For Alagaesia: 14. Gathering

The Jiet river was flowing with a roaring sound. Roran applied a slight pressure on Snowfire's flanks. The loyal horse responded by increasing its speed to keep up with the elves running ahead. After finishing the siege of Aroughs and getting the blasted news about Eragon's capture, Roran had established a temporary ruling council for the city and with twenty of his best men, rode north towards Feinster. At Feinster he had met with the dwarves camped there and together with them he was now going towards Belatona.

"The dwarves want to rest it seems", he said to one of the elves. The elf acknowledged his message and they came to a stop. Then they started scanning the area around them. Roran did not understand what they were doing by scanning the surroundings. Then one elf said, "About 2 leagues from here there is a small tree covered area. At this speed we will reach there in an hour. There we can rest." Roran was amazed to hear this and the question of how they knew it came to the tip of his tongue before he controlled himself. He had seen Eragon observing things like that often already and it seemed a trait common to all elves. "So be it. I will inform the dwarves.", he said. "I could inform the spell-caster of the dvergar, Stronghammer. You don't have to go back.", an elf said.  "It would be helpful. Thank you.", Roran replied.

As predicted by the elves in an hour they reached a tree-filled land. The dwarves and Roran's company made camp under the shades of the trees. Roran wanted to be alone away from the cacophony of the camp and so went to the banks of roaring Jiet river. He also felt dirty and so decided to wash himself. He stepped into the river cautiously and dipped his head into the water. Feeling the cool water on his body refreshed him and thoughts about Katrina and his soon to be born baby filled his mind. The joy he felt at being reunited with Katrina was great. It helped him almost forget the worries that had plagued him ever since knowing about Eragon's capture. Almost. However happy he was, in a corner of his mind he still felt darkness lurking. With mixed feelings of happiness and sorrow, he sat by the bank of the roaring river. The river seemed to mirror his mind perfectly: restless.

"Do you need some company?", he heard a gruff voice speak to him from behind. Roran turned to see the dwarf king, Orik standing behind him. He hastily stood and bowed in show of his respect. "You don't have to be formal with me, Roran. We haven't been introduced yet. But in a way we are cousins.", the King said. Roran didn't understand what the dwarf meant. His confusion might have been on his face because the king said, "I see that you are not aware of our relation. Eragon is the adopted brother of mine."

Roran was surprised to know that bit of information. In the two months since he had reunited with his little cousin, Roran had slowly come to terms with the true stature of Eragon's position. But each time, he thought he had known all about his cousin, a new information would arrive to change all his earlier perceptions. But one thing stood starkly unchanged: Eragon's behaviour with him. It was true that Eragon had matured a lot since he 'fled' Palancar valley as Eragon fondly called his leaving Palancar valley. But on the inside he was the same Eragon; deeply caring and loving his family and friends. 'Another person wouldn't have been the same with me if given all the riches Eragon had been given', Roran thought to himself.

"What are you thinking about, Roran?", the king's voice brought Roran back to his surroundings. "Oh! Its nothing, your majesty. Its just about Eragon", he said hastily. "Don't keep calling me titles, Roran. If we are to be friends then you will have to call me Orik.", the king admonished Roran. "I will take that to heart,..Orik", Roran said hesitantly uncomfortable to call the king by his name. "Good", Orik patted on Roran's back and continued, "Now answer my question: Do you need company?" "Oh!..Oh...Yes. I would love to.", Roran replied.

He was starting to like Orik. The dwarf king was friendly and kind. They spoke long into the evening and mostly their talk was centered on Eragon. "Could we do anything to rescue Eragon, Orik?", Roran asked. The dwarf king became sombre at the mention of the topic of Eragon's capture. "No. It would be suicidal to try anything like that. Galbatorix is a fox; a cunning fox. Uru'baen will have protection like no other place. Poor Eragon. He has to take care of himself for now.", Orik answered. Roran sighed. "Is it true that Galbatorix can force Eragon into his service?", Roran asked. Orik looked at Roran in a peculiar way. "It is a possibility. If Galbatorix can know Eragon's true name, then yes he can.", he replied rather gravely.

