Nasuada stood with her back straight as an arrow in anticipation for the Green Rider's arrival. The Elven Queen had contacted her just a few days before for an approximation on her whereabouts, and then again just a handful of hours before her predicted arrival. For now, Nasuada remained on the balcony overlooking the city and marveling at how it had flourished over the past months of everyone's collective hard work to get it restored. Now, there were hardly any scars from war. The only scars left we're the ones worn by those who were affected, both on the outside and the inside. She let her fingers brush against the scars on her arms and pride swelled in her chest. She's a leader through and through. She wants nothing but the best for her people.
Her fingers pressed against the cool stone, a nice contrast from the warming weather, and a breeze fluttered through her room. She closed her eyes to feel the simple pleasure. Alagaësia finally had the freedom and prosperity it had been longing after for years. She hoped with every fiber in her being that it would live on for many generations past her own. She knows in her heart that those desires are perhaps unrealistic as the world naturally goes through its own cycles of turmoil and peace. She's merely a pawn in the mechanics.
There was a knock on her door, and she turned, pausing for a brief moment to ponder who was on the other side. Her legs animated themselves as she strode towards the interior entrance and exit. Two guards clad in decorative, yet functional armor opened the large wooden doors for her.
"Ah, Vanir, welcome. Come in." She smiled at the tall Elf who stood as straight as an arrow with his hands clasped behind his back.
"Many thanks." His voice remained calmly kind while he offered a simple nod and a slight bow as he bent by the waist. Nasuada stood aside and held a welcoming arm out in a gesture for him to proceed. He did so and the first thing he did was smell the air.
Nasuada looked curiously at him and noticed the faint smile that played on his lips. When he turned, she noticed his pupils slide back down to their normal dilation. "While the smell of this atmosphere is good, it could always use more plants." He offered a sly smile, then turned to face her completely.
"I was wondering how much you may be able to tell me about the hydroponics system that I've seen built into the walls and ceilings throughout this castle. Perhaps that is a conversation for another time, however. Do you bring news?" She asked, returning his expression.
"I bring a suggestion. When my Queen arrives, I should hope you will greet her immediately. Despite its warmth, the day holds a quickly burning sun. Do you plan to introduce Eila and Eyloris today as well?" He asked with one long, angled eyebrow raised.
"I'm not sure, and yes, Arya and I are well acquainted. I've known her since I was a child and I'd never miss the opportunity to greet her. Despite my personal obligation, if I were to not welcome her upon her arrival, it would be a symbol of great disrespect. I ask you kindly to not think so lowly of me, Vanir." Nasuada's features hardened slightly, though she still appeared pleasant.
"Forgive me, then." His head moved slowly and yet remained strangely catlike. He moved very differently than Arya, she observed. "May I propose they be moved to the lofts? Arya Dröttning will be staying there along with Fírnen as they were designed for Riders long ago. It will give them a chance to become acquainted out of the public eye." He nodded slowly and Nasuada watched his mannerisms yet again, almost captivated by the fluidity of each movement. It seemed as though he had the elements of an octopus.
"That is a most appropriate suggestion and I see it as a solid course of action. Arya is to arrive soon, so we should get a move on that, then." She smiled.
"Very well, I will handle that task. Thank you, Queen Nasuada." He bowed more deeply than before, then straightened himself. "If you wish, I will teach you about the hydroponics system, let me know when this is best for you. Now is most inopportune."
Nasuada suppressed a sigh. He would need to learn to be less assumptive in order to make a good Ambassador. Part of her misses Arya's quiet, indifferent demeanor. "I am aware. Perhaps in a few days when everything settles down. I urge you to move swiftly on your current task. She will be here soon."
He only nodded quickly and took his leave.
Nasuada sighed heavily once he was far out of earshot. She looked directly at her guards who had since closed the doors behind the Elf as he left. "Elves are a tedious group. Pleasant, most times, but tedious." She chuckled to herself. "I'll be seeing Angela." She smiled and the guards nodded without a word. They opened the doors and Nasuada passed through. "Thank you. It's okay to talk, don't worry."
"Very well, Milady, thank you." The guard on the left replied.
"Thank you as well, Milady." The other replied.
"You're welcome. I may be back soon." Nasuada smiled, then headed down the hall.
Her legs carried her quickly and efficiently through the castle. Vanir walked at a speed close to running, she guessed, because he was nowhere in sight.
Two levels below where her own room is located are the quarters that were assigned to both Elva and Angela. Her intentions were to check on the Witch Child.
It had been a week since the second incident, and it took Elva four days to wake up. She had a concussion and was especially sensitive to light and sound. She claimed that she was paralyzed from the waist down and that she couldn't feel her lower half. She went as far as to press her dinner fork into her thigh until she drew blood, all without flinching. Her own abilities seemed to be completely drained, but as she recovered, those senses were coming back.
Nasuada knocked on the door and Angela answered. "Good morning. How are you?" The Herbalist said cheerfully.
"I'm well. I've come to check on her again today. Arya should be arriving at some point soon, but you know how she is sometimes."
"Always a mystery." Angela smiled then stood aside for Nasuada to enter. "Come in. She's awake."
"Are her legs any better?" Nasuada asked quietly and in a worried tone.
Angela sighed but nodded. "She can feel them, but she can't move them yet. I believe the paralysis is temporary, but at this point, there's no telling what could happen. As you know, she doesn't remember anything pertaining to what happened."
Nasuada's expression fell slightly, though she refused to break composure. "What about her stone?"
