Fates Entwined
Disclaimer: I do not own the Inheritance cycle nor any of its content, the following is a story set after the series and is a work of pure fiction. I own none of the characters excepting those which I add myself.
Summary: Set 150 years post-Inheritance, Eragon has reestablished the riders far to the East and struggles with his love for Arya. Meanwhile, a new enemy approaches Alagaesia from south beyond the sea. Will Eragon find a way to return and save those he loves, or must he be doomed to watch from afar?
Chapter one: A message in a grass ship.
Eragon sighed as he gazed upon the plains below, the grass waving in a gentle spring breeze. Far and wide, bounding deer and grazing cattle could be seen between his home and the river, a blue snake shimmering in the distance. He and Saphira had sailed weeks upon the river, searching for a place they could raise the dragons in peace and safety. When they had spotted the mountains from the river, he had known they had found it.
The high peaks and narrow, fertile valley's rising abruptly from the plains gave the perfect mix of peace and tranquility. With sweeping views from which one could see many miles and the beauty of the rising sun's rays shining upon the peaks above, glistening with snow before becoming a breathtaking violet and then green further down, it was difficult to believe there could be a more beautiful place. When he had seen them for the first time, he had nearly wept at the beauty and could only name them home.
As they had settled and begun to build, he and saphira had explored far. To north and west was nothing but rolling grassland filled with animals, the landscape unmarred by hill or rock and broken only by the occasional stream or river gleaming as glass under sun and star. To the East the mountains continued for a time before descending into rolling hills and deep gorges until finally ending at a sea stretching boundless into the distance. Southward the mountains seemed to never end, though smaller than the Beors, the range was undoubtedly larger and more rugged and full of surprises. During his early travels, he and Saphira had found many strange creatures both dangerous and peaceful and several ruins.
When they had seen the ruins, they had at first thought them a trick of the eye but it was not so. Once, they had flown Blodhgarm to see them. For many hours he had walked the ancient ways and decayed buildings of the ruined city, and could only determine that some unknown people had once dwelt in those lands, what had happened to them, he could not say and the dusty pathways were left until another day.
They had built a small settlement at first, before enlarging it for the new riders that were sure to come. The elven spell casters that had accompanied him had worked marvels of magic and architecture and had overruled his desire to have a simple and austere settlement. It must be beautiful, they had said, else he could build it himself. He had only been allowed to overrule them once. They had wanted to place his home on the eastern side of the mountain with a tunnel leading to the settlement proper. His home should face the east and the dawn they had thought, but he would have none of it. And in the end they had placed it in a cliff looking upon the west, sympathetically believing he wanted to feel closer to his home, to Alagaesia. None guessed his true reason. He had wanted to be as near as he could to her, the woman who had his heart, though she was far away.
He was broken from his reverie by a knock at his door, without moving he said, "Enter."
"Master," said Farah, the first rider to have come for training, "the next eggs are ready to take back, would you like us to go ahead and take them?"
He glanced above, it was still early in the day and they could make good time yet, before turning to her. Farah was an elf, of slight build and nearing her three-hundredth year, it had come as a surprise to everyone when Talenel had hatched for her, but she had proven to be a great rider, loyal and capable.
"Yes that would be fine if all is ready," he replied.
"Yes Ebrithil," she replied as she turned to leave, turning slowly so as to make sure he had seen her dress. It was an Azure silk that hugged her features in a way that would make any human woman faint with envy, with a plunging neckline and short train that revealed far more than it hid, she had taken to wearing such the day she had finished her training, trying to catch his eye since. While her flowing honey tresses, piercing blue-grey eyes, and delicious curves would have captivated any human man, and indeed had many of the elves at the new city turning their heads, her efforts had little effect on Eragon aside from the occasional annoyance.
She believed herself half in love with him, and even he thought she was, yet he never did anything to encourage her. His heart still belonged to Arya, whom he thought more beautiful than anything save Saphira, though Farah did come near to tempting him once or twice.
When he did not react to her, she left at a quicker pace, closing the door and leaving him to his thoughts once more. His thoughts had turned home more frequently of late and he had been filled with sorrow. Roran and Katrina had passed some decades ago, and their children not too long, it had seemed, after. Nasuada too had passed, and she and Murtagh's great granddaughter now ruled.
He had returned out of the North only two years after the defeat of Galbatorix, and they had been happy for a time. After her death he had returned to the north and had not been seen nor heard from in nearly eighty years.
Slowly but surely, his friends and those he had known had passed until few remained there. Orik still ruled the clans, and was as hale and fit as ever, just nearing his middle years. And of course, Arya and Firnen still dwelt in Ellesmera. Before long, they would be all that remained.
Aside from them, Angela and Solembum had been his only visitors, though how they had reached him, he still was not sure. The herbalist had a habit of simply turning up and vanishing, and never seemed to have aged a day, something which made him itch with curiosity. He never did get an explanation from them, each time he had asked, he had received a similar lecture about minding his own business, and often a lesson as to why toads didn't exist.
Are you thinking of home again little one? Asked saphira in his mind with a light chuckle.
Of course, I rarely think of much else these days.
You think of Arya do you not?
