A/n: I know it's been ridiculously long since I updated, I'm so so so sorry, I have no excuse aside from the most terrible writer's block I've ever suffered from. I hope you keep reading my story.
A Missive for Two
Eragon very carefully opened his eyes to the morning sun as it peeked over the waterfall's brim. Aris still dozed against his chest, and because of the trance that elvin sleep was, he knew she was aware of where she was.
As surprising as her willingness to stay against him throughout the night was, it wasn't unwelcome. He urged his breathing to remain steady and even but within minutes his chest rose and fell faster than it would have if he were asleep.
Not seconds later Aris stirred, her soft black hair brushing his chin as she lifted her face from his tunic. He couldn't help but smile at the little moan that escaped her lips as she opened her eyes and was assaulted with sunlight.
"Morning." She spoke softly, acutely aware of Eragon's remaining embrace.
"Good morning." He replied. Silence took them for a moment as neither knew what to do or say. Finally Aris shifted a little, pushing back from his chest.
"I'm terribly sorry, this should not have happened." She said quietly, pulling completely away and standing up.
"It's okay Aris, I didn't mind." He shrugged and hefted himself to his feet.
"I continuously burden you with my problems." She sounded frustrated for a moment and her eyebrows drew together slightly, but then her face relaxed and she looked at him with gratitude, "But, you always listen…thank you."
A genuine smile stretched across Eragon's face, "Absolutely anytime…but perhaps we should be getting back now."
"Ah yes, we have training again." She nodded and turned, waiting for him to step to her side as she walked towards Ellesmera.
o0o0o0o
Training was less dramatic that day, no shocking revelations ruined anyone's day and when training was over they were all properly exhausted, fully ready to bathe, eat and then sleep. As the five flew back towards the city on the dragons they were flagged down by two waving elves standing a few feet away from an obviously waiting queen.
Immediately the dragons began to descend and within moments they landed heavily upon the ground. "Izlanzadi Drottning, you require us?" Murtagh spoke first as he landed before the others.
"We have received a rather alarming missive from spies in the northern areas of the Empire and we wish to discuss it with you and the council." The queen left it at that as she turned, assuming they would follow.
Confused and curious glances were exchanged as the group followed the queen down the natural pathways of Ellesmera. As they reached the gardens they took a side door and saw the elvin council and Oormis already seated around a large wooden table smooth from centuries of elbows being rest upon it. The queen gestured for them to take a seat and without delay launched into an explanation as the dragons joined Glaedr's head as it poked in the door.
"Thank you for gathering in such a quick manner, a troubling issue has come to our attention and a plan needs to be set into action as soon as possible." She remained standing as an elvin guard handed her a scroll. "A missive arrived from the northern regions of the empire from human spies that have been reported to our troops stationed outside of Ceris. It reports of a new and very large movement by empire soldiers and magicians. Talk had been circling Gil'ead, it was vague but enough to make the spies suspicious. They discovered that somehow the human have gained some elvin knowledge, apparently they were told how to make a weapon using magic that only the elves knew about."
"What could that possibly be…?" Arya's soft murmur drifted across the hall.
"We don't know, it could very well be a ploy of some sort, a distraction to our soldiers." Izlanzadi continued. "That however is not the worst of it. The spies were also successful in discovering two other things. One, it was being moved, in pieces, to Galbatorix in Uru'baen. That tells us that he is the only being powerful or knowledgeable in the inner workings of gramarye to make this rumored weapon work. Secondly…we found out the…fuel they are going to use," The queen grimaced at the word in disgust, "they plan on using human slaves as an energy source."
Instant horror and repulsion covered the faces of those within the room, followed by many outraged cries. The commotion continued for a few moments until a general to Izlanzadi's left side banged his fist against the table's surface. "Silence already!" When the noise died down he turned to look at the Queen, "How will we deal with this? If it is a ploy then we can't afford to break up our troops, that's what they'll be hoping for…but we cannot ignore this."
"You're right, and we shall not. I called you here because you are the elite, and I believe that two of you should be sufficient enough to go undercover and find out the inner workings of this plan, and destroy it before it has a chance to reach Uru'baen and Galbatorix."
The generals nodded and one spoke, "One of the riders perhaps?"
