Angela raised an eyebrow as she watched Arya fidget restlessly in her chair, her head turned as she stared out the window through the kitchen with wide green eyes. They both were sitting at the dining table that resided in the Rider's Loft Commons, spending time with each other while the rest of the younger generation of Riders and Dragons had been sent out to greet Murtagh, Thorn, and the mentally mangled Eldunarí they had in tow. The Herbalist finally reached over to lay a hand on the Elf's knee, temporarily stopping it from its rhythm of incessant stress-induced bouncing.
"Sweetheart." She said gently, calling Arya's attention to her. "They'll be okay. Eila knows Murtagh and Thorn. They're much less likely to cause trouble because of that. The two are like siblings, you and I both have heard that."
"I should be there with them, though. What does it say about me if I'm not there to greet them?" Arya replied harshly, her slanted eyes intense with emotion.
"It says that you're taking care of your needs and protecting both yourself and your unborn child. Sitting this one out doesn't mean you're a weak ruler. Besides, everyone will be back soon. Eila, Eylörís, and Shruikan are headed out to visit your teachers. They're all working to suppress the rather insane Eldunarí they've been entrusted to deliver. They'll be okay; they're strong enough. Your other four are going to escort Murtagh and Thorn back here. Let them stretch their diplomatic limbs a little bit." Angela offered a reassuring smile, then sat back in her chair, releasing Arya's leg.
The Elf took a deep yet shaky breath, then let it out, trying to calm herself. "There's a lot at stake today… there's a lot that can go very wrong."
"Or they'll be just fine. Stretch your senses out there a little bit. It won't hurt you or the baby. I promise." Angela said gently, her eyes flicking downwards when she realized Arya's knee went right back to its restless bouncing.
"I don't know… maybe a different time when it's safer. I'll feel clumsy… it's been so long."
"It's only been- what- three months? You'll be okay. Let it snap back into place; let yourself feel again. I think you'll be more confident when you open your mind back up." Angela leaned over the table, pressing her elbows into the worn wood that's seen so many faces. "Check on Elva. See how she's doing. I'm less confident Eila will recognize your mental contact right away mainly because she isn't expecting it and you two have had very few mental conversations with each other in the past, plus she needs to focus. Elva knows you from before… from during the war."
Arya sighed, long and deep. "Fírnen's with them. I'll speak to him, but I still believe it's a bad idea to do this with anyone else. Too much is involved."
"How about Rhunön? You're too familiar with Fírnen for it to do you much good, not to mention the intense bond you share. It'd be like cheating, Arya. Besides, if you really wanted to see what was going on, you could just ask Fírnen to show you what he sees and hears. I'm trying to get you to use your magic again. Your palm isn't glowing anymore." The Herbalist replied seriously, leaning over to try catching Arya's gaze. The Elf ignored her and turned her attention to the window.
"Rhunön's busy."
Angela reached out to poke Arya's bicep. "Hey." She said sternly. "Why are you making excuses? It'll be like using your penmanship again after taking a hiatus for a few months. So what if your handwriting isn't as perfect as it once was? It'll come back. Just take a deep breath and reach out to someone farther apart than the distance between you and me. You'll be okay. How about Däthedr?"
Arya inhaled sharply in frustration. "Look, I don't understand why we have to do this now. Important, sensitive things are happening outside these walls and I don't want to interrupt something that could be fragile. I can't be there to watch over everything in person. I've been a bad enough Ruler as it is, I can't let this go under too because I'm playing around." The Elf snapped, her back straightening as her posture became aggressive. "I appreciate the sentiment, I really do, but-"
A low vibration shook the ground below them, sending shockwaves through the trees. Arya's ears pricked and so did Angela's, their gaze turning towards the window to look out. After a moment, they glanced back at each other.
"That's the Menoa Tree…" Angela said quickly and darkly, stating what was obvious to both of them. The intense tremor of magic that pulsed through the earthen life around them couldn't have belonged to anything else. The source of power was clear, but the reason behind its manifestationwas another matter entirely.
