A.N. I'll admit this chapter is written a bit differently stylistically. I didn't feel the amusing, childish way I have been structuring the other chapters fit the Agaetí Blodhren very well. I would appreciate advice on what you think. Don't be afraid to tell me if you hate it. I still think this seems like Angela, but it is more serious. (Don't worry, though. The batty and witty herbalist will return.) Oh, and thanks for all the reviews. Those are what made this happen so fast.

I couldn't believe the complete change that came over the elves in the days leading up to the Agaetí Blodhren. The entire city bustled with activity and the elves held cheerful and light conversations as the forest was decorated in the most magnificent manner. Lanterns were hung in the massive pine trees, and the Menoa tree itself glistened from the colored lanterns that burned at the tip of every branch, exuding the smells of flowers and rain, the smells of spring and life. Even the most serene and cold elves could be seen with a smile as the preparations were made. Elves sung to the forest day and night in preparation until a new blanket of flowers and green grass sprouted everywhere. Olive green vines crawled up the bark of the trees with bell-like pink flowers of which the fragrance I still cannot describe, but which I remember to this day. Ellesméra was bursting at the seams from the constant arrival of elves from everywhere, come to participate in the celebration., and the anticipation grew with every hour.

On the eve of the celebration, it seemed the air was full of the laughter of the elves, reverberating with what sounded of bells and birdsong, weaving together in a wild and free melody. Vanir and I found ourselves standing in a crowd of elves at the base of the magnificent Menoa tree. A hush fell over the elves, all sound died and every eye fixed on the king. King Evander raised his arm toward the moon, his skin glistening in the silvery light. A pure white orb of light accrued around his hand until it seemed to be glowing. Evander withdrew his hand, holding the orb near his chest and turned to the Menoa tree. He lifted the light above his head and placed it in a hollow in the bark. The light grew and began to pulse.

Suddenly the elves broke out in noise that hurt my human ears. They laughed and sang and danced. Tables seemed almost to appear from nowhere. Old, ornate, tiered tables that were laden with the most elaborate dished I had ever seen. Even more amazing was that they never seemed to empty though no one was refilling them.

Almost without me noticing, a strange song began to swell. It was made of many parts, many songs, many voices, but all fit together perfectly, weaving a complex spell with multifarious parts. I found myself joining into the songs, even the ones I did not know, influenced by the magical atmosphere. Laughing, Vanir held out his hand and I took it, only to be swept into a wild and frenzied dance. I could not say how long we danced, but the magic prevented me from tiring. At some point I found myself passed from partner to partner. I saw faces I did not recognize as well as ones I knew well.

Elves began to display the wonders they had produced for the celebration. There were great poems and puzzles and pieces of art that seemed impossible. I saw magic the likes of I had never seen before and likely never will again. At some point I recognized Vanir step up and recite a long and beautiful poem about joy. As he finished, his eyes sought me out and I grinned at him before I became lost again in the revels. I became aware it was nearing my turn and flitted through the crowd to where a section was fenced off, my project standing invisible in the middle.

–Sorry to interrupt, but I feel the need to say that I was an utter blockhead in one way regarding my project. How I expected that I, a human girl, would be able to move an enormous wooden sculpture still astounds me to this day. I required the help of Gwendolyn to carry my project to the clearing the morning before the Agaetí Blodhren.–

I stood before the elves as they continued in their revels around me. I frowned and narrowed my eyes. I would get the attention I deserved. I whispered a word and there was a flash like lightning and then another. The elves looked around and their eyes fell upon me. I climbed onto a root to get higher and almost all the eyes were on me now. "Behold!" I cried and formed a sheet of fog around my project, dropping the invisibility spell. "Skogrdýr!" The pillar of mist dropped to the ground and dissipated among the elves, revealing my carved dragon which seemed almost real by the lanterns' light.

There were startled exclamations which tuned to shouts of delight as they saw my piece. I smiled and leapt down from the root. Immediately I was mobbed by elves, commending me for my work. A tall handsome elf caught my hand and I was drawn once again into the chaotic dance.

All the elves gathered to see the creations of the king and queen. The crowd was so large, I could not see and then Vanir caught my hand. "I'll race you to the first branch." Vanir said as he began to climb a tree. Without thinking, I was following him.

"No fair." I complained. "You got a head start."

"Shh." He said, looking down at Islanzadí, who was standing before the elves.

"Don't shush me!" I exclaimed quietly only for him to completely ignore me. The queen of the elves recited a poem that contained only five lines, but the piece was one of the most beautiful I had yet heard. Evander stood next and read a history of the last century he had written in verse. The elves continued the celebration, but Vanir and I remained on the branch, watching the revelry from above, joining instead into the song as we watched the other wonders presented.

