"Islanzadí Dröttning." Arya replied indifferently. The queen jerked back as though slapped. She repeated her words in the Ancient Language, her hands at her face as she continued.
"Ever since you disappeared, I've barely slept or eaten. I was haunted by your fate, and feared I would never see you again. Banning you from my presence was the greatest mistake I have ever made.... Can you forgive me?"
The elves shifted in place, shocked. Arya was silent awhile.

"For seventy years, I have lived and loved, fought and killed, without ever speaking to you, my mother. Our lives are long, but even so, that is no small span."
Islanzadí straightened, raising her chin as she shivered. "I cannot undo the past, Arya, no matter how much I might desire to."
"And I cannot forget what I endured."
She wrapped her hands around Arya's. "Nor should you. You are my only family. Go if you must, but unless you wish to renounce me, I would be reconciled with you."
Arya seemed close to saying no when she paused to gaze at the audience. Then she looked to the floor. "No, Mother. I could not leave." Islanzadí smiled, a glint of uncertainty in her eyes as she hugged Arya once again. Her daughter returned the hug, the gathered elves grinning.

The albino raven cawed and spoke. "And on the door was graven evermore, what now became the family lore, Let us never do but to adore!"
"Hush, Blagden." Islanzadí addressed the raven. "Keep your doggerel to yourself." She faced Nightmare, Eragon and Saphira.
"You must excuse me for being discourteous and ignoring you, our most important guests."
Eragon pressed his fingers to his lips and twisted his right over his sternum. "Islanzadí Dröttning. Atra esterní ono thelduin." Her eyes widened and she responded. "Atra du evarínya ono varda."
"Un atra mor'ranr lífa unin hjarta onr."
Surprise radiated from the elves. Nightmare chuckled softly. The queen turned to Saphira as they went through the greeting, before a voice called out.

"Islanzadí, you must excuse me for this, but" Dream started nervously. Draco and Bird's eyelights flickered over, tense as they expected danger, before realizing he looked different. "In front of you is Nightmare, he's technically a king but-" He broke off, hesitating before a huge grin spread over his face. He charged at them.
"BROTHER!" He shouted as they collided, Nightmare forced to lean back on his tentacles as he grabbed his other half, who embraced him tightly.
"Thank you for forgiving me." He sniffed. His new wings were spread out behind him, not unlike an angel.

His tentacles flicked, tense at first before slowly settling down, a few tendrils winding around Dream's arms. Then he pulled out of the embrace, a few loose vines dragging at him. "I apologise." He spoke to Islanzadí, before smirking. "But now we are even, having both been discourteous due to family conflicts." Dream rubbed one of his viney arms awkwardly. "I do apologise too, we had been at war with each other for a very long time and recently reconciled ourselves; this is the first time we've been able to meet without one attacking the other."

Islanzadí paused. "Oh? If that is the case, today is a day to cherish indeed. I am glad you have moved on, I only hope it was not so long as me and my daughter's. Such things between families end in regret." She became forlorn momentarily. Nightmare gazed at her with pity.
"Indeed, it was not as long as your feud. It was far, far longer, and extreme. Seventy years, you say? I regret to inform you that our feud was old before Alagaësia was even formed."
A few gasps rang out among the elves, he had revealed that they were older than time itself as they knew it.

Dream chuckled nervously. "A little presumptuous, Brother?" He whispered shyly. "Nonsense, they deserve to know just as any other race. Best get it out of the way immediately."
Islanzadí suddenly initiated the greeting to both of them, causing the pair to blink in surprise before Dream stuttered the response in shock, Nightmare stating his slowly.
"Un atra mor'ranr lífa unin hjarta onr." She finished.

They paused, no one sure of what to say. Then Islanzadí cleared her throat, formal once more. She addressed the others, starting with Saphira.
"Dragon, what is your name?"
Saphira. She recognized it, though she said nothing. The queen faced Draco, asking the same question as he gave his answer, adding what the elves liked to call him.
She turned to GB, responding with both names, then Blue standing beside him, who did the same. She went through everyone's names as they each have two, that which they always had and the titles Lifaen and Narí had automatically given them, for they felt the names were fitting.
She ended at Eragon.
"Eragon Shadeslayer, your Majesty." He answered respectfully. All the elves stirred in surprise, a shocked expression locked on Islanzadí's face.
"You carry a powerful name." She murmured. "One we rarely bestow upon our children.... Welcome to Ellesméra, Eragon Shadeslayer. We have waited long for you."
She inclined her head at Nightmare and Dream, before returning to her gnarled throne and addressing them.

"I assume by your presence here, Nightmare, is that changes are happening throughout Alagaësia, changes that shall affect us all. And by you, Eragon, so soon after Saphira's egg was captured, and by the ring on your hand and the sword at your hip, that Brom is dead and that your training with him was incomplete. I wish to hear your full story, including how Brom fell, how you met the andlátkyn, and how you came to meet my daughter, or how she met you, as it may be. Then I will hear of your mission here, dwarf, as well as yours, skeletons, and of your adventures, Arya, since your ambush in Du Weldenvarden."

