I do not own the characters in this story, I own any OC's but the rest of the credit goes to Christopher Paolini.
Chapter 1: Escapee
The suns heat cooked the man's brain as he struggled to keep consciousness as he rode his black charger through the harsh desert landscape. The lavish winds whipped at his red cheeks and blew the air out of his mouth. His throat was so dry that every time he swallowed it felt as if it would split, and he would drown in his own blood.
The man leant down and whispered into the horse's ear: "We're nearly there Boy; you can have a drink and some nice sweet apples once we get there." Straightening up in his saddle, the man squinted and screwed up his face. The sunlight hit the hot dry sand and bounced off, creating a blinding glare and making it nigh impossible for the man to see anything.
He laid his head on the muscular shoulder of his faithful steed. The horse was exhausted and every breath seemed as is if would be its last. Hoping that the stallion would not collapse, the man closed his eyes. And, not long after, he drifted off to sleep.
* * *
The black horse trotted into view of one of the night guards. Its rider was only half in his saddle; he had succumbed to exhaustion and starvation and had collapsed in his saddle.
From atop the towering wooden gates of the city a man cried in a hoarse voice:
"A horse and Rider approach!"
From across the other side of the gates another man yelled to his patrol partner:
"Shall I open the gates?"
"Yes we don't want to be responsible for the death of one of our own. Plus the horse looks fine to me, I think once he is fed up a little he will make a fine steed"
The screeching of the rusty cogs knitting together to open the massive wooden gate filled the air.
The Stallion took a step back from the gate as it swung out wards to admit him. Once safely inside the city gates he slowly trotted past the guards and down the cobblestone streets. Apparently the horse knew where it was going because it turned left into a wide street and followed it until he reached a small farm. Into which he turned and walked through the corn fields and into the stables.
Kneeling down he allowed the rider to slide of the saddle and take the saddle bags of his flank. Shaking, the horse struggled to stand upright and shuffle over to the water trough.
"We did it boy… we made it home" The delirious man said to the horse, patting its jowls and stroking its mane.
He pulled a red apple from one of the hessian saddle bags and wiped it on his cloth pants before giving it to the horse.
The man stepped over a log on his way into his house. He pushed open the oak door and stepped into the familiar darkness of his home. He tipped the contents of the saddle bags onto the kitchen table. A vast number of metallic rocks tumbled out of it onto the table. Each one varied in size and shine.
Dropping the empty bag into the floor, he strode over to his bedroom and removed his boots and vest. Not bothering to have a meal or wash his face and hands, he went to sleep.
* * *
Eragon awoke from a deep slumber, feeling the strong tug of hunger in his stomach; he dressed hastily and rushed out of his to get something to eat.
"Today is going to be a big day" Eragon thought to himself.
Today was the day that Nasuada had asked for a full recount of the battles events. But before Eragon, Roran and Arya had to give the report, they had other matters to deal with. Eragon had decided that it would be best if he brought the Eldunari to the meeting, so he decided that after he ate he would duck back into his room to retrieve it and Brisingr.
Eragon's somewhat meager breakfast consisted of, fruit and a loaf of sour dough. He hurriedly downed each morsel and regretted it when the food became lodged in his throat and pained him as it made its way slowly down into his gullet.
Meal finished, he Ran to his ten and thrust open the flaps. He darted to under his straw mattress, which was where he had hidden the Eldunari and grabbed his sword from the end of his bed on the way out.
Saphira… where are you? We have a meeting with Nasuada. He projected his thoughts mentally as he attached Brisingr to the belt of Beloth the wise.
Coming little one. Was all that he received in reply.
Outside Nasuada's tent Arya and Roran were already waiting. Arya wore he tanned leather breeches and a moss green tunic and Roran wore a cotton shirt and pants.
"Finally cousin, I thought you had forgotten, but here you are and look at you, you seem no worse for wear than if you had been resting while the battle raged on."
Roran greeted Eragon with a strong hug. "You are as skinny as a twig; I fear I could snap you in half if I patted you on the back too hard."
Arya's greeting was less casual; when he approached her she reprimanded him with stern words and a firm hand shake. "You need to be on time Eragon shur'tugal, Nasuada is a busy woman, you would do well to keep her from waiting while you fiddle with your beard."
Her words stung Eragon like a thousand whips. How could she be so harsh to him?
