Travel

After a week from the departure, Eragon, Saphira and the elves sailed the unknown land of what was beyond Alagёsia. There was no longer any need for the ship that they were using, and had to travel on steed provided from Ellesméra, the elven nation. It was a grueling travel and not much was spoken between the elves and Eragon unless it had to do with camp or other formalities, but for the most part, the elves kept to themselves and were there to accompany Eragon. Queen Arya, from the elven nation, sent the elves so that they may know the location to take the future riders. Even though they did not speak much to Eragon, he was happy that he had the elves around for it was as if they were the only piece of Arya he had left besides his memories.

Everyday Saphira traveled overhead in the dry plains to stretch her wings. She kept lookout for any trace of what the Elundarí described as The High Craigs, a place that not even Glader knew of. According to the other dragons, it is an ancient mountain range where dragons used to live before they traveled to the land of Alagёsia. It is supposed to be a sacred mountain range inhibited long before the union of dragon and elf and goes farther back than the memory of the oldest dragon that traveled with them. In fact, they were following the directions of the oldest dragon that was with them, whose memory was faint enough to remember the directions told to him from the dragons before him. Nonetheless, Eragon trusted the dragon and did not question him for the most part.

Occasionally, Eragon rode Saphira but mostly stayed on ground to accompany the elves. He did not want them to think that they were holding Eragon back when he could easily travel to his destination a lot faster on Saphira. "Besides," he thought, "If I am going to be with them for a while, the last thing I want is to offend them and take word back to Ellesméra."

With the instruction of the Elundarí, Eragon began to become impatient as the week of travel turned into months. The landscape was usually always the same: Flat, dry and no sight of any mountain ranges. There was lots of tall dry grass too that they had to go through down and occasionally, few hawks flew overhead searching for their prey.

Traveling wasn't easy, his legs ached but he refused to heal his soreness and bruising. Leaving his loved ones behind left a new ache in his heart, so he focused on the physical pain with the hope that it could distract him from his new loss. After a while, he sighed to himself as his aching heart hurt more than his physical pain when he began to reflect upon his memories. He thought about Roran, his cousin he considered his brother, and Katrina, Roran's wife, and wondered if they were at Carvahall with their new daughter building the castle on the hilltop. Eragon hoped that the jewels he had given them would be enough. He thought about Arya and her pine smell and those slanted emerald green eyes of hers that made him nervous and weak all at the same time if he were to look at her too long. He then stopped himself from continuing his thoughts about her and began to think about Roran and Katrina again suddenly worried about their safety.

"They will be fine." He thought. "If they need to contact me they have the ring I gave them."

Deep down inside he knew they would not contact him for any trouble, for he knew that Angela's fortune foretold that he would never return to Alagёsia. He wished that some sort of trouble happened to them so he could return to see them, but he quickly regretted the thought. He shook his head and cursed himself for being selfish.

Finally, Saphira who was lingering above, finally entered his thoughts and tenderly said, "Little one, I see that you have been struggling to deal with your emotions, but do not let yourself not feel. You did not leave everything behind. You have me, and you know you can confide in me everything. There is nothing that time will not make easier to bear."

Feeling his restlessness ease, he responded, "Thank you Saphira, with you I know that I can overcome any obstacle."

Content with what Saphira had told him, he began to look around his surroundings and noticed the plains they were traveling on had a mysterious aura around them. Everything was a slight shade darker and the temperature seemed to drop slightly. He could tell they were rising in elevation, because breathing began to become a bit harder.

"Will we ever find the location we are looking for?" Eragon asked the hearts of the Elundarí that was safely tucked in the saddle of Saphira. He tried to be polite but his tone was harsher than he expected.

The eldest dragon replied in a low grumble,

" About two more days, hatchling if memory serves me right. It would be best that you were patient; time for you is not the same as time for us. One day for you can seem like only a moment for us. Which is why many of us seclude ourselves in peace for centuries. As soon as we arrive, Eragon, we shall begin your magic training where Omoris had left off. Do not ever think that because you know the name of the ancient language you can cut corners, on the contrary, because you and Saphira have been chosen to be the Head of the Riders, you have many responsibilities to uphold so you do not make the same mistakes as the ones before you. By the time we are finished, experience, wisdom and common sense will be your only teacher left."

And with that, the deep grumble came to an end. Eragon felt a strange shiver starting from his spine throughout his arms and finally down to his body. Initially, he felt a bit offended that the eldest dragon still considered him a hatchling after defeating Galbatorix, however, his curiosity was far stronger than his pride. He started to ask the Eldest dragon questions, such as his name and what to expect when they get to The High Craig. He asked about what is left to learn and what kind of training he was going to receive, but the dragon kept silent and distant. Eragon gave up asking more questions and felt himself shiver as he felt his anxiety creep inside of him. He thought of what awaited him, but did whatever it took to assure himself that all his sacrifices will benefit future riders and dragons alike.

The bright sun began to turn dark red as it began to set, and it signaled that it was time to stop traveling and set up camp. Eragon helped clear the tall dry grass and helped start a fire. He kept an eye on the fire making sure that the dry grass did not burn while he began to look for any edible roots around in the plains. Food was made and everyone ate in silence. When he was done, he put out the fire immediately and went to Saphira to unbuckle her saddle so she can rest easily, and as soon as he was done, he placed the Elundarí in a safe place so that if they happened to be ambushed they would be out of harm. He noticed that everyone had gone inside his or her tent, so he stayed outside with Saphira and rubbed her neck until she hummed herself to sleep. He wanted to rest, but his body ached from sitting on the steed all day. He examined his thighs and noticed that the red soreness and bruising had gotten a bit worse from the lack of attention he had given them for the past months. Again, he refused to heal it, and leaned on Saphira. He held Brisingr, his sapphire sword, and let his mind wander about everything that the eldest dragon had told him. He wondered about what more he had to learn left and thought about how he was supposed to mentor the future riders. He sighed to himself and looked up at the stars. He thought about Arya and wondered if she was looking up at them too. He closed his eyes and finally fell asleep.