Eragon was the first to rise the next day. As it had become a habit, he took off his shirt and started his daily cycle of the Dance of Snake and Crane. He had finally begun to complete the fourth and final level, though when I reached it, he had a mild sweat, at completion, he was drenched. He had noticed that Arya was staring at him, though she didn't notice that Eragon was fully aware of her staring. He did not show off, as he would have less than a year ago, but merely completed the dance, before walking to a stream where I washed.
When he arrived back at camp, breakfast was ready and Arya handed him his serving.
"So you mentioned last night that you'd made some choices on my behalf. Some I might not even agree with. Would you care to share those, or do I have something more to share?" Arya said with polite exhaustion evident in her voice, she had obviously not gotten any sleep.
"When I said your training was lacking, I had no idea, what you know, and what you do not. You were never supposed to train with the elves, rather than a rider. But history has shown us that elves are curios, more so than healthy. If you could quickly summarise what the elves taught you, showed or merely stated was important for you, that would be sufficient. After this, I require no more information from you, Arya." Eragon said, once again wearing the understanding and polite teacher façade, he suspected Arya was beginning to despise. Receiving a glare from Arya merely confirmed that.
"Our elders said that the only things that I lacked in a rider's education, was the art of fighting from dragon back. How to properly fly, something they knew well. Twists, loops, gliding-" At Eragon's gesture Arya stopped. "No need to tell me of Fírnen's education, I will get that from Saphira she knows it the best." When he finished Arya continued "They also said that I'd need a more inclusive and wide education on the different races. Including norms, politics, trade, religion, and structure." She added looking contemplative. "Were they wrong? I cannot seem to think that a rider would need more information. All the information I could think of as useful was mastering more fighting styles." She concluded. Eragon began to stare, not with a lustful or longing expression but with wearing a preparing and pondering expression. "They were indeed wrong. A lot is missing, of which I am glad. It is not in the other races place to squat on our knowledge for the possibility to train and educate a rider, outside of the riders themselves. But that is in the past, for now, think of an answer to this. What is the purpose of the Riders?" Eragon responded, gesturing around wildly as if weaving a fabric out of thin air. Something that made Arya chuckle. "What do you propose we do going forward, Arya? You must finish your training, and it will not be in the breakneck speed I was forced through. I also have a suggestion, something that requires your experience. I want to have Murtaugh join us for your training. He will undoubtedly have large gaps in his knowledge of the riders. Galbatorix twisted and hid most of the rider's actual purpose from the world so that they would be forgotten as mere guards. What do you think of this? I think that if I tell the world that the red rider" Eragon said again while gesturing wildly, not even looking directly at Arya "had gotten through his entire rider education from the kingkiller then they would not oppose him as easily or consider him an enemy. But again this is not something I expect you to answer now. To answer your first question today, one of the choices is that you will not be returning to Du Weldenvarden until I say so, which will earliest be after your education." Eragon said, looking directly into Arya's eyes, with a serious look and voice. He waited for her as she was reacting to what he said.
X
Could Eragon be kidding? No of course not, this is serious, and he knows it, he wouldn't try to jest now. Or would he? He had changed a lot since his trip to the vault. And he had met his parents! Or at least he claimed to have, which would be enough to change any person. She would change if she was able to get that kind of message from her parents. Mostly from Izlanzadi, even though she had been missing her father the longest. Dang approval issues. When she was sworn in as queen she'd sworn to herself that she would be entirely honest, with both her people and herself, at least what she could tell them, certain secrets had to stay, secret. What is going on with me?! My thoughts are all over the place! Calm down Arya, it's just Eragon, he is feeling just as nervous. Or is he?
X
Eragon knew what he said, would a surprise for both Arya and Fírnen. So, after a while, he began to hum in his head, a song he'd learned from Nar Garzhvog. They trained their rams to use the song as a pacemaker. As if trying to run they would use the song to make sure they all had the same pace. Even when honouring their dead, though he never said how that custom worked. It worked well he concluded after some time.
When Arya looked ready to talk, he only had a simple question. "So, what do you think? While there are choices you'll have no control over, I still value your opinion, I may just not follow it." And he wouldn't. She still had no idea what it really meant to be a rider. Not that he could blame her. The riders of the past had guarded their secrets with potency. Spells, wards, physical structures, devices, creatures. Everything had been put into play, to protect the rider secrets. They had never even shared their true goal. The true reason for existence. A secret a rider was only given after they'd completed the ritual. Well, ritual and ritual, if he was honest, it was more like a write of passage. Like the first deer successfully hunted, first time intimidating the forest predators. All she'd have to do was figure out her true name, what she could add to the riders (Besides another rider) and her trust in her fellow riders by sharing her true name. For the older elves, this was the hardest part of being a rider. Giving over control and receiving it.
Eragon had been prepared for everything. He knew exactly where his sword was, what position Saphira was in, compared to Fírnen. He was prepared for everything. Except for laughter. He had never expected Arya to laugh, though perhaps he should have. "After 70 years of dealing with human men, expecting to have authority over me, 70 years of manipulating and forcing my agenda this is the first time, where I find myself with no choice but… obedience." She said, between fits of poorly contained giggles. Eragon smiled outwardly but frowned internally.
Seems Arya was a touch spoiled as a kid? While, if I judge what I know correctly, she did not have a loving upbringing, she never needed anything and was given the best. Eragon mused, not noticing that Saphira was listening intently, with no intention of objecting or discussing with him, this was a conclusion he needed to come to by himself. Or has all elves been treated this way? It honestly wouldn't surprise me, considering that they could sing or create almost everything, by themselves, given practice. Which takes time, something they had in abundance. This could also make them impatient, especially if they do not know the goal.
