Authors Note :
I feel as though I was not able to recount Eragon's history as well as I wanted, but I presume that those reading this have already read the book.
Have fun with this one.
*
The next morning found Harry, Daphne and Eragon sitting together in a small clearing near Oromis's dwelling after their Rimgar exercises. Their muscles still ached from the now familiar stretches and poses, but there was a shared sense of accomplishment among them. Aelindra lay curled up beside Harry, occasionally puffing small rings of smoke while Saphira lounged nearby, her scales gleaming in the early morning light. Harry felt calm at this scene and wondered how he could have ever been so lucky. Looking at Eragon, his neck felt extremely stiff, worse than he felt the days following a strenuous Quidditch match.
"So," Harry began, massaging his sore neck and shoulders, "how did you wind up here, Eragon? You said something before about killing the second most evil being in Alagaësia? A Shade is what you said."
Eragon's expression grew somber as he settled more comfortably on the grass. "It's quite a long story," he said, his eyes distant as if looking back through memories.
"We do have some time now," Daphne spoke softly from Harry's right, she appeared sincere about Eragon's journey.
Eragon nodded as he stared down. Harry noticed an exchange between him and Saphira before he began, "I suppose it began in the mountains near my village. It's called the Spine. Very dangerous, you need strong leather boots to venture there. Carvahall, as you know, my village, is nestled between these mountains. While hunting, I saw lightning strike with a very loud crack, but turns out, it wasn't lightning, it was Saphira's egg," he gestured towards her, "appearing in a large ring of fire. Yet, in that moment, I thought it was just a strange blue stone or something."
'A fortuitous accident," Saphira's voice added to the story, though she seemed to be amused with something before adding, 'yet this Stone-Head took a very long time to figure out what I was.'
"I actually tried to sell her, "Eragon admitted casting sheepish glances at Saphira, "we had no money and no meat for winter, my uncle Garrow and I. We tried the merchants, but nobody wanted it because they were so afraid that they would not be able to sell it."
'Call me IT one more time,' Saphira growled. Eragon gulped and responded, "I love you."
Chuckling, Harry leaned forward, even more intrigued, "And then what happened?"
"She hatched one night, and then a whole new world just knocked my socks off. Is that right?" Eragon continued.
"Nope," Daphne shook her head, "I will teach you more later, but good try, anyway continue."
"Right, so, Saphira hatched, I kept her hidden away, had to hide her in the forest. I was terrified of what others might try to do to her. I looked after her, hunted for her, played with her and basically made sure nobody ever saw her."
"That sounds quite difficult," Daphne said, she was thinking about Aëlindra's current growth rate, "keeping such a BIG secret." Harry smiled at that.
"It was. But then, the Ra'zac came. Galbatorix's servants. Looking for Saphira's egg. And when they couldn't locate it, there were a few fights, they murdered my uncle…" he paused to take a deep breath, pain was evident on his face, "they were terrible. Everything I knew was destroyed in an instant." He drifted off sadly.
'We fled,' Saphira continued for Eragon, 'we fled Carvahall with Brom and traversed many leagues. We saved Arya from the Shade, Durza, and eventually found our way to the Varden. In that time, we were attacked by the Ra'zac and Brom suffered a lethal wound, although we did have some help, an enemy of the empire, Murtagh, helped us."
"Brom was a Dragon Rider, he gave me my sword, unfortunately his dragon was killed during the Fall. He taught me the basics of magic, swordsmanship and many other important aspects about being a Dragon Rider. He died protecting me."
Eragon took a few deep breaths.
'He was a great man,' Saphira added solemnly. 'He gave Eragon his sword, Zar'roc, though we later learned it had once belonged to another.'
"After Brom's death, I was found by the Varden," Eragon continued. "But before I could join them, I was captured and taken to Gil'ead, where I met Arya."
'They know this, tell them about the Battle,' Saphira commented.
"I was getting there," he moaned, "anyway, Arya was the protector of Saphira's egg, she was captured by Durza, I rescued her from Gil'ead, although I was captured and taken there first as a prisoner, but after escaping Gil'ead with Arya, we rushed, along with Murtagh, to the Varden. They are based in a dwarven city called Tronjheim. In the Beor Mountains. But Durza and an army of Urgals followed us. The battle was unlike anything I had ever experienced before."
Harry and Daphne at least knew about the geography of Alagaësia.
