Eragon was standing with tears in his eyes looking at Roran Stronghammer. The greatest man he'd ever known. He thought of the long 50 years he'd spent away from him and the family he's created. How he'd left Roran to build a new home. Roran must resent him, he thought.
"Come now, I'll wake him for you" Katrina said
"What if he has quarrel with me? Angry that I abandoned him?" Eragon asked weary.
Katrina laughed playfully, "Big, powerful dragonrider scared to talk to a mere human?" Her playfulness turned to serious compassion as she stared at Roran, "Eragon we have no resentment towards your decisions. I would be a liar if I said our journey was easy, but look what we've accomplished. None of this, good or bad, would have ever happened if not for what you decided all those years ago in the Spine." Katrina smiled brilliantly reminiscing about her adventures and time with Roran. She turned towards Eragon with a serious look on her face. "I know what you did for my father."
"I'm sorry I meant to tell you," Eragon staggered hearing her words.
"Oh please, you saved his soul, Eragon. You saved my father's soul. A man living his life in fear of the world, and the future. I never thought he would ever change. But you, Eragon, you forced him to change and see himself and the world differently. The days he spent with the elves were his happiest since my mother died." She stepped in front of him and put her hands up to his cheeks in a loving embrace, "You changed him, Eragon. Once his true name changed he was able to go anywhere he pleased. And so he visited us as we were beginning to establish land and resources. He met Ismira and accepted Roran as his son and my husband. Oh, Eragon, I can't tell you how happy Roran and I was." A tear began to fall from her face, "I thought he would come live with us, but he decided to stay with the elves and live their way of life, and learn their language and culture. We never saw him again until a few decades later when we heard of his death."
"Aye, I too heard of his passing from Arya."
"Aye, they buried him under their great tree. They said he would forever live on within the tree looking over Du Weldenvarden, as one of their own. You changed our future Eragon. Me, Roran, my father, all of Carvahall would have stood still throughout time afraid of an impending invasion from larger, stronger forces." She walked towards the larger windows and stared out into the city, "Now we have become great. We can choose our own course in history. We are nothing but thankful to you." The light shined through the color tinted windows changing the color of her face from red to blue then green or yellow. Eragon was relieved and happy for them. All these years he had thought Katrina resented him for taking Sloan's punishment into his own hands, as if he were some glorified Judge, jury and executioner.
She walked over to Roran and calmly woke him from his slumber. He coughed and slowly rose laughing at his own weakness. "Why would a beautiful angel come visit an old, feeble man such as myself?"
"Oh, stop it, I am just as old and frail as you."
"And yet you're not bed ridden, forgotten to sleep the rest of your days."
"Don't say that, you will always be the strongest man I've ever known."
They both smile at each other as if this daily interaction was a daily occurrence. They then have a lingering soft kiss.
"Ummm, I hate to be the third wheel here. If you guys need your time I'd be more than willing to come back later."
That was when Roran noticed Eragon, and stared in shock. Surprised and happy about his visit. Roran slowly got to his feet to greet his cousin, brother in heart, properly.
"Look at you. Here I stand a dying old man and yet you haven't aged a day. In fact you seem to have gotten fairer in these decades." Roran joked.
"Perhaps I have, old friend."
They share a manly embrace, one honorable enough for such a reunion.
"You must make your stay worth the while and take a tour of the castle and city. Have you yet made acquaintance with my family?"
"I believe I met one. A young lady bye the name of Isabella." Eragon began the giggle from his encounter with Isabella.
"Aye, the strong headed one. What did you think of her?"
"Dull, but with caring hands can shine brighter than most."
"Agreed. Eragon I need a favor, can we speak privately please?"
Skeptical Eragon agreed following Roran through another door which led to a dark room much smaller than any Eragon has seen in the castle.
"Try aiming at the wall" said Isabella
"Okay," said Nadia politely.
Brinsingr
A flashing blue light fired across the training hall at a metal dummy 75 meters away. The blue flame missed the target slightly crashing into the wall behind it.
"See, I'm no good at combat magic."
"Nonsense your magical abilities outmatch mine any day. You just need to keep focused and aim properly. That brisingr was incredibly large. Way bigger than anything I've been able to do." She frowned.
"Oh lady, you have much more potential than I. Everyone says so." Nadia said cheerfully.
"Let's stop here and enjoy the day. Maybe acquire some masculine company" Isabella said giggling. The notion gave worry to Nadia and she was about to reject, until the doors open and two men clad in iron walked in.
"Lady Isabella, Miss Nadia you both have been summoned by his majesty, King Roran Stronghammer."