"Why is it still dark out?" Arya asked as she sat up in bed. She ran her hands through her hair and rubbed her eyes. The moon hung lowly in the eastern apex of the night sky; large and slightly yellow. She could see it from the windows next to her bed. She felt Fírnen rouse from sleep and she instantly felt bad for waking him.
"Well, you fell asleep after seeing Eila yesterday afternoon. You woke up to eat something because your baby book said it was good for helping to keep your nausea in check, and because it was still dark out, you went back to sleep."
"Yes, I remember that, but it should be morning by now." She frowned and looked down at her abdomen then ran her hands over the increasing swell between her hips. She felt the baby shift slightly and in turn she smiled softly yet sleepily. He must also be resting. He's not all that active yet, but on occasion she can feel him. She's convinced it's only because she's an Elf with heightened senses because the book says she shouldn't feel movement until week twelve or thirteen. This is still week ten and something about that fact made her worry.
"Actually, you've been asleep ever since then." Fírnen informed diligently and her eyes widened.
"I slept for an entire day?!" She almost shouted out loud, but quickly remembered that her baby might be able to hear, meaning, she hasn't verified that with her book yet and she refused to take the risk.
"Yes, and I'm glad you did. You were exhausted and I was beginning to worry about both of you." He responded affectionately.
Arya sighed softly, knowing he was right. She should have let herself rest more over the past few days. "I know, Fírnen. I'm sorry for making you worry. Did I miss anything in the span of time that I was asleep?"
"No, not really. Angela came to retrieve Shruikan from his place in Eila's room. She brought a whole jar of lemon curd just for me and she brought you food as well, for when you woke up." He said happily. "Nasuada came by a few hours after Angela to update you on the status of the operations involving the eggs as both me and Shruikan were helping them to create a safer plan. They're going to construct a crane to remove the chests and it's been decided to simply melt all of the gold down and reforge the coins to burn all of the oil off. She just wanted to let you know that the materials are already being gathered in preparation for construction. It was the safest for all of us."
Arya closed her eyes and laid back with a comfortable exhale. "That sounds like a good plan." She stretched. "Thank you for being there in my stead. What do Eila and Eylörís say about this?"
"They are supportive of this plan. The initial idea was to get Eylörís to fly up there, but that is unsafe, and she is untrained. She and I went hunting today once the meetings were over. She caught a deer and I was able to catch three." He said proudly.
"That was nice of you to take her hunting. Is that the first deer she's ever caught on her own?"
"Yes it is." the pride in his mental voice remained.
"I'm glad you two have gotten a chance to bond. I feel bad for not spending much time with her yet. I only just spent time with Eila. I feel bad about that too." Arya sighed softly into the cool silence.
"They are both unsure of us, but they are open minded. Eylörís understands that you are busy as you are the Queen of the Elves. I explained your absence under the guise of your duties to your people: that you needed to attend multiple mandatory meetings involving the establishment of items related to the Riders that required your input. Nasuada, Angela, Elva, Eila, Eylörís and Shruikan understand the real reason, though. They are all happy that you were finally letting yourself rest. That being said, they all understand how important it is that your visit here remains brief. It's part of the reason there's such a rush on getting these plans moving."
"Thank you. Who was the driving force behind that conclusion?" Arya raised her eyebrow in suspicion, knowing it was most likely Nasuada.
"Contrary to what you believe, it was Angela who brought the subject to the table once our group was left alone to discuss things. Nasuada and I were the ones who reinforced the push to get things moving quickly." He said informatively.
Arya hesitated. "Angela knows?" she said with a frown and sudden, extreme concern.
"She does. How exactly remains a mystery as she didn't answer me directly, though she swears to keep it to herself. She actually wanted to talk with you about it, but because you were asleep, I gently told her to come back another time. She left and told me that she hoped you slept well."
"Oh… okay. Thank you, Fírnen. Please go back to sleep, I really didn't mean to wake you."
"It's okay, Bjartr Stjarna. I'm just glad you got some sleep. Please try to eat something, there's food by the door. Angela didn't want to invade your personal space too greatly. She's worried about you, though."
