For Alagaesia: 67. Hour of need

Standstill was only a word. One half of its meaning could be realised by watching Ellesmera. Time seemed to come to a standstill in the leafy elven city. But how could one realise the other half? How could time be brought to a standstill for real? This was the question eating into Eragon’s peace for the best part of the last month.

‘What use is magic when it can’t fulfil your only wish?’ – Eragon found himself thinking. How good it would be if there was a knob like that on Oromis’s time bauble that could be wound to keep time from advancing?

He wanted nothing to change around him from how it was. The serenity and peace of the Crags of Telnair and Ellesmera reminded him of divinity. ‘If there were a God then this is how his abode would be like.’, he thought.

But time, as was customary, did not stop for him. The days rolled into weeks and they in turn rolled into months. The sun rise and set reminded him of it; and Indra’s size. Arya’s dragon now stood twice as tall as him. The traces of childhood were leaving him as fast as it would leave any dragon. His mental voice had matured from the adorable cooing to a majestic rumble. It was now impossible to think of him as a playful and pride-filled creature. He was still proud, but his pride was polished more like that Arya’s. And his playful ways had long since left him. It wasn’t as if he had transformed into a sombre creature like Eragon and Arya. But his wits and adventures were tempered by his knowledge about the dark side of Alagaesia – the side that consisted of Durza, Galbatorix, Morzan and unfortunately Murtagh.

In the three months since Vanendra had hatched for Arya, Eragon had learned a lot about her. First and foremost, he now understood that she wasn’t perfect. For example, she was lazy in the mornings; she was afraid of chameleons; and she always lost patience in his presence. That last thing concerned him. After all that had happened between the two of them – the rejections, the arguments, the comforts and the friendship – he didn’t want to lose her trust again.

“Arya, do you not like me tutoring you in the ways of the riders?”, he asked her one day, after she glared at him for nothing but brushing her hand unintentionally. Katrina’s advice had engraved itself strongly in his mind: Just speak about the troubles and they will be solved.

Arya threw him a look that made him feel guilty. “Did I do something that gave you such an impression, Shur'tugal?”, she asked.

Gods!! She could be blunter than the bluntest human and she was not one. She was an elf. Elves were supposed to speak in riddles. And Arya used to speak in riddles just months ago. Something had changed in her in the past few months that made her behave differently around him. It was true that she had become a dragon rider and that she had conceded that Eragon was a dear friend of hers. Still, the last few weeks, ever since she had seen the fairths he had made, she behaved differently when he was around.

The changes weren’t pronounced. They were so subdued that most people wouldn’t notice them. But Eragon wasn’t same as most people. He doted after everything that related to Arya, even if his mind told that it wasn’t a good idea to do so. His heart just wouldn’t listen. Hence he had noticed the hesitations, stammering’s, bad temper and the tendency to avoid him. He interpreted those emotions and actions as the spill-over of Arya’s silent resentment at learning from someone who didn’t even know to read and write three years ago.

But the frank and sharp look that bored into his face at the moment held nothing of the resentment that he had associated with Arya’s inborn pride. It was the look of a trusted friend who had just learned that her friend didn’t trust her as she did her friend.

Eragon scrambled to apologise. “I am sorry Arya. I didn’t mean it. But...”, he couldn’t continue. Giving words to those subtle actions from Arya was just impossible. Arya seemed to understand his dilemma. After all it was she who glared at him moments ago for nothing.

“Let us not speak of these things, Eragon.”, she said. The way she said ‘these’ implied that she knew exactly what she was speaking about. And the resolve in her voice showed that she meant what she said.

Human mind, the fickle thing that it is, always craves to know the forbidden. This was no different and for all his changes Eragon was still inherently human. The need to know what it was that she didn’t want to discuss with him spread like wild fire in his mind.

Saphira warned him against doing anything of the sort from where she was flying with Indra. Eragon kept his eyes trained on Arya. There was something in her demeanour that made him feel something tender for her. In that instant, he needed nothing else but to know all her secrets. He wanted to see everything as she saw, hear everything as she heard, feel everything as she felt; he simply wanted to be her. In that moment of madness, he remembered not the promises he had made to himself, to Arya and to Saphira. The only thing, his colourfully clouded mind reminded him was Arya’s expression and the tenderness that it evoked in him. He went with the flow, disregarding Saphira’s warning, “Arya...”, he began.

