Niernen
Legacy Name: Niernen

Several months had passed since Elva had sent the letter to Eragon, and now, she was beginning to wonder if it had ever reached the Dragon Rider.Since then, she had been doing what she had always done...serve Nasuada as best as she could, protecting the Queen wherever she went, training to keep her sharp skills up...and occasionally, even taking time to read books from Nasuada's private library.Walking into the room was always breathtaking, and Nasuada, with all of the riches retrieved from Galbatorix's trove of vaults, had wasted no expense into building it into a figurative temple to knowledge, learning, and magic. White marble pillars stretched up and held the vaulted ceiling aloft, as stained glass windows, made by eleven craftsmen, adorned the walls, depicting scenes from the most recent Rider War...as well as the adventures of Eragon, Saphira, Nasuada, the Varden, and yes, even she made an appearance, though small.Whenever she looked at the rendition of herself, remembering how she had been a model for countless paintings with Nasuada as well as the library's windows, observed how different she had looked merely five years ago. Created not long after Galbatorix's defeat, and liberation of Ilirea, the stained glass reflected a much younger image of her...a mere child who looked to be very young, cloaked in a robe of black as her pale face stood out, her violet eyes displaying a stark contrast along with the gedw y ignasia on her brow.Now, especially when standing or sitting under it, one could not even tell the similarities between her and her younger image...save for bearing the same, large, striking amethyst eyes, black hair, and the silvery mark on her forehead.Nevertheless, over the years, Elva had come to enjoy reading very much, learning it, along with writing, from her caretakers among the Varden during the War...and after the death of the mad king, reading whatever tomes she could get her hands on. After seeing how many books Galbatorix had taken, she felt as though a hunger had been awakened in her, a thirst that she could not hope to quench, except temporarily with more information. Thus, she had presided herself whenever she could in the first few years in the library, sitting among one of the many wooden tables and weaving through the tall, mahogany shelves of books, gobbling down manuscript after manuscript.Now, however, visiting the library no longer appealed to her as much...she had already read most of the books that interested her, and only entered that particular wing of the castle when new arrivals came in, which wasn't very often at all.Yet, even despite of waiting anxiously to see the response - if she indeed got any - from her letter, Nasuada and her tutors had kept her extremely busy, as well. Oddly, Angela seemed to vanish for a while, claiming that she had "business to attend to"...and the herbalist didn't bother to show her face until a few days ago, returning to her palace chambers.Walking at Nasuada's side, Elva kept pace with the queen, matching her footfalls with her own as her shoes moved motionlessly against the tiled floor. Accompanying the Queen to her throne, Elva waited as Nasuada seated herself, and Elva followed suit with a smaller chair next to hers, watching as the werecat Yelloweyes, curled up as a cat, slept peacefully on his cushion.Often times, when Yelloweyes was awake, he would pad over to Elva, and she would scratch his cheeks and massage his fur as he purred contentedly, leaning into her palm. This never failed to bring a smile to her face, and sometimes, the werecat would rub himself on her legs, or wrap his form around them, as he watched countless citizens present Nasuada with gifts and requests.Expecting the usual round of people from the city to filter in, asking their favors of their Queen, Elva was surprised when a page came running in, his face blanched."Y-your H-Highness," he stuttered, gasping for breath as he stopped, "Q-Queen Arya of the e-elves is here...t-to s-s-see you. S-she r-requests an audience."Glancing over at Nasuada, Elva saw the queen rise, her face carefully hiding what she knew to be surprise and curiosity. Her lip formed into a tight, grim line."You are dismissed. I shall go to see her for myself," Nasuada replied.Gasping for breath, the page scurried out of the room as quickly as he had entered.Turning to Elva, Nasuada nodded, and the witch-child rose from her own seat as well...much to the dismay of Yelloweyes, who still arched his back against her calf. Reaching down, Elva stroked his fur, her blank...though under her skin she was practically buzzing with exhilaration, while at the same time, feeling tempered - and rightly so - with fear of