For Alagaesia: 35. A welcome party

It seemed anxiety was the only emotion Eragon possessed. He did his best to bring a calm look about his face but traces of his emotional self persisted, showing itself whenever some friend of his came to him to start a conversation. The party was arranged for him and so he was the centre of attraction of everybody. Even though Eragon was quite used to being the focal point of such gatherings, he felt it too much today to cope.

Whenever somebody came to speak to him, he eyed them with caution, a behaviour which Saphira noticed as 'over-cautious' and 'cold'.

'You are treating them coldly Eragon. They have come here for you. Be friendly', she said.

'As if I am not trying', Eragon replied. 'Oh, poor little thing.', Saphira said and covered her wings around him protectively. Eragon admired Saphira. Since she had promised that she wouldn't bring up the matter of his days in prison, she had not even mentioned about it once. Instead she had tried to bring peace to him by being close to him and advising him to behave as he would have before his capture.

"Eragon", Nasuada called. Eragon turned towards her with a questioning stare. "You have to deliver a speech", she said with a little smirk. She was obviously thinking about the time when Eragon was too nervous to speak to the crowd. 'A fine dragon rider you are. Afraid to make a speech. If only Galbatorix knew about this, all he needs to do to break you is make you speak before his soldiers', Saphira had joked then. But now, after having gone through the cruelest of Galbatorix's methods, the speech was the last thing that worried Eragon.

Eragon nodded at Nasuada and said, "I shall". Nasuada noticed the lack of enthusiasm in his answer and took on a serious look herself. She nodded at Eragon and turning towards the crowd called, "My people, I need your attention.", loudly. The chitchatting in the crowd died down gradually and the people focussed on Nasuada, Eragon and Saphira.

When he was sure that he had the people's attention, Eragon said, "I thank you all for supporting me during these.. difficult times. You have been a source of inspiration for me. Without your trust, I would be nothing now.", calmly. After a pause, he continued, "You and I" - he pointed the whole crowd - "Together, we shall bring down the evil king. Together, we shall make Alagaesia as it was before Galbatorix." The passion that laid dormant in him since his return to the Varden was back in his voice. The passion for helping Alagaesia back to its old splendour was too strong in him that when he spoke of it, all his insecurities and fears disappeared like dew before the sun. "We shall not stop. I shall not stop. I promise you, whatever happens, I shall not stop. Not till the evil lays dead before us. Let our enemy see the strength of our swords and bows and hammers. Let him see the strength of our hearts. We will make him cower before us." The people cheered loudly. "For the freedom of those caught under Galbatorix", Eragon swore and the crowd cheered. Goosebumps came over Eragon when he thought about 'those' who were caught under Galbatorix: the dragon's heart of hearts. He pledged silently to do all he could to free them even if the effort cost his own life.

'You spoke well, little one. I am proud', Saphira said.

"Where did you keep all that hidden these many years, Eragon? You are supposed to be shy", Nasuada commented humorously yet again.

"I spoke my heart, my lady", Eragon said simply. "I am jealous Eragon. I have tried all these days to raise the spirits of these people through my well-planned speeches and failed. But you come and speak your heart and the people are raving their confidence."

Eragon was a bit embarrassed. Nasuada was praising him beyond compare by comparing her speeches with his for everybody knew that she had a way with the tongue. He found it too easy to hide his embarrassment though. It was as if his natural instincts never let his emotions show, putting a mask over him. 'Maybe, a side-effect of hiding my emotions, all those times in the dungeon', Eragon thought darkly careful to hide his observation from Saphira.

Eragon smiled at Nasuada slightly in reply to her jest. Nasuada smiled back. "Rest well tonight, Eragon. We march to Dras-Leona tomorrow", she said. Then she bowed to Saphira and went in search of Jormundur with whom she had to discuss plans about travel.

Eragon sighed in relief when he saw that he was finally alone with Saphira. Everyone around him was busy dancing and singing. He scanned the entire ground where the party was being held. Nobody seemed to pay attention to him except for certain women whose eyes lingered on him longer than they should. It should have been embarrassing for Eragon but he didn't feel anything like that. In fact, he could simply ignore their stares. It was all too much unlike him even for himself. Flustered, Eragon shook himself once and tried to concentrate on the others in the party. He spotted Nasuada speaking with Jormundur seriously.