As if the tenderness in his voice warned her, Arya snapped out of the trance like expression with which she held him and the usual stoic look replaced the oddly captivating one.

“Arya... I...”, Eragon began not minding all the threatening and pleading noises that Saphira made in his mind, only to be cut off by an elf.

“Drottningu. Shur’tugal.”, Niduen said.

“Lady Niduen”, Arya replied almost instantly. Relief was written all over her voice and face.

“Shur’tugal, A runner has come for you.”, Niduen said to Eragon. There was urgency in her voice and her legs, Eragon found. Even her eyes that were always assured and calm, looked disturbed. He had not known Niduen to be a lady to lose her peace over petty things. Niduen’s anxiety forcefully brought him back to the real world from the dream world he had been in.

“Where from?”, Arya asked. She didn’t look that concerned. Perhaps, the effects of the just interrupted conversation held sway over her. For some odd reason, such a thought gave Eragon immense satisfaction.

“Gil’ead”, was the short reply from Niduen.

The reply might have been short. But it had its effect on Arya. The sharp focus that Eragon associated with Arya usually when outside Ellesmera came onto her face.

“What is the message?”, both of them asked almost simultaneously.

“You are needed, Eragon-vodhr. The queen has sent for help.”, Niduen said.

“What? What happened?”

“War, Shur’tugal. That is what has happened.”, Niduen said.

Something in her voice said that she disapproved of Eragon’s prolonged stay in Du Weldenvarden. ‘If the elves think this way, what about the humans and dwarves?’, Eragon thought. But he brushed the thought away as soon as it had occurred to him. It was not the time to be dismayed by things over which he had no control. There were much more pressing matters to attend to. After all, it is not every day that the elven army needs help.

Arya looked hurt and restless. Although Eragon could see that she was trying hard to conceal her emotions, it was not entirely successful. He, at least, could read her face.

“Please do debrief, Niduen.”, Arya said, not trying to hide her impatience.

Niduen, who had been keeping her attention entirely on Eragon, turned to face Arya and said, “The young rider of the empire has laid siege on Gil'ead.”

“Siege? In this winter?”, Arya asked, disbelief and worry colouring her voice.

“Yes, Drottningu. Galbatorix apparently wants to starve us to death.”, Niduen replied.

“But how does the Empire's army sustain? It is not as if one dragon rider could stop the entire elven army.”, Arya asked.

“Did you forget, princess, that half of the elven army including Lord Dathedr are in Teirm?”, the accusatory tone was back in Niduen's voice.

Arya seemed to pick on Niduen's emotions. She glared at her childhood friend and replied, “I am aware, Lady Niduen. But there still are sufficient number of our people in Gil'ead to repulse one dragon rider. Aren't there?”

“If they could do that, why send for help?”, Niduen asked.

Eragon felt like he was caught between two warring goddesses. He had never seen the two women before him lose their calm over petty things. But the way they were speaking now trying to outdo each other reminded him of girls fighting in Carvahall over who would dance with Ashwanth, the handsome boy. The feeling that the argument between the two elves was on account of him didn't help either.

“Could you please lead us to the messenger, Lady Niduen?”, Eragon asked.

Niduen eyed him coolly and replied, “Of course, Shur'tugal. If you would follow me.” Saying so, Niduen walked away from there swiftly. Eragon and Arya scrambled to follow the lady of Ellesmera.

As they walked Eragon called Saphira with his mind, informing her about the happenings in brief. Although Saphira knew most of the news through her rider-bond, she listened to Eragon patiently for she knew that Eragon was disturbed by the prospect of facing Murtagh in war and more importantly by the turbulence in Arya's face.

Both of them knew how much Arya would want to be there to help her people out of the crisis situation. And both of them also knew how important it was to not allow Arya or Indra out of Du Weldenvarden.

