Author's Note:*twitch* Well, life keeps kicking me in the ass. Also, I want to mention that this isn't going to be an Eragon/Arya story. Why? She rejected him twice in the books! I used to be supportive of the coupling until she went and rejected him the second time. There are times the 'third time is the charm' works and others that don't. After that, I really just wished I could jump into the book and shake that elf and demand to know why and what ever was wrong with him to make her do that. Also, I don't hate her, I'm just MAD at her. Anyway, you probably want me to get to the story right? Then let's go!
Chapter Six: Vakna and Varden
The desert was exactly what she expected it to be, dry and filled with sand. Hardly exciting, the only thing keeping her from being bored was that fact they were fleeing the empire. Still, the soldiers had been left in the dust a long time ago and the only reason they were still moving at a breakneck speed was that Brom and Eragon were pushing them too. All for what? An elf.
She wasn't sure what was annoying her more: the fact Eragon was checking upon said elf constantly, Brom's dark mood, Murtagh's distance or the headache that was pounding at her temples. It had started simply enough, just a twinge of pain here and there that had grown. She was sore and stiff, but she didn't open her mouth to say anything if the look their 'leader' kept shooting anyone who even breathed wrong said anything. Leaning forward, she decided to catch a little bit of sleep while in her saddle, if only to reduce the pain and the accompanying nausea.
Dragons of all colors and sizes soared through the air in the morning light, oblivious to one little girl who watched them in awe.
"Aylin, don't wander off on me like that!" Her father said as she scooped her up. Then he looked up to see what held her attention so much that she hadn't even noticed his reprimand. "Ah. Now I see." He muttered more to himself then to his daughter in his arms.
"Papa." He looked at her but her eyes stayed glued to the sky full of dragons. "I want wings. I want to fly like they do."
He laughed and hugged her. "Silly. You can't have wings but I'm sure a dragon will hatch for you. Then you will get to fly."
She grinned at him. "I will fly."
Veryn jerked awake when someone shook her by her shoulder, her mismatched eyes landing on Murtagh. "Are you well?" He asked.
Happy that he was actually talking again, she sat up. "Just a headache." His frown didn't go away and the way he was looking at her didn't sit well with her.
"Has your hair gotten lighter?" He asked quietly, reaching out to talk a hold of a strand in his hand. Lo and behold, it was a much lighter color then before.
They looked at each other, both a little put off by the whole situation. "We haven't been in the sun all that long…" Veryn whispered, ruling out that explanation.
Eragon looked over his shoulder. "Are you two alright?"
"Fine." Murtagh called and nudged his horse to go a bit faster, leaving Veryn to her thoughts.
When they broke for the day, she stumbled over to her bedroll and laid down. After some time, she knew that only she and Brom were still awake. "Brom, can I ask you something?"
The older man looked over at her.
"Does 'vakna' mean anything else besides awaken? Is there anything really special about it?" The moment the word left her mouth, she felt like something had changed.
"I wouldn't say there is anything highly special about it other then it is a word in the Ancient Language. Otherwise it just means awaken."
Nodding, she fell asleep.
Flowers twisted and grew about her fingers in a strange yet alluring dance. Never binding but following her will, aiming to please one of their mistresses. A pleasant smile was upon her face as the colors shifted on the petals in as many varieties as the dragons themselves.
"What are you doing?" A kindly voice asked behind her. An elf stood there, tall and proud beside a golden dragon.
"Making flowers for my papa, mama always told me that flowers have the ability to make smiles and my papa needs them."
The elf smiled and approached, crouching down beside her. Using some of his own magic, he changed one of the flowers into one of the rare ones that only grew in Ellesmera.
"That's a pretty one!" She said, gently touching the petals. "Can I give it to my papa?"
"Of course."
Something wasn't right, but she was much too tired to try and think of why it was. Her vision swam and for a moment she could have sworn she saw Brom hovering over her saying something before she fell back into her dreams.
Jarnunvosk's scales always shone brightly in direct sunlight, but that never stopped her from admiring him. The dragon allowed her to perch on one of his legs while she ate her lunch, her father busy at the moment.
Currently the proud dragon was her babysitter but he never really complained so she guessed that he might actually be fond of her.
Just then, Jarnunvosk looked up and let out a growl. He moved protectively around her and she was confused as the small blue dragon didn't look to be such a threat. The man beside it looked friendly too.
