23. Best Friends

Back in the main part of the Urgralgra village, Eragon and Arya took their time starting their day. It had been an interesting night for them. Their keen elven ears had picked up the many sounds of passion surrounding them through the better part of the entire night, and it had served as powerful inspiration for them. Their waking dreams had not found them until just before dawn, so they didn't awaken until closer to midday.

"It's so nice to be able to sleep in like that," Arya mumbled as she stretched languidly next to his side, where she was snuggling in contentment.

"Aye," Eragon agreed. "I never thought I'd live to experience a night like that. This is quite the place, isn't it?"

"Indeed," she said with a laugh. "Didn't you notice when you once visited all those years ago? It seems such sounds would have been hard to miss."

Eragon chuckled. "I didn't have the sense then to pass on the Urgal wine. I must have been intoxicated. I dozed off during the retelling of one of their famous battles."

"I've never seen you drink in the time since we have been reunited," Arya thoughtfully said. "Don't you anymore?"

"Rarely," Eragon answered. "I've come to prefer milder drinks over the years. We grow such amazing food on the Isle, I feel I get all I need simply eating the whole foods."

"I see," Arya said, returning to the previous topic by adding, "Did you get the feeling some of them carried on all night with no repose?"

"That's exactly how it seemed. Do you wish I could produce such formidable sounds?"

Arya laughed again. "Why don't you try, then I'll tell you?"

Eragon grinned before trying to reproduce the deep rumbling sounds that had surrounded them all night. His efforts, though admirable, were woefully inadequate, but his true purpose in attempting was only to hear Arya laugh again, at which he most definitely succeeded. By the time she finally begged him to stop, she was laughing so hard that she clutched her abdomen with a pained expression on her face and tears streaming from her eyes.

"Well?" Eragon wondered in amusement. "How did I do?"

"Eragon," she gasped. "No one has ever been able to make me laugh so hard. It's painful. And while your efforts were most commendable, my husband, I'm afraid they still fell short of the mark."

Eragon frowned in mock discouragement but his eyes twinkled merrily as he said, "I'm quite sure some of those sounds came from the females. Why don't you have a turn?"

"No!" Arya objected. "I already know I can't make any such noises, and I won't provide you the gratification of seeing me blush in embarrassment at trying."

"Alas!" Eragon cried. "You have me figured out already, my wife. I'll win that blush yet." His stomach rumbled impressively, as their last meal had been at the wedding feast the evening before. He raised his eyebrows with a triumphant grin on his face. "There we go!" he exclaimed, giving his belly a grateful pat. "I knew I was capable of imitating those sounds, only with my stomach not my chest."

Arya laughed again, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Let's go eat. I'm hungry too." They got up and quickly dressed before making their way to the kitchen of the hut they had been shown to the previous night.

"These huts are really quite nice, aren't they?" Arya observed, opening several cupboards to examine the selection of food.

"That they are," Eragon agreed. He saw some oatmeal, so he found a pan and filled it with water from a jug on the counter, setting it on the stove and using magic to heat it to boiling. "I remember feeling the same surprise when I came here over ten years ago to suggest the Games and the revised pact to Garzhvog and the Herndall. I think I expected a one-room tent or even a lean-to. The accommodations aren't as modern or convenient as on the Isle, in Ilirea, or Ellesméra, but they certainly aren't as uncivilized as I thought they would be."

Arya added the dry oatmeal to the water and found some honey, so she pulled it out to use as a sweetener. There were some fresh apples on the counter and she cut up a couple to also add. Eragon discovered a cupboard full of seasonings and spices, and he searched through them until he came across cinnamon.

"They're also so spacious," Arya commented. "I'm not sure why I would have expected anything different, since the Urgralgra are so large, but the doors, ceilings, and hallways are all so tall." She grabbed a handful of nuts from a bowl on one of the counters and popped a few into her mouth. When she had swallowed, she said, "I need to use the washroom."

Eragon saw an opportunity to earn the desired blush, but when he looked at Arya, he knew she anticipated he would attempt it. He raised his eyebrows innocently. "Don't worry, my love. I won't listen."

Arya blushed, as they both knew she would, then stomped her foot impatiently. "I tried so hard not to," she complained. "Why is it that we can make love all night and I never even bat an eyelash, no matter what either one of us does, but at the slightest mention of relieving myself, you can provoke a blush with an innocent look of your face?"

