Wyrda
Ch. 9
(Ellesmera)
Phoenix attempted to enter the large, enclosed, outdoor area as inconspicuous as possible. The attempt half worked. As she and Arya passed, heads turned and elves were murmuring to one another.
"I wish that they'd stop starring," Phoenix whispered to Arya.
"There has never been a woman Dragon Rider," Arya told her.
They reached the table where Eragon, Queen Islanzandi, Orik, Saphira and Aiedail sat. Phoenix smiled at the sight of the two Dragons and Eragon. She and Arya gave the traditional elvin greeting to the Queen.
"I am pleased that you are awake, Argetlam," The Queen said.
Yes, we were all worried, Saphira's soft voice echoed in her head.
Phoenix gave a slight bow to the Dragon. She placed herself at the table in between Eragon and Arya. Phoenix helped herself to the food and glanced around the table.
"Where's Murtagh?" she asked Eragon, her memories of the nightmare she had experienced resurfacing.
"He is helping the Varden move to Surda," he told her. "Why?"
She breathed a small sigh of relief.
"When I was infected with the Dark Magic, I had two very distinct dreams. They were so real to me," she told him.
"What happened in them?" Arya asked, with interest.
"The first one was like a different reality. I guess that was what Durza was counting on. Maybe to make me so happy that I didn't want to wake," Phoenix started. "Eragon and I weren't Riders and we were married; my Father was alive and living with us in the house that I grew up in; and I was pregnant," she stopped and looked at Eragon directly. "I had always wondered what would have happened if we never had become Dragon Riders."
Eragon nodded and resisted the urge to squeeze her hand. The two did not want to reveal their romantic relationship to the Queen and the other Elves.
"And the other one?" Orik asked.
"The other was more of a nightmare," Phoenix said, taking a pause to take a few bites of food. "A future where we had beat Galbatorix, but I ended up loosing Aiedail, Eragon, and Saphira; Murtagh had become a Dragon Rider and had betrayed us; and I was very close to dying myself."
That was us, I'm afraid, Aiedail confessed.
How so? Phoenix raised her eyebrow.
Angela needed to show you the future in hopes in improving it greatly, Saphira told her.
And she needed our help to implant the vision in your mind, Aiedail added.
Phoenix looked over at Eragon, "Wait, who's Angela?"
"Trouble," he answered.
A fortune teller Eragon met in Teirm, Saphira supplied, now munching on a large piece of meat.
"And she's accurate, this fortune teller," Arya asked Eragon.
"So far," he told her.
(Ellesmera, Phoenix Quarter's)
She had just took off her boots and slung her sword and belt it was on over the chair next to the writing desk when there was a knock at the door. Phoenix went over to the wooden door.
"Who is it?" she asked.
"Eragon," he answered through the door.
She flung open the door and let him in. Being in the presence of the Queen and many Elves, they had restricted themselves of romantic, physical contact. Now that they were alone in the room Phoenix threw herself at him, hugging him tightly. Eragon wrapped his arms around her gently, planting a kiss on the top of her head.
Phoenix lifted her head off of his chest.
"Stay with me tonight?" she asked softly.
"Sure,"
She kissed him tenderly on the lips. A small groan escaped Eragons lips. The two made their way to the bed. Eragon and Phoenix cuddled up to one another on their sides. He wrapped an arm around her waist, resting a hand on her stomach. Eragon planted a gentle kiss on her bare neck and then rested his head close to hers.
Phoenix did not fall asleep immediately as did Eragon. She laid there on the bed, listening to his soft and steady breathing. Phoenix let her mind wander.
(Carvahall)
It was dawn. The sun had barely begun to risen when Brom woke his teenage daughter from her slumber. Phoenix was not even fully awake when she followed him outside. Brom had insisted on training her every morning. Her muscles were sore from the previous days sparring match and she had spent most of the night blissfully thinking of Eragon.
Her sleepiness vanished, however, when the early morning spring air filled her lungs and gave her goose bumps down her body. Phoenix hastily wrapped her belt and sword around her thinning waistline and checked her two daggers that were tied to her boots. The sparring session went as the same as the day before.
"What's the matter? You should have been able to block that move," Brom told her, helping her up off of the ground.
"Eragon," she mumbled.
"That boy will only distract you," he told her as she picked up her sword.
"I know. I'm sorry," Phoenix said.
"Don't apologize. Just improve," Brom told her sternly.
