Luminescent (Inheritance Cycle and Beyond)

Chapter Seventy-Seven: Blinding

"Thank you, you are looking pretty healthy yourself," I told her before turning to Eragon. "I have a question, do you know the whereabouts of Roran?"

"Roran?" Eragon asked before he stroked his chin and grinned slightly. "you are in luck, he and Katrina settled on a farm not too far from here, they'll be here for the festival, are your wedding."

"When will he be here?" I asked, my hand against my pant leg.

"I'd say he'll be here in the next few days, want me to send him your way when he gets here?" Eragon asked, I nodded at him and smiled.

"That'd be great, thank you Eragon."

"Something wrong, Mal?"

"No, I just need to ask him a question," I replied, shaking her head and readjusting my grip on Selene. A tugging on my pant leg had me looking down at Fen, who was looking up at me. "What is it, Fen?"

"Mommy, that dragon is very pretty, can I talk to her?" Fen whispered.

"Fen, you have to ask Eragon," I said, pushing her toward him. Fen shuffled her feet before peering up at Eragon. I knew why she was so nervous, today she sported a French braid, there was no hiding behind her hair.

"I like your eyes, little one," Eragon said with a smile. Fen went pink and looked down at the cobblestones, and she kicked her foot out.

"Can I talk to your dragon?" Fen mumbled as she refused to look up into Eragon's eyes. Eragon let out a laugh.

"I am sure that she'd like that, little one." Fen flashed Eragon a smile before darting over to the dragon. I watched as she started interacting with Saphira. "Interesting little girl,"

"Grifen is, isn't she." I said. "she's had a rough start to life, but I'm hoping that in Murtagh and I's care, she learns that she doesn't need to be fearful of her eye."

"In your care, she just might."

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I was sitting in a dining hall with dozens upon dozens of flowers surrounding me as a local florist went through flower arrangements with me.

"Alright, we are already setting a dozen red and a dozen pink roses aside for you to pick for your hair, but we need to know how many you want of each in the bouquets." I rubbed my forehead, I had so many decisions running through my mind I couldn't think straight.

"How many in each bouquet?"

"About a dozen."

"Do half and half then," I replied as the door to the room opened.

"Your highness, pardon the intrusion." A butler said. "a Roran Stronghammer, is waiting for you in the adjacent sitting room."

My head snapped up as the butler rambled off the name. He finally arrived. I looked at the florist with an apologetic look.

"All of your suggestions are wonderful, go ahead and proceed," I told him. "If you will excuse me,"

"Of course, your highness." The florist said as I stood up and fixed the straps on my body. Today, Selene was strapped to my chest so I could get work done without having to keep an eye on her.

Striding from the room, I patted Selene's back as she cooed at me. Looking down at her as I walked, I smiled back.

"You're going to meet your uncle Roran, Selene." Selene tilted her head to the side before shrieking in excitement. Whether or not she understood my words, she was excited. Selene beat on my chest with her fists as I entered the doorway to the sitting room.

A tall blond man sat on one of the couched, facing away from me. At the sound of the door opening, he stood up and turned around. Our eyes connected, and we stared at each other for a few moments.

"Mal..." Roran said, his voice even more profound than I remember. I closed my eyes for a few seconds before opening them and smiling.

"Hello, Roran." His eyes dropped to Selene as she wiggled against my chest. Eagar to see who the new voice belonged to.

"I want to hug you," Roran said before cracking a small smile. "but that might not be such a good idea."

A small laughed escaped me before I started unstrapping Selene from my chest. Eagar to me free of her confines, Selene began to gurgle her displeasure at my apparent slowness until I plucked her from the sling.

"Roran," I said, looking at him with a small smile before looking at Selene. "this is my daughter Selene. Selene, this is your uncle, Roran."

Selene being the happy social baby she was instantly was holding her arms out to Roran while squealing. Roran, unable to resist Selene, reached out and took her from me.

"You are a beautiful girl," Roran said to her as she smacked a hand to his cheek. "just like your mother."

"Feh!!!" Selene squealed looking at me. I shook my head at her.

"Fen is with your father today, love."

"Fen?" Roran asked as he set Selene against his hip.

"My adopted daughter," I explained. "she turned eight in a few weeks. She and Selene are usually inseparable, Murtagh took her out for a ride, she was getting a little claustrophobic here in the city."

"Ah, makes sense, Ilirea is quite a bustling city." Roran agreed. "Eragon said you had something to talk to me about?"

"About that," I said, glancing down momentarily. "I am sure you've heard that I am getting married."

"In three days actually." Roran replied with a small grin. "congratulations, by the way."

"Thank you," I said as I rubbed my arm. "I only have one slight problem."

"What is it?" Roran asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I don't have anyone to walk me down the aisle and give me away," I told him before shrugging. "Eragon can't do it because he's more like a younger brother to me."

"You want me to give you away?" Roran asked in disbelief. I nodded at him.

"If you don't want to—"

"It would be my honor," Roran said, cutting me off. "It would be my honor to give you away."

Relief flooded my body.

"Oh thank the gods," I breathed out, the final issue I had been dealing with was finally taken care of.

"What was there to worry about?" Roran asked in confusion.

"You do realize that practically the whole city will be there along with most major persons of social status," I grumbled. Roran's eyebrows pinched together. "I'm terrified to walk in front of that many people, what if I trip and face plant?"

"You won't face plant, Mal," Roran assured me. I raised an eyebrow at him.

"And how do you know that? The train on my dress is enormous, and I haven't even seen the veil."

"I know you won't trip because I'll be there to support you, besides, you only need to focus on one thing, right?" Roran said while shrugging. "Focus on who your meeting rather than those who are watching."

I blinked at Roran, his words soaking in. That made sense. I didn't have to even think about the people who were watching, I just had to focus on one thing, Murtagh.

"Well, this does mean you are going to have to pay a visit to Frida."

"Who's Frida?" I smiled up at Roran, he would not like having to stand still for the fitting. Oh well.