Drunkenness

Disclaimer: Don't own. Don't sue. Thank you.

"Ardis!" Alanna was yelling. The little elf-girl was running towards her. Her twin, Dusan, was at her heals.

"So you finally found me?" she laughed.

"So, where do you want to go?" Alanna asked her.

"I don't know. What do you think?" Ardis asked him.

"She'll like the Menoa tree!" Dusan yelled.

"That sounds like a good idea," Shaheen voiced. The former slave had been close behind Ardis.

"What's the Menoa tree?" Ardis inquired.

"I've heard legends about it," Shaheen said. "I was never sure what was fact and what was fiction.

"The Menoa tree was once an elf named Linnëa," Alanna began.

"She lived before we became immortal," Dusan added.

"And she was always singing to plants. She lived alone, but she was never lonely until," Alanna continued.

"A young man made her fall in love with him," Dusan put in, sticking out his tongue at the last phrase.

Alanna put her hands on her hips and stuck out her tongue in return. The girl opened her mouth and spoke, "Anyway, he wasn't content with Linnëa…"

"…Because she was old."

"So he found a younger woman and made her his new mate…"

"…Because she wasn't old."

"Stop being insensitive!"

"I was speaking the truth."

"You're getting as bad as Vanir."

"You're getting as bad as Vanir."

"No you are."

"You are."

"Insensitive wart."

"Fun-sucker."

"Stop fighting, please. Dusan, don't hit your sister," Ardis begged. Both twins stopped fighting immediately and glared at each other. Shaheen held on to Alanna, who looked ready to punch Dusan in return.

"Don't you want to finish the story?" Ardis asked them kindly.

Alanna stopped trying to get at her brother, drew herself up, and began again, "Linnëa was very upset when she found out what her young man had done. She found him with his new mate…"

"…And stabbed him to death," Dusan finished.

Alanna glared at her brother, who simply glared back.

"Anyway, Linnëa knew that killing was wrong…"

"…She knew she'd get in trouble for murder…"

"…So she pressed herself against the oldest tree in the forest…"

"…And sang herself into it…"

"…For three whole days…."

"…When she stopped, she was part of the tree," Alanna concluded.

Ardis nodded quietly. It had been an interesting story, though a rather sad one.

Shaheen quietly wiped a tear from her eye. Clearly, the story had affected her deeply, even though the twins had told it in the manner that they had.

They both followed Alanna and Dusan quietly until they came to a clearing with a huge tree. It was no taller than the rest of the tree, yet it as wide as hundreds of its brethren. It dwarfed all other things and made them look like saplings in the wind. It seemed to emanate power and intelligence, though it barely noticed the four people who had just walked into its clearing.

Kazul flew overhead. She landed with a soft thump beside Ardis. Alanna, who had not yet seen the dragon, gaped in awe.

Kazul leaned over to sniff the child.

"Wow. She got bigger," Dusan whispered.

Greetings, children of Ellesméra, Kazul told them.

They both smiled at her and clapped at being addressed by a dragon. They may have only been children, but they clearly felt the same way as the rest of their race did about dragons.

"I shall be flying her tomorrow!" Ardis yelled.

"You're lucky," Alanna stated. Dusan seemed to loose interest in Kazul. He swung himself over one of the branches with elfin grace.

"Monkey," Alanna yelled as she followed him.

The two older girls had to rely on Kazul to get up into the tree. At last, all four were sitting on the branch.

"So," Shaheen began, "I've heard that children are rare among the elves, yet your mother had three."

"Yes," Alanna said, "but they were with different mates."

"You see, Vanir's father was killed in the fall…"

"…And our parents got together twenty years ago."

"Everyone was amazed that our mother had given birth to twins because…"

"We're really rare," Dusan finished with pride.

"So I've heard," Shaheen agreed.

"Vanir doesn't like fa…," Dusan continued before his sister cut him off.

A male voice was heard calling loudly for Alanna and Dusan.

"It's Vanir," Dusan whispered conspiringly.

Alanna nodded. She put a finger to her lips.

Ardis returned the gesture.

"Mother wants you two to come home," Vanir yelled.

