A/N There are going to be a couple changes to the cannon story. 1st Eragon will rebuild the riders on Vroenguard not in the east. 2nd I am toying with completely dismissing the "will never return" part of Eragon's future.Beyond that this is my first Fanfic so no idea yet how the story will turn out.Finally,I do not own any rights to the Inheritance Cycle.
"The New Empire rose from the ashes of Galbatorix's empire in the decade after the war. The New Empire was under the delusion the war was over. They felt secure in their power, sure no one was left to destroy the peace so many had died to secure. The truth is many threats had hid for the century Galbatorix had ruled because his power was unmatched. With him dead and the new riders untested, a splinter group of rebels formed in the Empire and Surda in a grab for power. This group joined with several powerful individuals kept at bay by the old king. This new army lay siege to the Empire in the years that followed. The subsequent war would nearly destroy everything the Varden had fought for…." excerpt from The Dead Wars by Lord Decklan Valdis
Blades flashed in the light of the setting sun. Screams of the wounded and dying tore at the smoke obscured air. An arrow shattered against Decklan's wards followed by several more. It wouldn't be long before his wards failed completely. Around Decklan a dozen soldiers, clothed in the red uniform of the mad king's empire, closed in. With nowhere to run, surrounded on all sides by soldiers or buildings, Decklan squared his shoulders and raised his longsword.
At just under six feet tall, Decklan was taller than most fifteen year olds. His shoulder length, straight black hair and hard blue eyes gave him the appearance of one twice his age. He wore leather pants and coat over chainmail now stained and torn with the carnage of battle. Decklan looked quickly at the great citadel of Uru' baen where the rider Eragon was fighting the mad king. Resigned to his fate Decklan prepared to kill as many of the Empire's soldiers as he could before the end.
Decklan raised his left hand and barked ,"risa du stenr". Five fist sized stones broke free of the cobblestone street and, at his command, smashed into the Empire's servants. With a feral yell, Decklan charged the soldiers. The magic took a toll on his strength, as with all human magicians, but his blood burned with the rage of combat. Slashing his longsword, he took down one of the soldiers and blocked another's blade. Two more swords bounced off his wards but a third broke through his depleted ward and scored a hit his face. Then everything was a red haze. Blood flew as Decklan blocked and attacked as best he could but he was outnumbered. Faintly, he registered several other cuts opened on his flesh before he succumbed to the darkness of unconsciousness .
With a shout, Decklan woke drenched in sweat. He lay in his bed surrounded by the stone walls of his barracks in Dras Leona . Ten years have passed since that final battle and still the nightmares. With a grunt he rose to his feet. The faint predawn light illuminated his room just enough to make out shapes. Groping for his uniform he dressed, belted on his blade and strapped black bracers to his arms. A knock sounded on his door just as he finished his morning ablutions. Tying his hair back in a queue he said, "Enter".
A young boy with sandy blonde hair opened the door and said, "Captain, Queen Arya will be here with a dragon egg shortly. You are ordered to take charge of the guards escorting her through the city." Acknowledging with a nod Decklan began toward the main city gates.
Seven riders have been chosen from the eggs Queen Arya has escorted throughout the land, only two of them humans. Maybe it's time for another human to be chosen. Decklan pondered the changes that the Empire has seen since Galbatorix was killed as he walked. Magicians from all human cities now enter the new academy and learn at no cost in exchange for two years mandatory service to the crown as a way to deter abuse of magic. Riders are returning and wild dragons are again free in the world. Truly things have changed. I wonder how the reconstruction of Vroengard goes. Eragon Kingkiller left near ten years ago to restore the home of the riders and has not been seen since.
Arriving at the city gate and leaving the maze of Dras Leona behind him, Decklan greeted his squad. They, like him, were magicians most serving their mandatory two years of military service, though Decklan was one of the few who stayed in past his two years. "Fall in," Decklan shouted. The group of six men and three women wearing the black leather with gold trim customary of the magician core lined up in formation. "Today we will have the honor of ensuring the safety of Queen Arya and two dragon eggs. The guard are going to keep the citizens under control. The people will then walk past the eggs one at a time to see if any hatch. We are to watch the crowd and ensure no one attempts to harm the Queen or her delegation. No eggs have been stolen yet and that will not happen on our watch."
