Arya's fist connected solidly with Vanir's face, fracturing his jaw immediately upon impact. "Do you forget who you're speaking to?" Her eyes burned with intensity as she watched him stagger back, cradling the recent injury. He knew she had held herself back when she swung at him. If she hadn't, his jaw probably would have shattered.
Vanir shook his head. "Forgive me, my Queen." His eyes widened as she approached him. She grabbed him by the collar and hoisted him up. He was taller than her by a few inches, but due to being a few decades older and more experienced, she had the upper hand.
Her hand slid to his neck and she gripped it, pushing him against the wall to keep him there. "Do you understand what you said? Children are spoken of highly in our society and what you just did was insult me for it. A half Elf is just as important as a fully Elven child especially when that child came from not one but two Riders. It's a weighty insult, Vanir, and I know you're immature for your age, but I at least thought of you somewhat respectable. From what I've seen and heard of your behavior here in Ilirea, you are entirely and unnecessarily disrespectful. Learn your place just as I had to when I was in your position. It's sad that it's taking you so long." Her fingers tightened around his neck. "Do you understand me?"
His fingers clawed weakly at her hand. "Y-yes… Milady…" he choked, and she let him go. He crumpled to the floor and was thrown into a fit of coughing while he situated himself to sit more comfortably on the stone floor of her room up in the Rider's Loft.
Arya pulled the desk chair out and sat in it, quietly watching and waiting for him to compose himself. She rested her hands on her stomach, which lightly protruded from the rest of her physique. She felt very visible as her baby bump was easy to see when she sat like this, but she was also making a statement.
"You've still broken tradition." Vanir said weakly while the fingers of his left hand felt the new bruises around his neck. "Children are considered once a pair has been in a relationship, you and Eragon had no relationship, children were not spoken about and yet you are pregnant. That is breaking tradition. How do you know he will remain loyal to you and the child?"
"I don't know, as he is Human. Don't patronize me by assuming I don't know my people's traditions." Arya responded calmly. "The decision to be with him like that was not entirely my own. If a dragon decides to hatch for you and you get to experience all of the things felt while your dragon is in the midst of fornication, then we can talk. It was something I wasn't prepared for and I also had and still have feelings for Eragon, which made it that much harder. Despite our poise, our manners and etiquette, we, as Elves, are all still animals with the same drive as all other animals. I've recently come to realize that. While yes, this baby was a surprise, I do not resent his existence. I love him to the extent that I'd give my life for him and he's not even three months old. He's still a child. He's still loved. Our respect for children still goes to him, despite my act of breaking tradition."
"Then I am happy for you." Vanir said, glancing up at her.
"Thank you." She deadpanned. "Your status of Elven Ambassador will remain because you are in serious need of behavioral correction, however, you will not be allowed to return to Du Weldenvarden for a decade unless you are either summoned by me or the next egg you receive hatches. You will remain in contact with me throughout your journeys, but as Queen I'm revoking your privilege to come home on your own terms for the next ten years." Her teeth clenched when she finished speaking.
Vanir's eyes widened with shock and he sat up straighter. He opened his mouth to protest, but she held up a finger, silencing him. "There will be no negotiating with me. You are to learn how to behave and perhaps the ways in which you learn have to be brought to a more elementary level. Living with Humans, Dwarves and now Urgals are interesting, I expect you to treat it as such. They are not below you or above you. They are beside you. I'm not asking you to assimilate completely, as you are still an Elf. You have an Elven duty, that is, unless you want to revoke that responsibility. If that's the case, your exile will be extended to two decades." She glared at him.
"I would like to keep my position as Ambassador, my Queen." He responded with a subdued tone.
"Very good. Now please leave. Fix your wounds then return to Nasuada who may have use of you, if not, go make yourself useful." Her teeth were still clenched as she watched him drag himself upright.
"Yes, my Queen. Thank you." He said as he twisted his hand over his sternum and bowed before seeing himself out in an almost frantically hurried manner.
Once alone, Arya let herself relax. She looked down as her hands cradled her belly. "You're not a bastard." She said softly. "He got what he was asking for by saying that. Ever since he was young, he's been rude." A frown creased her forehead as the anxiety was beginning to slip in over her mind. Would everyone in Ellesméra react that way? Would she be treated in a hostile manner for breaking tradition? Would people lose respect for her? Her eyes watered slightly at the potential rejection and perhaps even social exile. For the first time since finding out about her pregnancy, Arya felt like she needed to talk to Eragon. Perhaps it was just the… the hormones messing with her brain. The nausea that's been persistent all morning decided to suddenly rear its ugly head, distracting her from her turmoil. She didn't have much time after that before being forced to quickly take herself into the washroom.
