They both shared a final private look before making their way to the kitchens.
After devouring two massive bowls of vegetable stew, a rather large orange, and two apples, the pair was finally sated. Nar Garzhvog and a myriad of urgal competitors had arrived the hour before, and Eragon was pleased he was able to greet him before the Games began. It had been a long time since anyone had called him Firesword.
"I should call a meeting." Arya thought to Eragon as they lingered at their table. "There is much to be discussed concerning my succession."
"Aye," Eragon thought back. "It can wait until the Games are over though. You can speak on your succession then."
Arya sighed. "Very well, but they will wish to speak sooner rather than later after word of our pairing spreads."
Eragon nodded. "It does upset the balance of things doesn't it?" Eragon thought. "The both of us on the same side?"
"Yes," she thought back. "Together we are a threat. However, the problem has been solved already with me stepping down, so let us not agonize over it. Tis only a matter of informing the others of our intent."
He didn't let her know exactly what he thought of that just now. In some ways, her acceptance had caused even more problems for him. He wasn't really prepared for her to step down so soon despite it being his deepest wish.
Eragon still couldn't believe she had agreed so quickly.
"Quickly?" she thought, thankfully catching only the last bit of his thoughts before he remembered she was still present in his mind. "While fifteen years is admittedly a blink of an eye to an elf, I would not categorize my actions as quick Eragon."
He laughed then, recognizing the teasing tone she had adopted.
"Fair," Eragon thought. "It was truly not quick, but it will appear so to others nonetheless. I was merely astonished that it took little convincing. Perhaps I should have asked Umaroth to speak to you long ago."
"I'm not sure I would have been ready to step down before now, regardless of who asked it of me," Arya thought to him.
"Perhaps we both needed that time," Eragon thought. "Who would you want to succeed you?"
She responded within a second.
"Dathedr," she thought. "He is the only one i trust with the Knotted Throne, but I need to speak with him before informing the Elven Lords of my decsion."
"Go," he said simply, seeing from her mind it was something she wanted done now. "Saphira and Firnen are... busy," Eragon thought wryly. "We can greet Haroldun and Dorzada at dinner tonight, but I may go find Vanir for another sparring match. I'm feeling unusually energized today," he said with a smirk.
She kissed him swiftly on the cheek and went back towards the loft to scry Dathedr.
Eragon decided to make his way through the markets of Tronjheim, delighting in the sight of humans and dwarves showing off their weapons, elves flitting about merrily, and urgals telling war stories to any who listened. There was still a general sense of grouping among the races, but many spoke with those outside their own with ease; a telltale sign that things had indeed changed for the better since the War of Unity. This was his first moment alone with his thoughts in some time, and he was ecstatic. Arya and Firnen were going to join them in Arngor!
"I can't believe it," Eragon thought to no one.
Ever since she had said yes he had fought to contain his glee, but now he needed an outlet for all this energy, so he went to search for Vanir.
He finally found his mind and gently nudged it.
"Eragon-elda?" Vanir questioned.
"Greetings Vanir-vor," Eragon said in his mind. "Do you have time to spar today?"
A wave of mirth erupted from Vanir's mind. "Are you sure Arya Drottingu has not already depleted your energy from earlier today?"
Eragon flushed but wasn't about to show his embarrassment from afar.
"If anything, the Queen's attentions have invigorated me," he thought to Vanir. "You would have been hardpressed to win before. Now though, I doubt Vrael himself could best me." Eragon asserted his claim with confidence, but his tone was in jest.
"Very well," Vanir replied. "I will meet you outside the stadium in ten minutes time. And Eragon?" "Yes?" Eragon though. "Congratulations on finally winning your mate, " Vanir quipped. Then on a more serious note, he added, "She was not the same without you."
Eragon was pleased Vanir had left the conversation there. He didn't want to get bogged down in talks of succession or the rider leadership quite yet. As Saphira had encouraged him a few days ago, Eragon had decided to enjoy his time with Arya in Alagaesia, taking a moment to simply appreciate all they had accomplished together and apart.
