Blödhthringa couldn't believe it. A dragon had hatched for her, it was like her world had been turned upside down, in a good way, or so she hopes. She snuggled the little dragon, and her father was allowed to leave with her for the day. Nilfiem said that he'd contact them with further instructions within the week. She curtsied to him, thanked him personally for the opportunity, which seemed to surprise him, and he became flustered. Why, Blödhthringa knew not, but that mattered little to her; her attention rested with the small creature she held in her arms. She put it in her coat, holding close to her breast as she hurried home, shielding it as much as possible from the cold. When they got home, she set it down on the table, her and her father sat down, staring at it. It cooed and explored the table, sniffing and climbing. "I.. I knew they must've been a chance, but... for a dragon to hatch for you, is... magnificent." She nodded, still in awe herself. "I will be a great Dragon Rider." She said. "I will not let you down, father." He smiled and nodded. "Your mother would be proud." That hit her like an avalanche, she smiled, sincerely, from the bottom of her heart. She stared at the dragon from the bottom of her heart. She focused on her mind, feeling a hole, a connection between her and the dragon. Hello she said in the Ancient Language.
The dragon, as it was climbing on the the centerpiece of the table, jumped to the surface of the table, walked over to her and looked up into her eyes. It tilted it's head, and a series of emotions and feelings passed through the connection. She then remembered, it was a baby, it needed to be taught how to speak. So she spent the rest of the day sitting with it, teaching it the Ancient Language.
The dragons just listened intently as she spoke, Blödhthringa had her father join in, helping her in teaching the dragon. Half way through, Blödhthringa's eyes widened, oh right! I need to give you a name! Let's see... She began to think, but couldn't come up with a name for it. She still didn't know if it was male or female, she thought it would be rude to ask; or if it would understand. So she chose a serious of names, the dragon shook it's head at all of them. "Hmm..." Her father said, "How about Bleithr?" Almost literally translating to 'White ruler of the sky'. The dragon hummed, deep in it's chest at the name. Blödhthringa smiled and nodded, "Bleithr it is." The dragon tried to roar, but all that came out was small squeak and Blödhthringa let out a true, deep laughter until her gut was filled with painful merriment.
Her and her father spent the rest of the week talking to Bleithr, and it's growth astonished both of them, it had grown a foot longer and a few inches taller. On the fifth day, Blödhthringa felt someone step on her wards. She felt their mind, but they were shielded well. She stood and walked towards the door, Bleithr scurrying behind her.
She opened the door as the man walked up to it. He was wrapped in heavy coats and with a fur cap, and a sash with a pouch resting on his right hip. "I have a decree from his Royal Majesty, for Lady Gwen." He pressed the golden button that held the cover in place, lifted it up and dug around through a pile of papers and pulled out a white folded envelope with a gold and purple seal. How he was able to find it so quickly in that pile of papers, she knew not, but assumed he has his ways. "Thank you." She said as she took the envelope, and as she went to close the door, "Also, his majesty requests that you join him for dinner tomorrow at dusk, what say you?" She pondered it for a moment, "Tell King Nilfiem that I humbly accept. Would it be okay to bring Bleithr?" She asked, indicating towards the white dragon staring at the man, standing at Blödhthringa's feet. "Ah yes, I do believe his majesty wouldn't mind. Thank you for your time, I must be on my way." She thanked him again and closed the door as he turned and resumed his journey.
That night, Blödhthringa laid in bed, as the dragon laid on her chest, curled up, sleeping soundly. She reached out and ran a hand down it's body. Little one she said in her head, the dragon cooed softly, and nuzzled her hand, still asleep. It's eyes slowly opened and she scratched under it's neck, it hummed with delight. I apologize. I did not mean to wake you. The dragon stood and stretched then shook its self from its nose to the tip of it's tail. No... Worries. Came a light voice from the dragon's mind.
Blödhthringa's eyes widened, You can speak already?
The dragon curled up on her again, before answering. Very little. Blödhthringa smiled. But you understand more than you speak? The dragon's consciousness was already drifting, sleep creeping over it's thoughts. The answer came after a slight pause. Yes. Morning came and she taught Bleithr proper greetings and some verbs and some phrases and what they mean, Bleithr learned swiftly. "Father!" Blödhthringa called as she came down the stairs, he was sitting at the dining table, a servant had already served him. She nodded to the servant, "the usual, please." He bowed and hurried off. "What's got you so excited?" Asked her father. "Last night Bleithr spoke!" She cradled Bleithr in her arms. Her father rose an eyebrow, and could feel him reaching towards Bleithr with his mind. Hello he called. Bleither replied, good morning. Her father's face lit up. "Incredible." I get most of my knowledge from Blödhthringa's mind. Bleithr says, proving her words. "You do?" Blödhthringa asked out loud. When I can, I delve into your mind and gleam your knowledge of language. It's progressing slowly, but that is how I have learned to speak. That is the source of my knowledge of language. Blödhthringa smiled. "Best. Dragon. Ever!" Bleithr hummed in it's chest. It's simple. But it was obviously pleased. You wonder about it, but you need to look into my mind to find the answer you are searching for. Said Bleithr and Blödhthringa was confused, but then nodded and reached into Bleithr's mind, it was unlike any other mind she had touched, but she found the information she had been searching for. "Female." She said, her father paused halfway through his meal and rose an eyebrow. "Female. Bleithr is female."