Eragon shrugged. "It doesn't make any sense, does it? But I'll always be grateful for my secret weapon. You'd best hurry." He grinned. "We wouldn't want to have to clean up an accident right before breakfast." He laughed as she blushed again and shoved him. He simply caught her hands and squeezed her tightly to his chest. "I love you, beautiful woman," he said, gently kissing each of her cheeks, whereon the lovely color bloomed.

"Be right back," Arya murmured.

Eragon knew the oatmeal wouldn't keep him full for longer than half an hour, so he set about preparing more food. He hummed softly to himself so he really wouldn't hear anything from the washroom, but he was sure Arya had never made any impolite sounds while relieving herself. He knew it was most likely the result of eating only plants all of her long life. Since he had adapted the diet himself, he had never again had indigestion, though he sometimes occasionally wished he would. He knew certain symptoms of indigestion would definitely make Arya blush, though they might also make him blush if he was in her presence.

"What are you doing?" Arya asked upon her return, slipping her arms around him from behind.

"Keeping my promise and not listening," Eragon replied, smiling as she giggled. "And cooking some eggs so I have a hope of staying full for the next hour."

"Good idea," she said. "I'm starving."

They sat down to eat not long after and were silent for the first part of the meal, at least for the most part. Eragon kept trying to make Arya laugh by pulling silly faces, and he was once again successful, so the relative silence was interrupted by occasional laughter.

When they had taken the edge off their hunger, they slowed down, but Eragon kept picking at the food with his fingers. "So you don't have to put any away," he offhandedly explained when Arya eyed him with a pointed, slightly disapproving stare.

"So I don't have to put it away?" Arya returned.

"That's right, woman," Eragon teased gruffly, quickly adding, "Only joking, my love. I'm sure I can clean up better than you anyway, since I didn't have servants waiting on me hand and foot for the last decade. So the truth is, I'm making my own job easier in my laziness."

Arya harrumphed into her glass, and Eragon grinned, picking up the plate the eggs had been on and licking it clean while staring at her defiantly.

"Eragon, please," she chided. "Use some manners."

"What?" he defended as if affronted. "This isn't good enough? I thought I'd be efficient—finish off the food and clean the plate at the same time."

Arya laughed. "You're impossible."

"This is how we always cleaned dishes on the Isle," Eragon said with affected sullenness. Then he laughed too. "You know I'm only goading you."

"Of course," Arya said lightly. "And I love you all the more for it. It's fun being married to my best friend."

"That's sweet, my love. Do you really think of me as your best friend?"

"How else would I think of you?"

"Well, I already know you consider me the handsomest man of your acquaintance and the wisest, noblest, kindest, bravest being in existence. And the most fantastic lover in the world . . ." Arya rolled her eyes, and he chuckled. "That's not quite it, is it?"

"No, that's exactly right, and I could add to your list, but I wouldn't want you to float away in your inflated state. Do you not think of me as your friend?"

Eragon scoffed. "Don't be silly, Arya. There's no question you're the closest friend I've ever had. My feelings simply started out more as infatuation, and the friendship came after, when I realized the romance wouldn't happen when or how I hoped, if ever. And after the friendship developed, the love only grew stronger, at least on my end of the equation. I've never admired anyone as much as I do you, Arya, nor have I ever enjoyed someone's company as much. I agree. It's wonderful being married to my best friend." He reached out, taking her hand and smiling. "But you are the most fantastic lover in the world, just so there's no confusion."

"There never was in my mind," Arya said mildly.

Eragon laughed again. "Good. Speaking of best friends, how do you suppose Willow and Varhog are doing? Though we've known each other longer, their friendship actually had more time to develop and deepen while the two in question were constantly together."

Arya's brow creased in worry. "I've actually been concerned about them," she confessed. "Late last night Sunset touched my mind, absolutely distraught over whatever was going on with Willow. She couldn't reach Willow, and Black Thunder couldn't reach Varhog, but both of their Riders were experiencing some kind of emotional upheaval and not only in a positive sense. Sunset said after the anticipated pleasure, Willow was in excruciating pain followed closely by the most powerful emotional devastation Sunset had ever felt from her, even after her father died. She was so worried she told me—apologetically, of course—but I don't know what I should do, if anything."

"That's troubling," Eragon said. "Perhaps you could try reaching Sunset now to see if things have improved at all."

"Good idea," Arya said. "I will right now." She was silent as she searched with her mind for Willow's dragon then mentally conversed with her for a moment. When Arya spoke again, it was with a look of noticeable relief on her face. "Sunset said that Willow is doing amazingly now and she has never felt her so happy. Varhog too. They're resting." Arya smiled. "That was easy. Thank you, darling. That put my mind at ease on the matter."