Nasuada's reaction.Up until now, Elva hadn't bothered to inform Nasuada of her letter to Eragon and Saphira. Then again, the witch-child had also assumed that her letter had a good chance of getting a denial, perhaps even with a scathing answer, back, or no reply at all...yet merely days ago, she had seen in her visions exactly how the Blue Rider and his dragon would respond.Thus, Arya, the Green Rider, had traversed countless miles from what Elva recalled was Mor'ranr Valley, the new home of the Riders, and for many weeks, to bring back the..."repayment"...Elva had requested. This, of course, pleased Elva so much, that she could barely constrain herself as she walked with Nasuada outside...controlling her steps with the control of one well-seasoned with timing and perfect balance.It didn't take long for the two, after exiting with a gaggle of other lords, ladies - and, of course, the Nighthawks, Nasuada's personal guardsmen - through the castle's grand front entrance, and into the great square in Ilirea, before Arya and her dragon came into view.Even above the tops of many of the houses, the dragon F rnen's back arched and moved, like a large stream of emerald, gleaming amid the mid-day sun.Entering the square, Nasuada waved away the rest of her court as she approached the F rnen, flanked by Elva and the Nighthawks, the latter of which were now made up solely of humans...still, they were the best human warriors in all of the Broddring Kingdom. To F rnen's side stood Arya, clad in green breeches, cream-colored boots, and a white silk tonic, as well as a simple diadem of silver on her head, her devoid of all emotion as she met Nasuada's gaze."Presenting Her Highness, Lady of the Varden and daughter of Lord Ajihad, Commander of the Allied Army, Warlord of the Wandering Tribes of the Hadrac Desert, and supreme ruler of the Broddring Kingdom and all the Empire, Queen Nasuada!" a page announced, bugling her entrance, "And Her Highness, daughter of King Evandar and Queen Islanzad , rider of F rnen, and monarch of Du Weldenvarden and the elves, Queen Arya...and her mighty dragon, F rnen!"At the announcement, most in the square bowed in respect, though a few unruly individuals booed and shouted insults when Nasuada approached. In reflex, the Nighthawks drew their weapons and drew in a tighter circle around Nasuada, eying the crowd in case any assassins should attempt an attack. Meanwhile, some of the archer members of the Nighthawks scanned the tops of the buildings and windows for any snipers, aiming the tips of their arrows above the rest of the crowd of the citizens.Nasuada, her eyes solely on Arya, quickly traversed the distance between them, Elva at her side."Greetings, Queen Arya...and greetings, F rnen," Nasuada said."Greetings to you as well, Queen Nasuada," Arya replied, nodding and bowing her head, and F rnen echoed her words and actions. The large dragon stared at Nasuada steadily with his yellow, catlike eyes, never once glancing at Elva.Turning her eyes to Elva, Arya's shifted slightly, her eyes narrowing as green irises met violet ones."Hello to you as well, Elva," Arya said, a bit more coldly."What brings you and F rnen so unexpectedly to Ilirea?" Nasuada asked, her attention rapt as she never let the elven ruler's face leave her sight.Looking for a few seconds at Nasuada, Arya turned her gaze again to Elva."I have brought a dragon egg, one bound to a Rider."At Arya'a words, an uproar seemed to erupt in the dense crowd around the square, as many people began to cheer and praise Nasuada and Arya's names. At this, Nasuada raised her right hand."Silence!" the human queen ordered, and the clamor began to die down."A dragon egg? I thought the only two eggs Eragon and Saphira had agreed to leave in Alaga sia were for the Urgals and dwarves, respectively," Nasuada replied, a bit stiffly.Elva, her gaze fixated on Arya's every word and move, felt a deep terror steadily crawl into her stomach as a chill went own her spine.For a moment, Arya hesitated.Each passing second seemed like an an hour to Elva, her heart thumping like a galloping horse, as she awaited Arya's response."Eragon and Saphira, as well as F rnen and I, have decided to leave an egg for the humans," Arya said simply, her gaze now only focused on Nasuada's, "After Eragon and Saphira left, along with the exile of the Red Rider, the humans were left without a Rider of their own. We deemed it only fair to leave the chance of a new Rider for the human race, as well as the Urgals and the dwarves."What...? Elva thought, Why is she protecting me? Surely she has no love for me, for requesting this as repayment for my debt...Nodding, Nasuada kept her stoic countenance, though Elva could tell by her eyes that