A/N: Happy mothers day and here's the chapter!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but Nandon
Eragon slowly picked himself up from the small pile of crumbled masonry that had cushioned his fall he was extremely angry. He grunted as three sets of eyes looked at him "Ebrithril." Nandon said stepping forward "What happened?" Nandon reached a hand out to Eragon but Eragon pushed it away 'We have been attacked… At our home… And arya has been taken…" Eragon said solemnly and the riders looked at him surprised etched on each of there faces. "Now. Who will go with me to rescue her?" Eragon said as he studied lily, Nandon and Feanaro. "I will." Nandon said stepping forward and he twisted his fist over his sternum in a sign of respect "As will I." Lily said stepping forward and mirroring the gesture as she stood beside Nandon "Eh… What the hell Ill come to." Feanaro said stepping forward and repeated the gesture standing next to Nandon as well. "Now. This creature is extremely dangerous. So go gather your weapons and prepare for a fight." Eragon said as he brushed past them and into arya's room.
Inside the room Eragon quickly picked up brisingr and placed it back in it sheath then he looked around and spotted a fairth on Arya's wall. Eragon slowly walked over and looked at it. It was him. He stood staring out his brown eyes pulled into a focus which showed love and compassion as well as hope. Eragon turned away disgusted with himself. He had couldn't even protect arya. Eragon walked out of the room and he heard a loud roar from outside and Eragon heard firnen followed by saphira jump into the room "Eragon! What has happened!" Firnen screeched "Arya has been taken we are going to rescue her now firnen… just stay calm." Eragon said and he muttered a spell which put firnen to sleep "Eragon! What is going on!" Saphira asked worried. Eragon shared his memories with her. At the end saphira growled " We will soak the ground with this creatures blood!" Saphira said to Eragon as he exited the room and walked toward where saphira as well as the other riders would be waiting.\
Eragon climbed onto saphira and addressed the gathered riders "We have been attacked… At our home. And one of our own taken…" Eragon began "now… Are we going to back down and submit like weak sheep led to slaughter? Or will we fight! Fight for our homes… For our lives… And our friends and family!" Eragon said shouting at the end "NO!" The three riders chorused as they to hopped up on there dragons. "Well why are we still here then! Lets go and save arya!" Eragon shouted as they flew away. Eragon tracked arya through the presence of her mind and they finally arrived at a village of what Eragon assumed was natives. "You have one opportunity to give us arya back… Or you will be killed.." Eragon said angrily And he was instantly met with 200 hundred swords up against his throat. Eragon sighed and said "ATTACK!" As he ran forward drawing brisingr. They hit the line of gathered natives in three spots one by Eragon one by Feanaro and one by Nandon and lily. Eragon slashed and fought and cut the creatures many times though to his dismay they healed almost immediately. "CUT OFF THERE HEADS!" Eragon shouted as he ran towards a small hut where arya's mind was. Eragon quickly freed arya and she ran towards Eragon and hugged him. Then Eragon and arya departed the tent and what Eragon saw scared him. Nandon was there fighting. He was surrounded but holding them off well. Then one of the creatures leaned in as if to stab him in the back. But quickly lily jumped in the way her self being stabbed through the stomach. Nandon turned around and saw this and shouted "NO! LILY!" The force of the shout which had been laced with magic threw the creatures through the air and into the woods. Eragon ran forward as arya ran to saphira who was laced with numerous scratches. With eragons help Nandon lifted her up onto his dragon and they flew back towards dragon hold
Nandons POVNo… No… No… Nandon thought to himself as he held lily in his lap her life blood bleeding out across his fingers which where pressed against the wound. He pumped a constant stream of energy into her not caring the cost only wanting his love to survive…"N-Nandon…" Lily said weakly "What is it my love.." Nandon asked as he looked down at her. "Don't… Die… In… Vain… My… Lov-" Lily cut off as the last of her life blood drained away into nandons lap "NO! WHY!" Nandon shouted up to the heavens wondering why it had chosen to torture him so. Every time nandons life went well it was all taken from him in a flash. It wasn't fair… Nandon thought… Lily had been his love…. His only love… and now she was gone… she had died saving him because he had been to careless to check his back. "Lily… My love… My only love… I'm Sorry.." Nandon said whispering as he wept.
