Eragon was about to reply when Umaroth spoke to all four of them forcefully within their minds.
"You have done your part for the elves, child," he said. "You have reopened the forests, the markets thrive, and your people are no longer barren. Elves now have the fruits from your labors. You need not be there every step of the way. You must not! The power of a rider should never have been coupled with that of a ruler in the first place." He said with some venom behind his words. "We learned this with Galbatorix. While I understand your desire to serve your people in your mother's stead, it was misguided to take the throne. You have indeed already created an unbalance of power among the races. Furthermore, Firnen was meant to live among dragons. Had Queen Islandzadi known of your dragons hatching, she would never have allowed this."
Arya was quick to defend her choices.
"Had she known of his hatching," Arya said, "she would yet live, and this conversation would be irrelevant as she would still be Queen."
"Peace young one. I do not fault you for your choices then as your intent was pure. I would remind you though that you are a rider, and you have yet to complete your training to become a rider in full," he continued. "Your duty to the elves is finished. Your destiny lies outside of Du Weldenvarden. It lies with those you love and who love you. It lies with Firnen and the dragons in the East."
Arya began to argue that she couldn't simply leave her people to chase her own desires when Umaroths voice boomed again.
"And what of Eragon and Saphira? They have sacrificed much, and your choices affect them as well as the fate of the next dragons and riders. Have you not spent most of your life pining for dragons?"
"It is not that simple," Arya tried, clearly unsure how to argue with the most famed dragon of old.
"Then I shall make it so," Umaroth's voice boomed loud and unyielding. "Firnen's fate is already woven with Saphira's! We dragons felt the beginnings of life form within Saphira last night, and it would not do to keep a mated pair thousands of miles apart with hatchlings on the way."
With that, and no room for argument, he withdrew from their minds, leaving them reeling from his statements.
"Saphira?" Eragon looked to her for confirmation.
"Yes Eragon. We are to be parents!" Saphira said proudly. "Firnen and I spoke with Unaroth after Angela very nearly told you herself. Both Firnen and I have tried reasoning with you and Arya to no avail. I thought maybe if it came from Vrael's dragon the news and understanding of what must now be done would be better received." She directed her last sentence towards Arya more than Eragon.
"How many?" He asked, grinning from ear to ear.
"Two," she replied, her apparent fondness for her yet-born offspring already evident in her tone.
Arya was having a similar conversation with Firnen. She looked thrilled about the eggs, but she also looked conflicted as she tried to sort out what to do with everything.
It was already past midday now, and Eragon could sense they wouldn't solve this particular problem now.
"Alright, let's get going," Eragon said. "The Games are starting tomorrow, and I think we could both use a little sparring session to work off some of this stress before they start. Let's see if you can best me still!"
She nodded, but she seemed lost in thought. Arya readied herself and they saddled their respective dragons. When they arrived at the old sparring ground, Arya and Eragon got their first look at the stadium that had been built around it.
"It's absolutely massive." Eragon thought to Arya. "You could fit almost five Saphiras in there!" Arya smiled at his form of measurement. "Pretty soon there may be multiple little Saphiras," she thought warmly.