Authors Note: This is the new story that I mentioned in my bio. Until I can figure out how I am going to fix Eragon Reborn, this new story will be my main focus. It takes place post Inheritance and is the continuation of Eragons journey. That is the only hint I will give.
This story uses the Characters from The Inheritance Cycle, Christopher Paolini is the copy write owner. I do not Own the Inheritance Cycle.
Chapter 1
A New Yearning
The Talíta sailed on through the sea as it was smashed with small waves that continuously rocked the massive craft from side to side, up and down. With only a slight wind, the boat moved at a steady pace, inching forwards deeper into the heart of foreign waters. The ocean itself was as blue as the sky, many new creatures could be seen every once in a while as they surfaced for air, or for other reasons yet unknown.
One month had passed since Eragon had left Alagaësia. One month had it been since he had seen his love, Arya, his cousin, and half-brother. He leaned on the extravagant crafted railings from the bridge and looked out at the blue waters. His mind wasn't focused on anything in particular, he was too captured and interested at how no matter the distance they traveled with in a period of time, the horizon never faltered but only revealed more water. For the past month they had sailed with no land in sight.
How much longer are we to continue to see water and not a spec of land, he grumbled to himself.
As he stared off into the blue abyss, bright scales with a sapphire color caught his attention from his left. He turned to the main deck of the ship and smiled to find his closest companion lying on it, maybe even sunbathing. With her wings folded in, her beautiful diamond shaped scales shining brightly from the sun's rays and her massive sapphire head lying on her fore arms, her tail curled up snugly around beside her left flank. Her eyes were shut tight and her blue belly rising slowly up and down, it was clear she was indeed sleeping.
Hmm, why is Saphira resting on such a good day to fly? He questioned. Around this very time of day, Eragon and Saphira fly. It was really just a time to themselves, away from the ship. Flying was their only way of escape from the world now. Eragon locked his eyes on her form and cast his mind out to her.
Saphira, are you awake?He asked.
I am little one.Her voice was calm, but there was something else to it.
Her tone was normal, but there was almost a hint of sorrow from within it. Eragon had quickly made the connection, but before he could ask what was wrong, her mind seemed to brighten up just a bit, pushing away any heartache she was feeling and sealed it with a tight and powerful wall in that area of her mind; enough to confuse him on why she was hiding her emotions from him. Their deep bond allowed them to share their feelings with each other, if one was having trouble, the other would feel it. Now being a little curious, Eragon started to move from his spot on the bridge and began to walk down towards his resting dragoness.
Saphira, are you alright? Eragon asked openly, but did not want to offend her in anyway.
Saphira's eyes opened at his question and her head rose to face him as he drew closer to her. Why do you ask?She asked.
You seemed to be afflicted with something before I first contacted you. I don't want you to hide things from me just as you do not want me to. So I ask you, what is it that is bothering you?Eragon asked as he came within an arm's length of her maw.
Saphira's massive jaws opened up in a mock yawn that almost seemed strained. Perhaps I am just tired, little one. We have been on this ship for a month now and it seems that our destination will not be in our reach for several more months to come.
She was right. Finding a new home to raise the dragon eggs and build a new Vroengard did seem to be so far away. But then again, being the two eternal entities that they are, they had plenty of time to find new lands and establish new schools for riders of all kinds. It was just getting there that seemed to be a problem. But as Eragon studied Saphira's eyes, they said otherwise. Her eyes showed a hidden pain that was piercing through that stoic draconic face and those beautiful sapphire jewels of hers, but maybe it was her pride that was forcing her to hide it from him. Dragons, especially Saphira, were definitely more prideful then all of the races of Alagaësia put together. Trying to figure out what made up their true nature and feelings was still a mystery to him. Seeing as she was not about to tell him at the moment, Eragon decided to drop the subject and instead decided to focus on cheering her up, even if she was not willing to admit that she was in misery.
Well, perhaps would you like to stretch your wings and fly with me for a little bit. Eragon asked, trying to heighten her spirit.
Perhaps later, little one, I am just trying to rest and sunbathe right now.Saphira answered. Then she laid her head back on her fore arms, turned it away from him and closed her eyes.
Eragon felt his mind being pushed away and so released his own consciousness from hers. He walked around to face her again, patted her scaled cheek and rubbed along her snout. Saphira pushed slightly into his touch, trying to get her fill of the little act of affection that was appropriate between rider and dragon. After only a few minutes of coddling her, Eragon turned and walked away towards his own sleeping quarters. As he passed through the door opening, he could feel Saphira's gaze follow him. Once he was below deck he felt her return to her resting position.
What is she hiding from me?He wondered as walked down the halls and corridors before finally entering his room, the second biggest on the entire ship, with a medium sized bed covered in a few blankets for colder nights. A small book shelf was to the right of the bed and contained all of his belongings such as his sword, Brisingr, a few books of the elven epic tales, a wash bowl for shaving, and a mirror. At the foot of the bed lay a small chest where all of his clothing was stored. Eragon flopped on the bed, put his hands behind his head and began to try and continue to determine why Saphira was not feeling well. A small ache started to build in his stomach; he hated to see her like she was. She was hiding from him.