"He'll see us!" Dusan whispered. The dark-haired elf-boy leapt into the branch above them. As he did this, Ardis was knocked from the branch. She gave a very unladylike shriek as she toppled down in a heap in front of Vanir.

"What in the world…" Vanir gasped.

"You startled me," Ardis panted, trying to brush the dust off her tunic. She glared at the male elf.

"Have you seen my siblings?" he asked.

Ardis shook her head.

Shaheen toppled down a second later.

"Alanna knocked me dow…Hello, Vanir-vodhr," spoke Shaheen, catching sight of him a moment too late.

Vanir's mouth quirked in amusement.

"Haven't seen them, Argetlam?" he stated, looking inquiringly at Ardis.

Ardis opened her mouth to reply when a third shout rang out.

"Dusan, don't push…"

"Don't push me."

Both children fell into Vanir's arms in quick succession.

Kazul made a noise that sounded like dragon laughter.

"You two are coming home right now," Vanir growled in a mock-threatening voice.

The twins screamed in fake horror.

Ardis and Shaheen stared at the family then at each other in surprise. Such a scene was unlike the typically stoical male elf.

Vanir is behaving differently, Kazul remarked.

Indeed, Ardis agreed.

Girls and dragon trekked back to Tialdarí hall. Shaheen went to her room, and Ardis and Kazul made their way to the tree-house.

When Ardis got to the top, she heard a loud splashing of water. Eragon was washing himself.

She blushed and made her way back into her rooms.

Your heart-rate just spiked, Kazul observed.

I am looking forward to flying tomorrow, Ardis retorted.

Of course you are, Kazul concurred.

I'm serious, Ardis said defensively.

I'm sure you are, Kazul replied.

Ardis rolled over and fell asleep almost immediately. She'd wash in the morning and finish speaking with her insufferable dragon too.

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Ardis heard her alarm go off a half-an-hour earlier than usual. She rubbed her eyes, rolled out of bed, and went to bathe. Once she was done, she took breakfast with Eragon, and the two rode on Saphira again. Kazul flew alongside them.

Ebrithil will have a saddle ready for you when you arrive, Eragon told her as they flew. When they reached the Crags, both riders dismounted.

Oromis came out of his hut.

"Eragon, you are to go to the practice courts. Ardis, you shall learn to fly this morning," the aged rider explained.

Both riders nodded, and Eragon took off on Saphira.

Oromis pulled out a bejeweled saddle with numerous straps. Ardis frowned at it.

Oromis then began to explain how to fasten her legs properly. Ardis slowly mounted Kazul. She and Oromis managed to secure the saddle correctly.

Ready, Ardis? Kazul asked.

Ready, Ardis confirmed.

The violet creature took off at that moment. Oromis leapt out of the way and looked up at them.

Ardis clung to one of Kazul's silver neck spikes and told her dragon, This is incredible.

I'm glad you think so. I love flying. My skills aren't at level with Saphira's, but Master Glaedr is pleased with my skills, Kazul explained.

Oromis seemed to be relaying instructions to her dragon, for Kazul performed a series of various acrobatic tricks. Ardis was thankful for her complex saddle. She would have surely fallen off without it.

Oromis spent the rest of the hour making Ardis mount Kazul, dismount her, and memorize weather patterns along with her partner. Both rider and dragon performed these exercises eagerly.

When Saphira landed, Kazul was still flying. Ardis came down with some reluctance.

"How was it?" Eragon asked her.

"Wonderful," she rasped. She had become winded while flying. She cleared her throat to speak better.

"I remember my first flight with Saphira. It wasn't a pleasant experience," Eragon whispered as he put his head down. He didn't tell Ardis that he was remembering his uncle's death.

Thankfully, his fellow rider didn't press him for details.

"Eragon, Ardis, begin the Rimgar," Oromis shouted. The elf went threw the poses with them. Eragon and Oromis may have been performing the more difficult level of the Dance of the Snake and Crane, but they excelled far beyond what Ardis did. She was amazed at their flexibility, especially Oromis'. Of course, her teacher was an elf. She couldn't begin to fathom how Eragon could perform almost as well as an elf.

When she asked him about it later back at the tree-house, he explained a ceremony called Agaetí Blödhren. It was apparently celebrated to commemorate the elves pact with the dragons every century.