Arya let her mind open to Fírnen's, stretching her mental reach as far as she could. Relief spread through her when she felt his familiar mental signature reach for her own, but it didn't last when the initial sensation she received from him was fear.
"Fírnen?! What's going on?" She blurted, unable to contain her concern.
"I am coming home. I do not know." He replied just as quickly. "All of us are coming home. Murtagh is with us. Thorn is with us." She caught a glimpse of his surroundings, the luscious canopy blurred beneath him as he raced back to the Loft. "Eila, Eylörís, and Shruikan are…" his mind trailed. "Around the Menoa tree."
"I need to be there-"
"You will stay at the Loft where it's safe." He said in a harshly commanding tone.
"I'm not leaving you to be alone in this. I'm going whether you like it or not. The tree was once an Elf; she won't hurt me. Not while I carry life under my heart." She ended the conversation and started towards the door, no questions asked.
"What are you doing?" Angela said as she caught up to the Elven Queen, reaching for her shoulder to stop her.
"To see what's wrong."
"Arya, it's dangerous for you-"
"Then protect me. As the Queen of the Elves and Alagaesia's Head Rider this is my duty. If you find it too dangerous for me, then stand by to help keep me safe. If you don't want to go, you are free to do whatever you wish. It's up to you." Arya turned on her heel and headed off towards the door. She didn't hesitate to pull it open, but deep down she was relieved when she heard Angela's footsteps behind her. She was even more relieved when she could feel the Herbalist's life-signature prickle her recently awakened senses. It was a faint acknowledgement, but a significant one.
"We're okay." She whispered to herself when she felt her son move around, most likely in response to the more tense situation every Elf was suddenly placed in. People rushed past them, heading in the same direction. Overhead, she saw streaks of green, yellow, red, and violet pass over her. "You've changed direction." She noted.
"Because you are reckless and you don't listen. I love you still and I must protect you." His sour unamusement was directed entirely at her. "We must protect you. The same goes for Eila and Eylörís. They too are in probable danger and they too are members of our family."
He was right and she knew it, but she continued on her path. Even her body protested her decisions as the aches and pains of pregnancy were catching up to her. "This involves matters pertaining to both of my titles. It is my duty to oversee and resolve the issue or issues at hand. I know you want me to stay back where it's safe, but sometimes being in the position I'm in requires sacrifices. We have five dragons, Shruikan, and an entire nation of Elves on our side. It'll be okay."
Fírnen huffed at her and continued on, leading the others to their destination. They didn't have far to go and neither did she.
The same low vibration shook the ground again and Angela jogged up beside her. "We aren't on a fault line are we?"
"There are a few in Du Weldenvarden… why?" Arya looked over, but never slowed her pace.
"I would hope the Menoa Tree doesn't have the power to cause those faults to crack open." The Herbalist pondered.
A newfound anxiety swirled around in Arya's mind. "I would hope the same. We're almost there. We'll find out soon enough."
The tree loomed in the distance, dark and menacing as it seemed to possess an anger that was so potent it hung like a dense fog. Arya broke into a run as her concern over the matter amplified upon witnessing such a thing. Never in any Elf's lifetime have they seen such a violent reaction from such a typically benevolent natural being.
Coming to the railing of the porch that overlooked the massive expanse of earth which nursed the Menoa Tree, Arya and Angela slid to a stop, instantly looking down to see what was going on, barely noticing the other dragon-Rider pairs surrounding the commotion below. Fírnen's presence was soothing to his Elven Bond-Mate, however, and she acknowledged him briefly before focusing her attention to the situation at hand.
Below them, knotty roots had sprung from the ground, entrapping both Eylörís and Eila against the soft soil. All of the white and blue dragon's appendages were tied up whereas Eila's upper half was the only thing bound. Her legs kicked and dug into the dirt frantically as she tried everything she could to get free.
Once again, the low vibration shook the trees around them and The Menoa seemed to darken further. Arya reached out, worried for the lives of her students but also for the massive tree itself. Was it dying? Was it sick? Was it hurt? What was wrong?
A terrifyingly large consciousness pushed at Arya's mind in the same way one would forcefully knock on a door, almost ready to kick it down. Relenting, she let the tree's mind fill her own.