Eragon's eyes grew distant as the battle came to the forefront of his thoughts. "The Urgals attacked us from below. They tunneled under the mountains like moles. Thousands of Durza-controlled beasts. We were outnumbered."
"Okay, but what is a shade?" Harry asked.
"A Shade is someone who was once a sorcerer, a sorcerer summons spirits to perform magic, but when evil spirits are summoned, they possess the sorcerer," Eragon explained, his voice growing tense. " Or sorceress. They are not easy to kill. Cut off it's head, it will just come back. You have to stab it through the heart...
'We both came out of it alive, but not unscathed,' Saphira added solemnly.
Eragon unconsciously touched his back. "Yes. While fighting Durza, I took his blade to my back. But with Arya and Saphira's aid, I was able to pierce his evil heart. And when he died, the Urgals were not longer being controlled so they turned on each other. Within a few minutes… most were dead."
"That's when the elves called you to come here?" Daphne asked.
"Not exactly," Eragon replied. "After the battle, we learned about the existence of another Rider in Du Weldenvarden, but we didn't know he was a rider. We were just told we needed to complete our Rider education with the elves. That's how we came to find Oromis and Glaedr."
Harry noticed how Eragon's face changed when he said Arya's name. "And Arya? She came with you?"
"Yes," Eragon said forlornly. "She… she helped convince Queen Islanzadí, to let me train here."
'Little one,' Saphira purred with amusement, 'you're blushing.'
The conversation continued as Eragon shared more details about the Varden's resistance against Galbatorix, while Harry and Daphne listened and compared his fight against their own world. Daphne's father was in silent opposition against the dark followers. Eventually, they all left to their dwellings.
-oIo-
Harry found himself watching Daphne walk ahead with Aëlindra, talking animatedly about the day's training. And yet again, he became lost in her features. The sun always caught her hair, turning it to liquid gold, and made him giddy. She turned around and looked at him with a raised eyebrow, and he knew she felt it through their bond which hummed quietly between them, warm and familiar now after weeks of training together. Kissing too…
"That last move Niduën showed me was brilliant," Daphne was saying, her eyes wide with enthusiasm. "The way she combines physical combat with magical theory - it's like nothing we learned at Hogwarts."
Harry was amazed at her knowledge. He wished he could have had the education that she had in terms of Duelling. He felt as though Dumbledore should have provided him with some more education to go up against Voldemort but now that he was here, it shouldn't matter.
"I felt useless," he grumbled as he focused on stepping on her footsteps while they walked. "I mean, I know I'm not strong, but Eragon is like twice as strong as I am?"
"Yes, he is, but he grew up as a farmer, you know that you are much faster than him, your reflexes as a Seeker give you that edge." She said.
"True," he took his holly out, "LUMOS!" He lit the area for them, they were almost at their room.
"My duel instructor would have loved to have met you." Daphne stated as they reach their door.
"Who is that?" he responded while opening the door for her.
"Auror Dawlish, he was also a dueller, but as an Auror, he didn't have enough time to continue, so my Dad hired him as our instructor, at least now, he doesn't have to consistently travel out of country for competitions."
"Wait, what? I didn't even know these things exist!" Harry suddenly imagined himself as a Duelling Champion winning a cup but then quickly decided it was not for him.
Aëlindra mentally agreed with him. She had been a constant in his mind and heart for quite some time now. Daphne had as well. They were told to practice being alone, closing themselves off from each other but it just felt empty.
'Harry,' came Daphne's voice through their bond, 'will snuggle with me tonight?' He felt arousal emanating from her.
'Yes.' He responded with confidence but mentally ignoring the fact that he noticed what she felt. Recently, they had taken to sleeping next to each other or sometimes on Aëlindra together, or under her wing. He ensured that he was always the perfect gentleman even though sometimes there were occasional accidental touches in their sleep.
He was falling in love. And he knew that she was too. But he really didn't want to mess it up. A while later, Daphne lay in Harry's arms, her electric blue eyes held onto his. She pecked his lips and whispered, "My Harry…" as she drifted off to sleep.
-oIo-
The morning was dead. It was freezing cold as Astoria walked alongside the villagers' caravan. Her wand moved constantly, lightening the heavy loads on the ox-drawn carts with careful applications of Feather-Light Charms. The animals seemed grateful, or so she believed, their pace was steadier now that their burden had been eased.
"Thank you, miss," an elderly woman said in tears as Astoria used a Repairing charm to fix the tears and fraying. The woman was definitely wary of magic as she flinched when Astoria incanted the charm, but gratitude overtook the wariness as she saw the results.