Arya looked over and saw the food that was left on the desk. Thankfully it contained foods that lasted and didn't need heating, which was good considering it was left there over twelve hours ago. Arya took a deep breath, sat up, stretched again, threw the covers off of her body, then pulled her feet over the side of the bed. She stood carefully, though she still felt the sharp ache in her belly that the book called 'Round Ligament pain'. She could only carefully sit back down and wait for it to pass. Luckily this time was less painful than the others, so it lasted for a shorter amount of time, much to her relief.
Feeling better, Arya stood and walked over to the copious amounts of food that resided on the desk by the door. Most were of breads baked using only vegetables and yeast, an Elvish practice Vanir must have relayed to the cooks.
Arya looked down at herself and gently laid her left hand on her swelling middle. "Please don't make me sick, I know it's early morning and that's usually when we do that but I just don't want to at the moment. Let's just rest, okay?"
Oh course no response came. She didn't even feel a little bit of movement. She nodded to herself with a sigh then picked up the large round piece of bread and carefully pulled it apart, looking at the insides. The Humans here did surprisingly well for working with an Elvish recipe.
She pulled the desk chair out and took a seat, feeling relieved when the pain failed to return, then began eating slowly and carefully. That's when she noticed her Gedwëy Ignasia was still glowing. It seemed to do that all the time. Perhaps she would need to start wearing gloves soon, otherwise it would become too noticeable.
Once she had finished her meal, she felt confident in not feeling sick, so she decided she would go take a walk. She shifted her right ankle, feeling the knife that was always strapped there shift with the movement. The molded leather has reached a level of comfort and flexibility that she oftentimes didn't notice it. Of course she didn't go anywhere or do anything unprotected.
Standing, she moved to change her clothes. She would wear darker clothing to avoid having attention drawn to her, so, once again, she slipped into her travel clothes. They were the best at hiding her baby bump anyways.
After lacing her boots, Arya left, quietly opening and closing the door to her room. She then tried to sneak past Fírnen.
"Where are you going?"
"A walk. I wanted to take a look at the dungeons."
"Guards are most likely down there."
"They know who I am. It'll be okay. It's my business to be down there anyways." She shrugged, then stepped over his tail as he was sprawled out haphazardly across the cool stone.
"Do you wish me to go with you?" He asked.
"No, it's your turn to need sleep. I'll be back soon. I promise to be safe. You know I always carry some sort of weapon on me at all times." She smiled as she looked up at him. She had made her way to his head, which was now lifted so they were at the same eye-level.
He lowered his head even further and pressed his snout to her abdomen, like he's used to doing. The difference is that now her body is less slender than it used to be.
She smiled when he purred affectionately. This is her family. Their family. It brought tears to her eyes, happy tears, though.
"He's getting big, isn't he?" She asked quietly, allowing her hand to fall to her abdomen, next to Fírnen's snout.
"He is growing stronger with each passing day. Yes, he is getting big." He looked pointedly at her. "But that shouldn't leave your mind with negative connotations about seeing your body change with his growth."
"It's not." Arya responded, but he could see right through her. The perks of being a Rider.
"It is. I only urge you to keep yourself as positive as possible."
"I am trying to keep myself positive." she argued. "It just… it gets hard sometimes. I'm scared of not being a good mother and of turning into my own mother. I'm barely able to comfortably admit that I'm expecting a baby because I don't feel ready or capable. I've killed so many people over the years. It doesn't feel right that I'm so easily able to physically bring another life into the world when I've been the death of so many and yet it would hurt worse than anything I've ever felt if I lost him. I'm confused and worried, but I hope that goes away soon. I am working on it. It makes it better when I feel him move. It reminds me that I'm starting to feel excited about his arrival, that he's developing a personality and that I'm getting to know him. I see now what Katrina was talking about. It's still so early, but I do know that I love him." She smiled and Fírnen purred again.
"I'm glad you're feeling better about it. You know I'll always worry for you."
"Just as I will always worry about you." She smiled and bent slightly to kiss his forehead.
"Be careful." He reminded her once again.
"I promise." She smiled, and he gently nudged her hip when she turned to leave.
