Luminescent (Inheritance Cycle and Beyond)

Chapter Forty-Five: Brilliant

"Ah ..." 'Eragon's gaze wandered across the busy courtyard before returning to 'Roran's bruised face. "You fought well."

"You too and Mal, remind me to never piss you off again." I grinned at Roran while wiping some sweat from my face.

"Lee did most of the work you know." Alethea shrunk to her baby size and plopped her pearlescent body in my lap with a huff. "You know I'm right, Lee."

I got another huff as Eragon shifted his attention to Angela, who was once again knitting, her fingers moving so quickly, I could not follow what she was doing.

"Cheep cheep?" Eragon asked. An impish expression overtook her face, and she shook her head, her voluminous curls bouncing.

"A story for another time." Eragon shrugged before Roran turned back towards us.

"And you two," Roran said. "Where are you going?"

"We're going to get some food," Saphira replied, nudging Eragon with her snout.

Roran nodded. "That sounds best. I'll see you at camp this evening, then." As he turned to leave, he added, "Give my love to Katrina."

Angela tucked her knitting into a quilted bag that hung at her waist. "I guess 'I'll be off as well. I have a potion brewing in my tent that I must attend to, and 'there's a certain werecat I want to track down."

"Grimrr?"

"No, no—an old friend of mine: 'Solembum's mother. If 'she's still alive, that is. I hope she is."

"Be seeing you!" And with that, Angela sailed off. Eragon climbed onto Saphira's back while I held onto Alethea as she launched into the air and grew to her standard size. We spiraled up before Alethea dove towards the camp tucking her wings close to her body. Alethea didn't open her wings until the last second to slow our descent, and I landed softly on the ground with her clinging to my shoulder. When Saphira landed, that was a whole other story, the earth shook from her impact, and nearby horses screamed in terror.

Eragon dismounted as Katrina ran up to me with a worried expression.

"Katrina, you need to relax." I gently chided her as Eragon walked up to us.

"What news?" Katrina asked, ignoring my remark.

"You heard about the werecats ...?" Katrina nodded.

"There's no real news other than that. Roran's fine; he said to give you his love." Her expression softened, but her worry did not entirely disappear.

"He's all right, then?" She motioned toward the ring she wore on the third finger of her left hand, one of the two rings Eragon had enchanted for her and Roran so they might know if one or the other was in danger. "I thought I felt something, about an hour ago, and I was afraid that ..."

"Roran can tell you about it. He got a few nicks and bruises, but other than that, 'he's fine. Scared us half to death, though." Katrina's look of concern intensified, I elbowed Eragon in the ribs. He shot me a look, rubbing the area I had elbowed him.

"At least 'you're safe. All three of you."

"Eragon! Mal!"

"What!" I asked, snapping my head up.

"Mother's birth pains have just begun! Father sent me to tell you and to ask if you will wait with him, in case anything goes wrong and your skill with magic is needed. Please, if you can—" I bolted out of the tent before Albriech could finish, running full speed until I reached Horst's tent.

I held the crying baby girl in my arms as the woman of Carvahal cried in grief. The little baby was born with a cat lip.

"Can you please give me a minute alone with Elain and her newborn?" I asked the tent was immediately cleared.

I placed my right hand on the newborns head and began to sing in the ancient language. There was a possible chance I could fix this.

As I continued to sing the dragon on my arm lit up and moved onto the newborn's skin from my hand. The dragon would its self around the newborn's body, getting even brighter until it slipped back onto my arm and resumed its usual look.

The light diminished, and the newborn gurgled at me while waving her tiny hands in my face. I smiled at the little girl as Alethea climbed onto my shoulder and peered down at the newborn.

"I will give this child a gift."

"Well, then we better not screw it up," I muttered back in my mind. Alethea let out a puff of smoke and touched the new born's wrist with her snout.

"May she live a long and happy life." When Alethea pulled her snout away, there was a small mark on the new born's skin in the shape of a dragon. I turned back towards Elain and handed her baby back. Elain burst into tears again.

"You have... you--" I placed a hand on Elain's shoulder and refilled her energy.

"We have given your daughter a long and happy life," I said gently to Elain.

"Thank you, thank you, I am forever in your debt." I smiled and shook my head.

"You are not in my debt Elain, I was simply doing what I was gifted to do, help." I helped Elain to her feet. "Feeling better yet?"

Elain nodded with teary eyes as she looked down at her baby girl.

"Do you want to show Horst and the others?" Elain nodded before moving towards the entrance to the tent. I pushed the flap aside, and Elain walked out, I followed Elain as she walked up to Horst. Horst stared down at his daughter in shock. "I did the best I could."

"I can't believe it. ... I can't believe it. Elain and I are forevermore in your debt. If—"

"There is no debt, I only did what was right."

"But you were the one who healed her, and it's to you I'm grateful." I smiled and shook my head at Horst.

"What will you name her?" The smith beamed at me.

"Name her, and there will be no debt." My jaw dropped, this is blackmail.

"You want me to do what?"

"Name her." I let out an exasperated sigh before looking at the baby.

"Hope her name should be Hope." I finally said.