"If I can get Nasuada's okay I will go, I have the most training, and I've already gotten through the empire unnoticed once." Eragon spoke up immediately, receiving several nods from various people.
The Queen nodded as well, "Fetch me a mirror." She said to one of the soldiers in the room. "We still need someone else to accompany him."
It was silent for a moment, when Izlanzadi had just begun to turn to Arya when Aris stood, "I will go as well." She spoke firmly, decided.
Instead of nods Aris received stares, especially from her aunt and cousin. "I don't think that's such a good idea." Arya spoke up, "You just got here and you're not fully recovered yet."
Aris' jaw clenched noticeably and as she spoke her chin tilted upwards defiantly, "I am as able if not more so than many people in this room. I already look human so no energy need be wasted on masking my ears. Galbatorix surely believes I perished along with my mother and nobody will recognize me. I am trained and have just as much knowledge of gramarye and elvin history as the next. Tell me, now what objections do you have?"
Eragon fought a smile at her blatant determination to go, but he couldn't help but feel worried. "Aris, you've just recently resumed training, and not to say you aren't strong, but you aren't at your full capability yet."
Aris' head turned slowly and the icy look she shot him made him gulp, "If I am strong enough to maintain in a duel with you, I am plenty strong enough to fight humans if it comes to that."
A startled gasp at her gall escaped someone's mouth but otherwise silence remained. Finally Arya spoke, "I simply don't think it's safe." She shook her head, "We realize you have strength Aris but if you are captured can you defend your mind?"
Aris shifted her gaze to her cousin and the air grew thick as the occupants of the room grew unconsciously stiff, all noticing the apparent withdraw of her mind. "Can you get through?"
Arya gave her a disapproving look but extended her mental attack after a confirming nod from the Queen. Several long minutes passed as Arya tried, with no avail, to break in. Suddenly, in a flurry of movement, Arya was across the room, her palm pressed flat against Aris' brow. Slowly the room's occupants leaned in to take in the to women's facial expressions. Neither of them had shifted to show the slightest bit of strain. Finally Arya dropped her hand and Aris relaxed her mental barriers.
"How do you maintain that?" Arya asked.
"I've been practicing mimicking the walls that I was trapped behind while drugged." She replied, "It takes little effort, so far I've been able to hold in for as long as I've wanted to without difficulty."
Arya pursed her lips for a moment, "My argument is no longer valid."
"Aristianna Svit-Kona, if I may, what if, by chance, it did lapse? Your presence is large enough that it would surely be noticed," A general from the middle of the table leaned forward as he addressed her.
A slight smile pulled at a corner of her mouth, "You could ask 'what ifs' all day, but that could happen to anyone. If by chance I grow tired I will open a portion and direct its flow to someone in particular for relief." The general nodded and leaned back against his chair as Aris looked around the room, "Anyone else?"
"I think you've quite proven yourself." Oormis pushed forward from his chosen seat, standing. "Had it been anyone else you would not have been tested so." He stood behind her chair, palms rested on the top above her shoulders. "I believe Aris Svit-Kona would be an excellent person to send. The other riders have much to learn, though I have no doubt they could handle it I would not want to send them into that, especially when I have a window of opportunity to train them without interruption. Arya you are a familiar face to many higher ranking generals in the Empire, while you could disguise yourself, why when we could send someone that nobody knows exists?"
Izlanzadi stared at him for a few moments, then looked down at her hands in apparent thought. "Oormis, you believe her the most prepared for this task?"
"No." He replied, drawing curious looks from everyone. A small smirk formed on his lips, "She is not the most prepared, but one of the most capable, I have no doubt that the two of them can overcome whatever may come their way."
Izlanzadi's eyes returned to his and she slowly let them slide over her niece. "Shadeslayer what have you to say?"
"I have no objection if she is indeed ready." He kept his voice carefully level. Truly he could think of no one he would rather travel with for an extended period at the moment, but no doubt the Queen would find that reason less than valid.
"And your opinion Saphira?"
"I would never dream of doubting Master Oormis' judgment and I myself have seen her potential, if she finds a task in particular too daunting I will ensure her safety Queen Izlanzadi, cease your worries." Saphira broadcasted her thoughts throughout the room.