"I'm looking for your father, girl." She pointed to the tower.
"Papa is in there."
The man went to enter but stopped and regarded her again. "What is your name?"
"Aylin."
He nodded. "I am Brom."
Cold. She was cold. She wanted to curl up to preserve body warmth but her limbs refused to move. Murtagh joined Brom in looking down at her, his face concerned.
She didn't like it when her father went on missions. He was always gone for such long periods of time that she sometimes thought that maybe he had vanished like her mother. It made her lonely.
Even her uncle Lune couldn't ease that loneliness, it was not something he could do unless he somehow turned into her father. Currently, she stood some feet away from her graceful uncle as he spoke to another Rider, this one tall and elegant. They were saying something but she didn't hear it, all she knew was that she wanted her father. They would find him, he said he would come back!
Just then the doors opened and she spun to look. Her father staggered in and looked around, soon his wild eyes landed on her. "Aylin!"
"Papa!" Ignoring the man beside her uncle's protest, she raced forward into her father's arms. He held her tightly, crying into her hair and whispering things she didn't quite understand.
What confused her was that Jarnunvosk wasn't there to nudge her shoulder with his snout like he always did when he and her father returned from missions…
Now she was hot, couldn't her body make up its mind? She wanted to move but her tired mind dismissed it as she tumbled back into sleep. The last thing she saw was Eragon's worried eyes.
It was silver with such tiny veins of white. Ghosting her hands over the smooth surface, she wondered how something could actually fit in there comfortably. She traced a finger around its side again.
Her uncle was going to be mad when he found her, of that she was sure. She was supposedly too young to be in this room, but it really was his fault for ignoring her while he talked to the regal man that was bonded with the white dragon. Her father wouldn't have ignored her if he was still there instead of traveling. She didn't understand why she was too young really, what did that have to do with the pretty eggs?
The egg rocked and she tilted her head, wondering if perhaps this was normal. She leaned forward as cracks appeared throughout the shell before it just fell to pieces to reveal a tiny dragon.
It was silver in color with expressive dark eyes and wings. It flapped its wings twice before squeaking at her, trying to get her full attention. Reaching out a hand, the dragon bumped its head against it and she jumped back at the shock of magic. Her Faeish blood responded, dulling the pain as she watched in fascination as her palm turned a silvery color.
Picking up the dragon, she went over to where they kept the dry meat and fed the hatchling a few strips. Sitting down, the dragon rested in her lap while she hummed quietly.
A moment later the doors opened and her uncle accompanied by the regal man came into the room. Immediately the angry look disappeared from her uncle's face at the sight he beheld, the other looking mildly interested. "Aylin…how?"
She smiled and shrugged, ghosting her fingers across the hatchling's back.
"What is her name?" The regal man asked.
"Lorin."
Sunlight. Veryn blinked and groaned, rolling over to stop the harsh glare. That was when she noticed it.
She felt great! No headache or stiffness or anything! Her senses were sharper and for once she felt rested.
Sitting up, she noticed Brom looking at her intently from across their camp while the others slept. "Everything okay Brom?"
"I should be asking you that."
Now that was confusing, she tilted her head. "Why?"
"Vakna. You awakened last night." Brom got up and rooted through his bag, pulling out a bowl before grabbing one of the waterskins.
"What?"
"Thankfully you were asleep through most of it or it would have been painful. I know of your past life and knew what you were in it. You were half-Fae, and are once again." He filled the bowl and held it out to her for her to use as a mirror.
Leaning forward, she nearly screamed. Her light brown hair had faded into a platinum blonde and her face was more defined, having lost the remaining baby fat she had had. Her eyes were still the same thankfully but stood out from her pale skin now. She felt alien all of a sudden, no way the beautiful face looking back at her from the water was her own!
"From what I know, Fae are capable of reincarnating which is what you did to become Lorin's rider again. I suspected that you may have been half from not only what Lorin told me but from your eyes as well. The mismatched colors represent your dual natures." Brom sat next to her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Your Fae magic from your previous life no doubt slept in your soul and only needed to be awakened to return you to your former glory. That is what happened last night. You are a halfling once again."
Veryn looked down at her hands. "What does that mean for me?"
"You are still a Rider, but you will have more advantages now that you are no longer fully human. You will no doubt be stronger and faster with better senses, which explains your talent with magic. Fae were always good with magic." He shook his head. "Be careful though and don't get cocky, you are only half Fae and still have many weaknesses all of which we cannot be sure on yet."