"I blacked out for a few hours. When I awoke, I discovered that the scar Durza had given me was gone as was every other wound I received. I could do a puzzle ring that the dwarves had given me that I hadn't been able to do. Then I…" Eragon paused.

"Then you what?" Ardis pressed.

Eragon shook his head. This reminder of Arya's rejection did him no good. He didn't know how Ardis would react if he told her. He didn't know if she would rise to his defense or Arya's. In truth, he knew that Arya had been right in the long run, but that didn't make him feel any better.

"Tell me. Please, Eragon," Ardis pleaded.

Eragon quietly told her of all that had occurred.

Ardis stared back at him. He still loved Arya.

Well, of course he does. I am small and ugly compared to her, Ardis thought. Just don't cry, she told herself.

Eragon noticed a small change occur over Ardis' face.

"I am sorry I made you tell me, Shadeslayer," Ardis whispered.

Eragon noticed with a start that she had called him Shadeslayer. She had begun to use Eragon over the past few weeks.

"There is no need for formality, Ardis," Eragon told her.

Ardis smiled ruefully. "Of course not, Eragon," she agreed.

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Murtagh leaned back against the cold, hard stone wall of the practice courts. Luce paced slowly.

"Mort keeps trying to talk to me. It's annoying, really. He thinks he's so smart. In reality, he doesn't know a damn thing. The only one in that family who does is Claudius, and he could be my…well…I suppose he couldn't be my father, but still," she told him

Murtagh sighed. She had to bring him up, didn't she?

"Honestly, Luce, he's star-struck. He doesn't know what to think of you, so he assumes he adores you. It's an interesting aspect of the human psyche. He sees you one way one time, and he chooses to stick with that image of you because he liked it so much," Murtagh explained.

"I don't need a psychology lesson. I need a drink. Oh gods. I don't even know how to drink, and I think I need one. Isn't that pathetic? I'm complaining about Mort, and he's the least of my problems. I have no clue what is going on with Ardis, and we'll probably be capturing her when she and Eragon come back from Ellesméra," she moaned.

"I've seen worse. Trust me," Murtagh told her.

"Ugh," she vocalized, putting her hands on her head. "I need to do something."

"Do you want to go somewhere in Urû'baen tonight?" Murtagh suggested. "You're making my head spin just watching you pace.

"Like where?" she inquired, not stopping her pacing.

"I don't know. A tavern or something," he said.

"Is that all you men think about? Drinks and such?" Luce demanded.

"You were the one who wanted a drink," Murtagh retorted.

Luce opened her mouth to protest, then shrugged and muttered, "What the hell? When do we leave?"

"Lessons are over, and it got dark about an hour ago. How about now?" he inquired.

"Great, how do we sneak out?" she queried.

Murtagh grabbed her wrist and dragged her off the courts. She followed him through the streets of Urû'baen. She hadn't been through them since she was seventeen. They smelled worse than she remembered.

They came to a run-down, old building with a sign that read "Brecca's Brewery."

"I thought you said it was a tavern," Luce muttered.

"He wanted a word other than bar that begins with a B, and he makes his own beer," Murtagh explained as he swung open the door. Luce followed him inside.

"Hey, Murtagh! We ain't seen you around here in, oh what's it been, six, seven, eight months," a red-faced man yelled from over the bar.

"I've been busy, Brecca," Murtagh told the man.

"Who's the lady?" Brecca inquired with a wink.

"A friend," Murtagh replied shortly.

Brecca nodded knowingly. Luce didn't protest. She knew it would be pointless to argue.

"So, what'll you have?" Brecca questioned.

"Rum," Murtagh stated simply. "She'll have the same."

"Coming right up," Brecca said. The bartender placed two mugs in front of them in a few seconds.

Luce picked up her drink and took a swig. It burned on the way down and made her lips tingle. She shuddered and took another sip.

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Murtagh looked over at Luce warily. She'd already had four drinks, and he was still drinking his first. Brecca had been talking up a storm, so he hadn't had time to finish his. Clearly, Luce hadn't had the same problems.

A drunken man sauntered up to them. He leaned over, tapped Luce on the shoulder, and whispered something in her ear.