she remained incredulous yet. Finally, the human ruler nodded."I see," Nasuada spoke, her voice authoritative, "I, as Queen of the Broddring Kingdom, thank you on behalf of the human race, and all of Ilirea.""There is one condition, though," Arya added, turning her eyes once again to Elva, "Elva must be the first to touch the egg."Now, Elva could feel herself blanch as thousands of eyes literally turned to look at her, and her fear magnified tenfold as she swallowed, struggling to keep her nothing less than serene. Meanwhile, many angry cries and jeers had erupted from the massive crowd as several people strained against the Royal soldiers holding them back, hurling verbal jabs as shouts, decrying Elva, sounded."Elva?" Nasuada inquired, turning to the witch-child as she arched an eyebrow."I..." Elva began, faltering, as she glanced around the sea of faces. "I...it was I...I, Nasuada, who requested the egg. I told Eragon that it would forever settle his debt to me, for cursing me as a babe."At this, whatever noise that the citizens of Ilirea had made dissipated, and a stunned silence hung in the air."I see," Nasuada finally replied, "In that case, so mote it be. Elva obtained the egg for us; it is only right that she be the first to touch it.""So mote it be," came a murmur from the crowd, as well as Arya, affirming Nasuada's decision.Turning, Arya reached into one of F rnen's saddle-bags, reached in, and pulled out what appeared to be polished, large stone.Elva had never seen a dragon egg before...but to tell the truth, this one looked to be more magnificent than any mere stone, and immediately attracted her attention. No other rock she had seen could have been smoother...and its surface was a flawless, dark violet, excepting the silvery veins that traversed its surface, akin to a delicate spiderweb.Something about the shell captivated her...and Elva couldn't help but marvel at it. She noted that it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen thus far in her short life...more beautiful than any of the jewels, gold, or silver that Nasuada had given to her..."Elva...come forth and take it," Arya commented, her voice flat. Elva could tell it was laced with a slight edge to it.Hesitating, Elva took a step forward, her legs suddenly feeling as heavy as lead.Come on, Elva! she scolded herself, This is it! You can't back down now...not after all that time!Forcing her muscles to move, Elva sauntered slowly over to where Arya stood, reaching out her hands...and touched the egg.The coolness and lack of friction under her fingers slightly startled Elva...it vaguely reminded her of chilled, hardened silk, but she kept her palms on the egg, moving them to support the weight of it and take it. The egg itself was oval-shaped, about a foot long, and weighed several pounds, though it felt lighter than it probably should have.As she tried to lift it, however, she felt a sudden, sharp pressure on her arm.Suddenly, she found herself staring, her face barely an inch away, into Arya's piercing, furious green eyes."Be wary, Elva Brunhvitr," Arya whispered, her voice callous, "Guard this egg with your life...or face the wrath of the dragons and Riders alike."Nodding, Elva barely spoke a low affirmation, and Arya released her. Filled with cold terror at the elven queen's ferocity and viciousness, Elva backed away, clutching the egg as though nothing else mattered.Standing, unaccompanied, in the middle of the square, Elva stared at the ellipse in her hands. Nothing happened.Then, the egg let out a loud squeak, which rang through Elva's ears and reverberated through her fingers. Suddenly, it began rocking in her palms, and startled, Elva jumped as the egg moved increasingly rapidly, the squeaks becoming louder and louder.Then, just as quickly as it had started, the egg's movement ceased.Quivering, the egg wobbled in her hands, and a crack appeared on its surface...then another, and then another...Transfixed, eager, and a bit frightened at the same time, watched as the cracks seemed to meet at the top of the ellipsis, where a small piece wobbled for a moment, then rose and fell, with a clatter, to the cobblestones below. Another series of squeaks followed, and a small, dark snout poked out of the hole, followed by a reptilian head, and followed by a slender, yet oddly-shaped, body.Snaking its way out of the top of the egg, the hatchling took large shards of what remained of the eggshell with it, as Elva lowered it to the ground so it could step onto something other than her arms.No longer than a man's forearm, the hatchling's body was lithe, yet carried a dignified and noble grace to it as it landed on the ground. Its scales were a deep amethyst purple, the same color as