"You have brought a Shade-Rider into my forest?! You have brought ill-minded Eldunarí into my home?!" The Menoa nearly screamed at her, branches moaning under the intensity of her outrage. Arya couldn't take her eyes off of her cousin who struggled against the roots tied around her; worried the tree was going to hurt her.
As the words sunk in, the Elf's face twisted in confusion and shock and anger at the accusation. "No Shade has existed since Varaug and Durza, they are both dead! Regardless, our wards would have stopped one from entering Du Weldenvarden. It is a dark and bold move to accuse one of my Riders of being a Shade. On what grounds do you stand to issue such a condemnation?" Arya demanded, her eyes bright with concern.
The tree seemed to shudder in a reaction none of them expected, darkening further. "Come. I will show you. This one is guileful." The tree's feminine voice replied with irritation.
Arya moved instantly, pushing past her people to reach the closest set of stairs which spiraled down to the ground, formed from the trees themselves just like the rest of their city. She pushed on, hurrying with urgency though careful to keep her balance.
The Elves around them watched with a buzzing mixture of worry and anger and confusion. It was a shared expression.
"It is a shame you didn't inspect her mind before allowing her in your company." The tree hissed with venom.
"You undermine my intelligence and ability to care for my people. It is a simple thing to inspect her mind; there's nothing wrong with her. Eylörís would not have hatched for a Shade, may I remind you. It is not in the nature of dragons to make such a harmful decision. It would be a disgrace to their kind and quite possibly a world-ending threat." Arya shot, angry and impulsive. Her temper was rising, awakening her senses further; opening her mind. It was almost overwhelming.
Angela had followed behind her, silent, but protective. She was worried that Arya's tendency to anger quickly would potentially damage her relationship with the Menoa Tree, not that they had much of one to begin with. The only relationship they had seemed to be during her people's celebrations. The Herbalist tensed, feeling the rage bubbling in the Elven Queen's chest, which she knew could be very bad, especially when it came to her loved ones being in danger.
Back straight and commanding, Arya strode out into the clearing, passing her fellow Riders without pause, barely noticing both Murtagh and Lord Däthedr had their swords drawn and the aggressively protective nature of all the dragons around them. Fírnen didn't hesitate to follow her too and she didn't object, feeling more secure with his and Angela's presence behind her. Urgency surged in her chest and her pace quickened, glancing up at the massive tree whose canopy stretched over them. She didn't feel safe.
Angela moved to check on Eylörís while Arya jogged over to where Eila was laying. The poor girl was visibly frightened as she squirmed in the tree's embrace, unable to get free. The claustrophobic nature of her binds were causing her to panic and lose control of herself. "Hey." The Elf knelt next to her cousin, laying a hand on her arm. She reached up to brush the dirt off of Eila's cheek. "Take a deep breath. It's okay. Try to relax."
"I can't… the roots… my chest… I can't."
Arya frowned and looked up at the tree. "If you refuse to let her go, at least give her the mercy of drawing breath." She shot angrily, her mental voice like ice and as sharp as a shaving razor.
"She is a danger."
"Tell me why!" Arya shouted at the top of her lungs, using her own magic for the first time since she had lost it to amplify her voice, startling everyone who hasn't seen her raw anger on display. "You cannot keep her here without cause! It is cruel and a violation against life itself! If you won't let her go, let her draw breath! The same goes to Eylörís if you have her bound tightly as well!"
The roots shifted around Eila's body, freeing her chest, but remained tight around her shoulders, wrapping around her underarms to keep them down, and it bound her wrists as well to void her use of her arms. Her hips and lower legs were treated the same way. A singular, thick root slid up, pressing itself threateningly to the center of her chest, over her heart.
Taking a steadying inhale of her own, Arya inspected what she was working with. Eila still looked scared. Who could blame her? Again, she reached for her cousin's hand in an attempt to calm her. "The tree is accusing you of being a Shade." She said quietly, the conversation becoming personal; intimate. "She thinks you're a danger… she's also not pleased about Murtagh having brought the Eldunarí here, but it's mainly… well, might you know why she is accusing you of being a Shade?"
