For Alagaesia: 94. The Ups and Downs of Life

The first thing that Eragon did after securing the future of the Eldunari was to scry Nasuada to inform her of the death of Alagaesia's tyrant. He knew that such news would by itself lift the spirits of Murtagh's party like never before. They could even enjoy their journey through the heart of Alagaesia into the Du Weldenvarden with the knowledge that their tormentor would not come chasing behind them into those green canopies and that they could lead a free life henceforth.

“I can't thank you enough brother for what you have done,” Murtagh sounded relieved.

“What we did, Murtagh” corrected Eragon. “Without your sacrifices this victory would not have been possible.”

Murtagh wouldn't agree though. “No. All I did was make life even more difficult than it already was for you. I am useful for nothing,” he lamented.

“Oh, no. You are. You provide Elva here with satisfaction that someone could suffer a greater tragedy than her,” Angela pitched in with her trademarked quirk.

“He is not going to be a tragedy. Not my brother. He will live a full life with Nasuada and Thorn for company,” Eragon reprimanded the witch. He felt guilty for the fates of both Elva and Murtagh. He somehow felt that he had brought such tragedy upon them by himself.

Nasuada could sense the unwanted guilt and sorrow seeping into the conversation. Her take on all that had happened was this: “Nobody here is to blame for what we all went through. The source of all our suffering is Galbatorix and now that the evil has been purged we can live life without whining over our past.”

That they could all agree with. Bidding them a happy journey, Eragon went back to looking into the affairs of the empire that were in shambles.

Amidst all the rebuilding activities, Roran grew more and more restless. At nights, to Eragon's dismay, the commander of Varden roamed alone counting stars in the sky and at deliberations his wearied bearings tugged at Eragon's heart. He was partial to the feelings of his cousin and had, at one time, braved the insolence of  Sloan and the hawkish Garrow to ferry messages between Roran and Katrina. After consulting with Saphira, he decided to take Roran to Silthrim for he knew why Roran was so distressed. He knew very well that it was only his sense of duty for the Varden that kept Roran from running all by himself to Katrina and Weldhana. The Stronghammer had not held his child even after all these months.

Islanzadi heard out Eragon's plea and seemed amused when he hesitated to ask for her permission to take Roran away. “Go, Lead rider, take your brother to his child. I am not so cruel as to keep a father away from his child. I will take care of the affairs of this country in your absence,” said she.

Eragon was happy to have secured the queen's approval to leave midway through the rebuilding efforts. Without it, he and Roran would never have been able to enjoy their trip. The sufferings that all the people of the kingdom would have to endure due to their absence and the ensuing indecision was all swept away from his mind in an instant. That Islanzadi herself promised to take care of the citizens, made him confident that his absence will not be felt.

“Oh, and Eragon, consider taking Arya along,” Islanzadi called after him as he was about to leave the queen's quarters. He struggled to hide the excitement from his face as he turned and nodded at the queen.

Their journey was exhilarating to say the least. Arya had in her own uniquely dutiful way rejected his proposal for her to accompany them. Her words had some truth to them. She and Indra were seized of the task of quelling major issues of civil disturbances across the city involving some nefarious rogues who tried to assert their de-facto rule on the masses that were used to being beaten down harshly for dissent. But that wasn’t anything that the elves and dwarves couldn’t handle.

“Orik is more than capable of taking care of them, Arya,” Eragon tried reasoning with her. “You don’t have to be so involved always. Trust in others abilities too.”

“I never said I don’t trust Orik.” Arya shot back.

“Yeah, I understand. It’s just how you are made. But please, my dear Drottningu, you must attend to your mates' needs too.” Eragon played with words.

He didn’t get what he wanted from Arya though. Instead of turning red, she was looking at him as if he were a child demanding that he needed the chocolate that he saw his friend eating right in that instant.

He threw his hands up in defeat. Saphira could not hide her amusement. ‘Millenia, you have had to perfect your understanding of each other and yet all you have achieved is exchanging one another’s characters,’ she said.

‘Let’s take a vote.’ Indra entered the conversation. ‘I vote in favour of us going too.’