"My pleasure," Eragon murmured, looking up as a knock sounded on their door. He stood and crossed to open it. "Murtagh," he greeted. "Your Majesty. To what do we owe this honor?" He stepped aside to allow the newcomers to enter.

"We hoped you would have some lunch left," Murtagh joked.

Eragon grinned. "Lunch? We just finished breakfast. It was an . . . interesting night. Don't you think? Or maybe we only noticed with our elven hearing."

Murtagh and Nasuada laughed. "Oh no, brother," Murtagh said. "We most certainly noticed. One would have to be deaf to miss the amazing symphony that graced our ears all night. How did they keep at it so long? We'll have to consult with Varhog. Though maybe we shouldn't, at least not with our wives present. They might come to regret their decision to marry simple humans and begin to think Willow was the one with the right idea."

Nasuada shook her head firmly. "Wrong, my dear. I would guess the female Urgals also have some advantages that allow them to keep up with their tireless rams. I can only imagine getting exhausted if we attempted to copy them. Although we did do our best last night, didn't we?"

Murtagh cleared his throat and colored, at which Nasuada smiled in amusement. "This place is having a good effect on you, dear," he dryly commented.

"Most assuredly," Nasuada agreed. "I promised you our honeymoon wouldn't end after that first day, and I have been true to my word. We have unwittingly found ourselves in the one location where honeymoons seem never to end, no matter how many years a couple has been married or how long they have been intimately engaged in a given night. It's perfect! Who needs an exotic getaway when there are Urgralgra villages spread across the land?"

Murtagh wrapped his arms around her. "Who indeed?" he said wryly. "But we've come for another reason," he continued. "Grintuk just scryed me and said he had some important news, but he wanted us to be together first. He explained he hadn't wanted to interrupt you when there was a chance he might catch you otherwise occupied, but when he learned I got married less than a week ago, he was most apologetic." Murtagh snickered. "You really started something, brother. How glad I am you did. Now the other Riders will be more anxious than ever to join our ranks as happily married men."

"Did we ever tell you that the egg for the elves hatched for a female?" Arya asked. "We found out the first day of your honeymoon, when no one would have dared come searching for you."

"No, I hadn't heard," Murtagh replied. "Well, there you have it. Perfect opportunity for Hanin. Did you get to meet her?"

"Yes, and she was impossibly gorgeous. Hanin already appeared to be smitten with her. Both Willow and I noticed it."

Murtagh smiled dryly. "Next will be Grintuk, just wait. Or Knilf. Which is as it should be, if you ask me. No one should wait around to get married. Not when being married is easily the best thing in the world." He kissed the top of Nasuada's head.

"I couldn't agree more," Arya said fervently. "Eragon and I were just discussing that."

"I'm sure Willow and Varhog agree," Murtagh said with a sly wink.

"I hope so," Arya said. "Sunset was beside herself with worry last night after some unexpected emotions from Willow, but all appears to be well now."

"Ah," Murtagh said carefully. "I hope you're right. Varhog is impossibly strong. I suppose there could have been some accident."

"That's what I thought too," Arya admitted.

"Well, shall we hear what Grintuk has to say?" Eragon said.

"Certainly," Murtagh said. "I've been curious. Nothing seems to unsettle Grintuk, but he was definitely worried about something."

"Really? Let's not delay then. Let me get the larger mirror from the washroom so we can see him better."

Eragon quickly retrieved the mirror, set it up on the table, and cast the spell. Grintuk was waiting at the mirror in the Great Hall on the Isle.

"Firesword," Grintuk greeted. "Thank you for getting right back to me. I've been anxiously waiting all day for what I hoped would be an appropriate time where you are."

"That was considerate, Grintuk," Eragon replied. "We just experienced our first night in an Urgralgra village and we got to sleep a bit late. I'm sure you understand."

The Kull chortled. "Indeed I do. There's nothing like an Urgal village at night. They're all the same. Our hot blood doesn't only express itself in a propensity for violence."

"Our observations precisely," Eragon agreed. "So Murtagh said you have some news you seemed uneasy about. Enlighten us, my friend."

Grintuk prefaced his news with the same explanation he had given Blödhgarm the night before, about him and Varhog in the Cave of the Eldunarí and the strange message from the mysterious Eldunarí. "Blödhgarm met me to see if he could help me figure out which dragon had addressed me. And he immediately recognized the dragon's voice as that of Jarnunvösk, Galbatorix's first dragon, who, as everyone knows, was killed by Urgals. It just so happens King Kulkarvek is the Urgal responsible for the dragon's death, and he also somehow kept her captive as an Eldunarí for many years after." Grintuk paused.