Eila's eyes widened, becoming vulnerable, knowing she had to tell the truth as quickly as possible. She squirmed uncomfortably under the pressure of the root pressed to her chest. "Because… I was one… but not anymore… not really." She squirmed, feeling the roughness of her binds gnaw into her sensitive skin in the places where they rode up under her clothing. "Durza… I was his apprentice for as long as I can remember… he taught me dark magic and how to work with spirits… Galbatorix ordered me to become a Shade once I knew enough; once he knew Durza and I were strong enough to reverse it if he wasn't pleased by what I would become. I had no choice…" she seemed to collapse in on herself, her body trembling. "I asked the kindest spirit I could find in Urû'baen to do it… so I wouldn't become like Durza; so it and I could coexist; so I wouldn't become… evil. The spirit agreed because it understood my position and the risks had it refused and for almost ten years my body wasn't my own; I had to share it… let it… slip out of my control sometimes. The spirit who was with me… I managed to release it on my own but… I wasn't ever the same after. The tree probably can sense the… marks it left behind…" she closed her eyes, blinking the tears away. "I'm not a danger, I promise-" She gasped desperately. "If I was, I would have done something by now… I don't mean any harm… I just want to get better and start a new life, and- and I have started… I'm… the happiest I've ever been." She swallowed thickly. "If the tree wants to see my memories… she can… I just want her to let Eylörís go."
Arya ran her fingers through Eila's hair a few times to settle the tense emotions that flooded through her, understanding how helpless her cousin felt in that moment. The root pressed to Eila's chest relaxed, but it didn't leave.
"I consider her a member of my family." Arya stated darkly, feeling the tree's consciousness lingering in her mind. It never left even when she focused on speaking to Eila. "As her teacher, a fellow Rider, and her friend, I ask that you release her and Eylörís. They have not committed crimes towards our race nor do they intend to. I know you were listening to us and I know you are angry, but as Riders, we are to stick together and help each other overcome our challenges to grow into better versions of ourselves so we can protect our world in the best ways we can. To deny her this; to deny anyone this, is an unspeakable misdeed, especially if they are proactively trying their hardest to overcome their obstacles. Sometimes it's harder to forgive the self than to forgive those who have committed vile acts in the past- that is what she's working on now. Let her go. Let them both go. If you want to see her mind, as you heard, she'll let you in, but be respectful and gentle. She doesn't deserve abuse."
The Menoa Tree's consciousness slithered away from her mind, no doubt to enter Eila's to seek answers. Arya continued running her fingers through Eila's hair to soothe her frantic nature. "She wants to look through your memories. I told her to be well-mannered when doing so. If she breaks this, pull away to the best of your ability. I know it'll seem daunting, but I know your mind is strong. She doesn't get to bully you or anyone. I won't allow it."
Eila looked worried but she nodded, already feeling the tree's consciousness pushing against her mind. She gave Arya's hand a squeeze, her grip shaking like a leaf in rough winds. The Elf returned the gesture, showing her support while her cousin pinched her eyes shut to brace herself for letting the Menoa Tree in.
"Breathe, Eila." Arya spoke softly, understanding it was a stressful position for her cousin to be in.
Thankfully, the half-Elf listened and took the deepest breath she dared before lowering her mental defenses, allowing the old tree into her mind. The soft music of its nature seemed to calm her even more, but she resisted its lull in favor of keeping herself awake and aware.
Moving on instinct, Eila surrendered her memories, unable to give an accurate description of a timeline because she truly didn't know how long ago that part of her life had come to pass. It was all before Durza had been slain, though. The tree then attempted to find the information she possessed surrounding the art of working with spirits, pulled to the irresistibly forbidden knowledge, but Eila shut that section of her mind without hesitation. "That dies with me." She growled in response and the tree backed away.
"Cautious am I to let you live." The tree replied, offended. It was used to being given what it wanted, Eila could tell.
"Durza never took on another apprentice and because of this, I want to let it die with me to protect this world. That includes any power: good, evil, or anywhere in the realm of neutrality."