‘And I.’ Saphira cast her choice,

Eragon smiled sheepishly and raised his hand. Arya glared at them but they could sense happiness peeking from the back of her mind like dammed water waiting for the floodgates to be opened. Happy at being free of cares just for a while; to enjoy their hard earned freedom without worries.

While they initially thought about cutting through the Hadarac seeing as it was the shortest possible route to Silthrim from Uru’baen, they eventually decided against it. Roran was about to meet his daughter and they didn’t want him to do so right after crossing the scorching heat of the desert. Besides, even the dragons liked the grasslands better as they provided vast free spaces like the desert without cutting food supply off. Hence they kept their time over the desert minimal, travelling in a slightly round about way above the grasslands separating the Du Weldenvarden from the Hadarac. Somewhere along the way, they would have flown closer to the route through which Angela was guiding Murtagh and Nasuada into the Du Weldenvarden. But they didn’t try to locate the party. They knew that the rider of Thorn and company were safe. Besides, their aim now, above all else, was reaching Silthrim on time.

The vast expanses of the Du Weldenvarden became visible on the second day and they crossed into the forest of the elves by noon. Roran was scanning the ground as if he would spot Weldhana crawling across the forest floor at any minute now. It didn’t matter that he had no clue as to which way Silthrim lay. The Ardwen Lake became visible within an hour and Eragon pointed to Roran in its direction. “On its glorious banks lies the city that has cradled Weldhana,” he said.

Roran’s took a deep breath making even Arya smile. The strength of Stronghammer that withstood even assaults of Galbatorix was wavering when he was to behold his daughter. As they alighted in Silthrim, Katrina came rushing towards them to the city centre. Weldhana was bundled in her hands within rich elven clothing.

Roran rushed towards Katrina as soon as he spotted her. It was a sight to behold: open displays of affection in the land of the reserved and well-mannered elves. But the elves this time weren’t disapproving. They seemed to admire the passion of humanity. Such a reaction gave Eragon hope. That the days when humans would come again to trade with the elves in their wooden cities was not far.

Roran almost cackled like a madman at seeing Weldhana. Eragon thought Weldhana might take offence at such aggressive behaviour. He was proved right as the young ‘princess’ as Indra had taken to calling the child, became restless. In an instant, Roran's cackling transformed to cooing and Weldhana was now all eyes for her father even as tears of joy rolled down the said father’s cheeks.

“You are the fruit of all our sufferings and we will treasure you like we have no one before,” Roran declared amid choking. Katrina threw her arms around her husband cupping their little child between them. Weldhana laughed, showing off her milk tooth and tugged at Roran’s tunic. Eragon, watching from the sidelines let out a satisfied sigh as Arya leaned on him unconsciously.

They stayed for just the one day. Without Varden's leader and the dragon riders, restoration work in Uru'baen would move at a snail's pace and it meant discomfort for everyone involved. They wanted Roran to experience parenthood and their goal had been achieved. As an added bonus, the dragon riders had got some time for themselves. Now, it was time to look into the affairs at hand. They would have waited if they knew Murtagh, Thorn and Nasuada would reach the city in mere days.

******************************************

“Lively as usual,” Angela beamed at the group. Murtagh could not find anything lively except for the animals that moved along the road - if it could be called one and the trees forming the road. Not a person in town seemed enthusiastic.

“Are you serious?” Nasuada asked what was in his mind.

“Welcome to elvendom, my lady,” Angela winked. “You will find other elven settlements lifeless if you think these folks are not enthusiastic about their day.”

They had reached Silthrim and were welcomed by Rakshana, the ruler of the city. The elf seemed quite happy to receive Murtagh which was a first for him. He was used to being seen suspiciously. It was not to say that the other elves were as trusting of him as Rakshana was. But they didn’t show their personal feelings outwardly: a distinctly elven tradition and a dangerous one too, Murtagh noted.

