Wizard and Noble Rider Meet

Eragon was having an interesting morning; his group had just arrived outside the Varden and found themselves on the cusp of a battle with the empire's main forces. Eragon had seen The empire's soldiers stretch far into the distance, much more numerous than the Varden's meager smattering of tents. That wasn't much of a shock but daunting nonetheless, especially knowing he was responsible for killing the more significant portion of them.

Saphira managed to dive quickly for safety before most could take advantage of his exposed position between the two armies, only for the Varden's soldiers, his allies, to attempt to turn him into a pincushion. It had been quickly dealt with a word in the ancient language but could have been dangerous to him if he was unwarded and distracted.

Eragon had just finished dealing with the archers that shot at Saphira and was about to tell the weapons master to take him to Nasuada when a particular person entered. He had silky black brunette hair, orange-tinted eyes, and regal features. Eragon found himself shocked by the strange man's beauty and enigmatic presence that tugged on your mind for attention and seemed to tell you he knew something you didn't and that you better listen.

Eragon had almost mistaken him for an elf with how he held himself, but then he looked at his ears and searched his features, but he found none of them fit an elf. That was not to say the man was any less handsome than an elf. This man certainly was far fairer than any human Eragon had known and quite a bit taller than he was.

An ugly thought came to mind that maybe if he had been so handsome and had such a presence, Arya would have returned his feelings. Eragon felt a burst of jealousy twist his gut that he tried to bury quickly.

"Atra esterni ono thelduin Rider"

Eragon raised an eyebrow in surprise but politely said, "Atra du evarínya ono varda."

Theodore put two fingers to his lips and said, "Un atra mor'ranr lifa unin hjarta onr." And then looked at the rider directly, meeting his eye and making him squirm under the gaze of his amber-red orbs, "I was told the rider was human. Is this still the case." Theodore smiled, taking some sting from his words.

Eragon managed a pained smile and felt robbed of any desire to be polite. He felt downright vindictive, "I haven't heard of you at all."

Theodore let loose another dazzling smile, taking Eragon aback with his magnanimous reaction, "Of course, my apologies. I have come to help the Varden from overseas as a provider of the finest weaponry and to decimate thousands alongside your troops. I am Lord Theodore Lupin. You, however, can call me Theodore."

Eragon couldn't help but think that Theodore's description as a lord fit well. The man wore finer clothes than he had seen, even among the elves. Everything from his vibrant blue coat made in a shade of blue Eragon had never seen before to his robes made of strange silky material to his fine-scaled boots spoke of wealth.

Saphira snorted in Eragon's mind, 'Well, he certainly thinks a lot of himself.'

Eragon couldn't help but agree, 'He does seem quite full of himself. Who do you think he is? He knows the traditional elven greeting, yet he is supposedly a foreigner to Alagaësia. I can't feel his mind, Saphira, or even a hint of emotion.' Saphira bristled at the realization before confirming it herself.

Eragon noticed the Weapons Master made his escape but said nothing. Eragon understood the man's reluctance to be in his presence. The rider was still dealing with the impact of the changes the elves wrought upon him.

He would always be an abnormality or a source of fear among humans. He didn't begrudge it, not for anything in the world.

He was earnest when he told Ormnis he would have been willing to have more drastic changes done to him to escape his cursed scar. People being afraid of him was something he resigned himself to deal with. Despite that, there was a subtle pain in being shunned.

Without thinking about it further, Eragon turned his attention to Lord Theodore Lupin again. He noticed how the men and soldiers looked at him respectfully, like one would look at a childhood hero.

The Varden knew him, and the rider strongly desired to ask someone why. Burying his curiosity for now but not forgetting it, the rider focused on the present.

"Well, Lord Lupin, could I trouble you to take me to Nasuada?"

"Of course, rider." Theodore, without hesitation, turned his back to the rider and walked toward the command tent, following the lead of his silent and wandless point-me charm. Eragon followed him closely, not to be left behind.

'Be careful, Eragon, this man is strange.' Saphira tasted the air as she followed Theodore and Eragon to wherever Nasuada lay, 'He doesn't smell human. He smells ….. quite delightful.'

Eragon didn't turn to look at Saphira but sent her a feeling of alarm, 'What do you mean he doesn't smell human? No eating foreign guests. I'll get you some sheep later.'

