Chapter 14

Fadrau quietly led Danny through a series of gorgeous public chambers in Tialdarí Hall. Danny tried not to gape at every passing marvel, but it was hard not to. The elves had a gift for drawing out the beauty in nature.

Sam would love this place, Danny mused, trying not to feel depressed at the thought.

"We are here," Fadrau quietly announced as they stopped in front of an inconspicuous wooden door, guarded by two unobtrusive elves. He put a hand on Danny's shoulder and softly spoke to the other elves in their lilting, lyrical tongue. There was no visible reaction from the guards, and Danny shifted impatiently. If he wasn't going to be allowed to see Arya and Fírnen, he wanted to be directly told as such, not left staring stupidly at the door, wasting his time.

But, after a few moments, without any visual indication that anything had changed, Fadrau let go of him and nudged him toward the door. "You can go in now."

Danny eyed the door dubiously but stepped forward. It silently slid open when he got close. He looked at the two elf guards askance, but they seemed to be paying no attention to him, so he walked through the door. It shut behind him; apparently Fadrau wasn't accompanying him.

"Danny," he heard Arya greet from further within the chamber he'd entered. "Please, come in."

Danny stepped forward, through a simple wooden arched entrance hall into the main chamber of Arya's quarters. A small fountain burbled in the middle of the room, surrounded by benches. Three open doorways led further in, but Danny couldn't tell where they went. The room was lit by natural sunlight: the roof was open save for arching vines patterned into a crisscross without an anchoring trellis. Danny wondered if there were any enchantments protecting the room from the elements, but after the debacle with Oromis and the dragons earlier, he didn't feel inclined to channel his energy to find out.

Arya was seated on one of the benches by the fountain, Fírnen curled in her lap. The little hatchling's head shot up with interest when he saw Danny.

"Hello, uh, Lady Arya," Danny said, stumbling over how to address the elf, who looked every inch the regal princess that she was.

Arya touched two fingers to her lips. "Greetings, Danny. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Fírnen squeaked, loudly and emphatically, and jumped down from Arya's lap. His claws clicked on the wooden floors as he scurried over to Danny and rubbed against his leg much like a cat.

Danny was torn between delight at seeing his former charge and trepidation of Arya's reaction. After all, she was the one Fírnen had bonded with, and yet here Fírnen was, almost throwing himself in Danny's direction every chance he got. He looked up at Arya for guidance, but her face was stony, betraying no hint of her thoughts.

Danny hesitated before crouching down. "Hey, buddy," he said to Fírnen, rubbing the little dragon's head affectionately. Fírnen squeaked happily, butting his head up into Danny's palm. "C'mere, bud, let's get you back to your, ah, Rider." That was what they were called, weren't they? Danny scooped up Fírnen and approached Arya, holding out her dragon like a peace offering. Fírnen squirmed and squawked indignantly at the way he was being held out.

Arya wasted no time in accepting her dragon back. He squirmed a little, squawking, but agreed to be resettled in her lap with minimal fuss. His unblinking eyes never once left Danny's form, however.

Danny fidgeted with his tunic nervously and looked down to avoid Arya's piercing gaze. He hadn't wanted to broach the subject immediately, but now was as good of a time as any.

"I don't know why he does that," Danny said quietly. Fírnen certainly wasn't that friendly with anyone else except Arya. "Saphira and that gold dragon—"

"Glaedr," Arya corrected with a touch of sternness. No doubt she'd already heard about how he'd stumbled into Eragon's training session.

"—Glaedr, seem really upset when I'm near them. I don't know why, and I don't know why Fírnen seems to have the opposite reaction." He paused. "Maybe because I rescued him?"

"I was the egg bearer for Saphira," Arya murmured, stroking Fírnen, "And while she is friendlier with me than most, it is more from events that happened after she hatched than before, and certainly not the same as Eragon. But Fírnen sees you as something almost like a long-lost friend, and puts equal worth in your presence and mine."

