Words of the Night

II.

Ismira needs one more thing for her birthday to be perfect - for her uncle's present to arrive. What if it doesn't? Did Eragon forget about his darling niece?

"Mother, could you tell us a story?" Asked Ismira. It was a warm evening, the sun just set about an hour ago and even though it was Ismira's tenth birthday, the girl needed to go to sleep as she normally would.

"What would you like to hear about?" came Katrina's warm reply as she sat down on the foot of the bed. She sighed heavily as her back finally got some relief from supporting her obnoxiously bulging belly.

"About... About uncle Eragon!" Gasped Ismira and Katrina sighed. They'd told all about Eragon's and Saphira's adventures countless times (though not as often as they spoke about Roran's), but it never seemed to satisfy the little girl.

"There's a lot... What would you like to hear?"

"About... About how he defeated the evil king!"

"Alright..." Katrina sighed even harder, but the girl paid no mind.

Katrina talked for almost an hour, describing everything that occured, and the girl listened intently, thrilled as if she hadn't already heard the story a million times. When her mother was about to stand up and leave, she gently whispered. "Mommy... Did he forget about me?"

Katrina frowned and sat back down, this time closer to her daughter so she could stroke the hair away from her forehead. The truth was, she herself was getting worried. Eragon, even though he left, made a point of keeping in contact with them, which all parties eagerly welcomed. It truly made Katrina happy that after all they went through, Eragon never completely disappeared from their lives. He made sure to send them all presents here and there, update them on what's new and invite them to come visit one day, which they were planning to do eventually.

And though Eragon loved his cousin and his wife endlessly, he had a special soft spot for Ismira. He would send his niece (because that's who she was to him) all kinds of presents. When you looked around her room, it was filled with peculiar stones that could only be found where he lived, a flower crown that would always stay fresh, elven style dress made without seams, a fairth of Saphira with the beautiful land they lived on in the background. A hairbrush, books of poetry, toys that Saphira made using stone and her fire and so much more, everything dearly admired by Ismira.

She was well aware of the fact that Eragon never forgot her birthday, never until now. She waited and waited, but a messenger, who was always sent all the way from Ellesméra never appeared.

"No, of course not..." Katrina tried to comfort her, although she too wasn't sure of that. Eragon's present was never late. It could have been delayed, but the countless times he did send something, it always arrived on time.

Ismira was about to complain, when they heard a low thundering noise outside, too regular for if to be a storm. No, they both knew the sound well, it was a dragon flying nearby.

Ismira's heart started bearing harder. Could it be... Could it be him?"

There was a commotion outside and Katrina hurried to the window to see what was happening, just in time for them to see an emerald coloured dragon landing by their gates. Ismira swallowed her disappointment at the person not being her uncle, because this one was almost as good.

"Lady Arya!" Shouted Ismira enthusiastically and got out of bed before Katrina even processed the situation and raced down the stairs and outside. She arrived just as the elf took a big leather bag off of Fírnen's back.

The girl recited the phrase used to formally greet an elf, who greeted her back, seeming just a little surprised at her speed of arrival.

"Lady Arya! What are you doing here?" Ismira blurted and looked like she was just a hairs breadth away from hugging her.

"I couldn't miss your birthday, right?" Truly, Arya was a regular guest at Roran's house (meaning she usually visited for Ismira's birthday to check her knowledge of ancient language). Regular for an elf, at least.

"Well, do come in, Arya. I suppose Ismira can stay up a little longer." Rodan said and ushered them all inside, not before all of them had a proper welcoming session with Fírnen.

Katrina already prepared a meal inside, mindful of Arya's diet. "Thank you for visiting us. I hope you don't mind me asking, but why so late?"

"We got held up by something. I shall explain in a while," everybody expected her to continue, but she didn't, in a typical elven nature. Ismira plopped down on her knees, seeming not to notice how uncomfortable Arya god, yet she wouldn't dare tell a child that. They were too precious after all.

"Anyways, Ismira, I have a gift for you. I hope you will appreciate it," said Arya and handed the girl a package delicately wrapped in something silky.

Ismira carefully pulled the wrapping paper away to reveal a set of scrolls. So Arya didn't forget her interest in elven tales! Under the scrolls laid a cold, flat piece of stone... A fairth, as Ismira recognized. She turned it around to see the painted side and gasped.

There was a man, half human, half elf. He had dark hair, a serious face, and brown eyes that expressed infinite longing. The whole fairth carried an air of deep admiration of the one who created it, and Ismira didn't need to be told who the man was.

"Thank you so much! I love these and I'll take good care of them! Did you make this fairth?" She looked excitedly at Arya, who replied with a sense of pride and seriousness.

"I worked hard to make Eragon look like he did when he left Alagäesia. I thought you would like to have an idea of his true looks, better than what your human painters produced."

They all knew that Arya meant well despite it sounding really mean. That's just how she was, and they knew she truly wanted to make Ismira happy. She was right, anyways. Human painters never did a precise job at picturing Eragon. There was always a flaw, and not many portraits of him even existed, because not many painters actually had the pleasure of seeing him.

"Thank you," said Ismira in ancient language and didn't refrain from hugging the elf this time.

Arya coughed uncomfortably. "There's more. That's what got us held up, waiting for the gift to arrive. We would send a messenger, but he would be even more late than I was. Here, from your uncle."

Arya pulled out a flat, rectangular wooden box with leaves and butterflies carved all around it. Ismira took and opened it with utmost seriousness while Roran and Katrina watched over her shoulder.

Inside, she found a mirror. It was beautifully decorated with birds and roses, but she couldn't help feeling a little disappointed at the lack of note that accompanied each present. She carefully took the mirror out for the others to admire it, and gasped as she saw the letter under it.

While Katrina and Roran lamented about how much work it must have taken to make it, Ismira read carefully.

Dearest Ismira, my darling niece,

I hope the present reaches You on Your birthday, since Saphira and I had a hard time finishing it on time.

Before you feel disappointed at getting a mirror, let me make it clear that this mirror is indeed very special. I craved to have the opportunity to talk to you, and I finally decided to make it possible. I have a twin mirror to yours. If you ever find yourself wanting to talk to me, just say my name while staring at the mirror and I will hear you calling in my home. This way, we will be able to see each other and talk.

Happy birthday, Ismira. I hope that you enjoyed it a lot. I can't wait to finally meet my darling niece, and Saphira would love to see you as well.

Sincerely,
Eragon and Saphira

Ismira almost cried, because what she felt was sheer happiness. She wanted to try it immediately, but remembered what her parents (and Arya) taught her about being patient and decided to leave it until morning. She did have a lot to talk about with Eragon, after all.

After finally getting to bed, she smiled to herself. The best birthday ever. She would never doubt her uncle again.