And so began their story. Nightmare spoke first, instead of retelling how they came to Alagaësia, he began with his history in the Multiverse, starting with the tale of two young Guardians for a single tree. A tree responsible for the safekeeping of the emotional balance of many worlds, and it's protectors' duty to guard it from the greed of mortals, especially the village nearby. He spoke of the times when the Multiverse was young, and of the abuse the darker Guardian endured without the knowledge of the lighter one.
How the Negative half snapped from the strain, in a fit of madness, consuming what he was supposed to protect and destroying what had been his own mother, turning his brother to stone for a century as he let loose his new power and madness upon the Multiverse, no longer in his right mind; nor would he be for eons.

He detailed a few accounts he remembered, and how the Guardian of Positivity broke free of his century-long imprisonment, starting a war between Positivity and Negativity that inevitably became entwined with other conflicts as well, became part of the very fabric of the Multiverse as it tied into the more crucial balance between Creativity and Destruction. He explained how the lighter side was completely unaware of the need for balance between them, so they were stuck in the mindset that the darker side was entirely mad, when both the dark Guardian and Destroyer had become weary, but unable to take back their actions, so they had no choice but to continue.

Though still clouded of mind, the Guardian of Negativity had finally decided to recruit angry, vengeful, abandoned skeletons from dying and hellish worlds to join him as their king. They accepted, often desperate to escape their personal hells and even lost in their own madness from what they suffered.
But the unexpected thing was that, in time, the arrangements formed bonds between them, even the still raving and hateful Guardian.
They became ostracized and infamous for what they technically had to do, and inevitably grew tired of it as they regained their individual sanities. They became like a family, even bonding with one of the enemy that saw through all the illusion and beliefs, being the one to unite this forsaken family with the God of Destruction while still technically being disrespected by the 'good guys' he'd been part of, due to his seemingly childlike nature at times.

Then he described the Void, and Outertale, waxing eloquent on the airy place of stars, cast forever in glowing nighttime. He explained the strange properties of the Void located there.
He also spoke of the cliff this strange family frequented, how all of them enjoyed snatches of peace there.
Nightmare went on to explain the sudden ambush they experienced, describing how there was only the Creator of worlds, and a sordid scheme to get rid of them for a few years, only..
He reminded them of the balance, of what would happen in the darker side's absence, then described their fall into this Void.
"And that is where Eragon's story begins."

The elves regarded him and his team with curiosity, pity, and a few notes of fear. Eragon slowly began retelling his own story, starting with his discovery of Saphira's egg in the Spine. He often had Saphira fill in where he had forgotten details, up until their ambush by the Ra'zac. There, he temporarily lent the narrative to Nightmare as the Guardian of Negativity described how he felt at first, still somber while he listed out how this strange young world felt to him, brimming with more Negativity than the entire Multiverse; a shock given how comparatively small and young it was. He explained how they gathered their wits about them and discovered the humans and dragon. How they drove off the Ra'zac with hardly a fight, though not before one threw a knife, impaling Brom and fleeing into the night.

He described his thoughts as he figured what to do with what, at the time, he had claimed as his 'prisoners', even making air quotes with a smile. He explained his uncertainty as he started understanding a language he had never seen before in his ancient life as he heard it, and his confusion when he felt pity for a dying human while his people became acquainted with the Rider and his soon-to-be friend. He recounted how he took Brom's pain during his final hours, finding the copy of Domia Abr Wyrda and reading it with his mismatched family while Eragon had remained in vigil beside his teacher.
He gave up the narrative, letting Eragon take it up again with a quiet demeanor.

The human spoke of how strange and indifferent Nightmare had been most of the time at first, with only brief moments of kindness as they traveled to Gil'ead, warming up to each other as time passed. It was during this time that they started enjoying themselves, finding common ground and forging friendships with each other, learning secrets of things that were common knowledge to the skeletons, hearing of their ancient history from Nightmare as the mostly distant Guardian became animate about a subject he had always enjoyed, just as Error had obsessed over secrets of science and the stars. The elves had leaned forward in curiosity when Eragon mentioned a fact from Error of how the sun was just another star, just much, much closer.

He described his capture at Gil'ead, his discovery of Arya and their rescue. He went on about their flight from there to the Varden, desperately trying to preserve the horses' strength instead of ridding themselves of the steeds, a journey that crossed the Empire and then the Hadarac Desert, up till they finally reached Farthen Dûr, chased by Kull.
There he went on about how they discovered more skeletons had been in Alagaësia, finding Chaos as she screamed for her adopted father, Error, and rejoiced in her friends and family before later meeting with Ajihad and encountering the rest of Error's relatives and Red, a rare friend that had understood their plight as he was in a difficult situation in his home, as well. One known as neutral in their old war back home, who inevitably pledged himself to Nightmare as one of his team, to signify new beginnings.

