A/N: Welcome to this new, reworked version of my older story, "As the Seasons Change". Please enjoy :)
Arya massaged the sides of her skull in an effort to reduce the pain from the pulsing headache that had already started to bloom behind her eyes. Much to her disdain, the stress of the day was bound to get worse too, something she would never be enthusiastic about. At least the morning's plethora of meetings- ranging anywhere from internal and external trade to Rider matters- had come to a close, a relief in and of itself.
She sighed loudly in what was the now silent and empty meeting room. She had waited until the members of her most recent gathering had left before taking the quiet moment to herself, wanting to avoid seeming as overwhelmed as she was. Without hesitation, she folded her arms on the tabletop so she could lay her head down for a span, hoping it would help.
That small peace hadn't lasted when the door opened. She bolted upright, unaware of any potential visitor and no other meetings would be held until later that day.
"Atra esterní ono thelduin, Arya Dröttning." Her visitor smiled as he approached her. He carried two mugs of steaming liquid, one in each hand.
"You don't need to greet me so formally every time you see me, Lord Däthedr, and especially when we are the only ones around." She sighed, her nerves still buzzing from being startled, regretting her decision to forgo searching the grounds beyond Tialdarí Hall, the location of which her meeting room resided. "Nevertheless, I am glad to see you." She gave him a weary smile that revealed her true state.
"As you wish, my old friend. Here, I brought you tea." He quirked a small smile, then handed her one of the mugs. She thanked him, smiling softly when the warmth eased the chill in her hands that never seemed to fade even whilst wearing gloves. The seasons had yet to turn in Du Weldenvarden and the air around them still possessed a bite that would sink deeply should they not be properly dressed. Even with the spells set within the structures, the cold seemed to soak through regardless, at least in Arya's opinion. Then again, ever since her rescue from Durza's grasp, it seemed harder to keep the chill from her bones.
"May I ask," He began as he sat in the chair adjacent to her own seat positioned at the head of the table. "Is this day turning out to be a stressful one already?"
Arya sighed, then gave him a slightly annoyed look, which confirmed that her morning had been very stressful. "Detestably, yes. There is so much that needs to be done and I've only been back in Ellesméra for six weeks. The meetings I've had to deal with today are over, but they've wasted a significant amount of time considering most of the problems presented to me were not of the utmost urgency and about two things that were urgent ended up only getting discussed. My day isn't over either. Fírnen and I are to train with our masters later as well. After that, I need to make efforts to keep up with the other rulers of Alagaësia because the only way we will remain in peace is if there is open communication between us, and I've been so busy lately that I have neglected those relations. On top of everything else, I must leave again soon to take Roran and Katrina back to Palancar Valley, who have been incredibly patient and understanding with me and the situation. There's a whole slew of other things that need to get done before then as well. I'm only one person and I feel like I'm spread too thin, Däthedr." She sighed, ending her rant by running her fingers through her hair to calm down. She raised the mug to her lips to take a sip of her tea, which when she pulled away, left a surprised expression on her face. "How did you know?" Pure curiosity entered her gaze and saturated her voice.
The silver-haired Elf smiled. "You may thank Fírnen for his guidance on the matter, though I must say, to mix anise, blueberries, and mint in tea is a rather unusual combination." He shrugged. "Do you like it?"
Arya nodded. "Very much so, yes. Despite its unusual medley of ingredients, the resulting taste is quite attractive. I've found myself seeking this flavor often these days." She brushed her thumb along the mug's handle, fingering the grooves carved for ergonomics, leaving her response in the rhetorical and ending the strain of conversation as it was.
Däthedr watched his friend for a moment, studying her as the comfortable, companionable silence between them grew. Although she hid it well, he could tell she was tired and generally unwell. He noticed those things based on the way her eyes caught the light, the only indicator which never failed to reveal her troubles to anyone who knew how to look. He frowned softly. "You're not sleeping." His statement caused her to look up. She wouldn't lie to him, but it took her a long time to answer as she considered her method of response.