The messenger was pacing in the Tialdari hall. He looked less like an elf and more like a man, in that he was restless and utterly spent. Never had Eragon seen an elf so completely out of breath. He knew at that instant that something was terribly wrong in Gil’ead.

“Hail, the shadeslayers!! I am Randhir from the house of Nagishk.”, the elf said when he laid eyes on them. Without tarrying further with unnecessary courtesies, he delivered his message. “Eragon Shur’tugal, the elven queen calls for your assistance in war. The dragon rider of the empire has grown strong and the armies of the usurper know no pain, nor do they feel hunger. They attack like mad men possessed of some evil spirit.”

“Is there any other news you have to deliver?”, Arya asked anxiously.

“No Drottuningu. I do not have…”, the elf was saying as Saphira and Indra landed in the open space outside Tialdari hall. The elf stopped whatever he was going to say and gaped open mouthed at Indra.

‘What are you looking for, if I may ask?’, Indra asked bringing the elf back to his senses.

“I am sorry, dyrr undr. But I didn’t know that you had hatched.”, the elf replied politely. “May I ask who your rider is?”

“It is I, Randhir.”, Arya announced proudly.

The elf looked for a moment at Arya’s raised hand – at her Gedwey Ignasia and then turned to Indra and said, “You have chosen well, rikr eka.”

‘I am Vanendra.’, Indra introduced himself.

“King of the skies indeed.”, the elf said and bowed.

“So, you have nothing else to report?”, Arya came back to the issue at hand.

“Nothing, my lady.”, the elf replied.

“Well, how was the battle faring when you left?”, Arya asked, her frustration at not knowing things in greater detail showing through.

“Badly, Drottuningu. We could not go out in large numbers because of the rider. And the small parties we sent out to break their ranks always ended up being overwhelmed by the sheer size of their army. We waited long hoping that they would end the siege ultimately due to hunger and disease. But the abominations created by Galbatorix live on the bark of the trees.”

‘Bark of the trees?’, Saphira asked sceptically.

“I am sorry, Bjartskular. I was venting my frustration. Galbatorix sends them reinforcements every once in a while. Although the supplies are meagre, thanks to the Varden and Lord Dathedr’s victory at Teirm, they make do with it.”, the elf clarified.

“Did you discover any motive behind their attacks?”, Arya asked.

“Nothing that I know of, my lady. Although if anything had come to pass in the last week, I am not aware of it. ”, the elf replied shortly.

Arya looked troubled. Creases lined her forehead as she tried to piece things together. Saphira nudged Indra, asking him what was going on in Arya’s head.

‘She doubts that there must be something that her mother knows. She says that the Queen would not have sent for Eragon if the need wasn’t dire,’ Indra said to Saphira and Eragon.

‘That observation was meant to be private, Indra.’, Arya scolded her dragon.

Saphira snorted disapproving Arya’s stance. ‘What else?’, she asked Indra.

‘Umm… I should not say the other part, I guess.’, Indra replied tamely. Even after much prodding he wouldn’t give in.

Meanwhile, Niduen was asking after the elves she knew. From her queries, Eragon understood that things were not particularly good even with the elven nobles. After much questioning, Niduen asked what she must have wanted to ask first of all: how her father was. She was told that he was fine, although the raid party of twenty that was sent under his leadership returned with a head count of five.

Not wanting to hear any more of the depressing news, Eragon said to the messenger, “In three hours we shall fly from Ellesmera.”

Then he broadcast his worry to Saphira in private, ‘Three hours is all we get to prepare for the mental trauma of facing my brother again.’

He then excused himself from the others saying that he needed to prepare for his impending departure leaving a visibly irate Arya behind.

Once he and Saphira were at Oromis’s home, they informed Glaedr about the queen’s request. ‘I am sorry, children, that I am not able to help anymore.’, Glaedr said.

Eragon was startled not by Glaedr’s words but by the way he said them: dejected, frustrated and self-pitying.

“No master, you have no reason to be upset. You did all that you could. You marched into battle even though none asked it of you.”, Eragon replied kindly. Then he began making Saphira’s saddle bag ready. He had not had to use it for three full months. But the time period after Indra’s hatching did not seem that long. It felt more like the day after the dragon’s hatching.