Danny swallowed. "Is that… bad?" he hedged.

"I have never heard of something like this happening before. The closest I can think of is what Galbatorix did when he lost his own dragon. He stole another's dragon and bound it to him in a mockery of a normal bond, using magic most foul and heinous." Arya's tone was calm, like she was just reciting facts instead of throwing accusations, but Danny cringed as if she'd delivered the latter, anyway.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what I did," he said helplessly. He took a deep breath and then added, his voice firmer, "I'm sorry that this isn't working out right. But I'm not sorry for rescuing Fírnen's egg in the first place."

Arya's expression softened. "Nor should you be. It is a great thing, what you have done for us… and for me. You have brought me my partner." Her eyes softened with love as she gazed down at Fírnen. "I do not care for him any less simply because he is different. And… though you have spent little time here, I already know that you are no Galbatorix. Any harm you have caused to Fírnen was doubtlessly unintentional."

"That doesn't mean there won't be consequences, just because I didn't know what I was doing," Danny said bitterly. That lesson was engraved on his very genes, thanks to his parents' portal.

"You are still learning. And… I would rather have Fírnen here with me, though harmed, than languishing in Galbatorix's treasury, whole," Arya quietly admitted. "Our spellweavers could heal a thousand hurts but could not move Fírnen's egg an inch within Galbatorix's castle."

Danny swallowed around a sudden lump in his throat. No one had ever… Back home, if he made any mistake as Phantom, even if things turned out alright, he was lambasted. He was used to being the emotional (or literal) punching bag for everyone's problems. Someone almost straight-up thanking him despite his mistakes was…

"Will you tell me about it?" Arya asked. "How you rescued Fírnen?" She patted beside her in invitation. Danny nodded and sat next to her. Fírnen wasted no time draping over both of their laps, forcing Danny to scooch closer to Arya. He blushed at her sudden proximity and caught a faint whiff of something like crushed pine needles. He shook his head in self-recrimination and focused on scritching the dragon head in his lap.

In a low voice, Danny spun the tale of how he'd come across Fírnen's egg: how he'd been spat directly into the green egg's chamber, burned through the protective enchantments, and fled downward until the underground river swept him away, far and fast, to the lake by Dras Leona.

"I wonder where the red egg was kept," Arya mused.

"There was another egg in there?"

Arya nodded. "Yes. It seems as though Galbatorix kept his last two eggs separate. The better to protect them from any thieves that could get past his wards, I suppose. A pity you could not rescue that one as well…"

"I didn't even know there was another egg," Danny said helplessly.

"Aye, and I do not blame you for it. For Fírnen's egg to be freed and brought to us so soon… it is already a miracle. Many of us despaired that we would not recover either of the last two eggs until Galbatorix had been defeated."

Danny continued his tale, describing the flight that followed his escape, but leaving out a few details: discovering that he was in another world, heading north, his capture and escape in Gil'ead. He kept his encounter with the spirits and other more mundane details to himself.

"How did you decide to come north?" Arya asked, her eyes keen. "For knowing nothing of our world, you could not know to bring the egg here."

Danny winced. "Well, at first, it was because it was the best direction out of my options," he hedged. "I didn't want to stay in the city, I couldn't go back toward the castle, and there was this really creepy mountain to the south. But after that… I can't really describe it; it felt like something was trying to guide me up here through my dreams," he confessed.

Arya frowned, her brow furrowed. "How strange," she murmured. "Have you experienced anything like it since?"

Danny shook his head.

"Our land is full of mysteries, hidden in forgotten corners," Arya said. "It would seem that someone is looking out for you… or perhaps for Fírnen." Her hand lingered protectively on the hatchling's back, as if to ward off the interests of this unknown party.

"This place has plenty of mysteries right in plain sight," Danny muttered.