He watched her walk away, but he didn't expect her to pause. Her head turned and she studied the door to one of the rooms. That was Eragon's room, or at least the room he stayed in. It was the same room where they spent their… intimate time together. She simply shook her head and continued on her way, though Fírnen could feel the wash of emotions that flushed through his Rider. He chose not to comment and to let her be. He knew she still hurt from Eragon's departure. Even though they weren't in any sort of romantic relationship, they were friends. He was one of Arya's best friends and she's only had a few of those within her lifetime. To make it worse, she's lost most of them to the war, leaving her alone. It hurt her that he was gone too. At least he wasn't dead like the others.
Once within the confines of the castle, Arya quickened her pace and made a beeline for the place she wanted to go. It's better to walk with a pace that seems dedicated, even if it isn't.
The main halls were lit by the lanterns the Dwarves used. They were a gift from Orik to Nasuada as a congratulatory gift on both becoming Queen of Ilirea and as a 'thank you' for leading the Varden to victory. Arya wondered how Orik was doing as the King of his realm.
She continued to make her way down the stairs to the main arteries of the castle, which were nearly entirely silent. She came across a few sleepy looking guards who nodded in respect as she walked past. She seemed to find it in herself to nod back, even if she felt distracted and nearly aimless.
She came across the throne room and noted how much Nasuada had it changed. Art, both painted and written hung in frames along the walls. She took the moment to look around and observe the room. A massive brass bowl stood on a pedestal behind the throne. It contained a fire fueled by wood and oil. A single guard stood watch so as to never let it die. Arya smiled. That seemed like something Nasuada would do.
She continued down the halls, heading for the dungeons. Upon arrival, she noted that the mess Elva had made was cleaned up. It seemed like not even a single speck of dirt remained. The heavy doors were left open, though it was guarded by four men, two on each side of the entrance.
"May I enter?" Arya asked with an eyebrow raised.
"If you wish, Queen Arya. We must warn you to enter at your own risk." One of the men on the right spoke up.
"Thank you." Arya responded with a nod, then headed straight past them and down into the dark hallway. The torches were lit during the day while operations were active. They didn't need to be lit when nobody was down there. That's a waste of resources.
Her eyes adjusted immediately to the darker environment as she continued into the dungeon, her footsteps becoming nearly inaudible as she ventured further into the familiar room. A soft light caught her eye to the right towards the area where Eila ran off to when Edrik ended up getting Seithr Oil on him. With a frown, Arya drew the blade strapped to her ankle and stalked towards the area with extreme caution. The guards would have notified her if someone else was down there as well. This caused her senses to go into overdrive.
Growing closer, Arya let her senses drift into the hall where the light emanated from, and with a concerned frown, she straightened, sheathed her blade and walked more obviously towards the large entrance way that led into a room she was unfamiliar with.
"Eila? Why are you out of bed?" she said as she carefully entered the room. The half-Elf was leaning up against the far back wall. She was cradling something in her arms that looked similar to a decorative piece of handrail.
"I'm all better now. Eylörís, Fírnen and Shruikan worked together to heal my wounds. The medical ward wanted to keep me for a little while longer to monitor me because they believe I'm pregnant. They advised me to stay overnight, but I couldn't just sit there anymore, not when I'm all better." She said with a painfully forced smile.
"I'm glad your wounds are fixed. How do you feel, are you okay?" Arya asked while she approached Eila.
"I'm not pregnant. I'm fine." Eila glanced up with a frown. She looked like she hadn't slept well.
"I know you're not. When you're healed by someone or something, it can make you feel sick afterwards." Arya said with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh, then in that case, yes I did feel… not exactly right afterwards, but I do feel better." She spoke with her eyes trained on the strip of metal in her arms.
A light frown creased Arya's brow as she watched Eila. "How is everything else?" she stopped and looked over at the large glowing fire pit that was supplying the room with heat. An overhead vent proactively removed whatever smoke was produced.
Her student remained silent for a long time before answering, her fingers tracing over the pattern forged into the long piece of metal while she contemplated her response. "Fírnen freed Shruikan from his vows and I'm… I'm thirty-four years old." She said quietly.
Arya straightened her back as she ended up standing across from the young woman and to her right. Eila is a little older than she thought. "Are you upset by that?"
