Arya and Orik had gone over everything from history and literature to trade skills when it came to lesson plans. Some were more structured than others and some needed refining, but it was a start and a good one at that.
The conversation lulled to personal topics and Arya did her best to steer the conversation away from her pregnancy until it became an impossible task to keep discreet.
"Four months." She smiled tiredly and let a hand drift across her swollen midriff under the table they sat at. She felt a light flutter against her hand and she did her best to hide her anxiety. The recent milestone had only made the prospect of becoming a mother more real, and with it, her worries about failing at it.
"Ah, congratulations!" Orik cheered jovially. His mind began working and he frowned slightly. "You were pregnant when we saw Eragon off." He commented aloud though he instantly realized he probably shouldn't have.
"I didn't know it then. Fírnen, I think, did. He didn't say anything until about a month and a half later." Arya told him, and he saw the insecurities manifest within her usually powerful gaze as she reached up to fiddle with the placemat in front of her.
He smiled anyway, more gently this time. "Well, I'm happy for you." His voice was kind and she looked up.
"Thank you."
"Of course." He chuckled softly at a memory. "Hvedra is about six months pregnant now. She practically kicked me out when I left for Du Weldenvarden, but I know she misses me. I miss her beyond exhaustion. She's in good care, though, so I know she's alright." He volunteered.
"How long do Dwarven pregnancies last?" Arya asked and he looked at her quizzically.
"Twelve months." He said. "I thought that was taught in your kinder lessons."
"It is." Arya stated. "I… didn't attend the ones about reproduction when I was a girl."
Orik's eyebrows raised in surprise. "You do know how babies are made… right?"
Arya's cheeks reddened and she stiffened. "Of course I do." Her aggression settled with a sigh and she relaxed back into her chair. "Though, I don't exactly know what I've gotten myself into. That's all." She confessed.
"You didn't do any reading beforehand?" He asked, oblivious to her discomfort.
She straightened and closed her eyes. "I didn't…" she almost yelled. "I didn't… expect this." Her voice had fallen and she settled again. "I didn't have any reason to do any reading beforehand." She sighed. "The wards we used as contraceptive protection failed, which is highly unusual."
Orik nodded. "I see." His voice became tender. "And may I inquire about the father in all of this? I understand Elves do not have a religion, nor do you practice marriage, but as your friend I am bound to worry for you. Arya, you shouldn't have to be alone."
Arya felt her throat constrict and it took her a long moment to gather her composure and respond. "I'm not alone. Not really. I have Fírnen, and Eila and I have grown close. Then there's Angela. Eragon…" she started and Orik's eyes widened slightly. "Is across the sea. He can't be here, though he desires to through paternal duty and perhaps…" romance. She shook her head and let the subject drop.
"Is he keeping in contact with you?" Orik asked.
"Yes, though it is me who has neglected to contact him. I told him it was going to be difficult to communicate while I was traveling, so it's been about a month since we've spoken."
Orik nodded then straightened. "You should go speak to him, then. I feel our meeting is over for now. We've settled many things today." He smiled. "You need to take care of yourself and your relationship with Eragon."
Arya smiled and laughed lightly. "You sound like everyone I know."
"They all have a good point. Self-care is important." He grinned, then prepared to hop down from his seat, though he didn't move much more than that. "Thank you for confiding in me today. It means a great amount to me."
Arya nodded. "Of course." She hadn't meant to.
He nodded, then bowed with a fist over his chest. "May I ask something of you before I go?"
"Yes."
"I'd like to request a meeting with Eila. I'd like to get to know her a little better. It is a precaution I wish to take as King. The leaders of Alagaësia would benefit from knowing the Riders that protect them. Besides, she seems interesting." He grinned. "I think she may have an eye for Elva."
Arya huffed a laugh. "It's funny you should say that. Don't say anything to either of them, but I caught her and Elva this morning doing…" she tossed the words around in her mouth for a time. "They were kissing." With a frown, she looked up at him. "I have no issue with it, but if it were you, how would you handle the situation?"
Orik's eyebrows had risen into his hairline. "Well… is a relationship of that sort accepted here in Ellesméra?"
Arya nodded. "Yes."
"Then, if they weren't Riders, it would be fine, but since they're both Riders, things become more complicated." He spoke aloud while he ran his fingers through his beard absently. Arya didn't say anything, only listened. "I would say that if you can foresee a healthy, strong relationship between the two, then let it stay. If it's something of the experimental nature, then have it broken. There's too much at stake for something experimental to end up breaking a heart. If it does get serious, make sure to encourage a healthy atmosphere and teach them how to communicate with each other to avoid any drama that could hurt their education or cast either of them in a bad light due to immaturity." He looked up at her. "That is what I would do if I were in your position. I don't know if they need to get permission from you or anyone else, but I urge you to be careful, especially with Elva."