The tree seemed to look upon her curiously. "And who are you to decide the fate of a subset of knowledge? Who are you to proclaim this knowledge you have needs to be lost? What qualifies you to set these verdicts?" If the tree had eyes, they would have narrowed dangerously.
Eila shifted, growing angry. "By asking me these things, it seems you agree that Shades should exist commonly and that the darker arts of magic should be freely indulged in." She presented a memory of absorbing the entirety of a person's life-force, only to store it in the Carnelian pommel of her sword. She showed another memory where she was instructed by Galbatorix, bound by forced oaths, to take thousands of lives which now existed in that same rusty-colored stone. "I could turn a portion of the Beor Mountains into an extension of the Hadarac Desert with the power that exists in my sword solely because of my own indulgences in dark magic. Nobody should have that kind of power; it's subject to abuse. In untrained hands it could end our world. Galbatorix knew this fact well; he kept me and Durza both under strict oaths. Why do you believe I should share my knowledge with you? What gives you the authority to claim it? Who are you to pin me to the ground and demand to take something that isn't yours to have and that isn't mine to give? Where does my assumed trust in you come from? In my experience, trust is mutual, and obviously you do not trust me or Eylörís. Why should either of us consider the same to you?" Emboldened, Eila took a deep breath, feeling the root on her chest dig into the soft spot below her sternum. "Eylörís and I have agreed to die with our extensive knowledge of dark magic. Should you decide you have the authority to take our lives and should you demand we hand over our knowledge in favor of saving ourselves, our answer will be in the nature of death. All I ask is that you make it painless. We've done nothing to you to deserve a torturous end." Eila spoke aloud, her voice angry and raw, her accent revealing itself entirely for everyone to hear and witness. She no longer wanted the encounter to be private. She saw what the tree wanted and found it to be criminal. Everyone should know the truth.
A violently angry and displeased shudder shook the ground in a low, violent vibration, sending shockwaves through the forest.
"Oh come now, Linnëa." Angela spoke up, surprising everyone. "Eila has a point. She is safeguarding her knowledge, bearing the weight of that responsibility so our realm can live in safety from it. She's chosen to die rather than give it up. Yes, the presence of someone who possesses dark abilities does pose a threat to the forest to an extent, but you know well enough that if you teach someone how to appreciate something, that someone will also learn compassion as a result. You are not being a very good teacher of these things at the moment. I'd say pinning someone who saw her first living plant only a few months ago to the ground is the opposite of teaching plant-related appreciation. Enough of this childlike behavior. Let them go."
To everyone's shock, the tree listened.
Arya looked up at Angela with curious eyes, wondering why the Menoa Tree followed her orders when it followed no one else. Her attention was pulled to Eila who squirmed at the feeling of the roots sliding away from her. The instant she was free however, she sat up and wrapped Arya in the warmest hug she could manage, holding her tightly, desperately. She buried her face in the Elf's shoulder, taking comfort and giving comfort at the same time.
"I'm sorry…" Eila whispered. "I should have told you…"
Arya reached up to hold her cousin's head as she readjusted her own embrace, tailoring it to what she felt Eila could benefit from. "While I suppose it would have been helpful to know, I'd still rather you tell me things when you're ready. I'm curious though now: I didn't realize a Shade could be, I suppose… reversed?"
Eila shook her head. "They can't typically. An evil spirit consumes and destroys. There was no hope for Durza, he was a walking shell." She shifted away to look her cousin in the eyes. "Typically spirits are indifferent to mortal toils, but the spirit that made me into a Shade understood my struggle and agreed to… attach itself to me. It knew what I'd become had I been possessed by an evil spirit and that's why it helped me. There were a few other reasons. I spent months making sure the spirit wasn't evil or feigning compassion, and once I realized it's intentions were for the better, I let it… in." She looked down, pulling away completely. "I had become Irilvoath. My hair and eyes didn't… turn red like Durza. For me, my hair turned white and my eyes had become silver; reflective like mirrors or polished steel. My skin had become the same as Durza's though. All my scars had disappeared too in the transformation. Galbatorix thought what I had become was strange, so he and Durza studied it. They eventually grew bored and I managed to release the spirit in me on my own because they refused to help. It took a long time for the color to return to my hair. I wanted to see if it would grow back naturally, but I doubted it would. I was wrong. My eyes did the same. My vision was blurry for a while as my body did all it could to heal." She saw the worry in Arya's eyes. "My vision is fine now." She offered a small smile. "The only things that were left are some scars on my soul and a curse Durza had woven into the possession ritual when I let the spirit claim me. Other than that I'm back to normal… or as normal as one can get after all that. I'm not a danger, I promise. I don't want to ever become a Shade again and I've learned how to control the curse." She restated and Arya softened.