"Yes. It means my mother was kept and tortured by my father for seventy years before I was even a thought. She died alone and afraid without anyone to help her and that hurts me terribly. Neither of us know how old she was when she died." Eila's eyes watered with tears and they fell in quick succession. Arya reached out and laid both of her hands on Eila's forearm. This is the first time she's noticed that Eila isn't wearing any sleeves, exposing all of the scars that mark her porcelain-like flesh. It looked like the sleeves had been torn off, but Arya resisted looking around the room to see if Eila had torn them off in anger or grief.
"A-and your mother? Was Shruikan able to tell you who she was? If I know her, I might be able to tell you about her if you wanted. You might have family still in Ellesméra or in any of the other Elven cities that you could meet when we return." Arya said hopefully, trying to be positive.
Instead Eila gently set the strip of metal on the floor and reached up to very carefully lay her index finger on her teacher's chest. Her throat bobbed and she swallowed thickly. "Y-you're my family. My mother is Freydis." She said shakily and Arya's eyes widened. She immediately stepped forwards and brought Eila into a close embrace despite knowing she was not the greatest at giving hugs. The young woman trembled feverishly against her before she was ultimately able to relax enough to return the gesture and to stand a little bit closer.
"You're not upset?" Eila whispered shakily, bringing her hands up to grip Arya's shoulders.
"Why would I be upset? I've just found a member of my family I didn't know I had."
"B-but I'll bring shame to your family if you claim me. I'm Galbatorix' daughter. That's a horrible thing to have attached to you." Eila stuttered.
"You're somebody completely different from your father, Eila. You're half of your mother as well: my aunt. You're still a member of our family and I wouldn't have it any other way unless you personally wish to keep yourself unaffiliated."
"T-thank you…" Eila whispered as she tightened her embrace.
"Always." The Elven Queen smiled, and so did Eila.
Their embrace lasted for a long time before both of them pulled away, each feeling perhaps a little bit more than just emotional.
"You're okay?" Arya asked and Eila nodded.
"I have a family now that's more than only me and Eylörís. I'm better than okay." She smiled brightly.
"I know what you mean." Arya shared her cousin's smile.
Eila bent to pick up the piece of metal from the floor when the atmospheric feelings began to fade. "May I ask you about something?"
Arya nodded. "Go ahead."
The half-Elf nodded and held out the same, seemingly decorative piece of ironwork, her knuckles turning white the longer it took Arya to cautiously take it. "I… is it possible to create something with this? To use the design as plating for something?"
Arya inspected the piece with a careful eye. There was a front and back. What seemed to be the front held a braided pattern while the back appeared to previously have two bars attached to it. Those have since been sawed off. The entire piece was curved, like a question mark.
"You'll need to speak with Rhunön. She is the blacksmith who lives in Ellesméra and a personal friend of mine. I'm sure she will be happy to help. May I ask, what is this or what did it go to?" Arya asked, watching Eila's expressions with a careful eye.
The young woman looked to the floor again, contemplating her answer. With a relenting sigh, she pulled all of her hair over her shoulder. "I want to show you, it's just… it's easier."
Arya nodded. "Alright, but if this makes you uncomfortable, you don't have to reveal anything to me."
"No, I need to get over it at some point." Eila said quietly just before pulling the shirt from her body, leaving her in only her trousers and the supportive wrappings around her breasts. Her arm went to cover her waist, but she stopped herself and kept her head down. She instead let her fingers rub the fabric along the thigh of her trousers. "I hate my father more than anyone on the face of this planet. I've been his experiment, his test subject, his punching bag and his canvas. I've endured most things imaginable, from burns to poison. I've been broken and put back together because I didn't have the choice to give up. If I did, my body would have become a vessel for even darker intentions." She turned around and reached behind her neck to touch the braided pattern of raised scars that ran all the way down past the lip of her trousers. The muscles in her back and shoulders rippling in the firelight. Her physique let Arya know she's been trained to use a sword.
"The structure you're holding is a brand. My brand. It was his last gift to me before he died. I only want to remake it into something beautiful to prove that things used for dark intentions are not always dark in themselves. That is only steel. It isn't the one who had the intentions to hurt me. It reminds me to never become my father, and the day I fall onto his path, I will take my own life." She said with difficulty.