Eragon then went on to discuss the battle of Farthen Dûr, stopping for Nightmare to describe the moment in the battle when other skeletons appeared, all working for the enemy, as he bitterly recalled, before describing his and Error's sudden appearance in a black Void, detailing their encounter with Limbo and what Error knew of him, explaining their connections to Wyrda and their inability to fight against it. He went on about his and Error's anxiety when they saw Blue, Eragon, and Saphira in the center of Tronjheim and could do nothing to help. Their shock and dismay when they saw GB dragged out of a hole in the floor, covered in chains as he whimpered in pain. The skeleblaster looked away when he spoke of this, not seeing the outrage upon the elves' faces.
Nightmare traded back to Eragon as the human described his final battle against Durza, how he was smote across the back and how he stabbed the Shade through the heart while Blueberry had freed GB, Arya and Saphira shattering the Isidar Mithrim.

Eragon spoke of the aftermath, then the ambush that killed Ajihad and took off with Murtaugh and the Twins, a strange weapon that stabbed Nightmare in the Soul and resulted in him 'dying'.

Dream had gasped and hugged him. "Brother?"
"I'm fine now, aren't I?" He responded easily, tentacles flicking as he watched the confusion around the elves. Eragon explained his sorrow, and later how Nightmare had entered his mind to protect him from the pain of his injury, earning even more confused looks from the elves.

The Rider went on about Nasuada's rise to power and his oath of fealty to the new leader of the Varden, Ajihad's funeral and Nightmare returning to the physical realm. He glazed over their departure of Farthen Dûr and Tarnag, except for the Az Sweldn rak Anhûin, and explained their journey down the Az Ragni quickly so he could describe meeting Draco and Bird, the pair joining them until they reached Ellesméra, where they all stood now.

Eragon at last handed Nasuada's missive to Islanzadí, the queen taking it, breaking the wax seal and reading it. Then she sighed wearily, closing her eyes for a moment as she spoke softly.
"I see now the true depth of my folly. My grief would have ended much sooner if I had not withdrawn our warriors and ignored Ajihad's messengers after learning Arya had been ambushed. I should have never blamed the Varden for her death. For one so old, I am still far too foolish...."
No one made to agree or disagree.

Eragon spoke up apprehensively. "Since Arya has returned alive, will you agree to help the Varden, like before? Nasuada cannot succeed otherwise, and I am pledged to her cause."
Islanzadí waved her hand. "My quarrel with the Varden is as dust in the wind. Fear not; we will assist them as we once did, and more, because of you and their victory over the Urgals." She leaned forward, supporting herself on one arm. "Will you give me Brom's ring, Eragon?"
He removed it instantly, handing it over as she took it gently. "You should not have worn this, Eragon, as it was not meant for you. However, because of the aid you have rendered the Varden and my family, I now name you Elf Friend and bestow this ring, Aren, upon you, so that all elves, wherever you go, will know that you are to be trusted and helped."

He thanked her and took it back, wearing it once more as she scrutinized him and the others intently. She then addressed them all.
"Such tidings as yours, Eragon and King Nightmare, most of which we have not heard in the likes of in all of our lives. We are accustomed to a slower way of life here than the rest of Alagaësia, and it troubles me that so much could occur so swiftly without word of it reaching my ear."
"And what of my training?" Eragon quested as he peered at the other elves in the room.
"It will begin in the fullness of time. Yet I fear that instructing you is futile so long as your infirmity persists. Unless you can overcome the Shade's magic, you will be reduced to no more than a figurehead. You may still be useful, but only as a shadow of the hope that we have nurtured for over a century." Her words were crushing, Nightmare was irritated as he sensed Eragon deflate on the inside.
"Your situation is not your fault, and it pains me to voice such things, but you must understand the gravity of your disability.... I am sorry."

She turned to Orik as Eragon withered internally, Dream gazing at him with concern as Nightmare sighed.
"It has been long since one of your race entered our halls, dwarf. Eragon-finiarel has explained your presence, but do you have aught to add?"
"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."
She flicked her hand. "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."
Islanzadí turned and faced GB carefully, the skeleblaster straightening under her attention. "Now, Dragon of skeletons, shall you explain how you came to Alagaësia and your fall to the hands of Durza?"

He shivered, glancing down at the floor with shrunken eyelights. I guess I need to talk about it.. sometime. He took a shaky breath and glanced at the audience. This is my first time going into detail about what happened, so... I'm sorry ahead of time for anything that happens.
The elves blinked in surprise at the apology, then Islanzadí nodded. "Take all the time you need, Longclaws."
He coughed, a grating sound that emitted from the back of his jaws before he described waking up in a forest, without knowing where he was, how he was there, or why. How he wandered around until finding Isenstar Lake, where he encountered Durza himself, grinning with his horrible filed teeth as he knocked him unconscious. GB had later woken in a cellar, complete darkness.

