Part 1: Lost and Found.
A lone figure walked across the barren desert. His long, black coat and silver hair flapping in the strong breeze. In one hand, he held a long Masamune sword. The other, clutching at his stomach. A slow trickle of blood seeped through his fingers. Sephiroth thought of the person who did this to him. Cloud Strife, a low ranked SOLDIER, had attacked him and thrown him into the Lifestream just after he had been reunited with Jenova. His mother, and the calamity that came from the sky. Sephiroth's body burned with anger as he thought of it over and over again. He had held her and in that brief moment he felt as if all the answers he had searched for were right there. But now Sephiroth had to find out where he was. He had slipped in and out of consciousness while he was falling through the Lifestream and when he awoke he was in the desert. There was a mountain range just south of where Sephiroth was, so he headed in that direction. He had been walking for what seemed like hours and the mountains didn't seem to be getting closer. His legs were growing tired and his piercing blue eyes, the eyes of a person infused with Mako, had started to glaze over. Finally, a small village appeared on the edge of the mountains. The sound of a river flowing could also be heard. Sephiroth headed towards the village, but when he got close by, his vision suddenly went blurry and the ground rushed up to meet him.
Sephiroth awoke
in a small, dimly lit room. The embers of a fire burned in a corner
of the room giving off a faint orange glow. Sephiroth got up and sat
on the edge of the bad. He rubbed his eyes, trying to adjust to the
faint light in the room. He unclasped his cloak and looked at his
stomach. Expecting to see a bandage or even a scar, there was
nothing. He ran a hand over what used to be a gaping wound but was
surprised to find that it was a smooth as it was before the attack.
He stood up and stretched out his arms. There was no pain or
difficulty doing so.
"What kind of magic is this?" Sephiroth
said to himself as he sat back down on the bed. Noticing a small
table beside the bad, there was a plate of fruits, nuts and even some
meat on it. Sephiroth picked up a berry. It was a vibrant red in
colour and about the size of a pebble. He looked at it closely, the
skin was covered in small bumps. Suddenly realizing how hungry he
was, he ate the berry. A rich flavour filled his mouth. It was
extremely juicy and its taste was sweet, it had more than likely been
picked that day. Sephiroth ate a few more of the red berries. He
then looked at the meat that was on the plate. It looked as though
it had been cooked to perfection. Sephiroth looked around, noticing
no knives or forks, he picked up the meat and tore off a piece. It
tasted exactly like it looked. Before he knew it, Sephiroth had
cleaned the plate. He stood up and examined the room. A closet was
on one side of the room, his sword propped up against it. Sephiroth
walked over and picked up his weapon. It was very long, if Sephiroth
placed its tip in the ground, it would be as long as he was tall.
But for its size it was extremely easy for him to use. He had no
trouble wielding such a long sword. Sephiroth examined the sword for
any sign of damage, but there was none.
"Finally, you're
awake." A voice said.
Sephiroth turned to see a young woman
standing in the doorway.
"Who are you?" Sephiroth asked.
"Where am I?"
"I am Nasuada, daughter of Ajihad. You are in
Farthen Dur, home of the Dwarves and the Varden." Nasuada said.
"One of our scouts found you unconscious and brought you
here."
"How long have I been here?"
"Almost a week
now. "
Sephiroth rubbed his head, the realization that he had
been asleep for a week hit him hard. "You said Farthen Dur. I've
never heard of that place. Where am I?"
Nasuada looked at
Sephiroth. "What do you mean?"
"I mean what is this
place?"
There was a knock at the door. A guard walked in.
"My
lady." He said with a bow. "I don't think it's wise to be
talking her perhaps you should take this to your private
quarters?"
"Very well." Nasuada said to the guard before
turning back to Sephiroth. "Follow me."
Nasuada got up and
walked over to the door. Sephiroth looked at her, picked up his
sword then followed her out of the room.
Nasuada walked
along several corridors, Sephiroth followed behind with the guard
following as well. All the corridors they walked down looked the
same. Every few metres, there was a torch, or a doorway that lead
down another corridor. Soon there shone a bright light from the end
of the corridor. The corridor opened and Sephiroth stood before a
giant, iron gate.
"Welcome to Tronjheim." Nasuada said.
The
guard walked up to the gates and knocked twice.
Two dwarves
appeared and shouted "Who goes there?"
"Lady Nasuada of the
Varden and a guest." The guard replied.
The sound of a large
lock opening and the grinding noise of iron on stone was heard as the
gate slid back.
Nasuada, Sephiroth and the guard walked through
the gate. The sound of iron on stone was heard as the gate slid shut
again. Sephiroth barely walked two steps before he was surrounded by
Dwarves. Women, children, even men had gathered around him.
"What's happening?" Sephiroth asked.
