Author's Note: I really hoped my previous two chapters were good. I made a real effort to make it better. As always, please give me advice and please review.
In an enormous tent, Lady Nasuada held her counsel with Eragon, Roran, King Orrin, Arya, Angelica, Orik, Jormundur, and a few others. There were few people there for many of the Varden had been slaughtered.
"Our enemies are held back…for the time being," Lady Nasuada's eyes circled the room. No one spoke. "We must now, as our enemies are busy, decide what to do. Our supplies have run short. Our time is almost gone. Our group of magicians, the Du Vrangr Gata is dead. Many of our forces are either dead or wounded." Eragon thought of Elva. The Varden had finally regrouped after she was killed and they had finally finished the wooden wall. Elva, like many others, was abandoned on the battlefield, her broken body to be blessed only by ravens.
"It is time for us to make our move," Lady Nasuada went on. "This path leads only to death, we must change course." Lady Nasuada's eyes slept the room again. "Opposers of the Empire, it is your chance to give the Varden a chance. I need everyone of you to think, think of a way to escape our doom." No one made a sound. Then, Arya stood up.
"I propose we call the elves. We need a change of soldiers and magicians. My queen, Islanzadi will provide this." The council murmured in agreement. Then, to Eragon's astonishment, Roran stood up.
"I propose that Eragon and I go to Helgrind. We have unfinished business with the Ra'zac as all of Carvahall has. Along the way, we can gather an army Galbatorix has reason to fear." Again most showed their approval. King Orrin stood up.
"This is absurd! I'm sure that even though you are not a king like me, you would have the sense to know that Eragon is our most powerful magic user, our best fighter, and our only chance if Galbatirix attacks. Anyway, how the hell are you going to "gather an army"! Oh, so right under Galbatirix's nose your going on recruiting trips! He'd have you locked up before you could draw you pitchfork of whatever farmer's fight with. AND YOU PEOPLE AGREE WITH HIM!" The King slammed back into his sat. Jormunder stood up.
"I believe Eragon should travel to Uru'Baen now and face Galbatorix. The king won't expect it. It's now or never." He sat back down Angelica stood up.
"The only safe solution is to retreat for the time being." Jormunder pushed his chair back and stood up.
"Retreat is not the answer…witch! We are short on supplies! Not one man under my command hasn't felt the pangs of hunger!" Before he could sit down, Angelica quickly rose to her feet.
"Don't you realize that Eragon has not finished his training! King Galbatirx is not a weak ordinary man like you! He destroyed the Riders and he will kill Eragon! Your plan is absurd!" Jormunder retorted quickly and angrily.
"It's better than your idea, witch! 'Oh we just retreat' and it's fine and dandy RIGHT! Even going to Helgrind is a better than your idea!" King Orrin stood up so fast, his chair toppled over.
"WHAT ARE YOU THINKING! How could you take the farmer's idea comparable! Only stupid ruddy fools would think it any use!" Roran stood up too.
"ARE YOU CALLING ME A FOOL," he bellowed. His hand leapt to his hip where Eragon knew where his hammer was strapped.
"Of course he is, am I agree with him!" A man who Eragon did not recognize leapt up.
"It's not him who's the fool! It's the dirty witch!" The speaker was Falberd, the only other person in the Council of Elders beside Jormunder who was alive.
"You're aim is horrible, your arm is weak, the only thing that your good at is to speak! Don't call people fools until you stop being one, coward!" Eragon had not seen Angelica so angry before.
Falberd gave a roar. He jumped up, drew his knife and swung it at Angelica. Gëuloth du knifr! Eragon shouted. The dull knife hit her on the head, knocking her to the ground. Falberd raised the knife in the air again for another blow. Malthinae! Eragon yelled. Falberd froze.
"Let go of him scumbag!"
"He's not the scumbag, that dumb village farmer is!"
"What you say about me?"
"I said you're a scumbag."
"Let go of Falbard I say! Let go of him you stupid Shadeslayer!"
"Don't you call him that!"
"What, got a problem dwarf!" Everyone was one their feet, shouting and pointing their weapons at each other. Over the arguments, Lady Nasuada spoke.
"I have made my decision. You may all sit down." A few sheathed their swords and Eragon muttered, losna, to allow Falberd to move. Everyone took his or her seats.
"Eragon, Roran, Arya and anyone else who wants to go will go to Helgrind and muster an army along the way. You must make all swear in the ancient language and you must wear disguises. After that, the army will attack Uru'Baen. The dwarves are deciding right now whether to continue fighting with the Varden but we will break free of Galbatorix's army and head for Uru'Baen too with or without their help." King Orrin looked furious. "We must pack immediately."
"But-," King Orrin began to say.
"No, we must do this. We also cannot afford to fight amongst ourselves, remember, the Empire is our only enemy." King Orrin bowed his head.
"I will honor your decision my Lady, but I must return to Surda to organize more supplies to be brought for the trip." Lady Nasuada nodded in approval.
"Who wants to accompany Eragon, Roran, and Arya to Helgrind?" Orik stood I as well as Roran.
"I will accompany Eragon," said Orik.
"I would like to have all of Carvahall accompany Eragon and I for all of them have hate for the Ra'zac and family members lost to them. Lady Nasuada nodded in approval. Just then, a dwarf clad in armor marched in.
"We have made our decision. We will stay are fight with the Varden not because of your lack of troops but because we have agreed that our lost king, Hrothgar, would have wished it." A cheer rose from the council and those who argued before, laughed and clapped each other on their back.
A soldier stumbled in. His face was coved with ash, his clothes sooty. "Lady Nasuada! They've set fire to the wall!" Eragon stood up walked outside the tent. Great clouds of billowing smoke rose into the acrid air. Green blazes ate greedily from the wooden wall.
Author's Note: Did you like it? Please, please review. Anyway, Gëuloth du knifr means, "dull the knife" and Malthinae means "to confine". The Council of Elders in a group within the Varden which was mentioned in Eldest (book two of Inheritence) but you don't need to know about it. Jormunder is in Eragon and Eldest but I don't think Falberd was.