Eragon felt disgust come from Saphira, 'As if I would eat something that smelled like a Dragon.' Eragon was confused until Saphira shared her senses. Even with his delicate elven sense of smell, Eragon could not pick up a hint of any dragon-like scent, but through Saphira, it was a very obvious spicy and sweet musk.

The man likely released some type of pheromone similar to a male dragon, which seemed to have a peculiar effect on Saphira. With some distaste, Eragon picked up Saphira's feelings of Arousal.

'Oh, get over yourself, Eragon,' Eragon felt Saphira's amusement filter through their connection, and he felt his ears burn and sped up to keep pace with Lord Lupin.

They soon arrived at Nasuada's command tent. Eragon immediately took note of Arya before he turned to find Nasuada smiling at him.

"Welcome, Eragon. We weren't expecting you for several days yet." Eragon could tell Nasuada's smile was genuine, though Eragon, whose senses had become much more keen, saw a complicated interplay of emotion he couldn't recognize as she greeted Theodore. Part of it looked like a mix of anxiety, anger, and hope.

"I scryed that you were in danger and left immediately for the Varden."

Nasuada introduced Eragon to a few of the war council members and took special care to introduce him to King Orrin, who was the most enthusiastic to meet the young rider. The king, a man in his late twenties with shaggy hair and dark brown eyes, looked at Eragon with an intense curiosity that spoke of scientific curiosity.

Theodore took some interest in the king, asking him if he had gone to battle before. It turned out he hadn't, and the king went on for quite a long time excitedly talking about finally riding out to do battle against the empire. Eragon feared he would begin waxing poetry before Nasuada decided to move along to the subject at hand.

Eragon joined the war council with Theodore beside him as Nasuada laid out the Varden's position. Eragon was often asked what tactics to use, and Eragon, who knew he was still inexperienced, tried his best to let those who knew battle take the lead.

Eragon could tell he was asked for his opinion by a mix of people genuinely curious about what he could contribute and those who wanted to flatter him. These generals, especially those trying to flatter him, unsettled Eragon but didn't surprise the rider. He could sense the reverence people held for dragon riders and knew it wasn't him specifically they were impressed with. It's what he symbolized: freedom from Galbatorix.

Eragon discovered that The Empire's forces stood four times the size of the Vardens'. It was a sign of their trust in him that the Varden generals didn't see the situation as hopeless.

Eragon noted that most of the men in the room, except for Jörmundur, Nasuada, and Arya, were somewhat confused by the presence of Theodore. Still, no one was willing to question it, including Eragon openly. The man was so stately and regal, and he looked so much the part of a leader that most could only agree he belonged in this tent. Theodore, for his part, stayed quiet for the duration of the briefing.

Then, it finally came time for Nasuada to ask Eragon what he thought his role should be in the battle. Without much hesitation, Eragon elected to run Du Vrangr Gata to hunt empire mages. Nasuada quickly agreed it was a good idea and even suggested taking Theodore.

As the meeting concluded, Nasuada asked Arya, Eragon, and Theodore to stay behind. The crowd of generals and commanders filed out until only the four of them were left in the tent.

"So Eragon, you've met Theodore, and I imagine you're a little confused about his presence and appearance here. He is a foreign ally that the Varden recently acquired. I'll ask you to treat him as a friend to The Varden. He has helped us greatly by making weapons finer than any human or dwarf-made blade the Varden has seen. They are sure to save many lives. He is a very powerful Magician." Nasuada smiled, "I've already said too much. Theodore, would you like to introduce yourself."

"But of course, Nasuada, I am lord Theodore Lupin, patriarch of the house of Lupin, house Black, and heir of house Potter. Archmagus of the white tower, adventurer into the mist, and explorer of the unspeakable. I came to the Varden across the sea for one reason: the complete and utter destruction of Galbatorix and the Tyranny he instilled." Theodore kept his face correctly solemn. He allowed some flare and passion to enter his voice as he talked about the destruction of Galbatorix.

"Many will die on the way to victory, but such is the way when you fight tyrants. He who has allowed slavery and gory evil to thrive. He who beset his own country with a plague of Urgals. He who raised a shade using magic most evil. You, Eragon Shadeslayer, are the free world's best hope."

Acting was a skill that Theodore had always taken to. From how entranced Arya and Nasuada had become, he could feel his speech was working. Impassioned devotee at the moment came to him as if he had been born to play it, "To accomplish that goal, I would be willing to help you, Eragon Shadeslayer, the last free rider, in any way you desire. I have seen the Tyranny that Galbatorix rules with, and I can't allow it to continue. I will fight him however I can, even if it kills me."