She nodded and got ready to continue. Then she heard a horse galloping toward them. Phoenix curiously turned around to see who the rider was. Brom made a move for her, taking advantage of the distraction. She turned her attention back to the fight just in time to catch the sword with her two daggers. Phoenix pushed her father's sword and Brom back, nearly falling over himself.
Brom recovered quickly and got up.
"Go meditate before breakfast. I'll call you when it's ready," he grumbled.
She nodded and headed for the house. Phoenix took a moment and looked out of the window, overlooking the sparring space. Brom had greeted the mysterious rider, bowing and muttering something in the ancient language. Hesitantly, she turned to her bedroom to meditate.
She sat down on the bed. But instead of meditating, she ended up falling asleep. Again, she woke up to her father, this time standing over her impatiently with his hands on his hips. Not bothering to apologize, Phoenix followed her father into the kitchen.
"Phoenix, this is Arya, an old friend of mine," Brom introduced the two.
Phoenix immediately noticed the pointed ears. She smiled and greeted her, "Hello."
The elf gave an abrupt bow, not making eye contact with the girl. Phoenix made herself busy in the kitchen and served them warm bread with honey and fresh nectar she had made the night before. She sat down at the table, next the her father and across from Arya.
The sun had finally risen completely when the group finished eating. Brom nodded to Arya, got up from the table and cleared off the table. Arya got up and went out to the stable where the horses were kept, leaving Phoenix just sitting there. Feeling ridiculous, she started to get up.
"Sit," her father ordered.
Confused, she obeyed. Arya returned with two large item wrapped in thick cotton blankets. She placed them on the table. Brom went over to the table and resumed his seat at the head of the table.
The elf unwrapped the first object. It was a large, emerald green egg. It was a Dragon Egg her father had mentioned in his stories. Phoenix looked excitedly at her father.
"Let's see if this dragon sees you fit to be it's Rider," Brom told her.
She reached out her hand slowly, her heart beating faster and faster against her chest. Phoenix touched the egg gently. It was cold to the touch and had a smooth, almost polished surface. The Dragon Egg began to glow. She withdrew her hand quickly and stood back.
Then it happened. There was a soft crackling of an egg opening and a bright green light illuminated the room. Once her eyes adjusted she saw it. A baby dragon slowly rolled over on it's stomach and opened it's eyes. The dragon's deep green met Phoenix's pale gray ones.
She approached the dragon and met him at eye level. Phoenix reached and patted it. At the touch, her right hand seared in pain and glowed. She looked down and saw the legendary symbol of the Dragon Rider. Phoenix took the dragon into her arms and let it sit on her shoulders. It sat happily, looking around the room.
"It's male," Arya observed.
"We'll need to search for food for him for the first few days until he can fly and be out on his own," Brom said, businesslike.
Arya, next, reached for the second wrapped object. This item was long and heavy when Phoenix took it from her. Phoenix excitedly unwrapped it. The dragon blinked and gazed upon it curiously. It was a sword. The handle was made of gold, there was a large emerald stone a the bottom of the handle and on the blade itself was smaller emeralds and diamonds decorated the blade.
"It is a Dragon Rider's sword," Arya told her. "It was especially made for you, by elves, in Ellesmera."
"It's beautiful. Thank you," she told her.
She took out her regular sword that she had been practicing with for the past few months and placed it on the wooden table. Next, Phoenix placed the new sword in the belt.
"We should leave as soon as possible," Arya told Phoenix, grabbing her cloak. "Galbatorix would have sensed the Dragon has been hatched."
"Wait, what?" the teenager asked.
Phoenix looked at her father.
"You must go to the Varden and continue your training with them," Brom told her. "I cannot go with you."
"No," She was firm and confident now. "You can continue to train me here. This is my home and I am not leaving it."
"You must," he moved toward her. "Galbatorix will find you all to easy if you stayed. The Varden will keep you safe and prepare you for the battle ahead."
"This isn't what I had planned and you know it!" she told him firmly.
"But, it is your destiny!" he hissed.
"I don't care! It's not mine!" she raised her voice a little, scarring the dragon a little.
Phoenix put her face in her hands, hiding her tears from the two and calming down. Brom placed his hands on each of her arms. She slowly put her hands to her side and looked at him.
"You and Arya will leave this afternoon. Pack and say goodbye to Eragon," he told her firmly. "But do not tell him where you are going or why?"
"Fine," she said, giving up a loosing battle.
She stormed into her room and closed the door behind her.
To be continued . . .