I do not own the Inheritance Cycle.
Edited 1/30/22

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Enjoy,


The Greatest of Blessings

Rose promptly stood upon his dismissal, and after pardoning herself slipped out of the door and into the shadow dappled passageway. As the doors closed behind her and Thorn, she began to hear the elf's voice, low and cold with ire, rise in protest. She sighed heavily, and placed her palm on the dragon's side, her fingers tracing the outlines of his scales. I believe that I should speak with Brom, she said after a moment.

Thorn made no move to continue down the hallway, and Rose was not eager. He took a deep breath and exhaled smoke. The guards at the door, stiffened and eyed the dragon suspiciously. I believe that you should as well. And Eragon, he too should know of our impending departure, he said, swinging his head to the men. Another puff of smoke trailed into the air causing the men to tighten their grip on their shafts.

Eragon shan't like me telling him about this. He firmly believes that we should stand gallantly along with him and Saphira as they openly oppose the King. I do not wish to think of their odds.

Their odds could very easily change, said Thorn. He blew smoke at the men once more and then turned away, his tail drumming lightly against the floor. Pleasure coursed through him as the guards shifted on their feet, their expressionless masks slipping into ones of unease.

That is enough, Thorn. Behave yourself, Rose reproached. She gave the guards an apologetic glance and then began to walk before the dragon took games any further. We have already given our word. It is too late to forsake it. Beyond that I do not wish to speak of this, and you best not send Brom after me about it.

Thorn blinked at the guards and then followed her. I won't. I only requested his assistance because you refused to listen to me no matter how I tried to approach the subject, he said. With this situation at least I know that you are willing to attempt to think about it. I know that you will deliberate on your choice once darkness falls and wonder if it the correct route to take.

Rose turned to stare at him, nearly walking into a dwarf who grumbled at her in annoyance. She closed her mouth, turned away and mumbled an apology at the bearded man. When you say things like that it makes me wonder, she said composing herself, whether or not, I made the correct choice when I decided not to leave you in forest as a hatchling.

If I remember correctly you did try to leave in the wooded land, said Thorn after a pause.

Rose considered him. Yes, and now I understand that my reasoning for such an endeavor was justified.

The dragon snorted but said nothing in response though he sent a tangible surge of good-humored exasperation through their mindlink. She ignored it, and forcing her face to remain neutral, she tapped her fingers against his scales. He leaned into her touch just enough that she felt the shift in him.

When they came to the city gates he told her that Saphira said for her meet with Brom at the apartment, and with a sigh, she turned around readying herself to return to the apartment when a voice called out; "Wait, Argetlam! Please, wait!"

An elderly woman stood there, at the top of the staircase. Her breathing was heavy and she clutched a bundle to her chest. Thin, grey hair stuck out in bizarre angles from her head. Bloodshot eyes stared pointedly at Rose, widening as she moved closer. Her clothing was rough, worn almost completely through in places, and one of her shoes bore a hole.

Rose made to move around her but the woman's knobby fingers grasped her wrist, pulling Rose to a stop. From behind her Thorn growled threateningly until the woman removed her hand. "Please," the woman said, her raspy voice pitched with panic. "Please you have to help my granddaughter. Her life has been nothing but sorrow. Her parents died and left her to me, and when I too die, she will have no one and no place to go. Please, Argetlam, bless her!" The woman shoved the babe into her arms when Rose began to take a step back. "Bless her for good fortune, Argetlam!"

Rose looked to Thorn, meeting his eyes. The dragon did not move but rather became very still save for the rise and fall of his chest. She tried to hand the child back but the woman had none of it and pushed the child further into her arms. "I cannot," Rose said, studying the babe in her arms. She hadn't held a child so young in quite some time. Her mind wouldn't work, caught in images from a night some months before. Much like an insect tripped within a spider's delicate wed, her mind was stuck in a fog as it tried desperately to think of words she could say; something, anything that would grantee that this woman would not follow her again to Selena's doorstep- the only place perhaps that she has had any sort of privacy since arriving at Farthen Dûr.

