The Grey Chronicles (Eragon fanfic) Book 1: Emergence

Chapter 8: Plans to Mourn

Jesse dimly remembered Eragon speaking to Arya about something, then the flash of her raven hair as she darted past into the tunnels. He joined the young sailor and kneeled down beside the fallen man, tears of his own flowing down his face.

No words needed to be said between them. Ajihad knew how the two youngsters looked up to him, especially the girl he met scant days after the arrival of the Rider. He beckoned Eragon closer, to whisper something to him. The boy had to lean down farther, in order to hear what he was trying to breathe out through his almost frozen lips.

The girl trembled with barely checked emotion. No other man had ever put so much faith in her as much as he did, save perhaps the father and brothers she lost on that day 6 years ago.

Eragon straightened up, his expression more solemn than she had ever seen, and the dark-skinned man opened his lips again, as if to say more.

"Jesse," he breathed, no more than air whispering through his teeth. Quickly, the girl leaned down, anxious to ease his pain. "My daughter, Nasuada.... as prepared as she is.... she will need a friend.... Take care of her, for she is the heart of our cause."

"I promise," Jesse choked out, thick tears running faster.

"Then peace be with you both...." And Ajihad seemd to compose himself, wiping all of his worries from his face for the last time, and breathed his last.

It was at that time that Jormundur returned, with a troop of armored men who knew that they would not bear him away alive. The young sailor barely paid attention to his speech in honor of the fallen leader, but numbly followed them until she was barred. Everything slowed for what seemed like forever, but the next thing she knew, Angela was cradling her teary body in a rare expression of kindness.

"Oh, child," she cooed. Jesse was free to sob uncontrollably.

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The girl stood in front of Nasuada's door nervously; this wasn't the first time she had to meet someone important, but not with such a personal subject to broach.

Ajihad's daughter opened the door, surprised that it wasn't someone else. Jesse then remembered, She's not that much older than me; just a few years' gap. Already, she was preparing to cope with one of the biggest losses a family could sustain. She understood exactly how the dark-skinned girl felt, and knew that Nasuada was not looking for pity.

"Lady Nasuada? I have to talk to you," the young sailor declared bluntly. "I know you might not believe it, but I was with Eragon when your father......spent his last moments." At that, she let the other girl in, looking down both sides of the corridor before she closed it and turned to face Jesse.

Without preamble, she launched herself into the story, unashamed to allow the tears to fall again as she recalled it. Nasuada, too, was not unmoved, but gained control of herself much faster.

"Jesse, thank you for sharing my father's last words to me. It is relieving to know that he had my safety in mind even in the end. But now, we have to plan. The Council of Elders will most likely move to support me as the next leader of the Varden, but neither I nor you can count upon them,"  she murmured, pacing up and down the room as she thought.

Having immediately grasped the subject, Jesse reflected that they were most likely a default mechanism to keep the organization together, serving as a band of advisors when the turmoil over the succession was done with. Since Nasuada probably knew about it, having grown up in this sort of environment, the young sailor's mind also churned out reasons for the council's backing despite her obvious inexperiance due to age, especially the one that made them believe her to be easily manipulated into a figurehead. It was the most likely scenario.

She could basically see their whole plan charted out now: Nasuada would be selected, with full support from the Council of Elders, possibly a roped-in Eragon and Saphira. The two were now a political threat, one that they would try to suppress and control out of fear. Arya would be furious if Eragon was unable to be largely influenced by the elves, but unless he had a way to get out of it, the two would have no choice but to comply. Nasuada would lead only in name.

Once she worked it all out in her head (a span of about two minutes), Jesse said as much to the older girl, who merely replied, "I thought much the same thing." She knew Nasuada was thinking about ways to get out of it now, so she left her to it and climbed the levels to her room.

There was so much to do, so much to plan; whether she wanted to or not, the sailor was now very involved with this place. If she left now, she would feel too guilty to stay away.

She would mourn for the past tonight, but the next morning would see her involved with the present, planning for the future. This was no longer a half-hearted attempt; Jesse was not going to leave for Elle's Coast satisfied until this war was done with. Galbatorix was going to have a handful to deal with once she returned from Ellesmèra, that she swore to herself.

Jesse was going to make Ajihad, her father, and her brothers proud in their resting place. Let them spare no worries for her.