the egg from whence it came.Fanning its wings, Elva realized that, up until now, its wings had been stuck to its body, giving the little dragon a convoluted appearance. Several times longer than its body, the hatchling's wings were ribbed with thin fingers of bone that extended from the wings' front edge, forming a line of widely spaced talons. Roughly triangular, the dragon's head swiveled to look at her, bearing two tiny, white fangs that curved down from its upper jaw. The fangs, along with its claws, looked quite sharp, white - actually, Elva would liken it to a more creamy, ivory color - and slightly serrated on the inside curve. A line of small spikes ran down the hatchling's spine, from the base of its head, to the tip of its tail. A hollow where its neck and shoulders joined created a larger-than-normal gap between its spikes.Shifting slightly, Elva stared at the dragon, and its head snapped around. Eerie, yet vivid, orange eyes fixed on her.Instinctively shifting into a defensive crouch, Elva braced herself in case the hatchling decided to attack.Instead, the dragon promptly seemed to lose interest in her, struggling as it took its first steps, squealing as it looked at all of the people gathered around them.With a flutter of wings, it took a few steps, sniffing, as it opened its mouth, displaying rows of finely honed teeth. Smelling Elva's scent, the dragon turned and wobbled over to her, biting the sleeve of her black robe. With a start, Elva yanked her arm back.Looking at the small creature, Elva realized it couldn't be any larger than Yelloweyes, and a small smile spread across her lips. Hesitantly - and hoping it wouldn't try to bite her hand off in the process - she reached out with her left hand, touching its neck.An icy blast of energy jolted into her hand like electricity, racing up her arm and burning her blood like molten lava. Falling back with a shrill scream, Elva's entire body shuddered violently...all she could register or fell was pain, utter agony, as she felt she was burning alive. She felt scared out of her mind when she struggled to move, only to find herself paralyzed.After what seemed like forever, warmth started to seep back into her slender form, leaving them tingling with a "pins-and-needles" sensation. Shivering uncontrollably, she managed to push herself upright so she was sitting on the stones below her...but her left hand was numb, and she found herself unable to move any of its muscles.Alarmed, she lifted her left hand, whee she watched as the middle of its shimmered, forming a diffused, white oval, though the skin itself now itched and burned ferociously. Though she was tempted to scratch he newly scarred skin, she was too terrified to do so; she felt her blood pounding against her temple as she gazed at the new gedw y ignasia on her palm.Elva was still trying to recollect her scattered thoughts and understand what had just happened, when she felt something brush lightly against her consciousness. Feeling it a second time, it solidified into a tendril of inquisitive thought in her mind, through which she could feel a growing curiosity.Surprised, Elva remembered the mental training she had been given, but when she went to put up her barriers to protect her mind, they were gone. It was as though all of her defenses had fallen away, and now, she was free tor each out with her thoughts.Elva thought fearfully that, without a mental tether to her own brain, she would float out of her body and be unable to return to it, becoming a spirit. She pulled away from the contact, and the new sense vanished in the blink of an eye.A scaly hide scraped against Elva's clothes as the dragon rubbed itself on her, but the energy from the contact didn't startle her this time. Confused, she reached out and tentatively rubbed the hatchling's snout, and a light buzz ran up her arm. The dragon nuzzled her palm, arching its back like a cat, and her hand lightly trailed over its wings. They felt like old parchment, velvety and warm to the touch, yet still slightly damp with amniotic fluid from its shell...and hundreds of slender veins seemed to pulse through them.Again, the tendril touched her mind, but this time, she sensed a hunger so ravenous and commanding that it made her own stomach ache, and she heard her gut make a small noise of discontent. Wailing in a reedy tone, the dragon sniffed Elva's clothes and pockets for food.From the crowd, once dumbfounded with silence and fascination, came a unbidden, loud cry."All hail the new Dragon Rider!"--------------------------------------------------------For more to the story, read Arundel's profile.- Excerpt above is from my post-Inheritance Cycle fan fiction, The Rider's Apprentice, circa 2012.

