I have returned as I promised with the second installment, if you are new with the series I recommend that you read 'Just a farm boy' as this story won't make much sense without it.
Without anymore delays, I present Recovery.
'How many deaths were because of me?'
This was Eragon's prevalent thought as he wandered the quiet field strewn with the bodies of the Urgal army. During the battle he had given into a rage that had blinded him to these stray thoughts, but now seeing the mayhem that he had a hand in scared him. He knew he was changing, a look in the mirror showed that his face was not the one he remembered, but his temperament was what worried him. He felt a burning anger at the edge of his mind whenever he was confronted with the smallest of annoyances, when he was alone with his thoughts at night he wanted to do nothing but cry and curl up with Saphira. He feared what he was becoming.
'You are still my rider Eragon that will never change' Saphira told him when she sensed his unease through their bond, Eragon smiled at Saphira's sentiment.
Eragon was soon brought out of his mental conversation by Jörmmundur running towards him 'Eragon you must make your way to the western gate. Ajihad and his company will be returning today and he requested that you are present.'
The rider nodded and Jörmmundur rushed away, he looked towards Saphira who had finished her inspection of the Urgal corpses and they both started their trek towards the west gate, trying in vain to not listening to the wailing of widows finding their deceased partners. Throughout the journey Eragon tried to ignore the twitching in his back.
The scar he had received from Durza provided him no end of discomfort, the first time had successfully risen from his bed he had fallen to the ground writhing in a pain that could not be described. He would experience these seizures several more times, sometimes it would occur after he had stretched or moved his back, however there were times where the seizures would come with no warning. Angela had tried all types of mixtures and solutions in hopes of curing him of the terrible pain with little success, and Arya's magic provided just as useless.
Eventually Eragon arrived at the gate and he was greeted by Orik who he gave a nod to in return, the dwarves that were manning the timber gate eyed Saphira cautiously. Orik had told Eragon when he had come to visit him during his time in Angela's care that the dwarves held Saphira in low esteem, breaking their prize jewel was seen as more important to them than what aid Eragon and Saphira had brought in the defence of Tonjheim.
The elven diplomat Arya was also waiting for the return of Ajihad, as she caught the eyes of Eragon her own eyes softened slightly. Eragon insides squirmed under her gaze, he felt nervous and scared around Arya ever since she revealed that she had been in his mind and seen the abuse he had endured. He feared that Arya would you this knowledge for her own interests. He gave her a smile to which she ignored and returned to gazing at the tunnel beyond the gates. Eragon lent against Saphira as they waited for the return of Ajihad, he largely stayed silent preferring to converse with Saphira than the Dwarves.
'There here!' A dwarf exclaimed from the gate as he pointing towards a tunnel miles away, from the tunnel emerged a group of men helping up a similar number of dwarves. The group formed two columns and were led by a man with a familiar breastplate, it was Ajihad.
As the group closed in on the city Eragon noticed activity in the tunnel behind them. 'Those are Urgals!' Saphira roared, her rage burning across there link. Eragon didn't question her as he clambered onto her and she leapt into the air, staying low to ground and leaving dust clouds from the power of her wings. Eragon helplessly watched the swarm of Urgals emerge from the ground and engulf Ajihad group, not caring about the distance between them Eragon tried to find the right words to summon a similar ball of fire that Arya had used, yet when he went to utter the words he choked, his mind exploded with pain and a force paralysed his body, an all too familiar cackling echo through his thoughts. Eragon had just barely kept a grip on Saphira's saddle when he saw the Urgal forces retreating back into the tunnel and Ajihad's force scattered on the ground.
Saphira slammed into the ground next to the fallen soldiers and Eragon fell from her saddle, he didn't even feel the impact when he hit the floor, the pain engulfed all of his senses he could do naught but cry in agony as the caged spirit lapped up his misery.
'Eragon!' Saphira yelled as she pierced her way into his mind and grappled with Dazura, smashing her into the walls of Eragon's mind and back into her cage. The paralysis soon left Eragon but he was left with pain in his temples. He sat up to find himself under the watchful eye of Saphira.
'Are you well little one?' She inquired, knowing full well that her use of pet names set Eragon at peace.
'I'm fine, I just never want to experience that again' Eragon shuddered. This had been the first time since he had awoken that Dazura had attacked him. He hated how powerless it made him feel.
Saphira continued to stay close through their bond in a mental embrace as he rose from the ground, trying to keep his battered mind whole. Eragon inspected the fallen around him, trying to spot the leader of the Varden or Murtagh. His eyes soon fell on Ajihad's broken body and he rushed towards him after seeing his chest rise and fall.