"It's nothing," Astoria replied with a gentle smile, though her heart ached at how the woman's initial flinch reminded her of Wizarding history, of the constant rift between both of their worlds. Here, at least, people appreciated the help more than anything. Astoria felt wanted. Back home, she didn't have many friends. Most Slytherin's shunned them for their family's neutral status. Her mind wandered to Daphne. Where was her sister now? Was she safe? The familiar worry had become like a heartbeat, always there but you don't pay attention to it unless you focus on it. She also tried using tracking spells, as much as she knew, but to no avail. Even her most reliable locator charms spun uselessly, unable to find any trace of her sister.
"Miss Stowi!" A child's voice pierced her thoughts. Little Sara, she looked to be about five, came running up to her and stopped shyly before asking, "Miss Stowi, Mamma said that I must ask you if you can fix my dress, pretty please?" She grinned widely showing all of her teeth.
"Of course, sweetheart." Astoria knelt down slowly, pointing her wand at the damage on the dress. "Reparo." The fabric mended itself seamlessly. Sara gasped delightedly and some of the other children nearby watched with eyes that seemed not to believe what they just witnessed.
"Can you teach us to do that?" one of the boys asked eagerly.
Astoria's smile turned bittersweet. "I'm sorry, but magic isn't something that can be taught to everyone. It's something you're born with. But, my magic only showed when I was just ten years old."
"I am eight years old! Maybe I will it too when I grow up!" he responded excitedly.
As the children dispersed, Astoria continued walking amongst the travelers. A quick Aguamenti here to fill water skins, an Impervious there to weatherproof blankets. Each spell was carefully chosen and nothing too flashy or frightening, nothing that might rekindled the fear the villagers had of her when she first landed here. She laughed inwardly at her own pun.
Stopping by a supply wagon for a break, she took out a magical photo of her family and sat one the wagons edge while looking at it. Her Mum and Dad smiled and waved at her. Daphne remained frozen though. This was odd. But nonetheless, she smiled at the photograph. She heard footsteps next to her.
"Your family?" A quiet voice asked. Martha, one of the village elders, settled beside her on the wagon's edge.
"Yes." Astoria answered softly, quickly putting it away before it could raise any funny questions. "My parents and my sister, Daphne."
Martha's weathered face creased with understanding. "You must miss them terribly."
"More than anything." Astoria fought to hold back her tears. "Especially Daphne. She's out here somewhere, I know it. I have to find her."
"And you will," Martha assured her, leaning in to give Astoria a short hug. "But in the meantime, you're doing a lot of good here. The children absolutely love you, and even Old Thomas has stopped cursing magic since you healed his knee. Now, I find I actually preferred it better when he couldn't keep up with everyone and pass his grouchy comments." Martha laughed softly.
Astoria managed a small laugh at that too. It was true that the villagers who were initially scared of her were not so much scared now as they saw how her magic could help them rather than harm. Still, she couldn't help but think of all the other ways she could assist them. Her knowledge of healing spells was limited - if only she'd paid more attention in those extra credit Charms classes!
As the day wore on, Astoria found herself making mental lists of spells she knew, modifications she might attempt to better serve their needs. Perhaps she could adapt the Bubble-Head Charm to help keep the dust out of their lungs during the long march? When she had seen Cedric do it, she knew she had to learn it. Or maybe find a way to extend the duration of her water-conjuring spells? It was then they reached a small river. There was an old looking stone bridge, but the center of it appeared to have been washed away.
The river was about six meters wide in the broken bridge gap but looked very deep and the water was extremely fast. One of the boys, Nolfavrell, about as old as her, albeit a bit shorter, volunteered to test the water. Roran, Morn, Gedric, Farold and Fisk tied a rope to Nolfavrell as he tried to swim across, but the water kept pulling him under. So they reeled him back in.
"We can't cross now!" Roran ordered. "We have to wait until the water is slower."
"Wait!" Astoria said a little too loudly, she sheepishly continued, "wait, I can help, I think."
Roran looked almost relieved. "What can you assist us with?"
"I can try –"
"But the water will take you!" Roran interjected, "it is too dangerous to swim. Unless you have a type of magic spell that can do it?"
"Actually, I do, it's a simple one really."
She faced the bridge and recollected the construction her father had once used to fix a small bridge in their garden at home.
"Pontus Reparo!" she swished, flicked and pointed her wand tip at the center of the bridge.
