Brisingr

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2008

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Chapters 16-18

Chapter 16 Summary: “A Feast with Friends”

In his tent, Eragon pulls a parcel from beneath his cot and unwraps the remains of Murtagh’s sword, which he had gone back to the battlefield for the next day after Murtagh had taken possession of Zar’roc. Eragon composes a spell to put the sword back together, but determines it is not the sword for him; he puts it back under the cot in pieces. Nasuada walks with him back through the tents, and Eragon finds himself surprised to have made a strong female friend. Though they approach a tent on the pretense of more politics, Eragon is actually greeted by a surprise party with all of his friends; before Nasuada leaves, she and Eragon discuss the curse put on Elva that made her the way she is. Eragon must set it right, but Nasuada benefits from Elva staying the way she is. They determine to ask Elva whether she will continue to serve Nasuada or be rid of her curse the next morning in an early meeting.

At the party, Roran tries to pry once more into what really happened in the mountains, but eventually agrees to respect Eragon’s privacy. He has another request—that Eragon officiate Katrina and Roran’s marriage. He agrees to marry them the day after tomorrow; they reveal their urgency is due to Katrina being pregnant. When he sleeps that night, Eragon dreams of a young girl singing in the middle of a court.

Chapter 17 Summary: “Intersecting Sagas”

Before his meeting with Nasuada the following morning, Eragon is asked to heal a woman with a tumor; others look to him for similar fixes. Saphira and Eragon stumble upon Angela casting dragon bones for a traveling duo, a woman with scarred wrists as from manacles and a young woman with pronounced, well-muscled forearms. Angela requests Eragon bless the pair, which proves difficult with the older woman, as she has trouble accepting Eragon’s palm on her forehead. The blessing takes far more energy than Eragon expected, and he almost faints as a result. He and the young woman have a much easier time. Saphira blesses them as well, referring to them as “Wild Ones” and the grown woman as “Wolf-Eyes;” likewise, Angela calls her “Bladesinger” before they depart.

Walking with Angela to the pavilion, Eragon tells her about Tenga, the old spellcaster he encountered in the ruins. Solembum does not like him; Angela was his apprentice for “an unfortunate number of years” (260) and his mission has always been to answer the impossible questions.

Chapter 18 Summary: “Making Amends”

Nasuada speaks to Elva openly about her abilities and their value to the Varden, hoping to persuade her to release Eragon from his oath to undo the blessing. Elva’s suffering is too great, and she refuses. Eragon begins with the removal from a place of uncertainty; he botched the initial casting, and this is more difficult. There are two methods, and the one Eragon begins requires Elva to provide some of her energy while Eragon recites the counterspell; despite his preparedness, Saphira hangs close in case of any mishaps she may be able to predict.

After the counterspell has taken effect, Elva can still feel the pain of everyone around her; Eragon begins to create a dangerous pain blocker, but Elva realizes she can now ignore the urges and has some control over her power. Now, the pain is her choice, not something forced upon her. Eragon and the others soon discern the danger in her new freedom. When Eragon attempts a quick modification, she stops him, saying any attempts to bind her power now would be evil. After declaring her lifetime service to Saphira, she claims all others to be equal and neutral. Angela complains that it will be her job to teach Elva how to behave for the next ten years.

Chapters 16-18 Analysis

These chapters dwell on the importance of boundaries and privacy in several ways. Early in Chapter 16, Eragon takes care to make sure he is not being watched when he takes out Murtagh’s sword; it is clearly not public knowledge that he took it from the battlefield, nor that he keeps it under his cot. Nasuada and Eragon discuss Elva’s rights to ask Eragon for the removal of his curse (he gave Elva her powers); she is more valuable to Nasuada with her curse, but knowing she is in pain and has every right to get it removed makes things complicated. The secret of Katrina’s pregnancy is revealed to Eragon. Eragon chooses to inform Blödhgarm before he and Saphira go for a flight, recognizing this is for their own protection. In Chapter 17, Eragon has difficulty blessing a woman because she is mentally blocked and does not want him to place his palm on her forehead, and the reader assumes this is because she is hiding something she would rather Eragon not know.

In Chapter 18, Eragon refers to Elva as a “monster” after she has been stripped of his curse. Thus far in the narrative, Ra’zacs and Urgals have also been referred to as monsters. The use of this label on a child stripped of her youth by the very same person who removed her innocence appears callous and hypocritical. Paolini stretches her portrayal this far to show how uncomfortable her freedom makes Eragon feel; her limitless power scares him, as she is unpredictable and is now operating autonomously, outside of his control. Eragon likes to have a tight grip on things, and revels in his own abilities and those of Saphira. In the future, Elva may choose to serve Galbatorix over the Varden, or may choose not to assist anyone at all. This is her choice to make now, and having a choice doesn’t make her a monster.