Blödhthringa spent the rest of the day talking and chatting with Bleithr and then as the day grew old, she dressed herself in her finest clothing; A tight sleek deep blue dress with white embroidery and a white undershirt, the dress split at her left thigh and curved, showing a fair bit of skin. She had sleek black flat footed dress shoes. Her hair was curly as usual as it tumbled over her shoulders and down her back. She hurried to the carriage that waited for her, sent by King Nilfiem. Bleithr slept in her lap as the carriage took her to the arranged location. The diner was set in the northern section of the town, which was reserved for her and him. She arrived with Bleithr on her shoulders. Servants led her to where the King was waiting, all other tables had been cleared out and in their absence sat a large table with a frilly white cover with purple and gold tassels. A servant pulled the chair out for her and pushed it in when she sat. As he departed another dimmed the lights slightly and another brought two menus and placed them in front of them, along with a small silver bell. When the servant departed, she picked up the menu as he did and looked through it. "Do not worry about expenses, everything had been paid for, order what you like." He said, a knot formed in her stomach, she lowered her menu. "My King, when you said dinner, I did not expect... it to be just the two of us." He also lowered his menu and rose an eyebrow, "Is it a problem?"
She shook her head and he returned his attention to his menu, she did the same. "Besides," He continued, "It is not just the two of us." He glanced at Bleithr, who sat proudly and silently on the table.
Once the two were ready to place their orders, Nilfiem rang the silver bell and not a second later a servant rushed towards them. They gave him their orders and he rushed off towards the kitchen, taking with him the menu's and the bell. Nilfiem interlocked his fingers and stared at Blödhthringa. "What is it's name?" He asked. "Her name is Belithr." He rose an eyebrow, "What does it mean?" He did not know the Ancient Language. "There is not an exact translation, but it roughly translates into this tongue as White ruler of the skies." He nodded. "A good name..." He paused a servant brought them their food, and even a small plate of assorted meats for Bleithr. She attacked the meat even before the servant had placed the plate down fully, causing him to jerk back his hand, then instantly regaining his composure and bowed and took his leave. Intending to make conversation, for she felt awkward with the setting, it made her feel like the dinner had a more... intimate meaning; she began, "My King-" Nilfiem interrupted her. "Please, drop the formalities, I may be King, but I am still the same man you knew before I assumed the throne. I'd like it to keep it that way." She nodded. "..Nilfiem," she began again, feeling even more awkward calling the rightful King of this land by his name and only his name. "How goes the Varden's affairs? My father once told me you were having difficulty with Noblemen who were trying to cash in their debts." He nodded. "Aye. The ungrateful lot of 'em, didn't even wait a week into my coronation to inquire about the debt's my late mother owed them. No sympathy for son of the woman whom lead the Varden during the trying times of the Black War, and kept her sanity despite being captured and questioned by Galbatorix himself." Blödhthringa nodded. "Nasuada was truly a wonderful woman and leader." Nilfiem nodded. "Aye. It was a pity that she didn't marry the one she truly loved." Blödhthringa rose an eyebrow. "Whenever father wasn't around, she'd always tell me about some Rider named Murtagh, wondering if I'd meet him, seeing as she was convinced she'd not meet him again in her lifetime. Alas, she was correct, but she always spoke of him with such tender feelings, I had always wondered who this Murtagh person was to my mother. After father passed, I got to courage to ask her, and she told me how he had helped her keep her sanity during her imprisonment by the Black King. She told me of her true feelings, I felt saddened. She had been forced to settle for a diplomatic marriage, rather than the one she loved."
Blödhthringa didn't know why he was so easily divulging such information so quickly, but she just remained quiet. Unable to bring herself to respond, not wanting to insult him or insult Nasuada's memory along with having nothing to say. He sighed. "I don't want to have the same fate..." He said and she just nodded. "I too, wish not to have such a fate. But don't you think Eragon had it rough too, if not harder? He had been forced to abandon Alagaësia that he had fought so hard for, that he had bled for. Not to mention the story between him and Queen Arya, that is truly, heartbreaking. Although, I think there is more to it than just a simple goodbye between them after so much. There is more to the story between them she tells and what we know." He shrugged. "Truly. You are fascinated by the tales of Eragon the Second, huh?" She blushed, embarrassed, and nodded. Nilfiem smiled, "but now, you too, can create tales of your own. You are now a Dragon Rider too." She smiled and looked over at Bleithr as she tore into a piece of venison. "Indeed. Bleithr is most precious thing in my heart." She paused in her meal and gave a slow blink to Blödhthringa before continuing to devour the meat.
"This brings me to my last few talking points." He said as they finished, and the servants took their plates. Bleithr laid across her shoulders and Nilfiem and Blödhthringa walked towards the entrance, he stopped her and she turned to face him as he did her. "I have spoken to Queen Arya, informing her of Bleithr's hatching," even though he hadn't been taught to pronounce it correctly, he's only heard her speak it, yet he got it right the first time. She smiled at that. "Once winter breaks for spring, you are to travel to Ellesmera, where you are to be trained in magic and as Dragon and Rider." Her eyes widened, but the King continued, "And... As for the topic of our dinner, about love and marrying the one who you hold in your heart, as we both agreed, I have... something I want to ask you." He stared into her eyes, her mind begin to reel, as she began to wonder what he wanted to ask on such a topic. "..Blödhthringa," he said gently, "would you make me the happiest man alive... by becoming my Queen?"