Arya sighed and nodded. "I think this relationship is good for both of them. Eila was raised in Urû'baen and, as you know, Elva has been an outcast nearly since day one. I think they feel like they belong somewhere and with someone. At least, this is from what I've been able to gather from the few conversations I've had with Eila about it since this morning. It's too early to determine whether this is experimental or not, but I believe it has the potential to be strong and healthy. Your advice is very helpful, thank you." Arya smiled. "A meeting with Eila will be arranged. I will warn you to tread lightly when asking about her past. She's been through more than either of us could imagine." Her smile softened.
Orik nodded, then slid off of his chair and bounced to the floor. "Thank you for allowing this. I am flexible on time, so it would be best to work around her in this case. Now, go speak with Eragon. That is important too. I'm eager to hear about his advancements. You have the map I gave you. Please share with him the potential locations I have circled."
"I will do that. I appreciate this chance to talk with you outside of the professionalism that is required by our positions." Arya nodded with the bow of her head.
"As do I, Arya. Thank you, and I'll see you soon. Take care of yourself." He bowed at the waist with a fist pressed to his shoulder.
"Thank you, Orik. I'll see you soon." She smiled kindly and so did he before he turned and left, leaving her alone in the Commons room.
When all had grown silent and still, Arya hoisted herself up into a standing position, then sighed with exhaustion. She wanted to sleep more than she wanted to talk to Eragon, but she also knew that he was probably worried. They've been back for four days now and she hadn't had the chance to scry him. That she felt bad about.
With a sigh, she started up the spiral staircase that took her up into the trees and she thought about all the things she would need to tell Eragon. Maybe it wouldn't be a long conversation.
Reaching the top, she trudged into her room and closed the door, then fell back onto her neatly made bed. She remembered doing the same thing after just learning of her pregnancy, only that time, she was practically paralyzed with terror and didn't move for what felt like hours. She let her hand rest on her belly again as she curled up on her side to stare out the window. So much has changed.
So much will continue to change. Just like the seasons.
Giving herself a moment to rest, Arya felt more relaxed by the time she was sitting at her desk, cluttered with papers and letters. She absently sorted them into piles to be looked at later. Her eyes eventually came to rest on her own reflection and she winced slightly. She looked tired and thin, and with careful fingers, she undid the band that held her hair back. The inky mass fell over her shoulders and upper back. It had grown a few inches since she cut it last, which was okay. She hadn't decided if she liked it on the shorter side or not.
Brush in hand, she began the not so tedious practice of combing her dark locks. It used to be a chore, but now it wasn't. She was done in less than a few minutes.
Once more did she look at her reflection and this time, she pressed her fingers to her cheek, trying to convince herself that it was only the light and not her unwellness.
"Alright, love." She spoke, then looked down at herself. "Let's talk to your father for a little while." Her hands found the swell of her abdomen instantly and she hugged herself close. "Draumr kopa." She fixed her posture as the mirror went dark.
She was met with a lot of white space, which she didn't like. A few belongings of Eragon's showed up. His sword. A few chests of Eldunarí. His bedroll. She smiled. He's had that thing for so long.
Eragon himself was busy doing something, and by the way his hands moved, she figured he was binding a book. She opened her mouth to speak, but his hand went to his necklace and he looked over at her. His jaw dropped and he threw himself out of bed. "Arya! You're okay!" He cheered as he rushed over to his mirror. He remained standing, which let her know he had a full-length mirror in his room.
"I'm alright." She couldn't help her smile. "I'm sorry it took so long to contact you… there's so much going on here at home."
He nodded and she swore she saw tears in his eyes. "A lot has been happening here too. We found an island! It's beautiful and the dragons love it. Saphira is having fun with the sand. Have you ever seen black sand? We're working on designs for the Keep and we're still coming up with what to name this place. It's only been about a week, I think. Blödhgarm has a better grasp on the days than I do. The trees are purple on the inside!" He exclaimed excitedly and took a breath. "I've helped sing the structures we're living in and it's very hard to work with because of how slow the trees grow, but it's beautiful." His eyes shone like stars and Arya couldn't help the easy smile that tugged in her lips.
Nervousness clouded the clarity in his gaze. "H-how are you? A-and the baby? You don't look well…" he grimaced. "I didn't mean that offensively, I'm just worried abo-"
"Eragon." She smiled through the weariness. "We're both healthy. Juniper is a little bit behind schedule, but it's not life-threatening or negative in any way. He's still in a healthy range. I ended up with a respiratory infection and because my grasp on magic has vanished entirely, I'm fighting it on my own. Again, we're fine. Just tired. That's what delayed me in scrying you. We arrived in Ellesméra three days ago. Four if you count today."
