Black/Gold Brick Commentary

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In which Eragon has to explain himself to Nas and Orrin, and everyone kisses his ass anyway, so what's the point of this? 

Chapter Fifteen: To Answer a King

 

Once Eragon’s given his speech, Nasuada calls Jordy over and tells him to get everyone back to their posts because if they were attacked now, they’d be screwed. The fact that everyone abandoned their posts to come see Eragon is problematic, because that tells me there’s no discipline and this army isn’t a rebel army. It’s an invader. Nobody should be leaving their posts except under the most dire of circumstances. Anyway, once Nas has sent Jordy to tidy up her army, she gestures to Eragon and Arya, then puts her left hand on King Orrin’s arm (even though he didn’t offer it to her, which he should’ve done, but it’s not written that he did, so this makes Nasuada seem super pretentious) and she goes inside the pavilion.

 

What about you? Eragon asked Saphira as he followed. Then he stepped inside the pavilion and saw that a panel at the back had been rolled up and tied to the wooden frame above so that Saphira might insert her head and participate in the goings-on. He had to wait but a moment before her glittering head and neck swung into view around the edge of the opening, darkening the interior as she settled into place. Purple flecks of light adorned the walls, projected by her blue scales onto the red fabric. 

 

Fairly certain that is exactly the textbook definition of a disco ball. Like this is supposed to be a serious meeting, not a rave. Second, those “purple flecks”? Yeah, color doesn’t work like that. Sure, red and blue make purple, but only when they’re mixed together, not when they’re projected on top of one another. Of course, the language of the sentence might be what’s tripping, because it’s saying her scales are projecting these purple flecks, when really what’s happening is her scales are reflecting blue-colored light onto a red-colored surface. Therefore, the result of that would be the color purple. But I’ve never seen blue light turn purple when projected on a red surface. I’ve never seen green light come from a blue light reflected onto a yellow surface. I’ve also never seen any color light put up on a surface turn completely black. That’s just not how the physics of light work. Also, I don’t know why these dragons glitter like this, other than Because It’s Cool? Because do you realize how much money stands to be made by someone enterprising enough (and with the courage and confidence unbecoming of a mortal) to kill a dragon, skin them, and then sell their scales as gemstones? Like this shouldn’t be a thing. 

 

Eragon examined the rest of the tent. It was barren compared with when he had last visited, a result of the destruction Saphira had caused when she crawled into the pavilion to see Eragon in Nasuada’s mirror. With only four pieces of furniture, the tent was austere even by military standards. There was the polished high-backed chair where Nasuada was sitting, King Orrin standing next to her; the selfsame mirror, which was mounted at eye level on a carved brass pole; a folding chair; and a low table strewn with maps and other documents of import. An intricately knotted dwarf rug covered the ground. Besides Arya and himself, a score of people were already gathered before Nasuada. They were all looking at him. Among them he recognized Narheim, the current commander of the dwarf troops; Trianna and other spellcasters from Du Vrangr Gata; Sabrae, Umérth, and the rest of the Council of Elders, save for Jörmundur; and a random assortment of nobles and functionaries fromKing Orrin’s court. Those who were strangers to him he assumed also held positions of distinction in one of the many factions that made up the Varden’s army. Six of Nasuada’s guards were present—two stationed by the entrance and four behind Nasuada—and Eragon detected the convoluted pattern of Elva’s dark and twisted thoughts from where the witch-child was hidden at the far end of the pavilion. 

 

Uh, why does Nasuada have a chair and not Orrin? He’s a king; he should have a chair, especially considering that Orrin is her ally, not her subordinate. See, already she’s acting like a queen and she hasn’t even made a bid for it yet. He should be her equal at the very least. Not entirely sure why there’s a rug, unless the tent has a floor and it isn’t just four sides and a roof. Also way to be a dick to the kid you cursed, Eragon. Calling her thoughts dark and twisted is not a good way to endear yourself to someone. Although I find the change in Elva’s attitude here interesting, because when he met her at the end of Eldest, he asked for her forgiveness and she says something like she can’t forgive him, but she understands, and she bears him no ill will, yet she doesn’t retain that same attitude in the very next book. It’s very jarring, actually, to see a personality transplant like that, especially when there’s no reason for such a thing to happen.

 

“Eragon,” said Nasuada, “you have not met before, but let me introduce Sagabato-no Inapashunna Fadawar, chief of the Inapashunna tribe. He is a brave man.” 

 

This may just be a nitpick, but this sounds too Japanese for a bunch of people that are basically Sub-Saharan nomads. If anything, I would expect something more Arabic in flavor for an introduction like this, or even something of an African flair. I like how she tacks on “he’s a brave man” at the end. It sounds like an afterthought, an appeasement. And I’m not sure how cutting yourself makes you brave, but then that practice of seeing who can outlast who by bleeding to death is pretty batshit insane.