'Little one, whom are you searching?', Saphira asked.

'None. I am just looking at these people', he replied honestly while continuing his scan. Orrin and Angela were having a deadly serious discussion. 'Perhaps speaking about chemicals', Saphira commented. Eragon forced down a chuckle. Only Saphira could make him feel as if he were still the same farm-boy with no worries other than growing and tending crops and hunting for his family. Eragon placed one hand on Saphira's neck and stroked it gently, still scanning the crowd before him.

His eyes fell on the villagers of Carvahall. They were speaking excitedly among themselves. Roran and Katrina were among them. Eragon felt left out. When his village was assembled, he was not a part of it. It reminded him that he was no longer a villager of Carvahall. Eragon heaved a sigh and moved on. The elves were conversing among themselves. When he saw the elves, his eyes automatically started looking for Arya.

He had to look for a while to find her. She was speaking with an elf Eragon had seen a few times. Her expression was as calm as the other elves. But Eragon could feel it in her bearing and in her eyes - the intensity that most of the elves lacked. He wasn't even sure if anyone else other than him could see that difference. 'But', he thought, 'it is how it should be. None should see her as I see.'

His face instantly heated up when he thought that. He knew, he shouldn't stare at her from afar and that it was a breach of etiquette for the elves, but his eyes seemed to have a mind of their own and they never left her fair figure. Eragon thought, he smelled Arya's scent of crushed pine cones even from that distance. Her face emitted a kind of light like no other being in the entire gathering. Her perfect figure enticed Eragon. The thought that he couldn't hold her in his hands as he wished pained him as always. But he had made peace with that fact already. If he could only be her friend, then he pledged that he would be her best friend. In short, he had sworn himself to be whatever Arya wanted him to be. But deep down, he would always love her as strong as ever.

Eragon sighed. Whatever reason he gave his mind for not having Arya, it never was satisfied- maybe it accepted but surely not satisfied. Hence, the sigh - an unintentional outcome of his mind's anguish. 'Silence, you fool. If Arya knows of your squabbling, she would think that you betrayed her trust', he chided himself.

"Eragon?", someone called. Eragon was brought out of his thoughts forcefully. Alert and aware of his surroundings suddenly, Eragon turned to look at the person who had called him. He was relieved to see that it was Katrina who had called him.

"What is it, Katrina?", Eragon asked as he led her to a seat. Katrina was silent. Eragon could only guess that what Katrina wanted to talk was something very important and disturbing because he knew Katrina wasn't somebody who would be wary of talking something to him. He knew that she considered him as her younger brother. Eragon waited for Katrina to start the conversation.

But she remained silent and her eyes were fixed to the ground. "Katrina?... What has happened?", Eragon asked as kindly as possible. "Eragon.... I.... I haven't spoken about this to Roran yet.", Katrina said silently yet calmly as if she had made her mind up already and was clear about her decision. But Eragon became alert because if there was some matter that Katrina would discuss with him rather than with Roran, then it must be too sensitive that Roran couldn't handle it properly.

So he waited again for her to continue. After a while she said, "We are to travel to Dras-Leona tomorrow, isn't it? Nasuada told me." Eragon couldn't understand why Katrina was talking about such a thing to him. Nevertheless, he answered her. "Yes, we are."

"And I heard Dras-Leona is too dangerous", she said. Eragon still couldn't guess where their conversation was heading.

"It is", he said. Katrina fell silent once again. Eragon patiently waited for her to continue.

"You already said that my baby wasn't happy here.", she said in a whisper. Now, Eragon knew it. So it was about the baby, his as yet unborn niece or nephew. Eragon looked at Katrina intensely. Her auburn hair, whipped over her face. But she was expecting an answer from him. Eragon tried to extend his mind towards the child again. But now he couldn't find anything expect for some dull thoughts of which he could make out nothing of. He assumed the baby was asleep.

"Yes, I said. But, Katrina, the baby is absolutely fine. He or she will be born as healthy as any of us", Eragon said.