"Are you okay?" Fírnen asked from his place just outside.
"Yes, just nausea. It's been bad today." She responded before her stomach twisted and her last meal was brought up and into the commode in a routine she's become intimately familiar with.
"Are you sure you're okay? This has been persistent in happening in the early mornings, so it's odd that it's happening now." He replied.
Arya closed her eyes and sat back on her heels; her hands pressed to the sides of the seat. "I'm fine, I'm sure of it. I appreciate your worry, though. I'm only a little over ten weeks pregnant, I'm actually surprised the vomiting hasn't grown any worse within that span, considering I've only been aware of the baby for four weeks." She let her left hand touch her stomach when she felt Juniper move again.
"If you're certain, then I suppose it's okay. Perhaps consult your book again?"
"Mhm, I'll do that as soon as I feel better and after we visit Eila. I'm worried about her." She responded through a wince while she let a steady breath flow between her lips.
"I'm worried about you too, Arya. You haven't slept or eaten much." He pointed out.
"I can sleep later and I ate this morning." She looked over in his general direction.
"However, you've just lost whatever was left in your system. Now that there is access to better food than travel rations, you need to eat. I understand we are busy, but you need to sleep as well. Take care of yourself…" he urged, and Arya sighed. He was right.
"Eila is asleep. She also needs rest." Arya jumped at the different voice and quickly realized it was Shruikan. "Fírnen has a point. All other tasks are settled for the time being. Take this opportunity to get some sleep." He encouraged her from his place in Eila's room.
"Fine, fine, I'll try. Shruikan, are you sure she's okay?" She said to both dragons in her audience.
"I'm sure. Her body is naturally resistant to Seithr Oil."
Arya frowned at that. Usually wounds created by Seithr Oil never healed unless a very rare and highly unknown antidote was created. The neutralizer Eila used to stop the oil from eating away at their flesh any further is different from the antidote. That being said, the soldier named Edrik will most likely die.
"Why? I'm certainly glad, but why?" Arya frowned and closed the commode lid, the contents had already been taken away by the steady stream of water that flowed underneath the rooms in the Loft, which was then carried out to… somewhere, but Arya didn't have the energy to ponder on it.
"Galbatorix was a smart man. His intelligence stretched to books and to the things of scientific nature where he then decided to lead his own experiments. As cruel of a person as he was, he advanced the scientific community a great deal because he had no sense of ethics. When Eila's mother fell pregnant, he took it upon himself to… do certain things to her that would impact the fetus within. One of those things was the introduction of the antidote to Seithr Oil itself into her mother's amniotic fluid. He, at that point of time, didn't know if that had any effect on Eila after she was born, but every week, he would repeat the same process along with other experiments I'd rather not get into." Shruikan said with a sadness Arya wasn't expecting to feel through their brief mental link. Her arms hugged her waist protectively, understanding the kind of distress Eila's mother must've been under.
"Eila's mother was an Elf. Did she have the same twelve-month duration that Elves have, or was it different?" Fírnen asked.
"Different." Shruikan answered. "The Eldunarí were responsible for her mother's six-month pregnancy. That being said, her body wasn't completely ready to give birth, leading to complications and her death. Eila almost passed away as well if it weren't for the Eldunarí, myself and Galbatorix who kept her alive."
Arya frowned. "Why you?"
"Because I bore witness to Eila's creation and development. I saw in her the same things I saw in my original Rider. It was selfish of me to aid in that process, because if she had passed, it would have saved her a world of torment and pain. I will forever be in her debit as she saved my sanity for just being who she is despite the terrible things her father continued to inflict on both of us."
Arya's heart dropped to the pit of her stomach as realization dawned on her. "Her father… is… is Galbatorix her father?"
"Yes, he is. He kept that from the world because he intended to use Eila against the Elves one day. She possesses the same abilities as the Elves. She is strong with magic as well because of that and the impact the Eldunarí had on her, though she's had little training and doesn't know how to use it." He paused to gauge both Arya and Fírnen's emotional response. "Will you still train her? She is nothing like her father except for her charisma and her ability to be persuasive." He vouched.
"Of course." Arya responded quickly. "I understand the conflict this will bring to my people, but I need to stand behind her. She's the first student I am to teach and I haven't seen any negative indicators that would convince me otherwise."