Arya huffed quietly in amusement. "It must seem so to you, who is so unfamiliar with our ways and our world… I cannot imagine what it would be like, stranded in a world so far from your own. It must be very confusing. Though I must admit, it is impressive that you found your way into the heart of our conflict with Galbatorix so quickly."

"I'm told I have a talent for getting into trouble."

"You do seem to have a knack for it," Arya agreed. "To find Oromis-elda's home so soon…"

Danny winced. He had a feeling he wasn't going to live that one down anytime soon.

"And the promise you made to Rhunön-elda! Such a thing is unheard of. Breaking an oath taken in the ancient language?"

"You heard about that too?"

Arya nodded. "Do you know why she asked such a thing of you?"

Danny shook his head. "I don't really understand the request, honestly."

"An oath taken in the ancient language cannot be broken. Many have tried, over the years, to break oaths they have taken. They have found workarounds, ways to subvert their oaths, but break them entirely? Directly act against their oath? It is impossible. There is no magic that can do that. But… you can break magic." Arya sighed. "I suppose it is no surprise that Rhunön-elda would ask you for such a thing."

Danny shivered. A promise that you literally could not break, woven into the fabric of your being…

"Why would she want me to do that?"

Arya's gaze grew distant. "She wants you to break the oath she made to never forge another sword again."

Danny wanted to dig further into the matter, but it was Rhunön's business, not his. Besides, if he wanted to know why, he would ask Rhunön herself rather than wheedling information from a second party. The smith had asked him for help, and he could provide it. That was good enough for him, for now. But he wasn't sure he wanted the reward she'd promised.

"She said she'd make me a sword if I could do it," Danny revealed. "But I don't know how to use a sword."

"Then you should learn," Arya decreed without hesitation. "Your abilities are weapons of their own, but they are not a replacement for a true weapon. I will arrange a tutor for you."

"W-wait," Danny protested on reflex. "I'm not sure I need…"

"If you ever plan on leaving Du Weldenvarden, you will need some way to protect yourself without revealing your true nature. Otherwise, you will have agents of the king dogging your every step," Arya argued. "It certainly would not hurt to have another way to defend yourself."

"I suppose not," Danny sighed, capitulating without much fight. When he got home (he refused to think if), he wasn't sure how useful sword skills would be, but…

"I will send a message once your tutor is ready to begin," Arya said quietly. "For now though, you had best be going. You have another mentor to report to, yes?"

Danny took note of the sunlight filtering through the roof and grimaced. It was warm and bright, well after noon. He needed to get to the library, and to Elduin, before it got much later. Maybe he could send Fadrau to pick up some food for him…

"Yeah, I have to go," he confirmed. Danny was loath to disturb Fírnen, who'd settled in for a nap, but it couldn't be helped. He gently coaxed the sleeping hatchling off his lap. Fírnen whined in protest but was too sleepy to do much more than settle back on Arya's lap.

"Can I visit again when I have the time?" he asked, his eyes lingering on Fírnen.

"Perhaps," Arya hedged. "Fírnen and I will soon be quite busy ourselves."

It wasn't an outright no, at least. Danny held out hope that he'd be able to see Fírnen soon. He'd become quite attached to the little hatchling.

"Thanks. Good-bye, then."

Time for my first lesson, Danny thought as he left Arya's chambers and reunited with Fadrau, who seemed to have been waiting outside the whole time. He couldn't help but dread the thought of his first lesson with Elduin. He knew full well that he wasn't the best student.

I really hope this will be different than learning at Casper High…

A/N:

Arya, during this entire scene, watching Fírnen love on Danny: Jealousy is unbecoming of my station jealousy is unbecoming of my station jealousy is unbecoming of my station—

So Arya interrupted Danny before he could finish his thought, but he had two immediate reactions, first being "this is amazing" and "just how bad is this Galbatorix guy that I'm the preferable option?" and second one would have probably won out because his self-esteem is in the tank thanks to Amity Park being,,, a fairly emotionally toxic place to exist