Disclaimer: I do not own Eragon, Saphira, Trianna or Arya.
Chapter One
Trianna
Eragon grimaced in pain as he went through the early morning stretching exercises that Oromis had taught him. He bent his body this way and that, and sweat slid down his unmarred skin sparkling like crystals, leaving behind a trail of moisture as they gathered at his fingertips and dripped down. Eragon held the pose—one drip, two drip, three drips…. Ninety three drips…
You stink Saphira snorted, blowing a small puff of smoke in his direction. Eragon coughed, nodded, and still coughing, stripped his clothes and took a bath.
However, he had just finished washing, and only had his breeches on when an urgent pressure tapped on his mind. He threw up his mental barriers, but he realized that it was Trianna.
Shadeslayer, come quickly. Her tone was urgent. Without putting on a shirt, Eragon yanked on boots, and took off on Saphira's back.
What's wrong? She asked, as three strong flaps of her enormous wings carried them into the air.
Eragon frowned. I'm not sure—but her tone was pretty urgent. Then, he shivered.
You're not wearing your holed sack today.
It's called a shirt, and the holes are there on purpose.
Who would want a holey shirt!? Saphira guffawed. Eragon was about to answer, but Saphira suddenly angled downwards, and all Eragon could do was hold as tightly as possible to the neck spike in front of him, trying not to fall off, even with his legs buckled into place. Right before Eragon thought that Saphira would dive into the earth, burrowing hundreds of feet below, pale sapphire wings shot out on both sides of him, and the two pulled out of the dive with a head-jerking lurch.
That was a little… overdone said Saphira, knowing that she would be incredibly sore the next day. Then, with an exaggeratedly heavy flap of her wings, Saphira took off to hunt. Call me with your mind, I'll be back by your side in the blink of an eye, but right now, I need to eat something to provide you with energetic assistance, shall you need it.
Eragon rolled his eyes, then with his mind, searched for where Trianna was. She was in her room. Eragon pursed his lips. What could be going on? He drew his sword, Brisingr, and held it in front of him as he cautiously entered the small cave where Trianna lived. His footsteps echoed off of the stony enclosure, the vibrations of the echoes making his sword give off a clean, hollow hum.
He paused and held still for a long time, listening with his pointed ears.
"Shadeslayer."
Eragon twirled around, knees bent, sword raised, in a defensive stance. He lowered the stance some when he saw that it was Trianna who had called him. Then, his eyes widened, taken aback at what he saw. Trianna stood before him, scantly clothed. Her painted red lips curled up in a seductive smile, and her long-lashed eyes lowered. Her dress was low cut, and her breasts were displayed and powdered like two fat white doves, only meagerly covered by a lacy undergown.
Eragon gulped, only too glad he had let Saphira fly off to hunt. If Saphira had been with him, Trianna would have been torn to shreds by an angry, jealous, over-protective dragon.
Eragon's heartbeat quickened and he blushed, but his defensive stance moved into a more neutral defensive/offensive stance. Trianna took a step forward. Eragon raised his sword.
"Oh, Shadeslayer. Please, let me show you how to indulge in one of the greatest human pleasures. Don't lie to me, Argetlam. You not only desire to touch a woman, you desire the touch of a woman, and your heartbeat quickens as your gaze wanders to various parts of my body. Let go of your sword, and let me show you." Trianna tore off the lace of her gown, and it fell to a pile around her ankles. Eragon tried to move, but he could not.
"You cannot move, Shadeslayer. Your mind cannot contact outside help. Nobody can hear us in this tent. Saphira cannot move either. You two are now under my will." Trianna grinned.
Eragon's mind swirled. How could Trianna be that powerful? Where did she get the spell? The vast amounts of energy?
"I may let you in on a little secret, Eragon. I have the assistance of another extremely powerful consciousness. Even if I die, the spell will last until you find the other being."
Then, Trianna stripped Eragon of his armor, and took off his cotton shirt. She pressed herself onto the flat planes of his torso, and slid her cold hands down his back, making him shiver.
Though his heart raced and he blushed, Eragon felt disgusted.
Suddenly, a tall, graceful figure entered, without knocking. Her pale, angled features contrasted against the glossy dark of her hair. Then silent as an ant walking on cotton, Arya stepped across the cave-room and slit Trianna's throat. Hot blood spurted onto Eragon's bare chest, and the sorceress crumpled by Eragon's feet, clutching at the pants she had not taken off of him yet, hot blood soaking the cotton material. Then, her hands let go and she thudded onto the carpeted rock ground. Her eyes stared blankly.
Eragon was still not able to move completely, but he realized that he could now contact Saphira, who he confirmed was indescribably outraged, though she could, like him, not move. He then found that his mouth muscles and face muscles had regained movement.
"Arya."
"Don't. I know." She quickly draped a tablecloth over Eragon. "Did she say anything to you?"
Eragon nodded. "There's another being that's helping her hold this control over not only me but Saphira as well. How she didn't overexert herself I don't understand, and I don't have any idea what other being is powerful enough to do this." Eragon then let Arya examine the memory, leaving out the seducing bits.
Arya's brow creased as she contemplated all the possibilities of Trianna's words. Then, shock crossed her face. "Eragon, Trianna said that she had another consciousness aiding her. What if… what if it's a heart of hearts!?"
Eragon felt Saphira's shock and jubilation at the possibility of another heart of hearts being in their reachable midst.
Then, suddenly, Trianna's body twitched, and a large, pale blue stone appeared in her lifeless hands.
The consciousness of an ancient being swallowed the room. The force of the energy emanating from the stone sent Arya and Eragon to their knees.
The consciousness that brushed onto Eragon's mind was old- older than Alagaesia. Older than the world, and the consciousness was time itself, yet Eragon knew that was not possible. The presence of the mind seemed omniscient, yet Eragon knew that was not possible. The depths of the being were vast and infinite, yet Eragon knew that was not possible.
I am Akvthghae. I called you, Rider, Kin, and Elf. I called you through the woman-mage. I am here, Rider, and Kin to teach you of the true ways of the Riders. I am the first and oldest Dragon.
The voice penetrated their minds, their souls, and their beings. Only Saphira seemed to not recoil from the power that saturated the mental presence.
Then, with caution, Arya asked How did Trianna get ahold of your heart of hearts?
I let her. Came the simple answer.
I thought Galbatorix had control over all the existing heart of hearts but Saphira's and Glaedr's.
The mental roar that came was deafening. DO NOT INSULT ME, HATCHLING. My presence is ancient, and I am no longer just a heart of hearts. This is now merely a tool of direct communication. I am part of the waters, earths, and winds. My mind resonates within the rock, animals, and insects. The energy of the earth is the energy of me. The Beor Mountains once were my tall, ferocious spikes. The Hadrac Desert is the dry, hot plane of my firey stomach. Even hotter is the core beneath the land.
Then, the presence released, them, and Arya and Eragon fell to the floor, gasping and clutching at their bleeding ears and thumping chests. Then, there was a flapping overhead, and Saphira stuck as much of her head in as she could through the closed window, sending shards of glass flying everywhere. Eragon noticed that one shard of glass was about to hit the pale, sparkling blue stone but it melted before it reached the stone. With great care, Eragon picked the stone up off the ground. The stone was the color of the sky, with sparkling quartz-like white flecks here and there, like clouds dotting the heavens. The shine of the heart of hearts reflected his face, and the stone wall behind him. With a great cry, Eragon clutched the stone to his chest.
WE WILL DEFEAT THE EMPIRE!