"I'll be careful then."
Brom nodded then seemed thoughtful for a second. "Lorin told me your story but never your name. What was your name in your past life?"
Veryn looked up at him. "I think it was Aylin."
Many emotions crossed the older man's face then, ranging from shock, fear, anger, happiness and resignation. "It's as I thought." He whispered.
Before she could inquire what he had meant, movement across the camp made her look over to where Eragon was waking up. He sat up, rubbing at his eyes. "Brom…how is Veryn doing?" He asked sleepily.
"I'm doing better apparently." Veryn replied, to which he looked up immediately and gasped.
"Veryn?!" The shout startled Murtagh into consciousness and he reached for his sword.
"Last time I checked that was who I was." She wasn't quite sure if she should have been flattered or offended by how the two teens were staring at her.
"What happened to you?" Eragon whispered, almost like he was afraid of the answer.
"She awoke. Veryn here is half-Fae it seems." Brom said simply as he got up to make them something for breakfast.
"Do…do I look terribly strange?" She asked quietly, switching her gaze to her feet.
"No… Not at all." Eragon muttered.
"Eragon is right." Murtagh added, noticing her distressed looked. "You look perfectly fine."
She smiled up at them, then turned to check on the elf's condition. The poison's progress was slow but that didn't mean THEY could slow. Helping pack up camp, she swung up onto her horse's back and nearly overbalanced, forgetting she was stronger then she was before. "This will take some getting used too." She grumbled at herself.
It should make fighting with your sais easier, after all you use the memories of your soul to fight and you were trained with the strength you have now originally. Lorin added, trying to get her out of her quickly darkening mood.
(Uru'baen, King Galbatorix's castle)(1)
Rightly, he should have been furious that Durza had somehow lost the Rider, that he was still free.
But oddly enough, he was thoughtful. After all, it was not everyday one felt a mass of magical energy in the desert. Not just any magic though, Fae magic.
Galbatorix gazed at the large tapestry across from him, its designs long since faded away. He had longed to feel that particular magic again, for he had not felt it since the Fall. Since the death of his daughter.
Closing his eyes, he willed the pain that always accompanied the thoughts of his little girl, the child he had held so dear only to have her ripped away. Sometimes he found himself wondering what she would look like if she had grown, what her talents would be and what it would have been like all these years to have her there.
Unlike popular belief, the king did have a heart. One that had been stabbed and trampled one too many times. Aine had been forced to leave him, Jarnunvosk had died and Aylin had been killed. Three times too many.
So he took out his anger and sadness on the ones he held accountable, the Riders. He had made them pay.
Running a hand through his graying dark hair(2), he got to his feet and crossed the room to the window. It all belonged to him. And yet he felt so hollow.
Looking down, he watched a particular young man training in the courtyard while another cleaned his bow. Two of his secret weapons though one was as willful as that blasted Murtagh had been but he was also smart, bending when he knew it meant his life and when it suited him.
The one that was training was of medium height and build, with ash blonde hair and piercing green eyes. He was tanned and muscular from his days in the sun, perfecting his fighting/killing style. He wore a light colored tunic and brown pants, as was his regular choice. This one, Tane, was the loyal one.
Perched on the low wall was Tane's friend, if that was what one would call them. If anything, they tolerated each other. Black hair framed his face and nearly brushed his shoulders, causing his fair complexion to stand out all the more. He was clearly taller then Tane and much more fit, one could see hints of his muscles under his loose tunic. He dressed in dark colors, as was required for one trained as an assassin as he was. This was Malik, the one who defied and served at the same time.
Galbatorix grinned. But of course, it's in his blood. He thought. Noticing the eyes of the king on him, Malik looked up and glared at the older man.
Glared with mismatched eyes of black and hazel.
(With Veryn, Eragon, Murtagh and Brom)
How in the hell do we have such bad luck?! Veryn demanded as she finished off the last of the slavers. She was convinced that this day couldn't get any worse then it had, as now it seemed Murtagh and Eragon were fighting while Brom was trying to break it up.
Perhaps you stepped on one too many insects? Lorin suggested, trying to rid herself of annoyance with humor.(3)
I hate bugs. Veryn thought, flicking the blood from her sai so she could return it to its sheath on her thigh. Now it seemed Saphira decided to get involved with the little quarrel to her left.