"What if I die before that, Eragon? I would gladly die by Roran's side but what does my child know? She hasn't seen the world yet. It would be cruel of me to kill her with me", Katrina burst out all of a sudden. Eragon was dumbfounded. He knew now why Katrina didn't speak of it to Roran. Roran would have gone asunder if he had heard this.

"Katrina.... but... it won't happen that way. Nothing will happen to any of you", Eragon said more to assure himself than to comfort her.

"Do you really believe it, Eragon? After what they did to you, after all these years of struggle, do you really believe what you say?", Katrina asked. Eragon had no answer and so remained silent.

"War is cruel, Eragon. We are grown up people. We have no choice but to face it. But why thrust it on my baby?", Katrina asked.

Eragon could see Brom, Evandar and Iormúngr in Katrina's face. 'War is cruel. My child must not see it.', they all must have thought before falling in it. 'What if, we too die and leave our children to suffer?', Eragon thought and he shuddered.

'Hush, Eragon. Calm down. You can't lose your strength now. Katrina needs your support', Saphira said. She had been calm for the duration of Eragon's talk with Katrina watching Katrina intently. 'She is broken little one. Don't force your worries too on her. Try to help her', Saphira said.

"I won't let that happen, Katrina. Your child is my kin and if anything were to happen to it, it will happen across my corpse.", Eragon said not as a comfort but as a promise.

"I know, Eragon. I know. You and Roran would do anything for my child. But will it really help her?", Katrina asked. Once again, Eragon was lost for words. He didn't want to lie to Katrina. 'How will our deaths help the child? Like Evandar's death helped Arya and like Selena's death helped me.', Eragon thought and a forlorn smile came upon his face.

"I want to go away, Eragon. I need to go to some safe place till my child is born.", Katrina said bringing Eragon out of his thoughts.

Eragon struggled to give a proper answer to Katrina for it seemed Katrina's idea was the best, but the realm of the Varden: Surda, Feinster, Aroughs and Belatona didn't strike Eragon as 'safe' places without the Varden soldiers.

"Yes, Katrina.... You have a very valid point. But where would you go? Nowhere is safe in this wretched war. The only safe place I can think of is here where the warriors of Varden reside.", Eragon said.

'Eragon, you are not helping.', Saphira admonished him. 'What am I supposed to do, Saphira? Give her false hope only to take it away in a matter of days? She should understand, Saphira', he said wearily.

"Eragon. There should be somewhere. Please Eragon. You are the only one who can help me", Katrina choked out, a soft sob escaping her lips. Eragon stared at Katrina helplessly. As much as he wanted to help her, he couldn't find any solution to her problem.

"Katrina could stay with my people.", somebody said from beside Eragon. Eragon was shocked to hear the voice for it was the most beautiful voice he had ever heard, however cold the tone was.

"Arya?", he asked in wonderment and confusion. The elves weren't people who would take in other races among themselves and they had been so ever since the fall of the riders. The only humans to have walked the leafy city of Ellesmera or any other elf city for that matter were Brom, Eragon's father and Eragon himself. Ironically, Katrina's father Sloan was part of that elite group now, whatever might be the real reason for him to be there.

"But the queen won't accept", Eragon whispered to Arya not wanting to hurt Katrina.

"Do you forget that I am the princess and I have powers in my nation too, Eragon?", Arya asked him in the same low voice he used.

Eragon looked at Arya incredulously. She said in a higher voice, "Do you think your family isn’t welcome with us, Eragon? You have given us great joy and hope. You are the only living Vinr Älfakyn and your father was our friend too. If we don't help your family, then all that certain humans say about us being cold-hearted devils will be proved right. You and your friends will always be welcome with us, shur'tugal" Though her words were formal, her tone suggested otherwise; she genuinely meant what she said.

Katrina faced Arya and said, "Thank you, Lady Arya" Arya nodded her head once curtly and said, "Ten elves are going from this camp into the Du WeldenVarden tomorrow to take news of the happenings of the war to our forest, now that the elven army has marched well past the borders of Du WeldenVarden. You can accompany them."

Katrina's face exuded surprise at hearing that. She bowed to Arya and turning to Eragon said, "I have to talk with Roran. He will be happy to hear this."

