Book 2: Chapter 15-The One Who Lead the Liberation

#15: The One Who Led the Liberation

Land of Desolation

Tent

"Tonight, we're going back to Magnus' Village. What happens to the people here?", Gezer asked. "Your people will take place here. Gezer, I think you should stay here", Noldorin patted his shoulder. "Heh? Because I wasn't able to provide a better place for His Grace and I tried to eat him?", Gezer asked. "Better to know someone's craving beforehand than to be bitten afterward. He gives off a different atmosphere ", Noldorin explained. "You trust so much on your instincts", Declan chuckled. "Few more days and a few more nights, before we launch an all-out attack in the Palace. I am confident that we can take it back overnight", Noldorin reminded. "You sweet talker bastard", Gezer slightly slapped his back. Someone opened the tent. "Who dares come here?", Gezer raised his ax. Lawleit raised his hand with a poker face.

"A raven came to drop by some letter", Lawleit informed and dropped it on the table. "This insolent...", Gezer stopped when he saw Noldorin shaking his head. "You've helped so much in the raid. You're now free, why aren't you leaving?", Noldorin asked. "One day, I woke up and my feet led me here. Where else should I go? ", Lawleit tilted his head.

Noldorin read the letter and his eyes widened. Gezer went closer. "What does it say?", Gezer asked. "They say that five days from now, the palace will lose its guard. The raven soldiers that were in charge here will be summoned back to Eragon. Some of the soldiers will also join them for a quest", Noldorin informed. Gezer clapped his hand and rejoiced. "This is the moment we've been waiting for!!!", Gezer shouted. "For the time being, ten houses had already joined hands to throw away the Queen for her inability to lead a kingdom. Although, four of them haven't yet approved of Declan being the King", Noldorin continued to read. "Declan is summoning all of the men and women who can fight at the promised day", Noldorin has a painful smile.

"Then, it's time for us to prepare. That's just five days from now", Gezer was about to go out. "He doesn't need to go with you. Your leader said he should go back home to protect his Kingdom", Lawleit revealed. "You bastard, you read the letter even before giving it to us", Gezer scolded him. "What does that mean?", Gezer asked. "The reason why soldiers are being summoned is that they are going to attack Riverdell", Noldorin said with a serious tone.

Palace of Eire

Terrace

Euphemia walked around feeling high. She held Gilbert's hand while talking about the villages she cut off from the Kingdom because of their uselessness. "Your Grace, aren't you supposed to fear that it might cause rebellion?", Gilbert asked. Sheryl entered and dropped a letter on the table in the center of the terrace. Euphemia read the letter still holding onto the man's hand.

She laughed and tore the paper." Foolish nephew of mine. Who dares enter attack my palace? ", Euphemia sighed and called her Kingsguard. It was the first time that Gilbert saw him. He was huge with so many scars on his face. "Look how much of a beast you've become. Prepare the dogs and also. Don't forget to bring out our finest weaponry. We might have loosened the guards but we're not someone to be underestimated when it comes to our own soldiers", Euphemia smirked. "Skull. Crush. Blood. Drink", Og, the Kingsguard muttered the words one by one. "That is perfectly said. Relay those words to your brothers", the Queen chuckled.

Herbarium

Gilbert was bored doing nothing so he went to the herbarium where Kasper usually works. He was hoping if he could borrow books from him. The library wasn't useful for gathering information. He wanted to know more about prophecies and stories of the past.

He entered and saw Sheryl having a conversation with a younger man of her age. "Mother wouldn't care even if I run away with you", she hugged the man. "Then, tonight, bring me some golds and I will ask for someone to prepare a carriage for the both of us", the man said with an audible voice. Gilbert hid in the post. "But I already gave you precious gems last time", Sheryl was worried that she doesn't have anything more to give. "Are you doubting me? Because of the rebellion, there isn't so much carriage for me to buy", the man raised his voice. "I understand", Sheryl nodded. The man finally walked away.

Sheryl was also going out using the other exit. Gilbert used his arm to block her way. Sheryl gasped and covered her mouth. "You will not tell any word to my mother", Sheryl bit her lip. "Stop seeing that man, Your Highness", Gilbert said straightforwardly. "Who are you to tell me what to do? Just because you're mother's plaything this time doesn't mean you have authority over me, I'm your princess", the lady said with authority. "You're not treated like a princess in this place, Your Highness", Gilbert stated the truth. Sheryl slapped him and was startled that Gilbert didn't even avoid it or stop her hand. "That person loves me. You're right, I wasn't treated like a princess here that's why I'm going to run away with him. He's the only person who treated me so nicely", Sheryl confessed. Gilbert walked inside the herbarium.

"He doesn't love you, Your Highness. I believe you also know that", Gilbert picked up some nightshades. He wasn't able to sleep well last night because of the massacre he just did.