But the elves only formed one part of the city. The beating heart of the town however was the innovatively sung tree houses, flowering plants and the various domesticated-looking wild animals. The last time he was in these forests, his only aim was its destruction and he hadn’t stopped to notice its beauty back then. But now, the elven city’s calmness somehow soothed his aching heart.

‘I am sure that we will discover our life's purpose in these forests,’ Thorn hummed in Murtagh's mind.

The dragon-less rider nodded solemnly. ‘That we will,’ agreed he.

**********************************************

Their journey back to Uru'baen was a relatively serene one. Having bid a reluctant farewell to his wife and daughter, Roran had withered his anxiety and was more inclined towards making fun of Eragon and Arya. The object of his ridicule was the tendency of the dragon rider pair to roam around hand-in-hand enjoying the beauty of the land. The land of Alagaesia welcomed the victors who restored her balance by blooming in full glory wherever they walked.

Arya was irritated at times due to the excessive ridicule that she was being put to by Eragon's cousin. She was after all, from a culture that treated love with way too much respect to mock lovers when they made 'escapades' as Roran liked to call their short sojourns into wilderness.

“Don't take him wrongly,” Eragon whispered in Arya's ears as he noticed her irritated look. “He is putting us through this just as a way of getting back to me.”

“What did you do?” An incredulous look came over Arya.

Eragon opened his mind to her and showed all the times that he made fun of Roran and Katrina as they made their own escapades defying Sloan and Garrow.

“So, it was you who discovered his word 'escapade'?” Arya asked, visibly lightened.

Eragon had a sheepish smile on his face. 'Well, as the wild dragons said, You can't run away from the laws of nature. Nature always gets to you, however delayed it might be.' Saphira said in their minds as she and Indra circled above basking in the summer sun.

Uru'baen was a mess when they returned. Orik's creased forehead welcomed them at the city gates. Taking one look at his foster brother, Eragon asked, “What's wrong?”

“Nothing,” Orik said although he looked troubled. On their way into the city, he explained the situation.

“It's Orrin,” the dwarven king said. “He wants to take part in the administration after all that he had done earlier.”

Eragon huffed hearing it. “The galls of that man,” he said gruffly, almost sounding dwarven.

“He betrays us to Galbatorix and now claims a part in the victory. I don't understand the hypocrisy of humans sometimes,” Arya said walking beside Eragon.

Eragon smiled as Roran rolled his eyes. “You should by now be familiar with it having lived among us for a lifetime,” the leader of the Varden said rather slyly.

“It was just a figure of speech, Roran.” Eragon defended his mate. “Besides, it's not as if elves are devoid of hypocrisy. Take Arya here. She doesn't hurt animals but wears dwarven bands made out of dead animal skins.”

Arya narrowed her eyes dangerously. “Those are made from dead animals, Eragon. You said it yourself. Instead of wasting them, I use them.”

“Well, sometimes animals are killed for leather.” Eragon came back.

“Not us. We kill only to eat.” Orik said taking offence at the suggestion that animals were killed for skin by the dwarves.

Saphira's booming laughter sounded in all their minds. But it was Indra who spoke, 'Two-legs and their bickering! Every race has its faults. If you keep accentuating them, then another war in this land is imminent.'

All the addressed two-legs nodded in agreement to that. “That was just friendly banter,” Eragon tried to swat away their dispute.

'If you say so.' Saphira mocked her rider knowingly.

“So, how does Orrin justify his claim?” Roran asked the question that should have been asked in place of the just concluded argument.

“Orrin, the opportunist that he is, says that he turned his back to the Varden only to try and save his people.” Orik spat out.

'So the Dragons, Varden, Elves, Dwarves and Urgals don't matter to his lordship?' Saphira asked distaste rising with every word she spoke.

“He has a reply to that as well. He says that they are the only ones directly dependent on him for their security.”

“What about ascertaining if his claim is true?” Arya asked. She wanted a mental examination of the King.

“He wouldn't agree to that too. Says, his thoughts are his own.” Orik sounded gloomy.

“So?” Eragon wanted to know where things stood now.