"I bet he will be. But how he will manage without you, I have no idea", Eragon said happy that Katrina's problem was solved. "Don't tease him, Eragon.", Katrina said playfully and added in a more serious tone, "Don't let any harm come to him."

Eragon nodded sombrely and said, "He will be safe when you return"

Katrina smiled at him and said, "You both be safe too", pointing him and Saphira. Saphira hummed in response.

Katrina was gone in seconds towards the gathering of the people of Carvahall. Eragon watched her go with a satisfied expression. When Katrina was gone, he turned to Arya and said, "Thank you", all his gratitude etched on his face. Arya yet again nodded her head as if accepting his words.

"Where are you planning to take the egg first, Arya?", Eragon asked when an uncomfortable silence fell over them. Arya seemed glad at the change of subject and said, "I haven't really thought about that too much Eragon. In any case, I don't plan to leave the Varden before the siege of Dras-Leona is over. The end of the war is near and we can't afford to lose any battles at this stage."

Eragon was expecting to hear something from Arya about him and Saphira accompanying her while she carried the egg. But Arya didn't even act like such a thing existed.

'Ha, little one!!, do you really think she will talk about that with you?', Saphira asked in a mocking tone. Eragon blushed slightly at the implied meaning: 'would someone talk of spending time alone with another who constantly pounds them asking to be loved?'

"True.", Eragon said after being silent for a while, "And how is the little dragon in the egg?"

"He is fine, I suppose. The thoughts of an unbonded and unborn dragon is too difficult to read.", Arya replied. "But his general mood is quite healthy", she added. Eragon noticed the word - 'Healthy' - the same word Eragon came up with when he tried to read the thoughts of Katrina's child.

'He is still in search of his beloved one, Eragon', Glaedr's voice echoed in his mind, 'But his bickering has reduced vastly from what I remember about him before the fall.', he said. 'Probably an effect of the hundred years spent near evil.', Glaedr continued more to himself than to Eragon.

'Master. Will he ever hatch?', Eragon asked.

'I am sure we have had this discussion already, child. We must hope and let the future in the care of fate. There is nothing we can do to change his destiny.'

'I understand master', Eragon said although he didn't feel any good.

Eragon had secretly hoped to share his burden with someone if the egg hatched soon enough however bleak the prospect of the new rider being battle-ready in mere months was. Atleast there would have been a rider with whom he could share the deepest of rider secrets. Somebody who could fill the void left by the death of Oromis, although the roles would be reversed with him playing Oromis. But with every passing talk about the green dragon egg, the prospect of it hatching reduced and Eragon found himself irritated with the 'one', the dragon in the egg was searching for, whoever it was. At first, he had admired the person for making a dragon wait for thousands of years, but now none of that remained because that long dead person was denying him a comrade.

"Eragon, I have to select the people leaving for Du WeldenVarden tomorrow. Try to get some rest for the march towards Dras-Leona will be much more taxing than you think", Arya said. Eragon noticed Arya's choice of words - 'Try to get rest'. It showed that she knew how he felt on the inside.

"I will, Arya. And may I ask you to tell them to take good care of Katrina when she is with them?", Eragon asked.

"Of course, I shall.", Arya said. She turned to Saphira and stroked her neck scales, "And you too. Don't try to stay awake tonight. Get some sleep. You won't get free time for another week", Arya said to Saphira. Saphira hummed and nodded her huge head and said, 'I will, your highness', in a mock respectable gesture.

'Saphira!!', Arya said. Eragon could see a slight hue of red on Arya's cheeks. Was she blushing? He had thought Saphira was going to hang in air for a while for mocking Arya, but yet again Saphira's closeness with Arya surprised him.

When Arya was gone, Saphira asked, 'What is that look on your face, Eragon?'

'You..... You are .... mocking her and she just goes.. How?', Eragon put his thoughts in words in disarray.

'I didn't mock her..... I was just joking to her.', Saphira said. 'And did you see her? She was embarrassed', Saphira said after a while.

'Um, yes.... I saw.... But...', Eragon said. 'But what? You don't know why she blushed? You really are a blockhead, if you can't see why. You were around, Eragon', Saphira said in a flourish. It was now Eragon's turn to go red. The thought of Arya blushing in his presence was too much that he couldn't control the blush that rose up his own cheeks.

