Real

Okay. I decided to do the review responses first. Eragon and Ardis have been in Ellesméra for three months starting this chapter.

Elemir: Thank you and you're welcome.

Teenchic2004: I realized that I did that. I had intended for her to be the youngest when I wrote that, but a small plot bunny bit me. I'll probably fix it in chapter five.

The regatta was really fun, and I didn't get any new blisters. We lost, but we didn't get last. The only team we beat didn't even finish the race (or so I heard). Of course, a lot of them were in college, and we're high-schoolers who have only been rowing a month, so… Thanks.

Vixen Hood: I'm glad you feel that way. I try to make it intriguing. There's going to be a major plot twist in a few chapters. Actually, it's two plot twists in a row: one in one chapter and one in the next.

Deer-Shifter: I liked her too. In the end, she was just a weak, good-hearted girl who was born with a curse and to a powerful man. All there really was for her was death. I was sad about that. Ardis had been in Ellesméra for two and a half months in the last chapter. I'm not really sure about the season. I don't think there really are what you would call seasons in Ellesméra.

Amantine: I'm glad you liked the update.

Eragon got up from his meditation. Ardis continued hers without looking up or even noticing that he had moved. Oromis had just touched his conscious and summoned him.

"Yes, master?" Eragon inquired.

"Eragon, there is something you must do. You asked me long ago why Galbatorix is so powerful. There are several reasons, one of which I will tell you now: he knows his true name. Such knowledge gives you as great a power over yourself as it gives others over you. You have told me that Murtagh knows his true name. That is probably the greatest explanation of his great power. There are two other reasons. One is that he draws energy from his surroundings constantly. I will not tell you the third now, for it is a crude method that one should never take," Oromis explained.

"Yes, master," Eragon nodded. "Why have you told me this now?"

"I wish for you to meditate and learn your true name. It will come to you one way or another," the old elf informed him.

Eragon gaped at him. "Master, could you not give me the knowledge yourself?"

"You will gain more power from it if you can uncover the knowledge on your own. It is essential that you discover how to learn true names on your own," Oromis replied.

"It's Arya's birthday celebration tonight. Would it not be offensive to not attend?" Eragon protested, thinking he had won. He had hoped to see Arya tonight. She had returned from the Varden yesterday, and he had not had the opportunity to greet her.

Oromis gazed at him. "Eragon, I am certain that neither Arya nor the queen would take offense if you were not in attendance due to matters of study."

"Yes, master," Eragon grunted as he turned on his heel.

"Let her come to you if she wishes, Eragon," Oromis told him as he left.

Eragon turned and stared at him. "What?"

"You heard what I said," Oromis replied. The elf got up and walked towards Ardis and past Eragon without another word.

Eragon mounted Saphira after standing there gaping for several minutes.

How am I supposed to do this? he demanded of Saphira.

I know not, but Glaedr has assigned me the same task, Saphira responded.

Lifaen stood in the storerooms of Tialdarí Hall. He could not believe what the dwarves had done. They had sent rum, along with several smith masterpieces. Islanzadí was outraged. She had blatantly refused the rum; though, she hadn't sent it back. Edurna, Celdin, and Narí had been assigned to destroying it. He had a bad feeling about the whole ordeal. Anything that involved alcohol and those two spelled trouble. Edurna was only eighty-three, and Celdin would be ninety in a few weeks. They had yet to grow out of their more childish aspects. Captain Damítha was well aware of this and had sent him to make sure they didn't do anything "rash, irresponsible, or otherwise in character for them." Edurna and Celdin had insisted that he was being too careful, and it had been like pulling teeth to get them to let even Narí supervise them. Before the two younger elves had dragged his friend downstairs, Narí had given him a look that said, "You will pay."

He heard sounds of drunken laughter coming from the below rooms. He groaned.

"What is that noise?" a female voice yelled. Lifaen gulped and turn to face Captain Damítha.

"They would not let me supervise them," Lifaen explained.

Damítha's face was scary. She pushed him aside and strode down the cellar steps. Lifaen heard a shout of, "Join us, Captain!" coming from Edurna.

A few hours later, Damítha came up the steps, followed by Edurna, Celdin, and Narí.

