Finally finished it! I'm super sorry it took so long, but I was out of town over spring break and couln't find the time to work on it. It's also not as long as some of the other chapters, but it was a good stopping point and I know you guys are probably growing impatient, I'm like two weeks late :(

Hope you enjoy! Don't forget to review!

Chapter 7:

Elesmera

Fenrir followed Valeria through Elesmera, amazed at the natural beauty of the Elven city. The Elves' houses were grown into the massive pines, and the thick branches stretched and intertwined with each other to form bridges from tree to tree. He heard Evalette gasping with wonder beside him. Though he was more reserved, he too was elated to be here.

Home.

The word crossed his mind and felt strangely fitting. After all, they were part Elf.

Actually, I suppose we are three quarters Elven, considering Father was a Halfling and mother was pure Elven.

Fenrir silently laughed to himself at his strange lineage. Halflings were rare as it was, and as far as he knew, this was the first time a Halfling and an Elf had been together. Fenrir realized he didn't even know who his mother was. She was an Elf, he knew that much.

Unless the rumors at The Blue Rider were true…

Thinking back to the Tavern in Teirm, he slowly started to believe the old drunks. He turned to Evalette. She didn't know who mother was. Fenrir thought it would be rude to break the silence as Valeria led them through the city, so he tried to speak with Evalette through his mind. He slowly reached out till he felt her consciousness.

Evalette.

He saw her grow wide-eyed at the voice in her head, then looked at him.

Fenrir?

Yes Sister. I believe I know who mother is.

Really? Who?

I've heard tales of a romance between Eragon Shadeslayer, our father, and Arya Shadeslayer, the Elven Queen. If they were true… the Queen is mother.

Evalette silently gasped at his theory.

Then that means we are Elven royalty!

"No, it doesn't"

Fenrir and Evalette jumped at Valeria's remark.

"How did you-" Fenrir stuttered.

"Oh, please, you two were practically shouting your thoughts. Half of Alagaesia could probably hear you. Have neither of you ever had any training at all?" Valeria said, interrupting Fenrir's stunned question.

"It is a little difficult to practice magic in a land controlled by power-hungry mage-hunters. Something you wouldn't understand here in your secluded city" Fenrir replied sternly. He hadn't meant to be rude, but his annoyance with her constant condescending tone had overcome any manners.

Valeria seemed to be caught off guard by his sudden hostility, but regained her uncaring attitude quickly.

"I apologize Valeria, I did not mean to-"

"No need Rider-Son. In all honesty, I'm glad to find out you have enough backbone to defend yourself" Valeria said, raising her hand as she cut off his apology.

Fenrir was taken back by the compliment, however small it was. His mood lightened a bit, proud to have won even slight respect from Valeria. He tried to continue their conversation.

"Will we learn how to control our thoughts during our training here?" he asked.

"I have not the slightest clue what your training will consist of Rider-Son, though I suspect that will be part of it" Valeria replied.

"Why do you keep calling me Rider-Son? I have a name you know" Fenrir asked, forced to change topics because of his annoyance. Why could she not just call him by his name?

"No, Rider-Son, you do not have a name. Neither of you do. Not yet. Right now, you have not shown anything worthy of recognition besides your bloodline. Others may treat you with respect, but I will not bow to your every whim simply because your father was a hero. Eragon is now a name revered among every race of Alagaesia, but in my eyes, he lost that respect when he left us on his fool's errand" Valeria spat back at him. She had whipped around to face him, pointing fingers and gesturing wildly during her rant. She leaned towards him so close he could swear he could feel her words ripping through his skin. Her furious eyes were level with his, sending shivers down his spine.

Fenrir was left reeling in the wake of her outburst. Obviously this was a very sensitive subject. Even he himself had questioned why Eragon had left Alagaesia, but that alone could not possibly fuel that kind of hate. He wondered what deeper reason she had for her anger, but dared not ask. In truth, he was terrified of her when she was angry.

They continued walking, now completely silent. In his peripheral vision, Fenrir noticed Evalette sending him sympathetic glances, but he didn't acknowledge her.

Soon they reached a large ornate building. Somehow it looked even older than the ancient Elven homes he had seen thus far. Thick layers of vines and roots crept along its aging walls.

Valeria pointed them towards the wide doorway.

"The Queen is waiting inside. Best not to keep mommy waiting" she hissed at them then turned and left without another word.

Once she was out of sight, Evalette turned to him.

"I don't know about you brother, but she frightens me" she said half-jokingly.

"Are you kidding? She terrifies me" he replied, letting out a quick laugh.

"I suppose this is it. Time to meet her" Fenrir continued.

Evalette nodded and they slowly entered the ancient building. Inside, the walls were lit with some kind of magic lanterns. They cast an eerie blue glow on the ornate rugs that covered the floor. There were many pictures on the walls, but they looked different than any paintings he had seen before. Must be an Elven art. As they moved farther into the room, they saw that the building had a long court section on the right of them. At the end there was a slightly raised platform on which sat a single throne. It was not large but was covered in thousands of carvings and designs. Then he finally noticed the woman sitting on it. At first he was confused, he had thought the Queen of the Elves would be all about presentation, but the woman wore only a simple white dress, with a small crown as her only symbol of office. The crown was bright silver with emeralds inset in the elaborate loops and twists that made up the rim. Her dress had a low collar and around her waist was a light green sash with a small silver buckle in the center. She wore white lace gloves that intertwined up to her elbows. She sat leaning on the armrest of the throne, with the look of someone who is beyond bored, her legs crossed and one foot tapping on the stone tile floor. Then she noticed them, and she sat up and smiled. Fenrir couldn't whether she was genuinely glad to see them or she was just trying to look like a proper Queen.

As they approached, Fenrir and Evalette glanced at each other, mutually unsure how to greet the Queen of the Elves. They both decided on the general approach to any royalty and they simply bowed, kneeling slightly.

After a few seconds, the Queen chuckled slightly.

"Oh, please, stand up. I will not have my children, the son and daughter of the Master Rider himself, bowing to me" she spoke in the same voice Fenrir had heard before, soothing yet with a slight roughness to it, no doubt from screaming orders in the heat of battle during the Great Rebellion.

They slowly rose, utterly confused on how to act in her presence. The Queen stood from her throne and walked towards them. As she got closer, Fenrir noticed she was only slightly taller than him, and there were almost no signs of age on her still-youthful face. Then she threw her arms around them both and hugged them.

"Welcome home" she said softly. It almost sounded like she was crying, but he did not look to see. Fenrir and Evalette soon both let the tears fall as they felt the embrace of someone they never knew they missed so much.