Chapter 15: The Pinewood City

"We should arrive in Ellesméra within a few hours," said Eragon the following morning. Link relished the thought of civilization, even though there would still be trees everywhere.

Though it was their shortest day, it felt like the longest. Link was anticipating getting away from the full-on forest and into a city, and the excitement made the trip seem even longer.

It was silent the entire way there. Eragon kept looking at his map, and Vanilor and Saphira thudded along the path, always conversing.

After a while, Link could make out buildings in the trees. They looked to be constructed from trees that hadn't even been cut down. Some of the trees had to have been huge, for the buildings weren't any smaller in diameter than a regular building in Aberon or Hyrule City. Link rejoiced when they got even closer to what had to be Ellesméra, and was shocked at the sheer size of the city. Like its buildings, the city itself wasn't smaller than any other city. The fact that they built it out of trees without cutting them down astonished him. It must have taken ages.

"How long did it take to build this place?" Link asked.

"I don't know," said Eragon. "I don't think it took too long though." Noticing Link's surprise, Eragon said, "Elves can sing to the trees and make them do as they wish. There is a tree near here called the Menoa Tree that a woman sang herself into until she became the tree."

Link was amazed even more at the elves. He knew he couldn't sing to the trees and make them do his bidding. He wouldn't even know where to begin even if he had the power to do it. Sure, elves and Hylians were similar, but they weren't the same race.

Finally, the quartet was within the Ellesméra boundaries. Elves looked on in awe as they strode down the path that led to an important-looking building. The roots of the tree knotted below it to make easy-to-use stairs that led to a door made of the same roots. They arrived at the building and Eragon pushed the door open.

Inside the building were twenty-four elven lords and ladies. They were beautiful people. They all had long, light hair that fell around their waist area, and their faces were of the finest structure. Their complexion was exceedingly fair, and they looked on with excitement in their eyes. They all sat on very plain chairs, constructed out of knotted roots. The throne in front of them, on which sat none other than Queen Islanzadí, was probably the most ornate of all, which still isn't saying a great deal. Hers was assembled of knotted roots as well, but these knots twisted and curved to form a more elegant seat for a more elegant elf.

"Greetings, travelers," said Queen Islanzadí gracefully, standing from her throne. "Welcome back, Eragon Shadeslayer. It seems so long since you were here."

Eragon took that remark skeptically. It really had been a long time since he was there seeing as the Ra'zac captured him.

"And Link, we welcome you back as well," she said. "Although, I doubt you remember your first visit here."

"It's a little fuzzy," said Link with a small smile.

"I do hope you will enjoy your visit," she said regally, returning to her throne. "Eragon can show you around. We will be having a feast tonight in your honor at six. Be in the Great Hall at that time."

A/N: Just a little side note, I couldn't find the name for their dining hall in which Eragon feasts with them in Eldest, so bear with me on the most-likely inaccurate name.

"Thank you, Queen Islanzadí," said Eragon. "I will show Link what Ellesméra has to offer."

The queen nodded as Eragon took Link through a door to their left.

"This is the Great Hall the queen spoke of," said Eragon. "This is where we will be dining with the elves tonight. I feasted with them in this room as well. Be careful; there's an extremely annoying white raven named Blagden who likes to poke fun at people, especially dragons."

"A raven likes to… poke fun?" Link asked, perplexed.

"He can speak," said Eragon, and that was his only explanation.

Vanilor snorted at that.

I'd like to see him try, he said.

I'd like to give him a second chance, Saphira chimed in.

"I'm guessing he already said something to Saphira?" Link asked. Eragon nodded and showed Link the way out of the great building to let him see the rest of Ellesméra. He showed Link where they would be staying, which was some kind of dragon roost. There was a roost for Vanilor and one for Saphira, and there were two separate suites for Link and Eragon.

That night in the Great Hall, Link sat himself next to Eragon. They were both watched in awe, but Link got the sense that they were more interested in Eragon, or Shadeslayer. They took their seats, and their dragons knelt behind them.

There were several elven nobles seated at the long dining table. Arya was seated near her mother, but otherwise Link didn't recognize anyone. Eragon seemed to know a couple of elves. A few came and talked to him.

"Shadeslayer," said one elf indifferently. "I trust you've improved your swordplay even more?"

"You know I have, Vanir," Eragon replied. Vanir bowed and took his own seat.

"Who was that?" Link asked after he was out of earshot.

"An elf named Vanir," said Eragon with his teeth clenched slightly. "We are… let's say we have our differences."

Finally, Queen Islanzadí arrived. All the elves present stood. Link was the last one to stand since he did not know their customs, but several elves looked at him rudely. Link wanted to scream that he wasn't an elf.

Queen Islanzadí seated herself, and the rest of the elves present followed suit. The queen ate the first bite of food, and the rest were able to follow.

Link discovered that, to his dismay, elves were vegetarians. There wasn't a single slab of meat on the table.

"Elves don't eat meat?" Link asked Eragon very quietly but very fervently.

"I'm afraid not," said Eragon through a mouthful of some kind of leaf. "I was just as disheartened as you when I found out, but no one was more angry than Orik."

"Orik?" Link asked. "I didn't know he came with you the first time."

Eragon nodded. "You will get used to the vegetables," he said. "Trust me."

Link mocked Eragon's mouth movement while his back was turned and sorrowfully placed a leaf in his mouth. He almost gagged, but was able to control himself without other elves looking.

Soon, the white raven called Blagden entered the Great Hall and sat on a perch above the queen. Surprisingly to Eragon, he mostly kept his mouth shut.

"I thought you said Blagden was annoying?" Link asked.

"He is annoying, usually," said Eragon. "Something must be wrong with him."

"So, Link," said an elven noble in front of him. Link gulped. "What royal elven family do you hail from?"

Link and Eragon were both at a loss for words. This was the moment that he had been dreading.

"I-I'm not an elf," said Link quietly.

"I'm sorry?" said the noble.

"I'm not an elf," Link said a bit louder. Most of the elves gasped quietly, and the others just stared. Link felt his face turn red.

"You are not an elf?" asked another elf. "You must be!"

"Actually no, I'm not," he said. "I'm not even of noble birth. I am much like Eragon."

"Eragon is the Shadeslayer!" said one elf defiantly.

Changing the subject, Link said, "I am what one would call Hylian. I look much like an elf and my abilities are similar to that of an elf, but I am a different race."

"What land are you from?" asked an elf.

"I come from a land to the north of here called Hyrule," he said. "It is smaller than Alagaësia, but much more peaceful right now."

"'Tis true," said an elf. "Alagaësia has been plagued by that demon Galbatorix."

"But you two will save us!" said another elf next to the first one.

"We'll do our best," said Eragon. The elves seemed very confident.

The night proceeded to be much like that, with the elves asking Link questions about his homeland. Link sensed they were growing fond of him. He guessed it was a sense of kinship, seeing as how they were so much alike.

After the feast was over, Link and Eragon were both tired and went to their suites early, falling asleep as soon as their heads hit their pillows.

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A/N: So, what did you think? Sorry it's been a while. I've been sick in bed these past few days and I still have a really painful cough. I'll be sure to update sooner next time. R&R please!