"Lifaen," she began, "you really must try this. Those two clever boys have mixed dwarf rum with the faelnirv. 'Tis a most excellent concoction."

Lifaen could only stare in horror at this admired captain.

"It really is, friend," Narí continued.

Lifaen's eyes had grown even wider. This was not happening.

"Try it! After all, do you really want to be as uptight as Vanir?" Celdin asked, offering Lifaen a cup.

The dark-haired elf took it carefully and stared at it. It didn't look poisonous, and the smell wasn't too bad. He took a sip.

One Hour Later

"This is brilliant!" Lifaen exclaimed.

Edurna and Celdin exchanged glances and toasted each other.

"There's more to the plan, of course," Celdin put in.

"What?" Lifaen inquired eagerly. He was warming up to these two's ideas.

"There's enough alcohol to go around, right?" Edurna said.

Lifaen was still sober enough to not like were this was going.

"What?" he asked.

"I say we spike everyone's drinks tonight!" Celdin shouted.

"Brilliant!" Damítha put in.

"And since you've been such a good sport about this, Lifaen, we'll let you spike Vanir's drink!" Narí finished.

Lifaen liked this idea. He didn't even question how Narí had come to know of all Edurna and Celdin's plans. He really wasn't sober enough.

"A toast!" he shouted. All six elves toasted each other merrily.

Ardis went through her wardrobe. She hadn't brought many nice dresses with her. She had been wearing one the night she left, and she and Luce had packed it haphazardly with the rest of her clothes.

The dress was a plain maroon color, but it showed her figure well enough. She pulled it on. It had grown too tight in the bust and the hips in theses past three months, much to her surprise. She had nothing other than this to wear.

When she expressed her plight to Kazul, the violet and silver dragon replied, Did the elves not leave you clothes the night you came here?

Ardis nodded. This was good. She went through the pack that had been sent to her room. In it, besides the pairs of leggings, tunics, and shirts that she had already warn, was a deep purple dress that was the color of Kazul's scales. She pulled off the dress she was currently wearing and garbed herself in the new one. It fit quite well.

She stared at herself in the mirror. It was much more ornate than anything she had owned before. The bust-line of the purple part of the dipped quite low, and a white under-gown was sewn into the dress because of this. The dress also did not emphasize height too much. This was good, as Ardis was still somewhat lacking the height department.

You look beautiful, Ardis, Kazul told her warmly.

You do too, Ardis told her dragon.

Maybe, but I have no one to impress. I think you will perform that task quite well, Kazul replied.

Ardis's face fell slightly.

Eragon will not be there. He has something very important to do for his training, she explained.

It matters little, the dragon sniffed. There will be other opportunities for him to see you in it.

Ardis smiled a little. She wondered if Eragon still felt something for Arya. They had been developing a great friendship as of late. He had been treating like a brother would a sister, but she thought she might have glimpsed something more in his manner. She hoped she was right.

She and Kazul made their way towards Tialdarí Hall. It was brilliantly lit with lanterns that had been spelled so they would never go out. She watched them with fascination. Eragon had explained how they worked, and so had Shaheen and Oromis, but they still entranced her.

When she walked inside, she saw Shaheen standing near the entrance. She was talking two elves, one male and one female, and wearing a deep garnet-colored dress. The older girl looked up and smiled. Ardis came over to her.

"You must try the faelnirv. It's better than ever tonight, Ardis," Shaheen explained. Ardis noticed that she was holding a goblet filled with the elfish liquid.

"Indeed it is," the female giggled. The male grabbed around the waist and kissed her neck. The woman laughed harder than ever.

"They've had a bit more than I have," Shaheen muttered.

"I can see that," Ardis whispered back.

"Now, what would these two fine young ladies be doing back here alone?" the voice of an elfin male called. Both girls turned and saw Edurna staggering up to them, holding a goblet in one hand. He had clearly had a great deal to drink.

"We were just saying how good the faelnirv is. Well, I was. Ardis hasn't tried it yet," Shaheen exclaimed.

"Is that rider pride kicking in? Honestly, it's not like it'll do you any harm. We elves don't make drinks that'll do that. At least as long as you don't drink too much. How long's it been since you've seen Lifaen and Damítha, Celdin?" Edurna explained, looking over his shoulder at his approaching cousin.

