Into the Dawn

I had never really intended to continue this story, which is why the first chapter is more of an initial rush, jumping from scenes. Now I've decided to "give it a go" things should be more drawn out. Many thanks to my reviews (I'll reply at the end!)


Eragon's eyes were ablaze with an unusual emotion. He stood at the prow of the boat, eyes trained on the gentle curves of the land, fingers clutching the handrail so hard his knuckles had long turned white. He breathed gently - In, out, in out. Within his stomach, a knot of cold revelation stirred - What are we sailing into?

The Elvin convoy was composed of eight ships, all now sailing alongside each other. Eragon rode in the flagship, the Adurna Gata. Each ship was decorated with a furling white sail, adorned with the sight of the Menoa tree - A final sign of respect for what they left behind. Although they had been relatively quiet, all eight ships were covered with elves, now looking forward to the horizon.

Progress was slow. It was of no fault of the sea - The waves were mainly calm, but the enormity of the task ahead. Although the first tasks were obvious - Unloading the boat, people, packing it into a suitable land caravan, the ultimate goals were almost too large to comprehend.

We have to find land large enough to support a city - No, a nation. And then we have to build homes - And to do that, we have to either resort to singing trees or build, as we once built, with stones. We have to map this continent - Find if the original elves live here, identify potential threats...

He was snapped out of his thoughts when Arya, ever so gently, touched his arm. For once, he was glad of her touch. He looked up, his eyes met hers and he nodded his thanks. But Arya did not move - She stayed there, her eyes sparkling. Eragon was frozen in place - He was confused, and the noise of the boats fell away - He and she fell through some undiscovered Limbo, never moving. And then suddenly a shout swept all that away, and once again Eragon stood on the boat, and he looked away, his cheeks colouring. Out of the corner of his vision, he could see Arya turn and steady herself on the handrail.

What was that?

Eragon turned away, thoughts returning to the present. The land now loomed close. Although the distance was still an hour or so, he could see that the ships made for a beachhead. The land was mainly compromised of a rocky outcrop, cold and harsh against the subtle blue of the sea. On top of the rocks - Some one hundred foot high, were certainly trees and, Eragon guessed, ferns and grasses. The rock wall was formidable - They were lucky they could see the beachhead - There seemed no other breaks in the sea wall.

He frowned, remembering the siege of Vroengard, and a similar rock wall.

Eragon prayed this land was safe.

Deep down, Eragon knew that he and the elves would not be able to contemplate another war.

"Is your mother awake?" He spoke quietly. The Queen, wounded as she was, was still heavily respected. She had been broken by some cruel spell of Galbatorix's in the war, and, as a result, she slept most of the year. When she awoke, she was always in pain.

"I doubt it. Even this-" She gestured at the land-"could not wake her. I only wonder what her reaction will be. She doesn't even know we've left Home."

Eragon laughed - A short bark of amusement. "Hmph. Either way, she'll have to adapt when if we cure her. This place...It'll either kill us or save us, Arya. Let's hope it does the latter. And the same for her."


She nodded, saying nothing. He sighed, and pressed forward to aid those struggling to pack boxes into the few horses and beasts-of-burden the elves had brought with them.

Arya watched him go. Her head was still swimming from the seemingly collapse of reality as she knew it when she had touched his arm. The ship swam beneath her.

What had happened?

She sighed, and walked backward, across the sea-blasted deck, stepping down a small flight of stairs - Dodging past elves who leapt to attention the minute they recognized her, desperately reciting the traditional greetings. She only nodded to them in return, which almost sobered them.

Things here are different now.

She walked through the hammock-bays - Repeatedly cleaned by magic, and open the doors to her cabin. It was simplistic and efficent. She had a bed and two chests - One for the clothes she had brought with her, and the other for her possessions - Which mainly consisted of a sword, a dagger, books, a fairth, and basic chainmail. Unlike Eragon, who had discarded his armour, she had kept hers, and continued to practice swordplay. Whilst at the end of the war, his skill with a blade had outmatched hers, four hundred years of practice had long ensured her lead in their competition - Although she doubted Eragon even cared. Until he had loaded Brisingr on to the boat, he had not touched a blade for almost two hundred years.

She belted on a scabbard, and hid her dagger within her breeches. Sheathing her sword, she returned to the deck. Elves glanced at her; noting her attire, and returning to their tasks.

She had a feeling they agreed.

The land now stood incredibly close - They would hit the shallows within minutes.

Most of the elves now stood, holding their breath, apprehensive.

What we're about to do...hasn't been done for thousands of years.

Transfixed by the land she barely registered Eragon standing beside her, with Brisingr buckled to his trousers.

The sea calmed, and the ships cleaved their way through the water, in through the sea wall.

Then came the sound - And the dawn of a new age.

A great crack shattered the silence as the Adurna Gata crashed into the beach. Almost trance-like, Arya walked forward, gazing down at the beach below the hull. And then, with a laugh, she leapt of the boat, landing cleanly on the beach.


Back on the hull, Izlanzadi's eyes exploded open.


That's the second chapter. I will try to update often, but juggling life even with chapters as short as these is always difficult. A quick response to my reviews:

Allysmurfy-It's a shame Saphira is dead, but it's helped shape Eragon's personality. You'll see this more and more.

Striax Do'Urden- Kind of half got your wish. Third chapter will be the elves entering the island.

Reader- By contrast, I did take your review into account - You really ought to make an account and join the fun - I can thank you properly then!