Chapter One: A New Land
In the sky above the verdant field, one would be able to see what appeared to be a large, blue eagle. But, upon closer inspection, one would find that it was not an eagle, but rather a blue dragon. And atop the blue dragon was a boy of seventeen.
"This doesn't look like Du Weldenvarden," said the boy.
The dragon did not audibly respond, but the boy apparently heard the dragon in some way, because he then said, "Yes, but why? … Me neither."
The dragon landed in the middle of the field, and the boy dismounted it. "I have no idea where we are, Saphira," said the boy. "This area doesn't seem to be on our map of Alagaësia. It seems we've discovered an entirely new area."
The dragon named Saphira looked around, and noticed the forested area to the south.
"Really?" said the boy. "Well, perhaps we could look there just to ensure we're not near Du Weldenvarden."
The two of them, Saphira and the boy (whose name was Eragon) walked south to the forest.
Eragon and Saphira were a human and dragon from a land known as Alagaësia. Eragon grew up in a town called Carvahall. While hunting in the Spine mountain range, Eragon discovered a blue egg, from which Saphira hatched. When Eragon touched her, his palm was marked with a shining symbol called the gedwëy ignasia, or "shining palm". Eragon raised Saphira, and was her Rider. The Dragon Riders were people who were bonded to dragons with such depth, that the Rider and dragon could do numerous things together, one of which was speaking to one another with their minds. This was how Saphira was able to communicate with Eragon earlier. Eragon chose not to respond in this telepathy because doing so left him vulnerable to mind-reading spellcasters, and he was not sure if any were near.
As a result of being a Rider, Eragon developed magical abilities he could call forth by speaking in an ancient language. "Gedwëy ignasia" meant "Shining Palm", for example. And Du Weldenvarden, the forest Eragon and Saphira meant to reach, meant "The Guarding Forest". Saphira could also occasionally use magic, such as when she tempered the burial site of Eragon's former mentor, Brom, transforming it from sandstone into pure diamond so that time would not cause his body to decay. However, she has less control over her magic, and it is more of an instinctual, need-based ability.
Eragon was not unarmed, besides Saphira's protection. He had a red blade named Zar'roc (meaning "misery") that Brom gave to him. Zar'roc once belonged to a member of traitors called the Forsworn. That member was Morzan. Brom slew Morzan as well as many other of the Forsworn, and took Morzan's sword as his own. Brom bestowed Zar'roc upon Eragon during his mentorship, and although it belonged to a traitor and had slain dragons, Eragon has used Zar'roc very efficiently in many battles.
Saphira was forced to walk in the forest, because the tree-cover was too thick for her to fly. I've never seen this forest before, or anything else here, she said to Eragon.
"Me neither. But this forest seems to have a foreboding presence, as if evil itself has been here," replied Eragon. He used another trick of his and made his mind expand its awareness to everything around him. He looked through the forest, but immediately withdrew into his own mind again when he encountered a fog of darkness. Eragon shivered involuntarily.
What's wrong, Eragon? asked Saphira.
"I felt this dark cover, like a fog, that stung my mind when I reached it.
Perhaps we should investigate on foot. That does not seem normal.
"Good idea." Eragon led the way south to a juncture. North, there was a cave. South led to more forest.
Is it through there? I doubt I can fit in that small enclosure.
"Yes, it is… perhaps there is another way…" Eragon walked back to where he sensed the fog and looked around. There was a boulder that seemed to block a path. "Maybe there's a way around it over there?"
Probably. Saphira climbed over the boulder with ease.
Eragon chose to climb a tree next to the boulder and jump from there. Once on the other side, he scouted again, looking for a way through.
Eragon, look. There is a series of stone columns that leads around the trees. Saphira indicated a semi-ring of stone towers that led to a ledge.
"That's odd. Why would there be stone towers in a forest? It's not natural, it has to be man-made. Perhaps there are people around here after all." Eragon climbed to the top of the first stone tower, and from there, jumped to the second, and the third, then to an overhanging branch and from there to the fourth and fifth towers, eventually settling on a ledge. Saphira jumped to the ledge to join him.
You are a good jumper, Eragon.
"The Spine had a lot of spots to practice. Not only that, it helps evade Roran when we spar. He's as grounded as a turtle." Eragon laughed, and Saphira snorted in amusement.
They continued forward, and Eragon was surprised to see a blue metal chest, just sitting in the open on the ground.
"A chest? Who would leave a chest here?"
I do not know. But I have a feeling that whoever left it here did not care whether the contents were stolen. Let's open it.
"If you say so." Eragon tapped into the magic within him, and shouted, "Jierda!" (Break!)
