The Name of Names

~26: Peace with Quiet Memory~

The lessons and days passed quickly, and Vanya realized she enjoyed her new home, new friends, and teacher. Many new areas of magic were revealed to her, and other areas were strengthened, such as defending your mind. This lesson was a particularly stressed one, as Eragon had no mercy, invading her mind at the slightest opportunity and immobilizing her.

"Barzul." Vanya growled, picking herself up from the ground where she had fallen before he had taken over her mind.

"You must learn to focus." Eragon said patiently, and Vanya felt her old nature pushing its way back up to the surface.

"I am, can't you see that?" Vanya let out a huff of air, rubbing her forehead, where she had developed a headache.

Eragon was quiet for a moment before seemingly switching topics, "How did your parents die?" he asked quietly.

Vanya stiffened, before saying shortly, "They were scouts for the elves. Galbatorix caught them, through betrayal and lies." She blinked forming tears away, shaking her head, "Tortured to death. Elves can take much, but at some point they break."

Eragon was silent, thinking of when Arya had been in that position. Flashbacks of the mad flight to the Varden came up in his mind, but he returned to the matter at hand.

"I'm sure it was hard." he said, waiting for her to speak again before he addressed the issue.

"I was barely come of age." she said, dashing the back of her hand against her cheek, where a tear had spilled over.

"Vanya, I understand how this is difficult, but you have to move on." Eragon knew this was going to be hard, but she needed to hear this, "In order to find peace, you have to let go of your anger and bitterness. Cherish their memory, always. But don't hold on to your anger. They would not have wanted that."

Vanya shook her head, "Just get back to the lesson." she said, her eyes looking up at Eragon. He saw deep hurt there, but knew this needed to be said for her to progress forward.

"This is the lesson. You cannot defend your mind with that poem if flashbacks of your family keep coming up and breaking your concentration. You need to find peace with the quiet memory of your family. And then move on." Eragon hesitated a moment before adding, "I cannot teach you to defend your mind more until you have learned this. You may go."

Vanya swallowed hard, turning sharply and leaving the cliffs. Her pace was brisk, and she headed towards the forest, her comfort in hard times.

Her pace turned up into a run, and then a sprint as she thought, remembering memories of her parents, and how they had been a family together. Everything was perfect. And then one day, an elf had approached her with a sorrowful expression on his face.

"Vanya," he said quietly, looking at her smile dim as she could sense the bad news.

"Yes?" she asked, turning to face him.

"Your parents," his voice caught, and he looked at the ground, "were captured. By Galbatorix."

The last words fell like hammer blows from his tongue, and time slowed for her. Her breath came in unnaturally slow rhythms. In, and out.

Vanya cradled her head in her hands as the painful memory twanged at her heart.

"I miss you." She whispered to her invisible parents, knowing that no one could hear her.

Kaldar entered her mind, comforting her, You have me, Vanya.

Through the sorrow, a sense of happiness crept up. Together with Kaldar, she searched through her mind remembering the memories of her parents. She had been bitter, she realized, but now it was time to let that go. Find peace with the quiet memory of your family. Vanya closed her eyes, drying her tears and inhaling slowly, then letting the breath out.

There is peace. She thought quietly, feeling the memories change into a quiet, serenity-filled light. I have you, she said to Kaldar, and the thought lifted the corner of her lips.

Vanya opened her eyes and inhaled through her nostrils, feeling new life with the memories tucked away in a new and peaceful place.

Kaldar? She asked, standing up.

Yes?

I think the sun's about to set.

Kaldar met her as the walked to the cliff. Eragon had already left, and together Kaldar flew Vanya to the bottom of the cliff, where she had been carefully working to make a place for Kaldar to sit as well.

He landed there, sitting down, and Vanya got off, sitting beside him as they waited for the sun to touch the ocean on the horizon.

It dipped lower each minute, until finally bursts of color leapt into the sky joyfully. Blood reds, soft pinks, lavender purple, smeared across in the sky, blending in with the blue.

Each passing second the colors changed and got darker until the sun dipped below the horizon, cascading the world into darkness.

Silently, the Rider and Dragon flew back to their house, where they fell asleep. Peace rested in Vanya's heart, and as she drifted into her waking dreams, a smile turned her lips up.