Chapter 35. To Catch a Couple of Assassins.
CP owns Eragon.
Note: It only took me 34 chapters to get Arya and Eragon back to where they were at the end of the first book, only on a much deeper level. Arya will never again withdraw her friendship with Eragon, though they will occasionally have disagreements.
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Arya threw out her hand to catch a huge chunk of the broken Isidar Mithrim before she fell as the dream stare came on her again. She saw nothing, just shapeless voids against a black background of nothingness. At least the voices of the past had faded away, and now she just experienced fleeting passages of the dream stare, which would thankfully soon be over. At least she thought they would soon pass. She had experienced the dream stares at a rate less often, which did not interfere with her attending the dwarves crowning of Orik as their new King.
As soon as the episode passed, Arya stood up and dropped her hand from the broken jeweled stone. She had heard of Saphira's promise to restore the great star sapphire, but once the jewel was together again, then it would still not be in its final place. Arya took a long look up the mile high cavern that formed the center of Tronjheim, and wondered if she could help with putting it back into place. She could not start at the top. Reaching down a mile to the central floor where she stood now would not work, she would have to ride Saphira, supposing Eragon would give her permission to do so, Arya would wait until Saphira was ready. That could entail a long time, or no time at all, depending on how Saphira carried out the feat of fixing the sapphire.
"Uh-hmm," Orik's voice said from behind. Arya turned to greet the new dwarf King, and bowed out of respect. "I see you are looking at the Isidar Mithrim."
"Yes," Arya said softly.
"Which Saphira promised she would repair," Orik stated.
"I am not going to say I am sorry for breaking the sapphire, for that was the only way Eragon could defeat the Shade," Arya commented.
"I would not expect you too," Orik voiced. "However, I wish to the dwarven gods there were another way to accomplish that. I fear that we will go on with the heart of Tronjheim still broken, until such a time as Saphira can fix it. The heart of every dwarf in this city breaks anew when they wake up in the morning, even if you say that it is not a living being."
"No, it is not living," Arya pronounced. "However, the heart of Tronjheim does not lay in the simple lines carved from stone, but in the memory of the dwarves who came before, and will come after."
A surprised Orik let out his breath in a few short spurts. "You do learn new things, Arya Svit-kona," Orik replied. "I thought it beyond you, being one hundred years old."
"I hope I will never stop learning," Arya commented.
"Yes, yes, well, here now."
"I do have a request, King Orik, if Eragon agrees, you allow me the honor of riding Saphira's back up the cavern, and with magic, put the Isidar Mithrim back into place."
Orik raised an eyebrow, considering what she had asked. "It would be my honor," he responded.
Arya bowed slightly. "How did the voting go?" she asked. She had not spoken to Eragon, nor Nasuada, since the time the dwarves had held their election.
"Though a few of the clans were against anyone from Dûrgrimst Ingeitum taking the throne after Hrothgar, because of the continued alliance with the Varden. The Grimstborith of every clan, save our own, took sides, and the clans the favored an alliance had the slight edge," Orik reported. "Ûndin, chieftain of Dûrgrimst Ragni Hefthyn, though he lives in Tarnag, and Thorgerd One-Eye, of my clan, were the other two except myself, whom the dwarves seriously considered. Thorgred because of age, however, Hrothgar made his wishes known, and in the end the dwarves could not go against him. Thorgerd was quite all right with the decision because of his daughter's engagement to me." Orik sighed. "I just wish it could have happened any other way than it did," he added.
"Then the dwarves will all honor the decision?" Arya asked. Orik nodded. "When will you take Hvedra as your wife?"
"I will not take her until Eragon has rescued Katrina," Orik responded. "I will not be wed before Roran can." Arya nodded, pleased Orik recognized Eragon in his decision making. Because of Eragon's status as a Rider, Orik knew what he did by waiting on Eragon, recognized Saphira in their eyes. This represented a major break in the history of the dwarves.
Just as Arya opened her mouth to speak, a commotion came from everywhere around them. Arya and Orik could hear a few male voices shouting, and they ran to find out where the source of the distress came from. Arya drew her sword. As they went out into the corridor, they saw men, women, and dwarves rushing towards Nasuada's study. Arya could see Eragon already ahead of her, and Saphira lumbering down the hallway, making sure not to trip or squash humans or dwarves.
Orik and Arya pushed through humans and dwarves until a human male called out, "King Orik and Arya!" The few humans there and dwarves both parted to make room for them, and they ran toward the study where the action obviously emanated from. As Orik and Arya entered the room, Eragon stood up near Nasuada, where Elva stood behind her, and three of the armed men of the Varden, plus Jeod Longshanks, held tight to two dwarves. Another man held the two dwarven swords and shields. Meanwhile, Angela and Solembum waited against the bookcases at the back of the room.