"I am worried about many things. My duties require much and I have yet to learn how to balance them without sacrificing some of my wellbeing. It is a challenge I am happy to take, however." She began slowly, then relented, understanding she was in company she could trust to keep her personal matters and opinions quiet. With a sigh, she reached up to rub at the pointed tip of her ear using her left index finger and thumb, a new habit she had developed to help her articulate her replies. Ever since returning to Ellesméra, at least once a day was she reminded of how somewhat inelegant her speech had become while living with the Varden in comparison to the political diplomats of her race. It was exhausting to say the least. Däthedr was her friend and he had inquired about her wellbeing from that standing as well. Even while assuming his role as Ellesméra's Representative Advisor, he was sympathetic to her struggles in her process of relearning the intensely intricate and elaborate ways of Elvish communication. She had been exiled for so long…
Arya gave him a sheepish smile that faded quickly. "My waking dreams have become malefic and I only gain more worries and no rest. The severity of which I experience these things makes it easier and better for me to remain awake. Fírnen sleeps and I naturally regain some energy through that; our bond, but it's in no way substantial. The days run together and I sometimes feel as though I'm just watching the sun and moon trade places in the sky. Things will get better once they settle; they must, but for now I am doing the best I can with what I can have." She nodded, hoping to convince herself of her words, but she frowned, her lips turning downwards when she could sense his well-placed concern. It was at that point she realized she should tell him the whole truth. "Possibly the one thing that disheartens me the most is that our training saps the strength I have to spare. Fírnen and I did tell our masters and they are well aware of the toll, that is why we have training for only a few hours every two days, but that is getting to be too overexerting it seems, and they are not yet aware of this… development." Her gaze became sad as she stared down at the table. "This constant exhaustion is causing me an illness of which I cannot seem to repel using magic. Fírnen and I both have tried many times to see if we can get rid of the issue yet we've had no luck." She seemed to focus more intensely on her mug, then, not feeling brave enough to look at her friend. It was always hard for her to admit she wasn't doing well.
His eyes softened greatly despite expecting the severity of her answer. By how much detail she was willing to divulge meant she hadn't spoken about it to anyone aside from Fírnen and that her troubles were probably even worse than what she let on. He reached across the short distance and laid his hand over hers, curling his fingers over. "Although I am Ellesméra's Representative Advisor, I'd be more than happy to help assist you with your duties. I know this gives my words and opinions an advantage over the advisors from other cities, and if it becomes an issue, I will relieve my title to continue helping you if you would have me. You're one of my closest, most treasured friends. I don't enjoy seeing you struggle like this."
Arya's green eyes slid upwards to study him as she considered his words and the weight they carried. Her expression changed, becoming gentle. "Do you like your current position?"
He nodded. "I do, yes."
Her silence stretched for a moment. "Then I would like for you to remain my advisor, but I will justify your assistance as part of your own duties, considering your title belongs to the Elvish capital. Slightly different things will be required of you for that reason, so if, by chance, the other representatives have an issue with this, they will have the opportunity to present their concerns. If they wish to offer their assistance as well, I may consider allowing them to do so, though I would hesitate on having too many hands in my own affairs." She sighed. "I want the best for my people, and if that means slightly bending the rules of tradition to allow me to make healthier, more beneficial decisions without risking corruption, then so be it."
Däthedr smiled. "You're not necessarily bending the rules, just melding the situation to best meet your own style of ruling. Every monarch is different, and to me, you are turning into a fine queen, Arya. You have the best for us and our neighbors at heart. Please take care of yourself though; it would be a great sorrow to see you burnt out and unhappy." He squeezed her hand. "Would you consider visiting a Healer for something to help you gain some rest and perhaps a reprieve from the illness of which you speak? I would personally request that you forgo your lessons today, but if that isn't a possibility, then I beg of you, be careful. I worry after you."
Arya nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Fírnen has asked that I pay Healer Lyda a visit today too, so your request isn't the first. I promised him I'd go before attempting our lessons and now that my duties for the first part of the day have been fulfilled, that would be the next thing on my list of things to do today."
"That is excellent to hear." His delightful expression darkened slightly. "Is my presence and conversation delaying an appointment?"
"Oh, no." Arya shook her head. "Lyda knows to expect me at some point today; Fírnen let her know I'd be visiting, but not precisely when."
The Elven Lord nodded and drew away to take another sip of tea. "Then we shouldn't keep her waiting. Would you mind it if I escorted you to her practice?"
A strange sense of anxiety pulled at her and she shifted slightly. "Not at all." Her voice held a hint of tension which Däthedr easily picked up on.
"Would it be better for you to go alone? My offer seems to make you uncomfortable." He asked and she frowned at him.
"No, I just…" She paused and took a deep breath. "I'm… uncertain about the cause of my ailment. I've been under intense stress before and not once did my symptoms of distress present like this. I fear that something is truly wrong and it concerns me that Fírnen and I remain unable to detect the root of the issue. My apprehension over the unknown is the cause for my hesitation."
