Hey guys! First off, I am sorry for the huge delay on the story. I was on Spring Break, and then had to do a lot of catch up work for school. I will be trying to update more regularly, however. I am going to shoot for at least once a week, if not more.
I gotta say that I'm surprised that this story has gotten this much attention! I never thought of myself as a good writer, I just had an idea for what happens after the end of the cycle that I wanted to try out.
I know a few of you have said that I have had some grammar mistakes, so if anyone wants to proofread chapters before I post them, that would be a huge help! Please keep up the reviews; they are immensely helpful in writing! And if any of you have suggestions for where you would like to see this story go, feel free to shoot me a message! I am kind of just making it up as I go along; I never thought it would get this much attention. I hope you guys enjoy Chapter 3!
P.S. If any of you have suggestions for a name for the Ra'zac shade, feel free to let me know!
Chapter Three: Homecoming
Eragon walked into the camp with a great bundle of sticks and knelt near Arya and began assembling them for a fire. Without looking up from his task, he said, "I take it the dragons have brought you up to speed with what has happened over the years?"
"In part," she responded. "Do you have anything to add?"
He shook his head. "Only what I believe is about to happen. We are going to Illirea to bring them up to speed, and to prepare them for war, though hopefully we will not have a need of their armies."
Arya raised an eyebrow, but other than that kept her face impassive. "War?"
Eragon finished piling the sticks in a proper formation for a fire, then snapped his fingers. A blue blaze started in the middle of the sticks, hungrily licking at the pieces of wood around them. He went to his pack and picked out a few fruits and went to sit on the other side of the low fire. He bit into his apple, leaning back against Saphira's leg. "It is a possibility. I fear that Surda may become a problem. We are visiting Aberon before Illirea."
"Surda? Why? Though they are not the friendliest of Allies to the crown in Illirea, they are still pledged to it."
"Orrin was not satisfied with the results right after the war," Eragon replied. "As I am sure you remember, he wanted to rule. He begrudgingly ceded the crown to Nasuada, and when he learned that Teirm was granted the same rights as Surda, he was outraged. Though he did not make any public statements about it."
Arya remembered being somewhat surprised at a lack of reaction from Orrin at the time, but had not given it much thought. She had hoped that Orrin's thirst for conflict had finally abated, and then he had disappeared about 20 years after the war.
"Then he made a costly mistake," Eragon continued. "When he sent assassins to Carvahall. He was responsible for Roran's death."
"Orrin killed Roran?" She asked, stunned, though she kept the emotion from her features. "I thought it had been an accident…why?"
"It was not the first time he tried. He drunkenly tried to stab Roran before the Battle of Uru'Baen. They had disagreed upon certain battle plans, and Roran was forced to defend himself. There had been a grudge between them ever since. So, by killing Roran, a hero of the Varden in the war, and Nasuada's Earl in the North, he was able to show Nasuada his displeasure, though never admitted to his role in Roran's death. At least, not to Nasuada."
Then who… Firnen began to ask.
Eragon heard the rumor of Orrin's role soon after Roran's death, Glaedr interjected. That is when we paid a trip to Aberon. We felt it was our right to investigate the matter personally. So Eragon met with Orrin and his family in secret, and once he learned the truth from Orrin's mind, he… deposed Orrin from the throne of Surda. Eragon didn't remove the crown from Orrin's family, however. He passed the title on to Orrin's son. Some of us disagreed, but Eragon was, and has always been, adamant that a son is not responsible for his father's sins.
Eragon spoke up from across the fire. "Orrin was no longer fit to rule. That does not mean that his son could not."
"We were told that Orrin disappeared." Arya said.
Eragon sighed. "I was… aggrevated… at the time."
Saphira snorted loudly from behind Eragon. Agitated is an understatement. Eragon glared at her. What? She said. He was your nest-mate, Eragon. You had every right to be upset.
Eragon looked back across the fire at Arya. "Unlike with Sloan, I then felt as if I had the right to sentence Orrin to death. I did not want to make it a public affair, however. Saphira and I took him outside of Surda, and I carried out Orrin's sentence myself."
Arya nodded. "I believe you had the right. I am sorry for your loss, Eragon. It must have been very difficult for you."
"Thank you," Eragon replied in a soft voice. "Now, however, I fear that the Eldunarya may have been right about who should have ruled in Orrin's stead. There should be more of the Ra'zac here, but there aren't. So we are going to Aberon in the morning to discover the truth from King Vidar." He stood and began to remove his bedroll from his pack. "I will take the first watch tonight. We have a long way to go in the morning."
Arya began rolling out her own bedroll, and once she was inside it, turned to Eragon. "Although I wish it was under different circumstances, I am still glad that you are back, Eragon. It has been far too long."
He turned and smiled at her, white teeth flashing in the darkness. "It is good to be home, Shadeslayer."
They started out the next day at dawn, eating breakfast in the air. Arya was amused when she looked over at Eragon and saw him tossing pieces of fruit into the air, and then Saphira would perform complex aerial maneuvers to catch them.
They seem the same to me Firnen said within the privacy of her and Arya's thoughts. Still acting like hatchlings, not the leaders of the Order. Can you imagine Vrael and Umaroth acting as these two are now?
No, Arya agreed. I do not believe they would have.
The antics of the blue rider and his dragon only added to her good humor, as she was excited to yet again be on a real adventure once more, and that it was with Eragon and Saphira. Just like old times.
Firnen snorted. Not exactly little queen. I'm here this time.
She patted his neck, smiling. Makes it even better, you big green lump.