"I know you're not a danger, Eila. I don't know what the tree told you, but I think the majority of Ellesméra likes you. They're still cautious, but it takes a while for my people to warm up to someone. Däthedr is the exception." She smiled warmly. "Däthedr is fond of you, I think. Not…romantically, just platonically. Like a sibling I think." She offered a smile. "It's a noble thing of you to do: guard your knowledge with your life. I hope you never have to die in its name though." She reached up and brushed the rest of the dirt from Eila's cheeks.
"Well… a lot of the knowledge was stolen. It's not mine to have anyways. My hand was forced; I was under multiple oaths, as per usual." The half-Elf spoke softly. She glanced over at her fellow Riders and Dragons, shrinking back when she noticed nearly all of Ellesméra was watching too. "The Urgals…" she turned back to Arya. "That's where a lot of…" she paused and shook her head. "Their elders were a large source of dark knowledge. Durza and I and sometimes Galbatorix worked tirelessly to obtain it. I had to do horrible things to Griishuul's people… I've been avoiding him because how can I ask for his forgiveness when I've done such unspeakable things? How can he stand to look at me or… how can we share Riderhood?" Her eyes watered. "I made the scars on his arms… I remember every single one and what I did to create them…"
Arya reached out to hold her cousin's hands, sensing it was the right thing to do in the moment. "Talk to him… show him your memories, even. He's been very open to adapting to the ways of our lifestyle, he's been very accepting too… I think once you explain, it'll help ease the tensions between you. It's worth it to try." She ran her fingers through Eila's hair before pulling away. "Sooner is better than later, but now is not the time. I can have Elva take the Eldunarí… Fírnen won't let me go with him if he takes them and Shruikan probably doesn't know Griishuul well enough to be comfortable riding with him. I think it's best to keep the location of our masters a secret from Murtagh for now too-"
"I need to do it… I need to let our masters know about… my being a Shade also. I kept that from them because I was afraid of what they'd say or do…" she looked down, ashamed of herself.
"Eylörís hatched for you and Dragons rarely make a poor decision, especially when it comes to picking who their Riders are. Her decision is undoubtedly controversial to those who may not understand her choice, but she knew what she was doing. Despite everything, you're a good person; your heart is still kind and just. You're uncorrupt even though you've had a… darker past." She gave a kind smile. "And you're the daughter of my father's sister. You're my family and I love you as such." She nodded and continued, fond of the soft smile on Eila's own features. "Dragons judge based on the quality of your character, and I believe Griishuul understands that. He's torn between the person he knew you as and the person he's realizing you are. You have a good chance of making peace, I think. It may just take time."
Eila squeezed her hand and offered a slightly more confident smile. "Thank you…" She leaned forwards, pressed a kiss to Arya's cheek, then pulled away. "That makes me a little more hopeful… I'm just… incredibly sorry I didn't tell you everything- haven't told you everything…"
"In time. Give yourself time. Take a deep breath and be gentle with yourself as you work through all you need to. There's no rush. I trust you." Arya straightened as her eyes shifted to the spaces behind her cousin, her gaze landing on Eylörís and Angela, who were checking on the Eldunarí, making sure they hadn't been broken in the harsh events that had only recently transpired.
Eila turned to look and stood immediately, wincing slightly when she'd only just realized that the roots had cut the circulation off in her legs. She offered a hand to help Arya up and it felt good when the offer was accepted. When they both were standing, they made their way over to see what, if anything, was wrong.
