Inheritance Fan Fiction – After Book 4

Chapter 1 – Homeward Bound

Eragon sat cross-legged by the fire, Saphira curled up beside him. He lay back and rested against her warm belly. The fire wasn't so much for warmth – Saphira could keep him warm enough – but more for his spirits. Whenever he was out in the wilderness or even in his quarters at the new Home of the Riders, nothing could lift his spirits more than a nice, roaring fire.

For the ninth time in an hour, he lifted his eyes to the horizon to view the exact spot where the ship had disappeared. He had watched intently as first the hull of the ship and then, lastly, the sails had vanished.

Do you still think this is a good idea? He asked Saphira.

Saphira yawned widely, her barbed tongue curling at the tip like a cat's.

It must be done. She paused briefly and turned her monstrous head to look at him with her great sapphire-blue eye. She studied him a moment longer and said,

You could have gone with them, you know?

Eragon was not surprised that she knew what was bothering him. Their mental link that bonded them was more intimate and close than any lover's, closer than even family and they could hide nothing from each other.

You heard Angela's fortune telling in Teirm. I can never return.

Eragon, you know as well as I do that just because she saw something doesn't mean it has to come true. You remember Oromis' lessons, yes? And what Arya told you about the elf, Maerzadi? What she saw was but one possible outcome. No one can tell the future for it doesn't exist. There is only now.

Eragon shrugged. What if she saw that I would try to come back and, if I did, I wouldn't make it?

Saphira chuckled, a low, grumbling sound that reminded Eragon of rolling thunder. Same answer, I think.

Eragon banked the fire for the night and huddled close to Saphira's belly as she curled her great neck and rested her head on the ground next to him. With one hand, he reached out and stroked a spot on her scaly jaw. His fingernail produced a grating sound on the soft, almost leathery scales. She hummed, deep in her chest, and the air around them began to vibrate. He smiled.

Maybe…but I would rather not risk it unless it is absolutely necessary.

Little one. She snaked out her tongue and gently licked his elbow. Eragon tucked his knees close to his chest in the fetal position and rested his head on his pack. He tucked the blanket close and closed his eyes, almost immediately falling into his waking dreams.

Early the next morning, Eragon and Saphira returned to their new home. The week before, after having been gone for nearly six full months and spending three of those months searching for the perfect place to set up home, Blodhgarm had suggested sending an envoy back to Alagaesia to inform the leaders of all of the races where they were and that they were safe. It would be necessary in the event the new eggs hatched for their new Riders and needed training. They had all met together, along with the sane Eldunari, and had all come to an agreement. Eragon, initially, was opposed to it. After all, the reason they had left Alagaesia was for the safety of the remaining eggs and Eldunari. If they were going to tell everyone where they had gone, that would have defeated the whole purpose of leaving in the first place. Eventually, after deciding to tell only the leaders of the races and forcing them to swear secrecy in the ancient language before being told anything, Eragon consented. They had decided to send half of the Elves back and the remaining half, along with Eragon and Saphira, would stay behind and continue the construction. Eragon had insisted on following Blodhgarm, who would be leading the group back, to the launch site. During their travels, the two had become fast friends, almost mimicking the way Eragon and Murtagh had become friends. Eragon also knew that Blodhgarm would most likely visit his own Queen, Arya, first and he could only trust Blodhgarm to deliver a letter for him in secret without reading it himself.

Saphira had warned him about sending Arya the letter, given how things had ended, but he couldn't resist. He knew as well as Arya that the timing just was not right and that, maybe, she had been right from the beginning when she said it just couldn't work out between them. However, that did not mean he did not still care for her. He considered her one of his closest and most trusted friends and he thought she felt the same way about him, as evidenced by their exchange of the most treasured and respected gift a living person could entrust to another; their true names. To know one's true name gave you complete control over that person. So, he reasoned, it would have been rude to not send her a letter telling her of his travels and inquiring after her well-being.