 

For the next hour, Eragon endured what seemed like an endless procession of introductions, congratulations, and questions that he could not answer forthrightly without revealing secrets that were better left unsaid. When all of the guests had conversed with him, Nasuada bade them take their leave. As they filed out of the pavilion, she clapped her hands and the guards outside ushered in a second group and then, when the second group had enjoyed the dubious fruits of their visitation with him, a third. Eragon smiled the whole while. He shook hand after hand. He exchanged meaningless pleasantries and strove to memorize the plethora of names and titles that besieged him and otherwise acted with perfect civility the role he was expected to play. He knew that they honored him not because he was their friend but because of the chance of victory he embodied for the free peoples of Alagaësia, because of his power, and because of what they hoped to gain by him. In his heart, he howled with frustration and longed to break free of the stifling constraints of good manners and polite conduct and to climb on Saphira and fly away to somewhere peaceful. 

 

Other than the fact he’s trying to memorize names and faces and titles, which is a huge waste of his time and mine spending the minute reading this paragraph and trying to figure out if we’re still at war or if this is Nobles On Parade in Nasuada’s court, (and yes, we’re still at war, so I don’t know why we’re having a debutante ball in Nasuada’s war pavilion) I rather like the fact that Eragon’s pissed off by this unnecessary pomp and circumstance. First of all, where are all these people from? Who are they? Why are they here? Are they camp followers? Are they noblemen who joined the Varden and are on Nasuada’s council? Why do they get to enjoy this sideshow and nobody else? None of this makes any sense. Not a single bit. This is more like the announcement part of a court ball, and it really shouldn’t be here. I do understand everyone wants to meet him, for some unfathomable reason, but there is a time and a place for it, and this is not the time and place. It’s like Paolini forgot that Nasuada wasn’t queen yet, but everyone is acting like she is. 

 

The one part of the process Eragon enjoyed was watching how the supplicants reacted to the two Urgals who loomed behind Nasuada’s chair. Some pretended to ignore the horned warriors— although from the quickness of their motions and the shrill tones of their voices, Eragon could tell that the creatures unnerved them—while others glared at the Urgals and kept their hands on the pommels of their swords or daggers, and still others affected a false bravado and belittled the Urgals’ notorious strength and boasted of their own. Only a few people truly seemed unaffected by the sight of the Urgals. Foremost among them was Nasuada, but their number also included King Orrin, Trianna, and an earl who said he had seen Morzan and his dragon lay waste to an entire town when he had been but a boy. 

 

I’m not sure why Morzan lays waste to an entire town. Seems kind of counter-productive to what his goal was. Unless he was destroying some Varden base or was trying to kill a Rider and the town was “oops, acceptable losses”. I don’t understand why (except for ‘the forsworn are EVIL’ reason) they would attack innocent people. Galby didn’t start the war against Alagaesia as a whole; he started it against the Riders. They’d only be interested in fighting those guys and their allies. So to read this is kind of jarring and it doesn’t make sense, really, in context. Of course, Morzan isn’t ever really given much character development because a) he’s dead, and b) everyone who talks about him is biased against him in some manner.

 

Well, the moment Eragon can’t stand any more of this fuckery, Saphira starts growling. Everyone becomes silent and stares at the dragon, because now everybody knows she’s impatient. Of course, she’s not the impatient one; Eragon is. She’s only doing this because he’s super annoyed and doesn’t feel like dealing with this anymore. Anyway, everyone leaves rather than tempt fate that Saphira might decide they’re a tasty snack, and Saphira drums her claws against the ground to make everyone move faster. Wonderful.

 

Nasuada sighed as the entrance flap swung closed behind the last visitor. “Thank you, Saphira. I am sorry that I had to subject you to the misery of public presentation, Eragon, but as I am sure you are aware, you occupy an exalted position among the Varden, and I cannot keep you to myself anymore. You belong to the people now. They demand that you recognize them and that you give them what they consider their rightful share of your time. Neither you nor Orrin nor I can refuse the wishes of the crowd. Even Galbatorix in his dark seat of power at Urû’baen fears the fickle crowd, although he may deny it to everyone, including himself.” 

 

Actually, none of this had to happen because they’re at fucking war not a state visit. What has gone on here in these last three paragraphs is nothing but utter bullshit. First of all, who are all these people? Where did they come from? Why are dignitaries and shit like that here? Seriously. They have nothing to do with anything. They’re not commanders. They’re not allies. They’re gilt that just randomly showed up. Maybe they’re part of Orrin’s entourage, which also doesn’t make any sense, because if a king goes to war, he’s usually accompanied by his knights, a priest, several advisers, and his entire freaking army. Not a whole bunch of ninnies hoping to curry favor with the local Dragon Rider. Sure, Eragon might belong to the people (although to for what purpose, I don’t know, because nothing he does actually serves the people) but that doesn’t mean we can spend half a page dicking around like we’re at a royal gala and not in the middle of a campaign. Also, nobody ever did this in Eldest when he was right there entire time. They were polite, sure, but they never demanded his time. Not counting Elva and her caretaker, anyway. Eragon has also done nothing special (aside from killing the Ra’zac, anyway) to warrant this behavior from anyone. It’s definitely just self-insert Mary Sue bullshit. And it’s annoying. Lastly, I don’t think Galby really gives a shit about the crowd. I mean, his track record after taking over is pretty stellar, actually. So I don’t know why anyone would turn on him. Literally everything he’s done is common knowledge, and nobody really seems to care.