"What is going on, here?" King Orik bellowed, casting his eyes at the dwarves in captivity.
"These two dwarves tried to assassinate Nasuada," Angela answered. "Elva put a stop to them." Arya looked at the two dwarves. Both had minor stab wounds, made from a dagger or other short blade. She glanced at Elva, and saw she held in her hands a knife, which dripped with blood from the dwarves. Arya placed her sword back in its scabbard.
Saphira roared with all her might, sending a tremor through the corridor, study and city beyond. Everyone took a step backwards, except Orik. He turned to the dwarves. "Is this true?" he angrily asked them.
"You know it is," Elva retorted. "For me to be involved."
"Silence, girl," Orik stated. "I do not need for you to tell me to know it is true. I merely want a confession of their guilt." He turned back to the dwarves, who remained silent. "If you have nothing to say, I will presume your guilt and ask Nasuada what happened."
Saphira growled at the guilty dwarves, showing her fangs on one side of her mouth. Both of them turned white as a sheet.
"I was reading a book, relaxing, when I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye," Nasuada said. "I turned to go check on it, and suddenly Elva jumped in front of me, stabbed the first dwarf, who hid in the shadows, and then when he went down, she stabbed the second dwarf twice. He also came out of the shadows. If Elva had not sensed the danger, I would have died. I cried out and two men from the Varden came straightaway, thus capturing the dwarves before they could hurt either Elva or myself."
Orik nodded, pressing one finger against his lips while the other went under his arm. "How should we proceed?" he asked softly. Arya saw Orik knew if Nasuada would turn them over to him for punishment that would secure his authority among the dwarves, no matter how he decided to punish them. Arya glanced at Eragon, and saw he was of the same mind as she was.
Nasuada fortunately agreed, and stated, "King Orik, as they are members of dwarven clans, and as we use Farthen Dûr on your pleasure alone, I turn them over to your keeping. Do with them as you see fit." Orik gestured for four of the dwarves to take charge of the guilty parties, and lead them out.
"You will come before me on my throne to receive punishment half of an hour before dinnertime," Orik pronounced. "Nasuada, leader of the Varden. Arya Svit-kona, Ambassador of the elven nation, and Saphira Brightscales, you are all invited to attend. Eragon, you can bring your cousin, if he so wishes." He then turned and walked out with great dignity, followed by the dwarves and prisoners. Jeod Longshanks fell in with the men from the Varden and filed out behind the dwarves.
"Come in, Saphira, and Fredric, please close the doors after you leave," Nasuada said. They waited until Fredric had closed the doors, and Nasuada sat down and sighed.
"Elva, one again, I am in your debt, for you have saved the life of my liegelord," Eragon stated.
Elva laughed, a hollow, shrill laugh, which sent a shiver down Arya's spine. "You told me once the battle was over, then you would take this curse off me. What has changed since then?"
"Yes, exactly what?" Angela added sarcastically.
"Uh…nothing, except the death of Hrothgar, and my cousin's fiancé's kidnapping be the Raz'ac," Eragon answered.
"And those factors have changed your mind? Huh?" Angela inquired.
"No…well…yes," Eragon stammered.
Arya stepped in front of Eragon. "This attempt by two dwarves to take Nasuada's life, shows just how dire the circumstances have become," she said calmly. "Eragon could see neither one of these two objects coming, and now he is in a difficult place, beholden to so many. When Eragon told me of Elva's plight, I cursed, not because of Eragon, he did not know what he had done, but because he spoke what he thought was a blessing, but it turned out to be a curse. However, can you honestly say, without prejudice, what Saphira did in marking her with the gedwëy ignasia, turned the curse into a blessing?"
"For everyone except Elva!" Angela said angrily.
"There is no one, especially Eragon, who does not feel for Elva," Arya continued softly. "However, if she would just wait until Eragon goes the help Roran rescue his fiancé, then when Eragon returns and removes the curse, the blessing would remain always."
"You don't understand the dangerous game you are playing, Blockhead!" Angela lashed out violently. "Elva responds to the hurts of all others, in an attempt to stop them. If she were to encounter someone who is in danger of getting killed, then Eragon's spell would catch her unawares, and she would take their place. That is the power of this curse."
A stunned Arya did not know what to say. Eragon stated, "I will remove the curse at once."