"I cannot do as you ask. My apologizes," she repeated in a trembling voice. She took a shattered breath, fighting the tightening feeling in her chest. Surely this child would lead a life worth having; one that wouldn't meet an unfortunate end. "You mustn't worry of what fortune will come to her, not while you are here. She might have had a hard beginning to life, yet, that does not mean that will be path her life will follow." Rose took a breath, casting away the images of Mathon and his mother. "I cannot bless her as you ask yet, know that should the day come when shelter is needed for the child, it shall be found, this I can promise you. I will do what I can should that day come however, until such a time this child needs you as you are the last of her blood. You caring for her the best you are able for as long as you are able; that is more of a blessing than one she might receive from a stranger."

Rose pushed the child into the elderly woman's arms and this time she took ahold of the girl. The woman's dark eyes gleamed with tears, her mouth agape. Her arms clenched onto the babe so tightly that Rose fear the child was being smothered. "Please," the woman breathed.

"She needn't my blessing," Rose said backing away again, hoping and praying that her next words would work: "She needn't my blessing so long as she has you. Remember that and ask for a blessing no more."

When the elderly woman made no move towards her, Rose hurried away as quickly as she could without running. Somewhere behind her, she heard Thorn fly off. You said that well, he said after she had turned a corner. I do not believe I have heard you say such heartening words before.

You can thank the many years of living amongst aristocrats for that, huffed Rose, her hands shaking and her mind was still on that night when the King's men tore a family from the world. I've had to use honeyed words before and though I do not like to, most people take well to them more so if they are hurting and in need of comfort. Thorn, please think nothing of it.

A sunbeam for the wilted stem, he said, quoting a poem she had once told him about. I believe it will comfort her for a time.

Rose did not answer, her mind wondering already what she might do when the time came that the woman returned to her for a blessing or perhaps the woman would ask Eragon. Her brother would have to be warned, she thought, it's best not to meddle with blessings. Such things were meant for saints and gods, and could easily go astray.

Once she arrived at the apartment she stood in the open doorway, surveying the men in the room. Her brother sat stiffly, chew absently on a roll of sweet bread, and Brom was hovering close to the inglenook, setting up a pot filled with water. The door at the far end of the room was firmly shut, and Selena was nowhere within sight. Rose slowly made her way into the room, sliding her bag from her shoulder and onto the flooring, and then she too picked up a bread roll, examining it. The bread had bits of nuts and dried fruit, and cautiously she tore off a small piece and tasted it. Lost in its sweet taste, she forgot about the elderly woman and her granddaughter entirely.

"Good, isn't it?" said Eragon turning from the divan to look at her. "What did Ajihad want to speak with you and Arya about?"

Rose reached for a cloth napery, and wrapped the bread into it, before she said to him, "Has someone not ever told that it discourteous to ask more than one question at once?" She looked up at him as his face reddened, and made her way to sit next to him. "The bread is very good, yes. Am I correct in saying that Jannet had baked it?"

"You would be wrong." Brom straightened himself and plumped down on the nearest chair. "Sleep wouldn't find me this morning, so I got out our left-over traveling fare and made use of it. Don't give me that look, boy, I have lived many years and learned many skills. And heavens know that your mother can't cook to save a life!" He sighed. "May the gods be merciful when she tries!"

Eragon looked at his bread roll and chewed on it. "I hope she didn't hear you say that," he said shallowing thickly.

"She's knocked out cold. And after the night she's had I can't say that I blame her," said the man and then he turned to Rose. "Your mother and I have spent much of the night with Ajihad trying to translate that damned parchment and what the attack meant, as well as what possible routs the Urgals might take. After a time, we were kicked out so that Ajihad could move onto other business." He leaned back into his seat and closed his eyes tiredly. "I, too, would like to know what did he had to say to you."

Rose had finished her roll while Brom spoke, and now dusted her hands off with the cloth. "He wished to speak about the remaining dragon egg's safety. Ajihad believed that would be best for Thorn and I leave for the time being to provide it protection amongst the women and children."

"What did you tell him?" Brom leaned forward and gazed at her. His face was expressionless, impossible for her tell what he might be thinking.

"I told him that I would," she said, watching the man's reaction. While she knew how Eragon might react, Brom was a mystery to her. She could not read him.

"You do realize what he likely meant?" asked Brom in a lowly voice. "He was giving a choice on whether or not to join the arms against Galbatorix or remain neutral. Your choice may have done more harm than good this time around. The dwarven clan will likely see it you, as a Rider, abandoning them to a bloody fate."