 

As soon as the last guest is gone, Orrin goes from being a stately serious king to a couch surfer ready to kick back with a cold one and catch up on his soap operas. He tells Nasuada to get rid of her guard, so she does. Then this happens:

 

Dragging the spare chair over to Nasuada’s, King Orrin seated himself in a tangle of sprawling limbs and billowing fabric. “Now,” he said, switching his gaze between Eragon and Arya, “let us have a full account of your doings, Eragon Shadeslayer. I have heard only vague explanations for why you chose to delay at Helgrind, and I have had my fill of evasions and deceptive answers. I am determined to know the truth of the matter, so I warn you, do not attempt to conceal what actually transpired while you were in the Empire. Until I am satisfied you have told me everything there is to tell, none of us shall so much as step outside of this tent.” 

 

Uh, why does Orrin drag his own chair over and flop into it like a frat boy flopping on the couch ready to play some Call of Duty? Shouldn’t a servant do that? I mean, the guy’s a king, right? Of course, it also doesn’t make any sense that he should be standing like one of Nasuada’s vassals and not her equal, either. Also, I don’t understand why Orrin is so long-winded, unless it’s a ploy by Paolini to get us not to like him. Literally he could just say:

 

“I’m curious; tell me everything that’s transpired on your journey and don’t leave out a single detail. And please don’t lie or omit anything. We are allies, are we not?”

 

THERE. I FIXED IT. 

 

But seriously, none of this serves any purpose except to make Orrin look like a douchebag. 

 

Her voice cold, Nasuada said, “You assume too much . . . Your Majesty. You do not have the authority to bind me in place; nor Eragon, who is my vassal; nor Saphira; nor Arya, who answers to no mortal lord but rather to one more powerful than the two of us combined. Nor do we have the authority to bind you. The five of us are as close to equals as any of us is likely to find in Alagaësia. You would do well to remember that.” 

 

Except that Nasuada forgets this on a regular basis, and that she and everyone treat Orrin like he’s an annoyance. Also, remember that Eragon decided not three pages ago that he was determined that Orrin would never be king of Alagaesia just based on the way people reacted to his speech. A single speech and one we as readers weren’t even privy to. We were told Orrin’s speech sucked and nobody liked it. That it was “uninspiring”. We didn’t get to decide for ourselves. If what Eragon’s decided on his own and how Nasuada treats Orrin is any indication of how they feel about him, then Nasuada is lying through her teeth here, and she’s pissed because she’s being questioned by someone she believes is less than she is in status. When technically Orrin is higher in status than she is, because he’s a king born and bred, and she is just a nobody who happened to be treated like a princess because her father just happened to be the leader of the resistance movement. She’s just being an arrogant bitch.

 

King Orrin’s response was equally flinty. “Do I exceed the bounds of my sovereignty? Well, perhaps I do. You are right: I have no hold over you. However, if we are equals, I have yet to see evidence of it in your treatment of me. Eragon answers to you and only you. By the Trial of the Long Knives, you have gained dominion over the wandering tribes, many of which I have long counted among my subjects. And you command as you will both the Varden and the men of Surda, who have long served my family with bravery and determination beyond that of ordinary men.” 

 

Um, why is Orrin counting the wandering tribes among his subjects? Do they actually live in Surda and pay his taxes? Do they serve him? I thought the tribes lived in the desert and they had their own culture and leaders that were separate from the rest of the world? Otherwise, why would Fadawar challenge Nasuada for the title of the Varden’s leader if he actually owed his loyalty to Orrin? It doesn’t make any sense. I also like how Orrin calls Nasuada out on her treatment of him. I really don’t think he’s exceeding the bounds of his authority by demanding to know every detail of Eragon’s adventure. His existence depends on Eragon, too. Eragon put more than just himself in danger by deciding to do what he did, so I think Orrin is well within his rights to demand an explanation. There’s conflict brewing here, and it could’ve been something good - Orrin really does decide to call off his part of the campaign and heads home, or on the other hand, accepts an ultimatum from Galby in exchange for his surrender, the destruction of the Varden, and Eragon and Saphira’s capture. Nasuada then has to somehow convince him otherwise. Instead, we get Orrin threatening to disband, then becoming an alcoholic and turning into a brat all so Nasuada can have what she wants. And Nasuada still does what she wants. So this entire back and forth between them is meaningless.

