Not Alone
By realixweatherfairy
Disclaimer: I do not own Eragon!
Character Introductions:
Alenanora(A-leen-uh-nora): Elf, female, silver blond hair, dark blue eyes, Dragon Rider, daughter of Oromis
Aleahdeen(A-lee-uh-dean): Alenanora's dragon, silver, female, double the size of Saphira
Chapter 1: The Other Rider
Eragon sat at Oromis' table, thinking about all that he had learned; Brom was his father. After watching the memory that Brom had left with Saphira and Oromis had brought out the soup and getting the information that he needed about Galbatorix, Oromis said, "Eragon, I know that you have a lot to think on at the moment, but I have one more secret that I must share with you."
"What is it, Master?" Eragon asked his eyes widening.
"You and I are not as alone as you once thought we were," Oromis said, "There is another Dragon Rider." Eragon's eyes went, if possible, even wider as Oromis continued, "Many years after Galbatorix defeated the Riders, but before you were born, a young elf, who was just as entranced by the history of the Riders as you were, happened upon a dragon egg that was hidden at the Stone of Broken Eggs; we do not know why the egg was hidden there, but it was, and the moment that the elf touched the egg, it began hatching. Frightened when the dragon inside bonded with them, the elf immediately came to me and told me everything; I, in turn, told Islanzadí, and began their training and finished just a few years before Saphira hatched for you, Eragon.
"But where have they been?" Eragon asked, perplexed that he wasn't as alone as he thought he had been and eager to meet this mysterious Rider.
"Once their training was finished, the dragon and her Rider both went into hiding until the time when they felt the need to reveal themselves to the Empire. Before you arrived, I sent a summons to their last known location. They should be on their way here as we speak," Oromis replied.
I am not the last; there is another female dragon, Saphira said.
"As is her Rider," Oromis said, "She is my daughter, Alenanora."
"A female Rider?" Eragon scoffed contemptuously.
"I would not underestimate Alenanora, Eragon; she is just as fierce in battle as any male elf, or Rider, before her. And just as deadly," Oromis scolded. Suddenly a gust of wind came from the east, making Eragon look in that direction to find a large silver dragon, whose scales threw rainbows when the light caught them, landing on the other side of Glaedr. Upon its back sat a female elf with silver blond hair. From the distance, he could tell that she was slender, but powerful. As she jumped down from her dragon's back and came toward them he could see that her slanted eyes were the same dark blue as Saphira's scales, and she wore clothes similar to Arya's, hers were a light green color. Her features were as beautiful as every other elf's but her lips, as red as a rose, were full and her hair was long and stopped at the bottom of her back and was loose as it blew wildly in the wind. Eragon was struck speechless by the beauty that stood before him. His eyes never left her form as she strode forward and greeted his masters.
Kneeling before Oromis' feet, the young woman said, in a voice that was quiet but sounded like a bell was chiming, "It has been a long time, Ebrithil."
"Yes, indeed, it has been a long time, Alenanora," Oromis replied as she turned her attention to Glaedr, and she said, "It is wonderful to see you again, Ebrithil," and Glaedr replied, Indeed, it is wonderful to see you again as well, hatchling, making her laugh. The silver dragon then bowed her head to both Oromis and Glaedr. Eragon and Saphira watched this exchange with wondrous eyes, keeping silent, feeling a little left out until the young elf, who looked to be around Eragon's age, turned to face him and said, "I am pleased to meet you, Saphira Brightscales, and you, Eragon Shadeslayer. I am Alenanora, Dragon Rider and daughter of Oromis, Togira Ikonka," and the silver dragon then said, And I am Aleahdeen Rainbowscales, daughter of Ophelia. Her chipper voice rang through their heads. At their expressions, Alenanora laughed and said, "Why, I'm surprised, from everything I've heard about you, Eragon, I honestly expected you to be a chatterbox!"
"It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Alenanora Svit-kona, and you as well, Aleahdeen," Eragon replied after a moment and Saphira said, I am pleased to meet another of my race, and I am pleased to meet you as well, Alenanora.