Eragon spent the next few minutes sitting in the grass, tuning into his surroundings and emptying his mind in preparation for another match. His consciousness widened to include the plants, then the myriad of insects and animals, until finally he was in tune with every being around him. The eldunari had instructed him for years on the practice of seeing all without seeing. He could now read streams of thought from even the most disciplined mind without them noticing his presence. From the thoughts of the warriors sparring, to the intent of a crow seeking market scraps, Eragon could read the overall tone of all the minds in his vicinity. The majority of their thoughts were pleasant, excitement for tomorrow, enjoyment of food and ale, and a general pride in their peoples. Still, some of the negative thoughts jumped out at him, especially those mentioning his name specifically. The most negative thoughts seemed to seep out of one mind in particular though.
"How could our Queen mate with a human?" the mind questioned. "She refused me and many others when we attempted to court her, but she allows Eragon to parade her over his shoulder like a common whore. It's unfitting of her station, and he makes a mockery of the Elven people with his disregard of her station and our traditions."
He took a deep breath at the strangers thoughts. If this sentiment was shared by others, they might need to address their pairing today. Or would that make matters worse? He didn't have much time to examine that train of thought though. Vanir strode towards him and plopped himself down on the grass next to Eragon.
"I assume you've heard the whispers," Vanir said.
"Aye," Eragon said. "There are many who are angry or jealous at the news."
"Tell me," Eragon began. "Who attempted to court Arya while I was away?"
Vanir whistled dramatically.
"Well, there was a long list," he said. "But the most fervent suitor was Lord Fiolr's son Manin of the House Valtharos. From what I hear though, his attempts did not go so well."
Eragon chuckled at that.
"I can relate," he joked in good humor. "Hopefully Manin's pride will be saved when he hears that she could not accept another as we have apparently been mated for almost 16 years." Vanir looked at him quizically then, waiting for him to explain.
"We shared true names after the war," Eragon said. Vanir's eyes widened. "Obviously this is not common knowledge," Eragon said quickly. "And I would not want it to become so. Still, if only Manin were to hear of it..."
Vanir nodded with understanding.
"His pride would not be wounded so," Eragon finished.
Vanir winked at him, rolled to his feet and said, "Consider it done. Now let's spar."
With that settled, Eragon accepted Vanir's hand and hoisted himself up off the ground. Sliding Brisingr out of its sheath, he warded the edges of the sword as Vanir did the same. Eragon waited for him to indicate he was ready to start.
As soon as he nodded his head, the clash of their swords rang out. Eragon deflected a swipe to his gut and paried, stepping back just out of Vanir's reach. He spun to the left and aimed a backhanded strike to his head, but Vanir's sword met Brisingr with a clang and they held each other there, testing each other's strength. Eragon slid his sword back off the tip of Vanir's and they battled for some time; each of them searching for an opening. They danced around each other, stabbing, slicing, blocking, spinning. After another ten minutes of trying to find a weakness, Eragon decided to distract him with his favorite trick.
"Brisingr," he though with wordless magic, cutting the flow of it just as fast.
As soon as the flames had appeared, they were gone, but Vanir was caught off guard by the flare of heat and light. Eragon pressed his advantage, and his deviousness paid off as he was able to hook the tip of his sword on Vanir's crossguard, disarming him and bringing Brisingr to his throat faster than he could react.
Panting, Vanir said, "You've grown swift Eragon-elda."
Eragon acknowledged his praise and the honorific humbly.
"Arngor and its inhabitants like to keep me on my toes," he said. "And what kind of teacher allows his students to best him?" Eragon asked retorically.
"It was a pleasure to spar with you, even if you did cheat," Vanir said.
"I didn't technically do anything," Eragon said with a smirk.
Vanir rolled his eyes at that. "You forget I am among the few who know the depth of your transformation," he said. "Now I must wash up. I'll see you at dinner, and I will speak with Manin before the day is through."
Eragon inclined his head in thanks.