"While on another's view it could also be seen as protecting those who need the protection," said Rose, a frown etching onto her face. "I may not wish to stand against the King but I am not a fool enough not to fathom the possible consequences of my current actions. This is a game I have played my whole life and it is one I know well."

"There are moments that I forget," Brom said after a moment. He leaned back in his seat though continued to stare at her before glancing at Eragon. "I think that as long as the two of you seem to be unified as a team it should rise no problems in the future."

"Are you saying that I should support this?" Eragon exclaimed, jumping to his feet. "Saphira and I are going to risk our necks and you're telling me that I should support the fact that she's going into hiding? That bullocks!" He turned to her, his hands clenched into fists. "I know that you don't want to learn magic, I can accept that. I walked away with you we saw those slaves because I believed that you were right when you said that we didn't have the fighting power to free them. I even forgave you for not telling me that Arya had been poisoned, leaving me in the dark thinking that I wasn't good enough to save her. Now, I realize that I was wrong, and so are you. You-you're just a coward!"

Rose closed her eyes and breathed in, not releasing her breath until she heard him stomp out the room and towards the staircase. She rubbed her eyes with the palms if her hands as Brom stumbled to his feet and called after him. With a shake of her head, she slowly stood up as well and checked the water. It was boiling. Wiping at her eyes again, she looked up as Brom froze and turned away from the door.

"Saphira will talk with him," he muttered.

Rose nodded, not able to look at the man. "She is usually able to talk some sense into him. At the very least, it succeeded whenever we got into rows while traveling together."

Brom shoved his hands into his jerkin pockets. "She does have a knack for it," he agreed. "Did you two get into arguments often?"

Rose nodded, not trusting her own voice, and though he did not see it, she knew that her silence was answer enough. She took a deep breath and blinked, her eyes stinging still. Mutely, she made her way towards a stone jar atop the table, where she knew Selena kept her tea leaves. After grabbing a couple of the papery leaves, she reached for the mug before returning to the pot and dumped the mint inside. She kneeled beside the hearth and stirred the water before returning to her seat.

There was a plausible silence during which Brom returned to his chair as well.

"There is something that is troubling me," she said wiping at her face. "When Ajihad was telling us of what that parchment said, do you think that he may have mistranslated it?"

Brom stirred and studied her, scratching his chin. "It's possible, why do you ask?"

"'Durza' was the name of the Shade that was inside that tower in Gil'ead," she told him looking at her hands. "Would I be correct in saying that when I shot that Shade, I did not rid the world of him?"

"No, you didn't," he said after a pause. "Shades can only be killed if they stabbed through the heart."

Rose nodded and clenched her hands together. It was strange that the only way to kill a heartless creature, she thought, was through the very way. "I had feared as much," she muttered. "When he disappeared, what happened then?"

"I'm not sure but if the tales are right then he was taken to the between worlds," Brom said slowly as though he did not want to answer her question. "There his spirit will recharge and he will return stronger than he ever was before."

Through her mindlink, she felt Thorn's concern mix with her own, and though he didn't say it she knew what he was thinking. It was likely that the Shade was going to be looking out for her, searching now, due to her besting him. How that had happened, she was not certain and though she thought to ask about the warm guidance that had taken over her that night, she did not. Something inside of her held her back, and so instead she merely stood and poured tea into the two mugs. She handed one to Brom and sat back down, allowing her mind to wonder as she stared into the liquid.

After quite some time Rose sat back in her seat and looked up from the golden tea. "I am inquisitive about learning," she said slowly, thinking about her words as her gut twisted inside her. "Despite what you think, I would like to understand and learn much. I may never have had an interest in becoming a warrior yet I have learned to wield a sword against an opponent. It was not because I must but rather it was the smart thing to do. It is a similar reasoning that I do not walk out of that door and never return as we speak." She looked up at Brom and tucked her ankles behind the chair leg before taking in a deep breath to try to calm herself. "I may not wish to be a Dragon Rider but, for reasons that are beyond me, Thorn choose me and became a part of me. Despite what I wish there is much that I would never dream to dabble in but find that I must. I do not wish to learn magic, and I never have, yet I know that eventually I shall have to." She fell silent and watched as Brom nodded, before taking a sip of the tea and continuing, "I am promising you nothing but I would rather that you, as a former Rider, teach me than an elf or, spirit's forbid, one of those dolts within the Varden who call themselves magicians."