Izlanzadi's face tightened momentarily at Saphira's directness but it disappeared and she gave a nod. "Then it is decided, are we decided?" With murmured agreements she rose from her seat, "You two shall leave in the morn. I shall have food prepared for your journey and provide you with money enough then. That is all."
With that the generals and the others gathered stood an exited the room. Aris walked silently beside Katrina as her friend looked at her in concern, "are you sure of this Aris?"
"Quite sure, this is my chance to help in the war in a way not many can." She nodded.
"Little one," Saphira called, "I wish to talk to you and Eragon." Aris nodded and hugged Katrina tightly before hurrying to the great dragon's side.
"Yes Brightscales?" She asked as she led them through some widely spread trees, away from the others.
"I want a plan; we shall not go into this blind." She spoke once they were out of hearing range.
Aris nodded, "Of course, we can't just walk into a secret Empire operation anyway."
"We need to be able to stay together." Eragon mused, pacing a few steps either way in front of Saphira.
"That presents a variety of possibilities. Eragon, you could pose as a general with Aris as your wife. Or Aris can pretend to be a noblewoman with Eragon as a personal slave," Aris' face tightened at that suggestion, "Or perhaps both as nobles."
"I think that the empire will have tighter security on a matter such as this, they won't allow just any noble to stroll in and gain knowledge." Eragon shook his head. "Perhaps we should both pose as slaves," he continued, taking no notice of Aris' uneasy expression, "Then we would go unnoticed, and at night we could slip out and explore," His smile grew the more he thought, until Saphira nosed him none to gently, propelling him forward a few steps. He spun, affronted, mouth open to demand an explanation until he saw Aris' uncomfortable countenance, "Are…Are you okay?"
"Do you have any idea what it is to be a slave? I think not." She spoke suddenly, voice low and quick, "You'll be so tired and desperate for sleep by the end of a day that you won't want to sneak out, and if you do, you're all the more likely to make a mistake. You'll be beaten and tortured and you can't do a thing about it, especially if you want to keep your cover. And me? I'm a woman, Bryshaw was a fluke, and I won't remain pure for long if those men have any say in it. I will do it if we must but don't look so pleased about it." She finished.
Eragon blinked a few times before everything she had just said registered with what he already knew of her, "That's why isn't it," He stepped forward and lifted her chin, "why you were so determined to go."
"No slave is a slave by choice."She murmured.
He nodded thoughtfully, "Do you have a different idea?"
"I honestly believe we could get in as nobles, there are so many we wouldn't need to be known. As slaves we would probably be separated, they wouldn't care what relation we had to each other, as nobles we could stay together."
"You could pretend that you were married. Being nobles does give you certain access, especially if you gain some trust as well." Saphira's giant head bobbed as she nodded.
"I just don't think they'll let us in that easily…" Eragon frowned.
Aris sighed and turned away for a moment, "Perhaps…yes…it will work, I'll be ready to go in the morning…yes, I have a solution." She spoke mostly to herself and with that she strode away into Ellesmera.
o0o0o0o0o
Aris sat, sequestered in her house, hunched over the table cleared of everything but and inkwell and the scroll she was working meticulously on. The only noise in the room aside from her soft breathing was the persistent scratch of her quill. She knew that without some sort of leverage it was doubtful that they'd be admitted to the operation, a story wouldn't be enough.
Over the course of her years in enslavement she'd created multiple spells that would have caused the slavers slow, unstoppable death that wouldn't be noticed until it was upon them. She'd never had the opportunity to use them…before now.
Very carefully she wrote in her finest calligraphy five of the worst and in the ancient language a description of what each supposedly did. In truth each spell would cause the caster to be afflicted with a series of small yet fatal symptoms that would easily be attributed to natural causes.
The cover, what the caster thought each spell would do, were all simple things, such as strengthening the soldiers, where the power of suggestion would suffice. While, in reality, it slowly sapped the life force from their bodies.
Finally, long after the sun had set, she finished. She flexed her ink stained hand and stood, walking over to the opening in her wall, looking over Ellesmera, calm as it is during the sunlit hours. She absentmindedly ran her fingers over the intricate details of the opening, brushing the catch of the screen.