‘Yes, it was our choice. Yet I regret every waking minute nowadays. I wish I had died with Oromis.’, Glaedr said after a while.

‘Without you we would be dead by now, Ebrithil. We need you.’, Saphira said.

‘Now, Saphira. Don’t try to make me feel important. I have nothing to give you. No words of wisdom to overcome the usurper and no claws and teeth to tear apart your enemies.’

‘You help us just by being there, master. You may not realise that but every time I speak to you, I feel as if my burden is lighter.’, Eragon said sounding soft and resolute.

‘Is that so?’, Glaedr’s mental voice was sceptic. Then he laughed as if they had not had a heavy discussion a moment ago and said, ‘You are a good man, Eragon. Saphira chose wisely.’

‘I have heard that a hundred times now. I only wish I were not just good but useful to the land that has borne me to this day.’, Eragon said.

‘One day you will be hatchling. You will liberate all of Alagaesia one day.’

“But when, how?”, Eragon asked miserably.

‘That I know not. But do not underestimate the memories of the dragons so easily. The elfish features that we gave you during the blood-oath were a token of something greater; I felt it then and I feel it now. You are destined for something greater, Eragon.’, Glaedr said.

‘I can only hope that you are not trying to give me false hope master.’

Before Glaedr could reply, Saphira said, ‘Little one, Arya approaches. And she is angry.’

‘Of course she is.’, Eragon said. He put the bag he was holding aside and glanced at the door.

“Eragon, I need to talk to you.”, came Arya’s urgent and angry voice from outside the door.

“Yes, Arya. Come in.”, he replied. He knew exactly what Arya wanted to talk to him. And he dreaded the discussion that was to follow.

“What was that about?”, Arya ‘s voice came in first, followed by herself.

“What?”

“You know what. Why are you not letting us join you?”, Arya asked.

In some corner of his mind, Eragon had hoped that may be Arya would see reason; maybe she would understand why she and Indra could not join this battle. But with Arya’s question, Eragon knew that all hope was for vain.

“Indra is just three months old Arya.”, Eragon said.

“So?”

Oh, this elf and her stubbornness. “So, it would be unwise for you to ride into battle.”

‘I am ready.’, Indra’s mental voice said from somewhere far away.

‘No, you are not, Indra.’, Saphira replied. Indra did not say any more. He left the argument to his rider.

“I have seventy five years of battle experience, Eragon.”, Arya said.

“I do not doubt your ability or experience. And Indra is a great flyer too.”

“Then what?”

“You have not flown even once yet, Arya. It would not only be unwise but also completely mindless of us to let Indra be involved in it.”

Arya looked frustrated and she didn’t even seem to have heard what he said. Eragon waited for Arya to calm down. He caught her gaze and held it. After a while, Arya seemed to calm down and then said, “Then let him not be. He will be safe here. Let me come with you.”

Vanendra burst into the conversation without giving a chance for anyone else to speak. ‘I will not stand for it, Arya. I am not leaving you alone.’

Eragon was shocked to hear Arya utter the words she did. He had wanted to curse her stubbornness. But Indra had made a statement much stronger than any he could have done himself. The raw hurt that was laced in Indra’s voice made things easy for him, or so he hoped. He was sure Arya would think thrice before she dares to form such thoughts again.

“Did you hear that Arya? It is not right to be away from each other in the first six months of your bonding. You know that.”, he said.

Arya hung her head down. A look of defeat came over it. It was the kind of look that Eragon would do anything to get rid of. “Do you want me to abandon them then? Do I not have the right to fight alongside my mother? To protect her?”, Arya asked.

Now things were getting a bit clear. Arya wanted to protect her mother. Of course, who would not want to? He had seen the love mother and daughter shared before. It was true that they had not been in good terms for seventy years, but before the strength of love, such misunderstandings were nothing. As he knew all this, he understood how anyone would feel in such circumstances; especially Arya. Knowing her she would curse herself for not being there with Islanzadi during times like these. He did not want Arya to feel that way. He wanted her to forget those worries.

