Hey everyone! I'm so excited that everyone is keeping up with the story. I just wanted to make a few things clear before you start the next chapter. I love the Inheritance cycle story. So, I try not to deviate too much from the storyline. So when I happen to skip over something, you should assume that the book and this fanfiction follow the same plotline, unless I say differently. Thank you for all the encouraging reviews. Hope you enjoy,
~SweetlyWicked
Chapter 4
Iris POV
I sat there with my chest heaving as he turned away and walked out the door. My lips were still tingling with excitement, my cheeks flushed with heat. I heard Cahan brushing my mind.
Iris? Iris please answer me. I'm starting to worry about you. Are you alright? Do I need to go after the boy, did he hurt you? IRIS!
Sorry…sorry Cahan. I just…I don't know how I feel right now. Just give me a minute.
She should feel violated; I mean she had only met Eragon a few days ago. But, she didn't. Instead, she felt this joy bubbling up insider her.
I feel good Cahan, I really do. I wish I had said something back when he said goodnight. It was just so…unexpected! What do you think?
I was worried that he was taking advantage of you. As long as you are happy, I will be happy for you. From what I have seen of Eragon, and heard from Saphira, he has good intentions. Just be careful, for me?
Anything for you partner of my mind and soul.
This seemed to satisfy Cahan as he hummed deep in his chest with contentment. He walked over to her to have the scales on his head scratched. Just as she was starting the doors opened and Solebum padded in. She always wondered how he convinced the guards to let him inside. He hopped up on her bed like he owned it and lay down by her legs and began to purr.
"I'm glad you come and visit me Solebum, your company is always most welcome. But may I ask why?"
I suspect Angela is on her way to find me, she will offer you something and it is in your best interests to accept.
Just as he finished speaking the doors were flung open by Angela. Iris was a bit startled by her grand entrance and how well Solebum had predicted her actions. "I knew you were here! I have never seen that werecat more attached to someone. I do believe he is hinting that I offer you a chance to let me read your fortune." Iris shook her head, "I don't believe in crystal balls, sorry Angela." "Smart girl you are, I could always tell. That's good, always keep your wits about you. But I offer something much more real; she pulled a pouch from her pocket and pulled a table over. "These are dragon knucklebones. Be calm Cahan, there is nothing you can do about your fallen comrade's fate now. What's done is done." Cahan did not look satisfied with her answer at all and blew some hot smoke in her direction and stalked off to the other side of the room. "If it makes you feel any better, Eragon agreed to let me do this for him when we first met; though I didn't know he was a dragon rider then." Iris was still worried because Cahan was not speaking to her. But if Eragon had done it…just thinking his name gave her chills. "Alright, I believe it is best to be informed than ignorant."
Angela dumped the knucklebones into her hand and tossed them on the table. They landed in a pile and Angela sighed but a concentrated look came over her face. After a couple of minutes Iris wondered what the other woman was doing but Angela looked up eventually. "Apparently all riders' futures are just as tangled up and confusing. But it looks like if you make it through this war, you have quite a happy ending. So starting from the beginning, long life line, no surprise there. But it crosses with the rose. This means there is a romance in your future and it will last until the end of your days. And here, this shows you have great power. But be careful how you use this, people will wish to pull you towards their own way but you must choose your own path because that is the one that will lead to your happiness. You will have a life-changing decision to make, either choice will lead to your great suffering but stay with what you know is right and you will be rewarded."
Iris was tearing up and breathing heavily. There were a few gems in her future it seemed, but great suffering? What would she do to deserve that?
"Is there no way to prevent what you have shown me?"
"The future is an ever-changing thing child but this will come to pass, this is real magic, magic from the dragons themselves." Angela saw her shaking with fear and went to sit with her on the bed. "From what I have seen you have one of the purest hearts I have encountered in all my years. You will make the right decision and whoever is on the other side of that lifelong romance; they will get you through whatever suffering or trials you must face." Angela gave her a kiss on the cheek and left her to her thoughts.
