I've just posted my first chapter on , AO3 is currently down, so it'll be some time before I can post that. I decided to wait to post because I've just started college! I'm only writing this story in my spare time, and usually only when I feel like it, so it'll probably slow down a bit. I'm going to keep trying to upload a chapter every 1-2 weeks if possible. I'm really starting to like where this story is headed so far, and I hope y'all are too! Enough yapping, enjoy!
As he sat beside Glaedr, watching the sun rise, he sensed Irelia walking to the clearing. He had told Oromis everything about himself, things that he hadn't even told Irelia yet. Oromis and Glaedr knew about his tortures, the people he had killed, the death of his mother, and even the death of his dragon.
Connor, she has told me that she wants to see you smile more. The only time you have smiled in the past decade was the last time she saw you with Irelia.
Connor looked over at Glaedr, frowning. He hated that he couldn't talk directly to her, there was too much going on inside his mind. Irelia has become my best friend, and I- I think she wants to pursue a relationship with me… I'm scared, Aurora… I don't want to be alone, but I'm so used to it.
Just then, Irelia emerged from the trees, spotting him and quickening her pace towards him. He stood up as she neared him. As she reached him, she never slowed, getting faster and faster before colliding with him in a hug. "I missed you. I know it was only a night, b- but I missed you, your eyes, your face, your warmth." She pulled back, kissing his chin gently.
Are you really going to deny her? Glaedr laughed at him, smoke puffing out his nose.
Irelia stepped back, her blades flowing close to her body behind her. "I have someone I'd like for you to meet, but first, the queen wants to see you."
As they neared the center of the elven capital, Irelia's grip onto Connor's hand got tighter and tighter for some reason. He looked around, the hordes of elves watching in hiding not at all invisible to his keen senses. As they approached what Irelia said was Tialdari hall, garden beds seemed to blend into existence from the natural grasses and shrubs on the path. Before he was even aware, the pair stood in Tialdari hall. Everything was made out of trees, trunks made up the walls, floors, and ceilings, while branches stuck out or up to make tables, chairs, and shelves. Irelia led Connor through the gardens towards a grand door, towering above them.
As they approached the door, it swung open on its own, and they entered, Irelia finally letting go of Connor's hand before bowing down to the queen. "Queen Islanzadi, I have brought to you Aatrox, the dark rider, also known as Connor."
The queen looked suspiciously like Irelia. Connor knew then that his theory was most likely correct. They shared the same eyes, same hair, even similar facial features, but the queen, unlike Irelia, gave off an aura of authority. Irelia herself gave off an aura of power and strength, just looking at her you could tell that she was independent and powerful.
The queen spoke after looking him up and down, "How dare you enter into my domain, you abomination!" Connor just now noticed the row of guards standing behind her, all armed with swords and pikes. "Do you really believe that you will go unpunished for your crimes!?" She was almost yelling at him now. "And I don't know what it is with my daughter that you have, but she is strictly an overseer to you, you demonic thing."
Great, she hates me already, and of course she's Irelia's mother, why wouldn't she be?
Sighing, Connor spoke finally, "Your majesty, I am very much aware of all the wrongs I have done, but I have escaped the reaches of Galbatorix and have vowed to aid the Varden." Her expression softened a tiny amount. "I agree with you that I have yet to be fully punished, I most likely deserve death if I'm honest. But, a war is starting, and I would like to help in your efforts to end the reign of the king. I am willing to swear fealty to Irelia here," he gestured towards her, "She would have the ability to dictate every move I would do if she wanted. She is the only elf that I fully trust, besides Oromis, who will not be fighting in the frontlines of the war."
The queen looked at him in disbelief, her jaw dropping as he spoke. When he was finished, she thought for a moment. "You are willing to swear complete fealty to my daughter?" He nodded.
"I am aware of the reasons as to why she is going to fight with the Varden, and I know that she is an independent party. I cannot be controlled through Irelia, but she could tell me to do anything she wanted me to, your majesty."
Irelia spoke up finally, "Connor, we did not discuss this! What the hell are you doing!?" She faced him, making direct eye contact. He could see the fear in her eyes. She saw the trust in his ruby red eyes. He gently opened his mind and invited hers in allowing her to enter just enough to be able to speak to her.
I have thought about this, I am sorry that I did not tell you. Of all the possibilities, though, this is the best option. I entrust that you will not do any harm to me or abuse me in any way, something I believe any other elf would do.
Irelia turned back to the queen, "Very well, if you want, he will swear fealty to me, and me alone." The queen paused, then slowly nodded."
Irelia turned back to him, nodding at him. He got down on one knee, drawing his newly returned blade, he handed it up to her, his head bowed. "I swear my fealty to you, Irelia Drottningu." She took his sword from him, gently touching each of his shoulders with it. "I accept you as my subject, Connor, shade rider of Aurora."
"I cannot believe that you didn't talk to me about this, Connor!" They had left Tialdari Hall, and were walking together towards a remote corner of Ionia.
"I had only thought about it last night with Oromis. We decided there was no other way to keep me free but show my loyalty to the Varden and the elves." He stopped in his tracks suddenly, rubbing his temples.
"Are you okay?" She turned around, touching his arm gently.
"Yeah, I'm fine, headache." She frowned, but accepted his excuse. They continued walking until they came across a small hut with a forge right beside it. As they got closer, they could hear rhythmic hammering, and hissing noises.