Horrified and feeling terribly, palpably sad, Arya reached out and carefully touched the mark made by the brand with the tips of her fingers. Eila inhaled sharply and jumped violently in response.
"Sorry… I-I didn't mean to-"
"It's okay!" Eila interrupted loudly. "I'm not used to… gentle contact and it just felt odd, that's all." She sighed and relaxed after taking a deep, calming breath.
Arya gently rested her whole hand on Eila's scar-covered back. She could make out marks from whip lashings to what she thought was the aftermath of having corrosive substances poured over her flesh. Several places had numerous stitch marks. Her skin looked melted in some places and finely cut in others. Words had been carved into her skin at one point, but have since been covered by new scars and can no longer be read. She let her fingers trace over the braid that ran down her spine, still slightly pink from the scar's natural healing process. Eila shuddered and stepped away before replacing her shirt, deciding she's had enough for today.
"Do they hurt still?" Arya asked in the saddest voice Eila has ever heard from her new teacher.
"Not really. They burn at the memory of their creation, but other than that, no." Eila turned around and held her arms out to take the brand from Arya, who handed it over.
"May I ask what happened to the handles? They look like they've been sawed off."
Eila only nodded. "That's why I'm down here. I wanted to cut them off so I could take it with me."
Thoughts and questions lit Arya's mind. "Had I not come down here, would you have told me?" She asked.
"I would have told you about… it eventually." Eila hugged the brand close to her chest and looked up. "When I was bandaged, I know you could see a lot of the marks I have. Why didn't you say anything?"
Aya gave a soft smile. "I could tell you were insecure about them. I know that if I was in your position and if you were in mine, I would have wanted to be able to tell you about them on my own. That being said I am immensely honored that you trust me enough to tell me about them. I know it wasn't easy, and I also want you to know that if you need to talk with me about something, I'm always here." Arya said kindly. "Now, would you like to go back to the Loft with me or do you have something you're looking for?"
"I'm… I'm saying goodbye. I've spent a lot of time in this room. My quarters were down the hall and my spot is right over there." Eila pointed to the direction her room is in and then to the back wall again.
"Your spot?" Arya asked.
"Where I… where I was hurt." She turned and walked over to the set of metal bindings attached to the blood-soaked wall. "This spot belonged only to me. Nobody else was here." She let her fingers touch the wrist cuffs. "Anyways… I just wanted to say goodbye to this place because when I wasn't being educated, I was here. I don't see this place as evil, though. This room didn't choose to see such atrocities and is therefore in pain. It offered cool stone when my skin burned, or something to lean on when I was too weak to stand. I'm not fond of this place for what happened here, but I think for as much as this room has helped me, it needs to at least hear both my goodbye and my thanks. If I ever end up here again, I'll be sure to visit so it is not forgotten."
Arya smiled and stepped forwards, then pressed a gentle kiss to Eila's forehead in the same affectionate manner she displayed with Fírnen. "You have a beautiful mind. Do your best to not let that go."
Eila returned her smile with a hopefulness Arya hasn't ever seen before. "Never."
"Good. Do you need any help looking for things?"
Eila shook her head. "No, I'm done in here. I need to get something from my old room, though. You can come if you want, I don't mind."
Arya nodded and let Eila lead the way. The young woman gestured for her teacher to follow, and soon they walked together through the darkened halls that wove through the dungeons in comfortable silence. It seemed Eila could see on her own just as well as Arya could, meaning half-Elves had the same general abilities as complete Elves.
When they came to the entrance of Eila's old room, she had Arya stay outside for a reason that wasn't specified. The Elf agreed immediately and simply watched her cousin disappear into the depths of the small room.
Inside, Eila set the brand on the bed before doing anything else. She then proceeded to quickly go through her small collection of belongings which consisted of two pairs of clothing, a set of small knives, a cloak, a leather belt, some sharpening stones and a security blanket which was only about two and a half feet long on each side and made of soft material. She gathered everything on her bed and dug the old knapsack out from under her bed along with a sword, bound in a black leather sheath. She packed her things in the knapsack, pausing to rub her fingers across the surface of the small blanket before packing it away as well. She then walked over to the tall cabinet that held things of the medicinal nature. She opened the doors and ran through all of the vials that had been committed to memory. Only seven of them would be good for travel, which really only consisted of burn remedies and tonics for dehydration.
