Wyrda
Ch. 8
(Ellesmera)
It took the group over a week to reach Ellesmera. Saphira and Aiedail had to hid during the day and catch up with Eragon, Arya, and Orik at night. Phoenix was strapped to Aiedail's back during the whole trip. Meanwhile Murtagh stayed behind to help move the Varden to Surda.
Eragon untied Phoenix from the strapped saddle carefully. The finest healers in Ellesmera looked her over as Eragon propped Phoenix's head up on his lap.
"With much dedication and time, we may be able to save her," the head healer told Eragon. "Take her and follow me, Rider."
He obeyed, picking her up carefully and followed the healers.
There was a tank in the middle of a room the healers had led Eragon to. The tank was made of white marble.
"In here, please," the head healer indicated the tank.
Eragon placed her gently in the water. Phoenix floated on top of the water. Her tunic drifted through the water and her black hair surrounded her head. A piece of her hair drifted across her face. Eragon swished it away, feeling the temperature of the water.
"It's ice cold!" he exclaimed.
"It is necessary," the head healer told him. "Now, please, leave. We have much to do here."
Eragon bowed at the healer, stealing one last glance at Phoenix, and left to find the others again.
(Surda)
Phoenix awoke the next morning with the rising sun on her face. Despite the warmth of the sun, she felt numb inside. She slowly got up, feeling achy all over. Phoenix looked out of the window. In the distance she saw that the fires still burned from the battle and men were still being brought into the city below.
She felt cold now. The sun that shone through the window had disappeared. Wind had picked up, even drifting inside the house, regardless of the closed window. Phoenix shivered. The numbness inside her had spread throughout her body.
Phoenix suddenly fell backward onto the bed. She felt like she was being drowned in a freezing cold lake. Phoenix gasped, her lungs were so cold that she could barely breath without having a sharp pain in her lungs and throat. She couldn't take the pain of the freezing cold inside her any longer, and she passed out on the bed.
(Ellesmera)
Phoenix woke up. She snapped her eyes open and found herself emerged underwater, in a tank. The water was ice cold. Phoenix quickly sat up and began choking on her own breathe. Desperately trying to steady her breathing, she closed her eyes and calmed herself.
The dreams that she had experienced had haunted her. The first, was what she had always wanted, if she hadn't become a Dragon Rider. The second, was, well, a nightmare that she couldn't quite shake the terrible feelings that she had experienced.
Phoenix glanced around at her surroundings as the healer elves helped her out of the white marble tank. She was dripping wet now. Her clothes were twice as heavy now and was partially see through.
And kind looking elf draped a warm and thick blanket over Phoenix.
"Come, Argetlam. Let's get you warm and dry," she bustled Phoenix out of the overly large room. As she followed the woman, the elf told her, "You must get ready for tonight. There is a feast for the Dragon's and their Rider's," The elf woman opened the door to Phoenix's room and said to her, "The feast begins at sunset. I advise that you not be late. It would make a very bad impression to the Queen." and left.
(Ellesmera, Phoenix Quarter's)
The room was lavishly furnished, than the Dragonhold at Farthen Dur. Yet the size and height of the room, was equal to it's size. Phoenix saw freshly laid clothes on her bed. She ventured to a small room that was her own private bath. The size of the tub was as large as the tank that she just got out of.
Despite the warm blanket, her body was still shivering in her wet clothes. She quickly abandoned them and slid inside the tub, now full of hot water, and sank back. Phoenix closed her eyes and contacted Aiedail.
Aiedail, where are you?
With Eragon and Saphira, his soft, deep voice calmed her even more. To hear his thoughts was a comfort in it's self. I'm glad that you've woken up. We have been worried.
I'm glad that the four of us survived the battle. How many soldiers did we loose?
Not many. We did loose the Twins and Ajihad, however.
Phoenix groaned and opened her eyes, looking up at the cave ceiling.
Nasuada has taken command of the Varden. he told her.
How's she holding up? She asked.
She's proven herself to be a fit leader. Aiedail said.
Good, she said through her link. I will see you and the others at the feast.
Phoenix severed the link and breathed a sigh of relief. At least there weren't more casualties, she thought, thinking of the nightmare that she had woken from.
When her fingers began to prune, it was a sign that her bath time was over. So, she got out and made her way to the bed.
Phoenix touched the cloth with her fingers. The material was soft and light. Her tunic that laid before her was a beautiful forest green, the same green as Aiedail. There was a leafy vain that traveled around the neck of the tunic, curled at the shoulders and trailed down the arms, in a gold thread.
There was a knock at the door.
"Who is it?" she asked.
"It is Arya. May I come in?"
"Of course,"
Arya entered.
"You've finally spoken to your mother, I see?" Phoenix asked, as she gathered her new clothes and hid behind a changing screen. All that Arya could see was her silhouette.
"Indeed," she replayed simply. "Eragon will be relieved that you've recovered."
"What? And you're not?" she asked the other in a semi-teasing voice.
"Of course I am," Arya said.
"I'm sorry I missed the look on Eragon's face when Queen Islanzandi revealed that you are her daughter," Phoenix said.
"He held is surprise in rather well, for a human," she replied.
"Aiedail told you that I was awake, I take it?"
"Yes. I gracefully excused myself. She was too busy with the Dragon's to notice that I was sneaked out of the court, anyways," Arya told her. "I thought that I could help you with your hair."
Phoenix came out from behind the screen.
"I could use it," she confessed, holding up a bundle of wet black hair.
"Come. Let's see what I can do," Arya dragged the other woman into the bathroom, in front of a huge mirror.
Arya brushed her wet hair thoroughly. Next, she braided Phoenix's hair. One braid on each side of her head. They, then came together in the middle, t become one thick braid. Arya finally wrapped a gold and green ribbon around the braid and then tied a leather wrap to hold all of it in place.
By the time the tow women were ready, the sun had begun to set. Phoenix collected her sword and twin daggers and followed Arya out.
To be continued . . .