"Well, thank you for your kind words, Lord Lupin." Eragon paused, sputtering a bit about what to say next. Lord Lupin's proclamation against the empire struck many of his thoughts on why the Varden must fight the Empire.

Eragon still didn't quite understand Lord Lupin and his strangeness, but perhaps he knew enough for now. "I have many questions, Lord Lupin, about your titles and the foreign land you come from and what the white tower you spoke of is, but for now, I will be content that the Varden has found an Ally in you."

"Then allow me to provide a service to you and the Varden, and allow me to guard you in battle." Theodore then, in the ancient language, swore he would protect Eragon to the best of his abilities and remain at his side at his service in the battle if Eragon allowed him to.

Eragon, unsure at the utility of such a bodyguard, looked at Nasuada, who looked just as shocked as he was but noticed his look and gave a slight nod. Eragon also caught Arya's eyes, who shrugged as if to say it was up to him. Eragon considered for a bit more before asking Saphira.

'little one, he smells like a dragon. If he fights like one, too, you should accept the offer. Nasuada would not let you accept a weak or unreliable bodyguard. She cares too deeply about you, little one, and what you mean for the Varden.' Eragon couldn't help but agree with Saphira. This Lord Lupin seemed mysterious but gave off airs of capability, and Eragon knew he would need all the help he could get

Eragon accepted, and Theodore left soon after, inviting Eragon to come by his tent when he was ready to search out Du Vrangr Gata. Eragon assured Theodore that he would be prepared after a short rest. Nasuada left the command tent not long after Theodore. Eragon now sat alone with Arya. Eragon sighed and began his attempt at reconciliation with the elf.

Theodore didn't immediately return to his tent after leaving Nasuada's command tent. Theodore hadn't interacted with the Varden much and was curious about the men and women he would be fighting beside. Theodore's stomach rumbled, and he followed the scent of food in the air. The smell of venison burning and cooking spices became stronger as Theodore found himself in front of a large tent.

Pushing the flap aside, Theodore saw lines of tables heavy with activity. Theodore heard men half-dressed for battle banter about strength, women, weapons choices, and armor. Theodore listened to an old, experienced, tanned, and grizzled warrior give tips about how to sharpen a sword correctly to an excitable youth who was still fair and without battle scars.

The life and excited activity in the tent drew Theodore in, and step by step, he found himself drawn further into the tent's interior, closer to the delightful scent of cooked venison. Without realizing it, Theodore found himself in front of the chief serving food.

"I haven't seen you before." the chief tipped his hat and scratched his scraggly hair. The chief was an old fat man with a large bulbous nose and balding hair. His voice held an accent that Theodore didn't recognize, "Your servants ran out of food?" The chief's eyes narrowed with suspicion. He was expecting trouble after looking closely at Theodore's fine clothes. A couple of Nobles from Surda had already caused problem. Theodore recognized the look and decided to soothe his worries.

"I'm new, and I'm here for food. Just food." Theodore managed a disarming smile despite his mounting hunger. Wizards ate more than most humans, and Theodore had not eaten much in the last few days.

The cook smiled contentedly, gave the Wizard a large bowl of Venison stew, and then ceased to pay the Wizard any mind. Theodore managed to find himself an empty table corner that overlooked the entirety of the tent's interior and slaughtered his stew.

Theodore was all set to get his second serving when Angela strode into the tent. Her eyes instantly found him, and smiled. Theodore considered leaving but found himself intrigued by this strange witch.

Her mind was so similar to Luna's, and her ability to see him beneath his enchantments made her different from any Magicians he met so far in this world. Theodore decided to wait for the short woman to make her way to him.

"So we finally meet." Angela looked at Theodore, smiling, her eyes tinted with amusement.

If Theodore hadn't been attuned to the currents of magic or hadn't read her mind, he would have assumed a stout and striking but wholly average woman was looking at him. Theodore knew better, and he felt her magic curl dangerously around her as she said those innocuous words. Theodore felt a strange familiarity make itself known now that she sat close to him.

"Whatever do you mean? My name is Theodore, by the way. Nice to meet you, miss." Theodore had seen Angela at a distance many times, but he should have been nigh invisible each time. Theodore had accessed her mind before, but even that shouldn't have been obvious with the speed and skill he had done it.

