Soooo,
Here we have it!
I feel like you guys need some comedic relief.
The last couple chapters...myeh.
I'm going to try and get some in soon.
Also, from the 17th to the 23rd I will be in Massachusetts.
There will be no computer/internet access whatsoever.
Sorry.

Everyone else had already gathered for the whatever-you-want-to-call-it about Elva.

The girl in question was standing in the middle of the pavilion. She stared at me for a minute. I was unable to tell her expression, but she obviously wasn't impressed.

"Onyx. You're late." Nasuada said impatiently.

I rolled my eyes at her irritation. "Yes, but if you really cared about helping Elva, you would let it go and just get on with whatever it is you're going to do."

She sighed in exasperation, and then turned to the others. Eragon was there, as well as Murtaugh, Angela, Jormundr, Orinn, Trianna (who was not happy to see me), and a couple of other people that were probably high up in the Varden's ranks. The dragons were waiting outside.

"I thank you all for coming here today. This is a matter of utmost importance. Elva, your skills..."

Nasuada then went on to explain how valuable her powers were, her importance to the Varden, and how she could help so very many by choosing to remain the way she was. When my time to speak came, I addressed everyone else,

"What would we be without Elva's skills? Different, yes, and we would not have the advantage of her power. But we would not feel weak, because we wouldn't know any different. The Varden only have her advantage because of a mistake, one that could have easily not been made. Elva isn't even two years old yet. Why, then would you wish the suffering of thousands on a mere baby? It seems selfish to me. She will turn on us if we do nothing. So, why? Why would you ask her to remain this way, if we could have gotten on fine without her? The Varden should not rely on any one person so much that they could not win without them. Eragon, Murtaugh, and I are valuable players in this game, yes, and we are vital to the Varden's cause. But not Elva. She, I think, does not need to sacrifice so much. We would be fine without her. So I ask, why do you want her to stay the way she is?"

My words were met with silence. Elva smiled tentatively, like she was genuinely pleased at my opinion. But maybe the girl was just biding her time.

"All right, then. Elva, after hearing everyone's opinion, what do you say?" Nasuada asked.

"I refuse to remain this way. It is asking far too much of me. I will not, not for anyone. As Onyx said, the Varden should not rely on me so much that you could not get on if I were to somehow die." Elva replied. Her voice had been described as creepy and twisted, and though it was strange to hear a woman's voice from a child's mouth, I was not disturbed.

"Understood. Eragon?"

Eragon took his place in front of Elva. He explained the two different spells. And why he intended to choose the second option, etc.

Beware the power of Emotion, it is the most fragile. Mani's voice echoed in my mind. I hadn't heard her outside of a dream since the battle of the Burning plains.

But what could she mean by emotion? Mani had talked as if it was a person.

I watched Eragon reciting his spell. And Elva, who waited patiently. Could the little girl be Emotion? I discarded the thought. Somehow I knew...Elva was not the one.

I had to get out of here. I needed to think.

The chanting stopped. I looked, wondering why, but then realized that the spell was completed.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the result.

"I-I still sense them." Elva announced dejectedly.

"Yes, yes, but ignore them, all right? You know you can." I spoke quickly, wanting to be gone. I really need to get out of here.

"It is true! I can let go of other people's troubles for once! All their pain, I can now block out. And I can hardly sense them at all, even if I try!" The little girl was so happy then, that for a moment, I was able to see through her mask of indifference. She felt really, truly grateful for the pain to be gone.

But in a moment, that vulnerability was hidden.

"I am satisfied with how this has turned out. I wish to keep this ability, strange as it is. I will never be normal, not after this."

"Why would you do such a thing? I could try to nullify the rest of the spell..." Eragon spoke.

"If your position as a Dragon Rider caused you much more grief than it has, would you let it go to be normal?" I asked him. "You wouldn't, and even if Saphira let you, you would still be immortal and still have your Gedwey Ignasia. We all have gone through suffering to lead ourselves to this moment, and I doubt one person in this room would like to give up everything in the midst of this war."

"Onyx, you seem to have a fierce opinion on this." Nasuada told me.

"I do, because it matters. Not just Elva, but all of us."

They waited to hear more.

"If we start to give up now, we're as good as dead."

Whew...quite a rant, there.
Elva is one of my favorite cannon characters.
I wanted her to be set right.
And I took away most, not all of her power,
Because...well, you will understand eventually.
I MIGHT have another opportunity to update before I leave,
But don't count on it.
R&R!