"Veryn-"
"Don't even ask me to talk to her Eragon, she's bonded with you! Besides, you both are behaving foolishly!" She snapped, going to stand beside Brom who was messaging his temples while the blue dragon pinned the other two. "Just work out whatever is making you two fight and quick, we need to get moving."
Ignoring the quiet voices of two no doubt embarrassed teens, Veryn looked at Brom. "We still on the right track?"
He nodded. "If we keep up this pace, we should reach the Varden in a day or so."
Looking up, Veryn almost shrieked when she saw the child that had helped her heal Brom, leafy hair and all. She tilted her head and pointed, then was gone when Veryn blinked. Squinting, she could make out some kind of group in the far distance. More slavers? She wondered before nudging Brom and pointing them out.
"Seems we are still being followed. Veryn, see if Lorin can identify them from the skies."
Lorin circled back and a moment later sent Veryn an image of the group. "Urgals." She said aloud, now that Murtagh and Eragon were no longer fighting and on their feet. "Big Urgals. Really BIG Urgals."
Brom and Murtagh both tensed while the later decided to throw in a curse. "What's wrong?" Eragon asked.
"Those are Kull, the elite of the Urgals. Veryn's not kidding when she says they are huge. One stands easily at seven feet so no horse can carry them because of their weight. They can run for days on end and once they start chasing someone, they won't stop until one or the other is dead." Murtagh said.
Really bad luck. Lorin added with what sounded suspiciously like a sigh. Immediately, they all looked to Brom.
"We don't stand a chance against such a large group, even with Saphira and Lorin. We have no choice but to run, and run fast. So if you think the past few days have been hard then prepare for a shock." With that he turned on his heel and jumped up onto his horse soon joined by the other three.
Racing across the desert did not prove to be an enjoyable experience, she had been hating it before but now loathing would be the only word to describe what she felt. Thankfully, they had been closer to the mountains and were soon into the trees.
I'm glad Brom is leading, or I would be completely lost. Veryn grumbled, watching as Eragon took to the skies with Saphira to try and delay the Kulls. The elf had been placed onto Eragon's horse in his stead and Murtagh led it along, still scowling. At this rate, he won't be able to NOT go to the Varden.
He knew the risks when he helped us. Lorin said slowly, sadly. I wish he still had a choice but his life counts on this.
They continued their race, faster when Murtagh found what appeared to be the huge tracks of a wolf. Soon, her fellow Rider rejoined them tired from his attempts but heartened when Brom told them they were almost there.
Reaching the waterfall, they dismounted and Brom raced over to call out the password while Murtagh and Eragon fired into the oncoming Kull with their bows. Veryn guarded the elf, watching as Saphira and Lorin began to tear apart a few of the monsters before them.
Then she was being dragged backwards into an opening she swore wasn't there before. Stumbling only slightly when she was released, Veryn looked around the chamber she was in and noted dully that whatever door had been very much closed behind them as soon as they were in.
And all the men and dwarves present were looking at Brom in wonder.
Confused, she decided to check on Eragon and Murtagh. They stood next to each other, with the earlier looking around in wonder and the later withdrawing from all contact. "Are you two alright? No injuries?" She asked as Brom and a set of identical men exchanged harsh, but thankfully quiet, words.
Eragon smiled. "Just tired." Murtagh just shook his head.
"You three follow me and stay close." Brom said, appearing at their side and making them all jump. Veryn made sure to label him 'sneaky' in her mental file after that near heart attack.
They listened though, as Brom had never once led them astray.
Ushered into a large chamber with the two dragons they watched as Brom once again argued with who they all quietly dubbed "the Twins". Soon, the guards were being sent out of the room along with the Twins while Brom went over to them. "You all must wait in here. I am assured you will not be bothered while I go talk with Ajihad, the current leader of the Varden."(4)
Then he was gone. Veryn sighed and went over to where Lorin had curled up, sitting down and leaning back against her. Her other two companions looked over at her. "What? Knowing Brom this will take a while, I don't know about you but I am tired."
Saphira seemed to agree as she joined Lorin, curling up beside her fellow dragon. Eragon crossed the room and sat down as well, mimicking Veryn's position. However the older teen seemed reluctant.
"You can come on over and sit Murtagh, you know I don't bite." Veryn said, patting the spot next to her. Sighing, he joined her.
They sat in silence for several minutes, each lost in their own thoughts. Finally Eragon spoke.