"Eka elrun ono drottningu" He tried to remain kind, "But now we must go, tell Nasuada everything that happened, she is a wise and kind leader and will not judge us for our actions. Whether they be right or wrong.
With that the trio pushed open the entrance to the tent and stepped into the cluttered room which served as her Office and dining quarters.
"Come in, come in, make yourselves comfortable" She gestured to three armchairs that were placed in front of her desk. Roran was the first to sit down.
"Well met Roran, how fare you and your wife?" Nasuada asked from her chair behind the desk.
"Very well thank you my lady. I am hoping to start a family with her, when the war is over."
Eragon admired Nasuada's sense of leadership. She always knew how to make someone comfortable and be able to talk without intimidating them too much, while at the same time she always maintained her sense of formality, appearing the more dominant figure in the conversation.
Eragon sat down in one of the chairs and Arya followed suit. Nasuada's Emerald dress stuck out in the room, she always wore a dress that contrasted well with the colour of her skin, accompanied by some gold jewelry.
With everyone settled and comfortable, Nasuada began talking.
"As you probably already know, I have asked you three to come here today so as I can gain an insight of how Galabatorix thinks. I ask that you tell me, in detail, the events of the battle in which we lost two brave and noble warriors, Oromis and Glader." At the mention of the loss of the rider and dragon, Nasuada's head drooped for a moment, before she regained her normal composure. "I am aware of the main events but I need to know every little thing that happened on that battle field. Because, even the slightest little bit of detail might just give us the upper hand and might be just what we need to destroy the evil king Galabatorix and rid this land of evil."
This speech awoke and immaturity in Eragon the likes of which had not seen for a long time. And he began imaging the Cheers and claps of a sea of people all crowding around as Nasuada made the speech.
Eragon! Snap out of it. Keep your head out of the clouds. Nasuada is talking to you.
Uhh, sorry!
Eragon shook himself mentally and when he returned from his dreamlike trace he caught the end of a sentence.
"… And that is why, when you are recounting the battle to me, leave out no detail. I mean it. I will also use the information I might gleam from today's meeting to assign you to your next mission. "
With that Nasuada leaned back in her chair and gestured for Eragon to start his recount.
The seconds turned to minuets, and the minuets to hours and before long Eragon had been talking for over two hours.
"… Then Galbatorix took control of Murtagh and used him to kill Oromis while he was having one of his back spasms." Eragon couldn't help it, his eyes began to well up and a tongue of water formed in the corner of his eye. It over flowed and a single tear rolled down his cheek.
"In the battle Murtagh and thorn were both wounded greatly and thorn might be permanently maimed, Glader bit off part of his tail. Oromis lost his Sword in the battle, if it so pleased you my lady, I ask permission to go and retrieve it. Glader and Oromis stored a vast amount of energy in its jewels which could be an asset to the Varden. Also Saphira and I would like to take some time off fighting to grow closer and learn more about the ways of magic."
Nasuada made no comment, simply Nodded with glazed eyes. Seemingly deep in thought Eragon left her and did not talk for a period. Nasuada finally came around and after many breaths opened her mouth.
"I agree with you Eragon Shadeslayer. You may go to the battle sight and, with the help of Glader, find Naegling. And you will do with it what you must. However before you and Saphira have some time alone I must ask one more thing of you. That you And Arya go to Uru'baen while Galbatorix's forces are weak and steal the remaining dragon's egg from his keep."
Nasuada turned to face Arya directly. "Arya, you know the way to Galbatorix's keep don't you, it was you who stole Saphiras egg all those years ago wasn't it?"
"Yes" Arya's constant formality was starting to get on Eragons nerve.
"Then you will be the perfect person to ask to steal the next one"
After that Roran and Arya were asked to recount their versions the battle. Both went into particular detail surrounding Oromis's death. When Arya had finished recounting how she had defeated the shade Varaug with Eragons help Nasuada was astonished.
"It seems you are more adept than I first thought, you might be back with the egg sooner than I thought, assuming all goes well." She stood and gestured for the trio to do the same. "You will all need your rest; you will have exactly one week before you must leave for Galbatorix's keep. So I need you to be quick at finding Naegling. Do not dawdle. As soon as you recover the sword, return to the Varden. Arya will need all the help she can get; the mission relies upon the both of you."
And with that she bade them goodbye and ushered them out of the tent.