Chapter 17- I get told off by a person who could kill me with any weapon possible (though I definitely wasn't going to ask whether she had them all in her 'workshop')
The next day Saphira was out hunting, Eragon was fishing with the excuse that 'we need meat', Arya looked rather disgusted at that and stalked away to, presumably, climb a tree and sulk. That just left me standing in the clearing wondering how everyone had just disappeared.
I decided to do something constructive and explore Ellesmera further. My temporary home was the nicest I had ever seen not to mention lived in. Set in a huge fully in bloom cherry blossom tree, well all the trees were fully blossomed except the tiny saplings that the current elf children in Ellesmera Alanna and Dusan had planted before but this one seemed even better than the rest, it rocked me to sleep each night and provided anything I needed straight away. Arya had offered for me to stay in Tialdari hall but I refused, preferring to stay in what the normal elves lived in. I soon discovered I had made the right decision when she showed me my new accommodation. As I wandered from tree to tree I marvelled at the elves and what they were doing. Some were petting wolves and other wild animals, some were practising magic and some were making things or fishing for fun (of course they wouldn't actually eat them; all elves are vegetarians.)
Eventually I came across a cavern. Now this wasn't particularly unusual in Ellesmera but this one was smoking. I peered cautiously inside. The sight that met my eyes was extraordinary.
All around me were unfinished swords, bows and arrows, spears, axes and some sort of two-bladed sword, a dwarven huthvir I remembered. On a shelf in the far corner were brilliantly polished swords, armour and another huthvir. I walked over and picked up a sword, as if in a trance, my eyes wide and bright. However when I weighed it in my hands it felt odd. As if it belonged to someone else and it was waiting for them. "This is rubbishly balanced," I said, thinking aloud.
"Oh, you think so," said a voice behind me punctuated with a small growl. I spun around to see Rhunon, the elven smith, and Maud, a werecat.
"That blade feels unbalanced doesn't it?" she said knowingly. I nodded bemused. "That's because most of the swords I make are destined for one specific person. It will only feel right and can only be used right by that person." I looked down at the sword in my hands in wonder. "It's like it has its own feelings," I muttered.
"Indeed yes," said Rhunon bending her head, which hair was tightly coiled into a black though streaked with grey bun. Her face was deeply wrinkled and her eyebrows were thick and stormy.
Elves can choose to look like anything they want for their greatest secret is their vanity; however Rhunon obviously had more important things to do with her time than waste it on the petty little favours of her great race.
The werecat, Maud, was a small vaguely human looking thing with messy black hair, black eyes and long pointed teeth. Werecats have the ability to take whatever form they like; some may call them shape-shifters. She grinned at me from her perch on the windowsill when she saw me staring and said mischievously, "I'm a werecat; you ever seen one?" I shook my head because I hadn't actually seen one and it would sound very strange if I said that I'd read about you from the past in a book on earth.
Rhunon cocked her head to the side studying me with intense grey eyes; I felt slightly uncomfortable. "You," she said bluntly pointing at me. "You're different; something about you is special."
"Um, thanks," I said still uncomfortably squirming under her reproachful gaze. I knew she had a grudge against Riders but what had that got to do with me? This was answered a few moments later when she said, "I know I swore never to do this again but I'm going to make you a Rider's sword." I was stunned.
"Well I'm grateful and all but can I ask why?"
"I have a feeling you're going to need it."
"You think I'm going to be a Rider?" I asked incredulously, eyebrows raised.
"Something like that," she replied with a mysterious glint in her eye. Well, she kind of answered the question. "Besides I already kind of broke my oath by making Eragon a sword."
"Eragon made that sword."
"Oh, that's what he told you is it."
"No I re-" I stopped myself quickly and said instead, "Yes he told me that." I resolved to tell him later I'd just landed him in trouble with one of the oldest elves in Alagaesia.
"Thought so. So do you want a sword making or not?"
"Yes but…"
"Great, then let's get started."
I spent the next seven hours cutting, sorting, melting (probably burning), bending, moulding, stoking, showing Rhunon how I wanted it and at last going to sleep in a queer hexagonally shaped room. The last thing I remembered before I slept was, "Prophecies..."
I woke up to the sound of a stone grating across a blade, refining, sharpening… Finishing! I tore down the spiral steps that I had so sluggishly climbed to the strange room the night before.
As I reached the bottom the grinding noise stopped and I burst into the forgery. Rhunon made a grunting noise and gestured for me to sit on one of the low chairs.
As she drew the blade from an ordinary wooden scabbard I gasped in delight. The top of the blade was a deep dark green like the bottommost leaves on the trees in the night and it gradually got lighter until the very tip of it was a rich light green. In the middle delicate gold patterns twirled across the blade. It was straight, five and a half centimetres width at the base, one and a half hands long altogether and gently tapered to a fine point at the end; perfect for long hard battles and gentle social events. The beech wood pommel was, big enough to hold with one hand or two I noted with pleasure, wrapped in dark brown leather and had a large emerald set into it with delicate strips of metal that when I probed with my mind found was nearly brimming with energy. It was like a light extension of my arm as I picked it up carefully. Spinning quickly I sliced in half a metal chair and grinned. Then I said "Oops."
Rhunon just shook her head.
I looked back to my perfect sword.
"Thank you!" I choked out grasping the hilt, which I found fitted my hand perfectly.
"Now you need to name it; every great sword needs a name," said Rhunon looking upon her work fondly.
"What do I name it?" I asked bewildered.
"Whatever feels right," said Rhunon walking away.
'Hmm,' I thought. 'What about something to do with green? Umm. Emeraldblade? Leaflover? Eco-sword? No those sound too- human. What about something to do with the great deeds I will accomplish with it- hopefully. Kill-a-king? Too forward. Sword-of-great-deeds? Too long.'
I sighed and cast my glance around. Everywhere there was elves and evidence of their magic. They were walking through trees looking curiously at me. Talking to animals. Using magic.
'Magic. What about magic?' I thought but then. 'No not quite right- its too plain. Then how about…'
"Rhunon-elda?" I called. "I have decided."
"And what is it to be then O Great Child."
"Vanyali," I proclaimed.
Suddenly the sword started to glow and sparkle and feed me with energy. I felt ready to do a spell.
Rhunon clapped. "Well, well. Looks like you too have found the true name of your sword."
"Just like Eragon," I murmured.
"Exactly." She hovered her hand over the base of the blade and closed her eyes for a second. When she opened them the elvish glyph for magic appeared carved into my sword on both sides.
Then Rhunon produced and flourished a sparkling earthy green scabbard with another emerald embedded by the top and my own green whetstone.
"Don't lose that, there will be a time where you will have great need of it and then…" she warned.
"Ill have to go," I said sadly. Far away a bird preened its feathers mournfully. I thanked her and left for the meadow where I was staying. Looking back I saw Rhunon looking at me from out of the little window again.
"This child may have only seen twelve springs but she is wise in her own way," thought Rhunon stroking a stray bit of wire on her bench.
At the same time that I thought, "Great; more predictions and riddles," whilst groaning. I left on that thought to show everyone…