"Murtagh, why didn't you want to come to the Varden?" Veryn knew that was the wrong thing to ask long before said teen tensed. Briefly they made eye contact, which she broke when she leaned farther back into Lorin and closed her eyes.
Quietly, she listened as Murtagh told his story to Eragon, telling herself she would smack him silly if he rejected the older teen just for that. It was silent again, she was about to open her eyes to see of they were getting along or glaring when the door opened. The dwarf she had seen before, as he was the one who had dragged her inside(5), stepped inside.
"You three are to come with me, food will be brought for your dragons as they wait for your return." He said and stepped outside again, leaving the door open.
"That was fast." Veryn said as they got to their feet and filed out of the room, the two Riders pausing to look back at their dragons. Go. The dragons then curled up more and went to sleep.
The dwarf introduced himself to them as Orik and chatted with them as he led them along. Curious people paused to watch them go by but the three teens choose to focus on their guide's tales rather then how unnerving some of the stared were.
Finally, they reached what appeared to be an office and Orik seemed to tense up, switching from cheerful to stoic. Once inside, they saw Brom talking to a rather intimidating man with dark skin and a serious face. "Eragon, Veryn, Murtagh, this is Ajihad." Brom said, moving to stand beside the desk.
"Which of you are the Riders?" Ajihad asked, looking the three of them over.
Eragon and Veryn looked at each other before stepping forward. "We are, sir." Eragon said. She nearly squirmed with how hard the leader's gaze turned, his eyes critical as he looked them over again.
Then the critical eyes turned to Murtagh. "I know who you are, as Brom has told me and stated you can be trusted. For yours and our safety, I cannot allow you to wander about. People here still remember Morzan and might take out their anger on you instead. You will be confined to a room that will be guarded, don't try to escape or do anything foolish."
"What? Hardly seems fair to treat him like a criminal when he's not! None of us would be here if not for him!" Veryn crossed her arms and met the leader's eyes straight on.
"What you say is true little halfling, and I agree with you. We owe him, but people's anger can overcome any sense of debt. Will it sooth you if he can walk around as long as one of you Riders is with him or Brom and myself?"
Veryn nodded. "So be it." Ajihad said and stood. "Brom will continue your instruction while you are here. When Arya, the elf you rescued, recovers she will assist him."
Brom nodded then went over to them. "First, I must reveal a secret to you. It is the reason I am to be your teacher." Once again the two Riders shared a look then focused on the older man. For the first time they noticed he was scrubbing at his hand with a cloth, when he was finished he held his palm up for them to see.
There was the gedwey ignasia although faded. "A long time ago I was a Rider. Though my dragon may be dead, I can still teach you how to be proper Riders. I can teach you how to defeat Galbatorix."
Next chapter: Training, Arya, the Dwarf King and more training.
Author's Note: Not as long as the last one, thank the powers that be! Can you start to see where having another Rider is changing things? Brom still being alive makes a major change too.
(1) Bet you weren't expecting that! Anyways, I am one of the few that seems to think there is more to Galbatorix then just plain evil. Personally, I think that he was no doubt a good man before and that loosing his dragon broke him in ways that people shouldn't be broken. I am trying to show that when I write from his perspective, he's still possessive and insane, but he feels other things too. There is also more to the two OCs introduced in that part, you'll be seeing more of them soon. Especially Malik.
(2) The way I see Galbatorix is NOTHING like the movie. The movie version reminded me of Star Wars… I see him as tall, with dark hair and fierce features though he is starting to show his age. He also has more mood swings then a pregnant woman.
(3) There is more to this joke then most know. I have a fascination with Fae lore, and something I found out is that Fae sometimes disguise themselves as bugs. What Lorin is suggesting is that perhaps she has stepped on one too many of her own kind and they have cursed her with bad luck. Veryn's response signifies that she finds this appalling and will never disguise herself thusly. She is also dismissing it as well, knowing Fae would do worse if she stepped on them while disguised.
(4) This is just how I think Brom being alive can change things. His word and influence in the Varden is enough to prevent the whole mind searching fiasco. As he made the Varden, he is no doubt very aware of what goes on in it even though he was in hiding. So he was able to have them temporarily locked up until he could clear things. See? Everything works out when Brom is there.
(5) Another change brought on by Brom. Since he ultimately knew where to go, he led them to the correct side of the waterfall so Orik didn't have to save Eragon from drowning. So I just had him drag Veryn to safety instead.