"A couple hours. I don't think I've seen Arya Dröttningu take a drink all night, and it's her party," the other silver-haired elf responded. He looked as drunk as Edurna.

"So take a drink, pretty rider," Edurna said, nodding in agreement with Celdin. He passed Ardis a goblet.

Ardis accepted it gratefully. It tasted amazing. She gulped down the rest of her glass and poured herself another goblet-full.

"Dance with us, maidens!" Edurna cried, grabbing hold of Ardis' hands. Celdin grabbed Shaheen's, and all four spun in a circle. The dancing was becoming increasingly wild. Edurna and Celdin passed the girls back and forth between them. Ardis lost track of time. Kazul had taken no faelnirv herself and was having a conversation with the small group of sober elves. Songs were occasionally sung in honor of Arya and all her deeds. Ardis caught a snatch detailing her defeat of the only female Foresworn, a woman named Den-ner. It seemed as though men had been disinclined to kill her because she was a women and a small one at that. Arya had not been fooled and had seen her for the scum she was. The two had done battle, and Arya had been victorious.

Ardis had taken another drink after that, and she had danced more energetically than ever. Shaheen had run off somewhere. Edurna and Celdin had pulled groups of friends, and Shaheen returned with two male elves and one female. They all danced in circle. She joined hands with Shaheen, and the two spun around so many times that Ardis was surprised neither fainted.

Edurna grabbed one female elf's shoulder and whispered something in her ear. She laughed loudly, and the two left the room. Celdin and another one of the female elves had disappeared as well.

The lights had dimmed in the hall. A dark-haired male elf twirled her around, his eyes examining every facet of her figure. She twirled into him, and they separated. She didn't know who the elf was, and she wondered if he knew who she was.

The music slowed, and the elf pulled her towards him. It sped up a few seconds later –or was it a few minutes? Time was beginning to disappear. The elf let her go, and she joined hands with Shaheen and another female elf once again.

Arya sat in the corner. She stared at the faelnirv. She'd never seen it have such an effect on elves before. Her mother had danced with Däthedr more times than was appropriate. She herself had danced with several different male elves, but none of them was the one she really wanted to dance with.

Oh, don't think of him again, she told herself. Ever since Eragon had left, Arya had been unable to get him out of her mind. She had known deep down inside her heart that she did feel something for the young rider, but she had been afraid to distract him with a romance. It had been hard for her to refuse his advances, but she had.

She walked quietly out of the dance room, and she walked towards the table that held her gifts. None seemed to have noticed her absence. This didn't surprise the female elf. She went through the presents, picking one at random. She was glad none of the elves were there to witness this because they would pay particular attention to the order in which she opened them.

Arya came to her mother's present. It was a fairth of her as a small child. Arya smiled at the picture of herself in her father's arms. She missed Evandar. She wished she'd gotten the opportunity to know him better. She silently brushed a tear out of her eye. She opened the next few. They were from various different elves. A small, beautifully wrapped package caught her eyes. She knew from who it was.

With trembling fingers, she unwrapped it. It was another fairth. It was of herself, smiling. She was sitting with her back against the Menoa tree. Saphira was sitting in the branch above her, and she was gazing at the blue dragon's tale with a smile on her face. Blagden the raven had landed next to Saphira.

Arya smiled in spite of herself. Eragon had become better at making fairths. She pulled out the card that had come with it. It read:

Arya Svit-kona,

I am not a smith as gifted as Rhunön, nor can I sing to birds as Glenwing did, nor can I make a flower more perfect than any other bloom for you as Fäolin did, but I can give you this. Please, accept as you will.

Eragon

Before the word "Eragon", it appeared as though the rider had tried to obliterate the word "love". She smiled to herself. It had disappointed her that Eragon had not been able to attend the celebration. She knew that Oromis had assigned him to an important task, but she decided it couldn't hurt to go see him. She left the room and then the hall quietly, carrying the fairth with her.

Shaheen let go of Ardis' hands and ran over to the corner were Roran was standing, drinking in silence.