Name: Niernen BjartskularName Meaning: "orchid", "bright scales"Age: Near-Immortal (young)Species: DragonColor: AmethystGender: MaleHomeland: Alaga siaRider: Elva FarseerAppearance: Born with "amethyst" scales, Niernen is a rather large, though lithe, dragon with scales that look just like that: diamond-shaped, smooth, dark amethysts..and lighter colored, lavender amethyst tones along his underbelly and neck. The top of his wings are also dark amethyst, while his under wings are a lighter, lavender amethyst color. In reality, Niernen's scales are more akin to lightweight steel, allowing him to fly while protecting his entire body, including his belly, from penetration or injury from most non-magical human weapons. Magical and elven weapons, however, can still pierce Niernen's scales, making him extra cautious when dealing with an opponent with those weapons.Atop his head, Niernen has two curved, ivory-colored horns, followed by a line of ivory spikes along his forehead, neck, and spine; Niernen's wing talons, claw talons, and teeth are also a white, ivory color, and are razor sharp, up kept by the dragon via nail care by his Rider, Elva. Overall, Niernen's body is thinner than other dragons', more light and lean, and he is smaller than most female dragons, including his mentor Saphira. He has a very analytical mind, and examines everything from an open minded perspective, judging everything carefully until he is sure of his own opinion or the truth.Possessing striking, eerie orange eyes, Niernen tends to intimidate or scare some humans with them, though Elva is used to Niernen's odd shade of iris.Personality: Growing up with his Rider, Elva, Niernen's personality proves a complement and near mirror image to his Rider's: sarcastic, dry humor, independence, and a steadfast watching and cautiousness. Additionally, Niernen enjoys learning a lot and was a good, dutiful student to his dragon teachers, though he always is learning, reading books, and seeking out new knowledge to learn.Polite, though blunt at times, Niernen also is respectful of his teachers unless they have wronged or upset Elva; Niernen is highly protective of Elva, loves her greatly as his companion, and would do anything for her. Particularly versed in the nuances of military strategy and politics, Niernen deems himself a strategic mind, and is particularly good at the "game of kings" - chess - as well as other games of the mind. Nevertheless, Niernen also trains consistently while spending time always at Elva's side, usually even when hunting; Niernen only leaves when his mate, Arundel, wishes to do something or go hunting. History: Laid centuries ago to an unknown dragon pair, Niernen laid in an amethyst-colored, smooth, cold egg for almost a century, sheltered and safe with hundreds of other of his egg kin from the traitor King Galbatorix in the Vault of Souls...until Eragon Shadeslayer and his dragon, Saphira Bjartskular, rediscovered the Vault. Taken and transported after King Galbatorix's defeat to the Riders' new homeland in the far East, Niernen remained in his egg, until a certain letter reached the desk of Eragon...Elva Farseer, once a normal human child, orphan, and refugee, had been both blessed and cursed by Eragon Shadeslayer and Saphira Bjartskular as an infant, binding her with ancient dragon magic to become a shield to others. Aging rapidly to try and keep up with this agonizing task, Elva's eyes also transformed into an inhuman purple, and when she grew old enough and learned to walk, she sought out Eragon and his dragon. With her companion and caretaker, Greta, Elva sought out the Varden, the rebels against King Galbatorix...and among them, Eragon and Saphira, their one hope for defeating Galbatorix, who possessed a dragon forcibly bound to him, Shruikan.A hundred years prior, Galbatorix had stolen Shruikan and rose against the Old Order of Dragon Riders with his followers, the thirteen Forsworn, vowing to destroy the Riders' peaceful rule from their island of Vroengard and capital, Doru Arabea.After a long, bloody battle, Galbatorix and the Forsworn slew the Riders, and hunted down every last dragon until none were alive...that is, save for the eggs hidden in the Vault of Souls, and three dragon eggs that Galbatorix had taken forcibly. From one hatched the sapphire dragon Saphira, who was stolen from the king and hatched to Eragon. From the second, hatched the red dragon Thorn to Murtagh, son of the Forsworn's leader, Morzan.After joining the Varden and developing the gift of foresight, Elva was able to tell what would happen to a person by their future pain...but also constantly felt the agonizing pain of the soldiers fighting and dying in the war around her, aiding