Disclaimer: I own neither Lord of the Rings or anything related nor Eldest, though I hold these pieces of amazing fiction dear. This fic is purely for my own enjoyment, and hopefully that of those who read it.
A/N I'm back! Hope you've all had plenty of time to read Eldest and I hope you all enjoyed it, I know I sure as hell did! And if you haven't, go read it now!
To those of you who may be new to this, you can read this without reading the first one, Alagaësia Meets Middle Earth. Though I would suggest you have at least read Eragon otherwise some things you may be a little in the dark about, but I'll recap. This fic basically follows the Eldest story line with Legolas and Gimli dumped into it.
Ok then, enough of author's notes… enjoy!
Chapter 1- Vertigo
Three days had passed since the battle under Farthen Dûr had raged. Three days since the Varden had emerged victorious from that battle three days since Eragon had defeated the Shade Durza. Three days since the bodies that now littered the flats of Farthen Dûr had been robed of life.
Eragon- or Shadeslayer as he was now known since he had dealt Durza that fatal blow that had destroyed him- and Legolas stood on a mound of rock surveying the carnage on the battlefield. The stars could be seen as faint tiny pin pricks through the smoke of the pyres that burned with Urgal bodies.
Eragon let out a faint gasp as his back twinged painfully. He clenched his teeth, but thankfully the pain subsided quickly this time.
"Eragon, are you well?" asked Legolas at his side, concern in his voice.
"I'll be fine, the pain wasn't as bad this time," Eragon replied.
Ever since he had gained the terrible wound that laced down his back- courtesy of Durza- he had been experiencing excruciating pains that shot along his spine mercilessly. Despite the fact Angela the witch had healed him to the very best of her ability and saved his life in the process, it still dealt him great pain. It had been the thing that had prevented him from helping in the recovery effort, even though he had leant his help three times now, he had been sent back to rest by those he worked with on account of the unbearable pain.
Legolas gazed upon his young human friend unconvinced, though he said no more about Eragon's evident back pains. Once Angela had deemed him well enough after his encounter with Durza, the Elf had been keen to help with the recovery effort.
"I wonder how Gimli is doing with the other Dwarves," said Eragon.
"He went with Orik I think to help with the aid to Hrothgar's people," Legolas replied.
Eragon nodded. "So much death," he heaved a great sigh, staring out sadly over the still untended dead.
"It is the nature of war, however cruel and wasteful it can be," Legolas said quietly folding his arms.
"I know, that I have most definitely learnt since leaving Carvahall. I never ever thought in all my wildest dreams that I would end up here, a Dragon Rider, and all the things I have learnt and accomplished- it is amazing," Eragon confided.
"And myself and Gimli never thought to end up in this land when we finally left our own shores of Middle earth. Fighting in a great war- again," said Legolas with a hollow chuckle.
"Do you," Eragon paused for a long moment before continuing. "Do you ever wish that you had never landed in Alagaësia? That the journey to the land you seek had gone smoothly?"
Legolas furrowed his brow, deep in thought. Then the Elf looked up and his eyes widened, a smile spreading over his face as he stared out over the plain pf bodies toward the gates of Tronjheim." "A crowd gathers, Ajihad must be returning!" the Elf hopped down the rocky mound they were stood on with all the agility of his race and started for Tronjheim, beckoning for Eragon to follow.
Slightly annoyed that Legolas had avoided his question, the young man leapt after his friend, sprinting to keep up with the Elf.
When they reached Tronjheim, they found a group awaiting Ajihad's return from hunting down the Urgals that had attempted to escape through the labyrinth of tunnels that ran through the Beör Mountains.
In the gathering Eragon and Legolas located Saphira and Gimli stood with Orik and Arya.
'Hello little one,' Saphira greeted when she saw Eragon, touching her nose to his shoulder, he patted her and returned the friendly welcome.
