The Grey Chronicles (Eragon fanfic) Book 1: Emergence

Chapter 18: Settling In

Jesse was breathless. Arya was a princess! And not just of her clan, but of the entire elf nation.

"O my daughter, I have wronged you," Queen Islanzadi continued in the ancient language as she released her daughter. "Ever since you disappeared, I've barely slept or eaten. I was haunted by your fate, and feared that I would never see you again. Banning you from my presence was the greatest mistake I have ever made......Can you forgive me?" Her court stirred with fascination and amazement.

Arya hesitated before she reluctantly answered, though it took some time. "For seventy years, I have lived and loved, fought and killed without ever speaking to you, my mother." The black-haired sailor blinked, and resisted the urge to allow her jaw to slacken. She was completely unaware that her often distant friend was that old. "Our lives are long, but even so, that is no small span."

The elf queen gathered herself to her full height. "I cannot undo the past, Arya, no matter how much I might desire to."

"And I cannot forget what I endured."

"Nor should you. Arya, I love you," she replied as she clasped Arya's hands in her own. "You are my only family. Go if you must, but unless you wish to renounce me, I would be reconciled with you." Jesse knew just by looking that there was some sort of great tension between them, and hoped for her friend's sake that she could take this chance and let go of some of her burden. Old and wise as she may be, even an elf might find some comfort in being able to speak to someone who would only listen.

The raven-haired woman lowered her eyes. "No, Mother. I could not leave." Smiles broke out on the elves' and the queen's (though Islanzadi's was more uncertain; it must've been some disagreement) as she embraced her daughter again, who returned the gesture for the first time.

The white raven cackled and spoke some more nonsense as it hopped on the stand. Not for the first time, the young sailor wondered why it was present, though she kept it to herself for private musings. Islanzadi finally remembered that there were other people in the room, and turned to the kneeling guests with a faint trace of sheepishness. "You must excuse me for being discourteous and ignoring you, our most important guests."

Jesse shook her head shyly (she wasn't that important) as Eragon twisted his hand onto his sternum and murmured the appropriate words of greeting. By the looks on everyone's faces, they did not expect him to know so much of their customs. Saphira generously allowed the sailor to hear her greetings to the queen as well, and Islanzadi asked for the dragon's name for a reason known only to herself. She welcomed her and Eragon, perhaps with more respect now that they heard his title of Shadeslayer. Jesse could appreciate their awe; Durza was a trouble to deal with, even for four. Queen Islanzadi moved on to greet Orik, then the grey-eyed girl who so intrigued her, and was once more caught off-guard with her knowledge of elf-culture.

"May I ask for your name as well?" she asked.

"Jesse O'Connor, Your Majesty," the sailor responded, her highlander voice managing to come through to the queen's ears despite her soft voice. Queen Islanzadi was unfamiliar with the accent, and pondered this as she returned to her throne.

"I assume by your presence here, Eragon, so soon after Saphira's egg was captured, and by the ring on your hand and the sword on your hip, that Brom is dead and that your training with him was incomplete. I wish to hear your full story, including how Brom fell and how you came to meet my daughter, or how she met you, as it may be. Then I will hear of your missions here, dwarf and human, and of your adventures, Arya, since your ambush in Du Weldenvarden."

Eragon seemed used to telling the story now, so the recounting went apace. In the one or two little interruptions he was given the ring Aren and named Elf-friend, as well as a few options about his recent injury. The rejoining of the elves with the Varden seemed already mended once Arya and her mother reconciled, so Orik's words were short.