"Please, both of you can call me Alena (A-lee-nuh), almost everyone does," Alenanora replied while chuckling with a bright smile on her face, making he face light up.
I hope you don't think I am being rude, but why have you not revealed yourself until now? Saphira asked.
"You are not being rude, Saphira. I have not revealed myself for the same reasons that my father and Glaedr have not revealed themselves. I knew that if I wished to live in order to be of any help to the new Dragon Rider, I would have to make sure that Galbatorix knew nothing of my and Aleahdeen's existence. I have longed to make that traitor pay for his misdeeds against my people, against the Riders," Alenanora replied, "I also wished to reveal myself to the two of you, but at the time you first came here, it was still a risk that the knowledge might be stolen from your minds, no matter how strong your barriers are, and I did not wish the king to know about me just yet. It was a good thing that I didn't, if Murtagh were to find out about Aleahdeen and myself, then the king would have stormed Du Weldonvarden and sought us out. I hope you do not think that I am calling you weak, for I am not." Eragon shook his head, knowing that she was not trying to offend him.
A little while later, Eragon, Saphira, Alenanora, and Aleahdeen went to the Menoa tree to contemplate what the werecat, Solembum, might have meant about a weapon. While watching Eragon struggle while sitting among the Menoa tree's roots, Alenanora stood by another tree, shaking her head wistfully.
Eragon cannot see what is right in front of his nose, Alenanora said to Aleahdeen.
Do you know what they are looking for, Alena? Aleahdeen asked.
Indeed, I do.
Then why do you not tell him? Aleahdeen prompted.
Because this is something that Eragon must do alone. Though I do wish that he would hurry and figure it out; he's not the only one who could use a weapon, Alenanora replied.
The next day, another elf lead Alenanora, Aleahdeen, Eragon, and Saphira to the home of the elf family Valtharos, a family that Alenanora knew very well. Along the way, she told Eragon some of the history of the sword they were going to see, Támerlein. Once entering Lord Fiolr's home and resting eyes on the jade colored sword, Alenanora knew that neither she nor Eragon could have a hope of wielding the great blade; placing her hand on Eragon's shoulder, Alenanora turned to Fiolr and said, "Though Eragon and I both appreciate your hospitality, neither he nor I will be able to accept it. Fare thee well, Lord Fiolr," and the four of them left and went to see Rhunón. Along the way, Eragon and Saphira never noticed that Alenanora and Aleahdeen had left them.
"Ah, Shadeslayer, you are still alive, I see," Rhunón said as he approached her, "I heard that you lost Zar'roc to the son of Morzan."
"Indeed, I did," Eragon replied, gritting his teeth at the memory.
"Then, Zar'roc has found it's true owner, do not get me wrong, Shadeslayer, I would have preferred that you'd have kept Zar'roc, but it was not the right sword for you," Rhunón continued, "Where is Alenanora? I thought that she would have come with you." Eragon's eyes widened as he looked around for Alenanora, but could not find her or Aleahdeen.
"She's gone," he breathed.
"It's a gift of hers," Rhunón laughed, "Being able to disappear and reappear without being noticed. She is the most troublesome Rider I have ever met; not even Brom could match her love for mischief. I believe that if you wish to find her, Shadeslayer, then go to the Menoa tree, and there you will find her." Not saying a word, Eragon and Saphira quickly went to the Menoa tree, and just as Rhunón had said, Alenanora was sitting near the roots of the Menoa tree with Aleahdeen by her side. Approaching her quietly, Eragon said, "Alena," but she stood up without saying a word and placed her hand against the bark of the Menoa tree and he could hear her words in his head, as Aleahdeen and Saphira could, Menoa tree, Great Mother of the Forest, please, hear me. I, Alenanora, a Dragon Rider, beg you for your aid!
Eragon did not expect that the Menoa tree to respond, but the earth shook beneath his feet as the Menoa tree's roots came up out of it and a soft voice said, And what is it that you ask of me, Alenanora, Child of the Earth?