He described how Durza came and immediately wrenched into his mind, already a terrifying experience, and tore all the information he knew from him. Upon finding nothing that interested him, the Shade made GB his plaything, torturing him into submission. The Shade let the soldiers beat him to hammer in the idea that he was in control. GB fought back with all his strength at first, but when Durza began using a word against him, some magic word that forced GB to do whatever he wanted, many of the things being horrifying atrocities that GB fell to tears mentioning. He was still chained, as sometimes GB could overcome the magic forced upon him with his very own Determination. One time he managed to break free while the Shade was away, wreaking havoc as he raged about the prison, destroying everything in his path until he was caught again.
That day, Durza made sure to break every single bone of his body, leaving GB to suffer for a week before healing and feeding him.

GB told of how he was dragged into a march with the Urgals, most of the time too dazed to think. His muzzle was bound in chains, as well as all four of his feet as four Urgals dragged him across a bone-achingly hot desert, sand scraping his bones nearly down to the marrow in places. That explained some of his scars. The elves shed tears as he described how he was shoved into a tunnel and yanked to a dead end, Urgals digging furiously until they turned up, inevitably hitting stone. Durza forced GB to blast it away, where he met Eragon and Blue in the center of Tronjheim.

An elf stood up when he wrapped up his story, fists clenched in rage. "There is no forgiving such appalling crimes against any race; least of all dragons or skeletons. I believe I speak for us all when I say we are regretful to hear of your suffering, and curse the Shade that had used you as a tool and plaything, an unthinkable horror that Galbatorix could do this to any dragon. We are sorry, Skulblaka."
Not your fault. It was Durza, the soldiers and Galbatorix. Durza is dead, so all we have left is that excuse for a king and his spineless army. He snapped his jaws. I've had time to get over most of what I experienced, but I'm still just as Determined as ever to kill them all. I've had enough of doing nothing and staying in the background, so if it's a war we're having, I'm fighting. His eyelights burned furiously, a blue flame wisping out of his sockets.

Islanzadí paused, seeing his reaction. "That is good news, amidst the bad. We are grateful for your decision, Dragon." She glanced at Blue before looking back at the skeleblaster. "Is it true that the one named Blue has somehow become your Rider?"
Blueberry's hands covered his face as his sockets widened. GB peered at him, a grin settling in his face, shining in his eyelights.
I guess you could say that. I have no doubt that it's not the same.. but yes.
"You would consider yourselves Rider and dragon?" Islanzadí questioned. Blue was practically vibrating in amazement as he gazed at GB, the two having a silent conversation.
Yes.
"Then I will see about the possibility of you two being trained as Riders alongside Eragon and Saphira."
GB's eyelights died in surprise as Blue made a choking sound, Islanzadí facing Nightmare. "You do not disagree with that prospect, do you?"
Nightmare smiled. "It would be fitting; it is also an efficient way to learn exactly how our magics interact and affect one another. We ourselves have not discovered all of it, and I am sure your curiosity is just as piqued as my own."
"In that regard, you are correct." The queen smiled back.

"As for you, Dauthíblakka, Draco, would you consider yourself paired with anyone present?"
He shuffled his wings with a dense clatter. I don't. I am myself, I'd rather not discuss my every thought with someone. If I need a translator at any point, I'll find someone. In the meantime, I'm free. He yawned lazily, eyeing the elves with a deceptively relaxed gaze. He was tense on the inside.
"Very well." She inclined her head to him respectfully.

At last she faced Arya and inquired. "Now, daughter, what befell you?"

The princess spoke in a dead voice as she recounted her capture and imprisonment at Gil'ead, describing in vivid detail of her torment at the hands of Durza. The elves were beyond mortified at her telling, a lone tear slipping down Islanzadí's cheek.

When she finished, one of the elf lords stood and paced, distraught. He was not the one that stood before.
"I know that I speak for us all, Arya Dröttningu, when I say that my heart burns with sorrow for your ordeal, just as much as the dragon's. It is a crime beyond apology, mitigation, or reparation. A dragon has already suffered from Galbatorix, and the Dark King must be punished for it. Also, 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."

Islanzadí spoke once again, addressing the room. "Enough. Our guests wait tired on their feet, and we have spoken of evil things far too long. I will not have this occasion marred by lingering on past injuries." A smile spread across her face as she continued. "My daughter has returned, three dragons, two Riders, a king of the andlátkyn have appeared, and I will see us celebrate in the proper fashion!" She rose to her feet and clapped, thousands of roses and lilies exploding from the leafy ceiling, floating to the ground like snow.

Nightmare smirked at the sight, noticing Islanzadí whisper to her daughter. "You never would have suffered so if you had taken my counsel. I was right to oppose your decision to accept the yawë."
"It was my decision to make."
Islanzadí hesitated, then held out her arm. "Blagden."
The bird took off from his perch and alighted upon her left shoulder. Everyone gathered bowed as she made her way to the end of the hall, ripping open the door and calling out in her home tongue to the elves outside.
"Break open our finest casks and light the cookfires; tonight shall be that of feast and song!"
They erupted into wild cheers, scattering.