The others were dumbstruck. "But that means this king would have to be well over a hundred years old," Nasuada breathed. "How is that possible?"

"He is a spellcaster," Grintuk said. "No one really knows how strong he is with magic, but he's obviously strong enough to subject an Eldunarí to his will, as Galbatorix did. But even then, no other Urgralgra magician has achieved immortality through his abilities, as the elves have. And the Eldunarí is no longer in his possession, which has undoubtedly weakened his skill. I'm aware that this knowledge raises far more questions than it answers, but I thought it prudent to warn you, since you intended to visit Carvahall. That's one of the closest human villages to Anghelm, and the presence of so many dragons that close to the king might spell trouble."

"Thank you, Grintuk," Eragon said earnestly. "We greatly appreciate this information. In fact, Her Majesty Nasuada—you know, Murtagh's new wife—hoped to discuss the matter here with Varhog's uncle, Nar Garzhvog, during our visit in the village."

"Why are you in Varhog's village?" Grintuk curiously questioned. "All of you, no less? Does it have something to do with Willow and Varhog?"

"Indeed," Eragon said. "Though perhaps it's best if we let you hear it from them. We'll discuss this matter with Nar Garzhvog and scry you again within a week or so to let you know of our further plans. You didn't happen to ask the other Eldunarí about this situation, did you? They were the first ones to warn me of Kulkarvek."

"I did today after feeling rather foolish I'd never thought to before," Grintuk sheepishly admitted. "But it wasn't very helpful. Most of the ones who were stashed away on Vroengard are with you all there. Of those who remain here, most were enslaved by Galbatorix, and none knew why Kulkarvek was such a grave threat or how it came to be that he killed Galbatorix's first dragon."

"Then we'll have to ask Umaroth what he meant when he warned Murtagh to avoid Kulkarvek's lair," Eragon said. "When I first began learning of Eldunarí from Oromis and Glaedr, they told me young Riders were not traditionally taught about the heart of hearts until later in their training, so as to protect the dragons and discourage premature disgorging of the structure. Perhaps Galbatorix had not yet learned of these structures when Jarnunvösk died. When he subsequently did, he may have hoped Jarnunvösk fled into her heart of hearts before dying. I can imagine that if he suspected it existed, he would have searched for her Eldunarí at the location of her death, to ease the pain of losing her. And my father's account of her death implied that she died somewhere far to the north, which may coincide with the location of Anghelm." He paused thoughtfully before changing the subject by asking, "How are the others doing?"

"Fine," Grintuk said. "Tomath's having a splendid time with the dwarves. I try to stay out of their way, though Tomath always wants to practice wrestling with me. He knows he can learn to be a formidable fighter, like Willow has, if he practices enough. It's funny though. He's so small next to me, but he's as determined as anything. We all miss Willow the most. Nothing is as organized without her overseeing everything in the kitchen and meting out assignments. Nor have our meals been as good without her and Varhog always cooking. I might go just as crazy wondering what you're keeping from me as I did worrying over this Eldunarí."

Eragon laughed. "Why don't you and Kuldr make a circuit to the neighboring islands and ensure the wild dragons are doing well? I'd feel better about sending you two than anyone else, since you're the biggest and strongest Rider and dragon left on the Isle. Mating season is getting ready to start and we need to remind them to be careful with the resources so as not to deplete the prey populations too much."

"Gladly," Grintuk agreed. "That will help me keep my mind off things. Nothing like landing among dozens of wild dragons to keep one on their toes. Well, it's getting late and I haven't been sleeping well, so I'm going to go. I'll probably be gone about ten days, but the others will be here if you want to scry sooner. Good night, Firesword. And you others."

They all murmured their good nights, and Eragon ended his spell.

Nasuada said, "We found out on our way here that Nar Garzhvog left early this morning on some business as war chief. He won't return for several days, so we'll necessarily have to postpone this discussion until then."

"Very well," Eragon said. "This Kulkarvek becomes more troublesome and mysterious by the minute. I hope we get to the bottom of it, and quickly. I don't want anyone to come to harm, but it almost sounds like we Dragon Riders are most at risk of an attack."

-:-:-:-

A/N: The following chapter contains more discussion and/or description of mature love. Willow and Varhog are on their honeymoon, so I guess it's not really that surprising, but I wanted to warn you just the same, so you can skip it if you want.