AN: We're going off-canon with this one. No more than before, as you already know, Katharean comes from a place that doesn't exist on Paolini's map of Alagaesia. I'm just going into more detail with it. If you can see past the blasphemy of going off-map, I promise it'll be worth it. Probably. Also, I apologise if Oromis and Arya seem a little out of character, it's been ages since I read the books...I'll just put it down to creative liberties, what with this being fanfiction and all...
It's a wretched feeling, coming round from unconsciousness. It's not quite the same as waking up from sleep, it's a slower, far more uncomfortable process. I gradually became aware of a tight, throbbing knot at the base of my neck and a dull pain aching behind my still-closed eyes. I focused on my breathing, trying to force away the feeling of nausea that swept over me in waves, and my eyelids fluttered slightly when I heard Eragon's voice.
"...but this time was different. She was in pain...she was screaming...and she said something, just before she went limp in my arms." He was saying, in hushed and fearful tones.
"I see." I vaguely recognised the quiet, gentle voice of Oromis, somewhere to my left. "Do you remember what she said?"
"Yes." Eragon replied, hesitantly. I heard him shift and fidget, as though nervous. "She said...adurna hljohdr."
I did? I thought, surprised. I struggled to remember. Slowly, pieces of the vision that had gripped me returned, bit by wretched bit. Peasants stumbled out of their homes, gagging and falling to the ground, crying out for help; soldiers bearing the twisted flame of Galbatorix strolled past the poor, dying people, their faces expressionless, empty, uncaring; mothers wailed as they held their children swaddled in their arms...the children were still...so very still...I shuddered despite the warm air and forced myself to remember. Beautiful women and handsome men danced and swirled around each other in a golden hall, their faces obscured by jewel-adorned masks; and finally, a cold pool of still, black water, whispering darkly to me. Adurna hljohdr...they thirst and fall. The images were fleeting, broken and unrelated...and yet something inexplicable told me that they were all connected somehow. Adurna hljohdr...Silent Water? The pain behind my eyes intensified slightly as I struggled to put the pieces together.
Katharean. Obsidian's relief washed over me in waves as he registered my conscious thoughts. You are awake. Are you okay?
I've been better. I admitted. But I'm okay.
What do you remember? Was it Murtagh again?
Surprisingly enough...no, it wasn't. I replied, frowning slightly in confusion at this revelation. It was...well, it would be far easier just to show you...
I shared all I could remember with him, and he took it in, silently.
Well? What do you think? I asked, eagerly.
I think, he said, that you should open your eyes and ask Master Oromis. If anybody will know what to make of this, he will.
My eyelids fluttered open, and I saw that someone, most likely Eragon, had carried me back to my bed. He stood now with his back to me at the foot of the bed, arms crossed and shifting agitatedly. Oromis was beside him, and he nodded in way of greeting when I met his gaze. I wondered if he had known that I was awake before my eyes had opened...it would not have surprised me. Eragon noticed his gesture and spun towards me. I smiled, weakly, and he was by my side in an instant, taking one of my hands in both of his.
"Kate, you're awake. Thank the maker." He breathed, his voice filled with all the concern I had come to expect from him.
"So it would seem." I replied with a small smile as I sat up, perching myself against the pillows at my back. "Master Oromis," I greeted, nodding courteously. "I fear I have interrupted your lesson plan for the day." I joked, feebly.
The old elf smiled, politely.
"In light of recent revelations, I should say that my lesson plan for you is going to be quite different from Eragon's." He replied, softly. "After all, it is not every day that one happens upon a Dragon Rider with the ability to See."
"Ability?" I asked, with a wry smile. "I had thought of it more as an affliction."
"Perhaps." He replied, thoughtfully. "Many of the gifted feel the same way to begin with. But this is an ability and, as such, you can learn to control it, and use it to your advantage...in time."
"Well...that is a relief." I said, doubtfully. I had no question that he spoke the truth, but I feared that I was a long way from even understanding what was happening to me, let alone mastering it.
"Kate..." Eragon said in a hushed tone that reminded me forcibly of the way one would speak to the grievously ill. "Before you fell unconscious, you said something. Do you remember what it was?"
"I am not dying, Eragon, nor am I simple. You do not have to speak to me like you would a sick grandparent." I grinned, and he allowed himself a small smile, but it did nothing to make his face appear less grave. "But, as a matter of fact, yes. I do remember. Parts of it, anyway. There were villagers...just regular people. They were dying. And not just the old and the sick, but everyone: men, women, children...they were dying in the streets. And the King's soldiers were there, but they were doing nothing to help. They were just walking past them, barely even looking at them. What kind of men...?" I shook my head, continuing. "And then the vision changed, and I saw people dancing at a masquerade ball. I can't be sure, but it looked like the Great Hall in Galbatorix's castle...not Uru'baen, but the palace to the north-east of here, the one that over-looks my father's lands. I've been there a few times, for parties and galas...I'm almost certain that it is the same place I saw in my vision. Actually...now that I think about it...the village that I saw could very well have been the village of Kitschley, a stone's throw from my father's manor..." I rubbed my temples, trying to soothe the pounding in my head. "This is all just theory, mind you. The two could be completely unrelated. For all I know, what I saw isn't even real."