Arya kept an eye on the Menoa Tree, feeling it watching them; looming over them; observing them as though they were ants. It never pulled away completely despite letting Eila and Eylörís go. She stopped and turned to face the tree, her green eyes narrowing dangerously when it's consciousness threaded back into her mind.
"I'll be watching Irilvoath closely. I will not let it harm my son."
Arya straightened, rage beginning to boil in her stomach. "Never address her by that name. It no longer applies." Her nose crinkled in a slight snarl. "You have no claim over the life that grows within me."
"Ah, but that is where you're wrong." The tree replied. "Did Eragon not tell you about the gift I gave him? Hm, I suppose not then." It shuddered, seeming to settle. "He needed the Bright Steel that existed under my roots for a sword. We made an exchange and I let him have it."
Eragon hadn't mentioned a trade when he told her about his interactions with the Menoa Tree. Arya's rage mixed with confusion, which the tree was quick to sense.
"Eragon's first child will possess my fingerprint. The heir would be tied to me… my son; my apprentice. I longed for a child in life, but my plants mattered to me more than any affection another could give… to bear a child wasn't in my future. That desire has since grown corrosive in me and Eragon offered anything I wanted in exchange for the means to create his sword."
A cold tension ran up Arya's spine as her anger began bubbling over. She let out a shaky breath, trying to control the violence she wanted to unleash. Her whole body was soon vibrating with pent-up emotions.
"I simply enhanced his ability to offer conception and I knew his eyes were only for you… he would not lay with another. I was prepared to wait, but it seems this has come to fruition at a pleasing rate."
A soft gasp scraped it's way down Arya's throat as she fell to her knees, keeling over when her vision blurred, momentarily vanishing as her fingers dug into the soft, fertile soil. Without warning, her body convulsed, causing her to lose her last meal when the tension and rage became too much to bear. To say she felt violated was an understatement. She hardly recognized Angela's presence next to her or Fírnen's behind her as her own consciousness had narrowed into a thin, dark tunnel.
The only noise around her was the blood rushing through her head and only fleetingly did she realize the Menoa Tree had pulled away completely. Blocked from everything, Arya felt alone and suddenly her fears had come roaring back, causing a deep panic to wrap it's icy fingers around her ribs so tightly she could barely breathe.
Angela was calling to her, but she couldn't hear it. Everything around her felt desolate and dead… like a completely scorched battlefield. Not even the plant life sung around her. Fírnen's ear-shattering roar was faint and distant; gentle, like fog over a lake.
It felt best to just fade away.
To be responsible for her people… it wasn't what she wanted, but she accepted out of duty and she was trying her best even though she was doing it mostly alone, unwilling to be seen as weak or… not put together.
To be responsible for the next generation of Riders… she enjoyed the anticipation of the upcoming tasks even though she and Fírnen had barely begun their own training, but it was quickly becoming overwhelming. She and Fírnen were Alagaësia's leaders in Riderhood.
To be responsible for another life; her son… it was one of the most important things she'd ever have the honor of doing, but only now had the truth been made clear. She'd been used as a pawn… a vessel. The choice was truly never her own and she was only a small part in a larger plan. Her humanity… her weaknesses had been taken advantage of.
Everything was out of her control…
So she let herself slip into darkness.
A/N: Hello! I promise this fic isn't abandoned. I've just had a rather... difficult last several months. Only recently has my ability to continue this story returned and I'm so sorry it's taken me so long. I despised my absence because I truly do love this story and I have so much I want to share. Nothing I tried seemed to help me write. I can't quite say how soon another chapter will come out, but posting this is encouraging to me and that alone might be enough to spark inspiration in me further. Again, this isn't abandoned, I just needed some time.
I'm sorry if the characters are a little disconnected or off, I'm trying to recover from some things and the distance in time has caused a slip in my presentation. I haven't done a read-though of this either; I was so eager to post it, it may have lots of flaws. I'm okay with that for now :)
With all this said though, and as always, I hope you enjoy!
-Lady Arlo