Ajihad was climbing out of a tunnel at the base of Tronjheim accompanied by a group of ten guards. Bu Ajihad's side was the Twins who had been needed for their magical abilities and Murtagh. He had been eager to go along with Ajihad to further prove his loyalty to the Varden and that he opposed the Empire. He also wanted to show all who would accuse him of betrayal at the first chance he got that he was nothing like his father Morzan, a Rider and member of the Forsworn who had helped Galbatorix, king of the Empire and Dragon Rider himself, to overthrow the original Riders.
Ajihad raised a hand and his men assembled in two straight lines behind him and began their march to Tronjheim.
Legolas narrowed his eyes peering out toward the tunnel Ajihad has just emerged from. Then his eyes went wide with horror. It was Gimli that supplied the explanation. "Urgals!"
Legolas and Arya were away, sprinting frantically toward Ajihad's party as the Urgals began to converge on them. Gimli and Orik followed the two Elves with a group of men behind them. Eragon climbed onto Saphira ready to plunge into the fray. He felt the tell tale twinge in his back and he gasped as the pain he was by now accustomed to shot up his spine.
The Urgals had slain all the men leaving only four figures of Ajihad, Murtagh and the Twins. They fought the remaining Urgals with all they had, but by the time Eragon and Saphira had reached them, they found only one prone form.
Ajihad sunk to the ground, surrounded by the five Urgals he had slain in his last stand. Legolas was there in a flash to catch him and lower the man gently to the ground.
"No!" Eragon cried dashing toward him, jumping over and side-stepping the bodies that now littered the ground. "Ajihad, no"!
the man's breathing came in ragged gasps, Eragon dropped to his knees at the leader of the Varden's side. Quickly surveying the wounds that had been inflicted on him Eragon fought to hold back his tears.
"Eragon, he… these wounds," Legolas said quietly as he cradled Ajihad's head in his lap.
"I know," Eragon sniffed looking to his Elven friend helplessly.
Arya came up behind him, a great sadness fell over her as she realised that Ajihad's wounds were fatal and beyond healing. It was too late for the mighty leader of the Varden.
"Eragon…" the word tore breathlessly from Ajihad's lips.
Eragon leaned in closer so he could catch Ajihad's last words. "Yes my lord, I am here."
"You must promise- promise me now, you will not let the Varden fall," the dying man paused to take a great gulp of as it grew increasingly difficult for him to speak as the last of his strength ebbed away from him. "They are the only hope for resisting the Empire, keep them strong, promise me."
"I promise," Eragon replied, forcing as much strength behind his words as possible.
"Then peace be with you Shadeslayer…" Ajihad's words faded as he quietly slipped away into his eternal rest, a slight smile on his face which portrayed all the power of a true leader.
Eragon could hold back his tears no longer, he let them fall freely, placing a tender hand over the once mighty man's dark almond eyes and gently closing them forever.
He looked to Legolas in his grief. Legolas nodded to him and bowed his head in respect. A single crystal clear tear slide down his cheek to fall like a fresh drop of rain on the man's face. "Losto mae, hîr nin," he whispered almost imperceptibly.
Eragon rose to his feet and scanned the rest of the dead, dreading what he may find- but to his immense relief, he did not spot Murtagh lying prone on the ground. He turned in a full circle searching for his friend only to find that he was nowhere to be found. His relief was soon replaced by worry.
"Murtagh," he said frantically.
"He was taken by the Urgals back down the tunnel, along with the Twins," Legolas provided, gently laying Ajihad's head on the ground and getting to his feet.
"I don't care about those two! Is there a chance he could still be alive?" Eragon said urgently.
'Eragon, we can't leave him, who knows what the Urgals will do to him!' Saphira spoke to him.
'I know, but you are too big to fit into these tunnels. Arg, we need reinforcements now!' Eragon replied.
During Eragon's mental conversation with Saphira, Legolas and Arya had been having their own quiet discussion.
Gimli and Orik joined Eragon next to Ajihad's body as Legolas and Arya came to a conclusion of their discussion.
