Destiny (Volume I: Shur'tugalar)

Chapter Three Part XXV (ED)

Belinda opened her eyes, their blue color seeming to have faded. "I grabbed the bag I had packed to escape with Beloth, the one with the fairth inside, and the bag with the belts and the shells. Liress settled a cloak over me before grabbing my hand and leading me out of the castle and into the night.

"We arrived at the port once again, and stopped beside a small steamboat. It had a cabin and a little deck, but no one was on board. Confused, I asked, 'What am I doing here?'

"'This boat will take you wherever you wish to go,' Liress said. 'I stocked it with enough supplies to last a few months, and a refilling water barrel to last forever. Now, tell me where you want to go.'

"I didn't have to think about it. 'Alalëa.'

"Liress frowned and warned, 'I don't know where that is - the spell won't work as efficiently and - '

"I interrupted her warning with, 'I don't care.'

"Liress's frown deepened. 'If you say so...' she said hesitantly as I began to board. Reaching down beside her, she called out, 'Wait! I have something for you.'

"She revealed an old fairth of us from a long time ago, when we were only fifteen. Our arms were linked, and we both were smiling hugely.

"My eyes teared up as I reached out and took it from her, putting it into the bag with the one Beloth had given me. I stepped off the boat to hug my sister, and she held me tight as I cried."

The woman shuddered again, and Leafë tightened her grip on the other's hand. Smiling sadly, she said, "As we hugged for the last time, Liress told me that she'd put enchantments on the boat for a safe and effortless journey. 'Try not to run into any storms, though,' she warned me. 'They will break.'

"Thanking her, I boarded, and the ship slowly began to drift out to sea. I looked back at my sister, and she raised her arm in farewell. And, right before I rounded the bend, I felt a whisper of wind tell me, 'Be safe, Bell. I love you.'"

She finally had to stop and cry out in pain as a contraction passed. "Please, Belinda, let me help you," Leafë said urgently, eyes worried. "You may not make it if I do not."

"I won't either way." Refusing to explain her cryptic comment, the blonde struggled to reach the end of the story, "I drifted out to sea, and two weeks later, a storm caught me in its grasp. The boat rattled as the waves slammed its sides, and I knew I wouldn't be long until it fell apart. Luckily, I had spotted land a few minutes ago, so I cast off the rowboat and started rowing in that direction..."

"And ended up here," finished Niom. He shook his head, looking on with awe. "That's amazing."

"Unfortunately," Belinda continued, face strained. "I realized that Lars had poisoned me before I left, in the single moment when I wasn't wearing my locket."

"What?" The elf's eyes flashed green fire. "Why did you not tell me sooner?!"

"Because I know this kind of poison..." Her voice was fading, and though Leafë gave her more water, it was still weak. "The cure is Tunivor's Nectar, which can only be extracted the mushrooms that grow in Alagaësia. Still, I knew you would try to save me...and there was...too little time..."

The woman's eyes began to close, and Leafë looked on in helplessness. Niom touched her shoulder gently, pointing downwards at Belinda raised legs. "A baby is coming."

The reminiscence fast forwarded, the screen blurring. "I don't think anyone wishes to actually see the birth," Nia explained quietly.

"You thought right," Nathan muttered in a weak attempt to relieve the tense atmosphere, and Rosaminda smiled slightly.

The image in the mirror finally slowed, and the viewers could now see that Leafë held two swaddled babes. She handed them to their mother, and their wails instantly lessened stopped as Belinda smiled down at the two girls. Her face had paled even more, and Eragon could almost see the life draining from her.

The view changed so they could now see the twins' faces. Renata's eyes were open, and their gray color was just like Beloth's. Rose was gurgling gently, her tiny face very nearly identical to her mother's. Their features were completely human, and both had a cap of golden hair.

"Renata and Rosaminda," Belinda said faintly, kissing each one in turn. "Ren named by me after my grandmother, and Rose named by Beloth after me." She looked up, eyes clouded as she struggled to continue. "Please, take care of my children; they'll be safe with you as a godmother."

Leafë was crying gently as she took the twins from their mother's arms. The babies cries grew louder as well, as if they could sense what was going on. The elf murmured to them in the ancient language, and their cries turned to quiet whimpers.

"My treasures are left for them," the woman said, "And Beloth's are for Riders...though they should work for the children of Riders as well. Guard them, and when the time is right, give them to your own children and mine."

"Wait - how do you know Niom is a Rider?" Leafë asked.

The blonde didn't seem to hear her and just smiled vaguely. "Remember, the belts are in the boat...and tell the twins...we always...loved them..."

She sighed those last words, and then closed her eyes, never to open them again. And as Leafë cried, her husband holding her tight, the viewers could see Belinda's lips move as she mouthed, "I'm coming, my love. To our paradise."

[Chapter Word Count: 6974]

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Though flashbacks have already occurred, they were focused on the parents; thus, the official start of the Reminiscence Arc begins with the next chapter. However, if you're interested in finding out more about Niom, Leafë, Belinda and even Beloth, you can click the external link below to begin reading the prequel volume Destiny (Volume N: Alalëa), which is all about their incredible tales.