Chapter 16. Reinforcements
A long line of dwarves stretching for miles marched from the east towards Feinster. At the head of the line was King Orwick and Orwick rode an armored feldunost. His armor was gold and he wore a red cape and like Hrothghar before him we wielded volund the war hammer in his hand.
"Hail Nausada… Hail King Orrin!... Hail Nar Garzhvog…"
Nausada smiled; "Hail King… Orwick…"
"Your appointment was a surprise, but a welcome one…" Orrin said.
"Where is Eragon and Saphira… I have been longing to see them…"
Nausada looked at Orrin and he looked at her, but she grabbed Roran and pulled him forward; "May I introduce Roran Garrowson Stronghammer… Eragon's cousin…"
Roran bowed to Orwick; "I have heard of your exploits Roran Stronghammer… and I have longed to see you. Eragon speaks of you with great respect…"
"You honor me your majesty…"
Orwick waved; "My predecessor Hrothghar adopted Eragon into my clan and that makes you family… You and all Eragon's kin will always be welcomed in the halls of bregon hold…" Roran bowed again. Once again Orwick looked in the skies and this way and that way, but there was no sign of Eragon or Saphira. "Is Eragon off scouting? I thought you were planning on marching on Belatona."
Nausada was about to speak when Jarsha rode up on a horse; "My lady… The elves approach… they march out of the spine…"
"More good news…" Orrin said.
"King Orwick my apologies… Let's go greet Queen Islanzadi and her people…"
As they rode towards the spine Orwick's chief spellcaster whispered into his ear. He then urged his feldunost forward. "My spellcaster tells me that he senses grief among the varden. Speak truthfully to me Nausada is Eragon well…"
"Please your majesty wait until we have spoken with Queen Islanzadi…" Orwick let the matter go, but he was starting to get the feeling that something terrible had happened.
When Arya heard the news that her mother and her people was coming she became overjoyed. She stretched out with her mind to mentally greet her mother, but she felt nothing. Arya then searched for Lord Dainor and when she found him, he wouldn't respond to her inquiries about her mother. Arya felt the sorrow of her people despite their attempts to hide it from her. A great fear came over Arya as she came to the one conclusion any child would when their parent wasn't among the returning warriors. She broke out into a run ignoring the cries that came from Nausada, Orrin, Nar Garzhvog, and Orwick. They spurred their horses after her and to the surprise of Orrin the small creature Orwick rode upon kept pace with the much larger horses.
When they arrived a princely looking elf was speaking with Arya. He paused to acknowledge the gathered leaders; "Lady Nausada… King Orrin, King Orwick, Nar Garzhvog, greetings and salutations on behalf of all elves…"
They each made the elvish custom of courtesy, it was Nausada who addressed him. "Lord Dainor greetings on behalf of all the races who stand against Galbatorix."
He was about to say something else when Arya yelled; "My mother! Where is she…"
He sighed and looked at Arya; "My lady I cry your pardon as I bare you this news. Your mother Islanzadi Drottinggu has passed from this life… She died saving my life…" Dainor explained to all present how Galbatorix himself led his army against the elves in Gilead and through his dark magic he enchanted his troops with the strength and speed equal to that of elves. "Galbatorix is more powerful than we thought…" Despair took hold of the hearts of the gathered leaders as Arya fell to her knees.
"Forgive me my mother…" Arya whispered in the ancient language.
Dainor smiled looking down at her and picked her up by the shoulders. "She did forgive you… and more importantly she loved you with all her heart. When we began this war she gave me this to give to you…" Dainor handed her an enchanted jewel. "…In the ancient language speak the words I wish to hear my mother's voice and you will not only hear her. You shall see her as well…"
As Arya held the jewel in her hand Dainor looked around and sighed; "I suppose since you are here in Feinster and not Belatona that your fight against the city went poorly. And since Eragon nor Saphira is here to greet us that they have been captured…"
("Dam elves and their logic!") Nausada thought to herself. She smiled; "Yes Lord Dainor you are correct… Eragon has been captured…"
Orwick gasped; "Then we must make all haste to attack Urubaen itself…"
Danoir smiled; "Perhaps first we should allow Lady Arya a chance to compose herself… Many of the things we need to discus concern her in more ways than one…"
Nausada walked up to Arya; "We shall convene at your discretion… In the meantime let us repast on some food and allow the elves and those that traveled with them time to refresh themselves."