Nightmare smiled as he and Dream walked on either side of the queen, his brother beaming at the flurrying activity.
They arrived at a small hill, elves procuring a very long table and so many chairs.
The forest was alive, fires casting their warm light around them all.

Nightmare found himself laughing as elves handed out a clear alcohol, something that to him, seemed much like vodka, though not quite. He sat near Islanzadí with Dream beside him, physically glowing in happiness. He would not stop hugging Nightmare out of radiant joy. He endured it, given the circumstances and his nature, as he regularly reminded himself.

Islanzadí sat in a high-backed chair and clapped yet again, summoning a quartet of elves with harps, reed pipes and a singer as she started singing a story, one about a stag being harassed by a magpie when he only wished to drink from a pond.

The song ended, the lutes and pipes going on as suddenly, a constant stream of elves came to ask the lot of them innumerable questions, always greeting him in the Ancient Language. It was question after question, many of which he received the same question from different elves, though he bit back his irritation so as not to ruin the celebration.

He yearned for open air as his tendrils wove through the air, a gust of wind often pushing them around, like branches of a tree from another world, one elf murmured near him.

Soon enough he got a break, the food coming out as elves poured from the wood, carrying all manner of delicacies made of plants. They mainly consisted of berries, while other fruits and vegetables lay scattered everywhere, honeycakes, fresh bread, other interesting foods made from plants as well. Blue found himself giggling like mad when he discovered the soup of blueberries, Dust making a cannibal joke that ended up insulting Horror by accident, Cross calming them down before it could escalate.
Nightmare had stared at a plate of apple slices coated in syrup and strawberries, Dream eventually pulling his gaze away before he could get overwhelmed by memories. He instead busied himself with an unusual mushroom pie, finding it rather strange. He even snorted when Dust pulled out a currant from the food and made a pun about the elves not being aware of current affairs. He did put it back when everyone took their seats.

Nightmare found himself at the left of Islanzadí with Dream beside him, Arya across from him and Eragon beside her. Orik was at Dream's left, with Dust across from him and Blue on his other side. It continued like this until their group ended, their number grown by the additions of Reaper, Life, that Outertale MK and a quiet Seraphim, and where numerous elves began. At the very end of the table sat the three dragons, taking up considerable space with large carved plates before each of them. Draco at the end with Saphira to his left and GB at his right. Then they dined.

Nightmare found himself actually happy, enjoying himself as he chatted with elves and his own kind in the Ancient Language. Words swirled around like reeds in a river, the livelihood entrancing, even as he felt his power so weak in this joyous atmosphere, it didn't bother him. He snickered as Blue asked elves to drinking contests and was politely declined. He grinned as Dream reconnected with his old friend, learning things he never knew before, accepting them. He guffawed as more in the Wyrdvrangr made jokes and puns, having fun with minor shenanigans. He didn't mind the silver light surrounding him, the brilliant blue flashes as his tentacles caught the light, the wisps of purple appearing and disappearing around him. He didn't care as Dream lit up with a buttery glow around him, green flashes dancing in his own aura. It meant nothing to him as he spoke with Islanzadí, it didn't matter that the elves gazed at them in wonder, it was unimportant that his team and the new ones stared in confusion and curiosity. This happiness was what he held onto, addicted to an emotion he had never trusted himself with before.

The festivities dragged on, like a dream, made ironic with his brother, Dream, sitting beside him. Nightmare grew tipsy with how much of the alcohol he consumed, remembering its name was faelnirv, but forgetting temporarily that his name was Nightmare, not Alalëa.

At some point, Blagden leapt onto the table, bowing mockingly at those seated upon it as he made his way to the end, stopping before the dragons. He coughed, the recited:
"Dragons, like wagons,
Have tongues.
Dragons, like flagons,
Have necks.
But while two hold beer,
The other eats deer!"

The elves froze, mortified. Draco snorted loudly in humor as GB's eyelights gleamed with laughter, a grating emerging from his throat. Saphira looked up from her quince pie and blew smoke at the raven.
And little birds, too.
Laughter erupted around the table as Blagden squawked, waving his wings around to clear the air.
"I must apologize for Blagden's wretched verses." Islanzadí spoke as conversation resumed. "He has ever had a saucy tongue, despite our attempts to tame it."
Apology accepted. Saphira returned to her meal.
It's rather hilarious, if you ask me. There's hardly anything to apologise for. GB spoke with a dragonic smile.
Jokes are wonderful. The stuff I live for. Draco didn't look up from his pie as he answered, humor evident in his voice.