Normal POVEragon sat there arya slumped against him as she slept. Eragon winced as he heard Nandon's cry of pain as the one he loved slipped away from him. "Nandon…. I'm sorry." Eragon said through his mind as he reached Nandon "Leave me alone now Ebrithril.." Nandon said coldly through his mental contact. It was Eragons fault. If he hadn't been so rash to rush straight in swords drawn to attack a enemy much stronger nandons love would still be alive. "Little one.." saphira said sadly "It isn't your fault…They knew full and well what could happen in this fight… yet they came anyways.." Saphira said before she turned her attention back to flying and then landing as they reached dragon hold.
Eragon tried to help Feanaro and Nandon unload lily from his dragon but Nandon stared at him coldly. And Eragon stood away as they took lily to where the pyre would be held. Saphira and firnen then dragged lily's Dragon who had died from his wounds and grief to where the pyre would be held as well. Eragon followed with arya behind him. When they reached the pyre Eragon found it ready. Nandon stood off to the side weeping Feanaro tried to comfort him but Nandon pushed him away. "Today we commend these brave souls of lily and Jazzlyn to the void… They who died saving Nandon in the heat of battle." Eragon said as he picked up the torch and begun the last writes. At hearing this Nandon wept louder but staggered over staring at his love who looked almost peaceful. Finally Eragon descended the torch and lit the pyre. Nandon now wept freely tears flowing down his cheeks and Eragon felt bad for his favorite apprentice knowing he had caused this sadness. They sat there until the pyre burned itself out then Eragon muttered a spell and a strong wind came and sent the ashes away "And so may dragon and rider fly once more in deaths embrace.." Eragon said as the ashes flew out over the land. Nandon stalked away towards his room leaving the others stunned.
Eragon reached Nandon room a hour later and slowly opened the door. He heard Nandon weeping on his bed his knees drawn up to his face as he cried freely. "Nandon.." Eragon said slowly as he walked into the room. Nandon looked up at Eragon hatred filling his eyes as he stood up "What do you want Eragon elda… Haven't you don't enough.." Nandon said as he walked over to the small desk where Eragon noticed a small black box in the surface. Nandon picked it up and brought it over to Eragon and showed it to him… It was a diamond ring formed in the insignia of the riders… " I was going to propose." Nandon said as Eragon stared at the ring "But instead we joined you on the hell hole of a mission which got my Lily killed.." Nandon continued and Eragon looked up obviously stung by the words. "Now my love has been sacrificed so you can chase after a elf…" Nandon said hatefully then slammed the door in Eragon's face
Eragon sighed as the door slammed in his face… Eragon had known Nandon had loved lily though he hadn't known he was going to propose… That just made Eragon feel worse as he staggered towards his room. Arya was asleep on his bed and Eragon though "Chase some elf? This is love.." Eragon thought then hit himself physically and mentally What had made there love better than Nandon's and lily's… Nandon had been about to propose.. but he couldn't even think of him and arya mating…Eragon slowly laid down next to arya his back to her sleeping form as he and saphira and firnen fell asleep.
In the morning Eragon walked up to where the statue would be made at the riders tomb… Where the eldunari of the dragons he had where kept as well as a statue of the rider and there sword. When Eragon reached there he saw Nandon sitting there slumped up against the wall looking at the spot where in a few hour lily's statue would be made. He held the small black box in his hand. As Eragon approached Nandon stood up and bowed to Eragon "Eragon Elda… I'm sorry I shouldn't have acted that way last night and for this I cry your pardon." Nandon said almost begging Eragon "I accept your apology Nandon." Eragon said as he began casting the spells to allow the statue to be made. Slowly a life sized statue sprouted from the ground molding itself to the image of lily in Eragons mind until finally it was finished. Then Eragon placed her sword in front of the statue and a fairth of her dragon next to her. It was the ultimate memorial to the riders. When Eragon finished Nandon walked forward and slipped the ring over the statues finger as it would have been in life. "Thank you Eragon elda…" Nandon said as he walked out leaving Eragon alone in the tomb.