Empire: The Final Battle.
Chapter Six: Scarred
Previously:
"Your and elf." Eragon breathed. Then he looked at the fairth. "And these are your parents!" He turned to Nasuada. "She brought you her parents, just as you asked."
She looked at him, almost smiling.
"You are daughter to the queen? Asked Nasuada hastily. The girl nodded.
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They all stared at her. Then Eragon broke the silence "What is your name?" He asked. She looked at him with an angry/upset expression. She folded her arms and looked to the ground, obviously thinking. She suddenly straightened up and walked to the door, beckoning them to follow her.
They followed her out the door, down several halls, and finally stopped in front of Arya's Room. She went inside, and started looking around for something. She found that something under Arya's pillow, and headed towards Eragon. She held out her palm. In it was a tiny silver locket, engraved with the runes that spelled Arya's name. Eragon took the locket and looked at it thoughtfully.
"You knew Arya?" He asked. His thoughts were actually that she was trying to tell him that she was her sister, but Arya had mad him swear he would not tell. The small girl looked disgusted and folded her arms over her doll. She shook her head, frustrated.
"Why aren't you speaking?" Asked Orik, stepping past Nasuada. The girl looked to the floor, then back to him and opened her mouth pointedly, then closed it. Roran scratched his head.
"She is mute?" Asked Eragon.
"I do not know." Answered Nasuada. The small girl yawned, hugging her doll closer. Nasuada straightened up.
"She is tired," she said. She then addressed the girl. "Where do you sleep?" She asked. The girl stared blankly. Nasuada sighed. "We shall have to find her accommodation." With in-human speed, the girl had latched onto Eragon's leg, looking pointedly at Nasuada. She sighed.
"Eragon, it seems she wishes to stay with you, you have no problems with that so you?"
"I do not." He answered. And nor do I. Said Saphira. Eragon repeated her words.
"Good, but Eragon," she whispered to him before he left. "Keep an eye on her." He nodded.
On the way back to his room, Eragon noticed a long thin scar that ran from the girl's elbow to her wrist, and a small gash on her cheek. He sent his thoughts to Saphira.
I am sure they were not there before. He said.
Yes, as am I.
She has been no where near anything that could have hurt her.
Hmmmm, we should tell Nasuada of this later. I shall meet you back at your tent soon.
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Eragon sat on his bed, looking at the girl. She looked back. They stayed like this for several minutes.
"Who - who are you?" He asked. The girl stared at him, and then pointed at his right hand. Confused, Eragon looked down, and realized he still held Arya's locket.
"Yes, I know you are her sister." He said. She stared at him with an expression of annoyance. She shook her head, then lay down on her small bed, still hugging her toy.
Eragon stared at her for a few seconds longer, then he to lay down to sleep
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The next day Eragon awoke early, only to find the child already awake, sitting on her bed, staring into space. She now wore a knee height pink-silk skirt, white top with an embroided bird on her left shoulder. This confused him because there was no sight of the clothes she wore previously, or any other belongings besides her doll. He noted her feet were bare.
She slid off the bed, landing with barley a whisper, and sat down in front of Eragon, staring up at him. This scared him; her eyes seemed to watch him wherever he went, whatever he did. He shook the feeling off, turning instead to the question of where he knew her from.
Saphira?
Yes, little one?
I don't suppose you can remember where I have seen her before?
I do not know; I have gone through many memories you have shared with me, and not one can tell anything of this girl, yet she does seem quiet familiar, she seems-
Like Arya.
Aye, that she does. But, that is understandable; they are related, no?
It certainly seems that way, yet Arya said she did not have a sister.
Yes, but this girl would be at most fifteen years old, by elven standards, and Arya had not been to her home in 70 years. Islanzadi could have easily had a child within then.
It is possible, yet something still does not seem right with that theory. It might possibly be, that King Endevar, the one she said is her parent, died over eighty years ago.
Aye, I had not thought of that. Eragon scratched his head. I do not know then. This is certainly confusing.