"Do you truly believe that?" Eragon asked, regarding me with hopeful eyes. I sighed, shaking my head.
"No. I believe...I mean, it felt real." I replied, apologetically.
"Right...well...what does it mean? And what does all of this have to do with silent water?" He asked, echoing the questions that I was asking myself. I shook my head, hopelessly.
"I don't know." I admitted, turning my attention to Oromis. "I was hoping you could help to shed some light, Oromis-elda. There was one last thing that I saw...a pool of water. It was in darkness. I was looking down at it, as if through the opening of a well...I think...I'm not sure. But there was something ominous about it. It felt...tainted." I finished, sounding as unsure of myself as I felt.
"Silent water...they thirst and fall." Eragon reiterated, nodding understandingly. "Someone has done something to the water in the village. Poisoned it, maybe?"
Oromis strode slowly to the foot of my bed, stroking his long white beard pensively.
"If the ballroom that you saw is indeed the Great Hall in Galbatorix's northern palace, then we can make an educated guess that he will be there when this masquerade ball is taking place."
"Yes...but what does the ball have to do with anything?" Eragon asked, looking between the two of us."
"Oh, no..." I sighed, closing my eyes as I remembered something from my old life. "The water."
"What?" Eragon demanded. I shook my head.
"The water that runs to all of the wells in the village comes from a reservoir underneath the palace. One summer when I was younger, there was a drought in the lands. I heard my father and step-mother arguing: the King was regulating the water to the village wells, allowing only a trickle of dirty water to run out of the reservoir every day; not even enough to be caught in a bucket, let alone fill one. My step-mother was outraged...my father defended his King, as always. And why not? He supplied our household with more than enough water for all of us." I shook my head bitterly at the memory. "At night, my sister and I would sneak out of the house with as many water-bladders as we could carry and take them down to the village. One night, my father caught us, told us it was treason, forbade us from doing it again. He even stationed guards outside of our bed-chambers. I never found out how many of the villagers died that summer. There was nothing more I could do back then, I was barely more than a child...but I can do something now." I tossed the bed-covers to the side and pushed myself shakily to my feet, but Eragon rounded on me.
"What exactly do you plan to do, Katharean?" He demanded, sternly. It sounded strange, almost foreign, to hear him use my full name. "If this is true, bearing in mind that we are relying solely on speculation and information gleaned from one of your visions, what do you think you can do to stop it?"
"I'll think of something." I insisted, ignoring Obsidian's doubtful thoughts. "I have to try."
"Really?" He asked, in a mocking tone that I did not appreciate. "Well, let us look at what we know...or what we think we know. Galbatorix has poisoned the water in his reservoir, underneath his palace, which will undoubtedly be crawling with his guards, not to mention Galbatorix himself and quite possibly Murtagh. Even if you did manage to infiltrate the castle..."
Unlikely. Obsidian muttered.
"...and find the reservoir, what could you possibly do to stop him? If he has already poisoned the waters then it is too late, and if he has not...do you intend to fight off all of his men, Murtagh and the king himself to stop them from going ahead with it?"
"Well, if I cannot stop him from poisoning the water, then there must be something else I can do. Warn the villagers, supply them with clean water...I have to do something, Eragon. Master Oromis..." I turned to the old sage, pleadingly. "I cannot stand by while innocent people suffer when there is a chance I can do something...anything to help them."
Eragon glanced round at the ancient Rider, looking for his support.
"Katharean..." Oromis said, softly. "Your sentiment is a noble one. But if you were to go to the village of Kitschley when the king is so close-by...the risk is too great. If you and Eragon are lost to reckless heroics, Alagaesia loses it's only hope of overthrowing the tyranny of Galbatorix."
"And if we do nothing those people will die!" I fumed, striding past Eragon towards him. "What is the point of fighting the king on the battlefield if we are to lose Alagaesia and it's people to him through his treachery? I mean...isn't this what we're fighting for? If we do nothing to stop him now then we lose anyway. Don't you think that there is a reason I'm Seeing these things? To stop them from coming to pass?"
