"Did you think we'd be going back to Laehi' so soon?" Aerin asked as they sat on Glaedr's golden back, Oromis in front of them near his dragon's head.
"Not really." Aliana admitted with a laugh. "You think K'aeligh will be there?"
"His letter indicated as much. He predicted Galbatorix would fall soon and that the Shades would need to decide whether or not they fit in with this world. The very first Shade was made here, but with very dark spells and the only known way to maintain their race seems to be that same process. K'aeligh thinks because of all the spirits trapped inside his kind, no Shades can have naturally occurring children."
"Have they ever tried?"
"Not that I am aware of, but if they have it's only been with other Shades."
They are a young race. Dragons sometimes cannot have hatchlings with a mate for a hundred years or more.
"I thought it was because they looked for mates all that time."
Sometimes. Ultimately it depends on the dragon and the timing, I suppose. I saw young mated pairs have no trouble at all making eggs together while others it didn't happen right away.
Aliana thought he sounded wistful and wondered if he'd lost his mate to the war. "Are you speaking from experience, Glaedr?"
No, I never found someone to roost with. It was for the best, we lost all of our commrades during the war and the wild dragons fled Alagaësia when Galbatorix took over. Whether or not they will come back, I don't know and yet Eragon found eggs hidden away by the Riders long ago before the end of the war. One by one dragons will return because they are hatching for the Riders they were always meant to be with, so there is hope in that at least.
"Aliana would make an excellent Rider." Oromis spoke for the first time during their trip as he glanced back at her.
"I could think about that now that the kit wouldn't be used like Thorn." She admitted as her cheeks flushed. "But what are the chances an egg would hatch for me?"
I have seen your strength through Oromis's eyes, I think it impossible for none of them to want to be bonded to you. Besides, there are hundreds of eggs and one of them is bound to like you more fiercely than I.
"I agree." Aerin smiled as Aliana blushed a darker red. "You have been destined for great things ever since we met all those years ago."
"What about you?"
"I have no desire to maintain my status as Lady in Uru'baen, nor do I have any reason to return to Belatona at present, so perhaps I can remain ambassador to the Shades and get reaquainted with K'aeligh. You and I will always be friends and will see each other as often as we can, but you have a chance to find your own path and listen to your heart just as I do. And I think we need to start taking more risks, don't you?"
Aliana nodded as she remembered the conversation they'd had on the beach not long ago. "Yes, I do."
What bold women to show the way to many who may be lost in this new world. You would make a fine Rider too, Aerin. Glaedr observed as he circled over Laehi' to find a place to land.
"Thank you, Glaedr. I will certainly take that into consideration." She caught sight of K'aeligh waiting for them and her heart fluttered.
Aliana smiled as they settled on the ground and gave Aerin a nudge when she hesitated a moment. "Go get him."
Aerin dismounted and approached K'aeligh, who gave her no chance to be shy or formal as he hugged her close to him.
I assume that's the K'aeligh you two have been talking about.
"Yes, it is." Aliana smiled as she climbed down and Oromis followed suit.
"K'aeligh, this is Oromis-elda and his dragon Glaedr. You've already sort of met Aliana and... it's been a very long time since we've talked."
"Yes Aerin, far too long. I welcome you Oromis-elda and Glaedr and Aliana, it is good to have your company. There is a cove over to our left you're welcome to use when you rest, Glaedr. I wish our castle was big enough to allow you inside, but alas it is currently inadequate."
Thank you for your hospitality, the cove will be fine. I prefer to be outdoors anyways.
K'aeligh nodded. "I am glad. You're welcome to hunt anywhere along the Spine, since we cannot supply a sufficient amount of food for you off hand. The rest of you may come inside, for the little welcome feast we've been preparing is almost ready."
They followed him inside and he showed them where their rooms were before they made their way to the dinning area. It looked like more Shades had come to see their guests this time and Aliana guessed this was the first time any of them had seen an elf. She couldn't blame them for staring, Oromis's hair and eyes glinted in the candlelight and even she couldn't help but glance at him every now and then as they ate dinner in what she hoped was a discreet manner.
"Would you like to take a walk with me, Aliana?" He asked when they were finished.
"That would be nice. Doesn't look like there's much else to do since K'aeligh and Aerin already slipped away."
"I don't think anyone else noticed or if they did they decided to let them have their privacy."
Aliana's lips twitched as they got up from the table together. "Yeah, they have a lot to catch up on. Seems such a sharp contrast from last time she and I were here and she couldn't even let herself think about him. Galbatorix was pretty possessive for never marrying her, but then again that wasn't uncommon in his court."
"Really? Elves sometimes don't have an actual wedding ceremony and consider making love the binding tie for eternity. He must have taken that idea and turned it into what benefited him."
"He always did manage to take something special to someone else and twist it around. I always admired Aerin because she was able to stand up to him and that's probably why he considered her as close to his equal as anyone could be. Of course he always had more respect for those willing to say what they were thinking instead of just going along with what he said. Even so, Murtagh came to me more than once with dislocated joints, broken bones and wounds from Galbatorix's displeasure."
"That bothered you and Galbatorix knew it."
She nodded. "He wouldn't kill him since he was still useful, so he never cared when I would fix Murtagh up without being told to. I guess he figured Murtagh would turn to me because trusted me since I've been the closest thing to family he's had here in Uru'baen. Apparently healing yourself with magic isn't as easy as one might think."
Oromis chuckled softly. "It does take a certain degree of concentration to get passed the pain and to say the proper words. Some learn how to do it right away, others don't and there are a few who cannot at all. I think you would be in the first category, considering you helped me without any spells."
"You're still not fully healed, Oromis."
"Not yet, though maybe one day I can be. I was cut off from my magic so long that I was certain I'd remain unable to do anything but simple spells forever and then I met you." His eyes locked with hers with a seriousness and intensity she'd never seen from him before. "You gave me hope again, Aliana."
She swallowed the lump in her throat as her heart hammered against her chest. "Is that why Glaedr is so fond of me?"
"Bonded dragons can feel what their Rider's emotions are, so that is part of the reason. They are free to decide what they think and yet most of the time it isn't much different from their Rider. Not to say he and I haven't had our share of disagreements over the ages, but finding a middle ground makes the bond stronger."
"Makes sense since all relationships work that way." She looked out at the sunset shimmering across the ocean for a moment, then turned back to him. "I guess we should get some rest, tomorrow is probably going to be filled with lots of discussions."
He nodded and embraced her. "I agree. Sleep well, Aliana."
She was taken back by the sign of affection, but slowly returned it and touched the pressure point on his spine. She felt a surge of magic all around them and wasn't sure whether it was from close proximity to him or the fact the treatment was working. "Same to you, Oromis." She let her arms fall to her side and watched him leave with a mixture of feelings swirling around inside her.