Of course I do, how could I not.
Oh little one, you may yet have a chance.
I know, it is just difficult to believe so. After all it has been one hundred and fifty years since she and I last saw each other, she has probably found someone.
Don't be so sure little one, she told you her true name after all. I doubt she would have done that had she not loved you deep down inside. Even were she not aware of it.
Perhaps. Maybe I should ask her to visit, I rarely need to teach these days. Farah and Nath handle the histories very well, Hvanda and Nar Thazog teach the customs of different peoples superbly, and we have no shortage of capable weapon masters and spell casters lending their expertise. I haven't had to teach a rider personally in fifty years Saphira, I am beginning to feel useless. It seems all I do now is decide what and who goes where and when, and that seldom.
That sounds like a grand idea. She replied distractedly, shielding part of her mind from him, though he could feel she was amused about something.
Do you think she would come?
Of course she would. She may come sooner than you think.
Surprised by her words, it took him a moment to respond. Saphira, what do yo- he cut off, noticing something moving towards him from the air. The object was small and hard to discern amongst the grass of the plains, but as it neared, he recognized it for what it was.
He held out his hand, watching with barely restrained excitement as a small grass ship landed in his open palm. It had clearly seen quite a journey and it unraveled in his hand, the brittle blades disintegrating before they even landed on the floor, leaving only a folded letter as evidence it had existed.
He opened it slowly, aware of Saphira watching through his eyes with curiosity.
You saw this coming didn't you? He asked with a slight chuckle.
Of course I did little one, I recognized it while you were trying to rationalize your reasons to invite Arya here. She replied with a mental smirk.
He did not bother to respond as he began to read the letter, his face lighting up as he recognized the thin angular writing. He read silently for several moments, Saphira waiting patiently for him to finish. His heart soared as he finished the letter, and turned to Saphira upon her large padded bed.
She's coming here! He exclaimed mentally, it's almost as if she knew!
Perhaps she misses you as much as you miss her little one.
We need to make preparations, a feast for certain, what do you think Saphira?
Of course little one, though I would make a suggestion.
What is it?
Maybe save the feast for the next day, no doubt she will be tired from her journey when she arrives. A small private meal with just the four of us would be more appropriate I think.
That's a good idea Saphira. She would like that I think.
Of course it's a good idea, she snorted, I thought of it after all.
You are right as usual Saphira.
When will she be here little one?
He scanned the letter again before responding A week after this arrives she says.
Then we should make arrangements now.
He nodded absently before ringing the small bell beside his desk, causing one of the elves to ask what he needed.
"Summon Farah, tell her to meet me here as soon as she can. I have just received word that Arya will be here in a week's time. Please ensure that rooms are prepared for her and a feast planned for the day after her arrival. And ensure the cooks know that we will need food for two as well as both Saphira and Firnen to be taken to my private dining room for the evening meal when they arrive."
"Of course Eragon-elda," the elf replied and hurried to find Farah before she departed.
Eragon paced his small balcony, unable to sit in his excitement, until he heard a knock at his door.
"Enter," he called.
Farah walked in, slowly exaggerating her movements as she sat in a nearby chair, "You sent for me?"
"Yes," he replied, "I have received word that Arya will be arriving here in a week, and have decided that you and the eggs will accompany her when she returns to Du Weldenvarden."
She became still and adopted a slightly sour expression at the mention of Arya's name, but had the grace to say, "Of course Eragon-elda," before rushing out of the room, a muffled cry returning as she left.
Slightly alarmed by her reaction, he turned to Saphira, What do you suppose that was about?
Oh little one, it is clear that she likes you very much.
I never gave her any reason to believe I would-
You never gave her any reason to believe you wouldn't either, Saphira interrupted, she likely thought that as long as you were here, and Arya far away, that she had a chance. Just as you feel towards Arya.
You are right Saphira, I shall have to speak to her.
Be careful little one, you do not want to upset her too greatly. After both of her parents were killed by two-legs-lord-whatsit at Uru'Baen, she had a rough life for a time, for an elf at least, and you drew her out. Taught her to care again.
As her teacher, it was the right thing to do, he said defensively.
But I doubt she sees it that way.
Yes, you are right, I shall speak to her, and Talenel this afternoon then.
The rest of that day, he spent overseeing the preparations of Arya's rooms, situated near enough to his they could reach each other quickly at need, and far enough so as not to make her uncomfortable.
He went to rest that night much happier than he had been in a long time.
Ending A/N:
Well, there's chapter one. Plenty of history I think, and I wanted to start the plot off on a good note. The ending to the regular series has been a thorn in my side for a while now, and I would like to get them on the path to being together within the first four or five chapters, though it may still be awhile before they actually do decide to become mates (They, of course, will. They never should have split up like they did anyway. That was a crime against fans everywhere.). Be warned, there will be violence, near-death experiences, and lemony goodness later on. Nothing too smutty, but there will be moments.
Please rate and review. I'll try to incorporate other ideas into the story.
P.S. no pairings of either Eragon or Arya with anyone else will be considered, nor will any multiples or same-gender couplings as there is no lore-appropriate reason for the latter, and I not write anything involving the former.