"Can't you
tell?" Nasuada said. "They're here to see the new person. I
mean you look different from everyone else."
Sephiroth realized
that he was dressed differently to everyone else. His long silver
hair, black cloak that buckled around his stomach, black pants, boots
and gloves, as well as the silver shoulder armour, was very different
to everyone else. Nasuada wore a rich purple full-length robe,
adorned with gold jewelry. His dark hair was very tidy and rolled up
into a bun that was placed at the back of her head. The guard wore a
white shirt over the top of a chain mail shirt that stopped at his
waist, leather gloves and boots, a steel helm and on his waist, a
sword.
"How much further do we have to go?" Sephiroth
said.
"Not far now. It's just on the other side of town."
Nasuada said as she made her way through the crowd.
Sephiroth took
a step after Nasuada but stopped when he felt something tugging at
his cloak. He looked down to see a small Dwarf child looking at him
with small eyes filled with curiosity. He leaned down gently pushed
the child aside and walked after Nasuada.
They made their
way across Tronjheim to another gate. This one was open, like it was
expecting them. The area past the gate opened up into a large cave.
Numerous sets of staircases were along the cave walls.
"This
is as far as I go my lady." The guard said with a bow.
"Thank
you." Nasuada said.
The guard turned around and walked back
through the gate.
"Now, let's continue on." Nasuada turned
to Sephiroth and pointed to a set of stairs. "My room is just up
those stairs. We can talk there."
They walked over to the set of
stairs Nasuada pointed out and began the steady ascent. Soon the
stairs stopped and they entered another cave. There was a door at
the opposite end with two guards standing in front of it. Nasuada
and Sephiroth approached the guards, when they got close the guard on
the right knocked twice on the door. It eased open as if someone had
gently pushed it. They entered the room and the door closed behind
them with a faint click. They were in a large room filled with
expensive jewelry, silk and another items that looked old. Several
books were sitting on top of a bookcase in one corner of the room.
In the other was a bed large enough for several people. There was a
door to Sephiroth's right but it was shut. In the middle of the
room was a desk. Three chairs, one on one side and two on the other,
were at the desk.
Nasuada sat in one of the chairs. "Please,
sit down."
Sephiroth sat in the chair facing Nasuada, his sword
still in his hand, lay across his legs.
"Before you ask me what
you want to say, I will start by telling you what you want to know."
Nasuada explained to Sephiroth about the Varden and their war
against the Empire, about Galbatorix and his rise to power, about the
Elves and their forests, the Dwarves and their mountain home, the
humans and their homes. And finally about the Dragons and their
Riders.
Sephiroth looked at Nasuada for a long time, taking in
all she was telling him. It didn't make any sense to him. Why was
he here? How did he get here? How was he going to get back to
Midgar?
"Do you have any questions?" Nasuada asked.
"You
say this is a place called Alagaesia. I came from Midgar, a place
vastly different to here. "
Sephiroth then told Nasuada about
Midgar, Mako and its effects on both everyday life and people, the
Lifestream, SOLDIER, his mother, Jenova and how he found out that he
wasn't like everyone else, but someone far more special, and about
Cloud Strife, the one who had attacked him during his brief reunion
and thrown him into the Lifestream and to Alagaesia.
"So, what
you're saying is, that you're from Midgar, a place that is
completely different to ours. That you're a Mako infused SOLDIER,
and someone attacked you and threw you into the Lifestream and now
you're here." Nasuada said
"And you're telling me that
someone has taken control of your control and is waging war against
anyone who stands against. While on the back of a dragon."
Sephiroth said.
"Looks like we need your help to defeat
Galbatorix. And you need our help to get you back to
Midgar."
Sephiroth looked at Nasuada. "Seems that way."
There
was a knock on the door.
"Enter." Nasuada called out.
A
young boy, no older then twelve, entered the room. He was covered in
sweat and breathing heavily.
"My lady." The boy said, "He's
here."
"Tell him to come to my room immediately, I must know
everything."
"As you wish, my lady." The boy left the room.
A few minutes
went past, until there was another knock at the door.
"Enter."
Nasuada said.
The young boy from before came in. Another person
walked in as well. This person looked normal but some of his
features were different. His face was slightly pointed and the tips
of his ears were pointed too. He wore a soft white shirt over the
top of some very-well crafted chain mail. He had a certain grace
about him that made Sephiroth feel like this person was important.
He also had a bright green sword that shimmered in the light.
"Please, sit down." Nasuada said as she pointed to the empty
chair. She then turned to the young boy. "You've done well, you
may leave."
The boy bowed and then left. The door shut behind
him.
Nasuada looked at the new person. "Now you must have a lot
to tell me, but first. Eragon meet Sephiroth. Sephiroth, this is
Eragon, one of the last Dragon Riders."