“Islanzadi and I have decided to put him through oral interrogation.” Orik said. By then they had reached Islanzadi's lodgings and they went in to greet the queen. The merits of the oral interrogation were discussed and everyone agreed that several separate and documented sessions would be needed to gauge the intent of a seasoned politician like Orrin.

When the first session was over, Roran wanted Nasuada to be present in the upcoming discussions. Eragon thought his cousin made sense. The lady of the Varden had a good understanding of how Orrin's mind worked. Another day's interrogation and the need for Nasuada to be present firmed up in their minds for the king proved a handful even for seasoned diplomats like Islanzadi, Orik & Arya to handle. Eragon was, at times, even tempted to probe the king's mind illegally only to be held back by the wise counsel of Saphira.

‘Little one, Nasuada might not be willing to plunge back into politics so soon,’ Saphira said reading Eragon’s conviction.

‘Do we have any alternative?’ Eragon sounded ominous and spent. The struggle to save Alagaesia from the clutches of certain destruction was yet to be over and it didn’t look like it would be any time soon. Hence what needed to be done had to be done, even if they disliked it. Nasuada, he opined, would understand.

‘Then let me go and bring her.’ Saphira said. ‘You stay here. With Orrin turning hostile, Roran and others will need your help to keep rebellions from Galbatorix loyalists at bay.’

Eragon agreed. Though he wished to see how Murtagh and Thorn kept, he didn’t want to risk putting the city through another round of bloodshed.

**********************************************

The world was a merry place to her now that the usurper-egg-breaker had died. And thus it somehow felt much more colourful now than it was earlier, her blue tinted vision notwithstanding. Her journey to Silthrim had taken less than a day as she wanted to achieve the twin benefits of bringing Nasuada back sooner and be together with her partner-of-mind Eragon.

Rakshana, the she-alfa who had beaten her partner-of-mind in sword-play welcomed her. The elven overtures tired her. Yet as her master, Glaedr had taught her: two-legs, however long-lived like and friendly to the dragon race, lived in a different dimension to that of the dragons.

“What brings you back here so soon, Bjarskular?” Rakshana asked. The she-alfa didn’t seem surprised to not see Eragon along. The elves were different from the other two-legs in this manner: they understood the independence and intelligence of dragons like no other.

‘I am here to take,’ Saphira was saying when Nasuada and Murtagh walked in. ‘Her.’ Saphira craned her neck towards Nasuada.

“Saphira,” Murtagh acknowledged her with a slight bow.

‘Murtagh… Would you mind if I borrow Nasuada for a few days?’ Saphira asked, noting how different Murtagh felt. The constant lines of worry that had symbolised his face ever since she had met him first long ago had been replaced with a sort of serenity that only came to old elves and dragons. ‘He is Bid’Daum after all.’ Saphira said to herself.

“What am I needed for?” Nasuada asked, looking flustered that Saphira had come alone, all the way to Silthrim just on her behalf.

‘Why, to finish the purchase of lasting peace and prosperity from the very jaws of eternal distress, Nasuada. To finish what you started with Varden's march out of Tronjheim,’ Saphira replied.

The colour drained off Nasuada's face. “I must not come. It isn't right...” She seemed to be searching for words or probably unable to spell out her thoughts. Finally, a heavy sigh, she said coyly, “I was a slave of Galbatorix.”

‘So was I,’ thundered Saphira. ‘That makes you all the more worthy. The black king himself feared your potential enough to break into your mind.’

Nasuada looked around uncomfortably. The elves were watching them keenly even if no one turned their heads towards the arguing pair. Murtagh suggested that they talk privately. Saphira could not ignore that counsel. The former lady of the Varden might think straight with some time for herself. It was anyhow improper to continue a conversation as sensitive as this in full public view not withstanding the discreet credentials of elves.

When alone in Murtagh’s quarters, it was Thorn who spoke for the company, ‘I and Murtagh have been meaning to visit the old elf, Rhunon regarding the upkeep of the Eldunari.’

Saphira sent her acknowledgement. ‘That is a good choice. Spending your time helping our brethren.’