"I agree with what my Rider has said, and I'd like to add that she's been chosen by a dragon who has been completely unaffiliated with the world's events. Eila was chosen because she has a good heart. That's why I chose Arya. Well that and I also like her personality." Warmth spread through Arya's chest at Fírnen's sentiment and she let him know his words made her happy by sending those warm feelings right back.
"That makes me feel a lot better." Shruikan said honestly. "I know the stigma that will be attached to Eila for being Galbatorix' daughter, but her parentage doesn't determine who she is to become. All I ask is that you'll be there for her."
"That's a promise I can make with absolute certainty." Arya replied, understanding the pain of neglect and rejection by one's parents, or in her case, parent. She knows Eila had it exponentially worse than she did when it came to family issues, which just cemented her determination that she would be the best teacher she could possibly be.
"As can I." Fírnen echoed.
"Mmh, good." Shruikan's deep voice echoed throughout their minds. "Now, I also want to inform you of the correct way to remove the eggs from their chests, and then you can sleep." He said.
Arya clenched her teeth. "And you didn't say anything earlier?"
"I simply couldn't remember and the operation was already underway. Now I do." He said confidently. "The boxes the eggs sit in are enchanted so that they repel the oil. They also are to be lifted by the loop where a lock was meant to go. Galbatorix felt it unnecessary to place a lock on them when Seithr Oil coats the surrounding materials. Elva and Angela have already unearthed one that can be practiced on. Luckily, the chests can be lifted by Eylörís as he is strong enough now and yet also small enough to lift them. There are a total of ten eggs, if my memory serves me correctly. All she needs is a hook and chain and perhaps either Eila or Elva to help with applying the hook to the chest. I worry about Eila and her injuries, though. I hope both Elva and Eylörís are agreeable to work together." He said with a pondering tone.
"I need to let Nasuada know about this." Arya said quickly, pulling herself up. She walked over to the sink and ran the water, cupping her hands to gather the cool, clear liquid. From her two hands, she drank and washed her mouth out.
"No. You need to rest." Fírnen said sternly and Arya just sighed.
"Fírnen, those eggs need to be uncovered. They've been in the darkness for far too long."
"And they can stay that way for a little while longer while you rest. Nothing is going to hurt them." He argued.
Arya just huffed and walked back out into her room. She looked at her reflection in the mirror then ran a brush through her hair before straightening her clothing. With a determined set to her shoulders, she walked to the door and pulled it open, only to find Fírnen's back covered the entirety of the doorway, blocking out all light. "Fírnen!" She yelled, suddenly angry.
He laughed lowly and she groaned loudly, walking forwards to press her forehead against his back. "I'll tell her myself. Sleep." He reasoned with her.
"Are you sure?" She asked.
"Yes, now go to sleep and stay that way for as long as you can, then we can go check on Eila after you eat something, okay?"
"Okay…" She sighed, relenting her frustrations, knowing he's right. "I love you." She added with a more positive tone.
"I love you too, Bjartr Stjarna. Now get some rest. I'm not leaving until you go to sleep." He said, knowing she would most likely try to leave regardless.
"Fine." she sighed again, then closed the door after placing a kiss on his back.
She crossed the room and slipped her boots off before undressing completely. She then slid under the soft covers, her overly sensitive skin prickling with the sensation that sent shivers up her spine. She usually didn't sleep without any clothes on.
Turning over onto her left side, Arya laid her right hand over her abdomen and closed her eyes. The baby moved again and she tapped back around the same area where she felt him. She sighed when she didn't feel a response. That was to be expected, he's a little bit too young.
Her mind drifted to what he might look like once he's born. Maybe he would have her eyes. While green eyes in Humans are typically recessive, they are dominant in Elves, though the color is still on the rarer side for them as well. It's the reason she had her mother's green eyes over her father's icy blue ones. It was said his mother, Dellanir, and his sister, Freydis, also had the same blue eyes. Unfortunately, Freydis accompanied Evandar in the same battle where he was slain, and she went missing in the chaos, then was later assumed as dead. Arya was born after her father and his sister passed away, so she never got to meet either of them.
With a sudden gasp, Arya sat bolt upright. "Fírnen, I need to see Eila."
"You're supposed to be sleeping."
"I don't care, I need to see Eila." She threw herself out of bed and quickly got dressed while still being careful with herself.
"Why so suddenly?" He asked.
"We might be related." She answered hastily.
"Where are you getting that from?" He sounded completely skeptical. That's not what he was expecting her to say.