Only once or twice had Eragon ever seen her hurting, once when Glaedr had rejected her, and also when he could feel the raw emotions she had when she believed that she would never find a mate. He had done his very best to comfort her and tried to tell her otherwise. She always seemed to feel better after he conversed with her. But it was when she had seen Fírnen for the first time that Eragon could feel Saphira's mood sky rocket to the top. She was full of pure joy knowing that she was fated to be with someone and that someone was Fírnen. She had fallen for him within the hours that Eragon had conversed with Arya, also finding love.
But now they were so far away from both of the people they loved and deeply cared about. Eragon could sympathize with Saphira. Some days where definitely harder than others, knowing that Arya remained in Alagaësia to be the queen of the elven people. It sometimes was too much for him to handle and he almost wanted to turn right around and sail back to her; sail back to the place he could call home. Saphira was probably feeling much of the same about Fírnen as he did about Arya. Only Saphira and Fírnen had mated, forming a powerful bond that could almost match his own bond with Arya. And then she had to leave him to travel with Eragon on a new journey.
Maybe that is why she is hiding her feelings from me. She wants to return to Alagaësia, but knows that we can't, at least not until we rebuild what the Riders have lost. That must be what is eating her up inside.Eragon concluded.
Just thinking about Arya had brought an ache to his stomach. He stretched out on the bed and got more comfortable. For the first time in a while, Eragon closed his tired eyes and fell asleep; it was also the first time that he began to dream again.
Saphira lied on the deck as Eragon left her to be alone. She returned to her lounging and tried to get some rest. For the past several days and nights she could not sleep. A pain that she had thought gone forever had returned and it seemed to want to drag her down as far as it could into the abyss of pain. She was alone once again. Eragon had been her refuge for her loneliness for the longest times. But then there was Fírnen, that magnificent emerald dragon that had confessed his love for her and in the end they became what she always wanted, mates.
But as fate would have it, Saphira had hoped with all of her draconic might that she would become gravid and produce her and her mate's young. But it had failed. Fírnen must have been too young; a dragoness was able to see signs of eggs growing within their womb from the bulging of their stomachs. Saphira had been happy for a week knowing that she could become a dam at any time. As the days continued to pass aboard the Talíta, her stomach had slightly grown, but it was from not being able to fully exercise all of her limbs on this ship.
By the time she had realized that she wasn't gravid, her pain had already returned. Today was the first day Eragon had noticed her affliction, but for the fear of embarrassment of telling him that she was not going to become a mother, she had hid from him and pushed him away, causing it to hurt even more. She knew that Eragon would try his best to comfort her like he had done in the past, but this was something that he could not fix no matter how much he would try. It was next to impossible for her to become pregnant, and Fírnen was probably halfway around the world by now. If an egg hatched and produced a male, she could not accept him as her mate anyway. Dragons mated for life. And even if she was willing to look past her ancestral laws, and accepted an even younger male than Fírnen was, would he accept her. She would be much older and wiser than the male would be. Saphira finally came to the conclusion that indeed she was alone.
Why, why have I been plagued to forever be alone?Saphira cried to herself.
There was too much stress on all of the possibilities that could or would happen, and Saphira was not willing to try anything. All she could do now was live her life as a surrogate mother for the future hatchlings and teaching new Riders the ways of riding their dragon. She would live her life alone, though she still had Eragon. For now, she could not just focus on her own problems. Eragon needed her for his support as well. With the daily maintenance of the ship, sparring, and a few routine flights around the ship, by the time the day was over he was physically exhausted and it was her responsibility to make sure he was dressed in clean clothes, and ate nutritious meals that would give him the energy he needed.
Stretching out her limbs Saphira decided that she, again, could not simply lie and rest. She looked over the deck and bridges to see if Eragon had returned. When she could not see him, she looked out at the sea; it was just as blue as she was. The sea was a perfect environment blending in and capturing unsuspecting fish that would fill her belly. As Saphira thought about hunting, her blue stomach began to rumble for food. Taking carful steps to stretch out her wings, muscular limbs, and tail, Saphira trotted over to the edge of the boat and dove off into the deep.
I will most certainly have a good meal.She thought as she swam deeper into the unknown void that was the ocean.
Using her wings to push her forwards, Saphira moved very quickly within the crystal clear liquid. Swimming in such an open sea was just like flying. She used her tail to maneuver and opened her jaws up for any misfortunate fish passing by. Anything that escaped her maw was caught with her fore talons.
Being in the water gave her a sense of freedom which slightly eased her sorrow. Each fish was a morsel that could take her mind off of things, off of Fírnen, and off of Eragon, for a short time.
After eating her fill, Saphira surfaced and returned to the Talíta. She returned to her usual place on the main deck, curled back up and tried to find sleep again.
Far off in the distance, storm clouds were drawing near. Their blackened and puffy forms were growing higher and were becoming a danger to everything that was in its path. Something was inside those clouds. A thunderous boom could be heard from inside, a burst of light that did not break through them shone bright enough that a deformed draconic shape could be seen weaving around inside. As the light dissipated, the energy was transferred to the clouds and increased the size of the already enormous thunder heads.
The unsuspecting Talíta was right in the very path of this nightmarish storm. It was a nightmare and it was only beginning for Eragon, Saphira, and their traveling companions.