"So, what is the plan, Eragon? Shall I inform Lord Däthedr that I will be training for the next couple of weeks?" Arya asked, taking a commanding tone, but not unkind tone. Eragon smiled a sad but prepared smile "Arya. You are no longer the queen of the Elvin Kingdom, ruler of the fair folk. You and Fírnen are from dusk officially in training and thereby not a recognized citizen within either of the four races." He could tell, she was angry. If not for the expression she currently wore, then for the fact that Fírnen who had situated himself beside her, just recoiled. If not for the fact, that he was stronger than every living creature, excluding the eldunari, then he would be little afraid. He instead taunted her by increasing his smile to amusement. It had the intended effect. "Just what do you think you are doing? You cannot rule over me, Eragon. I am the Queen. I get that you are the leader of the order of dragon riders. This is too much! You threatened us into not considering you as the future king of Alagaësia, now you are thinking you can command a queen?!" With no change of his expression he noted, this was the first time, she had kept her cool. She was roaring, furious even. She got up and turned to walk over to Fírnen, "We are leaving. You have lost my friendship, Eragon" She spat the last part. The only thing Eragon did, was mutter in the ancient language letta. Both Fírnen and Arya stopped. Eragon swang his hand in intricate patterns, which resulted in Arya turning around and sitting down across from Eragon, and Fírnen in his original spot.
"You really do not have a say in this matter, Arya. Don't consider me stupid. I know you know that you have no say and that your time as queen was limited from the day Fírnen hatched. You are not an ignorant person. You either already knew, or researched what the repercussions of Fírnen had for the throne. You learned that your own race outlawed the possibility of rider regents, something I also think you agree with. What you are mad about, is that I, a peasant, has made the decision for you, with no room for discussion." Eragon said calmly, though he noted she wore a shocked expression. "What is it Arya-svitKona? Do I have a piece of parsley between my teeth?" Eragon asked, kindly with a hint of jest.
"How can you talk to me, let alone jest, while manipulating magic to keep me sitting? You should be dead. Are you using Saphira?" Arya whispered, not even trying to conceal the disbelief in her voice. Eragon frowned "No. I am not utilizing Saphira's energy reserves. She wanted to let you go. Not because she disagrees with me, but so she could hunt you down. She felt you disrespected her. How I was able to, is something you are not ready to know yet, but I promise you. Someday, you will know." He said, lecturing. "Now, you have by my judgment, less than 4 hours to prepare yourself for your new schedule. We will be leaving tomorrow for a Rider dwelling. We need a place to train, and right now, we need to establish the Riders public image. I have here a gift bestowed to my predecessor from Gilderien the Wise. It will allow me to establish a scrying connection to the royal halls. Before you ask-" holding up his hand "it does not break the wards surrounding Du Weldenvarden. Gilderien, judged it unnecessary to destroy since it has never left Du Weldenvarden." Interrupting her question, Eragon stood and held the artefact tightly, thinking about the spell he needed to use. This was not the usual scrying spell, though the recipient would not be able to tell the difference. As the halls came into view, Eragon kept quiet, because people were in the halls debating. When an elf noticed him, he initiated the Elvin greeting, including the optional third part. "Eragon-" another elf out of view hit him in the ribs "Skulblaka-ebrithil, nice to see you again." He bowed low. "Hello, Vanir-Elda. Would you so kindly gather Lord Däthedr for me? I am here with Arya, and she needs him." He said in the ancient language, with complete familiar politeness entering his voice. "Oh, and it's very nice to see you too, Vanir-Elda." Eragon saw the slight jerk of Vanir, meaning he understood that this was scry was entirely in the role of the lead rider. Muttering a quick reply, he sprinted away to fetch the lord. When the lord came into view, he seemed surprised to see Eragon in the mirror. He somehow knew that Eragon was not in Du Weldenvarden. Eragon looked upon him impassively, waiting to see if he would start the greeting. He didn't. So Eragon greeted the lord but left out the third and optional part, something that Däthedr noticed. Wearing an almost invisible raised eyebrow Lord Däthedr said "To what do I owe this honour, Eragon-Elda? I must admit that I am perplexed how we are even speaking, though that is a conversation for another time. You said Arya-Dröttning needed me?" Dropping his smile the slightest Eragon responded to the lord "I will contact you later today, as there are some further things that I need to talk to you about, though for now, my advice is to make yourself comfortable, this is not going to be short." Eragon had left the clearing earlier, still holding Arya and Fírnen in place, but was just returning to them. He gave her the mirror and spoke to Fírnen "You should hunt, there is a herd of large boars to the south about a quarter hour's flight away. Do not return with anything than a completely stuffed stomach. You will need it." Eragon turned and walked over to Saphira.
X
So, are you ready to become a master? Eragon asked Saphira, as he laid down in the on her stomach. Our lives have just filled with politics, Eragon. You know that right? While I agree this is necessary, what about us leaving? We still have a duty to the wild dragons. And I feel I have a duty to lay, not because I feel for Fírnen or Thorn, but because I am the last female dragon alive. Eragon did nothing but agree. He had already considered this and was as confused and hopeless as she. They had taken up the mantle of being the lead rider after the trip to Vroengard. It was fitting, Eragon thought, that after a trip to the rightful home of the riders, he had felt more at ease as a rider, than ever before. Even after Oromis had declared him ready. Eragon and Saphira each pondered their possible solutions but soon felt drowsy and fell asleep.