'Eragon is that you?' the warrior croaked, his breathing shallow and faint.
'I am here Ajihad' he responded, there was nothing he could do for the man.
'Listen to me rider, not as a leader but as a dying man' Ajihad whispered 'you must keep the Varden alive, it is the only way to stop the Empire, the only way for my daughter to live a free life. Promise me you will keep the Varden strong'.
I will, you have my word'
'Thank you Eragon'
Ajihad closed his eyes, his breathing slowed and finally it stopped. The leader of the Varden had passed.
Saphira loosed a sombre moan as Eragon gazed across the corpses that littered the ground. How long could he keep doing this, watching people around him die while he lived?
He was brought out of his bitter musings by Arya's voice, 'Alas with his passing much strife will happen, the Varden could fracture if you are not careful. I will help you if I can'. Eragon couldn't respond with the lump of dread forming in his throat.
Saphira was nosing through the various bodies when she raised her head and spoke to her rider, 'Eragon while this attack was terrible you need to act, I cannot find the bodies of Murtagh and the twins there may be hope!'
Eragon jumped up at the news, maybe he could save them if he hurried, he rushed towards the tunnel only for his scar to send a shiver of pain through his back making him fall to his knees. Eragon's vision blurred slightly as he gazed at the ground, he soon felt strong hands on his arm and back lifting him up, 'what is it Eragon?' Arya asked softly as she gripped him tightly in case he fell again.
He caught his breath before responding 'Murtagh and the twins may have been taken by the Urgals into the tunnels'. Another twinge of pain flowed down his back making him gasp, he couldn't run let alone fight Urgals in his state. He turned to face the elf, 'Arya you need to find them, please' he begged.
Arya eyed Eragon carefully, weighing her options before letting go of him,' wiol ono' she whispered and then plunged herself into the tunnel.
Feeling humiliated Eragon sat watch over Ajihad's body while Saphira sat behind. Eragon couldn't grasp that Murtagh, his first friend was gone. It was true that they didn't agree on everything but Eragon owed Murtagh for saving him. Now Murtagh needed his help and Eragon had failed him.
Soon Orik appeared with a couple of his Dwarven brethren, seeing Ajihad's body Orik swore several Dwarvish curses and turned to Eragon.
'The hornet's hive has been kicked, the Varden will not see much peace after this. Tell me did you at least catch his last words?'
Eragon nodded 'I have but they shall only be repeated to those that deserve them'.
Understanding that Eragon wouldn't tell him Ajihad's dying words Orik took to crouching near Eragon, leaning on his axe that was buried in the corpse of one of the dead Urgals. Jörmmundur eventually arrived with a large troop of men, he positioned them in a protective circle around the dead before approaching his leader. He murmured his goodbyes to his friend, a tear dropping to the ground.
'Where is Arya?' Jörmmundur demanded harshly.
Eragon pointed towards the tunnel to which Jörmmundur swore and walked towards his troops. 'The human should watch his tone' Saphira growled in his mind.
Jörmmundur ordered some of his men to carry Ajihad on their shields and then he spoke to Eragon and Orik, 'Unfortunately Arya will have to deal with whatever she finds in the tunnels by herself, you two are needed until we can decide Ajihad's successor'. Orik looked like he would protest but he was silenced by a glare from Jörmmundur.
Jörmmundur turned to his troops again 'Look around you! Ajihad slew five Urgals, his death was that of a warrior's death. We will honour him by carrying him and our comrades to their rest and we hope that the spirits are given peace by our gods. Today is a day of sorrow, let your tears loose unashamed! '
The soldiers carrying Ajihad started to move towards Tonjheim. Eragon rose from his spot on the ground to join the procession and went to clamber up Saphira's back, his back flaring in protest. 'Eragon you are in no state to be doing this' Saphira pleaded as she felt the pain coming through their link.
'We have to Saphira, the Varden expects it of us'.
'They don't get a say' with that Saphira unfurled her wings and took to the skies, ignoring the protests of her rider and the men on the ground. The dragoness circled the group once before heading for the Dwarven city.
Author's note
I decided to change to Eragon's view point for a couple of reasons, the main one being that Arya is less present around Eragon in Eldest and writing her perspective was getting needlessly difficult. I hope the change didn't through people off too much.
Other than that I will try and get a new chapter posted every monday, so you have that to look forward to. As a bit of tease for next week's chapter I will be asking at the end of it if you agree with a pairing change, while I most likely won't change my mind about it I am open to suggestions against it, or ways you want the relationship to go. Until then have a nice week :)