"I mean, it's nice to meet a fellow traveler. It's Angela—none of that miss hogwash. I have been looking for you, but you're so elusive it was almost as if you were hiding from me." she let loose what should have been a charming smile if not for the crazed look in her eyes.

"Ok, Angela? I can't say I mind calling you that formality can be tiring. You can call me Theodore." Theodore smiled held his hand out for a shake, and Angela didn't hesitate to try and rip his arm off in the process of shaking it. :" You say you're a traveler. Does that mean you are also a Foreigner to this land?"

"I haven't always lived in Alagaësia, but I was born here." Angel shook her head, causing her curly hair to bob. "I have traveled far and visited many places across the sea. I have traveled to other continents, each filled with threats, magical and otherwise. I've met the Urgal king and traveled to places where the moss runs black, but I have never seen you or those of your tribe before. I have never felt magic quite like yours. Would you mind answering a few of my questions about your people?"

Theodore wondered how she knew about his tribe. He knew Nasuada wouldn't be too open about information about him. Theodore felt his suspicion about her being a psychic grow.

"Only if you don't mind me asking a few questions myself." Theodore smiled, "I wonder which of us have come farther. You wouldn't happen to have traveled through the fog before, and it's a dangerous endeavor, wouldn't you agree? I know some passageways can be tight and difficult to squeeze through."

Theodore had wondered if others were using the path between dimensions as wizards did, but Theodore hadn't met any yet.

Theodore's charmed smile widened, imagining allies amongst the great sea. The great sea was what wizards called the space between worlds. It could be chaotic and dangerous, requiring either a seer to navigate or the help of a powerful wizard to survive.

Theodore wouldn't be surprised to discover that Angela was a seer like his aunt Luna. So even if she never traveled through the fog to other dimensions, she likely would know what he was talking about simply because he felt reality cling to her as it did him.

"Oh yes, the fog was it. I have traveled through it many times. I'm surprised you've gone that far. I hadn't realized that you were such a dashing adventurer. However, I have one question: what in the name of a donkey's backside are you talking about?" Angela's striking face smiled, amused as she spoke with cutting sarcasm. "And here I thought I was talking to someone sane. It seems you're as moon-struck as someone I met today for some poison."

Theodore's smile dropped, but he kept any confusion off his face. Using the lightest touch of his legilimacy, he could feel her genuine confusion.

Theodore wondered at the casual mention of poison but dismissed it for now. Perhaps Angela didn't know what he was talking about; this world likely weakened her ability to see. It was sad to see such a powerful gift limited by circumstance.

Theodore apologized and was about to make excuses to leave when Angela gently grabbed his arm. Theodore looked at her with some hostility, and she let go and gave a disarming smile.

"You promised you would answer my questions if I answered yours. If you don't mind, tell me about your homeland. It has been so long since I have left Algestagia?"

At her insistence and after getting a second portion of venison, Theodore told her a heavily edited story about his homeland and some of his people's relatively innocuous troubles. He even told her a bit about his adoptive father.

Angela seemed on edge throughout the conversation and slightly distracted, but she still asked questions and answered some of his own that he posed to her. Their conversation stretched for some time before Angela mentioned having to take care of something and left abruptly.

Theodore observed Angela leave and noticed she walked more slowly, seeming less than enthused about what she was leaving to do. Theodore wondered briefly if the woman was okay as he thought about the familiarity he had felt at the beginning of their conversation.

Looking around, he still saw soldiers eating and drinking, but the cheerful atmosphere had died. Theodore could feel the tension in the air; it was as if they thought the same as he did that the time for battle was coming close. Theodore created a small notice me not charm, around himself to avoid attention as he popped away with a silent snap, arrived inside his tent, and decided to wait for Eragon to come.

Theodore didn't have to wait long before he heard someone rap on his tent's support pole from outside.

"Come in." Theodore stood and greeted Eragon as he entered. Theodore, "Would you like some tea?"

"No, I'm good. We should get going. Lord Theodore, I heard from Arya that you could use strange magic. Your tent, Lord Lupin, is bigger on the inside." Eragon managed to keep most of his surprise and astonishment off his face, but he felt his heart racing at the implications of such magic.

"Yes, Rider, This is what my people call undetectable extension charm. Just give me a second, and I'll be right out."