Slowly, dirt, dust, pebbles, stones, rocks and boulders were surfacing and spinning around as each piece was trying to find its rightful place. After a few minutes of animated chatter from the villagers, she finally lowered her wand. The bridge looked – incomplete. Some of the villagers started groaning.
Thinking carefully to Charms class in second year, they learned a sealing charm that could be used in the house for baths and sinks. Smiling to herself she raised her wand again.
"Fissura Obturamentum!"
What looked like white foam bubbles began filling the gaps until there was a small groan from the bridge and then silence.
"It is safe." She said, looking at Roran and the rest of the villagers, however, they appeared apprehensive. Roran inhaled, walked to the bridge, scanned it carefully and slowly stepped onto it, walking to the area of the bridge that wasn't there previously. He began hopping up and down a bit comically, but stopped, nodded his affirmation and returned.
"Thank you, Astoria." He said gratefully.
"It is my pleasure," She smiled. Maybe a bit too much. Roran was handsome but he was taken!
The sun was setting when they made camp for the night. Astoria moved carefully amongst the villagers, casting controlled Incendio spells to light cooking fires, conjuring extra blankets for those who needed them and basically just looking for things to help make everyone's troubles a bit easier. A group of children followed her like little ducklings, watching in wonder as she transformed simple rocks into soft pillows. So she pointed at a few stones and cast, "Wingardium Leviosa!" and made the aerial stones lightly tap against the children and chase them around giggling.
"You don't have to exhaust yourself," Jakob smiled as he saw this, one of the village leaders, told her as she finished setting protective wards around the camp's perimeter. "We managed before..."
"I want to help," Astoria insisted, though she appreciated his concern. "It's the least I can do after you took me in. And besides," she took in a breath and spoke carefully, "my dad had taken me camping out in the wilderness quite a lot, I learned a few tricks to keep us safe at night." And it gave her purpose, something to focus on besides the gnawing worry about her family.
"Well that makes sense," he replied, "I still think that the water you gave us is the best thing, I didn't know water could taste so… clean." His smile widened as if remembering the taste in his tongue.
Later, polopped by one of the fires, Astoria pulled out her mother's journal. She had brought it with her when she fled, hoping her mum would have some life-saving advice. The pages were filled with complex arithmantic equations and theoretical magic far beyond her current understanding, but she was determined to go through them. Daphne was always far better than her in Arithmancy and Runes but she was more like that Potter, or so her dad told her. She had raw power and a strong magical core. While Daphne was a lady, she however, was a Daddy's Girl, a tomboy, loved Quidditch, loved duelling (Daphne too), and loved the outdoors. Astoria and her dad would go camping or hiking as much as Daphne would go to the family library or basement battle-room. But there had to be answers here somewhere. About the family magic that had brought them to this world, about where Daphne might have ended up, about how they might all get home. Her mother had always said that magic left traces, that nothing was truly impossible if you understood the underlying principles well enough.
A cool breeze lifted the fire's flames, carrying with it the sounds of the sleepy conversations, children's laughter, the gentle lowing of cattle and the unfortunate sound of people consistently passing gas. Despite everything, these people had welcomed her, accepted her and she felt guilty about wanting to leave them.
Tomorrow, they would reach the mountain pass that marked the border of their known territory. Beyond that was a mystery for most of the villagers. None had need to venture further. Astoria used the fire's soft light to focus on her spells. She pulled out a piece of parchment and began writing, noting the spells she'd used today and their effectiveness. When she found Daphne, her sister would want to know everything. And maybe, they find a way home together.
She paused to look up at the stars. Very different from the Astronomy Tower back at Hogwarts, but just as bright. Astoria tried memorizing the patterns of the brightest and pictured what she thought was a large dragon. She wondered if Daphne was also looking at the stars.
This journey to Narda was going to take nearly three weeks of arduous travel. When she had asked Roran about how they were getting to this place called Surda, he explained his plan in detail.
-oIo-
The next day's morning sun almost burned them to a crisp as they slowly trudged along the dusty road. Astoria walked near the front of the caravan, her wand moving as she cast cooling charms on the elderly and young children. =She knew the spells wouldn't last long in this heat, but even temporary relief was welcomed.
"Miss Stowi!" little Sara called out, running up to her with sweaty hair. "Can you make the air cool again? Please?"
"Of course, Sara." Astoria smiled, casting another gentle cooling charm. The girl giggled as the magic washed over her, then scampered back to her mother.
