Chapter8: The Varden.
disclaimer: I own nothing.
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When they reached the field outside Feinster Eragon told Yuaza and Agni to land because the Varden would likely try to kill them. After they landed Era gave Thon to Eragon so he could ride a horse into the city while she got into the wagon. Eragon led them, with Yuaza and Era in the middle and the dragons taking up the rear. When they entered the city the crowd in the street froze. Many looked at the red dragon with pure hatred, while others looked at the girls with interest.
So do you think this was a good idea? Thorn thought as they rode through the crowd.
Of course! This is the Varden they're the good guys, Yuaza thought assuring.
Sure. Era thought sarcastically.
The group made their way through the crowd to the tower in the middle of the city. There they dismounted their horses then made their way to the door leaving the dragons outside. Eragon led them through a series of hallways, to a door guarded by a group of soldiers. Neither of the girls were sure what the proper name of the group.
When they were let in the door the girls walked into the room cautiously. Eragon led them into the room, which turned out to be a study. Once they were in the study Eragon bowed and motioned for the girls to do the same. When they finished bowing the girls saw who they were bowing to, a lady who wore a homespun dress but held obvious power.
"Who are they, and what do I hear about another red dragon flying?" the woman started off immediately.
"Lady Nausuda, these are Era and Yuaza they are from Daret and the riders of the other red dragon." Eragon answered "They are for the Varden."
The woman now introduced to as Lady Nausuda turned to the girls and inspected them with a keen eye then asked them "Is this true?"
Yuaza looked up from the floor where she had been staring "Yes it is." she stuttered, returning Nausuda's gaze. Who had reverted her gaze to Era.
Who replied "Every word." Nasuda then returned to her desk and sat down.
Then turning to Eragon said " Was your trip productive with the dwarfs?"
"Yes, King Hrothgar is now resting with his kin. I don't know if the knew king will side with us, but I did ask them to continue to support the Varden, though I don't know what will happen." Eragon answered.
"Thank you Eragon. Now you all must be tired from your travels. Your rooms are being set up as we speak so when you have rested we talk." Nausuda said. Then the door opened again letting in a beautiful woman, with black hair. Eragon looked at the floor. The woman approached Nausuda without bowing, but when she reached Nausuda's desk she did nod as if that was how she bowed.
The woman said to Nausuda" I hear there is a new rider."
"Yes two actually." Nausuda said and pointed behind the woman to the girls. The woman turned toward the girls. It was then that Era realized that this woman was actually an elf. Era bowed to the elf, who returned with the same nod she had given Lady Nausuda. Then looking at Yuaza, who also bowed, said "Two? I thought one dragon had only one rider."
Eragon opened his mouth to say something but Era beat him to it "Yes, when Yuaza and I rescued Agni's egg from Galboratrix, Agni chose both of us to be his rider. Not because we together make up one rider but because we both could be riders but because we are so close he had no choice but to chose both of us."
The elf looked mildly impressed "You have a strong bond with you dragon. Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Arya. I represent the Elves for the Varden."
"I am Era daughter of no one, rider of Agni." Era replied
"And I am Yuaza daughter of Trina, also rider of Agni." Yuaza said also.
Arya said "please let me lead you to your rooms" then without waiting for answer she turned around and left, with the girls following her. She led them down a new set of hallways then she down a flight of stairs then through some more hallways then to a door. Arya opened the door and led them into a room. The first impression Era got of the room was of light. The far wall was covered in windows and the high ceiling had a sky light that was big enough for a dragon three times to size of Agni could fit in. "Do you like your room?" Arya asked.them. Era walked through a door to the left of them where two beds were prepared for her and Yuaza. Yuaza meanwhile walked through the door on the right and saw another bed all ready prepared. Arya continued "This was the room where the dragon riders would stay when they visited Feinster. Today you will stay here and share the room with Eragon."
Era ran back to where Arya was standing "Share with Eragon?" she asked unbelievingly.
Arya pointed to the room which Yuaza had just came out of "He will have that room. Before he comes I suggest you two bathe some fresh clothes will be laid out for you." Then Arya left.
The girl explored their room a bit more to find the room where there was a big bucket like thing with a hollow stick over it. Era turned what appeared to be a branch on the stick and hot water came out of the hollow stick, filling the giant bucket with water. " I guess this is were we bathe." Yuaza said.
Then after they bathed they found in their room two pairs of clothes laid out for them. For Yuaza a dress made of smooth cloth that the girls had never seen before, this was actually silk, the color of grass. Then for Era a dress made of the same material but in the color of blood. Era made a face but put the dress on not wanting to offend the Varden.
Then they heard a knock on their door. Era opened surprised to see a small boy standing there. The boy said "The Council of Elders, Lady Nasuda, and King Orrin wishes an audience with you."
Era's head spun all these names were being thrown at her and she had no idea who any of them were. " One moment please." She told the boy politely then after closing the door she told Yuaza that they needed to leave then after checking her reflection in a mirror. The two girls left the room.
The boy led them down some hallways up the same stair way as they were led down earlier then to a door which opened up to a circular room that had a circular table in the center. Around the table sat Lady Nausuda, Eragon, Arya and many others that neither of the girls had seen before. Both girls bowed than sat down at the only open seats. Era noticed Eragon starring at her necklace. She looked down it was the same red stone that she always wore.
"You have been summoned here because we have to be sure of your loyalty." said a man.
"We know you have told Lady Nausuda that you are loyal to the Varden. We want you both to swear your fealty to the Varden." said another man that was bigger than the first man.
Era was amazed they were there barely a day and already they wanted her and Yuaza to swear their fealty to them. So what do you think? Era thought asked Yuaza mentally.
I think they forgot to ask Agni. I mean we are riders.
"What about our dragon, Agni, we have to ask him what he thinks before we do anything." Era said.
"Hey, you look like Murtagh, the son of Morzan, and the betrayer." a woman said at the other side of the table. Era could smell her perfume, like a dead flower.
Era thought to Yuaza She just noticed that? But aloud she said "So I have been told that I look like him, that is."
The man who spoke first said "That's where I've seen that stone before, on Zar'oc." He pointed to the stone on Era's necklace.
Era suddenly saw where this was going "My adoptive parents found me on the side of the road. They raised me to be a free person. I am not loyal to Galboratrix and if you think I am Murtagh's sister you must be crazy! Even if I was I would still be loyal to the Varden." She said all this as politely as she could, but she still came off with an edge.
"So you say. But we cannot be sure until you swear to us." said another man.
"I believe her. Even if she is the sister of Murtagh she still is capable of making her own choices." Lady Nausuda said for the first time, giving Eragon a strange look.
"I vouch for her too." Arya said as if that settled it. Unfortunately for Era it didn't.
"But how do we know for sure?" said another woman.
"You can know for sure because if I was for Galboratrix. I would not have killed soldiers for Agni's egg, and I would have not fought Murtagh." Era said hotly. That ended the debate.
" We will let you stay but please return when you have decided what do. But you do realize if you do not swear your featly we have no reason why not to kill you and your dragon as traitors." said the first man again.
Then the two girls left after bowing again.
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How was it? I'm sorry the next chapter was going to be part of this chapter but I ran out of time before I had to update again so it will be the next chapter when the two girls get humiliated. But first, how did I do for having the characters act like themselves? Review please, bye!
ps this is now my longest chapter ever :-)