His eyes were wide and he was silent for a long while, then he frowned. "You're remembering to eat and drink water, right?"
Humor found Arya's eyes. "I'm reminded of that from five different directions: Fírnen, Eila, Eylörís, Elva, and Angela. I couldn't forget even if I wanted to." She smiled. "But thank you for checking in on that. It means a lot."
"Well, of course. I care about you and your well-being, even more so now that we're having a baby." His expression fell. "I wish I could be there with you…"
Arya shifted and a sad look creased her features. "Me too." She couldn't look at him as she rubbed her shoulder. For once, the vulnerability she was giving to him didn't hurt or feel like a breach into her private mind. It was a simple truth she's waited too long to admit.
Eragon straightened his tunic and adjusted his posture. "I'm coming home." He said quietly. "I spoke with Blödhgarm and with Glaedr and the Eldunarí and they agree that I should spend the rest of your duration and a few months following in Ellesméra with you. The Elves know how important having a child is and while it's a strange time for me to leave, this is… most important." He exhaled, then took a deep breath in. "I need your permission, though."
Arya's eyes were wide as she stared at him in shock. "Well… how soon…?" She worked her jaw and shook her head. "How long will you stay on your island before they let you go?"
"Two months. That way, by the time I reach Ellesméra, you'll be, I think, about seven months in by the time I reach you. That'll give us five months before the baby comes and I'll be allowed to stay for four months following the birth. I could be called back here to the island, but the two months I'm working in currently are for planning purposes." His fingers worried at the sleeves of his soft blue tunic.
"I see…" Arya began as she tried to decipher the war between logic and her heart. "If it's been approved on your end… then you have my permission." A smile split across her face at the openly joyful expression Eragon gave.
"I get to come home?" He asked, just to be sure as he settled his bouncing.
Arya nodded, feeling the happiest she's been since… she couldn't remember, but that wasn't the point. Her heart swelled. "You do, yes."
She grinned as Eragon threw his arms up in the air and released a long breath to substitute a call of elation. His whole body sank with his quiet cry and he reminded her of the boy she once knew who was green to the warpath. How he's grown, she thought.
"I get to come home!" He was grinning like a fool.
The baby kicked at her hand and she looked down at herself. "I think the baby is happy about it too… I can feel him kick now."
Eragon's reaction sobered and his gaze became soft. "Against your hand?"
"Mhm." She hummed in response along with a nod. "It started only yesterday evening when I was trying to go to bed, so I've only gotten to experience it a few times."
"I wish I could feel it." He responded softly.
"You will. He'll only get stronger, you know." She rolled her eyes. "Oh he's going to be a pain to sleep with when he gets bigger." She sighed with a light smile.
"Does he pain you now?" Eragon looked worried.
"Not really. Sometimes he's awake when I'm trying to sleep. He's discovered how to somersault." She huffed a laugh. "Actually, he's known about that. It's just more exaggerated now that he's older."
Eragon nodded. "I'm glad he's not hurting you."
"I'd gladly endure it if it came to that, you know." She said pointedly. "He's my son. I love him."
Eragon smiled and rested his fingers on the liquid surface of his mirror, causing a calm ripple to run through the surface. Arya reached up to do the same, though her mirror was solid. "I love him too, Arya." His expression became peaceful. "Tell me about what's going on at home." He said as he pulled away.
Arya did the same and looked outside. "Well, it's getting warmer, so the forests are starting to wake up and grow. I've sent magicians to help raise Carvahall. I have yet to check in on that, but to my knowledge everything is going well." She smiled. "You won't recognize Elva anymore. She's grown into a beautiful young woman and she appears to be about Nasuada's age. Interestingly, a dragon hatched for her two days ago and her Gedwëy Ignasia is much different than our own." Arya held out her left hand to show the silver oval on her palm. "I'll have her join me the next time I talk with you."
He was silent as he absorbed that piece of information. "She could probably destroy the world if she wanted to."
Arya nodded. "She knows that, but I think she's growing afraid of herself because of it. At this point Angela and I are trying to build a safe and welcoming environment for her to learn in. Hopefully her dragon will help her learn to control herself as well." Another smile marked her lips. "She and Eila have grown closer than I expected, so hopefully they'll help each other learn as well."
Eragon looked at her funnily. "What do you mean 'closer than you expected'?"
"I walked in on them kissing rather deeply this morning. Orik advised me to let the relationship stick around if it has the potential to become serious and to break it apart if it's simply experimental and then to help guide them toward a healthy relationship if it is to stick around. I was speaking with him earlier about lesson plans and the subject came up."