Eragon bit back his curiosity and left the tent to wait outside with Saphira. At the same time, Theodore strapped his ancestral sword and buckle on and walked into his suitcase laboratory to pick up something he had calibrated recently for the magicians in this world a magic meter which was a modified version of the dilluminator that read the magic of a person by sucking small amounts of magic in and then presenting a number based on purity and strength.

Such information was necessary for assessing the danger future wizards would face from magicians. Like Eobard, Theodore struggled with normal.

Theodore walked out to meet Eragon and his dragon, and they began walking, Eragon taking the lead.

"So, do you know where Du Vrangr Gata is, Shadeslayer?"

Eragon nodded, "You can call me Eragon. Formality is unnecessary if we will shed blood in battle together."

Theodore nodded, still following along, "Well, Eragon, you can call me Theodore or Teddy if we are to be shedding blood together after all."

Eragon nodded solemnly and continued finding his way to where most of the shielded minds were gathering after they felt his mind searching for them. The two didn't talk anymore as they focused on navigating through the Varden, though most parted ways for Saphira's giant form, allowing them to quickly reach the well-hidden tent belonging to Du Vrangr Gata.

Eragon found Trianna and the mages with her cowering, ready to attack, until Trianna recognized him and waved them down.

"You could have told us that you were coming. We were preparing to attack when you arrived."

"I'm sorry, Trianna. I would have told you if not for your mind being closed to me." Eragon understood that they must have thought some strange magician was coming to fight them. "I come with good intentions. For those people who haven't met me before, I am Eragon Shadeslayer. This is my dragon Saphira, and the man beside me is my bodyguard for the battle ahead, Lord Theodore Lupin."

The magicians behind Trianna hesitantly gave acknowledgment. Most magicians seemed timid and unwilling to meet Eragon's or Theodore's eyes. However, one mage seemed unintimidated by the dragon rider's appearance.

"I didn't realize that a Rider would need a bodyguard." One of the younger magicians in the back said brashly.

"Shut up, Geralt." a stout middle-aged woman said behind him in exasperated annoyance. The two began to argue, and they might have turned into a pitched battle before Trianna silenced them.

"Enough! So you have finally come to seek out your brethren." Trianna's nasally voice rang with condescension. "Did you finally remember that we existed?"

"I have come to take charge of Du Vrangr Gata as you wanted me to do."

Trianna's eyes flashed as her suspicions were confirmed, "you abandoned me then, Shadeslayer, and left us to our own devices. Why would you come back now."

"I left before because I had duties to attend to, but now I plan to help the Varden with your help." Eragon felt several magicians behind Trianna attempt to reach for his mind, likely seeking his intentions. Eragon didn't close his mind and simply stabbed a mental probe of his own at the offending magicians.

"You might be more powerful than any of us here, but you haven't been a magician as long as some have. You haven't studied as long as we have, and you don't have the experience we do with magic." Trianna's eyebrows scrunched together, and her lips thinned, "What makes you think that you can just come here and take over my organization?"

"Nasuada asked me too." Eragon's response didn't make Trianna any happier. Theodore noticed a dark look in her eye that came when power was threatened. Eragon convinced Triana that he wasn't asked to take over out of malice toward her before answering her initial question.

"I have trained with better teachers and know more about the ancient language than most of you do, but you're right. Despite my strength, you have more experience. I will be too busy to manage Du Vrangr Gata most of the time. You, Triana, will lead in my stead and retain much of your power. I am here to give the Varden the best chance of victory over the empire."

After explaining the plan to combine their forces and kill the Empires magicians individually, Trianna and the Magicians were pliant to Eragon's instructions. Eragon managed to get a good understanding of the knowledge these mages had to work with. Most couldn't fully understand or speak the ancient language, and their knowledge of magic was clouded by superstition and religion.

Because of his Elvish nature, Eragon had a hard time gauging the actual strength of these mages' magic. It was then that Theodore decided to step in with his magic meter.

"This device should be able to help you measure the magical strength of different magicians." Theodore smiled, causing Trianna to narrow her eyes.

"What would you know of magic?" Triana was now giving her full attention to the rider's supposed bodyguard.

"I am a magician, after all." Theodore's amber eyes read Triana's admittedly beautiful face for her intentions and found that she still had a wounded pride over Eragon taking over her position. He felt her frustration and desire to talk down to someone to soothe her bruised ego but knew none of that to be his problem. "Well, a wizard, but that is a conversation for another time. This device should help you determine what spell you can and can't do comfortably."

"How does it work?" Eragon had never heard of such a practical device, and it beggared belief that Theodore could pull such a thing so casually out of his pocket.