"My father had a sister who went missing during the Battle of Ilirea. The Elves assumed she was killed because she never returned. If she was captured by Galbatorix, there's a very likely chance that Eila's mother is Freydis, my aunt, which would make us cousins." Arya said hurriedly as she fixed her clothing.
"How would you be able to tell if Eila is your cousin? Your theory seems far-fetched." He responded a little skeptically.
"I know it's far-fetched. It seems almost ridiculous, but there is also a very real chance. I know many Elves were killed that day and a handful of others went missing, my aunt being one of those that disappeared." Arya sighed impatiently and opened the door after running a brush through her hair again and making sure she was presentable.
"How would you even go about determining whether or not you share lineage?"
Arya took a pause at that. "I… have no idea. We will need to look into it once we return to Ellesméra."
"So why is it urgent now?" He responded.
"I just want to see her face. There are numerous fairths that I've seen throughout my life of both my father and Freydis. If Eila resembles any likeness to my aunt, we could be related and my extended family is not dead like everyone thought. On the same note, if this turns out to be true, my hatred for Galbatorix will become far more personal than it already is, and through Eila, I will have separated relations with him as he is her father." She huffed. "I just… I want to talk to her. I won't be able to sleep if I don't." She mumbled as she threw the door open, the knob hitting the stone wall. "Get up, Fírnen." She said sternly as she pressed her hands against his back and pushed.
He shifted and she tripped forwards, stumbling slightly to catch herself. "That wasn't nice." She glared at him and he just looked at her.
"The impatience." he shook his head and she just clenched her teeth and walked away, heading towards the castle. He made his way up behind her and nudged at her hand. "Fírnen, I don't have patience." She responded mentally without a spoken word to him.
The green dragon trotted ahead and stood in front of her, causing her to stop in her tracks. "Ride with me, then."
"No, you're going to take me somewhere else." she crossed her arms over her chest, then immediately dropped them and straightened her shirt for fear of anyone discovering her pregnancy without her knowledge.
"What makes you think that?"
"I have a feeling you don't approve of my theory." She was getting angry and he could tell.
"Arya, that's only a feeling you have. I'm completely fine with your theory, please trust me. I only worry because you need to sleep and you need to eat something. I just want you to be safe and healthy. A lot is going on and I just want you to remember to take care of yourself through all of this."
"I don't need sleep right now, I'm not tired and I'm not hungry either. I can eat and sleep later." She said and the annoyance fell away from her expression which softened significantly. "I'm sorry. This is just… starting to stress me out. I don't really know why." Her shoulders drooped and her gaze fell to the stone floor.
Fírnen reached over and carefully pressed his forehead to hers. Arya brought her hands up to caress the underside of his jaw as she exhaled slowly. "Thank you, Fírnen. I've been ungrateful of you and I'm sorry." She said quietly to him.
"You've had a lot on your mind, that's all. Ride with me? We will go together to see Eila, unless I can't fit inside her room." his voice was smiling, and she pulled away with a nod and a small smile on her lips.
"Good." He responded and she reached over to kiss his forehead before backing up to let him crouch down for her. He was getting big, she noted, much bigger than he used to be when he first hatched almost nine months ago. She missed being able to hold him, but she wouldn't have it any other way now, because he was growing into a strong, proud dragon. She walked over to him and used his leg to help herself up. Once she was situated, he trotted off into the castle's corridors.
A/N: Hi again! I'm super sorry this one took so long to produce, it's been a seriously hectic week for me. I somehow managed to get myself involved with a Dungeons and Dragons group, which is a lot more work than I thought. It's fun work, though. That coupled with school and other things I like to do weigh my hands down a little bit. Things should get all situated soon.
I want to mention that Freydis is not canon as Evandar's sister, she was created by my brain a long time ago when I first started creating other pieces that tie into this storyline. In fact, Freydis has been around longer than Eila has. Anyways, I know the last connection made in this chapter is very far-fetched and it was actually last-minute. This is fanfiction, though, and I've seen a lot of other things happen to the familial ties between characters in this book series. I gave Arya an aunt, don't hate (just kidding, you can hate if you want, I don't care (I also mean this humorously)). I am curious what you guys think about Eila and Arya being related. My ultimate decision on whether they are or are not has yet to be cemented. I'm not sure how I feel about it.
As always, thank you all for reading this far into the story. You've all read about 150 pages of writing at this point if you've finished the chapter, so congratulations! I love reading your reviews, they keep me going. This story is still a work-in-progress :)
-Lady Arlo