Eragon stood dreamily thinking of the events of the night. The occurrences had lightened his mood greatly. And a vast part of the reason was Arya. Just looking at her made him feel good. Maybe she didn't love him as he did, but she considered him a friend and judging from her actions for Katrina, Arya really cared for his welfare.

Eragon's mind was warm and fuzzy with such thoughts and hence he decided that he would meet with the villagers of Carvahall. Eragon had paid his village friends, a formal visit after his arrival, but hadn't really talked to them for whatever reason, he felt the need for solitude and aloofness.

When he reached the part of the field where the villagers were gathered, he noticed that Roran and Katrina were missing. 'Probably discussing Katrina plans of leaving', Eragon thought.

Horst was speaking animatedly to Fisk standing at the forefront of the little gathering of Palancar Valley. They didn't notice Eragon arriving. He was thankful for that because he was tired of all the 4royal welcomes that he received wherever he went. Atleast with the people who had known him since birth, he wanted to be the normal, 'no-body'-Eragon. But all of a sudden there was a disturbance and Eragon could feel fear and excitement in the thoughts of the people. He already knew why the people reacted as such. Saphira had flown down to that part ignoring all his pleas to let him go alone.

The children of Carvahall ran to Saphira as soon as she lay down to rest. They started playing with her trying to climb over her. She played along shaking the kids off when someone managed to near the saddle. She was careful not to hurt any child. Eragon watched the scene for a while and walked onward were the elders stood watching in wonder and fear at his Saphira.

"Horst", Eragon called when he was near the smith. Horst jumped in shock and managed to say, "Eragon? Oh, how do you move that silently? I didn't notice you. We saw only Saphira."

Eragon nodded his head and said, "Um, It is fine. How have you been?"

'Eragon. Now that is a cold greeting. This was not what he expected of you. He was making a comment about my size. You should have replied in a much more brighter vein', Saphira said mildly to him.

'Oh, what do I do, Saphira? It has become my habit. Won't go away that easily, I suppose', Eragon replied.

"I am fine, Eragon", Horst replied and continued with a smile, "Baldor and Albriech have been wanting to talk to you for a while now. And Elain too"

"How is your child?", Eragon asked. "Oh, she is fine. Elain takes care of the baby well. Although, the battlefield isn't a great place to grow a child", Horst said finishing the last part with a forlorn tone.

"You should send Elain to Aberon. The effects of the war won't be visible there.", Eragon said thinking of Katrina who was to go to the elves homeland. It was not out of partiality that he suggested Elain to go to Aberon and not Katrina, but because Katrina would be an obvious target of the empire's spies and army whereas Elain would be virtually unnoticeable.

"I have talked to her about that already, Eragon. But she wouldn't listen to me. Maybe if you tell, she will listen", Horst said. Eragon was dumfounded. He had never imagined Horst speaking to him that way. Like Eragon was a superior power than Horst. For Eragon, however true that notion maybe, Horst was still equal to his uncle Garrow. And how could he advice Elain to do something? She was like a second mother to him, always caring and affectionate.

'So much has changed', Eragon thought ruefully. But after a few seconds of thought, it didn't feel wrong to him anymore. Something about the notion of him being the senior most of the people of Carvahall felt right. Eragon nodded at Horst who was waiting eagerly for his reply and said, "I shall."

Horst appeared satisfied. Most of the people around Eragon looked reverently at him. As though, he were a god. Eragon shuddered at such thoughts.

'Eragon, Roran says, the people of Carvahall held a offering ceremony for your well-being.', Saphira said in way of explaining the people's actions.

'OFFERING CEREMONY?', Eragon shrieked in Saphira's mind. 'But.... But it is done in honour of the land. In thanks for the help it provided in farming.', he continued.

'Yes. You really have paid attention to master Orormis's teachings, Eragon', Saphira said brightly.

'Don't mock me, Saphira. Don't you understand? In the ceremony, the land is considered a god', Eragon said angry at Saphira that she could ignore such a important thing.