Arya stood alone on a hill away from the city; she could feel Glaedr's comforting mind touch hers, but for the most part she wanted to be alone. She took a deep breath and in the ancient language said. "I wish to see my mother…"
The jewel flashed white, when the light faded a ghostly apparition of Islanzadi stood before Arya. She wore a white gown and her hair flowed free down to her hips. She looked lovingly at Arya then she looked up at the sky and returned her attention to Arya. The spell on the emerald drew power from the energy stored within.
"Hello my daughter…" She sighed; "…If you are watching this then I am no more. There are a million things, I would like to say to you my daughter. I will say only that which matters most. I love you with all my heart and I am proud of the woman you are becoming. You are stronger than both me and your father put together, in more ways than one. You follow your heart when it matters most and that is a quality you should hold onto." Islanzadi sighed; "I know you my daughter and though you have denied yourself you love Eragon. A part of me wished you would have pursued it, but we both know better. Perhaps you are coming to that conclusion and can admit to yourself that you love him. You know what I would ask of you…" She laughed. "…and I find that I cannot bring myself to ask …so I will say follow your heart my daughter. I love you so much… and if there is any question you have for me then ask… The spells I placed on this jewel will respond to any questions you ask. I have placed as much of myself in the jewel so that you and all those who follow in our bloodline will know who I was…"
Arya cried and cried until she could not anymore, then she looked at her mother's ghostly form and asked. "If I pursued a relationship with Eragon… would you have approved?"
She smiled; "Yes… but I know you…"
They talked for hours as mother and daughter; the jewel had only spent half the energy stored within. "Eragon and Saphira have been captured mother… What should we do…"
Islanzadi sighed; "Whatever you can to free them are all of Alagaesia will be doomed…"
"Before the battle of Belatona… Glaedr told us that there are unseen forces in the land that fight against him… Do you know what he means?"
"I am sorry Arya… I know not…"
Arya sighed; "Eragon said that the Razac told him that Galbatorix has almost found the name… and he said the werecat Solembum told him that when his power was insufficient to go to the rock of kuthian and speak his name to the vault of souls… Do you know what either of those things are…"
Islanzadi raised an eyebrow as she thought about it; "I do not know what Galbatorix could be searching for… several things come to mind but…" She hunched her shoulders; "…Maybe he searches for the true name of our race…" Arya shuttered at the idea of the entire elven race under the control of Galbatorix.
"It is possible if he controlled us then… but I think it is something more grand…"
"So do I…"
"As for the rock of kuthian… It sounds familiar… but my memory fails me…"
"Thank you mother I have many things to do and little time to do them…"
"Fare well my daughter… this jewel will always hold my essence of mind and anytime you wish to speak…" She started crying; "…Forgive me it is a poor substitute but open your mind and feel my embrace." Arya opened her mind and when she did it felt as if her mother was there hugging her. Arya hid the jewel in her room and then she summoned the allied leaders and their advisors.
They all met in the thrown room of Feinster's palace; they sat around a large round table. Nausada, Roran, Trianna, and the council of elders took up eight chairs at the table. Next was King Orrin, his chief spellcaster Ferrace, and his advisors took up ten seats at the table. After Orrin was Arya, Dainor, and the twelve elf lords and ladies. They took up fourteen seats. Orwick who was now King of the dwarves sat next to Narheim. He and his advisors took up fourteen seats. It would be fifteen, but Vermond and his clan had been exiled from the dwarf nation. Finally there was Nar Garzhvog, but he sat alone at the table.