Nightmare snickered, putting his phalanges to his teeth in an effort to silence himself. He was aware he was drunk, but there was something about this stuff that he adored. He listened as Eragon asked Arya of Blagden's origins.
"Blagden" she paused to glance at Nightmare, who was aware of Dream hiding his smile. "Once saved my father's life. Evandar was fighting an Urgal when he stumbled and lost his sword. Before the Urgal could strike, a raven flew at him and pecked out his eyes. No one knows why the bird did it, but the distraction allowed Evandar to regain his balance and so win the battle. My father was always generous, so he thanked the raven by blessing him with spells for intelligence and long life. However, the magic had two effects that he did not forsee: Blagden lost all color in his feathers and he gained the ability to predict certain events."

"He can see into the future?"
"See? No. But perhaps he can sense what is to come. In any case, he always speaks in riddles, most of which are a fair bit of nonsense. Just remember that if Blagden ever comes to you and tells you something that is not a joke or a pun, you would do well to heed his words."
Dust perked up as she spoke. "PUNS. That bleached bird speaks in puns!" He giggled, Horror and Killer lighting up as he spoke. "Oh that bird's amazing in my book already." Killer said huskily, grinning.

Nightmare finally spoke, keeping his words clear. "So you say, if Blagden were to walk up to any of us and give us a prophecy, we could say a little bird told us?" It took a second before it sunk in. Horror snorted as Killer's skull hit the table, Dream facepalming as Blue groaned. Dust started snickering to himself. Further down the table Reaper muttered under his breath. "Holy shit." Resulting in Life smacking him and pointing at the child across from her, eating with his face as he had no arms.

Then the evening drew to a close, Islanzadí rising to her feet, spreading a momentary chaos as everyone scrambled to do the same. She spoke lightheartedly. "It is late, I am tired, and I would like to return to my bower. Accompany me, Saphira, Eragon, Eldgath and Istalrfreohr, and I will show you where you may sleep tonight." She gestured at Arya and left, her daughter following.

Nightmare watched a little dizzily as Eragon made his way around the table, Blue already hopping excitedly after the queen, GB following. The human paused at a creature near the table.
"You're a werecat, aren't you?"
The white-haired female grinned, baring her sharp teeth.
"I met one of your kin, Solembum, in Terim and in Farthen Dûr."
She spoke. "Aye. A good one he is. Humans bore me, but he finds it amusing to travel with the witch Angela."
What is your name? The dragon queried as the werecat purred.
"Names are powerful things in the heart of Du Weldenvarden, dragon, yes they are. However... among the elves, I am known as the Watcher and as Quickpaw and as the Dream Dancer, but you may know me as Maud." She flicked her shaggy hair. "You'd better catch up with the queen, younglings; she does not take lightly to fools or laggards."
"It was a pleasure meeting you, Maud." Eragon bade his farewell, then left after a glance at the rest of them.

Nightmare chortled to himself, having decided to get drunk on the Faelnirv after getting tipsy earlier. Dream pulled him away from the table. "Brother.. you've been drinking a lot." He smirked at Dream, eyeing the leafy wings as they swayed behind his other half. "I may have, I may have not." He breathed. Dream sighed, waving away an elf. "You're coming with me." He grabbed Nightmare by the wrist and spoke briefly with Life and Reaper.
"Can you find the others some rooms for the night? I need to reconnect with my brother. And get him sober."

Life hesitated. "Are you sure this is not a well-concieved ploy to lower our guards?" She asked gently.
Nightmare held up a phalange. "I'll have you know. That the greater good. Of monsterkind. Has been my main focus since arriving in Farther.. door.. Damnit, thees is whyy I don't get intock.. intoxicated." He grumbled to himself. Dream sighed, but smiled despite himself. He nodded to Life. "Trust me when I say he isn't trying to fool us. He never tried to before; he always knew he wouldn't be able to. He is honest."
"So long as you remember we don't like you." Dust warned him. Nightmare shot him a look, but relented in understanding. Dream hesitated. "That's fine. I see that. You have every right." He smiled again hopefully at his brother. "Come on, Brother. Let me show you Tialdarí Hall." He teleported away, to the middle of a dark glade.

Nightmare mumbled to himself, not understanding his own words. "I'm no shape to exshplore." He finally said. Dream paused, his excitement dying down. "You're right.. let me take you where I've been staying." They teleported again, to a pleasant space filled with amber and white erisdar lanterns, casting their alternating colors in a warm glow around the wooden room.
Nightmare craned his neck vertebrae to look around.
"'Tis very nice." He spotted the bed and immediately collapsed face-first on the bedding. Tentacles stuck up in the air, drooping under their own weight.
Come. Many a night I have stayed awake, watching over the others. Now I steal your bed. He spoke mentally. Dream hesitated, then snorted.
Fine. Take it. But get those clothes off my sheets, it's hard to properly wash things here!

