Currently rewriting some of my stories (and continuing on with them).
This one is partially inspired by the the Stravaganza series for the initial plot device of getting my character to Alagaesia.
Hope you enjoy it!
'Eragon lifted Glaedr's Eldunari over his head, presenting it to the sun and the new day, and he smiled, eager for the battles yet to come, so that he and Saphira might finally confront Galbatorix and kill the dark king.'
Rereading the last sentence of Brisingr I felt discontent, it couldn't end like that, there was still so much to happen, I didn't want to wait for the next book! I was sitting cross legged on my bed, Brisingr had come out the day before and I'd been up all night reading it, the sun was now starting to lighten the horizon. Soon my mother would be in to check on me.
I still longed for the old days where my alarm would go off and I'd get ready for school, hang out with friends and do normal things. The days when I had the energy to do this and didn't feel perpetually ill. But being diagnosed with cancer will do that to a girl. Even school looks good compared to what I go thorough now and have for years on a daily basis.
I sighed and closed the book. Books could only help me escape reality for so long before it crept back in. Lying down, I decided to take a nap before my mother came in. Closing my eyes, I began to drift off.
Suddenly, I felt a strange wrenching within me as though I were being pulled into several pieces. A buzzing noise stared in my ears before falling silent. For a moment I could feel nothing as though trapped in a void. Noise slowly came back, birds whistling and the wind rustling though leaves. I was aware of lying on something again.
Opening my eyes I was momentarily confused. My ceiling was gone, a clear blue sky loomed over me. Blinking rapidly, I lifted my head. There were mountains ahead, largely forested with no roads or powerlines or anything.
Frowning I looked at my more immediate surroundings. To my left, was what looked like - and smelled like - a bog. To my right, was a muddy road that wound it's way towards the mountains. Off in the distance I could see two figures on horses coming towards me.
Maybe if I stand up I will feel less disorientated? It was worth a try. Standing up I was struck by how easy it felt to do so, as if I were not dying like it normally felt. This is a really good dream. I decided, there was no other way this could be happening.
A breeze brushed past me, swirling my hair around my shoulders. Hair? It had been years since I'd had hair, let alone hair that was waist length and healthy.
The figures on the path were getting closer. They both appeared to be male, one young and one old. I decided to wait for them so I could find out what dream world I was in. I sat back down on the damp grass and waited.
"Aonia, I have breakfast here for you, if you think you can manage it." I said as I entered my daughters room.
She was sleeping peacefully on her bed, curled in a ball and clutching one of her books to her chest. These days she looked so fragile, her bones jutting against her skin and long since having lost her hair. Quietly I checked to make sure she was still breathing before walking out of the room. Since she rarely slept well anymore I would leave her to it for a while longer.
When I returned again to check on her, she didn't seem to have so much as twitched. Concerned, I wandered over to her bed and sat down on the edge. Stroking her head I debated the peace of mind I would get from having woken her versus the extra sleep she would get if I didn't.
Worry eventually won out and I gently shook her shoulder. "Aonia. Aonia, honey." Not so much as a hint of stirring. "It's time to wake up. Please." Still no response. I was disturbed now as my daughter was typically a light sleeper, particularly recently.
The doctors had told us that if we has any problems, no matter how small, to call them. Leaving my daughter sleeping, I went downstairs and dialed the doctor's number. He picked up on the second ring.
"Doctor Andrews speaking." His tinny voice said though the phone.
"Mrs James here." I said as I clutched the phone. Aonia had had cancer for the better part of a decade. Normally we knew what to do about things now. We knew when things were wrong. Never before had I failed to wake her this late in the day.
"I can't wake her, I can't wake Aonia." I could feel tears starting to trickle down my face as worst case scenarios ran though my head. What if I never spoke to her again?
There was a pause on the other end as the doctor thought it over. "Leave her be for a while longer, It's not going to hurt to let her rest a while longer. It may be nothing. If she hasn't woken by six tonight then bring her in to the hospital and we'll give her a checkup."
At six, I returned up the stairs to check on Aonia as I had intermittently over the day. I tried waking her again in vain. Feeling as though my heart were breaking I called for my husband. We were going to have to take her in. Hopefully this wasn't the beginning of the end for her. It was still too soon for that.
When the two men got close enough to hear me I called out to them, "Excuse me, can you help me please, can you tell me where I am?"
I could see then exchanging a glance, but they did at least halt their horses. "How do you not know where you are?" the older one asked.
That stumped me. How to explain to Mr. Dream-man. Actually, since this was just a dream it didn't really matter what I said. "Just tell me." I said imperiously.
"Your on the Terim Highway, about an hours ride from the gates that way." The younger one supplied pointing.
Looking in the direction he was pointing, I pursed my lips. "Terim? as in coastal city in Alagaesia?" I guess I really have been reading to much if my books are coming to life in my dreams. "I suppose that makes you Eragon and Brom." I said absently as I pondered when in the storyline I must be. If Brom was still here then it must be the first book. Terim... They must be going to look at the shipping records. "I'd love to meet Saphira, that would be totally awesome!" Focusing back on the two men I saw they were both observing me closely now.
