I received an email recently from Jackson with the question
about what Blagden meant when he said that Eragon was just like his father, the
quote is in Eldest-Visions Near and Far pg 546, “Son and father alike, both
as blind as bats”. My response was that I think that he was talking about
how Brom was blind to Morgan’s faults and finally Morzan wound up betraying him
and the other riders…sorta the same thing with Eragon. He doesn’t see any of
the faults of Murtagh. Even though he believes that Murtagh is dead, Murtagh
does in fact come back and betray him whether it’s willingly or not.
So that email got me to thinking, what other messages have
been given to Eragon to help him find his path?
Blagden:
Something that interests me about Blagden is the way the he
keeps saying “Wyrda” almost every time he sees Eragon, he’s always
yelling “Wyrda or Fate” at him. I mean, he has a bigger vocabulary so why “Wyrda”?
At first I thought that it was random and didn’t give it much thought…but then
the more he appeared and repeated himself, I started to take notice. No, CP
wouldn’t do that, he wouldn’t put something so random in, and especially since
Arya had said to pay attention to Blagden if he were to come to Eragon, he
should take notice as should we. I found several instances where Blagden
shrieked Wyrda at Eragon and I decided to take a look at what was going on at
the time.
The 1st time Eragon is introduced to Islanzadi
and Blagden is with her, he says “Wyrda” to Eragon, so what is fateful
about this encounter. Ok, maybe it’s just a statement of fact at this point,
Eragon or the next rider would be destined to come to Ellesmera to get the
proper rider training, simple right?
Then in Eldest-Under the Menoa Tree pg 306 Arya is telling
Eragon and Saphira about the story of the Menoa Tree and how it came to be.
Blagden flies to join them and shrieks his normal “Wyrda”. Is he
referring to Eragon being fated to get a new weapon under the Menoa tree or does
he mean that Arya and Eragon are fated? Could be both, but I think he was
referring to Arya and Eragon because he says it again at the end of pg 310, as
Eragon is talking to Arya, “No he said. No, I appreciate the company and the
things you’ve shown me. He smiled at her, and after a moment, she smiled back.
Together they sat small and still at the base of the ancient tree and watched
the moon arch high over the peaceful forest before it hid behind the gathering
clouds. I only wonder what will become of the child. High above their heads,
Blagden ruffled his bone-white feathers and shrieked, Wyrda!” This last
Wyrda could also refer to something yet to come and having to do with Elva also.
The next item that I think is relevant is when he comes in
the window when Eragon is reading scrolls in Eldest, Visions Near and Far pg
545, Blagden flies through the window croaking “Wyrda” which inclines Eragon to
say, “And may the stars watch over you, Master Blagden”, this time he had
more to say than just his normal Wyrda…“By beak and bone, mine blackened
stone, sees rock and crooks and bloody brooks!” I believe that Blagden is
referring to the coming battle at the burning plains. This is when the whole
sentence that started this essay came into play. He had to repeat this phrase
twice which irritated him alittle because Eragon still didn’t understand what he
was trying to say, thus the “Son and father alike, both blind as bats”.
See Blagden was trying to warn him about the upcoming battle AND
about Murtagh.
Another riddle from Blagden I believe tells Eragon about
his parents. In Eldest-also in Visions Near and Far, pg 546,
“While two may
share two, And one of two is certainly one, One might be two.”
·While two may share two, What two are there? Well, we know for
certain that there are 2 brothers, Eragon and Murtagh, and since I have
previously stated that I believe Brom is Eragon’s father and Morzan is Murtagh’s
father, the 2 may share 2 phrase can refer to both sets of men listed here (the
2 brothers and the 2 fathers).
·Next line, One of two is certainly one, I think this one is very
clear…it means that one mother of 2 children is one person, or there are 2
children and she is the mother to both (Eragon and Murtagh).
·Next line, One might be two I believe means that this one mother
of 2 children is also the lover to 2 different men refers back to the 1st
line. Again stating that the 2 sons have different fathers.