Brom smirked slightly and set his mug aside. If he was surprised by the turn in conversation he did not show it. "Ran into one of them did you?"

"Yes, and I most certainly do not repeat that experience." It had happened a few days before when Eragon and herself were in the library. She had been helping him learn the recent history of Empire when two of these people- the bald headed twins that she saw when she had first arrived- interrupted them. Despite the lack of showing it, they were eager to invite her and Eragon to join this club of theirs, and she was more than enthusiastic to turn them away. Though the refusal had been as polite as she could imagine, she often felt as if their eyes were on her, waiting and watching, like a cat hunting a mouse. It would not be last time they asked.

"I would not know how to begin with you," Brom admitted after a long moment of silence. He glanced at Rose and then at the portrait in background. "I don't think you would respond as well as Eragon did with the stones but he had already discovered magic by then. We'll have to find some other way. Not now, though, I don't believe we the time. When do you leave?"

Rose frowned and said, "I believe that we will leave in two days time but I do not know for certain."

"I won't be able to teach you much of anything then," grumbled the old man.

Rose nodded and went back to studying the earthen goblet in-between her hands. She was not eager to learn how to wield magic, nor did she believe that she would tumble upon by chance as Eragon had. It could take years to learn, as Brom had once stated, but ever since words of an Urgal legion's attack she had a twisting feeling that she would not be given much time to learn anything at all. Her mind kept going back to the Urgals she had seen at the Summit Stone, and thought that if she were ever in the place that she had to fight them, her smaller size would be her only advantage. Even with the knowledge that she was to set out with the women of the Varden, she found no comfort in it.

Standing up, she shook herself and looked around the room, her gaze settling on the large chest. Rose bit her lower lip and turned to Brom. "Is there something of some other use I can learn until then?"

Brom gave her a measured look, and then rose to his feet. "Did this Tornac ever teach you how to fight dirty?"

"No, Tornac repudiated the mere thought. He believed in the codes of decorous swordsmanship," she said in a strong voice. "Though he did teach me how to use the landscape to my advantage. I believe that it was his own version of fighting dirty."

"He wasn't completely inept, then," huffed Brom, and Rose glare at him narrow when he said these words, "I have no doubt he was skilled, girl, I'm just saying he could have taught you much more than just coded swordplay. What house was he born into? The courts still use house names, I'm sure."

"They do," said Rose after a pause. "Tornac was born under the House of Rwuihe. He once said that his great grandfather was born under a different name before the Fall of the Riders. He told me though I do not remember what it was."

Brom shrugged. "Many houses were lost after Galbatorix took the throne. The name sounds familiar but I can't place it. Well, if you don't want to continue stay here then I suggest you follow me," he said, moving slowly to the door.

Rose glanced at him in a silent debate, and then stood and followed slightly behind him. She not completely certain what she had just agreed to but she was certain that it was going to vastly different his former lessons.


If there is anyone still out there reading this: I am so sorry for how long this has taken. The story hasn't been abandoned. I have plans to finish, I swear!
Most of this chapter is pretty old. I had it planned and written just after I began the first chapter all that time ago. I revised it (big time) and added details. I struggled trying to add more because my writing style has changed a bit over the months, and so I just cut it off here. I'm working on the next chapter as we speak but no promises on how soon it will be released. I have other obligations...
Also, my books and notes, and everything have been lost or left from when I moved across the country and my laptop that I started this on is toast. So, I'm winging it from this point out.
Notes on this chapter: Elva. Yeah. This was a hard choice. I had decided, long ago that I was going to give Elva a chance at a normal childhood and life. It seemed like the right choice, and still does. I has de plans to make up for her loss. That aside research shows that most women (and even men, believe it or not) trust other women over men, and so it's not hard to imagine that the grandma (if she has a name please let me know) would go to Rose versus Eragon. Rose's words were... I just hope that I made it clear that she only said what she said so that the grandma would leave her alone, and not because she believes them in the slightest. Her promise may come to bit her in the butt in the future!
Anyhow, feedback is appreciated. Good or bad, I'd love to hear from you!