Quick foot steps echoed along granite walls as a single dwarf raced toward two massive stone doors of great height and even greater width, the dwarf came to a hard stop, breathing heavy as he collected his thoughts,
"I miss my home. There, at least, the doors were only as big as a house. Here, they're as big as the Beors."
As he reached for the handle, which ran from floor to ceiling. He noticed the doors moved as easy as pulling or pushing a feather.
"Hmph. Magic..." he chuckled to himself.
The doors opened to a grand hall. The floors were of white marble, with pillars uniform to the floor every fifty feet. At their tops and bottoms were inlays of sapphire gemstones and fireless lanterns that shown a dull yellow hung as a reminder of his trips as young knurla to Farthen Dur. There was a runway which was a gift given by the elves. Garnet in color, it was embude with a lovely scent which made making the long walk toward its epicenter bearable.
At its end stood a throne with two Kull at its guard. Behind, lead to the grand balcony that overlooked the sparring grounds for riders, mages and castle guard alike. The throne itself was beautifully sculpted out of amber from the Menoa Tree. It was simple in appearance yet like no other in that in its back was installed an Eldunari. A soul gem that contained a dragon's heart of hearts. Gold and mysterious, it almost pulsated in response to the going ons around it. It's color was of no surprise because it had belonged to the elder dragon Gleadr, for he was ever present as ambassador to the dragons and counsellor to the one that sat upon the throne. He also lended the throne its unique ability. Through his strength, the chair would hover an inch off the ground and freely swivel to either direction toward the hall or courtyard below.
Finally making his way up to the two Kull guards, even though he himself was considered tall among his people, they towered in comparison to the dwarf's stature. The Kull to the left was larger and more docile than the one to the right, who was barring his teeth in clear annoyance at the dwarfs arrival.
The dwarf stood stroking his red beard with his burley hands,
"you know he doesn't need protecting, right?"
The Kull on the right struck his thulqna on his massive right arm as he shouted
"great honor is given to one who is trusted to defend the great."
From behind the chair a voice rang "Dânnrak, is that you I hear giving Kinn and Helkn a hard time?"
As the throne turned, there sat Eragon Kingkiller. His face looked no older than that of a young man 20 years of age, even though he had settled this land over 26 years ago, his features remained largely the same except for the pointing of his ears and the profile of eyes being more pronounced. He kept his face shaven at all times but let his hair grow down to his shoulders. He was garbed in a loose pale tunic with tanned bracers. Brisingr hung on his side. It's hilt shown with brilliancy and the blue gem on the end of his pommel reflected blue light at every angle he turned. He had on a dark tan cape with jewels on the ends and a belt with a blue gem lodged in the middle.
"Please uncle, call me Dan. And with as many dragons and elves running around, why the help?"
Helkn roared, "you challenge? I've eaten knurlra with thicker helmets!"
Kinn, the larger of the two placed a hand on Helkn's shoulder and grunt-laughed, "brother, your pride burns for nothing. Besides, Dan makes me laugh when he gets under your hide."
"Soon he will be under my horns." Said Helkn as he returned to his post.
"So any new reports from Alagaësia hatchlings? I'm assuming that's why you didn't show this morning for sparring... or was it the fresh mead the kitchen just barreled up last night that made you oversleep?" Said Eragon
"No... maybe. H-how did you know about that?" Asked Dan.
"I have a skrying mirror in my study... and your beard is matted and sticky looking from your prince-like table manners. Your father says, 'mine son needs to see the world, like the good Ol' days and become more like his uncle.' He even wants me to teach you elvish, you know. You're lucky your not a rider, nothing brings out responsibility like a proud, fire-breathing, eat whatever I want, heart companion. Most importantly, you wouldn't just be accountable to me, but to Saphira as well."
Dan's already red checks burned even hotter with embarrassment as he responded,
"Uh, No word on the eggs with the humans, so we may move them onto the elves, but the eggs that were on their way to the dwarfs just made it there so we'll see... Speaking of, where is Saphira?"
"And that's why you should wake up on time."
Eragon stood and turned toward the great balcony while inviting Dan to walk with him. "Saphira is dealing with two wild dragons that ganged up on Dimil, our newest rider. The wild dragons see it as a game, terrorizing untrained riders. And because wild dragons are far more proud and unpredictable, Saphira drove them out to the countryside before it got out of hand. She's still with them of course. She loves to remind the wild ones how fierce a riders dragon can be."
Dân shown a smirk under his messy beard. "There are not many dragons I like, but Saphira is special... which brings me to something I've been meaning to speak to you about."
"Oh?" Said Eragon.
"Why continue to send eggs to the dwarfs? I mean, we have never had an egg hatch for us or the urgals. Except for that one time when you thought it would be funny to send a wild dragon's egg to father's."
Eragon laughed, "Orik was so upset with me for that."
"Yes he was. But honestly, no dwarf desires a life in the sky and away from the ground. You should hear me out. I know what's good for my people and we don't need to be riders."
With a coy expression Eragon turned toward Dan, "so says a 19 year old prince, barley out of boyhood, who thinks just because they left their home, they're ready to take on the world... respectfully, of course."
Dan responded, "Ha, and how old were you again when you and Saphira left your home to do the same?... respectfully., of course"
A wave of amusement from what felt like a distant storm spread throughout the hall as Dan and the two Kull looked around not understanding its source and too confused to notice Eragon looking back at the throne with a smirk on his face.
"Glaedr seems to like your retort." Said Eragon.
Pointing his hammer toward the throne, Dan said, "you see, dragons don't make sense to a dwarf. How can a beast so big be eternally confined to a gem so small?"
Eragon responded, "dragons don't make sense to anyone."
"Even the elves?" Asked Dân
"Not even them" said Eragon.
"Now regarding the both dwarfs and urgals, I'm sure it took a while before the first dragon hatched for the humans after they were added to the spell of covenant. Maybe it'll happen this time for the dwarfs and the games for the urgals start soon so just maybe... which reminds me, i need someone to go to represent..."
The doors to the hall swung open as two elves and one human came walking in at a brisk pace.