The Grey Chronicles (Eragon fanfic) Book 1: Emergence

Chapter 17: Arya Drottningnu

Jesse could not understand what exactly made her friends so unsettled last night while she was asleep. Apparently Arya had miscalculated something, and they had gotten caught in the 'Dagshelgr Invocation', whatever that could be. By the way the elves were looking at her, she suspected it had something to do with her too.

They were horseback riding again, although this mount was much nicer. The two of them had been mentally conversing for some time now about several modes of food, a good topic for both equine and sailor. Another thing she didn't get though, was his reverence for her in his mind.

Certain Irish families liked to identify themselves with one animal to connect them to their land or their ancestors. Because the O'Connors were one of the most respected, they had a link with both: the manta ray and wolf, generally peaceable until one pissed them off. As far as she knew, these animal symbols were just that, identification to other Irish clans; but the way things were going now, it seemed there was more to it than she had suspected before.

Eragon looked hopelessly lost, no matter how Arya or Lifaen tried to help him find his own way. Jesse was not worried for herself: her 'feeling' gave her an uncanny sense of direction, just as if she had been out in the open ocean and knew east from north, no matter if it were cloudy and the thunderheads called. 

It occasionally rained around that time in the journey, and the sailor was the only one who decided it was refreshing enough for a bath. The water felt so clean to her, unlike the rainwater back home. It was a lot better.

Arya often looked at her strangely whenever she did such things, as if she just realized now that Jesse was different from other people. The girl could not decipher the ones Nari or Lifaen gave her though; they seemed awed by something. She really doubted it was her own doing, though even Saphira was trying hard not to get her attention.

It's like they think I can cause a tsunami, the grey-eyed sailor thought meditatively.

It was when the trees became huge and Eragon had paced one out at seventy feet did Arya show some sort of feeling like she was home. The female elf placed a hand on one delicately, as if she were touching a personal friend.

"These trees are among the oldest living creatures in Alagaesia," Arya explained. "Elves have loved them since we first saw Du Weldenvarden, and we have done everything within our power to help them flourish. We have traveled far together, Eragon and Jesse, but now you are about to enter my world. Tread softly, for the earth and air are heavy with memories and naught is as it seems." Was it just her imagination, or had the elf peeked a bit at her as she said it?

Eragon bowed in acquiesce, and turned to look at Saphira, who entertained herself and Jesse (who sat upon her foreleg like a hatchling) by releasing plumes of smoke from her nostrils. She really was liking this whole breathing-fire business.

There is plenty of room for me on the ground now. I will have no difficulty.

"Can I stay back with Saphira?" Jesse asked. After so long without hearing her speak, they once more marvelled at the soft wisp of the highland wind in her voice. They also just remembered that by her reckoning, she wasn't even fifteen yet. "It's been so long since we last spoke."

"Of course Jesse," Arya replied, sounding slightly like an indulgent mother. The sailor smiled brightly and climbed to the dragon's shoulder, and Saphira puffed at her softly.

Saphira, about that conversation with Solembum..... she hedged.

Yes? The dragon was patient; she knew that it was hard for the black-haired girl to accept.

Am I really what you told me I was? A member of the Grey Folk?

You are as close as we can get to who the Grey Folk were. A far cry from their earlier prominence, I suppose, but powerful in their own way.