They soon came within sight of Aberon, though at this distance she knew that human eyes would not be able to see them. Saphira and Firnen reluctantly agreed to wait out of sight of the city, so they landed and Eragon and Arya continued on foot. Eragon put his hood on, hiding his face, so that the people of the city would not flock to them as soon as they stepped through the gates. He did not want to immediately reveal his presence unless absolutely necessary, and would say he was the Queen's personal guard
At the gate, a guard stopped them and was about to inquire after them, until one of the other guards recognized Arya. "Evan, you laggard, that is Queen Arya! Forgive me your highness. Evan is new, and we were not expecting you. We will take you and your guard to the King at once. "
Arya glanced at the man impassively, taking in his clothing. "Thank you, captain. Time is of the essence."
The captain nodded, and assembled a guard of twenty troops to take them to the keep. As they walked to the keep, she glanced at Eragon, who was looking at the top of the walls.
She touched his mind, and once he granted her entrance, she asked, What is wrong?
The ballistae, he replied. They will prevent Firnen and Saphira from coming to our aid should anything go wrong.
Do you really think we may be in danger here?
Honestly, I don't know he said.
They eventually arrived at the throne room. A page announced Arya's presence, and then the doors opened and she made her way down the long room towards the throne.
King Vidar waited on the throne, struggling to keep a calm and pleasant look upon his face. He was tall, thin, with light blonde hair upon which the crown of Surda laid. To his right was a priest in dark robes, that Arya took to be the leader of Surda's religion, which was established some time after Galbatorix's defeat. About a dozen other priests stood around the hall, as well as guards, nobles, and advisors. The priest had a haggard look to his face, and she noticed was missing two fingers. She then also noticed that King Vidar was missing his left hand, which she did not recall him losing.
"Queen Arya," Vidar stated in clear, ringing tones. "It is a pleasure to see you again. Welcome to Aberon. I would have had refreshments ready, but I was unprepared for this surprise. To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"
"I am returning from Doru Araeba," Arya said striding forward. She and Eragon stopped before the throne. Eragon stayed about a pace behind her though, as would only seem appropriate. He kept his hood on as well. "I wanted to stop on the way back to Ellesmera. It is a long journey, but what Firnen and I discovered at Vroengard was alarming. We – " she was cut off as Eragon said, "What happened to your hand, your highness?" Eragon walked along the edge of the room, hood turning this way and that at each of the priests in the room.
Vidar's expression soured. "Who are you, guard, to interrupt your Queen so rudely, when she is conversing with another monarch in matters of state?"
"She is not my queen. I'll ask again: what happened to your hand, sire?" Now he started walking towards the throne at a slow pace, metal boots with a resounding clang upon the marble with each step he took.
"That is none of your business, boy." The king growled. "Now I would advise you to return to the queen's side so that we can – "
Eragon reached the foot of the throne, and said in a low, menacing voice "Where is your hand, Vidar?"
The sound of swords slithering out of their sheaths echoed throughout the hall. Arya placed her left hand on the pommel of her sword, eyes darting about at the guards around her. She did not doubt her ability to defeat them, but did not know what Eragon was up to.
"How dare yo – " Vidar started, but Eragon turned from him and said to the priest, "And you, priest, what happened to your fingers?"
"I do not have to explain myself to one who is not of the faith, and especially not to some low-life – " Eragon turned away before he could finish and began walking down the dais back toward Arya.
"It appears, King Vidar, that you have made the religion of your country one that I banned centuries ago." Eragon then removed his hood and turned back to face the dais.
Vidar's eyes widened in shock, and sweat appeared on his brow. The priest slowly began edging away from Eragon and Arya, muttering softly to himself. Eragon snapped his fingers, and the priest's mouth shut with a sharp clack as his jaws pressed together.
"Your spells will not work on us, priest." Eragon said. "Keep your petty tricks to yourself. Now, Vidar, since your worship is focused on the Ra'zac, I assume that it has been your family that has been hiding them over the years. Where are they?"
Vidar's fear was turning into a panic. His mouth worked up and down, fighting to find the words to say, and finally said, "Kill them!"
Eragon softly muttered, "So be it." He then crouched and grabbed the hilts of Brisingr and Naegling, spinning as he unsheathed them to face the soldiers racing toward them.
Arya raised her palm and released a beam of energy at the king, which smote him on the breast, sending him and the throne flying back. She then unsheathed Tamerlein and turned to face the soldiers with Eragon.
The priest shouted, "They've killed our king! Avenge him! Avenge him!" the end of his sentence turned to a near shriek as the other priests began to assault Eragon's and Arya's minds.
Their strength was formidable, and it gave Arya pause, but Eragon appeared unfazed. He bounded towards the soldiers, cutting between them with a strength and grace he had not had before. She ran in after him, cutting and stabbing in a similar fashion.
Firnen felt the disturbance, and Arya could feel him racing towards Aberon. Eragon must have felt the same thing from Saphira, and shouted back toward Arya, "Tell them to stay away!"
"Why? We need to get out of here!"
He removed the heads of the last two soldiers with one swipe of his Naegling. "There are too many ballistae on the walls!" he shouted back. "They'll be shot down!" He and Arya then focused on defeating the priests, tearing down their defenses like a dragon tears at a deer. When Arya was about to kill the last one, Eragon said, "Wait! Find out where the Ra'zac are!" She nodded, grabbed the man's head between her hands, and began to shift through the man's memories. When she found the information, she cursed.
"Where?" Eragon said.
"The Burning Plains."
"Barzul," he said. "They most be hiding themselves with a spell. We will find out later. Right now we need to get out of Surda and get to Murtagh and the others to prepare our forces."
She nodded and sprinted towards the door, Eragon at her heals.