'I am not mocking you, little one. That was precisely what I wanted to explain to you', Saphira said calmly. Eragon tried to control the anger that coursed through him on the people of Carvahall for making him alien to them by performing such ceremonies.

But when Eragon turned back to look at Horst, the smile on the smith's face, melted his anger like snow before sun. The smile was genuinely caring. "If you want to rest, you can go to my tent which is just ahead of this bend. I will be there soon. Elain is there too. Perhaps you can talk to her.", Horst said.

The good mood with which Eragon had come to the gathering of his villagers came back to him at hearing those words. He was still welcome in his village as a friend.

"Thank you, Horst. I will go. I want to meet this new friend of mine", Eragon said and made his way towards Horst's home.

'See Eragon. That is why, I didn't take the ceremony as seriously as you did. Your villagers did that out of real concern for you. You should be proud to have lived among this neighbourhood.', Saphira said as Eragon knocked the door at Horst's tent. He noticed that the blacksmith, had modified the door of the tent to match that of an actual house's. Thinking of Horst living in a tent, brought bad memories into Eragon's mind. Horst's house was the biggest and most lavishly designed one in Carvahall.

Elain opened the door. Her new-born child was in her hands. The sight of the baby pushed away all dark and forboding thoughts from his mind. He eagerly took the child in his hands when Elain offered the child to him. He learned that they had not yet named the child. The beautiful and cute face of the baby reminded Eragon of all the good in the world and helped strengthen his resolve to destroy evil once and for all.

Elain provided Eragon with good food. Eragon asked her, as subtly as he could, how she was able to afford such good food in these difficult times. She brushed off his subtlety and answered him directly. She explained that the shortage of smiths in the Varden had helped them amass huge prospects and that Horst had helped some of the struggling families of Carvahall with the money he had got.

Eragon was happy for the family and their noble acts. He blessed the little girl child with good health and prospects careful to avoid any misspellings, the fate of Elva playing in his mind. Finally, he spoke to Elain of her leaving to Aberon. She defiantly refused at first, telling that she would be wherever her husband and sons were. "But now your family includes this little kid too. You know much more than me that the first year in any child's life has to be spent in happy surroundings which can hardly be found here in between the war.", Eragon said.

"And how will my child feel without her father near?", Elain asked sadly. Eragon couldn't offer any reply to her. He knew how it would feel like to have no father. So he stared at her, his face blank, all his struggles buried in his mind.

'War brings such things with it. Tell her that little one. Leaving would be the better of two cruel alternatives. Explain to her', Saphira said.

'I can't, Saphira. I don't seem to be capable of it. I would love it, if you explained it to her.', Eragon pleaded Saphira.

As usual, Saphira's inexplicable logic when she explained things to Elain made Elain accept that leaving was better than staying with a new-born kid in war-zone. She thanked Eragon and Saphira for making her understand that fact.

Soon the villagers started flooding into the tent. All the people who had known Eragon well conversed with him as they did for all those years in Carvahall, although Eragon could notice slight hesitation in their demeanor when they talked too intimate things. Others, who didn't know him that well, still had the same irritating reverent look etched on their faces. But as the hours rolled by, the people forgot their differences and started conversing with Eragon as if he were one of them, even after three years of his leaving Carvahall. Finally, after a few hours of talking with the villagers, Eragon left for his quarters. Horst and family waved him good night when he mounted into Saphira's saddle.

The party that Eragon dreaded so much yesterday had turned out to be much better than he had expected. Happy at that thought, Eragon lay down to sleep, his head rested comfortably on Saphira's legs. He still didn't trust himself to sleep alone at night.

Author's Note:

A filler again. The story has nearly come to a standstill in the past three chapters, I think. What should have been a single crisp chapter has been divided into three chapters. But they weren't bad, I guess. Not so exciting, but not bad. Actually I had to give Eragon the feel at the Varden once again. And that is why there have been these 'sort-of' repeating chapters. The story will move on from the next chapter onwards, I promise. Also what do you think of the new personality of Eragon: aloof and cold? After torture of the kind which Eragon had gone through, anybody will change. I keep stressing this point again and again because I want you to understand my reasoning.

And the next chapter may take a while. I have projects and exams for another four days and only then can I start working on it.