Chapter 13: Bonding
As they walked for several minutes, arms linked through Ellesméra, Eragon found himself increasingly curious as to the details of the arrangements Arya had prepared for their breakfast in Tiadara Halls. As they entered the gardens that surrounded the monarchs residence, Eragon turned to Arya;
"I'm curious, what exactly is this arrangement you have made?" Eragon asked, with a smile on his lips. Watching her, he noticed that she raised an eyebrow inquisitively at him, before replying.
"Does the Lead Rider not wish to be surprised?" Arya replied with a hint of amusement in her voice.
"I'm not opposed to the idea of being surprised" Eragon noted with a smirk, as they slowed the pace of their walk. "But, it depends on what your idea of a surprise is. For instance, if you have arranged for us to dine with your council, then Yes I do not wish to be surprised with such a…"treat"."
Arya laughed and delightful musical tones kissed his ears as he listened to her. Smiling widely at him, Arya replied, "I am almost beginning to believe that you are still afraid of dining with nobles. Is that true, mighty rider?"
"Perhaps, but dare I say that the brunt of my fear is reserved for dining with Queens and their secret daughter." Eragon smirked as he gazed at with a mischievous look in his eyes.
Arya stopped in her steps and glared at him for a moment, and he could tell she was momentarily taken aback by his statement. Smiling at her, he saw her face lighten and saw her smile back at him before she gracefully shook her head and resumed walking next to him.
"Eragon, it has been close to a century and your humour has yet to improve. I'd have thought Saphira would have seen fit to remedy that particular part of your personality." Arya teased as they drew close to the entrance to the dining halls of the monarchs residence.
"It is not for a lack of effort, I can assure you" Eragon laughed as he replied, "Unfortunately, I fear my hard-headedness has caused her to give up her pursuit. Besides, you have yet to answer my question."
"Of course, Ebrithil" Arya said seriously, with a hint of tease in her voice. "Ismira told me that you enjoyed the company of your students and elves for meals on the silent isle. Unfortunately, Blodgharm and his companions have yet to arrive, but Aaenor and Irimë were more than happy to join us and allow you to feel as comfortable here as you would be at home"
"I am honoured by your kindness" Eragon said with a slight bow of his head. "it seems that the century has changed you, I would not have expected you to become a gracious host".
Arya smiled at him. "And your charm has certainly not changed. Come on, let us find your two young students"
….
Arya smiled to herself, as she led him into her private dining room in Tiadara Halls, where she would often have eaten with Lord Dathedr or other lords of her court, as well as with her friends or by herself.
Other the twenty minutes since she had met Eragon to bring him to breakfast, she had been constantly reminded of how they acted with one another in the last few weeks before she departed Alagaesia for the silent isle close to a century ago. They had been joking and teasing one another, along with the occasional looks of affection that had graced their last week together.
Have we also gotten past the gap between us? Arya thought to herself as they entered the corridor that led to the room, thinking of Eragon's admittance of bitterness over her absence in his life. A twinge of doubt clouded her mind as she wondered if there were other reasons behind his distance in the last weeks when they had spoken in person and over the enchanted mirror network between Alagaesia and Dragonhold.
"Good Morning young ones" Arya was shock from her thoughts as she heard Eragon's voice as they entered the dining room adjacent to her personal area of Tiadara Halls.
"Good Morning, Ebrithil" Aaenor and Irimë said in unison, and Arya felt herself smile at the informal nature of his greeting with his students.
Of course he would avoid them speaking to him formally. Arya thought to herself, as they greeted her in the traditional manner of the elves.
"Un du evanya ono Varden, Aaenor. Irimë." Arya smiled as she sat across from Eragon, who sat in between his two students.
"I must say it is pleasure to have you three at my table here in Ellesméra"
"Thank you, your majesty" Irimë said with a bowed head, Aaenor followed likewise.
"Surely you have dined with my students before when they have returned to Alagaesia?" Eragon asked intrigued.
"Of course, but never the Lead Rider along with his current students" Arya replied as she raised her goblet for a sip of water, "it is an honor for me to hold you as guests, and when Ismira arrives it shall be four"
As Eragon smiled, and opened his mouth to respond, Ismira entered the room and raised two fingers to her lips and greeted her
"Arta esterni ono thelduin, Arya Drottning"
"Please, come join us Ismira." Arya responded, a twinge of annoyance at the formality flowed through her mind.
Ismira smiled and took her seat next to Aaenor, and bowed her head towards Eragon.
"Uncle, how are you this morning?"
"I am well, thank you Ismira. It is unlike you to be late. Turn up announced, yes, but never late" Eragon inquired with amusement in his voice.
"Forgive me, uncle, I forget your perfect timekeeping." Arya saw Aaenor and Irimë grin at Ismira, and glanced at Eragon to see him smirking, before thinking to herself. Their jests must be a regularity.
"I'm glad you remember" Eragon teased and took a bite of an apple. "Now, what kept you?"
"Saton contacted me, asking me when I would be next in Illirea." Ismira replied, and took a sip of her drink.
"Ah tell me, Ismira, should I be expecting to gain a nephew at some point ?" Eragon smirked as he bit into his apple again.
