Wisdom Shared

Irlinda stood tall and straight at the bow of the boat. Her eyes were closed as she listened to the sound of the ocean, the movement of the boat as the waves rolled underneath seemed so smooth, so gentle, and so calm. Irlinda could hear the elves behind her, all were speaking quietly. Most likely about her, she had barely said a word in the two weeks they had been sailing. Irlinda sensed another presence by her side. For a moment she didn't speak.

"What do you wish to ask?" she spoke smoothly.

She opened her eyes and stared at the elf beside her.

Iliren was looking out at the ocean "I was just curious, do you sleep at all? This whole journey I haven't seen you lay down."

Irlinda smiled "Sleep is a place where one can lose themselves in extraordinary imaginations. But the answer is no. I don't sleep."

Iliren stared at her in astonishment "You don't sleep? That's something I've never heard of."

She smiled "all races are different and have something unique about them in their own right."

"Then what do humans have? They have not our abilities of speed, strength or magic, nor do they live long. They don't have the gifts of dwarves who are masters of war and craft. Even Dwarves have extended lives"

He seemed to be challenging her in a sense which Irlinda found amusing and smiled.

A small smile pulled at her lips as she slowly looked out to sea again. She took a long moment to answer leaving Iliren standing awkwardly beside her.

"Elves have the gift of strength, speed and immortality which is true like you say. Dwarves have the gift of strength of the mountain and the gift of a long life. Dragon's, have the gift of fire and magic, and finally humans." She looked at Iliren "Have the gift of mortality. So I ask you now. Is the immortality of ours races a gift? Or a curse?"

He was silent for a moment "a gift" he finally said.

Irlinda raised an eyebrow signalling him to explain.

"Our lives stretch on and yet we are not immortal. We can still be taken by blade, poison, magic or sickness. But even so we have as much time as we want to do what we want"

Irlinda nodded "You have a strong opinion. But I can yet raise a point that say's otherwise. It's exactly what you just said that turns a human's mortality into a gift. They don't have long lives. So they must find what they want in life fast, they don't have the chance to take their time as we do. And it's because of this that humans are so fast at expanding. It's because they have learnt to do much in the little time they have"

Iliren smiled "I believe you have bested me. I cannot think of a rebuttal for this newly formed debate"

Irlinda slowly looked to the clouds above, as the wind blew around her causing her hair to whip forwards in front of her face she said "Iliren, debates are only settled by one side giving up. Regardless of what has been said to rebut what you say there is always a way to counter that" she turned to face him "now go and think on what you might say"

He gave a slight frown before smiling "A challenge is always welcome" then he returned to ponder his thoughts.

Irlinda barely took note as she returned to her previous position. The sun had set and the stars sparkled in the darkened sky.

"Irlinda"

It was Arya who was speaking to her.

"What may I do for you Princess Arya?"

"I'd rather you address me as a friend, just Arya"

Irlinda smiled and turned to look at her "And that's the sign of a leader" she looked back over the sea "the best leaders do not like to be acknowledged above others. Now, how may I help you?"

"It just occurred to me, what you would be teaching Eragon"

Irlinda slowly looked down. Placing her finger tips of the wooden trailing she dragged them across the smooth surface. The wood rippled like water at her touch. Cupping her hand she reached into the railing and drew it out. The wood flowed like water, the excess fell back to the railing and moulded into the wood as nothing had happened. Raising her hand she stared at the liquid redwood in she had cupped in her hand. Tilting it to the side the wood flowed off her hand and became whole with the railing again.

"How did you do that? I've never seen anything like it before" Arya asked as she stepped forward in fascination.

Irlinda looked to the sky "Arya, even at your age and what you know of magic. This is much too advanced for you"

"Owe, I'm sure that I"

Before she could say anymore Irlinda held a hand to silence her "you should know that nothing is as easy as it looks or seems. That was one of the spells that require more than concentration" she lowered her hand then tapped a finger on the railing "it requires more than just feeling and knowing"

"I don't understand" the reply was long in coming.

"You weren't supposed to"

Out of her peripheral vision she spotted Arya frown, slowly Arya turned and walked to the rear of the boat obviously contemplating what she had just been told.

Irlinda noticed rather quickly that the elves were avoiding her. They seemed to grow uneasy the closer she was. It had been an entire week since she last spoke to any of the elves. In that time she hadn't moved more than two metres from her spot by the railing. She stood in silence 24/7, eyes closed and taking pleasure from every moment she spent with the cool peaceful ocean breeze before she arrived to the land, which has been torn by war. In truth she was secretly thankful that the elves she travelled with left her be. She had never been one who enjoyed excessive or pointless conversation. Although Irlinda had an interest in exploring this new and fascinating Alagaesia, she had no desire to stay in such a place for too long.

"Pardon me Irlinda Elda"

As her week of silence was broken she slowly turned to look into the eyes of a very young elf. Younger than Arya, she had flowing golden brown hair and piercing blue eyes. She was not tall as most elves were; in fact she stood little over 5 foot 5.

She stood in silence for a moment waiting for a response.

Since none came she continued "There's Alagaesia" she pointed into the distance where the outline of land could be seen "We have caught the current and expect to be there by dusk"

Irlinda lifted her eyes from the elf to stare at Alagaesia, after a moment she looked at the elf again.

"What is your name?"

"Uven"

"Uven, I'd like you to do me a favour. Never address me as Elda again."

"Yes Irlinda"

Irlinda sighed, she was tired of always being addressed formally "Uven would you come stand beside me a moment?"

Once they stood side by side. Irlinda said "there are as many stars as there are beings. Over my life I've come to notice that the stars share a very similar life as we do"

"I don't understand"

"Stars live and die just as we do. Some live longer than others. Yet they all share an equal value no matter how old, young, bright or dull." She looked at Uven "As are we, no matter our status, no matter our age and no matter our race. We are all equals and have an equal value. So do not address me in any way, shape or form that puts you or I above or below any other"

Uven didn't answer; she obviously didn't know what to say.

"Tell me Uven. Does the elf Rhunon live in Ellesmera?"

"Yes she does. Do you know her?"

Irlinda smiled "She and I were became good friends when she came over to visit the Drows some twenty seven thousand years ago."

"Twenty seven thousand years? I had no idea she had reached such an age" Uven was amazed at this.

Irlinda simply smiled.

"And I never knew she had travelled to the Drows" she looked over the railing "so few of us have" she looked back to Irlinda.

"If you don't mind me asking, but how long was she with the Drows?"

Irlinda thought for a moment "I'd say near fifty year. I'm not going to say anymore on this. It is for Rhunon to say"

"I understand that"

Irlinda just nodded and stared out over the railing signalling that the brief but pleasant conversation had come to an end. And so Uven turned and left Irlinda by the railing.

Looking at Alagaesia once again she thought 'And now I enter a different world from which I may not return.'