She grabbed his hands and yelled, "Why aren't you dancing, Stronghammer?"

Roran looked at her and replied, "I am not in the mood for dancing."

"Nonsense," she volleyed. "There is always reason to dance," she finished, pulling him away from the wall. Roran gulped down the last bit of his faelnirv as he followed her. They twirled around, laughing. Shaheen lined up their hips, and Roran put his hands on her shoulders.

Katrina, Roran thought briefly. The music became more exuberant, and they danced faster. Ardis had been pulled into a dance with several different male elves, but neither of the two was paying attention to her.

"Do you still think there is no reason to dance?" Shaheen questioned smugly, rubbing her back against his chest.
Roran laughed and twirled her away from him and back towards him.

Ardis felt herself run quietly out of the hall. She was laughing. She was followed by three female elves and two male. They ran and laughed for awhile before her five companions seemed to find another one in the group more interesting from the rest.

She found herself alone. Her drunken mind turned to Eragon and the male elf with whom she had briefly danced. Eragon was dominant over the elf. She heard footfalls behind her. She turned and saw Vanir trudging up to her.

"Come to taunt me?" she snapped. Vanir had always kept that same amused look of condensation even when she improved in sparring.

Vanir shook his head. "You are hopeless, Ardis-vodhira."

Ardis gaped at him. "What do you mean?"

Vanir didn't answer.

"What?" she pressed.

"You were thinking of the Shadeslayer just now," Vanir stated.

Ardis' jaw dropped.

"I'm not stupid, dear Argetlam, whatever you would like to believe," he continued.

"What's it to you if I was?" she retorted smugly.

"You still do not see? Are you blind?" Vanir muttered. His face seemed to show pain. Ardis realized he must be as drunk as most of Arya's guests were.

"Whatever you are suggesting, Vanir-vodhr, I suggest you stop right now. Whatever I feel for Eragon is of no concern of yours. You can not hope to compare to him. He is a decent person, and you taunt the little human girl who takes what you know you want," Ardis volleyed drunkenly. She knew she sounded immature, but she was too inebriated to be concerned.

"Of course you would consider such," Vanir mumbled. "He's your hero. He's everyone's hero. He deserves the title, I suppose. Yet you fail to see his flaws. I know them because many of them are my own. I desire what I cannot have. I am proud. I believe in my people's cause. I live, love, lust, hate, and fight as much as he does. Yet they only see what is good about him, and they only see what is bad about me."

"What do you desire that you, an elf, cannot make for yourself?" Ardis asked. She was growing annoyed by Vanir's ranting. Him? Like Eragon? Never.

"You don't think it's true. Oh, the elves all thought like me when he first came. Maybe we were prejudiced. Maybe we were too harsh. But why does everyone else's opinion change? He ends up looking like an elf! That's all there was to it. I realized I was wrong because he showed me he could stand up for himself. He showed us he was worthy to fight Galbatorix as a rider. I'm not going to tell you how to think, Ardis. That would never work. You don't like me, and I don't blame you. I wouldn't like me in your place," Vanir replied.

"Stop it!" she yelled. "Stop playing mind games with me!"

Vanir grabbed her wrist. "You are so beautiful. So stubborn. So like a child, yet older than any here."

Ardis stared at him. Vanir pressed his lips against her. She sat still in shock for a few seconds before she pushed Vanir away.
"How can you do that after all the taunts you threw at me? How can you compare yourself to Eragon? You are nothing!" she shrieked.

A small look of hurt crossed Vanir's face before it became impassive again.

"If that is what you think, Ardis-vodhira, then so be it," he stated before walking away.

Ardis glared after him and went to find Eragon. She was going to tell him how she felt. She needed to now.

Are you sure that is wise? Kazul questioned. The dragon sounded concerned.

Of course. There's no point in hiding how I feel any longer, Ardis replied.

Arya paused before knocking on Eragon's door. Then she raised her fist and tapped lightly. The door opened a few seconds later to reveal Eragon.

"Arya Svit-kona?" he asked after a moment of surprise.

"I hope I'm not bothering you," she said.

"No, you're not. Saphira and I haven't made much progress," he told her with a nervous laugh.

"I came here to tell you that I liked your gift," she explained after a moments pause.