That it is. She answered in amusement. After a pause, she asked; The girl handed you Arya's locket did she not?
Aye?
Yet when you said she was her sister-
She seemed annoyed. Yes, why would that be?
Unless you were getting the answer wrong.
Yes, but how could I? They sat in silence. Eragon felt a pull on his sleeve, and looked down to see the girl. He gasped. Her face now had a new gash upon her forehead, as well as a long one from her right eye, across her nose and onto her left cheek. He lifted her up, inspecting the rest of her uncovered body. He noted several scars along her arms, and legs, and a long gash down her right calf. Eragon's hands shook in anger.
"What did you do last night, Where were you!" He thundered. The girl cowered, then pointed towards her bed. As she twisted around to point, Eragon saw a long scar that started at the nape of her neck, and continued down under her garment. He grabbed her without warning, and pulled her shirt up. Underneath he saw the scar descending all the way to her right hip, accompanied by several other cuts, and several nasty bruises.
He spun her around to face him. "Where were you!" he yelled. She shrank back, eyes glistening in tears, and pointed once again to her bed. He shook his head angrily and took her wrist, half dragging her out the door. She finally regained her balance, and had to jog as Eragon led her by the wrist to Nasuada's office.
After being admitted by her guards, all that gave the girl curious glances, Eragon stood before Nasuada, waiting impatiently for her to look up from the map on her desk.
"Yes, Eragon?" she asked wearily, rubbing her head and looking up. She caught sight of the child's face and gasped. She turned to Eragon. "How did this happen?" She demanded?
Eragon looked at the ground. "I awoke, and found her in this condition. When I asked her how she was harmed, she insisted she had been in bed the entire time." They both looked to the girl, who cowered and hugged her doll. Nasuada strode over to her, examining the scars on her cheek and upper arm.
"They looked to have been inflicted by a thin blade." She observed. Eragon thought.
"You removed a thin dagger from her possession yesterday." Suggested Eragon.
"Yes, but I gave it to one of my weaponry assistants to… look………. after." She ended. She had noticed the girl's belt. From it, hung not an empty sheath, but a thin dagger. They gasped. Nasuada took the weapon and stared at the girl, in shock and horror. The girl back at her. Nasuada strode over to the door, and muttered something to a guard, who nodded and walked off.
"What did you tell him?" asked Eragon when Nasuada had sat down at her desk.
She glanced nervously at the girl. "I asked him to find Armos, out most trusted weapon expert. He can determine what caused these, or at least, if this blade was responsible." She said, holding up the weapon.
After a long silence, Eragon had the nerve to ask; "Do you thing the wounds were self inflicted?" She stared up at him. A tear in her eye.
"Do you?" she asked quietly. "Why should a child have to do this to themselves." She asked.
Truthfully, Eragon did not believe she had done this herself, yet he had no desire to voice his opinion.
Eragon? Asked Saphira through his mind. I have awoken, and I can not find you! Where are you? Eragon sighed and recounted the entire event.
There was a slight pause. That is horrible.
Aye, but I do not believe it is self-inflicted.
Another pause. You don't?
No, I do not. The wounds on her back are in such a position where I believe it would be impossible for her to reach.
I shall ponder this, but for now, I must speak with Angela of this.
Why?
I do not believe this girl is, normal. She withdrew from the contact.
There was a knock at the door. "Enter." Commanded Nasuada. An elderly man stepped through the door. His hair was white and wispy. He wore a tattered old fashioned cloak, with leather boots. He held a large leather bound book.
"Armos." Greeted Nasuada, standing in greeting. Eragon bowed, the girl did not move.
"What is it you require, Lady Nasuada?" He asked in a pleasant voice. Nasuada pointed at the girl.
"We wish to know what caused her wounds, or if it was this knife." She said, placing the child's blade on her desk. Armos came and inspected it, muttering lengths and other measurements. Leaving his book on the desk, he stood and headed towards the girl, grasping her left arm. She flinched. He checked her over, until he found the scar upon her back. Nasuada gasped, she had not seen this.