‘And during our discussions, we also wanted Nasuada to have at least part of her life that she lost on behalf of us back.’ Thorn continued. ‘Seeing as Eragon and you have also come to the same conclusion, we only need to convince Nasuada that it is the best course for her to follow.’

Saphira looked to Nasuada triumphantly. ‘Why don’t you take their advice, daughter-to-Ajihad.’

The former leader of the Varden mouthed in response, “I am a dead woman.”

‘The whole of Varden saw you help us during the war against Galbatorix. And they talk. Nobody believes that you are dead anymore,’ Saphira responded to the voiceless but logical assertion.

“It kills me to see you dedicate your entire life for our well being, We feel guilty of stealing your rightful place at the high table of Alagaesia’s decision makers. Know that, whatever you decide, we will always love you.” Murtagh said, perhaps for the first time revealing what he and Thorn have been going through due to Nasuada’s predicament.

When Nasuada remained silent, Murtagh continued, “Nasuada, I have come to terms with the loss of Thorn’s body and we are looking forward to how we could now be useful to Alagaesia. The first help we can render Alagaesia is making you realise how much she needs a leader like you.”

Drops of tears formed in Nasuada’s eyes. “I am unworthy of all your praise.” She said, her voice choking.

‘No you are,’ asserted Saphira, ‘A cart only moves when both of its wheels roll. If Eragon and Arya are one wheel of this victory then you and Murtagh are the other.’

After a long while, Nasuada said, “I will come. But my presence must be kept under wraps. I will provide all the assistance needed discreetly.”

‘You will lead the council created to frame and impose a common law to the land,’ Saphira said in reply.

“The people would not accept me. Not after they have seen me leading Galbatorix's army,” Nasuada pleaded.

“They will,” a familiarly mocking voice said from the door, “if only you tell them the truth.”

Angela, who had been away on another one of her mysterious tours in search of bad-smelling plants had come back.

“How will they when they have seen me order their killing from the enemy ranks?”

“Galbatorix was not hated by today's citizens for what he did during The fall. He was hated for his tyranny and taxes; for taking away innocent children to make painless soldiers out of them.” Angela said, sounding passionate for once.

“Your point being?” Murtagh asked impatiently. Everyone knew that the humans had entirely forgotten the existence of dragon riders except in legends.

“Nobody remembers what happened in the past as events pile up before them. After they see the difference your leadership brings and when they hear about how you tricked Galbatorix, giving the dragon riders their chance to fight evil, they will celebrate your bravery. Not castigate you.”

“What if my return jeopardises the fragile peace?”

‘There is no peace to jeopardise, Nasuada. You will have to buy us peace,’ Saphira said kindly. She now understood how much of a moral dilemma Nasuada was in. Unlike dragons, the two-legs had a convoluted sense of moral and when they see something as immoral, unthinkable things follow.

‘So, shall we?,’ Saphira asked.

“Can you give me a night to think over this?” Nasuada seemed to have made her mind up. But if she thought she needed a night then Saphira wasn't going to deny her that.

The next morning, Saphira indulged herself to an early morning hunt in Du Weldenvarden. She wasn’t sure when she would return again to the elven forest and hence decided to make the most of her opportunity. Thorn rued that he could not hunt alongside her even once. Saphira felt pity for the red dragon but kept it to herself lest she cause unnecessary hurt. When she returned from the hunt, having feasted on a rather juicy deer, Nasuada was all packed and ready to leave. She was at Murtagh's abode bidding him farewell. The pair spoke softly to each other and for some reason it felt like a private moment and hence Saphira did not listen in. She thought that Eragon's brother would make a lovely mate to Nasuada. ‘Some day…,’ she resolved to herself.

**********************************

Nasuada’s return to the Varden was a mixed affair within the rank and file, Eragon could see. Some were delighted to have their beloved leader back; some eyed her suspiciously; but most took their explanation at face value. They trusted Eragon enough to hear out his plea and justification for Nasuada’s actions and when he was finished and it was time for Nasuada to speak out, they did not make a hue and cry out of it. They listened intently to what she had to say.