 

“It was you yourself who asked me to orchestrate this campaign,” said Nasuada. “I have not deposed you.”

 

“Aye, it was at my request you assumed command of our disparate forces. I am not ashamed to admit you have had more experience and success than I in waging war. Our prospects are too precarious for you, me, or any of us to indulge in false pride. However, since your investiture, you seem to have forgotten that I am still the king of Surda, and we of the Langfeld family can trace our line back to Thanebrand the Ring Giver himself, he who succeeded old, mad Palancar and who was the first of our race to sit on the throne in what is now Urû’baen. 

 

Dude, Orrin, Nasuada has about the same experience on war as a pineapple and even less success. Literally, her “maiden battle” was hiding among the archers while her dad led the campaign. She did nothing. The victory in Farthen Dur wasn’t even hers. Basically it was Eragon who won the day because reasons, but Nasuada has nothing to do with it. She didn’t even get her position based on experience or merit; it was given to her because of her father. The council thought they could control her and they failed in that. Second, her only other battle came at the end of Eldest, and we know she’s been fighting because she has a wound on her leg that’s bleeding pretty heavily. But we’re told this. We don’t actually see it. So for all we know, she injured herself to manipulate Eragon into doing shit. She’s capable of it, after all. Also, it’s right here that Orrin mentions that he’s technically the rightful heir to the throne, and therefore it should be his. But for whatever reason nobody wants him to have it beer he’s not “good enough”. That’s not how the line of succession works, anyway. Moreover, now would be a good time to plan for what happens after Galby is defeated, but we don’t get that either.

 

“Considering our heritage and the assistance the House of Langfeld has rendered you in this cause, it is insulting of you to ignore the rights of my office. You act as if yours was the only verdict of moment and the opinions of others are of no account, to be trampled over in pursuit of whatever goal you have already determined is best for the portion of free humanity that is fortunate enough to have you as their leader. You negotiate treaties and alliances, such as that with the Urgals, of your own initiative and expect me, and others, to abide by your decisions, as if you speak for us all. You arrange preemptive visits of state, such as that with Blödhgarm-vodhr, and do not trouble to alert me of his arrival, nor wait for me to join you so we might greet his embassy together as equals. And when I have the temerity to ask why Eragon—the man whose very existence is the reason I have staked my country in this venture—when I have the temerity to ask why this all-important person has elected to endanger the lives of Surdans and those of every creature who opposes Galbatorix by tarrying in the midst of our enemies, how is it you respond? By treating me as if I were no more than an overzealous, over-inquisitive underling whose childish concerns distracted you from more pressing matters. Bah! I will not have it, I tell you. If you cannot bring yourself to respect my station and to accept a fair division of responsibility, as two allies ought to, then it is my opinion that you are unfit to command a coalition such as ours, and I shall set myself against you however I may.” 

 

Holy run-on sentences Batman. Jesus. Okay, aside from the fact that all of this could be pared down to “Stop being a selfish bitch, Nasuada, and treat me like an equal, not your subject, and here’s why...” Orrin is not wrong. He is literally calling her out on her behavior. He isn’t lying, he isn’t fibbing the truth or bending it in a way that suits him and makes him look like a victim - he’s telling the truth and he still looks like a victim of Nasuada’s massive ego. She did everything he’s talking about. She didn’t consult with him about the Trial of the Long Knives, she just did it; she didn’t consult with him about the Urgals, she just did it; she didn’t alert him to Wolfelf’s appearance nor wait for him to join her before she met with the elves; and she snapped at him when he, well within his rights, asked for a full accounting of Eragon’s journey without being lied to about it. She’s already acting like the “high queen” she becomes and she isn’t even crowned yet. She hasn’t even decided yet that she wants to be queen. Orrin really gets the short end of the stick, and other than Paolini Says So, I don’t know why. It’s not like he’s a bad king. We don’t know anything about the way he rules, so we don’t know if he’s walked all over by his advisors, or if he’s got a secret BDSM dungeon or whatever. Orrin is set up to fail before he can even try, and it’s super annoying.

 

What a long-winded fellow, Saphira observed. 

 

Ah, shut the fuck up, Saphira. I hate this reaction. It’s super dismissive of Orrin’s feelings and super dismissive of the truth that he’s talking about. Sure, okay, he really didn’t need a paragraph filled with run on sentences to get his point across, but that’s no reason to be negative on him. 

 

Alarmed by the direction the conversation had taken, Eragon said, What should I do? I had not intended to tell anyone else about Sloan, except for Nasuada. The fewer people who know he’s alive, the better. 

