Shoutout to JefferyCayson, who as you all may know became the 100th voter and has also earned this dedication! Thanks for the well-needed push to continuing updating Destiny in a somewhat consistent manner - and go Dew! (:)

Chapter 7

A tense silence followed Niom’s words, but it was finally broken as Tristan cleared his throat. "Well, I cannae say I am pleased by yer imminent departure, but let us have fun for the remainder of yer stay, eh?" Most of the assembly nodded along in agreement, but Niaomi remained stiff. "Alrighty, I think it be time for the gifts, so me 'n' Mabel will give ye five ours first."

Reaching under the table, the satyr pulled out five small items. "These are for all o' ye: spelled for protection against some magical attacks like the twelve words o' deaths, and prevents anyone ye donnae ken from scryin' ye."

The children accepted their gifts, and opened the velvet encased boxes to find a single unornamented golden ring. Eragon recalled noticing one on Nia's finger, and glanced at the other Riders to see the rest also sported the rings on their right thumbs. Turning back to the mirror, he saw their past selves put the rings on where they lay today.

"Thanks, Uncle Tristan," Nate said with a wide smile, holding up his hand to admire the wide width. The rest also gave their thanks as well. Even Niaomi cheered up slightly, managing to give the satyr a small smile.

Błathr stepped forward next. Though my gifts have no magical property, they do have beauty. He raised a hoof above the ground, and the dirt rose to follow it's path. With a toss of his large head, the trêuräz beckoned the quintet over to peer inside the earthen tube.

The two yellow gold hair combs are for the twins, the bronze arm bracelets are for the boys, and the white gold ring is for Niaomi, the unicorn told them as they each pulled out their gifts. The twins' hair combs were fashioned in the shape of a elven horse, mirror images of one another; the boys' bracelets were shaped into leafy vines that wrapped around their upper arms and stretched with them as they put them on. And Nia's ring was the same one she wore on her right thumb now: a detailed dragon with diamond eyes.

It looks like my sister, Saphira said to Eragon. He heard the small emphasis she placed on the word "sister" and smiled.

It does...remarkably so, in fact, he replied, comparing the ring to the living dragon herself. It was as if Błathr had known exactly what Luminous would look like, which reminded him of one fact he'd forgotten. But, it no doubt helped that he knew what color Nia's dragon would be.

Point taken, the sapphire dragon responded, blinking her eyes shut a few times.

"They're beautiful," Ren whispered, holding her comb to up to the sun so the light could reflect on its metallic surface.

Błathr nodded. I'm glad you all like your gifts.

"Like them? We love them," her twin gushed excitedly, blue eyes sparkling. The others agreed, professing their appreciation.

Wayłoêr glided forward, her bright blue eyes shimmering. In her hands she held a rather large pouch. "I believe it is now my turn to bestow you with your gifts." As she spoke, she took out the five bronze mirrors that the quintet used today, including this very minute. "These mirrors are made of bronze that has rested in a naiad's body of water, which imbues the metal with the ability to allow magic users to scry things that they've never seen before. I enchanted them myself to grow or shrink with the touch of your mind and yours alone, as well as having them only work for you and you alone."

"This gift is amazing," Nick breathed as the naiad handed him one. He turned it, studying the intricate leaf patterns as he grinned with pleasure. "I'm honored to receive such a rare magical artifact."

"We all are," his sister added, her eyes bright and completely unshadowed once more.

"You are very welcome," Wayłoêr replied. "And I have an extra present for you, Nia, in keeping up with the theme of your surprise gifts."

Present-day Renata cut in briefly to explain, "Whoever's turn it was to be surprised that year usually received a special gift that kept a certain theme."

In the reminiscence, the naiad was reaching back into her bag and pulled out the beautiful circlet that adorned Niaomi's brow. "This is for you, my child; a seer's circlet with the five divine seeing-crystals: a ruby, an eclipse, an emerald, a moonstone, and a sapphire." The potamide set the circlet on the her head before extracting another gift from the sack. "And along with it comes the mirror ring, used in conjunction with the bracelet to focus your seer powers."

"T-thank you," she stuttered as Wayłoêr put the ring on her pinky. "B-but I don't have any seer powers."

"The time will come, my child. Has Skysong not been training you already?"

Nia looked down in embarrassment. "That is true. Thanks for the gift, Wayłoêr."

Smiling, the naiad stroked her pearl-encrusted hairpiece and replied, "Well, you did give me this beautiful hairpiece some years ago."

The girl stepped forward to give her friend a hug. "I did promise a gift to one beautiful potamide." Laughing in agreement, Wayłoêr squeezed her in return before stepping back to allow the next gift-givers to come forward.

Shwa and Hisera slithered to the five, raising their upper body so that their heads stood about five feet off the ground. Two pairs of glittering gold eyes viewed the children with amusement and affection.

Well done for having reached the sixteen cycle since your birth, Hisera hissed, tongue flickering as she spoke. As your celebrations dictate, we have created gifts for each one of you.

Shwa lifted the back of her tail, from which a coiled leather sack rested. Black anklets to ward of dark magic were made for Nicholas, Nathan, Rosaminda, and Renata.

Her usshu used her own tail to reach into the bag and give the anklets to the four, who thanked them both. And for the one-with-the-dragon-mark, a ring made of white and black magic that serves not only to strengthen your elemental control over light and dark but also to protect you from certain magical attacks.

Hisera slipped the ring which she spoke of from the pouch, and the two pearls glistened in the strands of the metal band. Niaomi accepted the gift reverently, carefully slipping it onto the same finger it rested on presently. "Thank you both for the beautiful and useful gift."

Shwa gently touched the girl's forehead with her snout. I'm proud of you, Nia. By the lack of change in facial expression of everyone else's face, Eragon assumed that the sundavrilnú had spoken to her privately.

Jeshindû and Elodiâ fluttered over from their place near Vanilor. Gedwëy, who'd been sitting quietly on her bondmate's head the whole time, perked up at their arrival.

"Nia, Nate, Nick, Ren, and Rose." Jeshindû hovered in front of their faces, gray hair tied back into a dignified ponytail. "Today is a day of celebration to mark the sixteenth passing of the date since your arrival into the world, and as per your custom my queen and I honor you five with a set of gifts."

The queen flew forward, trailing a gold dust that matched the gleam of her unbound hair. As Elodiâ named the gifts, she circled around each child's outstretched hand and the present materialized in it from her fairy dust. "A focus ring for Nicholas to help you concentrate your magic; a set of boot dirks for Nathan, imbued with a magical link so that they'll always return to your boots; a baldric for Rosaminda with an infinite set of brightsteel throwing stars; a pair of push dirks for Renata, spelled to strengthen your attacks; and finally, a pair of stiletto blades for Niaomi that double as hairsticks with a gold and onyx butterfly ornament."

Fingering her new weapons that presently were worn in her hair, Nia smiled at two fairies. "These are wonderful."

"Amazing craftsmanship," Nicholas muttered, slipping his ring onto the middle finger of his left hand where Eragon could see it still lay.

"The magic was done by my queen," Jeshindû said, gazing at her with adoration in his silver eyes.

Blushing slightly, Elodiâ smiled at the dragon fairy. "I would not have created the splendid idea if Jeshindû had not thought of it."

Niaomi looked at the two fairies thoughtfully as her brethren exclaimed their pleasure over the gifts. After they were done, Dew leapt forward, tail wagging in excitement. Alright, now it's our turn!