"Uncle…must you?" Ismira rolled her eyes, "You yourself informed Elira to assign us to work together in Alagaesia. Now you must make crude remarks?"
"Simple keeping things…interesting my dear neice" Eragon smiled as Ismira shook her head.
"Are they often like this?" Arya turned to Aaenor and Irimë and asked.
"Ebrithil enjoys it when Ismira visits. It provides him with much entertainment for the duration." Aaenor noted with a sly smirk. "Ismira, on the other hand does not enjoy it quite as much."
Arya laughed as she saw Ismira raise an eyebrow at Aaenor and shoot him a glare.
Ismira told them a story of the last visit she made to Dragonhold and the amusement that was had at her behalf, prompting much laughter at the table. Afterwards, they sat in silence for several minutes as they each ate some breakfast.
"Irimë, I am interested in your daily lives on Dragonhold. Eragon, so far, has been far from forthcoming with anything other than details of the island itself." Arya asked with a smile on her face, "Perhaps you would be more helpful."
Arya watched as the young elf, smirked shyly and glanced at Eragon. Following her gaze, she saw him nod his head at Irimë as if indicating his permission.
"Our daily lives on the silent island, tend to be spent in peace and tranquillity. I am afraid that Is not as interesting as your majesty might anticipate". Irimë answered as diplomatically as possible.
"Do not worry, young one, I am merely interested in what I have not seen" Arya replied encouragingly.
Irimë bowed her head towards Arya and then began her description. "We rise shortly after sunrise, and see to our cleanliness and morning meditations. My living quarters in Dragonhold open up to the east of the island, with a beautiful view of the gardens which are covered in sunlight in the morning. I will often meditate on the veranda overlooking a small stream that runs around the perimeter of the living residence. After a couple of hours, we make our way to the dining hall in Dragonhold, it is a large, majestic room with a grand centerpeice table that can seat hundreds of people. There we eat with Ebrithil, before taking a break before our lessons begin in one the rooms in the teaching halls. After we have completed our daily lessons, we are free to pursue whatever activity we wish."
"I often enjoy painting views of the forest, or of the other beauties of the island" Irimë finished and smiled, Arya could tell she was picturing her favourite view on the island.
"That sounds delightful, Irimë" Arya replied, and saw the young elf bow in thanks. "What of you Aaenor? What have been your favourite lessons with Eragon-elda?"
"Ebrithil, often teaches us in his office on the top floor of the grand halls." Aaenor spoke with a strong, confident voice. "His office opens up onto a large balcony on the roof of the halls which is large enough for three of Ebrithil Saphira to lay comfortably."
"The immediate area near the balcony doors have cloth covers that act as a gazebo to protect from the weather." Aaenor replied before launching into a description of one lesson in particular, which Arya pictured in her mind as Aaenor described it.
Aaenor PoV
The wing blew chillingly across the balcony on the top level of Dragonhold overlooking the forest below. Aaenor along with Irimë and their teacher, the great Eragon Kingkiller, sat close to the closed doors of his office. They sat upon soft cushions on the floor, which were embroided with the depiction of dragons in golden thread, each of them enveloped by thick blankets. By his side Glaedrius, his golden dragon lay with his tail wrapped gently around the cushion which he sat upon. To his left, Irimë sat upon a similar cushion, with her lavender coloured dragon Islindíor mirroring Glaedrius' position. Facing them, on the other side of a small pile of glowing rocks their teacher, Eragon sat wrapped in a sapphire blue blanket.
"Glaedrius, Islindíor." Their teacher spoke in a voice that spoke confidently, but with a loving softness. His masters voice caused Aaenor to feel a tingling sensation run down his neck. "Unless you wish for your riders to freeze, I would suggest you both heat the stones some more."
Aaenor watched as the two dragons extended their necks and blew a thin blaze of fire onto the pile of rocks in between the group of three elves. Aaenor marvelled at the beauty of a Dragon blowing fire as they drew the necks back in.
"I am impressed with you two, your abilities are growing all the time." Eragon spoke to the dragons "Your ancestors would be proud"
"Ebrithil" Aaenor asked inquisitively, "Where is Ebrithil Saphira?"
He was genuinely interested, the large sapphire blue coloured dragon had departed the previous day into the mountains of the island and had to return. He could feel Glaedrius' anxiety across their mental bond. The young dragon held a fondess for the larger dragon, similar in the way that Aaenor did towards Eragon.
"She has gone to the wild dragons that live in the mountain ranges" Eragon replied, smiling at them. "there have been a number of wild dragons hatching during the past month. She goes to ensure that the young ones have the protection from the cold that they need. If it is needed, they and their mothers come down to spend time in the protection of the warmer Dragon caves further down the mountain where the cold cannot reach."
"She will return soon?" Irimë asked, her soft musical voice hit Aaenor's ears soothingly.
Aaenor saw their teacher smile, and nodded in the direction of the two elves.
"She shall, now, let us begin our lessons for this day" Eragon spoke as he shifted on his cushion, bringing the sapphire blue blankets closer to his body.