 

Well, I have an easy solution: just don’t tell anybody. There, problem solved. Sure, you’ll just have to come up with a lie as to why you needed to remain behind, but it isn’t like anyone is going to fact check you. Of course, this could’ve all been avoided if Eragon had just told the truth in the first place instead of lying to Roran, Katrina, and Saphira. At this point he’s just literally digging the hole deeper and causing more of a problem for himself. Of course, nothing comes of this, so it’s really a moot point. Still, it feels like Eragon is having an “oh, shit” moment, like he’s about to be found out on a dirty secret, and I really don’t like it when my hero acts like a villain.

 

A flickering sea-blue shimmer ran from the base of Saphira’s head to the crest of her shoulders as the tips of the sharp, diamond-shaped scales along the sides of her neck rose a fraction of an inch from the underlying skin. The jagged layers of projecting scales gave her a fierce, ruffled appearance. I cannot tell you what is best, Eragon. In this, you must rely upon your own judgment. Listen closely to what your heart says and perhaps it will become clear how to win free of these treacherous downdrafts. 

 

Uh, why aren’t you chewing him out, Saphira? Calling him an idiot and saying he should’ve thought about this before he did what he did? Like that’s Eragon’s worst problem. He doesn’t think in the long term. He doesn’t think about consequences. He doesn’t think in “if/then”. He does, then regrets his actions later or thinks about it later, or just doesn’t deal with it at all when it comes up again. This makes a very boring read because you realize that Eragon doesn’t suffer any consequences for his actions, now or ever. In the first book, he was almost relatable. He got hurt, he suffered, he realized that his actions would have consequences (although it was an elemental thing, because he was always right, no matter what he did, and reacted to things with an attitude that didn’t match the action - like when he got mad at Murtagh for killing that slaver, even though he knew Murtagh was right - which made things awkward) and so he was somewhat careful with what he did and said. But suddenly he becomes an arrogant son of a bitch that can do no wrong and suffers no consequences, even though he should, and the people who should chew him out don’t. Rather, they approve of his behavior.

 

In response to King Orrin’s sally, Nasuada clasped her hands in her lap, her bandages startling white against the green of her dress, and in a calm, even voice said, “If I have slighted you, Sire, then it was due to my own hasty carelessness and not to any desire on my part to diminish you or your house. Please forgive my lapses. They shall not happen again; that I promise you. As you have pointed out, I have but recently ascended to this post, and I have yet to master all of the accompanying niceties.” 

 

I call bullshit. This girl has been characterized as being a manipulative mastermind capable of maneuvering her (father’s) enemies into traps without ever revealing her hand in it, and even Eragon said she’s manipulative and twists the truth to suit herself. This entire speech her smacks of a lie. Of appeasement. It isn’t sincere at all, because she goes right back to doing whatever she wants, and Orrin devolves into an ineffective alcoholic. Her actions were deliberate. They weren’t “lapses”. And I don’t see how her “inexperience” in leading the Varden and Surda and the rest of the army contributes to her not mastering “the accompanying niceties”. There’s literally no correlation. The “accompanying niceties” is simple respect. Nasuada doesn’t respect Orrin. If she respected him, she wouldn’t treat him the way she does.

 

Orrin inclines his head in acceptance of her words and Nasuada continues to explain that even she couldn’t tell him what Eragon was doing behind enemy lines because she didn’t know herself. She didn’t want to advertise that their one and only Rider was alone, defenseless, and well within the grasp of their adversary. Except everybody in the Varden camp knew about it anyway. Orrin agrees with Nasuada, and she continues by saying that the “swiftest cure” for their little argument here is for Eragon to get on with sharing his reasoning why and then they might “render judgment” on it. Orrin replies:

 

“Of its own, that is not a cure,” said King Orrin. “But it is the beginning of a cure, and I will gladly listen.” 

 

I agree with Orrin here. It’s not a cure. Honestly, this isn’t even a vaccine. Nasuada is purely doing this to get Orrin off her back. She doesn’t actually keep her word on this. She just twists things so that Orrin has no choice but to follow her and do what she wants him to. Worse, for whatever reason, Orrin allows her to do this because he starts sinking into a depression and drinking heavily, such that strong opinions are formed about him and his character is assassinated for “reasons”, all to pave the way for Nasuada’s ascension.

 

Nasuada says great, let’s get on with it, and she orders Eragon to start talking. Eragon decides to say that what he’s about to tell them is in the utmost confidence and that he can’t expect Nas or Orrin to swear to keep what he’s about to say a secret, but he begs them to pretend like they did. Because it could cause a great deal of issues if the wrong person overheard it. Namely Roran and Katrina, because then Eragon would be revealed as a liar and an utter jerk.

 

“A king does not remain king for long unless he appreciates the value of silence,” said Orrin. 

 

Or unless the people decide enough is enough and they rise up against him. Or someone else covets his throne and decides to take it from him. I do understand what Orrin is saying - discretion is what keeps a king in the good graces of his allies - but that’s not the only reason why a king would be deposed.

