#8: The Damsel in Distress
Forest of Kingswood
Noldorin climbed down his horse and washed his face down the river with his hood on to hide his identity. Looking around, the forest is filled with thistles which are edible and are enjoyed by Riverdellian. Having the forest as the boundary of the outside world and the land untouched by humans, it's unpopulated. He heard rustling in the bushes. It wasn't a sound of a beast. "Ahhhh!!!", it was a boy with a small sword. Noldorin grabbed his neck and knocked the sword out of his hand. "Are you hungry? I have some leftover fruits on my pack", Noldorin held the boy's neck since he kept moving. "I need a horse!!!", he shouted. "Horse?", Noldorin released him. "I'm going to Eragon and kill the King!!!", the boy shouted. "Coincidentally, that was also a task I think I should do", Noldorin picked the sword on the ground and gave it back to the boy. "Then, take me there and I'll spare you", he was confident. Noldorin was trying to hide his laughter.
He took the time to look at the boy. He has curly dark brown unkempt hair and blue eyes. "What's your name, little boy?", Noldorin went back to his horse and grabbed the wild grapes he gathered. The boy's stomach growled. "My name's Audric", he pouted and sat on the rock. Noldorin dropped the wild grapes on his lap. His eyes brightened and were ready to eat the juicy velvet fruit. "Are you trying to poison me? Abduct me, then sell me to the market as a slave?", Audric furrowed his brow. Noldorin chuckled. It was his first time to have a conversation with a non-Riverdell lad. If it was in his place, he'd be spending a night in the cell for speaking disrespectfully to an elder.
"What? Are you mocking me?", Audric picked up stones. "Eat", Noldorin picked thistles and ate them. Audric finally calmed down and made a distance to the tall man. "Are you a lord? You're wearing fancy clothing but I never saw that before", Audric noticed. The twelve-year-old boy observed his stature as well as his accent. It was something he cannot decipher. "Why would you like to kill the King?", Noldorin asked. "I was the one asking!", Audric threw a stone at Noldorin but he caught it. "It is customary for you to answer me first", Noldorin spoke with authority.
"My father was a nobleman. He traveled east because the King asked him to. But then, the House of Faydar betrayed the King having my father be caught in the crossfire. We plead for him to retrieve him back or send soldiers to save him. He said war is not the solution for everything", Audric narrated. "My father died and we haven't seen his body. We were exiled in this land for spreading the truth that the King was a coward", Audric added. "My apologies for what happened. But then Audric, that coward king you are talking about is already dead. A boy, when he was your age, slit King Claudius' throat", Noldorin broke the heart of the young boy. He wasn't satisfied that King Claudius died. He swore all his life that he will be the one to kill him. "I will kill the new King! I should be the one to avenge my father. My mother cried every night and my family is striving hard to live in this isolated place", Audric grabbed his small sword.
"I don't understand the reason why you need to kill the new King. I can see that you are swallowed by hatred and the will to revenge", Noldorin sighed. "Come with me, Audric", Noldorin stood up and started walking away. "I haven't yet said goodbye to my mother", Audric panicked. "If you go back and say your goodbyes, I expect that you wouldn't come back", Noldorin turned to look at Audric. "What am I going to do with you?", Audric tilted his head. "I'm on a journey of searching for the rightful heir to the throne", Noldorin informed and removed his hood. "I will search for a King who is not coward to fight for his people's rights", Noldorin added. Audric gulped and placed his sword back on the scabbard and pushed it to Noldorin. "I'll be back and I promise that. Just let me say goodbye to my mother. I don't want to add up to the reason why she's crying every night", Audric explained. "Audric, from what house are you?", Noldorin attempted a final conversation. "I discarded the name of my house for it is one given by the King. I am just Audric", the boy pounded on his chest. "We're the same, then. I am just Noldorin", the man slightly smiled.
It's almost dusk but the lad hasn't yet returned. The golden-haired man prepared his horse and placed his hood back. He heard someone panting behind him. He smiled and turned to see Audric carrying some of his clothes.
Riverdell
Tower of Wisdom
"Any sign where is Noldorin? The council is starting to doubt him. Maybe the fountain can show his whereabouts ", Vaeril said in a worried tone. "I see what I need to see and not what I want to, Your Grace", Faelar bowed his head. "Stop that Faelar, we both know that I don't deserve this. Talk to me just like before", Vaeril sighed deeply. "I really hope we can find Noldorin as soon as possible. I'm too selfish to say it but my daughter is growing ill each day that his presence is not felt anywhere in this Kingdom", Vaeril remembered his daughter's welfare. "Noldorin, my son, was never meant to stay in this place. I did whatever I can for him to be bounded in this place but was never able to stop fate from stealing him away from me", Faelar held onto the fountain stone. "Father had been talking about him holding such great responsibility. Could it be that-", Vaeril looked at Faelar. "Careful Vaeril, the walls have ears. If I can also be selfish, I would do my best to keep him here forever but that would mean damnation to all the people in the Land", Faelar said in a sad tone.