"Your Dragons, as Saphira has taught you, are able to manipulate the flow of air to generate warmth. Even in the coldest conditions, your partners will be able to keep you warm."
Aaenor nodded, and glanced at Glaedrius, smiling as he imagined the life he would have with his partner of heart and mind over the infinite number of years.
"it is invaluable that your dragons are able to protect you while you are alone together – it is not only just your dragons that must know their abilities." Eragon coughed gently to clear his throat. "Aaenor, do you think that you can warm the air around yourself to keep the cold air from chilling your body?"
"I think that it would require a large amount of energy to maintain the control over the temperature of the air." Aaenor answered before frowning slightly, considering how he would be able to achieve such a feat.
Eragon gazed at him, and smiled warmly. "I applaud your cautiousness when dealing with magic that you don't understand. However, it requires less energy than you would anticipate."
Aaenor watched as Eragon removed his right hand from under the sapphire blue blankets, and waved it in front of his body, their masters voice deepeneing as he recited several words in the Ancient Language. The gedwey insignia on his hand glew, indicating his use of magic and when it faded the temperature of the air blowing towards Aaenor warmed expotentially until he felt as though he was sat in front of a fireplace.
"As I'm sure you now feel,despite the bitterness of the weather; there exists a flow of magic around you that has been heated." Eragon spoke in his firm, yet warming voice. "Now, I will instruct you in the correct pronunciation and you will each try to warm yourselves. Aaenor, if you would repeat after me…"
…
Arya smiled as Aaenor finished his description of the lesson where Eragon had taught them about manipulating the temperature of air around them. "If I may, why is that your favourite lesson with Eragon?"
"It was the first time that I was aware of what riders are capable of doing to care for their themselves and their dragons in extreme circumstances. I had previously thought myself incapable of protecting Glaedrius from such things. Ebrithil made me aware of my duty to my dragon."
"It is important for any rider to know the bond they share" Eragon spoke softly, glancing at Arya as he spoke. The contact sent a shiver down her spine. "To understand that a Dragon relies on its rider, almost as much as we rely on them."
Arya found herself nodding in agreement, and for a brief time there was silence in the room again.
Irime, how about you?
Arya watched as the young elf smiled, glancing at Eragon wo was watching her with a look of curiosity in his eye.
" It was quite a few years ago. We had only been with Ebrithil for a few months when Ebrithil Murtagh came to the isle" Irime started and Arya saw Eragon with a smirk on his face
…
Irime watched the two men stood across from one another.
Two Dragon Riders. Two Brothers, who each stood with their swords drawn. Irime observed that the black haired rider held his sword out in front of him with two hands on the pommel, knees bent slightly as he crouched in a battle ready position. The brown haired rider on the other hand was much more relaxed. His sword was held at his side, egde pointed downwards; the holders position showing no apprehension or fear. The two riders circled one another, Murtagh pointing his sword at her teacher whose eyes were focused on his opponents.
A word on the breeze, declared by Yaela and Murtagh lept forward swinging Za'roc, his crimson red blade at Eragon; who had yet to move and Irime was certain that Murtagh would land a blow on her teachers chest until at the last possible second Eragon raised his blade; holding it sideways to protect his chest, his elbows sticking out to the side as a slight smile crossed his face. Irime watched as her teacher shoved his body into the linked blades and pushed Murtagh backwards before striding forward and in the blink of the eye swung a blow out that forced Murtagh to stumble slightly at the speed and power.
"you've gotten faster " Murtagh's voice laced with amusement hissed as Eragon laughed pushing him back and stepping backwards a few feet.
"Or perhaps, you have gotten slower, Brother" Eragon teased as he swung Brisingr at the black haired rider again, who this time parried it; breaking their blades contact and bringing Za`roc downwards in a manner to cut across Eragon's chest. There was a gasp from one of the humans watching as Eragon spun quickly, dropping to one knee to dodge the blow before standing as quickly as he had fallen and performing an uppercut blow with Brisingr that would have cleaved Murtagh in two had he not have reacted in time. The duel continued in a similar manner with them exchanging blows for several more minutes before Eragon clipped Murtaghs hand with the dullled edge of Brisingr causing him to snarl in pain. Murtagh pushed Eragon back, and lashed forwards in an attempt to cleave Eragon's arm off but the blue rider spun quicker than Irimë thought possible for an elf and in a flash Brisingr was pressed against Murtagh's neck and Eragon smirked at his brother.
"I believe you lose Brother" Eragon said with a smirk on his face.
...
"It was an amazing duel between them, I had seen Murtagh-elda's prowess when he visited us here in Ellesmera. But the way in which Ebrithil defeated him was remarkable." Irimë spoke, and Arya smiled as she saw a blush colour Eragon's cheek.
"It truly sounds a remarkable duel, that I wish i could have been present to witness." Arya said wishfully, turning to face Eragon directly "Perhaps we can find the time to duel as well, Eragon."
At her words, Eragon stared deeply into her eyes and she saw them flash in rememberance of their previous duels during the war. A smile touched his lips and he nodded. "I would like that"
A/N : I am back...again. This summer has been incredibly busy with me getting a job for some money for University and such. I have a ton of updates over the next few days. Until next time