The blue chest broke open, and inside was a crystal gem in the shape of a heart, with a gold ring around it. Within the gem was a red heart, about a fifth of the size of the gem.
"What is it?"
It's not like any jewel I've seen in Alagaësia.
Eragon picked up the jewel and instantly felt all his energy returned to him, and, through their mental link, Saphira. He yelped in surprise and dropped the jewel, but Saphira was quick enough to catch it with her blue wing.
You're clumsy, little one. A simple surge of energy and you nearly break the damned thing! If I weren't here you would have a shattered jewel on your hands! Saphira snorted a puff of smoke.
"Sorry! I didn't mean to! It startled me!" Eragon sighed. He knew Saphira was teasing him in a friendly fashion. "But yes. You did save it for me. Thanks."
Saphira arched her neck, pleased with his submission to her.
You're welcome. She handed the jewel back to him. Don't drop it this time.
Eragon took it from her and stowed it in Saphira's saddlebag. He looked further ahead to where he mentally scanned earlier. There was indeed a purple fog covering the forest floor.
"What is that stuff?" Eragon asked.
I do not know. But I would guess that gas is poisonous.
"More than just poisonous. That stuff hurt me mentally when I found it."
One way or another we should not tread within it. There are few enough trees that I can at least keep myself aloft.
"Right." Eragon climbed up her left front leg and sat on her back.
Saphira unfurled her wings and leapt from the ledge. She did manage to keep herself aloft long enough to reach a section of the forest the purple fog did not reach.
Ugh. Another cave? asked Saphira.
"Apparently so, but this one looks just large enough for you to fit."
Yes, I suppose so. You owe me one, little one. Saphira swallowed her pride and followed Eragon through the opening.
They came upon a clearing. One thing stood out to Eragon and Saphira immediately: a wooden bridge lodged vertically in the soil.
"What trickery is this? How did that bridge get there?"
Saphira nudged it with her snout. It's in the ground pretty deep. To do this, someone would have to have lifted the bridge and slammed it into the ground at a very high speed.
Eragon made a mental note of the bridge, feeling he may need to remember it later. He then continued further north. A tree branch formed a bridge to a large tree, with an opening seemingly carved into it.
Yet another small opening? protested Saphira.
"Calm down, Saphira. I have an idea. Perhaps if I used magic to alter your form so that you would fit?"
Saphira was reasonably averse to the idea of forfeiting her dragon form. But she couldn't bear to leave Eragon to himself again. I suppose so. Not a human, though. I'd much rather become an elf, if possible. They seem a respectable race.
"Very well." Eragon cleared his throat and thought of a phrase to use. "Moi eom aí älf!" (Change to an elf!)
Eragon used his energy as well as a bit of Saphira's to power the change, and she gradually shifted in form to that of an elf. She had blue eyes identical to those she had before, and her hair was a light blue, like the underside of her belly. Her skin, unlike an elf or human's, was a very light blue, almost white, with diamond patterns on her, as if her scales had been flattened into skin. To Eragon's eternal embarrassment, Saphira had transformed without the benefit of clothing to cover herself. Other than the aforementioned oddities, Saphira looked to be the same appearance as a seventeen-year-old (in human terms) female elf.
Eragon immediately turned away from Saphira's bare form, face flushed with blood. "I'm sorry, Saphira, I forgot—"
Forgot what? asked Saphira. She was obviously accustomed to not having clothes and hadn't noticed her conspicuous lack of clothing.
"To put clothes on you…"
Clothes? Saphira looked down at herself. Hmm. So my form is displeasing to you without the mask of clothing?
"No, no! It's… just… erm… forget it, Saphira." Eragon convinced himself that she didn't care if he looked, but he was still nervous to look at her.
Oh. I get it. I'm humanoid in appearance, and my unclothed form is obviously causing you to produce your hormones of attraction. So I arouse you, is that it?
Eragon knew it was the truth, but he still didn't want to tell her that. But if he denied it, she might've taken offense to his comment. "Uh, you have a very… attractive figure as a human, yes, but… I, er, ah—"
Save your stammerings. It's not a problem, little one-- … I suppose we're of the same height now. I can no longer call you little one. Saphira was almost dismayed at the loss of one of her favorite pet phrases for Eragon. I must come up with another term of endearment, though none can completely replace "little one."
"We can worry about that later. Can you still breathe fire?"
Saphira tried to breathe fire, and a jet of blue flames erupted from her mouth. Yes.
"Good, you can defend yourself. Let's go." Eragon entered the opening.
Right behind you, Eragon.