Iris couldn't stop the tears running down her face. She got up, leaving Solebum on her bed, and lay on the floor next to Cahan's warm belly.
Cahan…I'm scared.
Don't be, I'm here with you always. He curled his tail around her and folded his wings to protect her from the world. She fell asleep from the exhaustion of her crying and dreamed of dark things come to take her to be tortured.
Iris awoke to the sound of the guards at the door arguing who would get close to Cahan. She wiped the moisture from her eyes and stood up, pushing back Cahan's wings and stepping over his tail.
"Sorry we had to wake you miss, it's Ajihad. He wishes to speak with you and your dragon quickly." Why on earth would he want to speak with her at this hour? I guess it doesn't matter what time it is. When someone with that much power wishes to speak it is best to do so. "Well goodness let him in." The guards scampered back to the door and opened it to Ajihad and Arya.
Cahan don't be rude, it's the leader of the Varden. At least look like you're awake!
I'll be on my best behavior even if they woke me up.
Iris sighed inwardly and turned to face Ajihad and Arya, she and the guards pulled up a few chairs so that they could talk.
"Iris," spoke Ajihad, "I have to be blunt and speak quickly. The Varden is soon to be under siege by an army of Urgals. I am sorry to say that most of my peers do not find you trustworthy enough, yet, to allow you to fight in this battle. But we humbly request if you would ask Cahan if he would help defend the Varden." Iris reeled back, under attack? She couldn't blame them for not yet trusting her, the daughter of a bloody tyrant. But of course Cahan would help. But as she turned to ask him he spoke on his own behalf.
I refuse to fight unless it is at the side of my rider. You cannot expect me to do this for you when you have treated her so poorly and she has already done so much for you. Given you funds, told you all she knows about her father. She may be young but the magic of the land is with her and I will stand only by her side.
"I'm so sorry, let me speak with him." Iris was appalled by his behavior. Trust is a thing that is earned not given, he had to learn that. And maybe a bit of humility, that never hurt anyone.
Cahan I love you so but you must do this thing they ask for me. By defending the Varden you are defending me, I'm sure with you defending its gates none will enter to harm me. I know you wish to protect me and by doing this you are. Please, for me?
I will do this only for you. Tell them so, I do not wish to speak with them.
"He'll do it," she told them. Ajihad let out a sigh of relief. "I thank you for your help but I must leave now, Arya will stay and help you prepare Cahan for the battle." Ajihad left to share the good news with his generals. Iris turned to Arya, "So how do we prepare Cahan? I know of wards to protect him but is that all I can offer?" "I'm afraid so, Saphira is wearing the only dragon armor that the dwarves have. I will teach you the correct wards to use." Arya taught Iris the correct wording and she placed the wards around Cahan. All the while she tried not to think of Eragon, Saphira, and Cahan in danger while she sat in this room useless. She slumped as the many layers of wards she placed on Cahan took effect, but she was satisfied with her work.
Iris said a quick goodbye to Cahan and watched him walk to the doors with Arya. "Wait! I have a riders' blade here. Maybe you can use it in the battle." She raced over to her trunk and pulled out laufsbläd, the green blade that father had given her. "Father always said it was more powerful than a regular blade, you may use it since I am not permitted to." "I thank you Iris but it is not like my own sword and I would not be able to wield it properly." Iris had to ask one more thing of Arya. "Will you tell Eragon to be careful, I…I would not want the Varden to lose him. Tell him to be careful for me?" Arya raised her thin eyebrow but nodded, promising to pass on the message. She heard the doors boom shut and she sank to her knees. She sat for a long time thinking of Eragon, Saphira and Cahan. She spoke to no one in particular "Please, please keep them safe." She returned the sword to the trunk and began to pace about the room. She heard the guards leave and lock the stone doors, making her even more anxious.