Luce giggled tipsily and got up. The man pulled her towards the dance floor. She didn't seem to be in much of a state to protest.

Murtagh watched out of the corner of his eye as the man pulled Luce closer. He took a deeper sip of his rum. A woman with eyes heavily rimmed with kohl tapped his shoulder.

"Would you like some company tonight, sir?" she purred. Murtagh looked more closely at her. Her rouged and powdered face would have probably been more attractive without the make-up, and her figure was fine enough. He stared over at Luce. The drunk had begun had leaned over and whispered something in her ear. He didn't see his friend's reaction, as her back was to him.

The courtesan's eyes followed his own. She grinned.

"You could make her jealous," she suggested.

Murtagh ignored the woman. She walked away and sauntered over to another man.

The man had begun to kiss Luce's neck. She pushed him away. He pulled her back, and she laughed. Murtagh watched as the man's hands slid down her waist and over her rear. Luce let out a noise of surprise.

Murtagh got up, walked over to them, and punched the man in the face. The drunk blinked stupidly.

"Ah-Ah-dinnint mean noarm," he protested as he swung a haphazard punch at Murtagh, who caught his arm and twisted it.

"Murtagh," Luce screamed as she pounded his back. The rider turned and looked at her. She could barely stand. He grabbed her wrist and dragged her out of the bar. She was muttering things incoherently. He swung her over his shoulder when he couldn't drag her anymore.

"Put me down," she cried. Her fists pounded his back, and her knees dug into his chest. Her words were slurred.

"Hjlodhr," Murtagh muttered. If she kept screaming, she'd alert half the city. She tried to physically make him put her down, but alcohol had dulled her reflexes.

They got back to the practice courts. Thankfully, no one was there.

Murtagh put Luce down. She looked up at him before she fell to her knees, retching. He pulled her hair out of her face as she did this. He caught her as she pitched forward and fainted.

Iormungr flew down beside him.

What happened to her? Iormungr shouted.

She got drunk, Murtagh told the green dragon grumpily.

How? Iormungr demanded.

She needed to get out, so I took her to a tavern. I didn't expect her to drink so much, Murtagh explained.

Iormungr glared at him. I will have some things to say to her when she wakes up, he bellowed menacingly.

Iormungr, I cannot get her back to her rooms without someone seeing us. Please, fly us up there, Murtagh requested.

Iormungr shook his head. She can't be left alone. What if she wakes up and hurts herself? Keep her down here or take her up to your room.

Murtagh sighed. Iormungr looked furious.

Take us up to my rooms, he told Iormungr.

The dragon nodded as he put Luce in the saddle and climbed in behind her.

He could feel Luce's dragon's anger. It seemed directed at him.

Perfect, he thought. Just perfect. Her dragon hates me, and my dragon hates her.

He pulled her out of Iormungr's saddle and put on his bed. Her head lolled to one side.

He didn't know if he should sleep on the floor or next to her. In the end, he pulled off his tunic and climbed in next to her.

She shivered, and he pulled her against him. She'd never know. He kissed her lightly on the cheek.

You still say you feel nothing for her, human? Thorn asked him. The ruby dragon had stuck his head through the window.

I think I love her, he spoke in a barely audible voice.

Thorn shook his head.

Murtagh was asleep in a few minutes.

Sorry about all the sap. I put some in. Anyway, I hope I update soon. I don't get home until 6:45-7:00 Monday through Thursday, though. That's why updates only come on the weekends. Here are the review responses. I only got six, but I had come up with an idea for the next chapter, and I didn't want to forget.

P.S. Do you what I found out yesterday? Luce's name is actually pronounced loo-chay, and it means light in Italian. How weird is that?

Luce: Yeah, well, they're partially in this one.

Anaone: I'm glad you like that pairing. It can get hard to write at times, but I like it.

Amantine: It only took me a week to post again. LOL.

DragonRider2000: That's true. I can't believe they're all rip-offed from each other.

Teenchic2004: Actually, the whole thing has nothing to do with Claudius or Marcus. It'll make sense later.

Elemir: I have to figure out what to put in about the Varden.

If I get six reviews, I'll post a chapter tomorrow.