Vanilor and my father broke tradition and went up together, delivering a two part poem which was relayed to the minds of all simultaneously and which was hard to follow by words, but the meaning, the feeling, conveying the depth of the rider-bond was terrific. Reina presented a metal statue of the Menoa tree and my mother sang a beautiful song she had written. She was immediately forced to repeat the song several times until the elves picked it up and it joined the resounding chorus of the forest.

I had no real sense of the passing time. Everything seemed a blur, and if asked later, I could tell you every detail of the festival, but not in order. It was as if time had become irrelevant, as if it was nonexistent. I know not how long I remained in that tree with Vainir, but we were still there when Gwendolyn took t command of the attention. Without speaking, she raised her hands and a sharp crack cut through the air, and then there was swirling light and electricity around her. A plain glass ball stood on a stand in front of her. Gwendolyn's face took on a look of extreme concentration. She raised a hand and the energy swirled around it.

She remained that way for a long while before pointing at the glass orb. It seemed to explode in light and color and there was a sound like thunder, but when my eyes had recovered from the blinding light, the ball was unblemished. It looked exactly the same as before, and then there was a flicker within the glass, a dim shadow which grew to the outside and then suddenly became the image of a city, clear and bright. Gwendolyn smiled triumphantly and held the orb up to the light.

Elves fought for a closer look and she seemed to delight in showing it to them. I climbed down the tree and eventually made my way to my friend and teacher. "What is it?" I asked in awe as I touched the surface of the glass ball. I drew my hand back surprised. "It's hot!"

She laughed at me. "Of course it is hot; it gets its energy from heat."

"But what is it?" I asked, looking closer at the image. You could see people moving around in it and the occasional bird.

"I have not named it yet. What you see now is Gil'ead." She smiled and bent over the glass ball. "Doru Areaba." She whispered and the picture changed. I stared at it in amazement as it depicted every person and creature there when I was positive there was no way she had seen them before.

I was about to ask her how she had made it when the queen arrived and Gwendolyn met my eyes, and in that look was the command to behave. "It is brilliant." She murmured as she examined the piece. My concentration strayed to the dancing as I watched a graceful strange elf with scales like a snake gliding through the forms with ease.

"Meira." The queen spoke my name and I turned back, realizing it was not the first time she had spoken my name.

"Yes, my queen?"

She eyed me suspiciously at the submissive reply, but didn't ask. "I wish to know if we may keep your carving in one of the gardens of Tialdarí Hall." I grinned and nodded immediately and the queen smiled slightly back at my enthusiasm.

I realized with amazement that the sun was beginning to rise. The celebration had lost some of its feverish energy and the singing and dancing had become more refined. I glanced up to see that the werelight pulsing in the Menoa tree had faded slightly. The sun rose and the forest seemed to wake as if from a dream. I was suddenly tired from going three days without sleep, and many elves were already scattering. The forest floor looked as though it had been trampled as if from a stampede.

Dizzy from the sudden lack of magic, I wandered off. I almost didn't realize the golden dragon flying lower and lower until he was above me. The great dragon crashed to the ground and I sprinted toward it in sudden fear, realizing the dragon was bloodied and had only a stump for his front leg. Even as I reached the dragon, his rider tumbled from his back, unconscious and I barely caught him before he hit the ground.

I lowered the unconscious body of Oromis, the rider who had stayed in Ellesméra while I was a child, to the ground and looked up at the dragon to see him lay his head down on the ground and his eyes closed. I panicked, but luckily retained my good sense. Help! I called out toward Ellesméra, the cry piercing and urgent. Knowing someone would respond, I immediately began to do all I could for the pair. Glaedr was badly injured, but his rider seemed worse off. I healed where his skull had been fractured first and then started on the numerous wounds.

A few minutes later, his eyes flickered open slightly and half focused on my face. "The riders have been betrayed." I was pushed away as elves, riders, and dragons surrounded the injured pair. Betrayed by whom? I wondered. Little did I know my life was about to change.

–There we go. All finished.–

I always thought that Galbatorix would have attempted to seize power at the time of the Agaetí Blodhren. Kialandí was Forsworn and an elf so she would have known about it. And both events happen a hundred years ago. It would be the perfect time for an attack. The elves are out of the picture, occupied, and they were the biggest threat.

Anyway, what did you guys think? Did this still sound like Angela or did I lose her voice here? I think I will probably go back to the style I used in the other chapters.

School starts tomorrow, so expect less frequent updates.

Please review and tell me what you thought.