"It sucks a bit of your energy in and then analyzes it through a runic matrix when it's gathered. Twenty-seven Nordic ruins light up depending on your magic strength and purity." Theodore pointed the device at Eragon and showed the process as a bit of his magic entered the metallic lip of the handheld device. Then, out of the side popped a slip of paper with numbers and letters that Theodore quickly read and explained to Eragon.

The machine's purity was numbered from 1 to 27, and strength was measured in the same range and stood to the right side of purity on the same slip of paper. Eragon had the number 9 for purity and the number 13 for strength.

Quickly, all the mages were given accurate numbers for their magical ability, and most felt between 3 and 4 for purity and 4-5 for strength, besides Trianna, whose strength was 7. From there, it was easy to calculate what certain magicians could or could not cast.

Theodore noted some spell of his own, or rather Eobards, that The magicians of Du Vrangr Gata could be gifted in a grimoire that he planned to make for them. Theodore took special care to tutor Trianna while Eragon focused on the others of the magician troupe.

The magicians quickly managed to grasp their new spells with zeal. These magicians were desperate for more magical knowledge. Many had devoted their life to magic but had no outlet for further study. Finding teachers of magic amidst the empire without getting drafted into the army was very difficult. Their desperation to hide their magic or fear of magic for many of them just barely superseded their desire for more knowledge about magic.

The group continued training for a while before one of the magicians was tired of practice and began paying Theodore special attention. The same young magician from before noticed that Theodore hadn't used his own magical measuring device and decided to ask him about it.

"That device doesn't work for me. My magic has a quality the device can't measure." Theodore said, giving the young man some of his attention.

Hearing what Theodore said, Eragon could not resist asking what he meant.

"You have seen my tent, haven't you? Is that something you can do, Eragon?"

The rider shook his head. Theodore nodded and gave Eragon a look that told Eragon they could talk about his magic later. Training started with the mages of Du Vrangr Gata again, and with the magicians distracted by the sudden influx of magical knowledge, they didn't pay Theodore's strange question much mind.

As the magicians took a break and practice ended, Eragon decided to leave, but Theodore chose to stay a bit longer and talk to Triana. Theodore came to sit next to a sweat-drenched Trianna. He conjured a cloth and offered it to the mage, and she took it confused but quickly used it to wipe the sweat off her brow.

"You know, Laddy Trianna, I could greatly help you and Du Vrangr Gata," Theodore said with a sly smile.

"What help would that be, and what would it cost me?" Trianna huffed, and her tired eyes focused intently on Theodore.

"Nothing Trianna. , your friendship would be enough. I will offer you knowledge in exchange for that friendship, perhaps artifacts of power."

"Only friendship, right Theodore? Du Vrangr Gata are poor. We wouldn't have much else to pay you with," Trianna said as a charming smile with pearl-white teeth broke across her face. All of a sudden, Trianna became coy. "There wouldn't be anything else you want, Lord Theodore." Triana leaned forward, giving Theodore an eye full of cleavage.

Theodore admired the nerve of this girl and had to admit to himself he felt a spark of attraction for this backcountry witch but suppressed his urges behind the weight of his occlumency shields.

"Of course not, dear Trianna, what would ever give you that idea? Just friendship. I am interested in the competent magicians' under the Varden's control." Theodore said, smiling in a way that made Trianna blush unease before turning away.

"You're no fun, Lord Lupin." Trianna smiled again and gave her hand for Theodore to shake. "Friendship it is."

Theodore shook her hand, enjoying the warmth of her hand as it enveloped his. He noted her lilac scent, blushing cheeks, soft button nose, and forest green eyes.

Her eyes captivated him the most in the way they flashed with passion when she spoke of Du Vrangr Gata. The varying green tones in her eye made a tapestry of interwoven color more art than biology. Theodore let her hand go and smiled. Perhaps he could indulge himself, but now was not the time.

"I'll see you soon, Trianna." Theodore turned and left.

Theodore went back to his tent and began his preparation for battle. The wizard didn't usually like to wear armor, but he made an exception for now, as the fight to come would surely be massive. He called Mipsy, who took Theodore's armor out of storage. Theodore walked over to his armor, a lifeless lump of magical steel that shone dull silver, silver, and gold.

With a tap of his wand, he injected his magic into an engraved portion at the nape of the armor. The silver and intricate golden armor melted and poured over Theodore's arm, quickly covering his clothes until it covered him from head to toe.