Standing in the doorway, Irelia knocked loudly on a post of the forge. A few seconds later, an elf appeared from the forge. Connor could tell this elf was different, she hadn't even bothered to greet them. She looked older, sporting wrinkles and scars, her hands were large and worn, and she held a hammer in her right hand.
"Connor, this is Rhunon-elda, she is the master smith who forged all of the rider's blades." The older elf gestured for them to come inside the forge.
"Why do you bring me this creature, Irelia?" Rhunon's voice was scratchy, as if she was always dehydrated. "I am working." Connor looked down at her anvil to see she was hand forging a chainmail breastplate, link by link. He reached down to pick it up, before Rhunon's hammer came swinging down on his hand. A nasty crunch was audibly heard, but Connor continued as if nothing had happened, simply picking up the breastplate and inspecting it, his expression never moving. He seemed to be more annoyed than hurt at the fact that his fingers had been broken.
"I like him, Irelia." She let out a laugh, "Broke three fingers and he didn't even flinch! This your mate then?" Irelia turned red immediately. Connor ignored the two of them, setting the chainmail down. Snapping his fingers back into place, he moved to pick up a small dagger hanging from the wall.
"Rhunon, everything here is beautifully done." She frowned at his compliment.
Irelia interrupted the two, "Rhunon-elda, I brought him here to show you his weapons, apparently he forged them himself." Connor drew his sword, placing it down on the table, then drew his dragon claw knife and set it down too. Rhunon immediately went to inspect both weapons.
"What the hell?" She muttered to herself, looking at his sword. "W- what in the world? This rider's blade isn't made of brightsteel, nor was it made by me. What did you use to create this thing, shade?" He recoiled a little bit at getting called that.
"Nothing good, that's for sure."
"What did you use?" She persisted.
"Dragon blood mixed with a steel alloy." He looked down nervously.
"How did you manage to get enough dragon blood to make a blade!? You would've had to gravely injure a large dragon, or even kill a small one!" He winced, "Oh… I see." She realized immediately that his dragon had died.
"I don't wish to tell you all of the details ma'am, but she couldn't live in this world any longer with me like… this." He pointed at his eyes, "She forced me to create something out of her death, so she lit a forge, and then I… I-" He couldn't finish the sentence, "I melted some of her scales in with her blood and the strongest steel the king had available. I created this horrible weapon. It has served me well, but it is evil."
"I see. I apologize for your unfortunate circumstances." That was the first time Irelia had heard Rhunon ever apologize. "I assume the knife was made in a similar manner?" He nodded. "You were right, Irelia, this was very interesting. I do have to ask for you two to go now though, I have more work to do. Oh, actually, do you have any spare of those claw knives I could inspect, shade?"
"I have a few, I shall fetch you one." She looked at him questionably, before he blinked out of existence, reappearing a few seconds later with a nearly identical claw knife in his hand.
"Oh my, now that IS interesting. I shall see you again sometime then, the both of you." She waved them away.
"Where do you reside Irelia?" They were now walking through the forest, their destination unknown to him.
"I have been living in Tialdari hall, but I think I'd prefer to sleep in your bed tonight, Connor."
"I don't believe I have a room available to me. My entire time here has been either in jail or with Oromis."
"You have been given a tree, just like Murtagh and Thorn. These trees belonged to the riders of old, whenever they resided in the forest, they stayed in these trees." Just then, she stopped, looking up at a massive tree with a staircase up to a door. She grabbed his hand and pulled him up the stairs with him.
"Why would they give me a rider's home? I am no longer a rider, Irelia." He was confused, he didn't even feel like a rider anymore.
"Once a rider, always a rider, even if you are also a shade, you are still a rider. Come on, I'm tired and I want to fall asleep in your arms." She couldn't help but think about how oblivious he was to her advances.
The first floor consisted of a living area, a kitchen, and a massive teardrop shaped hole in the wall with a large indent on the floor beside it. On the second floor was the bedroom, with a large bed that had a few pairs of fresh clothes placed on it. Irelia moved to lay down, Connor following her.
Before long, Irelia lay on top of him, her blades whirling around behind her as she kissed him, trying to feel every inch of his upper body.
"Won't you touch me back Connor?" She questioned him as he seemed nervous to even touch her legs. The instant after she spoke, he immediately moved his arms to her back, rubbing her spine. He stopped suddenly, a scared look on his face.
"Irelia?"
"Y- yes?"
"I didn't do that willingly."
"Oh… I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to force you to do anything, I was just curio-"
"The fealty, Irelia. You could tell me to kill myself right now and I would have to." He sat up, readjusting her on his lap. "I do want you Irelia, but I'm scared, even more now."
"I'm so sorry Connor, I'll not make that mistake again, I'll try my best not to at least. I was just curious." She gently moved off his lap, moving to lay down with her head against her chest. "I shall look for a way to make it so this doesn't happen again." She snuggled closer into him, and he finally reached around her back to hold her.
"Thank you, Irelia. I- I just need some time to get used to this." She nodded against his chest.
"Connor, tomorrow I am going to take you to the training grounds."
So even I didn't expect the fealty thing, I kind of thought of it on the spot and it seemed like a fun thing to do, so I did, it's my story you can't tell me what to do! Thoughts? Opinions? How's my writing so far? I'm trying to make my chapters more descriptive, but it's pretty hard. Posting schedule: I have none, so far I have 9 chapters already written, there's probably gonna be ~40? I'll try to post once a week if possible, but as I said college takes up a lot of time, along with work and other hobbies. If all has gone according to plan though, this chapter should be posted at the end of September or early October. Enough yapping, onto the next chapter!