It was Dainor who stood; "I and all elves grieve with you Lady Arya…" Everyone at the table nodded in agreement. "…but now is not the time. We are at war and the elves need a new ruler… Lady Arya daughter of Evander and Islanzadi Drottninggu… will you take the knotted thrown of your mother and become queen. I ask this as friend, ally, and loyal servant to your mother Queen Islanzadi. Who better to lead us than you… there are others, but the whole of our nation wish it to be you…"
With a heavy heart, Arya stood up in front of her chair. For a moment Dainor and the others feared she wouldn't accept. Then Arya moved from her chair and took a knee in front of Dainor.
"As the daughter of Evander and Islanzadi Drottniggu… I accept and I pledge to serve my people with my life…" She repeated the same thing in the common tongue and the people gathered human and non-human cheered. Dainor placed a diadem on Arya's head and took a seat. Nausada, Orrin, Orwick, and Nar Garzhvog stood up and greeted her as an equal and pledged their friendship to the elves. "Thank you my friends… take heart for as queen I intend to follow the path set forth by my forbearers and fight along side the united races of Alagaesia until Galbatorix is no more.
When Arya took her seat Nausada stood up and for those who didn't know she spun the tale of the siege on Belatona and how Eragon and Saphira were captured.
"Perhaps this note you received from Tymen in Belatona was a lie or maybe he is under Murtagh's control…"
"No…" Trianna said speaking up, "…when I scanned the city with my mind Kirdeen told me he had been killed."
Orwick pound his fist on the table drawing everyone's attention; "By the gods… Eragon is my foster brother and I cannot bare the thought of him in Galbatorix's clutches for another minute. I say we gather our forces and storm Urubaen itself."
Many at the table agreed with that idea, especially Roran and Nar Garzhvog. "I would like nothing more than to do that myself…" Dainor said speaking up. "…but King Orwick you forget Murtagh and Thorn are in Belatona. If we march on Urubaen then Murtagh, Thorn and the army in Belatona will march on our rear flank…"
"Why not attack Belatona again… our forces out number the army in Belatona and when the northern army arrives we will be waiting." Trianna said, "Murtagh and Thorn aren't as powerful as Galbatorix… With the combined magical might of humans, elves, dwarves, and urgals we could kill Murtagh. Then we march on Belatona…"
Arya sighed; "All those plans are brilliant, but there is one problem… While we fight our way across Alagaesia Eragon is still prisoner in Urubaen… Eventually he will learn Eragon's true name and when that happens it is all over…" Arya's words were gloomy, but true and no one at the table could deny them.
"Then we send a small, but powerful group to Urubaen to rescue Eragon while the rest of the army marches on Belatona…" Roran said.
Arya's head was down; "No… no… no… You aren't thinking strategically… Galbatorix left Murtagh and Thorn in Belatona on purpose… His real prize is Saphira and Eragon… Saphira so that she could rebuild the dragon riders. No matter who marches on Urubaen it will be death for them…"
"Are you saying we should give up…" Roran asked at the point of yelling.
"No…" Arya replied.
"We need to decide and now…" Nar Garzhvog grumbled.
Nausada stood up; "All those in favor of storming Urubaen raise your hands…" Roran, Nar Garzhvog, Orwick, three members of the council of elders, two of Orrin's advisors, and two elf lords raised their hands. "All those in favor of storming Belatona…" The people in favor of attacking Belatona out numbered those who wanted to go to Urubaen. Then there were those who didn't raise their hands for either suggestion, like Arya. Nausada sighed in fear; this was the most fear she had felt in her entire life. "We will attack…" Her voice cracked; "We will attack Belatona… Our chances of winning there are more favorable…"
Orwick stood up, "And what do we do when Galbatorix learns Eragon and Saphira's true names? I say we march on Uru'baen…"
Nausada stood her ground and responded by shaking her head. "Then I will withdraw my people from this alliance and we will attack Uru'baen alone…"
His words caused an uproar at the table. Orwick's advisors yelled at Nausada's and to make things worse Nar Garzhvog added fuel to the fire by siding with the Dwarves. Orrin's advisors argued because they saw it as an opportunity to draw power away from Nausada. The elves remained silent throughout the shouting match because Arya had ordered them too. That is when Roran drew his hammer and slammed it on the table silencing everyone. All eyes turned to him and he was about to speak when Glaedr's powerful mind touched everyone.
