Luminescent (Inheritance Cycle and Beyond)

Chapter Sixteen: Iridescent

"Only royal greetings from my king, Hrothgar, and a plea, now unneeded, for you to resume contact with the Varden. Beyond that, I am here to see that the pact that Brom forged between you and the humans is honored."

"We keep our promises whether we utter them in this language or in the ancient language. I accept Hrothgar's greetings and return them in kind. Now, daughter, niece, what befell you?" Arya narrated exactly what had happened to her during her capture, while the elves in the hall remained silent, I could feel their tension.

A tear rolled down Islanzaí cheek as Arya finished her story, the attention of the room then went to me. I explained what happened since we left Carvahal, when I got to the battle at Farthen Dur, I paused. I would be straight up telling them that my right arm is crippled.

"Your injury won't deter your families love for you my Rider."

"During the battle between Eragon and the Shade Durza, the Shade recognized me and had the Urgals pin me down." I glanced at Eragon, he had a tight faced look, as if he was reliving the ordeal. I focused my eyes back on Islanzadí. "The Urgals struck one of their spears in my right shoulder as insurance that I wouldn't go anywhere. While the wound has healed, my entire right arm is barely usable."

A pacing elf lord walked towards us with a determined look on his face.

"I know that I speak for us all, Arya and Khensamel Dröttningu, when I say that my heart burns with sorrow for your ordeals. It is a crime beyond apology, mitigation, or reparation, and Galbatorix must be punished for it. Arya, we are in your debt for keeping the locations of our cities hidden from the Shade. Few of us could have withstood him for so long."

"Thank you, Däthedr-vor." Arya responded while I bowed my head at the elf.

"Enough. Our guests wait tired on their feet, and we have spoken of evil things for far too long. I will not have this occasion marred by lingering on past injuries." Islanzadí said sternly before her face melted into a smile. "My daughter has returned as well as my niece, two dragons and their Riders have appeared, and I will see us celebrate in the proper fashion!"

Islanzadí stood tall and clapped her hands. At the sound of her hands, lilies and roses rained down on our heads. I looked up at the shower of flowers and felt a rush of relief.

"We made it Lee."

"Then why are you still showered with sorrow?" I bit my lip at Alethea's question.

"I guess Murtagh was more important to me than I originally thought. I wish I had more control of my emotions, this is distracting and only makes me feel worse."

"If he is dead, why do you still feel his presence?" I frowned at the image Alethea was giving me.

"You think that he must have been taken? It would make sense, it looked like someone had died, but there was no body. That would mean he is probably in my 'oh so lovable' fathers hands. That is not good. He's going to get killed for leaving or at least severely beaten."

"Break him out then."

"Alethea, we can't just go flying into Ûru Baen and take him back. We'll get ourselves killed. We need to plan this out and then train our butts off. It's going to be a long, difficult road..."

"Is he worth it?"

"Is he worth it? ..... Yes, he is."

"Then we will train, become stronger, and then break him out my Rider. He is yours." I froze.

"Since when has he been mine!?!" Alethea sent me waves of smugness.

"Since you two became an unofficial couple."

"What?"

"It was clear to everyone; why do you think you got so many teasing looks? Everyone figured you two would end up together." Saphira said, entering our conversation.

"Am I seriously talking about this with two dragons?"

"It's better than talking to Eragon," Saphira stated smugly. I rolled my eyes and let out a huff.

"Fine, I am talking about this with two dragons. Are you in on our plan Saphira?"

"Of course," Saphira responded with a dragon huff, which also startled some nearby elves.

"Thank you. The fewer people that know about this, the better, this needs to stay between us if it's going to work."

"Mal?" I was brought out of my mind conversation with the two dragons to see Eragon standing in front of me. "Are you okay? You spaced out for a couple of minutes."

I shook my head to clear my thoughts and smiled at Eragon.

"Sorry, I was having a conversation with Alethea, I guess I got sucked into it." A look of understanding crossed Eragon's face before he became focused again.

"So was the whole 'you're related to Arya who happens to a princess which makes you a princess' the thing you wanted to talk to me about?" I bit my lip and nodded with a semi guilty face.

"I'm sorry that I didn't tell you sooner, but it was one of the things that the fewer people who know about it, the safer I am." Eragon gave me a look of understanding. "On the plus side, I don't have to hide anything anymore."

"If you don't mind me asking, who is your father?" I froze before sighing.

"I guess I should tell you. I am currently the only heir to the throne of Alageasia." Eragon frowned while he processes what I had said and his jaw dropped open when he figured it out.

"That means that Galbatorix is your father!!!" I nodded before looking at my hands.