The terrain had grown even more treacherous, the goats were able to get along fine but the oxen struggled. Roran suggested they let the oxen go, but Astoria raised her hand.
"What if you take the meat?" she suggested.
"Well course it would spoil?" Birgit piped up from somewhere beside her. "That is just too much."
"No, no, I can stop them from spoiling."
"You can?" Roran said in shock. "Then by all means…" He opened his arms as if to say okay.
Three hours later, eleven oxen and cows were slaughtered, Astoria walked away at that point, and she returned to help them with a stasis charm they her mother uses to store meat and veggies, and then she added another featherlight charm to the meat. She didn't mind the spellwork, she felt it was good practice. She had to reapply the featherlight charms every morning to prevent them from wearing out.
Each evening, as they made camp, Astoria would put up those protective wards around their perimeter. The familiar wand-waving of spellcasting brought comfort to her, reminding her of practicing with her father in their garden and out camping. He had always emphasized the importance of protection spells, though she doubted he'd ever imagined she'd use them like this.
"Repello Muggletum! Protego Totalum!" The children were behind her, watching her as usual. They were so cute; she really didn't mind them.
Around the campfires, she would often sit with Martha, Birgit, Tara and the other women, learning their stories while helping mend clothes with her wand and prepare food. Her Heating Charms meant hot meals even when gathering firewood proved too difficult because of the snow, and her Scouring Charms kept disease at bay.
"You're a blessing," Martha had told her the one evening as Astoria conjured clean bandages for Thomas's arthritic knees. "I don't know how we would have managed this journey without you." Astoria shook her head.
"The villagers of Carvahall are the most resilient people I have ever seen."
-oIo-
Salt. Astoria knew the smell as soon as it hit her. Seagulls were cawing as though they were about to die from starvation. The sea meant that there were most likely ships. And more people who could tell her of Daphne's existence. Or so she hoped. But it could mean danger for everyone as well.
"We'll need at least three barges to transport everyone," Roran announced during a strategy meeting behind a wagon with her, Birgit, Horst, Morn and Gedric. "But the merchants in Narda are notoriously difficult to bargain with."
Astoria spoke up, her voice quiet but firm. "I might be able to help with that."
"How?" Gedric challenged.
"Okay, give me a coin," she held out her hand, Birgit quickly fished out a crown and placed it Astoria's palm.
Astoria placed it on the wagon wheel, pointed her wand and chanted, "GEMINIO!"
The coin started replicating until there were about two hundred crowns when she then said, "Finite Incantatem." The coins stopped.
"Crazy King Palancar's toenails!" Morn muttered in shock.
"The coins will last until the magic wears out, but it will be more than enough time to buy safe passage." She cautioned.
"Let's do it." Horst suggested firmly.
Everyone, including Roran, nodded.
-oIo-
Narda rose before them, it looked a little like Hogsmeade with its stone buildings clustered along the coastline. Salt-crusted walls and weather-beaten signs spoke of countless storms weathered. The harbor was a flurry of activity with mariners hauling cargo, merchants haggling over prices, and fishing boats bringing in the morning catch. Astoria half-expected Zazu to start singing The Morning Report at any moment.
Roran led a small group including Astoria through the gates and toward the docks while the rest of the villagers made camp far outside the city and away from the locals' eyes. The plan was simple. Buy transport, quick and easy, in and out. Get the villagers out before anyone could see them.
"Remember," Roran warned them as they approached a large looking barge with sailors milling about, "we need to be discreet."
Astoria nodded; her wand was hidden but always at the ready. The merchant, a corpulent man with shrewd eyes, barely looked up from his ledger as they entered.
"Three barges?" he scoffed after hearing their request. "That'll cost you more gold than you've likely seen in your lives."
Astoria stepped forward and withdrew a large pouch of gold crowns.
"How much?" she asked.
The man, Clovis, eyes wide with excitement, responded, "that will be three hundred crowns, a hundred per barge and an extra fifty for my sailors. What will you be carrying?"
"Livestock." Roran said quickly, glancing at the others.
"I suppose you have enough feed?" Clovis queried at which everyone nodded.
-oIo-
As they left the docks, a group of sailors emerged from behind a few crates, their eyes following Astoria with unsettling interest. One of them swaggered forward and Astoria averted her gaze. He smelled drunk and looked even worse.
"Well aren't you a pretty little thing," he started speaking with predatorial look in his eyes. Astoria's wand was itching to come out. "I wouldn't mind tossing you up and down tonight like a sack."