("Peace to you all… King Orwick you know me when I walked in the flesh of my body… I am Glaedr… the golden dragon who bore Oromis as a rider…")
It took Orwick a few minutes to find his voice; "Yes I remember you…"
("My body is no more but the soul of my mind resides here in my heart of hearts…") Glaedr sent several images to his mind.
"I understand… and what wisdom can you give oh mighty dragon…"
"As I said earlier to the others… there are forces in Alagaesia both seen and unseen that fight against Galbatorix…"
Orwick interrupted him, feeling a little silly talking to someone he couldn't see. "Would you elaborate on these forces…"
("My apologies… I cannot… As for Saphira and Eragon know this… Galbatorix has not discovered their true names… and he never will. Eragon is… well considering his circumstances…")
"How do you know?" Nar Garzhvog asked.
("I know because I can feel it… Despite the fact that I had to sever our connection… I know because the memory and power of my ancestors weighs down on me…")
"And what should we do to rescue him…" Roran asked.
Glaedr snorted; ("For now… do nothing…") The entire table burst into an uproar again and stopped when the entire castle was shaken to its foundation through Glaedr's mental roar. ("Here me friends and allies of Alagaesia… Eragon is safe despite what you think… give it one week…")
"A week…" Orwick barked.
("Yes and if… nothing has changed then a select group of your most powerful spellcasters from each race will march on Urubaen and I will go with them to boost their abilities… The rest of the allied forces will march on Belatona…")
This time Arya spoke; "Glaedr you must tell us more…"
("As I said before I cannot revel anything…")
"Then how do expect us to do what you ask…" Orwick said.
("Give it a week…")
They talked and talked, everyone at the table gave their opinion on the matter. It went on for so long that Nausada finally stood and said; "We have said all that needs to be said… For now we shall… follow Glaedr's advice… but we will not wait a week… Four days master Glaedr… and then we shall act…"
Glaedr grumbled; ("So be it… but if you act before the time then all may be lost…")
Glaedr withdrew from everyone's minds into his eldunari and the gathered allied leaders were about to leave the table but Orwick stopped them. "I must apologize for my words… I said them in anger… Eragon is my friend and my foster brother…"
Nausada placed a hand on his shoulder; "I completely understand and I feel some of those same things."
Arya stood alone on a balcony looking in the direction towards Uru'baen. "Do you love him?" The question came from Nausada.
"Why do you ask?" Arya remained in her same position.
Nausada walked up and stood beside her. "I have seen the way he looks at you… When Thorn and Murtagh attacked us near the jiet river I saw the way you looked at him…"
Arya hunched her shoulders; "I am queen of the elves now… You ask if I love him… Yes, but now my station and his responsibilities are in the way… I swore I would tell him after the battle of Belatona. Then my mother died and I am queen…"
"You missed your chance…"
Arya looked at her; "It was not meant to be…" She left the balcony and went to her room in the palace where she spoke to her mother through the jewel.
Roran stood on the balcony staring at the sky he looked back at Katrina who stirred in the bed. He thought she was about to awake but she didn't. He was trying to think of way to rescue Eragon, but all of his ideas meant nothing when he had to contend with people who could use magic. He smiled to himself when Katrina got up and joined him.
"You should be sleeping…"
He placed a hand on her swollen stomach and smiled when he felt the baby kick. "Wow he is so strong… Does it hurt?"
She kissed on the cheek; "No, but he is a restless one…"
"Anxious to live…" Roran said.
"Whatever happens I love you and Eragon loves us both… He has been through worse and always came out… Trust that and come back to bed…" He smiled as she pulled him towards the bed and they lay in each other's arms.