The armor hardened from its liquid state into full-plated armor with intricate gilded designs of geometric shapes outlined in cold and tough chitinous-banded armor. On Theodore's shoulder, a golden wolf appeared life-like as its fangs hung over his shoulder. Sharp triangular boots with sharp edges jutted out as a sharp golden emperor's crown formed over a triangular chitinous helm with three slits. Black gold and silver metals poured over Theodore's hands, creating gauntlets with sharp edges that flowed over armored seams.

Finally, as the armor finished forming around Theodore, fur sprouted in fluffy bursts around his shoulder, and red cloth with the full moon banner of his house unfurled in front of him between his legs to accent his silver, black, and gold armor. Almost as an afterthought, the metal poured over Theodore's black spiral wand, coating it a more profound black and sharpening its edge for use in melee if needed.

This armor was made from an alloy of goblin silver, adamantine, and sky iron, all metals able to withstand muggle weaponry in a hostile warzone for an infinite time and fieldfare for at least an hour. Though it wouldn't protect against a direct killing curse, it would stop anything short of a direct blow, redirecting even killing curses away.

The armor was self-healing, borrowing from a Wizard's magic to reform using a unique form of automatic runic ritual. Before the statute of secrecy fell, such armor was impossible to create. Even now, many wizards detested Theodore's Armor. Even Theodore himself felt a bit squeamish at times about the rituals required to make ritual armor.

Theodore's enchanted armor didn't come without a steep cost in human lives. He could feel his armor's hunger for more life essence. It tugged at Theodore to slaughter. Fortunately, muggle lives worked as well as wizards in that respect.

Theodore decided to complete his look, pulled from the magic beneath him, and collected it around him into a cape clasped at his shoulders made to flow similarly to cloth with fire flaring from the edges that released tiny embers as it touched the ground.

"Mipsy, can you bring my ritual dagger," Theodore said as he let his wand slide into its armor holster with impossible speed. Theodore would have preferred to take his ancestral sword as it hadn't seen blood in decades, but he knew that was impractical. His long sword was more of a dueling weapon for Theodore. His dagger had more practical uses.

Mipsy disappeared and reappeared again with a small, completely black curved dagger, a blade with a monomolecular edge. Ritual daggers were ancient things made before wands. Wizards abandoned them before the final wizarding war, but they became commonplace after wizards realized the old ways were the only way to compete with muggle technology.

Ritual daggers were personal things forged by those who would use them with their blood and magic—granting them powerful, unique effects and sometimes quirks.

Theodore's ritual dagger, Night, couldn't mimic the effect of his dual-colored blade carefully stored in his luggage. The cutting of reality requires unique metal that the ritual dagger lacked. What the dagger was able to do was split almost anything to bits without resistance. Theodore carefully hooked Night in a specially made sheath from his belt.

Theodore made for an intimidating form. It was for good reasons wizards feared Ritual Armor. It was for good reasons the empire's soldiers would soon fear him.

Theodore considered making a small throne to finish his royal visage before hearing a commotion outside the camp.

With unnaturally quiet footsteps and without the heavy clinking that usually came with the use of heavy armor, Theodore ventured out of his tent with a minor notice, not charm, as he traveled to the source of the commotion.

It wasn't many steps from his tent when he found a vexed messenger calling out for the location of Lord Lupins' tent. Theodore went to him, and the messenger quickly explained that Urgals were on their way and they wanted to negotiate.

Nasauda herself asked him to stand beside her as she confronted the Urgal sent to parley. Theodore was sure this would be an exciting evening. He had never met an Urgal, nor had Eobard, at least personally. Theodore quickly left for the meeting place.

Nasuada had a stressful evening in her pavilion—urgals on the horizon. The same Urgals that had killed her father were now flying the flag of peace in the hopes of parlay. Nasuada felt a deep, angry urge rip through her—a desire to ask Eragon to slaughter the lot of them.

Sadly, Nasuada knew better that wasn't something she could do. At least, it's not something she should do and expect to have any chance of defeating Galbatorix. Nasuada had accepted help even from a wayward magician who snuck into her tent in the dead of night and scared her half to death; she could at least hear Urgals out, if only because of desperation.

Nasuada knew, despite her need for help, that the Urgals were dangerous and so had quickly called Eragon Shadeslayer, her closest advisor, and even Theodore Lupin despite the man's building influence.