"Is this true name something secret?", Roran asked unsure of what a 'true name' meant. "You will have to ask the elves for details. But I doubt they would give you straight answers. Yes. A true name is some kind of a secret name of you; but with a difference. The person who knows it can control you however he wants.", Orik explained as best as he could. "So Galbatorix has to find it from Eragon to control him.", Roran said a touch of unsureness in his voice. "Yes. Basically it is that", Orik said. "Then Eragon will never be controlled by Galbatorix.", Roran said more to himself than to Orik. "You have that much faith in him?", Orik asked surprise coating his voice. "I have known him from his birth. He will never give up.", Roran said pride colouring his voice. "Even the strongest have fallen against Galbatorix.", warned Orik though it sounded a little muted. Roran guessed that Orik too knew a fair deal about Eragon's stubbornness.

Such unusual and dark conversations made both of them gloomy and they diverted their speech towards other topics. They spoke about each other's families. Roran was delighted to know that Orik was married just about the same time as he and Orik congratulated Roran on his child. Once night fell, both of them departed wishing each other a good night's sleep.

Roran lay on his bedroll and thought of the various friends he had made in the two months since he had joined the Varden. Most of them were high dignitaries like his latest friend King Orik and a few were people who had gone with him to war. Many of them like Orik had considered him a friend by default and Roran was aware that it was because of Eragon's influence on them. Roran knew that they weren't friends to just Eragon's powers and positions but also to Eragon, the person. Roran was proud of being the cousin of Eragon. 'But Eragon isn't with us', was Roran's final thought before sleep overtook him.

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The city of Belatona looked like a fortress from afar. There were a lot more soldiers on the city walls than was normal and there were patrols of soldiers moving busily around the city. 'Nothing could get in this' was the first impression that Roran got. But he knew he was wrong because even after such heavy security measures, the empire had managed to kill three captains including Martland Redbeard whom Roran was acquainted with. As he rode on towards the city, the elves travelling with him came forward and said to him, "There are elves approaching this city from the other direction. I estimate about 30 to 50 of our race in that party." Roran was mystified as to why the elf wanted him to know the arrival of other elves. He also wondered what the elves had to do in Belatona. But he knew that he wouldn't get any answer for either of the questions till he reached the city, so he nodded his head in acknowledgement of the information.

"What is it?", Orik asked him. "There are elves arriving towards Belatona from the north", Roran replied shortly. "Elves? Queen Islanzadi has finally realised the need for elves to join the varden.", Orik muttered to himself although he didn't make any attempt to hide his observation from Roran.

As they neared the city gates, he noticed dust flying from the ground a little way north of the city gates. He was surprised that the amount of dust created was so much less for thirty to fifty running people. 'Strange people these elves', he mused. Snowfire increased his speed by himself as they came even nearer to the city. "Eager to rest, are we, friend?", Roran asked gently rubbing the horse's mane. He also became aware of the welcoming party waiting outside the city gates. He noticed Nasuada, Orrin, Angela, Garzhvog and Narheim standing in the front row of the vast number of people gathered in front of the gate. But his eyes scanned for the one person he wished to see; Katrina. Finally he found her looking directly at him from beside Jormundur. As her face became clearer, a smile stretched across Roran's face; one that he couldn't control. Soon though, he was alerted to the presence of others by a clearing-the-throat-Katrina. Coming back to his surroundings, Roran gets off Snowfire who is taken by a sentry into the city.

Roran bowed to Nasuada and others. "Captain Stronghammer. Good that you have arrived so early. You will need a well-deserved rest. But after that meet me in my quarters. I have a very important job for you. One that you will be doing from around the city for a change", Nasuada said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. Roran too didn't feel like it was time for a smile and so just nodded acknowledging her words and said, "As you wish, my lady" Then he rushed towards Katrina and once he reached her he pulled her into a close hug, but they separated soon, as the remainder of Roran's party had arrived at the gates.

"Welcome, King Orik, to the Varden.", Nasuada said. Orik nodded his head in formal acceptance of the greeting and replied, "Thank you, Lady Nasuada. The dwarven nation is excited to fight against that usurper Galbatorix again in the open to avenge our lost Kings. And what more pleasure do we need than a chance to fight alongside the Varden that grew potent by operating in our very own Farthen Dur." Nasuada smiled at the reply. Roran felt like the dwarf king was trying to raise the dampened spirits of the people. "Of course. I take great pleasure in welcoming such an important ally as King of Surda.", Orrin said in his own dignified way. Orik nodded and said, "Thank you, Sir" Narheim bowed to Orik and went to stand behind him symbolically gesturing the take over of dwarven affairs by the king. A tense feeling arose in the air as Orik looked upon Nar Garzhvog. "It is good to see you again, King Orik", Garzhvog said in his rough voice. Orik did not look like responding for a while but then he smiled a little and nodded his head. The tenseness was visibly reduced with that gesture of Orik's.