"Did they not miss you at the celebration," Eragon inquired.

"If Galbatorix walked in with trumpets to announce his arrival, they would not notice. They are all too drunk," Arya explained.

Eragon laughed genuinely.

"So, is that all?" he asked after a moment. He moved to close the door.

Arya took a deep breath. It was now or never.

"Wait, Eragon," she called, catching the door before it could shut all the way.

Eragon looked at her questioningly. She leaned in and kissed him.

Eragon's eyes went wide in shock. He couldn't believe what was happening. How could he have ever thought he might love Ardis when Arya was in the world? He kissed her back. He felt her breath catch in her throat.

He wrapped his arms around her waist to deepen the kiss. Arya's own arms encircled his neck. She licked his lips, and he opened his mouth. Their tongues met, and they grappled with each other for a while.

Arya broke the kiss to breathe. Eragon stared down at her. He lowered his mouth to hers again. The kiss was more passionate this time. Arya's hands went over his chest. Eragon's hands slowly made their way down her back. Arya gasped. They kissed harder. Her hands went to his belt. His hands tugged at her tunic.

Eragon held her to him as they stumbled into his room and onto his bed. He pressed himself against Arya. She wrapped her legs around his waist. He had taken her tunic off, and his clothes had been removed as well. Only her loincloth and breastband stood between them.

"Now," Arya whispered as Eragon kissed her neck hungrily. He slipped her undergarments off, and it was done several minutes later.

Ardis climbed up the stairs. She reached Eragon's door, and raised her fist to knock before she heard something that stopped her.

A breathless gasp was coming from behind the door. She leaned her ear against it and listened.

She heard two voices, one male and one female.

"Eragon," the feminine voice breathed. "Oh, Eragon."

Ardis' felt as though her insides had gone away. She didn't recognize the voice, but she knew what its breathless tone meant.

"That was amazing, Arya," Eragon whispered back.

Ardis backed away from the door. Her insides had returned. They felt as though they were filled with lead. Her stomach twisted with jealousy. She felt a lump forming in her throat. The stifled sob was unheard by the two people in the other room.

Ardis tore down the steps. She could hear Kazul telling her to stop, to be careful. She was staggering drunkenly. She didn't know what was going to happen. All she knew was that Eragon had chosen Arya over her. She had never experienced pain like this.

When she reached the base of the tree, she ran until she thought her lungs would burst. She tripped over a branch and plunged downward. She pulled herself up and struck her head on a branch. She fell to the ground, unconscious.

Roran and Shaheen staggered drunkenly through Tialdarí Hall. They were laughing over something. They couldn't remember what, but they didn't care. They reached his room. Shaheen laughed as she flung herself against him. They kissed hungrily.

Roran's mind told him that he loved Katrina. His heart did too. His body told him that he was hungry; that Katrina was far away; and that Shaheen was here, now, and real. He would hate himself for it later, but later wasn't now.

He grabbed on of Shaheen's large breasts and squeezed hard. The girl gasped and through her head back. She wrapped her legs around his waist, and they staggered into his room and onto his bed.

Kazul tore through the forest.

Ardis! she yelled but received no answer. She found the rider lying unconscious at the base of a tree.

A dark-haired male elf ran into the clearing. He had heard the sound of her roar.

"Skulblaka, what has happened?" he questioned. His voice sounded scared.

Kazul realized with a start that this was Vanir.

She fell and hurt herself. Help me with her, Kazul demanded.

"Should we take her to the treehouse?" Vanir asked.

No, Kazul replied. Ardis did not need to go back there. Put her on my back and take her to your house. I'll fly you both.

Vanir obeyed without question. It occurred to her that the elf might really care for Ardis.

Imagine that, the dragon thought to herself.

Alright. How did you like this chapter? Roran/Shaheen probably won't last. Roran loves Katrina too much. He got lonely, and they were both drunk. What happened was a mistake, and they'll both regret it. I chose Eragon/Arya because they won in votes, and that's probably what Paolini wanted. You'll understand Vanir's feeling more in the next chapter. I expect some feedback about this chapter because it has reviewable material. Stuff happened. I think seven sounds reasonable.