It seemed like she was stuck in the room for hours. Iris paced, she bit her nails, and then settled on reading the books she brought with her. She started off with one on wizard's duels, which proved too scary. She wouldn't last long in one with her limited knowledge of spells so she switched to a book on attack spells. The monotonous list of worlds in the ancient language took her mind off the events of the last few hours. She was just starting to get a good base knowledge when she heard a boom that didn't sound too far off. She stood up quickly, letting the book in her lap slide to the floor. Running to her trunk she tossed open the lid and grabbed her sword. The green blade shimmered, reminding her of Cahan's scales. She choked down her fear but then a strange presence touched her mind. She threw up her barriers, formidable ones, considering that Galbatorix had taught her. Her heart accelerated, was someone looking for her? She stayed in the ready position with her blade for a few heart-pounding moments.
BOOM BOOM BOOM. Someone was trying to break down the door. For a second she wished Cahan were here to save her, but she knew that a rider should be able to defend themselves. This would test her, maybe before she was ready. BOOM BOOM BOOM. A large crack ran down the door. She thought of Eragon, he would be able to fight off whatever was coming after her. BOOM BOOM. The doors only took two hits this time and they came crumbling down. Five huge kull stepped through the dust towards her. "Stay back if you value your lives!" The kull roared back in response causing Iris to jump, but she stood her ground raising laufsbläd. The kull did not seem intimidated and rushed at her, her adrenaline pumping she leaped at them cutting and slashing. She downed two before she started feeling sick. The third ran towards her and she barely dodged out of the way slashing at the creature's belly. The remaining two were charging and she had no time to lift her sword so she flipped backwards casting a spell at them. It had no effect and she had no clue why. She landed on her feet stooping down and using her hand to steady herself. She swept her sword out in an arc to prevent the kull from getting too close. She stood up and stabbed at the nearest monster causing it to cry out and return a jab, which she dodged. His friend took a chance coming up behind her but she parried his blow and slashed at him. She turned to see the urgal she stabbed racing towards her and she slashed at it, severing the head. She felt like throwing up, who could kill all the time like that? She heard a laugh and clapping coming from the door. Iris whirled around, she knew that voice. Durza.
"Well you have shaped up since I last saw you, what a killer the Varden has turned you into. I knew I saw something lethal in you, that's why I had your father give you to me. But then you little girl had to ruin it and run. Didn't know I'd come after you did you?! You belong to me, and I don't let my property just wander off." He stepped towards her and she raised her sword again. She knew she didn't stand a chance, not against a shade. But she would not go back without a fight, she was scared to death of him. With this knowledge she launched her consciousness at his. She gasped at the number of minds or beings that she felt within him. She remembered now that spirits fueled a shades enormous power. She knew it was impossible to win this way so she charged Durza with her sword outstretched. His blade flashed up to meet her own and with a flick of his wrist sent her sword flying away. His other hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her in a death grip towards him. She tried to kick him but he pulled her into a bone crushing embrace, she felt a rib or two crack and yelled from the pain. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, "It would be wise of you to listen to me young rider. You don't want me to hurt your dragon now would you?" Iris stopped struggling. Durza pushed her to the nearest kull who grabbed her. "Tie her up, we're leaving."
Her arms wrists and legs were bound together, a cloth stuffed in her mouth, and she was being carried by an urgal. She would have been humiliated if she wasn't scared to death. Every breath she took was agony. She thought of trying to contact Cahan or Eragon but she couldn't concentrate long enough to probe very far. They were now walking by the most beautiful glasswork Iris had ever seen. As she was admiring this last piece of beauty she would likely see in her lifetime she heard someone call out her name, "IRIS!" She turned her head and saw Eragon charging toward the urgals. Durza appeared next to her grabbing Iris and pushing the kull towards Eragon. She watched as Eragon killed them all, Durza drew a knife and pushed it to her throat. She felt a trickle of blood race down her neck. Eragon slew the last of them and turned to Durza. He looked bloodied and his chest heaved with strain and his eyes had a pained look in them when he saw her. "Because of your insolence in killing my puppets she will suffer." Iris wondered what he would do to her; Durza picked her up and threw her against the wall. Her head hit first, the last thing she heard was Eragon yelling something and then the darkness rose to meet her.