Solembum:
He’s alittle more straightforward with his messages for
Eragon. In Eragon, -The Witch and the Werecat-pg 206 “Listen closely and I
will tell you two things. When the time comes and you need a weapon, look under
the roots of the Menoa tree. Then when all seems lost and your power is
insufficient, go to the rock of Kuthian and speak your name to open the Vault of
Souls”. The first part of this is easy enough, we know that Murtagh took
Zar’roc from Eragon and so he is now without a weapon. So what weapon will he
find under the Menoa tree? I’m glad you asked…I believe that he will find
Brom’s sword there waiting for him. Remember we were told that Brom had
requested another sword when his was lost…I think that Eragon will find
Brom’s sword is buried at the foot of the Menoa Tree waiting for him as his
inheritance.
What about the second part? That’s alittle tougher.
Eragon told Arya about Solebum’s message and she couldn’t recall where the Rock
of Kuthian was. But, we also know that the elves renamed many of the places in
Alagaesia so I’m just gonna take a stab at it and say that I think the Rock of
Kuthian is in Farthen Dur.
It seemed alittle odd to me at the time, when I read about
Hrothgar’s asking Eragon to join Durgrimst Ingeitum. I mean, there would’ve
been other ways to honor Eragon, other ways to gain his allegiance without
making him a part of his clan. So why go this far? In Eldest-Hrothgar’s Gift,
pg 78,”He looked back at Orik, who was waiting anxiously, How often has then
been done? For a human? Never. Hrothgar argued with the Ingeitum families for
a day and a night before they agreed to accept you. If you consent to bear our
crest, you will have full rights as clan member. You may attend our councils
and give voice on every issue. And, he grew very somber, if you so wish, you
will have the right to be buried with our dead”.
Buried with our dead…humm, interesting.
Now remember at Ajihad’s funeral, Eldest – Requiem pg 56,
“When the tunnel ended, Ajihad’s bearers paused between the onyx pillars
before gliding into the central chamber. There Eragon saw the dwarves grow even
more solemn upon beholding Isidar Mithrim. Boom. They walked through a crystal
graveyard.” Continued on page 57, “And with that final crescendo, they halted
under ribbed stalactites that branched over a great catacomb lined with
alcoves. In each alcove lay a tomb carved with a name and clan crest.
Thousands-hundreds of thousands-were buried here.” Still in Eldest-Celbedeil,
pg 116, “This said Gannel, finishing the last of his ale, leads to our most
important rite, which I know Orik has discussed with you…All dwarves must be
buried in stone, else our spirits will never join Helzvog in his hall. We are
not of earth, air, or fire but of stone.”
Dwarves are of stone, they believe in Gods and the
hereafter so is it such a stretch to think that their souls would remain within
their stone vaults/tombs? I don’t think they believe their souls will travel to
some great beyond; they want to get to Helzvog’s hall. So bottom line, where do
I think it is? I believe the Rock of Kuthian is Isidar Mithrim because it sets
outside of the dwarf catacombs, an entryway if you will to their final resting
place. And now as part of their Clan, Eragon will be entitled to call on
them/dwarves, or enlist them for assistance whether they are living or dead to
his aide.
Dreams:
Eragon calls it a dream, but is it really? It wasn’t
scrying because he had never seen Arya, but was able to “SEE” her as a captive
of Durza. There are 3 instances of foresight that should be addressed. One
played itself out in Eldest as Eragon “SEES” men on a battlefield with gold and
red all around, and then we know about the battle at the burning plains.
There was another where he SAW Arya although he didn’t know
who she was, but he was pulled to her. He wanted to search for her in every
dungeon along the way. And the 3rd is when Eragon has the vision of
the group of people leaving on a ship with 2 dragons flying overhead.
What do these all have in common? He did fight in battle
at the burning plains and he did in fact find Arya and save her….(Where is
Blagden when you need him? …..WYRDA!!!) I think that Eragon is glimpsing
his “Wyrda”, his fate.
Angela has already told him in Eragon-The Witch and the
Werecat pg 204, “Look closely at this bone. You can see how its end rests on
that of a sailing ship. That is impossible to misunderstand. Your fate will be
to leave this land forever. Where you will end up I know not, but you will
never again stand in Alagaesia. This is inescapable. It will come to pass even
if you try to avoid it”. So it would seem logical to guess that his other
premonition will come true also.