 

So Eragon launches into his story and leaves out no detail. Then Arya explains what she did to find him and adds on to his story with her own two cents. When they’re done, the room is silent as Orrin and Nas contemplate what was told to them, and Eragon feels very much like a child as he waits for them to speak. It reminds him of waiting for Garrow to tell him what his punishment was for doing something stupid.

 

You know, when your character does something they believe is morally right and then turn around and feel like a misbehaving child waiting for mommy and daddy to punish him, maybe what he did wasn’t morally right.

 

Anyway, none of this matters as both Nasuada and Orrin agree with what Eragon did. Eragon is shocked by this and asks why, because he certainly didn’t expect them to look upon what he did with any favor. So Orrin interrupts him to explain:

 

King Orrin interrupted. “Why do we approve? The rule of law must be upheld. If you had appointed yourself Sloan’s executioner, Eragon, you would have taken for yourself the power that Nasuada and I wield. For he who has the audacity to determine who should live and who should die no longer serves the law but dictates the law. And however benevolent you might be, that would be no good thing for our species. Nasuada and I, at least, answer to the one lord even kings must kneel before. We answer to Angvard, in his realm of eternal twilight. We answer to the Gray Man on his gray horse. Death. We could be the worst tyrants in the whole of history, and given enough time, Angvard would bring us to heel. . . .But not you. Humans are a short-lived race, and we should not be governed by one of the Undying. We do not need another Galbatorix.” A strange laugh escaped from Orrin then, and his mouth twisted in a humorless smile. “Do you understand, Eragon? You are so dangerous, we are forced to acknowledge the danger to your face and hope that you are one of the few people able to resist the lure of power.” 

 

You know, that one line “a strange laugh escaped Orrin then, and his mouth twisted in a humorless smile” just screams “Orrin is afraid of Eragon”. That he’s afraid that Eragon is going to be exactly like Galby, and hey, guess what! He’s worse. Nasuada becomes Galby 2.0 and goes full on dictator. Anyone who could keep her in line is gone. I’m not counting Arya because she’s stuck between a rock and a hard place - as a Rider, her duty is to uphold the law of the land - that is, Nasuada’s laws - but she also has a duty to her people. If there’s conflict between humans and elves, Arya is going to have to choose a side. She can’t stay neutral. Beyond that, she and the elves are going to live forever, so they aren’t governed by death like the humans are. No doubt Orrin is afraid of them, too. And Orrin’s last line is very accurate, too. Eragon, and the elves by default, are far more powerful than your average human, and they’ll live forever. The elves already have shown that they don’t care about human lives, and Eragon soon shows himself not to care about human lives. He’s already shown it, if Sloan is any indication. Why do they agree with him? Because of his power. Because he can do what he wants and they cannot stop him. Even if they had been there with him, even if they had argued against his actions, there is very little that they could do to stop them if Eragon decided to do what he did anyway. If they told him he was wrong (which he was, and let’s face it, if Paolini wasn’t writing this, Nasuada and Orrin would’ve been to one side of Eragon and down the other) he could just destroy the two of them and take over for himself. Instead, they appease him and say “you did good” because he didn’t kill Sloan, just took away his freedom and his ability to choose and his autonomy. 

 

King Orrin laced his fingers together underneath his chin and gazed at a fold in his robes. “I have said more than I intended. . . . So, for all those reasons, and others besides, I agree with Nasuada. You were right to stay your hand when you discovered this Sloan in Helgrind. As inconvenient as this episode has been, it would have been far worse, and for you as well, if you had killed to please yourself and not in self-defense or in service to others.” 

 

If that last line of Orrin’s isn’t permission to kill, I don’t know what is. The problem with Eragon is that he’s too powerful. Your average mook defender wouldn’t be able to scratch Eragon even if he was having a bad day. Ignoring FUCKING WARDS for a moment, Eragon just wins in the strength and speed arenas because he’s all elfified. He can defeat any average human because of that. He doesn’t even check his strength against these people, nor does he suddenly become a pacifist and try to solve the problem through peace. He doesn’t ask for surrender; he wades in and kills people and then asks for surrender, once he’s shown people that they have no hope of defeating him. And all Eragon has to do to justify these killings as “in service to others” and he’s praised for it, when all it really is is murder.

 

Nasuada says Orrin described it pretty well. Meanwhile, Arya is staring at everyone without revealing whatever she’s thinking. Then Orrin and Nas ply Eragon with lots of questions, such as what he did to Sloan in detail, as well as what happened during the rest of his trip. This continues on for so long that Nasuada orders catering for lunch, and the spread is cooled cider, fruit, and meat pies, with a haunch of steer for Saphira. And I’m trying to figure out why the spread is so good because they’re in war. Why would they have time to make meat pies? Anyway, only Nas and Orrin get to eat because they keep Eragon talking to the point he goes hungry and barely gets a sip of cider to wet his throat.