After a while, Armos stood, expression grave. "The wounds are great, yet the weapon used to cause this was not this blade. " He said, holding up the small elvish dagger. "AND, these wounds are NOT self-inflicted." Nasuada sighed, and Eragon nodded in conformation.
"Do you know what blade did cause this then? Asked Nasuada.
"As a matter of fact I do." He strode towards Nasuada's desk and picked his book up, flicking through the pages. "Aha!" He said, slamming the book down onto the desk in triumph. He pointed to a certain sword. "Elven, 1 foot long, sturdy, yet flexible, very thin." He said, looking up. They moved closer to have a look. Eragon gasped.
"That is the type of blade Arya has!" He cried. He was interrupted by several claps behind them. They turned to find the girl put her hands in the air in triumph, her eyes showed happiness, yet she still did not smile. Eragon was wondering whether or not she was able to.
They stared at her. She strode towards the book, pointed to the same blade, then reached into a pocket and drew out the locket that Eragon was sure had been on his desk this morning. She placed it on the book, next to the drawn picture of the blade. They all looked confused, but the girls eyes shone brightly. Something in Eragon's mind clicked.
"Arya?" He asked. The girl looked at him and grinned. They all looked shocked. "Are- are you really Arya?" He asked. She nodded her head, then shook it. They all looked confused again.
"How can you be Arya?" Asked Nasuada. "She was captured by the Ra'zac, and she was not five years old." Arya nodded in agreement.
Eragon knelt down in front of her. "Arya, tell us what happened." Her eyes shone with glee. She then closed them. When she had opened them, they shone bright green, the same color as Arya's magic. They all backed away.
"Eragon?" Arya asked. She used the older Arya's voice.
"Aye?" He said, opening up his mind to Saphira, filling her in on the past details.
"Listen carefully, I cannot stay long. My strength is failing, and I am glad you found out the child's identity when you did, otherwise my strength would be gone."
"Who is the child." Blurted out Eragon.
"She is my spirit child, the body I had as a fifteen year old, yet she is mute. She has a mind of her own, yet is still attached to me. She could only do what she is doing now if you knew who she was."
"Aye"
"Now listen, I am imprisoned in Uru'baen, but I have information of grave importance to tell you."
"You can tell us when we get you out of there, save your strength."
"No, Eragon." She said sadly. "I shall stand before Galbatorix himself tomorrow, and there is no way you can get here in time." She paused. "So I must tell you this; Galbatorix is headed to Parlim, the island south-west of Aroughs (yes, that is actually on the map, check the front of your books) to retrieve a dragon egg from the Otho Forest. Find it before he does." Her voice quavered. "I must leave" She said. Younger Arya shut her eyes.
"Wait!" Yelled Eragon. She reopened her eyes warily. "I am, truly sorry for – for what I did to you on the way to Helgrind. I apologize profusely for my actions, may it never happen again.
She paused. "I do forgive you, Eragon. But as for it never happening again, that shall not be a problem, for I am certain this shall be the last time we speak." She paused again. "The wounds, on my spirit child, they are identical to the ones I bear on me now."
"Then, they are cutting you with your own sword." He said in horror.
She paused once more. "Yes." She said bitterly. "I leave with you my spirit child, until I die. Farewell, be safe, wiol pomnuria ilian." With that she ended the conversation, Leaving her spirit child normal as before, until falling unconscious into Eragon's arms.
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Author's Note.
MAJOR CLIFF! DON'T FALL OF!!! Mwahahahahah! Aint I mean?! See if Arya dies; or what happens to her, what Eragon will do, and who will get the egg soon! This was definitely my best chapter.
But for now, let me finish my roast duck. (Yum, gobble, gulp, chew,) PS: if anyone can tell me where that line came from, tell me in your Reply! Coz you're all going to reply, aren't you. (hides machine gun behind back)