Nightmare dragged himself to his feet, tilting his skull at his brother. Are you asking me to undress?
Yes. I have spare clothes for you. I had them prepared while waiting for you. I waited so impatiently, Brother. The days felt so eternally slow.
Reaching into his inventory, he pulled out a lilac baggy shirt and black shorts, blue stripes running down the sides. I had enough time to make these myself; just the way we like them! He grinned. Nightmare blinked, reaching a tentacle over and grabbing them with the tendrils, noticing four flaps in the back.
I.. don't know what to say... I'm impressed?
You're welcome!
You kept my limbs in mind..
I know! I even have something for myself!
Nightmare peered between the clothing and his brother.
Error was the only one to ever have my appendages in mind before.
I see that now, Nightmare.
.... Thank you.
Dream hugged him, a few tears pricking his sockets. Anything.

They retreated to different corners of the room and changed, though Nightmare quickly realized that with the changes to his tentacles, they were much more difficult to fit through his shirt. Originally, they became semisolid, seeping between the fabric to emerge out the back as they originated from his spine, ribs and Soul. They still came from there, it was just the extra branches made them thicker and a little more solid, making it nearly impossible to remove his first shirt in one piece. It was made even harder as he had to work them through the gaps, Dream hurrying over to help in the end.

Not that Dream had it much better. He was still learning how to unwind the vines that made up his wings to fit them through the slits in his own shirt, taking nearly five minutes to get it right and rearrange them in their original shape. Then he assisted Nightmare in his struggles.

Exhausted from weeks and weeks of travel without sleep, Nightmare flopped on the bed, groaning with drunkenness. Dream took his chance and hugged him from behind, maneuvering around the nest of tentacles to squeeze the skeleton beneath them. Said skeleton groaned, then wrapped the tendrils around him by instinct.
Go to sleep, Nightmare. This is enough for me.
I am way ahead of you, Dream. He let out a sigh as he drifted off. He didn't mind this.

Dream smiled, moving his vines to wrap around several tentacles. This was nice. Perhaps things will never be the same as all those eons ago, but he accepted that.
Instead, he hoped that they could be better. Move forward in spite of the past.

They fell asleep, curled around each other as tentacles- no, branches spread out across the room, vines wrapping them in the appearance of a broad sapling; black arms carrying bunches of twining, gold-tinted leaves.

Seraphim came in to check on Dream in case he had been attacked, only to find this eerie yet beautiful sight. Peering closer, he saw the two curled around one another and backed away slowly; unsure of what to make of this situation.

Word spreads fast when it's practically unbelievable. They were visited by many others that night.
An elf made a fairth, to capture the moment in time.

...

Blue was ecstatic.
He'd never expected this to happen; he only became friends with GB because the skeleblaster felt most comfortable talking with him at first, and he offered to translate his words to others. It helped that he'd saved him.

Now he was being called a Rider by the queen of the elves.

He could hardly understand how one thing managed to lead to another, how he was labeled as something so epic in the world of Alagaësia, when he was the outsider!
On level with Eragon.
It thrilled him.
He could see that it was just as unbelievable for GB, too.

Eragon and Saphira caught up with him, GB and Islanzadí just as she stopped beside a tree, a staircase winding up to the rounded rooms hanging above, like massive galls or ornaments. The queen raised one hand upwards. "You needs must fly there, Saphira and Istalrfreohr, GB. Our stairs were not grown with dragons in mind." Then she spoke to Blue and Eragon. "This is where the leader of the Dragon Riders would dwell while in Ellesméra. There is room for the four of you. I give it to you now, for you are the rightful heirs to the title.... It is your inheritance."
She turned on her heel and swept away before any of them could thank her. Arya gave them a look before disappearing after her.

GB let out a airy whistle as he released the breath he'd been holding. Blue squealed and danced in place. "HOW DID THIS HAPPEN??" He exploded. Eragon breathed. "I don't know. You qualify as a Rider now, Blue. I never expected that, yet it seems most fitting that it'd be you."
"I never would have thought, in a million years, that anything of the sort would happen to me!" He giggled, trying to absorb the information as he gazed up at the tree. "And a treehouse! It's so cool!"
"It is amazing." Eragon whispered.

Shall we see what accomodations they've provided us with? Saphira asked, jumping into the air and circling the tree. GB nodded furiously, eyelights still glazed over with shock. Blue went charging up the stairs, struggling slightly due to his shortness. Eragon started following, struggling purely because of the steep steps and the strength required to traverse them.

Blue burst into the vestibule, staring around with awe. A sculpture of two arms wound around each other from a pedestal in the center.
Three screen doors led outward; what he assumed was a washroom, a dining room for around ten people, and a bedroom that opened up to a view of the vast forest below.

Blue darted into the bedroom, fascinated. The opening in the outer wall was teardrop shaped, and shockingly enough, a fireplace of cold, grey wood was recessed into the wall. Blueberry studied it curiously as GB crawled into the room from outside, humming. He seated himself beside the padded bowl in the floor, aware of it's purpose but preferring Saphira took it.