Forest
Reinys walked around and bumped into someone. It was the Crimson witch, Lucia. She was allowed to stay with the Riverdell as long as she doesn't harm anyone. In addition, she is also a pillar of the house. Her knowledge is needed to confirm proper interpretations. In spite of being called a witch, she's beautiful and well-mannered. As how her name entails, her long hair was bloody red. "What business does the princess have with me?", Lucia led her to her hut. It was filled with inappropriate things; from skeletons of animals to unidentifiable bugs. "Not quite beautiful compared to your castle, my lady. You are pitiful for chasing the wind; that of which you can never keep in your hands", Lucia sat on her rocking chair. "Can you really see the future? Tell me, where is Noldorin? Where is he headed to? Why did he leave?", Reinys pulled Lucia's necklace. Lucia coughed and Reinys let her go. She's clearly no longer in the right frame of mind.
"That man has a higher purpose than being with you. That's why he left because he knew that he cannot fulfill his destiny in this place", Lucia smirked. "I will make him look at me", Reinys challenged. "Do your best, my lady. I guess that would be a better alternative for the ending. It might even save him", Lucia chuckled. Reinys was about to storm outside. "Make it faster, my lady. Once the river meets the sea, you can no longer separate the spring water from the saltwater", Lucia warned.
Andor
Kraljica's Room
Zefania was prepared to get dressed. With all the struggle, she was already accustomed to her life in Andor. In the morning, she is expected to attend her lessons with Nova. Before noon comes, she will dine with Zakili and have small chat with her King. At noon, she will be having a walk with Keane and a tour around the Kingdom. She loves the afternoon walk because she gets to see the animals in the deeper forest. She was also able to collect herbs as permitted by Zakili. Until this morning, she lived comfortably.
She was horrified to see a bloodstain on her bed. She cried and her hands trembled. Zefania heard a knock on the door. The girl panicked and search for anything to cover the sheets. Keane was worried that the lady is not responding so he stormed inside. She saw Zefania trying to flip the bed. Her eyes were filled with tears. Keane shut the door behind them and walked closer to the bed. He saw the bloodstain and his eyes softened. Zefania grabbed Keane's arm. "Keane, I am begging you. Please don't tell anyone about this", the flower that bloomed pleaded with her hands trembling. Keane pulled the lady's head and let it rest in his chest. "Your secrets are safe with me, Kraljica. Hush now. You should be celebrating your flowering", Keane attempted to remove the tension. Zefania gave a small punch at the man's chest for taking the situation lightly. "I won't apologize for that", her cheek ballooned as she pouted.
Herb Garden
"Kraljica, you aren't allowed to be here", one of the servants worriedly blocked Zefania's way. "I'm here to pick my own herb for my soap and hair wash", Zefania explained. "You have improved with your Andorian tongue", Nova clapped as he approached her. "A student learns as much because of her teacher", Zefania gave a bow of the head. "I don't deserve such praise, Kraljica. What are the herbs for?", Nova overheard her. "I would like to try what my father had spent time studying", Zefania answered. Nova noticed her holding Black Haw and Black Cohosh. "Allow her", Nova looked at the servants in their black veil.
Zakili passed by and saw Zefania barehanded picking up herbs. She was about to pick the leaves when the Kralj himself broke the stem to pass it to her. "I gave you servants, are they not serving you well?", Zakili looked into his wife's eyes. Zefania gulped and just shook her head. She doesn't know how to face him. The council made her vow that the marriage won't get consummated unless she already reached her age of flowering. Zefania held tightly onto the herbs. His father wrote that it can't stop the flow temporarily. "The children of the lost, are you ready to see them?", Zakili started to walk away. "Kralj, I believe your wife has something to tell you", Nova bowed his head. Zakili confusingly looked at Zefania and then back to Nova. "Kraljica, why don't you tell the Kralj that you are already ready to bear his children", Nova revealed. Zefania's eyes widened and stepped back. Zakili hasn't said a word and just left the place.
Eragon
Throne Room
Volde crossed his leg waiting for something to amuse him. The door flung open revealing Astrid with some of his soldiers. "You've returned", Volde acknowledged her presence. Aya showed displease with the southern lady. Her servants prepared a silver plate with a covering. "Bithen is yours, Your Grace", Astrid knelt down and removed the covering. Aya was about to throw up to see a head served on the plate. Volde stood up and clapped. "Prepare a feast for the King's wedding. From this day on, I take Astrid Bithen as my wife", Volde walked down his platform and raised Astrid's chin. "We'll seal it with a kiss on the ceremony day", Volde smirked down at her.
Corridor
Varick went after the King. "You cannot make her your wife just because she bought you her father's head", Varick blocked his way. "You may call her that way but she will be the one who'll watch my back when a brood of vipers is preparing to poison me. In other words, a tool", Volde walked into the open space and passed through the Adviser. "I can be the first person to taste everything you'd be eating. You don't have to tie your vows to that woman. Southerners are known for continuous betrayal to whomever they swore their oath", Varick placed his hand on his chest as an act of surrender. "You are the Royal Adviser, my whisperer. You will be a great loss", Volde turned and looked into his eyes. "You will be with me as we liberate this Land. You will help me gain our family's honor back", Volde gave a determined look to Varick.
Chapter end.