They portrayed the entire episode as a well-planned spy game to which Nasuada volunteered and executed to perfection. It was a lie. But an honest one after all. Telling the people of Varden who knew little about dragons that Nasuada left Varden to try and free the dragon that killed many of their friends from servitude did not seem like a good idea to them. Angela might be convinced that it was the right thing to do but after deliberations among the rulers, it was decided that this was the correct course of action.

Of course, they faced resistance from Orrin. The king of Surda threatened to pull out his army from assistance to Varden in maintaining peace. Eragon knew well why Orrin didn’t accept Nasuada even when the majority of Varden did. He was afraid of what the daughter of Ajihad could achieve in interrogating him. In fact, it was that thought process which led Eragon and Roran to pull Nasuada back into the mix much earlier than they had originally planned.

Saphira had to threaten to wreak havoc by building her nest next to Surda’s royal palace before Orrin agreed to allow Nasuada back into the leadership group and hence provide access to the interrogations that he was going through.

  

Once Nasuada was on-board, the sessions turned stormy. She knew Orrin’s favourite go-to resorts, that bailed him out every time he was cornered, so well that she anticipated his moves and started blocking him from accessing his stone walling resorts. It wasn’t long before Orrin’s defences crumbled and he gave conflicting answers to similar questions across sessions. The documentation helped here and he was caught red-handed. They judged his actions for what they were now: Orrin had betrayed his allies only to save his rule in Surda and not out of concern for his citizens.

Orrin didn’t agree to such a conclusion by the interrogating council, arguing that saving his rule & securing the future of his citizens were one and the same. He simply forgot that the terms of his surrender before Galbatorix involved the mental probing of each of his citizens by the dead King's mages, a blatant violation of their right to thoughts and opinions. That was, in fact, the very reason Orrin gave for not allowing his mind to be probed. Not to mention the after effects of such a probe wherein scores of people with ill-will against Galbatorix being put away.

Not wanting to start another battle, the interrogating council gave Orrin a proposition he couldn’t resist. The elves, dwarves, Varden and Urgals would sign a treaty of friendship with Surda, hence guaranteeing his freedom to rule over the country that had stood for a century. The only precondition was that he guarantees the implementation of the common minimum law that the council of administrators of Alagaesia would frame. A rule of opportunistic men like Orrin didn’t necessitate a war in the ruling council’s view unlike the rule by evil men like Galbatorix. The opportunists could be influenced in other ways like trade & diplomacy.

With the pressing issue of Orrin’s resistance overcome, Eragon devoted his time to providing a safe-haven for the Eldunari. Having got news of Murtagh’s intention to help Rhunon out with the dragons of old, he held a private meeting amongst Arya, he, Murtagh, their dragons and Rhunon. At the end of several days of debate, it was decided that Eragon would reassign his personal bodyguards led by Blodhgarm to guard Rhunon. The Eldunari were to be taken to the edge of the Hadarac that the dragons so loved but also reasonably close to the Du Weldenvarden from where any threats to them could be monitored. Murtagh was to meet up with the group at the Marna mountain abutting the Isenstar lake. The plan was to convert the mountain into a safe house for the Eldunari. The wards that were needed for that purpose influenced Eragon to send in his best spellcasters – Blodhgarm and group.

And then there was the matter of settling the administration of the small towns and villages of Galbatorix’s empire. Eragon and Arya flew to these places personally and made deals with the ruling families. Some who resisted had to be overthrown and other leaders were chosen in their place. It was tiring work but one that was necessary under the circumstances. It all took close to half a year before the storm clouds of confusion & anarchy roiling in the former empire settled enough for the rulers of Du Weldenvarden & the Beors to attend to their home affairs.

Author’s Note:

This is where we stop seeing continuity. The next chapters will be set farther apart in time and will have huge time differential within them, as I try to tie up the remaining loose ends in Eragon's prophecy. Hope you found Nasuada's story arc getting closure satisfying: the lady of the Varden to seasoned politician through being the reincarnation of Black hand. And Murtagh's as well: he has made peace with his existence and will now concentrate on making himself useful and hopefully someday be Nasuada's husband.