Embers

Chapter Two - A Diplomatic Disaster

Nasuada stared out across the city of Ilirea, the capital spread before her where she stood upon her balcony of the palace. The sun was setting in the west, lighting up the skyline. The roofs of the city were gilded with the last rays of the evening, the stone walls painted in fiery reds, pinks, and golds. Long shadows cloaked the streets, and for the houses closest to the great overhang above the castle, it was already night.

It had been almost a year since the Varden's victory over Galbatorix, and the capital city had only recently healed the last of its wounds. The fountain in the center square of Ilirea had, just yesterday, been fully repaired and began to flow once again. Nasuada admired the plume of water that glinted in the distance.

The dark-skinned queen sighed. This was her home now, as Farthen Dûr had been so long ago, then Surda after that, and finally the constantly moving pavilion of the army on its march. It had never been a problem for Nasuada to constantly upheave the place she once called home and learn to consider another with the same sense of familiarity. Until now, it hadn't ever bothered her; she'd hardly even noticed it.

But now, her main purpose, the drive of her life, had been completed, and she was as lost as the phantom ship of grass that she had seen floating through Ilirea. Before, she had given up the comfort of a permanent home because she'd known that until her goal was met, until Galbatorix fell and the war was over, she would not be able to stay in one place for long. The demands of a moving army denied that. Yet now, the war was over, and it seemed that her new goal was one of stability.

It was now her duty to show that she had come to stay, that she had made Ilirea her home. Now was her chance to take what had been denied her, to accept this newly-reborn city as her real home.

So why was it so hard?

If she allowed herself to be completely honest, Nasuada believed it was restlessness. She had never entertained fantasies of adventure and traveling with reckless abandon. Yet now that the duty she'd been assigned since birth had been fulfilled, she felt, deep down, that it was adventure she longed for. Nasuada envied Eragon and Saphira, who were even then traveling through unknown lands, searching amidst untold dangers for the perfect place to raise dragons. Murtagh and Thorn were no doubt flirting with danger around every bend in their adventures to the north.

The thought of Murtagh froze Nasuada to the core. She sucked in a hiss and wrenched her thoughts away from her restlessness. Turning, the queen headed inside her rooms to rest her eyes for a few moments.

Just as she sat down on the divan in one corner of the room, there was a light knock on the door in a familiar rhythm. Nasuada swallowed a groan and lifted her voice.

"Enter."

The door opened to reveal Nasuada's oldest and closest confidante in recent times. Farica bustled into the room, wringing her hands and not doing a very good job of hiding the unease in her features.

"What is it, Farica?" Nasuada asked immediately, perturbed by her handmaiden's air.

The nurse took a moment to curtsy as she always did before explaining in a rush.

"King Orrin has just arrived from Surda, m'lady. He has asked to see you immediately."

Nasuada didn't bother to hide her frown from Farica, but she wasted no time. Getting to her feet, she asked, "How quickly do you think we can change out of this gown and into the russet one with gold trim?"

"Well, if you don't mind starting on your ties in the back of that dress while I fetch the other gown, we could probably have you ready in ten minutes," Farica answered.

Nasuada nodded and her nurse hurried to get the dress.

Jörmundur was waiting in the antechamber to the throne room when Nasuada arrived. The wizened advisor looked over her after giving the customary bow, and gave an approving nod of her choice in dress. There was a sternness in his attitude that told Nasuada much about the situation without any words needing to be said. Whatever the reason for Orrin's unannounced visit, it wasn't good.