Oromis said nothing, and his expression was unreadable. I whipped my head around to look at Eragon, who shot me a defiant glare. Neither of them said anything, and I could tell from the way Eragon's jaw flexed angrily that he was deep in conversation with Saphira who, I knew, was so utterly over-protective of her Rider that she would be in complete agreement with him.
"You will need help." A soft but strong voice called from the open doorway. I looked around to see Arya, leaning casually against the wall of the tree-house. I raised my eyebrows, stunned by her words as well as her presence. "Or were you planning on strolling into the belly of the beast alone?"
"Arya...how long have you been standing there?" Eragon demanded, but his voice was soft.
"A while. Long enough to know that Katharean is right. We cannot stand by while Galbatorix inflicts pain and suffering on those who cannot protect themselves."
Eragon raised his hands to his temples, glaring at us both in disbelief. He took a deep, steadying breath, and closed his eyes, as though trying to contain his temper.
"Listen," He said, slowly, as though trying to explain something complex to a small child, "Kate, I know you feel like you have to do this. I know how you feel, I am as angry and outraged by this as you are. I would love to go swooping in to save the day. But this is not a fairy tale, this is reality. And the reality is that we are at war. Sometimes, sacrifices must be made. It is not an easy truth, but sometimes you have to think about the greater good."
"You sound like a man who has been at war too long, Shadeslayer." I replied, quietly, narrowing my eyes. "You have lost sight of the very thing you are fighting for."
He laughed, mirthlessly, shaking his head.
"Oh, grow up, Kate!" He stormed, angrily, and I heard Obsidian's unmistakable growl from somewhere outside of the tree-house in protest at his insolent tone. "I know exactly what it is that I am fighting for! I am not the one who would risk everything and everyone I care about for the affections of a man who is rotten to his very core! While you have been napping for the last year, I have been out there, fighting the enemy that you are oh so madly in love with! You may be proficient with a blade now, Lady Athem, but you are just the same girl you always have been. The wealthy daughter of a wealthy man who knows nothing of the hardships you are so quick to complain about. Do you even know what the people say about you? Do you know that there are men in the Varden who have been hurt directly by the actions of your father who refuse to follow you into battle? Because you know what they say...the acorn never falls far from the tree." He spat, viciously, as though the words were poison in his mouth.
The silence that followed his tirade was deafening. His words stung me, and I felt hot tears prick my eyes. I blinked, fervently, determined not to show how much he had hurt me.
How dare he?! Obsidian raged. How dare he speak to you like that?
Obsidian, please don't. I begged. His anger was only making it harder for me to stay in control of my own emotions. I glanced at Arya and Oromis, who were both regarding Eragon with similar expressions of disapproval.
"I may be a rich man's daughter." I said, quietly, my voice thick with the tears that threatened to fall at any moment. "And yes...I know what people say about me behind my back. I have heard the whispers of the Varden...what does a spoiled little rich girl know of their struggles? How can they trust the daughter of one of Galbatorix's most renowned supporters? I have heard what the people say about me, Eragon." I walked towards him, slowly, and I saw the regret in his eyes but he clenched his jaw, standing his ground. "I just never...ever thought that you would be one of them."
"Enough." Oromis commanded, quietly. "If you are to stand a chance of stopping Galbatorix and...and saving that village," I looked round at him in surprise, and he smiled, grimly. "Then you first need to learn how to stay in control of your emotions and work together."
"With all due respect, Master Oromis..." Eragon started to protest, but the old elf raised his hand for silence.
"Eragon, Katharean is right. I stand by what I said...we cannot lose either of you to reckless heroics. However, with a carefully thought out plan and Arya's help, we can reduce the risk considerably."
Eragon uttered a curse under his breath, but did not argue.
"Fine." He muttered, reluctantly. "Do you have a plan in mind, Oromis-elda?"
"I have a way to neutralise the poison in the waters."
"Without knowing what poison we are dealing with?" I asked, hopefully.
"Yes. I will need some time, of course, but I can create a tincture that, once added to the waters, will ensure that it is safe to drink."
"How long?" I asked, in a business-like tone.
"An hour...two at most." He replied, and I felt a pang of hope for the first time in as long as I cared to remember.
"That is all well and good, but how do you propose we reach the reservoir in order to administer the potion?" Eragon asked, his voice laced with impertinent doubt.
"I have an idea." I ventured, and everyone looked at me, curiously. I smiled, confidently. "The masquerade ball. It's time to look out our glad-rags, friends...we're going to a party."
AN: Next chapter's up shortly, I didn't want to over-load you with information all at the one time, but I hope I've given you a decent enough explanation of what's going on. I'm actually excited about this. Are you excited? I'm excited. I should probably go to sleep cause I have to go do a job and stuff in the morning (hate being a grown-up) but I can't stop writing now.
Please review! I will be forever grateful, as always ^_^