 

At long last King Orrin bade them farewell and departed to review the status of his cavalry. Arya left a minute later, explaining that she needed to report to Queen Islanzadí and to, as she said, “heat a tub of water, wash the sand from my skin, and return my features to their usual shape. I do not feel myself, with the tips of my ears missing, my eyes round and level, and the bones of my face in the wrong places.” 

 

The bones of her face in the wrong places? What the fuck is she? Last time I checked, elves are classified under humanoids, which means their skeletal structures are the same as humans. Their skulls are shaped the same, with the eye sockets and jaw bones in the same place. So this really makes her seem like she’s some sort of alien species compared to humans, like there’s no way they could mix and be compatible or whatever. I’m also trying to figure out why they brought tubs with them, like this is some sort of pleasure cruise, and it’s good to know that Arya hates being human. Good luck with that, Eragon. I mean, she basically goes on to describe how awful it is to be human by describing their eyes are wrong, their ears are wrong, everything is wrong. I’d really hate to see how she treats a half-elf. And I know how much she reveres children, but based on how she talks here, I really wonder what she’d do if a child of hers came out looking more like a human than an elf. Because don’t forget, at the end of the day, Eragon is still human no matter how much he looks like an elf. The dragons didn’t change his DNA, just his outward appearance. And apparently his physical strength and speed.

 

Finally Eragon and Saphira are alone with Nasuada, and Nas pulls out all the stops to show just how tired she is. Basically she just sighs and leans her head against the back of her chair. Eragon is “shocked” by how tired she appears - I’m not. She cut herself to ribbons, lost all the blood in her body, never ate or drank anything afterward, and then ran around the camp like a rabbit all so she could be first to meet the elves, and likely hasn’t slept one bit or really ever recovered properly - and he tells us that her “vitality and strength of presence” are gone, the “fire in her eyes” is gone, and he finally realizes that Nas was just putting up a front and pretending to be stronger than she really was so she could fool her enemies and the Varden into thinking she was perfectly fine. When she’s not.

 

Personally, I think one sign of a good leader is admitting when they’re wrong, when they’re weak, and when they need to rest and let others run the show until they feel strong enough again. A good leader surrounds themselves with people who are fully capable of acting in their stead so that if the leader does decide to take a backseat for a while, everything won’t fall to pot because they aren’t micromanaging everything. Nasuada is not a good leader, based on this criteria alone.

 

Anyway, Eragon asks if she’s sick, she says no, but her arms hurt like hell and it’s taking her longer to heal than she anticipated. Well, no shit. You had Angela put dirty bandages back on clean poultice. And assuming she’s getting regular bandage changes, her weakness is definitely coming from blood loss and the fact that her organs were starved for nutrients for a long, long time. Because, if you remember, Nasuada went straight from the Trial to rushing to meet Saphira. The only thing she did was slip into unconsciousness and freak out her handmaiden and Jordy. She never ate. She never drank. She never did anything to mitigate the trauma to her system. Eragon asks if she wants him to heal her, but she cuts him off and says no and says the rule of the Trial is that wounds have to heal at their own pace without magic, because if they don’t, then the participant is disqualified. Because they haven’t endured the “full measure of pain”.

 

So are these people closet masochists?

 

Eragon says it’s barbaric but Nasuada just smiles (so yes, closet masochist) and says it is what it is, and she isn’t going to fail because she can’t withstand a bit of pain. Eragon wonders what she’ll do if the wounds get infected, and Nasuada says then they do, oh well. Buut... they won’t because Angela is taking care of her. Yeah. The person who put dirty bandages on clean wounds. That can’t possibly go wrong. (And it doesn’t. Because reasons.)

 

Saphira, who had been so still she appeared asleep, now yawned—nearly touching the floor and the ceiling with the tips of her open jaws—and shook her head and neck, sending the flecks of light reflected by her scales spinning about the tent with dizzying speed. 

 

Jesus, can she unhinge her jaw like a snake or something? Or is the tent just that small? Also, I seriously don’t know why dragons have to fucking sparkle. Dragons do not sparkle. That is a very good way to starve, because their prey can see them coming and flee. Seriously, how could this be a great survival adaptation? If the dragons don’t starve to death because their prey escaped because of the sparkle warning, then some enterprising human is going to see if they can’t kill a dragon and take the hide so they can sell it. They’ll pass off dragon scales as gemstones. They can make leather out of the hide. This is such a bad idea, I can’t even begin to describe how stupid it is.

 

Straightening in her seat, Nasuada said, “Ah, I am sorry. I know this has been tedious. You have both been very patient. Thank you.

 

Eragon knelt and placed his right hand over hers. “You do not need to worry about me, Nasuada. I know my duty. I have never aspired to rule; that is not my destiny. And if ever I am offered the chance to sit upon a throne, I shall refuse and see that it goes to someone who is better suited than I to lead our race.” 

