have done it myself if I wasn't..."

Eragon nodded in understanding.

"Still," she said, closing her eyes again, "I'd like him here. But we can't always have what we want," she said in a whisper.

Eragon took his leave to let her be in her tranquil state, telling Becc to fly back to the arm of her throne to keep watch over her. He knew that Willow Wood, though hardly occupied anymore, was still a dangerous place. Galbatorix's plan had worked, but Ardice was still alive and carrying a child, whoevers it may be. This scared him greatly, especially if Murtagh turned out to be the father. The boy was still under his control yes, but when the baby is born, he may not stand for Galbatorix to remain his master.

A few female maids remained at Willow, in case Ardice were to give birth, but all who stayed were Eragon, Ardice, Saphira, and Arya. Eragon had helped his cousin be reunited with his fiancée, but he raced to Ardice when he received the news, taking his own engaged with him.

"We came as soon as we could," said Arya when they had arrived. She had been forced to leave Ardice three months ago to attend business in Du Weldenvarden, then be reunited with Eragon with the Varden after he completed his mission. Ardice was glad of the company; her foolish handmaids would do nothing but laugh and giggle at the slightest remark, gossip about husbands (including Ardice's), and play cards while they awaited the birth.

Ardice was frail and weak. She had lost her voice many times to an unknown cause, received blinding headaches at least once a day, and couldn't get rid of various viruses that attacked her so often now. She would be speaking to her friends when she would get in terrible coughing fits, sometimes for minutes, even when there was nothing there, taking all her energy and strength. Arya would push her around in a wheeled chair if she ever needed to go to a different part of the palace. She couldn't be wheeled on the dirt paths of the wood though, upsetting her terribly. She wouldn't complain though, or ever break down; she was very calm and serene most times. But on the inside, she was angry, distraught, down and hard on herself and had been thrown into misery.

She was terrible mad at herself because not matter how much she loved her husband, she thought of Murtagh, and she knew that was wrong. She thought she was wrong and everything she did in her life was wrong; she had plunged into a silent depression, and she wished with all her heart that she had lived her life differently.

--

Pedr rode quickly through the long plains, in search of the Knights, It had been three months since he had to leave his young wife and child, but he couldn't disappoint her. She needed Heath back, he could tell. She missed Veeg and Brennan and Thendel and the 56 Knights who rode with them. They had been called to the Varden's aid back in April, but never returned. Had they been annihilated? Pedr thought. He was worried, but he also was worried for Ardice's life and the life of their baby. Willow Wood was no longer safe, especially when only Ardice occupied it. She had assured him that she'd be alright. He remembered her saying to him, "Even with this lumpy stomach, I pity every Raz'zac who tries one at me, the hormones and all!" He smiled at that memory, but soon found himself shaking with fear. He was riding towards a group of black figures. He couldn't make out what they were; he brought his stallion to a halt and squinted in the daylight.

The cloaked figures moved closer to him, taking steps in perfect sequence, appearing as if they were floating on air. Pedr unsheathed his sword with a loud note and held it at shoulder length, it's tip tearing the sky. "Stand back, friends," he bellowed, "and don't move any closer."

The group stopped, their faces invisible with their hoods up. "I am Lord Pedr, current co-ruler of the Elven Knights. Who, may I ask, are you?" His voice didn't shake in the slightest.

The group of thirty didn't make a sound; Pedr couldn't even hear the sounds of breaths being taken. For a long while, they just stood staring at him. "Well?" he asked, not wishing to anger them. One floated before the others and said in a hiss, "The Elven Knights are no more."

"I seek them out," said Pedr. "They can not have been defeated so quickly."

The dark-hooded figure took a while in answering. "They live, yes," it hissed, "but they no longer rule these lands. They are no more."

"What treachery is this?" Pedr said sternly.

"No more than what the Knights committed to the Lord Galbatorix," it said, sounding more and more human with every word.

"Ah, so you are on their side," said Pedr, bravely. He did not notice the others beginning to encircle his horse. "Like I said before," he said, looking around himself rapidly, "I am co-ruler of Willow Wood. You will stand down!"

The figure shook its head.

"You are unarmed!" Pedr exclaimed. The figure, again, shook its head, then, it raised its arm. Pedr heard the metallic sound of multiple swords being unsheathed. He was surrounded. The leader removed it's hood to reveal a red-haired woman. Pedr furrowed his brow. "I recognize you," he said, muffling his fear. She nodded and smiled wickedly. "You are one of the-"

"Dornia, yes," said the woman called Tessa.

"But the Dornia are extinct! They haven't been an order in forty years!" said Pedr, still mounted on his horse.

"No longer, elf Knight. No longer has the Lord Galbatorix kept us at bay; we've reunited."

Pedr felt the fear ooze into his flesh as the Dornia fighters removed their hoods. This is it.

--

Ardice touched her rounded belly fondly.

"Which would you rather it be?" asked Arya.

"I don't mind either way," said Ardice happily. "I just hope it's a happy, healthy baby."

"If it was a boy, what would you name it?" asked Eragon.

"Not Eragon," said Arya. Eragon made a face of mock anger, then laughed with his fiancée. Ardice smiled at the two of them, slightly envious of their happiness, but ridding it of her mind immediately.

"I don't know," she said softly. "I haven't given it much thought."

Eragon and Arya nodded, then turned their heads suddenly when the sound of an approaching horse filled the air. The two stood, swords out and ready to defend.

"My lord!"

The blond elf, Kiliann, entered the clearing.

Ardice stood and spread her arms in greeting. "Kiliann!" Arya and Eragon looked at each other, surprised. The elf dismounted and came quickly up the steps to the King. Ardice waddled to him and embraced him happily. Arya made to hold her arm, but saw that Kiliann could support her.

"So good to see you!" said Ardice.

"I feel the same," said the grinning elf.

"Oh my," said Ardice tiredly. Kiliann escorted her to the throne where she sat, exhaustedly. "How's Gellindra? Where is she, anyways?"

"With Mother," said Kiliann. "She sought refuge before your return, learning of the dangers that lay here."

"Oh, yes, I suppose that's wise," said Ardice.

"Yes," said Kiliann, staring at his interlocked hands. The King sensed his instability.

"What troubles you, my boy?"

Kiliann sighed. He had certainly matured since their last meeting, Ardice could tell that much.

"My lord, I come here not with good news." Ardice's brow crinkled curiously. "I...I know not what it holds, but my messenger did not look pleased..."

He handed Ardice a rain-stained envelope. It had Nasuada's signia ring imprint in the wax. "From the Varden?"

Kiliann shrugged. "The Lady Nasuada has been impeached, so..." Ardice nodded, remembering when Arya had told her the news.

"I hope she's alright," the princess said softly. Eragon clasped her hand in his, reassuringly.

Ardice tore the top away with a long fingernail and pulled out a ragged piece of thin parchment.

Sent to the King of the Elven Knights, Lord Ardice Fyrn

Sent by the Former King of the Independent Society of the Varden, Lady Nasuada

My Lord, I regret to inform you of what I have seen. Being exiled from the Varden, I have taken to life as a nomad. I live nowhere-

'You're always welcome here,' Ardice thought.

And life has not been easy lately. I have received word that you and your husband have conceived a child; my congratulations are given to you.

And yet, I have tragic news for you. I made my way to Treehold Field and-

Ardice gasped and dropped her teacup, shattering as it hit the granite. She put a hand to her mouth to stifle her wail and two large tears streamed from her light blue eyes. She shut them tight and more tears flowed. Eragon stood up, Arya looked concerned. Kiliann hung his head.

Pedr had been murdered by the Dornia.