The elves who were arriving from the north had reached closer to the city gates by then and everyone's attention turned towards them. The elf that Roran knew as Blodhgarm, Eragon's head-guard was leading them. A feeling of eternal sadness enveloped Roran's mind and he noticed that everybody around him was affected in the same way. Blodhgarm came forward and said, "We meet again, Nasuada Svit-kona" "Indeed. It is a moment of historical importance in the war against Galbatorix. It is the first time since the fall that a army comprising of elves, men, dwarves and urgals has gathered.", Nasuada said although her tone wasn't as enthusiastic as her words. After Orrin, Orik and Garzhvog finished their formal greetings with the elves, everybody made their way into the city.

As they walked into the city, Roran asked Katrina, "Has there been any new news about Eragon?" 

"No. We haven't heard anything from anybody about his state.", Katrina said in a sorrow-filled voice. 

"He will be fine.", Roran tried to assure her even though he wasn't sure about it himself. 

"How is your health, Katrina?", he asked wanting to know how his wife had been coping with her pregnancy.

"I am fine, Roran. Angela has been a lot of help."

"Angela? Eragon has mentioned of her skills. It is good that she attends you."

"Yes. She tells that Eragon had requested her to visit me once in a while."

Roran was struck by a sudden feeling of a rising lump in his throat. He smiled, a forlorn smile, thinking of the cruel fate that had befallen his loving cousin.

"Sir, Lady Nasuada requests your presence in her quarters.", a little boy said making his way through the huge crowd. Roran eyed Katrina apologetically. She signalled him to go with her eyes and Roran turned to the boy and said, "I will be there. You can go."

"Yes sir", the boy said and went his way. Roran quickly kissed Katrina on her forehead and left for Nasuada's quarters.

When Roran reached Nasuada's study, the night-hawks blocked his way and announced his arrival. A low voice was heard from inside admitting him in. Roran entered the room and scanned the occupants. The dwarf king and the elf Blodhgarm were there with Nasuada. "Welcome, Roran.", Nasuada said. Roran bowed to her and to Orik and nodded at Blodhgarm. "Please be seated.", Nasuada beckoned Roran to a chair near the round-table where the others were seated.

Once he was seated, Nasuada continued, "I called you Roran to discuss about your new assignment."

"What am I to do, my lady?"

"You are aware of the urgals residing outside the city walls?", Nasuada asked as if to confirm and Roran nodded his head in reply. "I want you to coordinate between them and us on behalf of me."

"I can do that.", Roran said, "but why me, my lady? Surely someone like Jormundur will be able to do so more efficiently." He wanted to know why he had been chosen for such a important role.

"Jormundur is capable. But he has to coordinate the army. Further, he doesn't have the persuasive skills that you possess, Stronghammer. The way you handled the urgals that I sent under your command, I am sure you are the best person for this duty", Nasuada said confidently.

"Thank you for your compliments, my lady. I will try my best to bring harmony between them and us.", Roran said overcome by the faith she had in him.

"I know you will do fine, Stronghammer. But there is another reason for calling you here now", Nasuada said in a serious and ominous way.

"Oh?", Roran became cautious. "Blodhgarm, here was with Eragon when he was captured. I thought that you would like to hear the exact events of..", Nasuada trailed off not wanting to elaborate the cruel thing.

"I want to.", was Roran's curt reply. His voice sounded in a high pitch unintentionally and he quickly said, "Sorry". Nasuada did not find it necessary to reply to him. Everybody's attention turned towards Blodhgarm. He narrated a tale that befitted in every way the person that Eragon was; saving Saphira from capture and Blodhgarm from death. Roran felt dazed when Blodhgarm finished. Tears blurred his vision; tears formed in pride and sorrow for his little cousin. He didn't care to hide his tears. But when he looked up at Orik and Nasuada, they too had tear-filled eyes.

Author's Note:

Roran's reaction to Eragon's capture and the gathering of Varden army was what I wished to portray. Hope I did them right.