"We are going to search for Murtagh and the Twins," Arya informed.
"Thank you," Eragon inclined his head. "Please be careful, both of you," he added glancing one to the other.
Arya nodded and she and Legolas dashed off into the tunnel, the last sight of them before they disappeared into the bowls of the earth was the glint of their swords.
-:0:-
It was as black as pitch down in the tunnels, it was even a strain for Legolas and Arya to see in the gloom even with their superior Elven eyesight, the darkness only grew as they got further and further away from the opening of the tunnel from which they had come.
Legolas picked up a piece of wooden debris that must have broken off from the support beams lining the tunnel. "I can endure this darkness no longer," he said Arya nodded in agreement. "Brisingr," he muttered and a small blue flame burst into life at the end of the piece of wood. They continued on.
The two Elves spoke seldom, concentrating fiercely, listening for any indication that the Urgal party was anywhere near. Even as they went deeper into the Dwarven tunnels, they heard but a murmur but the occasional scrabble of loose rocks falling somewhere in the vastness of the underground labyrinth, nothing that sounded potentially like their quarry.
After what must have been hours of searching, Arya finally stopped and turned to face Legolas, her face just illuminated in the feeble light Legolas held. "This is futile," she sighed. "I do not wish to give up on Murtagh, but we have walked for miles with no sign of any Urgals and those they have-"
There was a metallic sounding noise as Arya stepped back slightly. She stood still peering down at the ground, trying to discern exactly what she had stepped on. Legolas came forward and shone the flickering flame on the assortment of objects that littered the ground. He and Arya knelt down to examine them further.
"One of the Twin's robes," said Arya running the rich purple fabric through her long hands.
"And Murtagh's tunic and gauntlets," said Legolas handling the torn and bloody tunic with care.
"You do not think?" Arya cut herself off, unwilling to continue.
"I do not want to think," Legolas replied sharply. He shone the light around, increasing the flame a little with his mind so that the chasm they found themselves in could be fully illuminated with the dim blue glow.
They both gasped.
Feet away from them was a great hole in the centre of the floor which tunnels could not lead to. Legolas stood and walked cautiously toward the edge, holding the light out over the great black hole he peered down.
He felt himself sway further and further out over it as he peered down, his body tilting over the edge- he could not stop himself.
Arya grabbed his arm and flung him backwards with force. Legolas dropped the flaming torch and let it fall to the ground, extinguishing itself. He passed a slender hand over his eyes and blinked.
"Thank you Arya, I could not-"
"Do not mention it." she replied briskly, picking up the torch and relighting it with brisingr. "You just experienced a bad case of vertigo."
"That great pit has no bottom," Legolas said. He sighed. 2I have always disliked caves and tunnels."
"Yet you are best friends with a Dwarf?" Arya said with a mocking smile.
Legolas tilted his head and frowned. "Gimli hates forests. We compromise."
"It is most likely the Urgals took everything of value such as weapons and armour then tossed the bodies into the pit," said Arya.
"I do not wish to think that, though I think it the most likely explanation," said Legolas.
"There is a way to find out," said Arya. She knelt down and dug out a shallow basin to fill with water. Legolas knelt down besides her, holding the light out for her to see by. "Draumr kópa," she said.
The water swirled before the two Elves then went still. "All I see is blackness," said Legolas. "Engulfing blackness."
Arya nodded then let the darkness fade and the water to seep away into the earth. "I can not scry them either. They must be lost."
A/N The first chapter of a new story, hope you all enjoyed that. And I know this was a little later than planned, but I have school now, and all the work that comes with it. Dammit.
If anyone has any ideas for this, or if there is something you would really like to see in the course of this story, don't hesitate to say so in a review or email me. i don't mind taking you guys ideas into consideration. And if you just wanna chat about Eldest or whatever, feel free to email me!
Sé onr sverdar sitja hvass!
Lolly pop