A sudden breeze blew, sweeping through the room rustling the scroll and other loose papers. Closing her eyes to the feeling of the cold night air blowing the tendrils of hair from her face she allowed her mind to drift.
Aris found herself thinking of her newest travel companion. In her mind's eye his smiling visage surfaced. Warm eyes look back at her, his hair tied back to expose the points of his elvin ears. She found it unnerving how quickly she'd become comfortable with him…and how comfortable she was in his arms. Especially considering how little she knew of him. She'd heard the general and very brief story of his adventures, but the only time she's been close to learning a little about his past he'd been interrupted by his brother's guards. She had to admit that she was looking forward to learning about him.
Finally a slight yawn urged her away from the night air. She strode into the bed chamber and took out a shoulder and saddlebags from the wardrobe beside the bed. Carefully she rolled her swords in the swatch of leather, tying it to the top of the saddlebags while setting aside her daggers and bow. Turning back to the wardrobe she pulled out five dresses. She set aside the russet dress that was parted for riding, and then carefully folded the remaining four. First was the deep blue from Surda, the other three had been her mothers; she found it oddly comforting that they fit her.
Next she selected a few pieces of jewelry from a drawer and tucked them in another pocket of the saddlebags; no noble could pass without jewelry. She tossed a wineskin and waterskin into the last pocket with several strips of cloth and some healing herbs she had gathered when she had seen them. She set the saddlebags by the foot of the bed and carefully folded a traveling cloak into the shoulder bag. Walking back to the front room she rolled up the now dry scroll and sealed it, tucking it in with the cloak. She set that bag down beside the other and moved the daggers and bow from her pillow, settling down and drifting off into sleep.
o0o0o0o0o
She arose the next morning with a yawn, stretching as she changed from her elvin tunic into the human made russet dress. Aris brushed her hair and left it down, sliding her brush into her bags before lacing on traveling boots and heading out the door, grabbing a loaf of bread from her breakfast tray on the way out. The sun had just breached the horizon as she opened her door to the smell of fresh pine. She walked purposefully towards the center of the city, where she assumed Eragon and Saphira would be waiting. Moments later she turned around a tree, where they were in fact waiting for her.
"Good morning Aris." Eragon called, as he finished saddling Saphira. "You look tired." He noted as he jumped down and landed beside her.
"I am rested well enough Shadeslayer." She greeted Saphira with a bow.
"Well, let me put your things up there then." Eragon gently lifted her saddlebags from her arm and slid them into a much larger pocket of Saphira's saddlebags. As she slung her shoulder bag across her chest Roran, Katrina, and Murtagh all entered the clearing, followed minutes later by Oormis and Izlanzadi.
"We just came to say goodbye, since we don't know when we'll see you next." Katrina released Roran's arms and took Aris' hands.
Roran and Murtagh both clasped hands with Eragon and clapped him on the back, "And of course to wish you three the best of luck." Roran added.
"Please be careful," Katrina pulled Aris into a tight hug, "I don't know if you'll be back by then, but Roran and I are getting married when we return to Surda, next time we see each other I could be a married woman!"
"And I hope you have all the happiness you deserve." Aris murmured. Katrina smiled and returned to Roran's embrace.
"I hope you three are successful."Murtagh kissed Aris' hand then backed away to stand by Roran.
"We thank you all, but we really must be off." Saphira interjected, nodding at the steadily rising sun.
"We shall miss you Saphira Brightscales," Inarkien's and Rahzin's voices chorused in the clearing.
"Be wise and trust each other." Oormis hugged Aris and shook Eragon's hand.
"Take care of her Eragon." Izlanzadi stayed back as Eragon helped Aris into Saphira's saddle. He nodded and jumped up in front of her.
"Katrina," Aris suddenly remembered, "Take this." She handed her mother's bow to her red haired friend, "My aim is dismal, it is wasted on me, use it well."
"I'm honored!" She shouted as Saphira pushed off from the ground. As her great wings expanded Aris looked back at Ellesmera as if shrank beneath them.
"So soon I must leave," She thought, "But this time, this time I'll be back."
o0o0o0o0o
A/n: So I hope this chapter was satisfying, I've got plans for what's to come, please take the time and review so I know my delay hasn't cost me too terribly much.