Däthedr adopted a gentle, sympathetic expression in an effort to comfort her. "If it may help you feel better," He began, catching her gaze. "Lyda has had centuries of knowledge and practice concerning the healing arts, and many Elves still require her assistance, despite our natural proficiency in magic. You are powerful, yes; Fírnen is powerful, yes, though despite your high level of skill, there is always much to learn, even for the oldest beings in Alagaësia. Being unable to identify a malady could simply mean that it is more subtle than anything you've come up against before. That isn't a terrible problem to have, in fact, I know Lyda will be happy to teach you more should you wish to learn." He looked more pointedly at her. "If you were to ask me though, I believe you're not finding your ailment because stress isn't necessarily an ailment that can be identified using magic considering it holds an emotional root."
Arya wanted to argue his logic considering there were exceptions, but settled for a simple frown, deciding she didn't want to expend her energy on arguing over the intricacies of magic. She had turned up empty handed and so had Fírnen: that was all she needed to know about the matter. She had spent decades caring for her injuries and ailments while acting as the Elven Ambassador for the Varden. They should have found the problem already.
"Perhaps." She answered rather absently, feeling her headache begin to worsen. Däthedr must have noticed her discomfort, considering the change in his expression.
"Arya, I believe we should go." He said in a gentle and quiet voice. "Better not wait for this to get worse."
The Elven Queen nodded, then hesitated before standing, taking her mug with her. Däthedr soon followed in suit, watching his friend with curiosity. Externally, her poise would deceive many, had deceived many, but not him.
"Tell me about how the rest of your meetings went." He changed the topic as they strode from the meeting room. He walked ahead to open and hold the door for her. "I regret not being able to attend this morning."
She waved him off as she stepped through the threshold. "You had dealings of your own to care for. Besides, much of what was discussed could have been communicated via a letter or scrying. The most interesting topic we talked about had to be when Nädindel's Ambassador announced to me that her Representative Advisor, Lord Nyx, wishes to send magicians to bolster the wards that guard Du Weldenvarden more than we have in the past. Many are still on edge due to the aging tensions of war, as am I, though what does that communicate with our neighboring realms? That we do not trust them?" She sighed. "These are times of peace and the wards are fine as they are. They've protected us wholeheartedly during the war and even still, they do what they need to proficiently. To add to this, I have been scrying the land diligently. Aside from some small rebel groups still loyal to Galbatorix, there isn't much to worry about. There's hardly any major threat out there unless corruption lends its hand."
Däthedr cocked his head slightly in curiosity. "And what did you tell her?"
"Exactly what I told you. If Nädindel is worried about war or conflict, I told Lady Offál that Lord Nyx should work on crafting the best steel Nädindel can manufacture. For now, their efforts will go to building arms for future Riders to train with and use. Taking into consideration that Rhunön no longer creates weapons, another smith will need to do their best to replicate the process of crafting something similar to Bright Steel swords. I also reassured everyone present that the spellcasters in Osilon, Ceris, Ília Fëon, Sílthrim, and Kirtan are always keeping a close watch, and that statement was backed by their own representatives or ambassadors who were also present. We are well guarded. Luckily, Lady Offál seemed content with my reply, but I have a feeling Lord Nyx may have a problem with it once she speaks with him. He is… stubborn."
They made their way down the set of stairs that spiraled around one of the massive pine trees which Tialdarí Hall was sung from, leading them to the soft ground below. Arya let her hand trail along the decorative, flowing handrail that pulsed with the tree's life beneath her palm.
"Lord Nyx has been a representative for far too long in my own opinion. He's been Nädindel's political head since before your father ascended to the Knotted Throne, and although he… prefers to adhere to his own schedule, he is good at what he does and has helped Nädindel flourish in many different aspects. The concept of strengthening the wards seems extreme. Did his ambassador give a reason?"
Arya shook her head. "No. She only expressed his urgency over the matter and this concerns me greatly. Not only is he asking for the wards near Sílthrim to be reinforced, it was a call to reinforce the tree line in its entirety. Everyone living in Du Weldenvarden knows that during the war, our wards were diligently monitored and they still are. I don't see his logic unless he's aware of a possible threat unbeknownst to me."
Däthedr frowned. "With your permission, I would like to look into this while you tend to the rest of your day. It concerns me. I too regularly scry Alagaësia and I too have found only minor problems, so I wonder what Nyx is… perhaps fearful of."