Nasuada was still deciding whether she made a wise decision inviting him to the negotiations. Bringing Theodore to stand by her side during her parley with the Urgals might send the wrong message.

Many in the Varden knew of the foreigner now because of his fight with Arya, but his defeat of her attracted the wrong sort of attention. There were men in the Varden who believed humans should only watch out for humans. They were ignorant racist men but still prominent among the Vardens human population.

The second Theodore had knocked Arya off her high horse. Those men began to see Theodore as their messiah. A human that could fight the unnatural creature. Clearly, they weren't paying much attention as their messiah was the most alien of them all. Nasuada could only guess they were too ignorant to notice Theodore's orange eyes.

Theodore himself was likely still clueless about the attention he had garnished, and Nasuada intended to keep it that way for as long as possible. That man was dangerous in more ways than one.

Nasuda sighed, knowing she had no choice really in inviting him. The man was unusual in that he seemed to find just the right moment to appear. He was there when she sought weapons to outfit her men before battle. When the rider arrived, he was there. He offered himself as his bodyguard when she was looking for a way to protect her rider further. The man seemed to have a thing for timing. Besides, she couldn't afford to offend the eccentric foreign noble.

Nasuada didn't have to wait long for a crowd to form at the edge of camp where the meeting would occur. Jörmundur arrived first, followed by Eragon and Lord Lupin, covered head to toe in massive, intricate armor that moved fluidly with him.

The only reason Nasuada was sure it was him was because of his flaming cape. The cape gleamed with more magic than Saphira's sapphire hide.

No magicians Nasuada knew could pull off magic quite like Lord Lupin.

"Do you need me to gather the men to kill the Urgal threat? Let me ride out Saphira and slaughter them for you, Nasuada." Eragon seemed eager to slaughter Urgals. Even Saphira let a low rumble that Nasuada could feel vibrate intensely through her body.

Nasuada knew Eragon would have a similar visceral response to Urgals but also understood he had to realize it was wrong. They weren't playing at war. They were already fighting it. It wouldn't help them if their symbol became a bloodthirsty tyrant. Nasuada shuddered at the image of someone as powerful as Eragon or Theodore bathing and delighting in blood.

"They have come under the flag of peace. There will be no slaughtering." Nasuada firmly replied, reprimanding Eragon quietly for being so blood-hungry. She hadn't expected Theodore's input.

"Eragon, I have never seen Urgals, so you are likely a better judge of their character. I do, however, know that the genocide of races never ends well. It leaves the world feeling empty and broken." Theodore's voice, clear and unhindered by his gilded helm, was solemn. Nasuada felt some sadness in his words, as if he had known Genocide before or even participated in it.

Eragon fell silent after Theodore's words, almost contemplative, and Nasuada found herself grateful that Theodore gave perspective to the situation for the young rider. Nasuada herself felt the urge to purge the Urgals from existence weaken, and so they settled in to wait for the Urgals representative to approach.

They didn't have to wait long before a massive black shape crossed the burning plain. Its horns were so big and distinct that they could be made out clearly from a distance. The kull made quick progress to her pavilion.

The Urgal came bearing a white flag, and Varden soldiers quickly harassed the Urgal Kull, who entered from all sides. Some jeered and spit at the massive half-dressed ram. Others more eager for blood threw rocks and dirt at his passing. None drew swords, but Nasuda could see several biting their teeth, holding their swords only partially sheathed.

The Kull ignored their insult. The ram expected them on its arrival and made no moves of aggression. The Kull was, however, unable to pass the dense crowd.

Nasuada feared she would have to personally interfere before black metal railings suddenly appeared on either side of the Kull. It gently pushed the confused crowd back as it made a path for the Kull to where Nasuada sat on her makeshift throne. Nasuada looked at Theodore gratefully, and Theodore nodded.

The Kull was just as confused as the Varden soldiers but ignored the sudden railings and made his way to Nasuada's throne. The Urgal lifted his enormous horned head and bore his throat to her as he made savage undulations. Nasuada quickly learned that this was something urgals did when there was a meeting among equals from Eragon of all people. Perhaps there was hope for him yet. Nasauda quited the crowd so she could hear what the Urgal had to say for himself.

"We come for peace, Lady Nasuada, and to join you against Galbatorix in battle," the Urgal's surprisingly soft voice rang out, making its way clear across the crowd of jeering Varden men who slowly fell silent.