No! Saphira quickly said, which went with Arya's saying the same aloud. Eragon balked. Arya started to give her reasons but she suddenly the remnants of a dream stare caught her. She looked off into the distance, as everything around her faded, except Saphira's voice. Which said, There is too much that has happened, with Hrothgar's death, and Orik's ascenscion to power, which obviously not all dwarves are on board with his taking command. Your loss, Nasuada, would be just as grievous for the Varden, and even more grievous for Eragon. For how could he lead the Varden and save Katrina? Saphira turned toward Arya. Arya, Arya do you hear me? she asked.
Arya stood upright as the dream stare released her. "I am all right," she stated. She glanced around the room, and seeing Nasuada confused, she added, "It is nothing, just what I get for breaking into Du Weldenvarden."
"Are you able to communicate with the elves in Du Weldenvarden now? Or was it a one time instance?" Nasuada asked.
"I am not sure," Arya honestly answered. "I would like to think the elves would devise a way for me alone to communicate. Something similar to what I used to get in first, but not so I am crippled and cannot use magic, except for the basics, for a while afterwards."
"You cannot use magic?" Angela asked, incredulous.
"Nothing but the basics," Arya responded. "Until the dream stares are completely gone. That is why I cannot give you what you need as far as the elven spellcasters or Lifaen and Narí. I effectively am cut off. In a few days, when my magic comes back to me, I can, but time is of the essence."
Angela digested what Arya had said, but Eragon had an idea. "What if I adjusted the spell I cast, not taking it off, but just enough to prevent Elva from coming to harm, yet she can still provide security for Nasuada?" he asked.
"Oh, could you?" Elva inquired, her voice breaking.
"What about the nobles, since we will not have to worry about the dwarves anymore?" Nasuada asked, preemptively stopping Eragon from answering.
"They will not be a problem," Arya replied. "I have already take care of that, besides the threat from the nobles is King Orrin's, not Nasuada's. Trust me, I took care of it."
"If Arya says it is so, then I will take her at her word. How do you plan to doing such, Eragon?" Nasuada inquired.
Eragon paused for a moment. Saphira said, You would have to cast a spell, which would counteract the spell that holds Elva. Like a counterweight, so if she ever came near anyone the new spell would act directly against the original spell, and send her away. At least that way, you could assure Elva would survive until either the elven spellcasters show, or else we rescue Katrina.
Angela frowned, and started to say something, but Elva asked her question first. "Do I not have a say in the matter?"
"Yes," Nasuada answered.
"I am crushed that you will not help me, Eragon," Elva said softly. Saphira emitted a low growl. "But, since you have promised yourself to more places than you can handle, I will accept your compromise. Only you must promise me you will remove the curse for good when you return, even if it costs you your life!"
"Agreed," Eragon said quickly, ignoring the frowns, which came from both Arya and Nasuada.
"I will hold you to your word," Elva stated. "I am hungry."
"Come on, let's leave these Blockheads alone," Angela said. "They have no idea what a quagmire is, or devilment, or even an exigency, an insolvency, or even a vicissitude, where it comes to you, Elva. Bother that, I will just continue to get you food, but Nasuada better ask Fredric to accompany her to see King Orik, because we will be too busy." Angela lead Elva with her hands, out one of the doors, which she opened. Saphira had to move quickly, to avoid her and Angela. Solembum sauntered after Angela and Elva without much haste, and made a quick comment to Saphira, which caused her to laugh. Arya glanced over at Eragon, who shrugged his shoulders.
Nasuada sighed, and walked over to where Fredric stepped into the study. "I must go now," Nasuada said. "I will see you in King Orik's chamber."
When Nasuada left with Fredric, Eragon turned to Arya. "Are you still having problems with draumr kópa?" he inquired.
"Just remnants, that is all," Arya responded. Eragon nodded.
"I started practicing your suggestion," Eragon told her.
"And?"
It will take some work, Saphira responded sarcastically.
"Yes, but in time, it will give me an advantage in battle," Eragon said, ignoring Saphira's satire.
"Good," Arya commented. "Do you know how to construct a spell that will counteract the previous spell?" she asked.
"I'm afraid I'll have to spend time on that," Eragon said thoughtfully. "I have never done that before."
"I will help you, if you would like?" Arya offered.
"Yes, I would like that very much," Eragon accepted. "To be honest, I am glad because I would have asked you anyway."
"And my answer would have been 'yes', after all, I am just as much behind the delay as you are." Eragon bowed, Arya could tell he was grateful. Saphira swept her tail across the floor, reminding them both the task would be arduous.
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I appreciate reviews. Next, Orik consolidates his power.