Chapter two: A second prophecy and a second source
Later that afternoon, Eragon decided he would pay some people a visit as he had a doubt that he would not see them for a long time. He walked to his cousin's tent and entered. Katrina was the first to greet him. "Eragon!" She ran up and hugged him. "It has been so long since we had seen you. Roran and I were just talking about you."
"Hmm, let me guess, he was telling extremely embarrassing stories and ending with 'It's a wonder how much he has grown up' am I right?"
"Always the smart-ass weren't you Eragon?" Eragon turned to look at his cousin and was immediately bear hugged by the bear of a man Roran had become after he joined the war. "You always let me be Roran" he replied laughingly. "I am leaving to perform the last rites for my master, he taught me much and he passed away. I came to say goodbye, I am leaving in the morning and I don't exactly know when I will be back. There are other things I must do before returning."
Roran nodded. "I am truly sorry for you loss Eragon. It is hard losing the ones you love. But it is much easier to find strength in the ones you love after losing someone."
"You have grown wiser Roran"
"I was always wise, you just never noticed." Eragon laughed, it surprised him how much he reconnected with his cousin after the consequences of the war.
He loves you very much Eragon. You should do well to remember that.
I know Saphira, I love him and Katrina too, besides you they are the only family I would even consider having.
What of Arya?
She doesn't love me.
We have the unique privilege to choose our family Eragon, it is because we are alone that we can choose the ones we let into our hearts. Families do not have to bound by blood, they can be bound by love and caring too. We have a family Eragon, we have Brom, even if it is only his memory, we have Roran, Katrina, Arya, Nasuada, Orik, Angela, Solembum, Oromis, Glaedr, and most importantly Eragon, we have each other. And even if the entire world leaves us, or we leave the world, we will always have each other.
Again, my great dragon, you are right.
Like I said little one, I am always right.
It's been a long time since we visited Angela hasn't it. I haven't seen her since my encounter with Elva. We should go pay her a visit.
Yes, Eragon we should.
Eragon strode over to Angela's tent and politely knocked. It was literally two seconds before Angela opened the flap and pulled him in. "So you have finally remembered me Eragon."
"Forgive me, I had much on my mind of late."
"Hmm whatever, like I really care whether or not you come to visit me. I was hoping however that you would come and visit me before your trip tomorrow."
"How did you know about that?"
"News travels fast"
"How fast and among who?"
"Among the animals, there was a field mouse that Solembum caught with the most interesting of memories with details of your trip."
Eragon grunted, "I see, why did you want to see me anyway."
"I did not wish to see you, I had hoped you would come and visit. Solembum was the one who wished to see you. Apparently he has more interesting information to share with you."
Eragon looked at the werecat and opened his mind to his.
What did you wish to see me about Solembum?
My words are for your ears only, after that you may tell whoever you wish with the utmost caution. This knowledge is dangerous, far more dangerous, exactly how dangerous you will know when you it matters most.
What is it Solembum?
You have a power far greater than any human, dwarf, elf, one that rivals only the strongest of dragons. What that is I cannot tell you for I do not know, but in order to find this power you must look for the one with the black rose stained in blood, the one with the shadows being lit by fire, and the one with the thousand.
What are you speaking of, where can I find this thing, what is it, how do you know this?
Peace, Shadeslayer, I myself do no know what I am speaking of, only the one who this is spoken for will know, I do not know where you can find or even what it is. As far as how I know this, that information I shall keep to myself. But you should take heed to my words, last time, they did work to your benefit as I can see from that sword hanging proudly from your belt. Remember Eragon, you are far more powerful that you know. But you must know to find that power.
Thank you Solembum, you have given me much to think about.
Do not waste time thinking about it, you have none, you need to act upon it.
And with that and a swish of his tail, the puzzling werecat left Eragon in Angela's tent.
"Do you have any idea of what Solembum was telling me?"
"No, his words are his alone, his thoughts are his alone. I may, however, be able to point you in a right direction."
"Any help would be greatly appreciated."
Angela nodded her head and retrieved her dragon bones. With a cry of Manin! Wryda! Hugin! she released the bones.
"Ah, your future has changed some since the last I saw it."
Eragon looked at her quizzically. Angela simply smiled and continued. "You are blessed with immortality, however, whether or not you will be fully use your blessing is questionable. You have a pathway charged with lightening meaning your journey will give you power, but may lead to more destruction. You will be victorious as long as you remain incorruptible, but these series of sharp bones pointing downward means that you will have to overcome thousands of moral quandaries that you must succeed in to claim yourself morally incorruptible. The epic romance part has changed as well. You have won your love, but to be together, you must win in a battle against your enemies. She is still subborn, unwavering in her loyalty, confused, beautiful, and of noble birth."
Angela sighed as she ended her diagnosis of his future.
"What is it Angela, what are you not telling me?"
"I don't know if you should be plagued with the information you seek."
"What is it, I need to know, I need to be prepared."
"The bone in the corner is piercing a man and that man is bleeding, not dying, meaning that wherever your path takes you, you will undergo the worst pain ever to succeed in your journey. You will pay a terrible price for you journey."
"Will I lose someone close to me? Is the pain someone dying?" he asked choked in his own fear of losing someone else.
"No, no Eragon, your pain will not be the pain or torture of going through losing someone you love, the price you pay, the pain you will experience is for you alone, you will not die in your training, but the price you pay will threaten your sanity. I fear for you Eragon, there is no greater foe than the darkest parts of our own mind. You must find something to anchor yourself to. Something more to live for if you are to succeed in your mission."
Eragon stared at Angela, his face expressionless, blank, void of any emotion, for it was then, at hearing her words was Eragon able to comprehend the meaning behind Angela's prophecy. Eragon might become the most powerful man, but he would become the next Galbotorix, the next tyrant if he wasn't stronger than the evil in his own head. For once, Eragon truly feared himself.
He left the room and silently got on Saphira with Angela closing her eyes and praying for the young rider's safety.
Saphira was silent all the way back to the tent, she too knew what Angela had said and she also feared what would become of her beloved Rider. She was far too worried to voice her concerns in a comprehendible manner, so she opted to lay down and comfort Eragon by pulling him over to her belly and surrounding him with the warmth of her fire and love in his mind. Eragon fell into a fitful sleep plagued with images of deaths of his close ones with the last image of fighting a man wearing a blue helmet, defeating him, and pulling off the helmet only to reveal his own face, but much more ruthless, cold, and brutal, looking back at him.