A horn sounded clear and bright atop the white stone walls surrounding Dras Leona. "Open the gate," yelled a guard captain Decklan did not recognize. A metallic clinking filled the air as two great chains were drawn back and the gate began to slide open. Decklan and his squad stood tall and unmoving in two lines on each side of the gate. Three elves rode through the gate on pure white horses. Two were fair male elves with silver hair flowing down their heads to silver plate armor of incredible craftsmanship. The third elf was simply stunning. Queen Arya's beauty is not exaggerated in the slightest. Truly no one is fairer than the elves.
Queen Arya sat straight and proud in the saddle with hair like onyx silk and eyes sharp as blades. She appears as deadly as beautiful. Like a wolf. Decklan stepped forward and bowed to the elves saying, "Greetings Queen Arya. On behalf of Lord Talion, governor of Dras Leona , I extend our salutations and our friendship. I am Captain Decklan Valdis. Myself and those with me are assigned to escort you during your stay in Dras Leona ."
Queen Arya thanked him and returned the greetings and friendship of both the elves and the riders. As they spoke the dragon Fírnen, green scales reflecting the early morning light in a dazzling display, flew overhead and began to circle the city. I wonder why Arya rides a horse when her dragon is near. "Queen Arya with your leave I will escort you to the town square. The citizens of the city are gathering there," said Decklan. "Let us go," replied Arya.
Decklan led the elves down the streets of Dras Leona , a city that was quickly becoming a place of beauty as the populace rebuilt from the damages of war. The cobblestone streets were clean and open while the houses built of fine stone or wood stood sentinel on either side of the avenue. Surrounded by the magicians under his command the elves made their way to the center of the city.
The group arrived at the square to find a sea of silent faces eagerly awaiting their turn to touch a dragon egg. Lord Talion, governor of the city met Arya at the square and exchanged greetings before beginning a speech about the honor of this tradition and its importance in the fragile peace in the land. Decklan paid little attention as he focused on scanning the crowd with both eyes and his mind. He was careful not to intrude far into the largely unprotected minds of the people. He needed just to see if any had hostile intent. He did note a few people throughout the crowd with minds shielded from intrusion.
"Keep special watch on those protecting their minds from us. We are the only human magicians in the city so I am surprised any here know how to block us. I do not think any are hostile but watch them all the same," Decklan said to his squad through their shared mental link. Lord Talion called for the procession to start and one by one citizens walked passed Arya who had produced a black dragon egg the size of a chicken and a slightly larger purple egg.
Hours later the procession finally ended and the last of the people returned home. Decklan approached the elfin Queen and asked, "Is there anything I can assist with? I believe Lord Talion will be hosting you and the great dragon Fírnen in the citadel if you wish to rest."
Queen Arya scrutinized Decklan for a long moment as if he held some great secret before saying, "I will retire to the citadel in a moment but first I would ask you a question. Did you fight in the war? Captian is an impressive rank for one as young as yourself." Decklan unconsciously ran his fingers over an angry scar that crossed from his left temple to his right cheek. "Yes I did m'lady. I joined the Varden when they came to Surda. I received this scar at the final battle in the capital." Arya nodded and asked, "Would you and those with you like to see the eggs?"
Decklan had those under his command one by one place a hand on each egg before returning to their posts. Finally Decklan approached the two eggs with a sense of reverence. He slowly placed his left hand on the black egg. Nothing happened. Smiling as he detected the faint mind of the slumbering dragon inside he muttered, "kvetha skulblaka." (Greetings dragon.)
Moving on to the deep purple egg, he placed his palm one its cool surface. This dragon's young mind seemed to shift slightly. Frowning, Decklan lifted his hand and started to walk away when the egg released a squeek. Queen Arya's face lit up as she said, "Decklan Valdis it appears you have been chosen."
Thanks for reading. Please feel free to leave a comment or advice. This is my first Fanfic so I understand my style may be a bit simple or unnatural but I hope to improve with time.