As they approached the construction site from the air, Eragon noticed that, despite sending away half of the elves back to Alagaesia, they made significant progress in building their new homes. With the help of the Eldunari's strength, they had sung beautiful buildings out of the trees, reminiscent of Ellesmera. The main building was a two story complex made by dozens of trees together. Two of the elves, Hasan and Lian, worked to build beautiful bridges that would span from one public building to the next. When finished, it would be possible to move from one of the main buildings to the next without having to set foot on the ground. The largest of those buildings would be used for storing and working with the Eldunari and personal living quarters. In the center of the camp sat a massive tree. This tree reminded the Elves of the Menoa tree in Ellesmera and that was what had drawn them to this place. As Eragon and Saphira landed in a puff of dirt and dust, the Elves hurried out and greeted them, touching their first two fingers to their lips and bowing, initiating the traditional Elven greeting with them both.

When the niceties were finished Nala, one of the Elves who had fought with them when Eragon had confronted, and killed, King Galbatorix, rushed forward and said in the ancient language, "Follow us, Rider Eragon. Follow us, Saphira Brightscales. We have something you needs must see!"

Eragon cocked his head slightly, puzzled, but before he could say anything, the Elves surrounded him and ushered him forward.

They led him to the base of the large tree and Eragon spotted a small doorway at the base; a doorway he could not remember being there when he and Saphira had left a few days prior. Before he could point it out to Saphira, the Elves forced him through the doorway and up the stairs that had been grown out of the trunk. It seemed eerily familiar to Eragon…

At the top of the stairs was another doorway which twisted beautifully out of the wood and was decorated with pictures. Upon closer inspection, Eragon noticed that they were small murals of all the important events in his life – the forest clearing where he had found Saphira's egg, killing Durza in Farthen Dur, his transformation at the Agaeti Blodhren, forging his sword, Brisingr, with Rhunon, killing Galbatorix in Uru'baen and, right at the top over the center of the doorway, the ceremony where they had altered the spell binding Riders and Dragons to include all the races of Alagaesia.

Eragon stood, dumbstruck. He looked from one Elf to the next and twisted his hand over his sternum in a gesture of fealty and respect and said, "Thank you. This is incredible!"

Nala said, "There is more, Eragon. Look."

In front of them, the doorway that had appeared solid at first was swinging inward on invisible hinges. Awed, Eragon stepped forward and entered the room. Before him was a beautiful living space, nearly as large as the one that had been his home in Ellesmera. The same large, open window along the wall, large enough for Saphira – or even possibly Glaedr when he was still alive – to enter through, the same large bowl in the floor with padding where Saphira could sleep in comfort and a very large, soft bed, the frame of which had been sung out of the tree. To his left, there was a stairwell and Eragon suspected it led to a study. As he looked around, Nala said, "It was customary for the leader of the Riders to have their own personal living quarters. As the first of the new Order and in recognition of all you have achieved in your short time as such, you are the rightful heir to that title and it is only right you receive the same."

Eragon could hardly contain himself. He thanked each of the Elves individually for all they had done for him and, as Saphira landed lightly in the large open window, the Elves departed to allow Eragon and Saphira to enjoy their new living space and rest.

Amazing, isn't it Saphira? He said in wonder, removing the saddle from her back.

Yes, it is beautiful. she replied.

I wish I knew what I could do to thank them. This must have taken enormous effort to complete in such a short amount of time.

Saphira studied their surrounding and snorted, releasing a puff of smoke,

It is almost like we never left. I think that is their real gift to you.

Eragon nodded absentmindedly as he ascended the stairs into the study. True to the trend, the room was almost identical to the one in Ellesmera, right down to the sheet that spanned the opening to shield from the elements. He approached the elegant desk and ran a finger over the etched markings. The detail was exquisite; an image of Roran and Katrina, Kings Orik and Orrin, and Queens Nasuada and Arya were most prominent. Eragon's eyes welled up upon seeing Roran and Katrina's face and, as his gaze roved over the pictures, he lingered upon the image of Arya most of all. The pictures were so vivid so as to seem alive; so much so that Eragon wondered if they had made a fairth within the wood, though he didn't know if that was possible.

Saphira, look. He said, and showed her pictures with his mind of all he saw.

She was just as awestruck as he was. It seems the Elves have outdone themselves.

Yes, this is incredible.

Eragon ran his fingers over the images once more before descending the stairs, finding Saphia curled up upon her dais. He went to edge of the bed and sat down. Suddenly tired from his roiling emotions, he lay back and closed his eyes, slowing his breathing and shrugging off all thoughts until he attained a state of being not unlike when he meditate. Before long he entered the trance-like state of his waking dreams as the sun began to set and the day came to an end.