"What-? How-?" Eragon spluttered as Brom glared at him.
"And what is it you think you know?" Brom turned to regard me with cold eyes.
Maybe now revealing you know their big dark secrets to them, even if this is a dream might have been an idea. The look on Brom's face made me realise that I had miscalculated. It may be my dream but evidently it wasn't simply happening for my amusement. "Um... Thanks for your help, I have to be going now." Turning in the direction of Terim I started walking quickly, hoping to just have them let it go and not kill me. I doubted very much that would be enjoyable, even in a dream, certainly no more than it was in real life.
No such luck for me. Before I had walked more than a handful of steps one of the horses moved in front of me. I'd never have thought horses were this big. It's shoulders were higher than my face. I craned my head up to see Brom, his brows pulled together in a frown.
I could feel a fluttering on my mind. I guessed it would be Brom searching my mind. "No, no, no, no. Don't do that. You do not have a right to the information in my mind." As curious as I was as to what my imagination would make up for a reaction as to their personal futures being revealed to them, I was not curious enough to find out and ruin the dream. "As much as I am enjoying this dream, you are so not ruining it by doing that."
"Dream? Why do you think this is a dream?" Eragon asked as he came over to join the conversation.
"Ummm..." I stalled. "What else could it be?"
Without saying anything, Eragon dismounted and walked over to me. I watched him warily as he approached.
He pinched me. On the arm. Hard.
"Ouch! That hurt!" I moved away and rubbed my arm, then glared. "What is wrong with you?"
"Well if you were dreaming, that would have woken you up." Eragon said reasonably.
My mouth opened of its own accord. Well I certainly wouldn't be waking up anytime soon it would seem. "Well still no mind reading. Understood?" I turned to Brom. "This is important. Heck to stop you, I'll swear in the ancient language that I mean you no harm, and will in fact help you in any way I can. Will that suffice?"
Brom seems surprised to hear this. Evidently my help had not even been considered as a possibility. "Go ahead then. That will suffice."
I frowned. "Well then, how do I say 'I swear I mean you no harm and will help you overthrow Galbatorix'?" I certainly didn't know how to say that.
"Eka otherum eka mulabra ono ne minen un weohnata groenin ono blothr konungr." Brom said, the words flowing like poetry.
I repeated the words slowly and carefully. I think the power I could feel flowing through the words was the thing that convinced me more than anything that what was going on might not be a dream. I could feel my eyes growing wider as I said the words.
Brom seemed satisfied by my words and now looked to Eragon. "We should continue on, we still have far to go."
Realising they were just going to leave me behind, I objected. "Hey! You can't just leave me here. I said I would help and while I can't say everything I know, that doesn't mean I won't be of use to you. Please!"
Brom didn't even glance my way, instead continuing to look at Eragon. Eragon however, was examining at me, more closely this time than before. He pursed his lips considering. "It can't hurt, Brom. She will hardly be able to cause us any problems if we keep her close."
Brom glanced at me curtly. Evidently he was the less trusting us the pair. Still, given how much he had been through in his long life I could hardly blame him. "Fine, she can ride with you until we find an alternative. You may want to lend her some clothes too, since she will definitely draw attention in Terim dressed like that."
Looking down I realised with a start I was still inexplicably wearing my fluffy blue pajamas with unicorns on them from before I fell asleep at home. Eragon held out some clothes to me. I felt myself blush and grab the offered shirt and pants before looking around for somewhere to change. Moving away from the two men to behind a grassy mound I quickly change clothes and roll my pajamas into a ball. The clothes I'd put on were baggy but comfortable. The lack of zips is was rather disconcerting though.
Eragon wordlessly put my pajamas in a saddlebag after giving them a confused look. He then pulled me onto the horse in front of him.
I'd never been on a horse before, it feels much high and less stable than I expected. Settling into the saddle I can feel Eragon's chest right behind me. Having had cancer since I was twelve, I'd known that any day might be my last. This wasn't conducive to getting to know people - I'd been a relationship hermit for the past decade or so. This is the closest I'd ever been to a man that wasn't my father in at least five years. It felt odd, intimate and very warm. Trying to ignore the feeling, I looked to Brom. He's watching me with pursed lips again, as if I'm a puzzle he's trying to solve.
"What is your name anyway?" Brom asks me.
"Aonia. Aonia James." I automatically hold out my hand as if to shake hands. Brom's lips twitch in amusement before I can lower my hand.
"Very well, Aonia James. Try not to fall off the horse." With that Brom urges Snowfire into action and we continued along the road to Terim.
As we moved along I couldn't help but smile, regardless of if this is a dream it seems like it might be fun. And who knows, if I stick around long enough I might even get to find out what happens in book four before everyone else.
"A coma?" I said blankly.
"I'm afraid so, Mrs. James." The doctor said. "All we can do now is hope she wakes up. And I'm sorry to be honest but the chances of that are not good."
I nodded, watching my husband as he let out a slow breath. Aonia was fading away before our very eyes and there was nothing we could do to stop it.
The ancient language spoken was translated word for word from with my own additions for words that didn't have a translation.