…wow. Really?
My cat just fell asleep on my stereo.
Also, as I write this, I am eating from the BEST FRIGGIN' JAR OF CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT BUTTER THAT HAS EVER GRACED THIS PLANET!
The Council of Elders beamed with triumph, pleased that Nasuada had done what they wanted. "We do insist," said Jörmundur, "for your own good and the good of the Varden." The rest of the elders added their expressions of support, which Nasuada accepted with sad smiles. Sabrae threw an angry glance at the Riders when they did not join in.
You really think I'm about to congratulate someone for falling into your greedy hands? Tania thought grouchily.
You can at least congratulate Nasuada on her new position, Ophelia pointed out.
Not in front of the council. She leaned back in her chair and put her feet on the table, ignoring further angry glares from a few members of the council. She watched the rest of the conversation unfold as the council ensured that Arya's opinion was sound to their plans. Nasuada then thanked her and asked Jörmundur, "Is their anything else that must be discussed? For I am weary."
Jörmundur shook his head. "We will make all arrangements. You will not be troubled until the funeral."
"Again, thank you. Would you leave me now? I need time to consider how best to honor my father and serve the Varden. You have given me much to ponder." Nasuada splayed her delicate fingers over the dark cloth on her lap.
Umérth looked like he was going to protest at the council being dismissed (which Tania found absurd—he had, after all, just placed the girl as leader of the Varden!) but Falberd waved a hand, silencing him. "Of course, whatever will give you peace. If you need help, we are ready and willing to serve." Gesturing for the rest of them to follow, he swept past Arya to the door.
"Eragon, Tania, will you please stay?"
The quiet request startled Eragon, and Tania shot a quick look at the departing councilors, who suddenly had alert looks. She could imagine what Falberd thought as he hesitated by the door before slowly walking out, as if suddenly loathe to go: the Rider being held back made sense, but the girl? Tania sat warily on the back of her chair.
Arya was the last to go. Before she closed the door, she looked at the Riders, her eyes revealing the worry and apprehension that had been concealed before.
Ophelia's scales melted from a rocky brown and gray camouflage to a shade of gentle lavender, with ripples of gold and a soft, powdery blue running down her neck and striping her wings as Nasuada sat, partially turned away from the Dragons and their Riders. "So we meet again, Riders. Neither of you have greeted me. Have I offended you?"
"No, Nasuada," said Eragon. "We were reluctant to speak for fear of being rude or foolish. Current circumstances are unkind to hasty statements."
Tania raised an eyebrow at him from her perch. "You sound like a politician."
He frowned at her, and then murmured quietly, "Atra nosu waíse vardo fra eld hórnya… there, now we may speak without being overheard by man, dwarf or elf."
Nasuada's posture softened. "Thank you, Eragon. You don't know what a gift that is." Her words were stronger and more self-assured than before.
Behind Eragon's chair, Saphira stirred, then carefully made her way around the table to stand before Nasuada. Tania watched curiously as she lowered her great head until one sapphire eye met Nasuada's black ones. The dragon stared at her for a full minute before snorting softly and straightening. Tell her, said Saphira, that I grieve for her and her loss. Also that her strength must become the Varden's when she assumes Ajihad's mantel. They will need a sure guide.
And tell her that I agree, Ophelia murmured. Eragon repeated the dragons' words, adding, "Ajihad was a great man—his name will always be remembered… there is something I must tell you. Before Ajihad died, he charged me, commanded me, to keep the Varden from falling into chaos. Those were his last words. Arya and Tania btohheard them as well.
"I was going to keep what he said a secret, given the implications, but you have a right to know. I'm not sure what Ajihad meant, nor exactly what he wanted, but I am certain of this: I will always defend the Varden with my powers I wanted you to understand that, and that I have no desire to usurp the Varden's leadership."
Nasuada laughed brittlely. "But that leadership isn't to be me, is it?" Her reserve had vanished, and Tania couldn't help but admire her sudden composure and determination. "I know why you were here before me and what the council is trying to do. Do you think that in the years I served my father, we had not planned for this eventuality? I expected the council to do exactly as it did. And now everything is in place for me to take command of the Varden."
Now that is what I call confidence, Ophelia commented. Tania grinned as Eragon said with wonder, "You have no intention of letting them rule you!"
"No. Continue to keep Ajihad's instruction a secret. It would be unwise to bandy about, as people might take it to mean that he wanted you to succeed him, and that would undermine my authority and destabilize the Varden. He said what he thought he had to in order to protect the Varden. I would have done the same. My father…" She faltered breifly. "My father's work will not go unfinished, even if it takes me to the grave. That is what I want you both, as Riders, to understand. All of Ajihad's plans, all his strategies and goals, they are mine now. I will not fail him by being weak. The Empire will be brought down, Galbatorix will be dethroned, and a rightful government will be raised."
By the time she finished, a tear ran down her cheek. Tania smiled to herself as she leaned back against Ophelia's rough but warm shoulder scales. Nasuada's words sounded as if she were talking to herself as well as her audience, but they also revealed a depth of character she had not shown before, despite the difficulty of her situation.
"And what of us Riders, Nasuada?" Eragon queried. "What shall we do in the Varden?"
She looked directly into each of their eyes, one at a time. "Any of you can do whatever you want. The council members are fools of they think to control you. You are heroes to the Varden and the dwarves, and even the elves will hail you, Eragon, when they hear of your victory over Durza. If you go against the council or me, we will be forced to yield, for the people will support you wholeheartedly. Right now, you two are the most powerful people in the Varden, even if many do not realize that of you, Tania. However, if you accept my leadership, I will continue the path laid down by Ajihad: you will go with Arya to the elves, be instructed there, then return to the Varden."
Why is she so honest with us? wondered Eragon. If she's right, could we have refused the council's demands?
Saphira took a moment to answer. Either way, it's too late—though I'm not sure Tania's acceptance counted, seeing as she never officially said so. But I think Nasuada is honest because your spells allow her to be, and also because she hopes to win our loyalty from the elders.
A gleam entered Eragon's eye. Can we trust her to hold to what she's said? he asked. This is very important.
Yes, said Saphira. She spoke with her heart.
Then Eragon shared his proposal. Tania thought that it was insane, but Saphira consented, so he drew Zar'roc and walked to Nasuada. Her eyes flashed with fear as he approached; her gaze darted toward the door, and she slipped a hand into a fold in her dress and grabbed something. Eragon stopped before her, then knelt, Zar'roc flat in his hands.
"Nasuada, I do not speak for Tania and Ophelia, but know this: Saphira and I have been her for only a short while. But in that time we came to respect Ajihad, and now, in turn, you. You fought under Farthen Dûr when others fled, including the two women of the council, and have treated us openly instead of with deception. Therefor, I offer you my blade… and my fealty as a Rider."
Eragon uttered the pronouncement with a sense of finality, and Tania felt that he would never have even thought of it before the battle. Apparently, seeing death in such great rule had altered his perspective—but she couldn't help feeling a little bit proud. He'd no longer resist the Empire just for himself, but also for others: the Varden and all those still trapped under Galbatorix's cold, iron fist. He was dedicated to it, now.
She just hoped he'd stick to that dedication.
HOLY BEJEEZUS PAOLINI'S A GENIUS. I JUST REALIZED. Oh my god my head hurts now…
Anyways, thanks to all who reviewed and who are sticking with this story! I'll try to be updating more frequently (mostly because I went and reread some of what I've written *mutters to self about needing to rewrite everything desperately* and got really into the story again), so look forward to that!
FF