 

I mean, he’s not wrong. His destiny isn’t to rule as a king. No, his destiny is to fuck up other people’s lives and then run away to some unknown place, build the Academy (no, literally, that’s what it’s called) and then rule over the dragon Riders to come that are supposed to finish their training with him. He’s the leader of the entire order at this point because. Just because. He doesn’t qualify, he hasn’t even completed his own training, but hey, that’s just a Mary Sue for you, I guess. 

 

“You are a good person, Eragon,” murmured Nasuada, and pressed his hand between hers. Then she chuckled. “What with you, Roran, and Murtagh, I seem to spend most of my time worrying about members of your family.” 

 

I suppose since she mentions Murtagh here, you can construe it as her having feelings for him, but it’s a shot in the dark while blindfolded. The way that she’s holding Eragon’s hand again suggests she has some romantic feelings for him, too, because generally this kind of handholding doesn’t take place between two people who don’t have feelings for each other. It’s usually reserved for lovers and comforting dying loved ones, not just random touching. Besides that, she’s his liegelord right? He’s being kind of forward putting his hand on hers. It’s kind of inappropriate. Of course, she responds in kind, so it’s definitely easy to see why some people thought Paolini switched gears and was going to have Eragon paired up with Nasuada instead of Arya. It would still fit the prophecy - Nasuada becomes queen, and therefore is of noble birth (or already of noble birth, we don’t know), but because he’s a Rider and immortal and she’s not, beyond the fact that she becomes a queen and has certain responsibilities and he’s a Rider and has certain responsibilities, some of which might even contradict one another, their love is doomed. She’ll never be attainable for him. Which, admittedly, would’ve made for a better love story than forcibly putting Eragon with Arya.

 

Eragon gets pissed that Nasuada used his name and Murtagh’s in the same sentence, and Nasuada’s like forgive me, I didn’t mean to, but you have to admit that the three of you seem to get in a lot of trouble. Then Eragon makes a joke that it’s a talent of theirs, so apparently he’s not that pissed about Murtagh being related to him. Saphira mentions something about trouble running in their blood, and then mentions how everyone from Palancar Valley is psycho because they’ve descended from “a mad king”. Nasuada says they aren’t “mad themselves” or at least, she doesn’t think so, but it’s really hard to tell sometimes. No, no it’s not. Eragon isn’t “mad” (god I hate that this word is used so flippantly in this story); Eragon is sociopathic. There’s a vast difference between the two mental states. Nasuada continues by wondering who would survive if the three of them entered a room and only one could leave. Eragon says it’s definitely Roran because he won’t allow anything to stand between him and Katrina.

 

Haha, we all know Eragon would walk out of there. Because he’s a self-insert and therefore can’t lose, die, or otherwise experience anything negative.

 

Nasuada’s smile is described as “slightly strained” - because she knows what Roran asked of her, and she doesn’t like being reminded of it, I guess, because it’s not what she wants - and then says something about how the day is almost gone and she’s here wasting time having a fun conversation with him. Eragon doesn’t give a shit. Nasuada says yeah, well, there are better places for talks like this, and she says Eragon would probably like a bath, new clothes, and something to eat. Eragon makes a point of looking at the apple he managed to snag and decides that it would be impolite to eat it now because Nasuada’s about to dismiss him from her presence. Nasuada catches him looking wistfully at that apple, so she dismisses him and tells him to go get a bath, dress in his “finest tunic” and meet her for her evening meal. She warns him that he won’t be her only guest because she has a pack of starving hyenas vying with each other for her attention, but she’d feel better if he was there. Eragon doesn’t like the idea of being surrounded by said starving hyenas, but he can’t deny Nasuada because she’s his liegelord, and a suggestion is as good as an order I guess, so he bows and agrees to join her.

 

Because apparently Eragon just can’t say no.

Comments

[epistler]

Also, I don’t know why these dragons glitter like this, other than Because It’s Cool?

I don't get it either. As you pointed out, it's a huge non-survival trait. I'm surprised she doesn't keep accidentally blinding people.

First of all, where are all these people from? Who are they? Why are they here? Are they camp followers? Are they noblemen who joined the Varden and are on Nasuada’s council?

And then they all disappear forever after this scene anyway, rendering the whole thing moot.

Her voice cold, Nasuada said, “You assume too much . . . Your Majesty.

Note how she tacks on the "Your Majesty" like it's an afterthought. I'm definitely going with "arrogant bitch" on this one.

You know, that one line “a strange laugh escaped Orrin then, and his mouth twisted in a humorless smile” just screams “Orrin is afraid of Eragon”.

That was the impression I got too, which is why in Sword and Shadow I wrote him as going back to his old self and getting his confidence back the moment Eragon was out of the picture. Because he was now no longer living in constant fear of the little monster.

“You are a good person, Eragon,” murmured Nasuada, and pressed his hand between hers.

HAHAHAHAHAHAH. Yes, that's right - a "good person" who snapped a teenager's neck in cold blood and then refused to accept any responsibility for it. What are you even basing this on, Nausea?