"It's filled completely, which is… impossible. Nothing died for her to fill it with, but she somehow managed to fill it. In my experiences, it is now the largest power reserve I've ever come across and I've been living for a very long time. At least for its size, anyways. Something incredibly strong is down there. I don't know what it could be or even if she managed to drain it entirely. I let her have the stone this morning so she could use its power to help heal herself. Amethyst has a nice filtering quality, so the energy within it isn't tainted." Angela smiled. "She just woke up from her efforts a few minutes ago."
Concern flashed over Nasuada's features and a light frown creased her brow, but it left just as quickly as it came. She followed Angela through her quarters and into the room that was jointly connected by a single door. On the other side, Elva was sitting upright and staring down at her feet.
"Good morning, Nasuada." the Witch Child said almost coldly without looking over. She now held a grudge towards the woman because it was her idea to make her go down into the dungeon again. She told Angela that she would blame their queen if something happened, which she's holding onto with a vice-like vehemence.
"Hello. Do you feel any better today?" Nasuada let the barbs from Elva's tone roll off her back as best as she could.
"I can move my toes." The Witch Child responded a little more hopefully.
"That's good." The Queen responded as she sat down on the edge of the bed. She was unprepared, however, to find the chilliness of Elva's piercing violet gaze.
"I do very kindly hope you know my paralysis is your fault. You were the one who insisted I go down there again when I clearly told you that it was a bad idea. You didn't believe me and twisted my arm because of my loyalties to you. I must warn you to be careful when doing that to others as it may contribute to your downfall." Elva glared and Angela looked sternly at her apprentice.
"Elva." She warned, but Nasuada held up a hand and Angela stopped her potential beratement.
"It's alright, the reprimand is well deserved on my part. I should have trusted you, but my curiosities got in the way and I took advantage of you, Elva. For that I'm sorry, but I can't expect a simple apology to be enough. The only thing something like that does is heal a wounded ego. I spoke with Angela about your desire to visit and perhaps live in Ellesméra, and I've come to the decision that you would do well there, so long as Arya agrees. It's safe and a place where you can freely learn how to use your capabilities with the aid of Elven spellcasters if your abilities become incredibly hard to control. I never meant to hurt you or wrong you, but I have, and I must do right by you. I know you are unhappy here, and I don't want you to be." Nasuada offered a small smile, hoping Elva would be pleased.
The girl's eyes widened and suddenly her arms were around Nasuada's shoulders in a tight embrace. It wasn't long before the Queen returned the hug. "I hope you can forgive me one day." She said quietly.
Elva hummed as she sighed. "You will always be partly forgiven in my heart. You saw value in me when hardly anyone else did when they realized I existed. For that, I'll always thank you. I cannot, however, forgive you so easily now. It will take time, but allowing me to go to Ellesméra if conditions permit, helps."
Nasuada smiled. "I'm happy about that, then. You've been a good friend and a fantastic help to me and the Varden. You deserve rest like the rest of us. I'm glad you can move your toes."
Elva just nodded and pulled away. She looked down at her feet and struggled to move them, but they moved, even if just a little bit. She froze a second later and smiled. "Arya and Fírnen are near."
"How close are they?" Nasuada asked calmly.
"Three leagues beyond the gates, about." The girl shrugged then tension ran straight up her spine. "Nasuada."
"Yes?" She asked curiously.
"Don't let Arya anywhere near the dungeons. The result of that will be much worse than paralyzed legs." Elva said seriously.
"May I ask why?" She raised an eyebrow.
"No. You need to trust me and promise that you'll listen to me. It's for her safety and well-being." Elva's tone had darkened.
"I promise, then. I must go. I'll need to greet her at the gates." Nasuada nodded but remained suspicious.
"Thank you." Elva said and shifted so she put some distance between herself and the ebony skinned woman.
"You're welcome. Take care, Elva. You as well, Angela."
"Of course. Say hello to her for us." The Herbalist responded.
"Will do." Nasuada said before leaving the room.
Inside, Elva stretched, pushed the rest of the covers away from her, swung her legs over the side of the bed, then walked over to her dresser.
"Elva!" Angela exclaimed.
"What?" She said in a tone that was just a little too close to the way Solembum sounded when he just finished doing something he wasn't supposed to be doing.
The Herbalist sighed heavily. "You know that was devilish of you."
"She needed help seeing her follies. Besides, I was paralyzed this morning before you gave the amethyst back and let me use it. I was able to stitch together most of the damaged nerves." Elva nodded as she pulled a black pair of pants from her drawer and laid them on her bed. "I am still sore and I can't feel my left foot, but my head is better and I want to see Arya."
"Why such sudden insistence?" Angela raised her eyebrow and crossed her arms over her chest.
Elva turned away suddenly, heat running to cheeks and ears, causing them to redden. "How often does one get to see the Rider Queen of the Elves?"
From her drawer, she pulled a green shirt and laid it on her bed next her her black trousers.
Angela smirked with mirth in her eyes at the color her apprentice chose. "Of course. I'll leave you to it then."
"Thank you." Elva said, but kept her head down even for a moment longer after her mentor left.
That was close.
A/N: Oh, I do hope you've enjoyed this one. I know it's short, but I did write this one alongside the last and yet they aren't directly connected considering they take place about a week apart. I hope you liked Vanir, and I know, I've subtly mentioned two new characters, but that'll get explained later, I promise.
I forgot to do this earlier, but I own none of these characters, I suppose except for the ones I created, but they belong in Paolini's universe and I don't want to get in trouble for anything anyways. It only took ten chapters for me to realize that, dang.
Anyways, again, I know it's short, but I hope this chapter made your day better :)
-Lady Arlo