the Varden where she could. The Varden's leader, Nasuada, made Elva her personal bodyguard, as Elva was able to tell potential futures that would pose mortal danger to the Varden leader. For her magical abilities, Elva was granted the surname "Farseer" and the nickname "witch-child", garnering the awe, respect, and reverence of many of those in the Varden.After the War in Alaga sia and the reformation of Galbatorix's Broddring Kingdom, Elva, her blessing edited by Eragon and in the service of Nasuada, the new Queen, served Nasuada for several years, learning the ways of the assassins, magic, and the mind, honing her Occlumency skills to become the perfect protector for her Queen.Yet, despite this, Elva felt lonely and isolated...abandoned and alone, save for for the fellow witch Angela, who was greatly feared and respected herself, along with Angela's werecat familiar, Solembum. Though she had been both blessed and cursed, she would never be accepted into the Broddring Kingdom's normal society; though she was widely revered, she was also hated and feared for being a witch and "unnatural being", protected solely by Nasuada and shielded in solitary living at the royal court. She would never know love; be normal; or experience a normal life.Then, Elva experienced a vision of things to come...and knew her fate.Sending a letter to Eragon and Saphira, now heads of the new Order or Dragon Riders in the far East, Elva requested what she deemed the final reparation to amend for her losses in life: a dragon egg, one bound by magic to hatch for its destined Rider.Thus, the egg of Niernen Bjartskular was sent, carried by the elven queen, Arya Dr ttning, and Arya's emerald dragon, F rnen.Arriving at the capital of the Kingdom, Ilirea, Arya brought forth the amethyst egg to present to the young witch-child, amid countless human spectators and the royal court. From that egg hatched Niernen, and one touch from Elva formed the gedw y ignasia, or "shining palm" - a physical mark from the magical and mental bond between she and Niernen.However, seeing the dragon hatch for the witch-child, a mob soon formed. Fearing for Elva's life, Arya and the court returned to the palace. Escorted quickly to the palace dungeons, Elva selected her Rider's sword, V lusp , or "prophecy of the seeress", once owned by one of Galbatorix's Forsworn, Kialand . The witch Angela also bestowed upon her the magical amulet Aldis, once the property of the Soothsayer, a mythic seer from millennia before.Riding on the back of F rnen, Elva and Niernen were escorted by Arya to Ellesm ra, the capital city of the elven kingdom of Du Weldenvarden, where Arya prepared to instruct Elva in the ways of the Riders until her dragon was old enough to make the journey to the Rider's new bastion in the far East to train with Eragon and Saphira. Instructing Elva on the ways of the old Order, and of Arya's own instructors as a child, the Rider Oromis and his golden dragon, Glaedr, Arya worked with a strict, but guiding, hand to mold the young Elva into a proper Rider.After a month, the young dragonet developed his own mental voice as Elva spent time constantly at his side, teaching him the Ancient Language and the human language. Eventually, the dragonet selected the name Niernen, or "orchid", the name of an ancient, deadly spear that the elves once used in a war against the dragons - the Du Fyrn Skulblaka.Eventually, when the time came, Elva and Niernen set out for the far East....where Mor'ranr Valley lay, with its diverse town and budding society, all built around the Dragon Riders and their new Order.In time, Elva, much to her horror and deep confusion, discovered the true identity of her parents.Many refugees and settlers came in waves to Mor'ranr Valley, seeking the "peace", "land of milk and honey", and chance at a dragon egg that proffered them. Even those who did not seek a dragon egg or wild dragon came to settle in the valley...and one day, a caravan arrived, bearing the household of a woman named Lady Lorana.Once an ally of King Galbatorix, Lady Lorana had been rescued by the mad king's magicians by Eragon and Arya during the war with the Varden, and, retiring her position to her son, Castor, Lorana sought out what had become legend in Alaga sia: the Riders' new homeland.Recognizing Elva immediately, Lady Lorana revealed the unthinkable: Elva was the daughter of Lady Elora, the granddaughter of King Angrenost, the king Galbatorix had murdered to take his place on the throne. Lady Elora, taken as one of Galbatorix's many concubines, did what every other concubine had failed to do: produce him a child...Elva. According to Lady Lorana, Galbatorix only allowed Elora's child to live because the infant was