Eragon was frozen as he worked to take in everything. "They're both women."
Arya frowned. "Yes they are."
"And… they were kissing?"
"Yes." She said in a harder tone than she meant.
"That's odd."
She shifted and pursed her lips. "No, it's not. Attraction and the capability to love another is rather universal. Have you… never seen a same-sex couple before?" her neutral expression became a frown.
"I don't believe so, no." He confessed and she smiled.
"Well, they exist and it's okay that they exist."
"I never said it wasn't okay, I only was saying it's unusual." He replied. "I'm okay with Eila and Elva being in a relationship so long as they don't break any rules or hurt each other. I don't know Eila very well, but I think Elva would benefit from being close with someone." He smiled and shrugged. "How is Eila, by the way?"
"She's doing alright, I think. She's currently with Elva, who is getting fitted for a sword. They are to start sparring lessons tomorrow. I'm glad to say that she's been able to loosen up a bit since we met. We've built a good relationship so far. I'm trying not to show favoritism between her and Elva, because Eila is my cousin. If I do, I honestly don't mean to, but I'm excited to have found a cousin I never knew about." Arya smiled with joy.
"Is she displaying any of her father's traits?" He asked a little worriedly.
"Aside from the silver tongue, not really. When she's excited about something, an unusual accent slips out that I can't exactly place. Her first time seeing trees was about a two-day, intermittent monologue. She was very nice to the people within the small towns we ended up in. She's good at conversation." Arya frowned, then. "She either has Repeating Trauma or is on the brink of having it. It prevents her from sleeping and she occasionally woke up screaming while we were on the road." A curious look crossed Arya's features. "I think Elva's presence helps. When Elva was bonded to her dragon, the overwhelm in the magic knocked them both out for about two days. Eila stayed with her the whole time and I don't think she was troubled by her dreams at all."
"Another reason for them to stay together." He smiled. "As long as they're happy and healthy. I'm glad to hear Eila is doing better and I hope she continues to improve. I remember you mentioned Orik was in Ellesméra. How is he?"
Arya shrugged. "Expecting his first child with his wife, Hvedra. She's about six months along and Dwarves also have twelve-month pregnancies. He's doing well here in Ellesméra. He's assimilating quite nicely." She complimented.
"Oh, tell him 'congratulations' for me, will you?"
"Of course I will. You're his foster brother." She smiled and so did Eragon.
"Thank you." He shifted and looked down at his feet. "Now, I think… you should get some rest." He worried about offending her.
"I do too." She agreed and he looked up at her, surprised. "Eragon, I always enjoy talking with you."
"As do I, and you have no idea how glad I am to have spoken to you today." He grinned.
"Me too, and I'm so sorry that I haven't contacted you sooner. I feel like so much has happened, even though it's only been a month."
"I can relate to that. It's been busy here on the island. It's hard work, but I like it. I get homesick often, but like a wise Elf once told me, just think of the cause and the purpose we're tending to and find home in that."
Arya smiled. "Was it Kenri?"
Eragon straightened. "How did you know?"
"Educated guess." She shrugged. "I'll let you go. Get back to work and do good things." She grinned jokingly.
"You too, Arya Svit-Kona." He twisted his hand and arm over his sternum and bowed. "Take care of yourself. I'll talk to you soon."
"Alright. I promise. I'll see you soon."
They ended the incantation and the last thing she saw of him was his deep brown eyes smiling back at her with joy and she suddenly felt much lighter.
She rubbed circles into her belly and sat back, then closed her eyes. "I miss him Juniper." She smiled. "But he'll be home soon, though. He'll be home soon."
The Juniper kicked in response and Arya's smile widened. "I love you too, buddy. I love you so much."
And everything was going to be okay.
A/N: Greetings! This was written between two and five o'clock in the morning today and I have done a read-over of it, but with that said, I'm running on three hours of sleep (I've developed insomnia this year) and I might've missed something, so please forgive anything that doesn't blend well or is spelled incorrectly or is incorrectly placed or... something of that nature. I'm okay, I promise. I'm just adjusting to a new schedule that hasn't been changed in two and a half years and I think I might have depression too, but that's not the point, the point is that I'm trying and it's hard, but it's getting better (I think). Also, I started magnet fishing. That's when you throw a heavy-duty magnet that's attached to a long length of cord into the water and then pull it back and see what you've caught. You'd be surprised what people drop in the water here in Narnia.
Alright, enough rambling. I hope you guys are doing well and I hope you've enjoyed this chapter.
Nighty night, sleep tight, don't let the Burrow Grubs bite! I'm going to try sleeping now :)
I love you all!
-Lady Arlo