But before Astoria could do anything, Roran suddenly stepped between them with murderous look on his face. He let a hammer slip from the folds of his shirt.
"The lady. Is not. Interested," he punctuated, while he twirled the handle of his hammer.
The sailor sneered; alcohol seemed to have made him as confident as a lion. "This is none of your business farm boy. Why don't you piss off while the lady and I get to know each other all over?"
"Final warning," Roran tensed menacingly. Astoria was pulled back as she felt one of the villagers in her arms.
The sailor darted forward, but Roran moved with surprising speed. His hammer caught the man's reaching arm with precise force, and the crack of bone echoed across the docks. The sailor yowled, stumbling backward as his companions rose.
"Stop!" Astoria commanded; her wand now visible. The sailors laughed at her. What could a stick do to them?
"Stupefy. Stupefy. Stupefy." She chanted in succession, red light hit each and they all collapsed at the same time.
"Leave," Roran ordered the first sailor, his hammer still ready. "Unless you'd like to die like your friends did."
The sailor retreated, leaving his supposedly dead companions. Roran turned to Astoria, his expressions seemed a bit too concerned.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, thank you." She tucked her wand away, heart still racing. "I did not kill them, they will wake up in a few hours. I can handle myself."
Roran nodded, a slight smile touching his lips. "I know. But you shouldn't have to face such men alone. We protect our own."
Astoria's felt a butterfly unfurl its wings and fly around the inside of her abdomen.
-oIo-
That night, as the villagers prepared for the next day's departure to the southern estuary of Narda to board the barges, Astoria sat alone by one of the campfires, her mother's journal open in her lap. The docks encounter with those creepy men had shaken her more than she wanted to admit, not because of the danger, she'd faced worse at Hogwarts like the perverted Slytherin boys, but because of Roran's immediate defense.It reminded her of how Daphne would stand up for her against bullies in their first year, before Astoria had learned enough magic to defend herself. She smiled at the memory and then her smile became sad as she missed her sister.
Martha settled down beside her, offering a cup of hot – something, it was a kind of tea that Astoria was unfamiliar with. "You're thinking about your sister again, aren't you?"
Astoria accepted the tea gratefully. "Is it that obvious?"
Martha placed her left hand in front of the fire to trap some heat.
"You get a certain distant look in your eyes," Martha said gently. "Like you're seeing something far away, yet it remains focused at the same time."
"I keep thinking about where she is, if she's safe." Astoria traced the journal's worn leather cover. "Sometimes… I think… I can feel her, like she's just beyond my reach."
"You'll find her, I believe it" Martha assured her. "And when you do find her, you'll have such a story to tell her about how you helped save the entire village of Carvahall."
Astoria managed to smile at that. "I hope so. I just... I miss her. And my parents. Everything here is so different."
"Different isn't always bad," Martha said gently, watching the villagers prepare for sleep. "Look how far we've come together."
"I know." She lowered her gaze into the fire. "I'm just homesick."
"Get some rest, I will wake up when it's time to go." Martha got up and left her alone.
-oIo-
The next morning dawned clear and bright, perfect weather for sailing. Astoria stood at the harbor's edge, watching the promised barges being prepared.
Clovis had come to them that morning with a smile, for the amount of gold he received, the merchant was personally overseeing the loading process, ensuring everything was in order for their journey.
Roran approached her, his expression determined. "The first group is ready to board but we have to be fast, before they realize that we do not have actual livestock."
Astoria nodded; her wand ready but hidden. "If I may suggest. I can cast Disillusionment Charms on the children, making them harder to be noticed during boarding."
"Do it," Roran agreed with a smirk. "And Astoria... thank you. For everything you've done for us."
She felt warmth spread through her chest at his words. She had taken her time to help each group. She recast all the necessary charms for weight, waterproofing and disillusionment, but she did not have anything that could cure seasickness. Eventually they were all aboard, and Astoria quickly jumped off the third barge and ran along the sand to the first barge, waded until her chest and then climbed aboard. Roran gripped her forearm.
The sea stretched endlessly before them; Astoria actually felt intimidated by it. If only she had Tufty here to help her with some seasick potions. Most of the villagers, except Old Thomas and Horst, had never been on a boat before, so Astoria resorted to using Tergeo each time someone was sick and messed up the deck, but as when applying the charms, she had to ensure that the sailors didn't see her.
"Oh Tufty, how I could really use your help right now." She mumbled under her breath.
CRACK!