female, and, therefore, no threat to his rule.After Elva's birth, Lady Elora died from complications from childbirth...but before she passed away, she ordered her handmaiden, the elderly Greta, to take Elva away from Ilirea and to the Varden...lest Galbatorix decide to slay Elva, or worse, raise her solely under his insane command. Thus, so it was that Elva, carried by Greta all the way to Tronjheim, city of the dwarves, met and was "blessed" by Eragon and Saphira...and potentially filling Eragon's own prophecy of loving a woman of "noble birth".Keeping the secret to herself, Elva made Lady Lorana swear an oath of secrecy to never tell another living soul of her true parentage. Soon, Elva, now a beautiful young woman, began to fancy the head Rider, Eragon, who perpetually looked his youthful age of twenty. Meanwhile, she and Niernen learned more of the Dragon Riders, their lore, their destroyed home of Vroengard and ruined capital, Doru Araeba...and of the Vault of Souls.In time, Elva befriended the man who she had once scorned for cursing her...and he too seemed to return her affections as the two trained for months on end, learning what they could from one another. Meanwhile, however, as Arya, Eragon's old flame, visited Mor'ranr Valley periodically, she noticed Eragon and Elva's affectionate actions, and jealousy grew in the elven queen's heart. Though she had spurned Eragon's affections before, she now desired them again...and one day, Arya witnessed Elva kissing Eragon.Challenging Elva to a duel for Eragon's affections, Arya was determined to best the younger Rider for the hand of her master...but Elva, seeing that Eragon was conflicted between herself and Arya, ultimately made a decision that would change her and Niernen's lives forever.In the dead of night, Elva and Niernen stole away to the high mountain at the far end of Mor'ranr Valley, where the wild, orange dragon Bryni slept and guarded the new Vault of Souls. Speaking their true names, they were admitted by Cuaroc, a guardian ancestor of Niernen, and with them, stole away three eggs - the first clutch of Saphira and F rnen.Having gathered supplies, Elva and Niernen stole away the eggs to the West as Eragon and Saphira and Arya and F rnen chased them; however, Elva, using ancient dragon magic, managed to cloak herself and Niernen as a defense mechanism. Giving up chase, Eragon and Arya returned to Mor'ranr Valley. Seeking out the island of Vroengard, Elva sought out the survivors of the island, and was welcomed by them as a goddess...and with their help and magic, as well as outsiders' help, Elva and Niernen began to rebuild the ruins of Vroengard and Doru Araeba.Eventually, after a peace visit by Arya and F rnen, establishing neutrality and understanding between herself and Elva, Elva explained why she had done so. While choosing Eragon would have given Elva lifelong happiness, ultimately, it would have been a selfish decision that would have torn the new Order asunder. Elva also revealed to Arya her true heritage, after making the elf swear to her never to harm or wage war against her due to her father's identity. Furthermore, Elva explained she chose exile and to rebuild the Riders' home in the West...and agreeing with Elva's terms, Arya and her emerald dragon departed, having formed a pact of neutrality.Once again visiting Nasuada's court, Elva propositioned her former liege lady: if her kingdom showed neutrality to a rebuilt Vroengard, then Elva would in turn help police Nasuada's kingdom and keep peace. Nasuada, having owed Elva her life on countless occasions, agreed.After visiting the city of Feinster with the three dragon eggs, Elva met the charming Demetri Waldgrave, grandson of Lady Lorana, for whom one of the eggs hatched...producing a white, female dragonet.Taken under wing by Elva, Demetri was trained as a Rider, and, eventually, his dragon chose the name Arundel for herself. As both grew closer, Arundel and Niernen became mates, as Elva and Demetri became lovers when he came of age.Ever since, Elva and Niernen have been the head Riders of the Western Order, with Niernen given the surname "Bjartskular" or "bright scales", and Elva given the title "Queen of Vroengard".

CREDITS

Pet Overlay by Sadist
Profile by Eco
Minion Overlay by Idess
Story and text by me

DISCLAIMER
The Inheritance Cycle and all related literary characters are 2002 2012 to Christopher Paolini, 20th Century Fox, etc. This is an unauthorized work of fiction, and should not be regarded as canon or real in any way. The Rider's Apprentice, all unrelated characters, including Niernen, are 2012 to me, and are not be used in any other works of fanfiction not authorized or written by me without my permission.