"And that worries me. I feel as though he may be keeping something from me as well as from everyone else." She sighed. Another thing to think about. "Other than those concerns, there wasn't much else of significance that resulted from today's discussions. On a better note, though, I've called for our representatives to initiate the first steps in creating Rider Holds within their own cities. Whether they decide to repair any remaining ruins or create something new, the choice is theirs so long as the structures function as needed. This I am excited about. In the coming weeks, I would like to get Ellesméra's strongest spellcasters together so we can begin to design both our Hold and training grounds, though the Hold should be the priority as it will contain housing." She raised the mug to her lips and took a long drink of her tea. "For now, I must focus on getting Roran and Katrina to their home. There will be a lot of work that will need to get finished before the weather becomes warmer, so the sooner the better."
Däthedr grinned when he realized Arya had almost begun talking to herself, speaking her thoughts aloud as they jumped from topic to topic. When she paused, he raised an eyebrow. "Have you gathered the spellcasters who've volunteered to help raise Carvahall?"
"They're already in Osilon." She nodded. "I'll let them know that they can begin heading towards Palancar Valley once we depart. I'd like to leave the day after tomorrow, but that may be a hopeful timeline. Much depends on how well our plans fall into place until that time." Her eyes scanned the forest surrounding them, appreciating the way the light filtered through the branches, some of which were bare. When her gaze fell upon Healer Lyda's home, her demeanor gained an almost hidden layer of rigidity.
"Have hope." He smiled. "And as always, I will do my best to position matters so that your departure will go as smoothly as possible. I know Roran and Katrina will be happy to get home to raise their new city." His smile became a grin. "Oh, and their daughter, what a sweet child, so full of smiles and delight. I know the spellcasters will adore her energy as do I. Today, I brought her a gift."
Arya looked over at her suddenly excited friend, a curious smile on her features. "You visited? What did you bring her?"
He shrugged. "I visit as often as I can. Roran is of high esteem within Queen Nasuada's court; it looks good to keep peaceful relations. Ah, but I enjoy their company. They've assimilated to our culture quite well and I look forward to taking a trip to Palancar Valley soon to see how they're doing. But to answer your question, I've given Ismira some of the first seeds produced by my tree." He straightened with pride as Arya's surprise saturated the air around them.
"The bioluminescent tree you've been working on for the last decade?" She stopped in her tracks when he nodded.
"Yes. I've finally managed to get the fruit to bear fertile seeds. Only recently was I able to grow more trees from those seeds, which bore fertile fruit just as the parent plant. Ismira has received the first generation of seedlings and the spellcasters will help them with getting the plants started. Oh, what a beautiful city that will be!" He beamed, clasping his hands together. A smile brightened his friend's demeanor.
"Ah, I am so happy to hear of this accomplishment, I know you've been working very diligently on it for so long. You truly have honored their family with this gift and I must say, I am surprised." She laid a hand on his bicep in a celebratory gesture. "I would love to see your creation soon, and if it pleases you, feel free to plant a few throughout Ellesméra. It would be an honor for all to see and appreciate. Däthedr-vor, you've created a new plant species, that is no small feat."
He hummed as he nodded. "You are welcome any time to see it. I have several healthy saplings and two of them are set aside for you and Fírnen. I know his Hatching Day is coming soon and so is the anniversary of your bond as Rider and Dagon. Consider them early gifts for those occasions. As for Ismira… well, you know I have a soft spot for any new life as do all Elves. It is something so very precious and should be celebrated often. This was perhaps a birthday gift that may one day make her smile, bring wonder to her eyes, and keep her forever curious. At least, this is my hope." Tears filled his eyes with the power of his words and he smiled, his heart full of joy. Arya squeezed his arm, her own eyes feeling misty. When the emotions cooled, he gestured with his chin in the direction of Healer Lyda's home. "On this note though, I believe we must depart. I wish not to keep you from seeking care. We will see each other again very soon to talk about anything and everything." His hopeful demeanor remained even when Arya sobered and nodded, her worries returning. She fingered the empty mug in her hands, hoping to soothe her anxiety.
"Thank you for the tea, Däthedr. It was very kind of you and I shall see you soon." She handed the mug over to him and he took it with a gentle touch. "I'll let you know the details of this appointment as soon as I can, I know you are concerned."
He inclined his head, blowing slightly. "Only if you're comfortable. Now go. Take care of yourself."
"I will." She replied, twisting her arm against her chest to bid him farewell. He did the same to her, then with a peaceful expression, he turned and strode back towards the heart of Ellesméra, leaving her alone to carry on with the rest of her day.
A/N: Thank you for reading and I do hope you've enjoyed this chapter! More are on their way soon; I have much to share with you. Please let me know what you think :)
Atra esterní ono thelduin!
-Lady Arlo