Great Mother, for so many years a great and terrible war has raged on; the foe the very man who destroyed my fellow Riders so many years ago, and if he is victorious, he will destroy everything that we hold dear. Eragon, my father, and I are the last of the free Riders who can stop him, but Eragon and I have no weapon with which to fight. So, please, Great Mother, may we have the ore of brightsteel that is hidden beneath your roots? Alenanora pleaded. The earth shook again as the Menoa tree shifted its roots to bring up a round lump of metal and the roots pushed it into Alenanora's arms and the soft voice said, Take it, Child of the Earth, and go, go and destroy your foe. And the tree returned to its original position.
Alenanora sighed in relief as she turned to face Eragon, who asked, "What is that?" indicating the lump that Alenanora cradled in her arms. She laughed and said, "Do you really think that Rhunón-elda used regular old metal to make a Rider's sword? A very long time ago, while Rhunón-elda was traveling through the forest, she came upon the debris of a meteor and took the ore that was there and created what she called brightsteel and used that to create the Rider's swords. It's very rare and most difficult to find," and with that the four of them left the clearing and returned to Rhunón's house, where she greeted them with a surprised look on her face as she asked, "Where did you find that, Alenanora Svit-kona?" taking the ore into her arms. Alenanora shrugged and said, "The Menoa tree." Rhunón's tongue bristled when the younger elf refused to say anymore and she said, "Well, then, let us at it then! You both need a sword? Well, I shall give you both a sword the likes of which have never before been seen in Alagaësia!"
"But what of your oath?" Eragon asked.
"Think not of it for now; when must you return to the Varden?"
"We should have departed the day we arrived," Eragon replied. Rhunón bit her lip and said, "Then we shall have to hurry that which I don't normally hurry, and use magic to create that which would take weeks by hand. You, Brightscales, Alenanora, and Rainbowscales shall assist me." Though it was not a question, both Eragon and Alenanora nodded their heads in agreement and followed Rhunón in a grotto-like chamber and set to work.
It was around midnight when they finished both blades and Rhunón told them that she no longer needed them and that they must get some rest. Eragon protested, but Alenanora grabbed his hand and dragged him from the forge. In the moonlight, he could see her skin glow with a pale light, and could also tell that she was exhausted. She had worked on her own blade with no help from Rhunón, who, when asked, told him that though her oath forbade her from making swords herself, it did not mean that she could not teach another how. Looking at the hand that held his, Eragon blushed; her skin felt as soft as a bird's feather. Leading him into Rhunón's house, and closing the door, she said, "You may take the mattress, Eragon, I will sleep on the floor," and laid down before he could say a word. Sighing, he also laid down and was asleep not long after.
You should wake, little one, the sun has risen and Rhunón grows impatient, Saphira said after what seemed like only an hour later. Eragon bolted upright at the sound of her voice. Getting up, he noticed that Alenanora was still soundly sleeping. Placing a hand on her shoulder and gently shaking it, Eragon said, "Alena, you must awaken. It is morning and Rhunón is waiting." Her eyes opened slowly and she sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes with the back of her hand. Eragon had never seen anything so adorable. Standing up, Alenanora followed Eragon from Rhunón's house and into the forge, where they were met by Rhunón, Aleahdeen, and Saphira. The swords lay before Rhunón on a bench, covered by a white sheet of cloth.
"I have done the impossible," Rhunón said, "I have made a sword, two, when I swore never again. More than that, they were done in less than a day, and with hands that were not mine. Nor are they crude or shoddy, no, they are the finest swords that I have ever forged; I would not have used as much magic during the process, but that is my only complaint, and it is a small one when compared to the perfection of the results! Come, behold!" and she tore away the cloth revealing the swords.
Eragon was taken aback when he saw the swords; he would have thought that in the short time that they had left her, Rhunón would only have had time to make a simple wood handle, crossguard, and scabbard for both swords, but no, what greeted him surprised him. Bearing his sword was a beautiful scabbard that matched the color of the scales on Saphira's back, a piece of blued brightsteel carved into the shape of a leaf at the top while a collar decorated with vines encircled the mouth. The curved crossguard was likewise made of blue brightsteel and the four ribs that held a large sapphire in place. The hand-and-a-half hilt was made of hard black wood. Alenanora's was much the same, only the scabbard and brightsteel matched the silver scales on Aleahdeen's back and the silver brightsteel was shaped into a star and three ribs held a white diamond in place. Taking their swords into their hands, they both unsheathed them and gasped.