Eragon finally arrived, carrying a lantern with him. Blue giggled at him. "I still can't believe it. This is too cool."
"It's simpler than I expected." Eragon commented as Saphira landed on the rim of the opening, gleaming like a thousand gems in the final rays of sunshine.

"Hey, there's a staircase." Blue commented, spotting it around the chimney and going up. It was an elegant study; he found it had similarities to Nightmare's study in his castle back in the Multiverse. The far wall was open to the elements, another roost for a dragon.
"GB! Look!" He called as Eragon entered after him.
Gimme a minute, I was thinking I'd change.
Saphira simply dragged her bulk outside, wood cracking and snapping under her talons as she heaved herself into the room, surveying it critically.
I wonder, how are you supposed to stay warm when the rooms are open to the elements?

Eragon approached the window as Blue winced at a crack echoing from downstairs. It wasn't long until GB's claws clicked against the wood as he followed them, wearing his blue hoodie and shorts. Eragon drew a papery covering over the window, hooking it to the opposite side. The air warmed as soon as he did.
He released it, letting it snap back into place.

They all went back downstairs, Eragon and Blueberry unpacking, the human spending time on arranging his armor across the bed as Blue pressed against the far wall, GB sitting beside him as they contemplated recent events.

Finally, Eragon sat on the bed, shirtless.
"We made it." He breathed.
"We made it." Blue repeated, still in awe.
A long journey... but yes, we made it. We're lucky misfortune did not strike upon the road. Saphira responded.
Yeah, but how did we get here? GB asked incredulously, tail slapping against the floor with gentle clacks.
By sheer luck, my friend. Saphira responded.
The odds, though. Just a few months ago I was just mindin' my own business, falling asleep at the sentry station. How the hell did falling asleep in the snow get me here? He questioned, staring at his clawed phalanges in disbelief.
Some things we will never know. Saphira admitted.
I guess.

Eragon gazed thoughtfully through the gap in the ceiling. "Now we'll find out if it was worth it, traveling all this way. Sometimes I wonder if our time would have been better spent helping the Varden."
Eragon! Saphira chatsized as Blue scoffed.
You know we need further instruction. Brom would have wanted it. Besides, Ellesméra and Islanzadí were certainly worth coming all this way to see.
"I agree with her, Eragon. The elves are amazing, and we all need to learn, regardless of training or otherwise. We know so little, and the elves can teach us all they can. Which is a lot."
The human didn't reply. They lapsed into silence.

Then, "What do you make of all this?" Blue spread his hands. "It's fantastic. I don't know what to say. It's so natural, I can't get over how beautiful all of it is! I want to see more! And to fathom that I get that chance.. how can I not be excited?" He grinned boldly.

GB tapped the claws of his back foot against the floor as he considered his response.
I'm grateful, actually. He finally said.
Even though the dragons of Alagaësia and dragons of my AU are probably fairly different, I know I grew up not knowing enough about them. What I am. Me and my bro were always in the dark, because dragons were a thing of the past. Monsters believed they died out in our war, some think they hid away. Just a few monsters had dragon traits, and when ours came out, we were just.. clueless. You have no idea how much I panicked as a kid when I found out I could take full form. Now I can finally know something about dragons, myself, apart from what I already know from you, Saphira.

She kneaded the padding beneath her talons for a moment. Thank you. She paused. As for what to make of this; I don't know. The elves keep more secrets than even Brom, and they can do things with magic I never thought possible. I have no idea the method they use to grow their trees into such shapes, nor how Islanzadí summoned those flowers. It is beyond my ken.
"I forgot about the flowers.." Blue murmured.

"And Arya?" Eragon quested. Blue blinked, GB shrugging.
What about her? Saphira asked.
"You know, who she really is."
She hasn't changed, only your perception of her. Saphira explained, chuckling, the sound like stones grinding against one another. She laid her head between her talons.
She's right, you know. GB spoke softly.
"I suppose so." Eragon sighed, then climbed into the sheets.

Blue glanced at GB as Eragon reached for the lantern, but then he froze.

He then got up, grabbing Zar'roc and the lantern as he snuggled up with Saphira instead.

Blueberry smirked. "Well then, I'm taking the bed!" He charged and leapt onto the mattress, landing hard across the center, rolling to the side. "That was harder than I thought." He wheezed, letting his ribs recover. GB snorted, stalking over. Move aside, we shorties can share this huge thing. He spoke, pushing his friend to the pillows as he crawled onto the foot of the bed. It was large.

Blue giggled and smacked him with a pillow. GB looked at him and rumbled half-heartedly, taking the cushion. Mine now. "Fair enough." Blue accepted, yanking the blanket out from underneath the other.
Hey! What for?
"So you can sleep properly." Blue explained curtly, tossing the end over GB.
Okay. He pulled it off his skull as his eyelights flashed, happy. They both collapsed on their respective ends, clutching the pillows.

"Good night, everyone." Blueberry sighed.
G'night.
"Goodnight."
Good night.