“Let me take your place Arya. I will stand by your mother and as long as I am alive no ill shall befall her.”, Eragon promised her.

He saw a measure of peace and relief come over Arya’s face. “Eragon…”, she said and hesitated.

“Trust me Arya. I would no…”, Eragon said only to be cut off by Arya, “I will trust my life with you Eragon. But...” She hesitated again.

Eragon waited with bated breath to hear what she had to say. “Come back safe, Eragon.”, she said in a husky voice.

“We will.”, Eragon said.

Arya held his gaze for a little moment; the tenderness of her gaze made him feel so weak and vulnerable.

“I will wait for you at the Tialdari hall.”, Arya said bringing him out of his reverie. She went to turn back but saw his still unpacked bag and came back in. Silently, she began packing for him. Eragon tried to convey that he was fine but she simply brushed his hand away.

Seeing that there was no way to stop Arya he resigned himself to looking at the elegance of her packing. If he had done the packing, he wouldn’t have kept the things half as organised as Arya did.

‘Are you staying here master or?’, Eragon asked Glaedr.

‘What will I do here? I can’t even speak to the little one.’, Glaedr replied implying Indra. ‘And my place is with the Lord rider. After the just concluded conversation, I can proudly claim that you are now truly the Lord rider. You handled Arya wisely hatchling.’

Eragon nodded his head out of practice, picked up Glaedr’s eldunari and secured it in his backpack. When he turned back towards Arya, she had completed the packing and was dusting his armour.

“I will place this on the top so that you can wear it at short notice.”, she said.

“Okay.” Eragon nodded. Something made it difficult for him to speak. He let out a heavy breath and said, “We have to go. It is getting late.”

The two of them walked out of the home, Arya holding the saddle bag in her hand despite protests from Eragon. Once outside, Eragon began working on strapping the new saddle he had made for Saphira on her back. When he was done, Arya tied the bag to the saddle.

‘Allow me to carry you to Tialdari hall, Arya.’, Saphira said.

Obliging, Arya climbed into the saddle closely followed by Eragon who mimicked the elf’s movements. When they reached Tialdari hall, Indra was pacing impatiently in front of the great gate of the hall. A host of elves, young and old, had gathered around him. Arya slid down from the saddle as soon as they landed. But Eragon remained seated in the saddle.

Eragon instructed the messenger to stay behind in Ellesmera and not to speak about Indra to anyone outside the city. The elf listened to him silently and promised that he would do as asked.

“Good Bye, Indra. I will miss you.”, Eragon said. The young dragon dipped his head in acknowledgement and then raised and touched Eragon upon his brow with his snout.

‘I will too, Eragon-vinr and Saphira- fėlagi’, Indra replied. Saphira snorted but did not say anything. She extended her face and touched Indra’s. Both dragons stood for a moment like that.

When the dragons disengaged from the show of friendship, Eragon looked at Arya and mouthed, “Good bye”

She just nodded and placed her hand on Saphira’s flank. When Saphira turned to her, she said mentally, ‘Tell my mother.’

Eragon and Saphira knew what they had to tell the queen. And they were glad for being the messengers of the news. Saphira plunged her claws into the ground, readying herself for the arduous journey ahead.

“Come back safe to us.”, Arya said.

And Saphira was in the air with a strong beat of her wings.

Author’s Note:

First of all, I am back and I don’t know if anybody is going to read this anymore. Yet, I shall try to finish the whole thing off this time around. I have plotted the story chapter by chapter and so it is only a matter of giving words to the ideas. Here’s hoping that I don’t get side-tracked yet again. And next, this chapter is the start of the end of the story – so to say. From here on, there will be a lot of action and I can only hope that it will be satisfactory to one and all.

The ancient language terms used: (I have come a little out of old Norse here and have begun using one or two Sanskrit words in its place – because I am familiar with Sanskrit and searching for old Norse is so difficult.)

Dyrr staddr – precious marvel

Staddr – marvel

Vinr – friend

Fėlagi – partner

Rikr eka – great one (a mixture of old Norse and Sanskrit)