"What do you know about love? You're the one who's hiding on my mother's dress", Sheryl chuckled. the man smiled as he remembered something from the past. "I have no parents, nor roots, you're right, I might not know anything about it but I learned to love from a lot of people", Gilbert informed. Sheryl looked away. "If he truly loves you, he wouldn't ask for your golds. Don't you think it's too obvious? When I came here to your place, there is so many carriages lying around. He will do everything to make it possible. Even if there's no horse or carriage, if he loves you, he will take you out of this place as soon as possible because he sees that you're already in pain ", Gilbert heard her footsteps. Sheryl was about to slap him again but Gilbert held her hand. She was crying." What do you know about me? What do you know about love? That's the only thing I could hold on to now. My mother never even bat a look at me", Sheryl gave Gilbert small punches on the chest which he allowed. "I allowed myself to be a hostage in this Kingdom and cross the desert to be in a place for someone. She was someone I deeply love", Gilbert smiled.

The princess looked at the man's eyes filled with awe. "You love her as a master and not as a woman", Sheryl left the place.

Open Sea

Ship

Hick and Nymeria are on the deck. The stars are out that night. Hick threw up for the 7th time that day. "Seasickness again", Hick sighed. Nymeria threw some mint leaves. "Don't you miss him? Every time you look at the stars, it seems like you're praying", Hick shrugged. "Idiot, that man doesn't even know how to protect himself. I can't even sleep thinking if he's willingly accepting beatings from anyone or even asking someone to kill him", Nymeria sighed. "But then, he promised, right? He'll watch you be crowned many times over", Hick reminded.

"Gilbert wouldn't die no matter how many swords pierce through him. A dragon wouldn't die out of swords", Hick leaned on the wooden rails. Nymeria raised her brow. "What did you say?", Nymeria asked. Hick winked at Nymeria.

Rowan

Main House

Round table

"I want to swim in the ocean", Reinys sighed. "You're quite peculiar, your highness. Instead of being loved by a Riverdellian man, you surround yourself with Rowan soldiers and horses", Tyrone handed a wooden cup of wine. "Always taste horrible", the princess sipped and commented. "And still you drink it. Are you going to head North now that you knew where Noldorin is? You might as well go back to Riverdell", Tyrone cleared his throat. "I will still bring the head of the Raven King to your oldest brother", Reinys leaned on the chair nearly falling. "You are not bound by blood for you to be afraid of breaking the deal. If you are to find the Riverdellian man you're having to go back to Riverdell, it was your own strength that reunited the both of you", Tyrone sat opposite the lady. Soon, the brothers entered the roundtable.

"Was there a meeting that's supposed to happen?", Mance stood up. "Oliver called us on short notice, I think it is something important", Lester sat down. "Sir Lester, would you mind a private talk?", Dillon asked. "Is this something that you should keep from us?", Oliver entered. Dillon breathed in deeply. "What is it, Dillon? Speak", Lester asked. All eyes are on him. "During the mission that you sent me for. I have found some suspicious activities", Dillon stands. "Like?", Lester asked. Dillon looked at Oliver. "The recruits are being smuggled outside Rowan from an unknown person", Dillon dropped a pin with a sigil of Rowan.

Oliver laughed deeply and sat informally in the chair. "You were saying?", Oliver asked. "The recruits that I rescued pointed your name", Dillon informed. "And you were trying to hide it from me?!", the youngest Rowan slammed the table. They heard explosions outside. "What is happening?", Reinys stood up. "I was trying to tell you, older brother, about my plan but you bent your knees to a woman. I decided to take pride in being a man", Oliver removed his cloak and was wearing a Raven's pin sigil. "Behold, the rebuilding of the House Rowan!!!", Oliver shouted. Lester grabbed his sword. "What have you done?!", Lester pointed the sword at Oliver. "I sold our people to buy the authority over this house under the reign of King Aystar!", Oliver went mad. Dillon punched his face but Mance pulled him back. "We have to fight", Mance and Dillon ran outside.

They stopped in the corridor and saw hostages. "My wife and my family ", Mance tipped off in his composure. Dillon protected Mance and received an arrow in his left hand. "Don't", Mance saw the soldier pressing the sword on his daughter's neck. "Oliver!!!", Mance shouted. "All I was about to ask is your cooperation but all of you are preoccupied with Varick's daughter and the Evregarden", Oliver went out and the rest of the brothers saw their family members. Lester pulled Dillon.

He gave him his sword. "We, the Rowan, will always be free men. Go to your lady", Lester dropped the sword in his hand and pushed him towards Reinys.

Eragon

Garden

"Ah~ the flowers smell good", Aystar commented. "Your Grace, a gift from Sir Oliver of house Rowan", Ferox passed a small blue flower dipped in blood. "Now, our army is complete", Aystar raised his hands in the sky. "See! This is how powerful the Ravens can get!!!", he boasted. "You stupid child!!! If only you listened well", Aystar saw a flash of Volde's face.

"It is the death day of your child, Your Grace", Ferox reminded. "The only child I have was the one who came from me", Aystar shove the thought. "Although, there was this one house from Rowan that the soldiers couldn't get their hands to. The House of Evregarden", the soldier informed. "And why is that so?", the King picked the flower soaked in blood. "Beasts were surrounding the vicinity and even the strongest of the Eragon soldiers' couldn't penetrate", the soldier answered."The Rowan brothers, are they all dead?", the Queen looked down on the kneeling soldiers.

"The eldest brother is to be shipped to the Middle Kingdom. The rest died during the raid, along with their families", a white-haired man with scarlet eyes entered.

Chapter end.