Eragon's blade, like the rest of his sword, was blue, but the shade matched the scales along Saphira's throat. Alenanora's blade was silver, but the shade matched the darker gray along Aleahdeen's throat. Both blades were iridescent, and when Eragon moved his sword about, he could see the many different shades of blue that were present in Saphira herself, and when Alenanora moved her's about, it threw rainbows when it caught the light like Aleahdeen did. Rhunón watched the looks on the young Rider's faces and asked, "Are you well pleased, Dragon Riders?"
"More than pleased, Rhunón-elda," they replied and Eragon added, "I do not know how to thank you for such a gift."
"Thank me by slaying Galbatorix; if any swords are meant to slay that mad man they are the two of yours."
"We shall try our hardest, Rhunón-elda," Alenanora said, and Eragon nodded his agreement. Rhunón smiled and continued, "Well, now, you both finally have your own swords, as it should be. Now, the two of you are truly Dragon Riders!" Alenanora simply smiled as Eragon whispered, "Yes, now I am truly a Rider."
"One last thing remains to be done before you leave," Rhunón said, and Alenanora smiled while Eragon looked at her in confusion as she said, "We must name them."
"Yes, so that I may mark the blade and scabbard with the appropriate glyph," Rhunón replied. Eragon fell silent as he contemplated what he should name his sword, but Alenanora knew, knew what the name of her sword must be … Morning Star. Looking up at Rhunón, she said, "I have decided. Sword, I name thee Aiedail (Ay-uh-dale)!" They were forced to look away as the blade gave off an intense light. Alenanora quickly extinguished the light as Eragon said, "I have also decided; Sword, I name thee Brisingr!" and with a sound like a gust of wind, the blade burst into blue flames.
With a yelp of surprise, Eragon dropped the sword, but Alenanora caught it by the handle before it could hit the ground and said, "Eragon, extinguish the flames before you exhaust yourself." Then he realized that it was he who was sustaining the flame, and quickly ended the magic. Rhunón walked over to them and said to Eragon, "Did you set fire to in on purpose?" Eragon shook his head and Rhunón fell silent as she thought of something, then said, "Say them again."
"What?"
"The names, the names, say them again!" she ordered.
"Aiedail," Alenanora whispered as she looked away and the blade once again shined with an intense light.
"Brisingr!" and Eragon's blade once again burst into blue flame. Once the young Riders had ended the magic, Rhunón took each blade and said its name; the reactions were the same each time, a shiver ran down the length of each blade. As she returned each sword to its owner, Rhunón said, "I can think of only two possible explanations for this marvel: first, is that since the two of you were involved with the forging of the blade, and in doing so, imbued it with portions of your personalities and therefore they have become attuned with your wishes; second is that you have discovered the true names of your swords. Perhaps it is both of these things are what has happened. In any case, you have chosen well. Aiedail and Brisingr. Yes, I like them; both are very good names for swords."
Indeed, very good names, Aleahdeen and Saphira agreed as Rhunón placed one of her hands on each blade and whispered an intelligible spell and the glyphs for fire and Morning Star appeared on each blade respectively and she did the same for each scabbard.
Eragon and Alenanora bowed and expressed their gratitude to Rhunón, and their dragons did as well. A soft smile appeared upon the old elf's face, and she gently touched each of their foreheads and said, "I am happy that I was able to assist the Riders just this once more; Fly, Shadeslayer. Fly, Brightscales. Fly, Alenanora. Fly, Rainbowscales. Go to the Varden and may your enemies shake with fear at the swords you now wield." Bidding her farewell and once again expressing their gratitude, Alenanora, Aleahdeen, Eragon, and Saphira left Rhunón's house, bearing their new swords with pride.