After picking the vials she wanted, she stowed them at the bottom of her satchel then slung both her sword and the bag over her shoulder before taking one last look at her room. She sighed quietly. "Thank you." She whispered before opening the door again.
Arya was waiting for her on the other side with a soft smile. "Ready?"
Eila nodded. "Yeah. I'm not sure if Fírnen told you, but Nasuada is doing her best to recover the eggs so we can leave in a timely manner. She knows about our plan and she's letting me facilitate the continuation of said plan. News about my… pregnancy has already spread throughout the castle. I think it's going well. Nasuada will ensure I'll receive the correct supplements and that I'll have enough for the road." She offered a smile.
"Thank you, Eila, and yes, he did tell me. As much as I'd like to stay for a little while, there are things that are in motion which are beyond our control." Her eyes landed on the sword and Eila's eyes followed.
"Galbatorix let me pick it out when I passed a certain stage in my training. It's a Rider's sword." She clarified, then shrugged off and handed it to her teacher.
Arya kindly grasped the sword and inspected it, partially drawing the blade. From what she could see in the dim light, the blade's color was orange at the center and faded to red as the eye traveled further outward to the edge.
"The bladesmith helped me pick it out based on my fighting style and my size. It wasn't altered at all, the only thing that had to be remade was the sheath as the original was lost long ago. The stone in the end is of Carnelian and I've done my best over the years to add to it's reserve of power." She said as they began walking together. She led the way and Arya followed, her eyes still inspecting the sword.
"It truly is a beautiful blade. I've never seen you fight, but from the looks of it, it'll fit your stature quite well." Arya complemented as they walked out into the open, heading towards the stairs.
"Thank you. I don't know who it belonged to before me, but I do hope that sword was used for good and not evil."
"Rhunön might know. She's the one who made this sword."
Eila smiled. "All the more reason to get back to Ellesméra."
"Exactly." Arya said as she handed the sword back, helping Eila slide it back over her shoulder. "Do you want me to help you carry anything?"
"No, I'm okay. It looks like a lot, but really this stuff is just bulky. I'm going to drop it off in my room then return to the medical ward so that I don't get in trouble."
Arya chuckled to herself. "Alright. I'll visit you tomorrow morning and help convince the healers to let you out."
"Promise?" Eila smiled.
"I promise. Now let's get back and get ready for the sunrise. You should get some sleep. You look tired."
"I know… maybe Eylörís can help me with that."
"I would advise her to do so, just as long as she can. Is she still tired from healing you?" Arya asked as they walked up the stairs and past the guards.
"No, Shruikan and Fírnen did most of the heavy lifting because they're bigger, stronger and more experienced. She's actually out right now, enjoying the moonlight."
"Oh good, I'm glad." They shared a look, then continued on their path, speaking lightly of random things while they enjoyed each other's company.
A/N: Hey, how's it going on your side of the screen?! personally, I'm doing okay and just okay, but I have another chapter for you which is fantastic! This is a long chapter, I know, and I hope you didn't find it boring. Things are going to start moving because even I am getting bored (which isn't the best, because I'm the author), so I suppose this chapter is sort of a 'transition' chapter that gives insight into future chapters. Please forgive any errors, my patience was running unnaturally thin as I ended up re-writing this chapter several times and I'm done handling it for now. It's just one of those that I'll have to revisit when I'm not thoroughly annoyed by it. Anyways, updates might be a little bit more sparse because again, I'm past the draft I had and I'm kind of just... winging things, which require a lot more thought as I want to give you guys good, solid chapters that progress the story in an appropriate manner.
There you go! My monologue is complete. I hope you guys are reading these, if not, that's okay. Sometimes even I skip past Author's notes. I still love you all, though :)
Thank you for reading this far and I really do hope you guys are enjoying these. My intention is to give you all the best of my ability!
-Lady Arlo