As promised here's chapter 5. This has been my favourite chapter to write so far, so I hope you like it. Reviews are love, people. If you think this story is worth continuing, please let me know.
Chapter 5
Arya was still pondering Angela's words as the sun rose to start a new day. Angela had slipped away unnoticed, leaving the elf and Solembum alone in the tent.
As the first light began to chase away the darkness from the room, the werecat jumped down from the dresser and moved to sit on the table in front of the princess to once again fix his gaze upon the stoic Arya.
Faintly aware of the fact that Eragon would soon be expecting her at the Northen gate of Feinster, Arya opened her eyes to find the chair across from her empty. She searched the room for Angela, but could not sense her presence.
"She left." said a voice.
Arya had not yet noticed the werecat who was staring intently at her.
"She was complaining about the pig-headedness of the elves and the Riders and left to seek new entertainment." Arya raised an eyebrow at the statement, but continued to remain silent. Werecats did not often interact with other beings, much less humans and the elf often wondered why Solembum spent as much time as he did with Angela.
During her time in the witch's tent, Arya had let go of her unemotional mask giving the werecat full view of her emotions. Reading the confusion spread across her features, he continued.
"She is an interesting individual. Things tend to happen around her." The princess was about to make her leave from the tent when he pressed on.
"You are aware of the words I passed onto the Shadeslayer, are you not?" She nodded, not quite finding the words to speak.
"And, pray tell me, what do you know of the Vault of Souls?" he asked. His red eyes still fixed upon her,
"Eragon once asked me of it, but I do not recall where I might of heard the name."
"I figured as much. Tell me princess, do you feel as if someone may have misplaced the memory?" Arya's eyes widened. It was highly unlikely that any elf would purposely endanger someone's mind in that manner and the implication that the werecat's question brought were dangerously high. Who would tamper with Arya's mind?
"Impossible..." was the only word that escaped her lips.
"Nay, princess. It is not impossible, only highly unlikely and yet it is true." Arya gasped. She knew it was the truth as werecats rarely bestowed their words and their wisdom far excelled that of regular scholars and rivaled the eldest of the elves.
Solembum pressed on.
" I assume you know of the story of how the Menoa Tree came to be." She nodded. "What you do not know is that the elf who sang herself into the tree was also known as Kuthian, an ancient name that is only bestowed on those chosen by the forest. Kuthian was the guardian of the Vault of Souls. The Vault of Souls is our balance with nature, it contains every soul of every being to ever walk this earth.
Now, the guardians of the Vault, unlike other elves, age more quickly and when this particular guardian feel in love, she despaired. It is common knowledge what happened next. She killed her former lover and his new mate and then sang herself into the tree, becoming one with nature and the forest and forever closing the entrance of the Vault.
At the time, the Vault of Souls was a myth and only the guardians knew this legend to be true. In her final act, Kuthian erased the legend from the minds of Alagaesia and ended the cyclce: after her there were no more guardians and the Vault of Souls was and is quite possibly lost forever."
Arya was speechless, utterly speechless. A secret that had been lost for centuries had finally been revealed. After a few minutes, curiosity got the better of her.
"I must ask this. The knowledge to which you have just parted would be more useful to the Shadeslayer, would it not?" she asked in her musical voice that since the start of the conversation had once again returned to normal.
"Nay, Drottingu. Eragon must not know of this discussion, until the time is right, which is why you must swear to me in the Ancient Language that you shall not mention or discuss our meeting until your heart is whole."
Arya was slightly confused at his request, but reluctantly agreed to his condition. She was also left wondering what he could have possibly meant with his final statement. Until your heart is whole echoed throughout her mind. What could it possibly mean?
Eragon would have been the first person she would talk to if she had been the bearer of such knowledge, personal feelings aside. He was the last free Rider of Alagaesia and the Head Rider of the New Order. Afterall she was only the ambassador of the elves to the Varden and a princess even if the latter was not common knowledge. But still, Arya was most curious to understand Solembum's reason for sharing this information with her.
Before she could open her mouth, the werecat preceded her.
"Princess, I have my reasons and if you will excuse me, I am going to enjoy the silence caused by the absence of that mad woman and have a nap. Remember your oath."
Arya silently left the tent and headed towards the newly captured city to meet dragon and Rider.
When I first thought of this theory, I laughed at myself, but then I thought "what the hell!" so I just typed it. Reviews are always appreciated. I'm really curious to know what you think of my mad theory.